My Fair Franny

A Nandroid Fanfic by Scraps the Fool

Chapter 1: Road to Beacon City

[*]

"Are we even there yet" Julian whined, slumped in the passenger chair as he stared out the window. His eyes counting the cars passing by. "I bet you've gotten us lost again."

"Shut it!" I growled, my tired eyes staring out towards the approaching city before me. "You should use those dead balls in your excuse skull cave, They call them eyes for a reason. Besides the GPS says we'll be there in a half-hour. So calm down."

"Hey! I'm calm as still water." Julian said as he looked down at his phone. "I'm just as calm as anyone who got up at 4 in the morning just to sit next to the youngest old driver five hours."

"Better than waiting 10 hours in traffic" I retorted, adjusting my hands on the steering wheel and my butt in the heated seat. "So quit your whining!"

Julian scoffed as he looked back at his phone. Feeling my vision begin to glaze over, I gave my eyes a small break by looking at some signs as they passed me on the highway. Some of them were for restaurants and specials that they had

"Come on down to Burger Brothers and try our new Ranch-alanch Burger for only $5.99!"

Most of the other billboards were either for new cars, relief in other countries, or advertisements for a new Sterling product.

"Witness the enlightenment of driving! Try the new Volkman Praetorian!"

I scoffed at the billboards, save for the Sterling ones.

"Why does the one company who corners the market in robots need ads anyway?" I pondered to myself as I glanced to the GPS on my dashboard, indicating that I needed to "Turn right on exit 54 towards Beacon City, then keep driving for 17 miles."

"So…" Julian said as he continued to look at his phone, a shit eating grin stretched across his face.

"So…" I replied coldly, clenching the steering wheel tight with my hands. Prepared for my shit of a brother's question.

"Do you want me to drive home so you can pop her cherry, or can you wait until you ge-"

Julian's question was unfortunately interrupted by a sudden fist to the left forearm. Which prompted a loud "Ow fuck!" followed by laughter from Julian.

"Oh do grow up Julian!" I shouted at him, glancing between the road before me and the little shit on my passenger seat next to me. "I told you once, I told you a hundred times! She is not a sex doll, she is a nandroid. Nothing more!"

"Oh *sure*, that's what she is…" Julian said in a teasing manner as he placed his hand on his chin as if he was thinking. "You live alone, and you get yourself a cute little robot gal to clean your house, that's not implying anything at all."

I took a deep breath, pondering if the current speed I'm driving would be enough to break the barrier and bring us into traffic. As I did, my shit brother continued to mock me.

"Master! Do you need me to polish your jewels?" Julian said in a tone imitating a young woman. His hands clenched together toward his chest as if he was a servant. "I can use my mouth if you like."

"Nope…" I thought, the anger building in me "Perhaps the barrier will be enough at this speed."

"Certainly not wrench wench!" Julian said in a tone akin to creeps, pedophiles and people men over 50 from Florida. "I've bought you and that makes me your fat greasy god. Now polish my spear you boltbag bitch!"

This mockery continued for the rest of the drive. By the time we arrived in Beacon City, my brother was no longer whining about the drive, he had a sore left arm to tend to.

[*]

"You have arrived at your destination!" The GPS chirped as it let out a brief jingle.

It took a few minutes to find a parking spot, but after a little finagling, I was able to find a parking garage that didn't cost me an arm and a leg. Once I found a parking space, I parked the car and hopped out. My brother got out of the car after me, stretching his arms before wincing in pain from his assaulted arm.

"About time we got here." Julian complained as he rubbed his arm. "You know, you'd better save these punches for the dame Bot."

I decided to take a minute to examine myself in the reflection of the driver's side mirror. I was wearing a button-down polyester shirt with dark-tan slacks with a brown belt and brown shoes. I made sure that my shirt was straight, and my hair was okay. I had dirty blond hair that I would cut short and comb to the right and gel. I then made my beard not too scraggly looking, or that I didn't look older than thirty-three I then checked my left breast pocket for everything I needed for the appointment. Which consisted of my handkerchief for my glasses, my pen. As an army man, it was instilled upon me to ensure I present myself professionally and to ensure I had everything I needed.

My brother Julian, my younger brother by three years, had the same hair color as me, but his hair was longer. He has a shaved face, fair in comparison to mine, especially from the lack of scars. He was wearing a simple navy-blue polo with tan khakis, a black belt, and black loafers.

"Hey Romeo, this isn't the prom." Julian jested. "Unless you *were* planning for something to happen?"

I responded to the jest with a cold glare and a finger point as he raised his hands defensively, a smile on his face and slight chuckle of defeat. With an irritated grunt, I turned my attention towards the sidewalk and with Julian tagging along behind me, we began our stroll into the city.

[*]

I never cared that much about Beacon City; everyone says that it's "the *New* New York" cause Sterling Robotics set up camp here, but this city reminded me too much of Chicago or Nashville. Too many people walking around, advertisements much like the billboards I saw on the road, but bigger and more animated, featuring everything from robots, to plays to new foods, medicines, cars, movies, and other pointless crap that I could give a rat's ass about.

However, the only ad that wasn't total garbage to me was the ad for Sterling Robotics. It still amazed me that despite the controversy they had with the 50 anniversary Scandal, Sterling Robotics was able to recover rapidly from the incident, and continue to create their robots better than ever, especially the Nandroids.

While a good number of people that I know think Nandroids, and for most part all robots in general, were little more than appliances or tools, I always found myself having a soft spot for the common robot. When I first started at Hawthorn Elementary, I became good friends with Eugene, the custodian robot, and we would play cards from time to time during my lunch break.

Moreover, during arrival and dismissal, I would find myself supervising the drop off and picking up of students, and during this time there would be the students with Nandroids, and then they would flock over to me and ask questions like "Did Julia do well in class today?" or tell me about "How Corbin got 1st place at the Polo tournament last week". As a special education teacher, I always found a conflicting sense of shame that the kid's parents didn't pick them up, and comfort to know that a said kids had someone to look out for them regardless and had their best interests at…core?

Nevertheless, despite how people would see it as a nuisance. I actually have taken to enjoying my time surrounded by these mechanical maids. I think the reason is that despite the Nandroid being the same machine, each Nandroid has its own distinct appearance, personality and quirks. Some of them are hoity and proud, some are slow and quirky, and some are honest and kind. In fact, their looks and personalities are so distinct that there would be no way for me to tell them apart from a human if I were suddenly blinded. Perhaps that's why I care about bots this way? Is the line between robots and humans not as clear as we would think?

[*]

"OI! Ray!" the shouting of Julian woke me from my daydream as I turned towards my brother, who was pointing to his side. "I think this is the place."

I turned toward the direction Julian was pointing and looked at the building before me. I then looked up to the top of the building and kept looking up until I started feeling sick for some reason. The building did not stand out from the other building in Beacon City, it was a concrete skyscraper with glass windows. Its only distinct feature was the large words "STERLING ROBOTICS" that were posted over the entrance. It was clear with these clues that this is the place we needed to go.

"This is the place we need to go" I said to Julian.

"No really?" Julian said sarcastically as he pointed his thumb behind him "I assumed it was that that pile of trash and dead rats about two blocks back."

I never understood why Julian hated robots and AI the way he did, even before he lost his dream job to a robot. But then again, Julian was the activist in the family. Sure they did some sketchy stuff in the past, such as steal artwork or imitate people, but they've gotten better. It's not as if they're gonna go Skynet on us…hopefully.

[*]

Julian and I approached the entrance, we were greeted by a robot doorman. He was a large robot, large enough to crush your skull like a walnut. He was wearing a green Bellman uniform, which did not hide his large robot body, dark silver plates, and featureless faceplate with a single red visor.

"[NON-EMPLOYEES DETECTED…IDENTIFY]" The robot stated as we approached it.

I pulled out my ID from my wallet and showed it to the robot, the robot then scanned the ID, and it made a ding reminiscent of the small brass bell used to alert hotel clerks. I then gestured Julian to do the same and with hesitation and a hell lot of bitterness, he showed his ID to the robot as well, who scanned the ID and gave off the same ding.

"[THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION]" The robot stated coldly, it's limbs and body remained still as a statue. "[BEGINNING VERIFICATION OF IDENTITIES! PLEASE STAND BY!]"

"If I find out that you've stolen my identity." Julian hissed at the Doorbot. "I'll turn you into sardine cans."

"Be nice." I said sternly. "We're guests here and they're being generous. So please, act your age for once."

"Says the guy buying a sexbot." Julian quipped as he then avoided another swing from his agitated brother. "Okay, Okay, I got the hint. I'll be civil."

"[IDENTITIES CONFIRMED!]" The robot interjected, its visor light turning green. "[WELCOME LEFTENENT RAYMOND STEMLY AND GUEST! WELCOME TO STERLING ROBOTS AND ENJOY YOUR VISIT!]

The robot then moved aside from the plexiglass door, and I looked at Julian, giving him a cold glare as he gestured to have me go in first. I then turned back to the door and watched as it opened automatically as I then walked through the glass gates.

"Okay…" I thought to myself, feeling strangely nervous for some reason. "Time to claim my prize."

[*]

End of Chapter 1