Artificial Mates - Chapter 114

Olga jogged around the neighborhood. I don’t know what I was expecting from our little session. Who knows, I thought she would pep talk me into trying self-defense or something. But we just ran around the sleeping buildings. The golden rays hit the top of the edifice, bird chirps happily as a fresh breeze played in the tree leaves. I did my best to follow her. But I was in horrible shape.

“I had to get you away from Grant and I had to make sure Atlas isn’t in ear-range to hear us,” I looked up at her panting. She slowed down and came to my level. She steered to the left and took the road that led towards the city center. At this time it was silence, the large field of wild grass stretched on both sides. “Liliane, you need to take better care of your mates. This is a situation of life or death,” I paused to catch my breath. Resting my hands on my knees I stared at the road below. Wild plants crept over the black asphalt. Life or death?

“What are you talking about?”

“This is not just about you. I’ve got news from the outside world. Kumari R2 is burning, the militia and the police are now on the streets. The war is out there and it’s not stopping, it has spread to various parts of the world. Frustration reached its peak, robots are being clubbed in the streets. It’s ugly and dirty,” I frowned. I knew it was going to be like this sooner or later. But I’ve been desperately tried to convince myself everything was roses and rainbows. I can’t believe I’ve been so naive. Our situation—what happened to Demos, was partly my fault. I need to take responsibility.

“What are we going to do?” I frowned at the ground, she smiled.

“Do you want to learn how to fight?” I straightened up and met her eyes. I was shocked to see that she was actually serious. “But you’ll have to keep it up. We have little time as I sense things will only get worse from now on,” she turned with her hands on her h.i.p.s. “Have you ever used firearms?” my eyes widened at the mentions of weapons. It never crossed my mind that one day I would have to answer that kind of question. I slowly shook my head. Olga tilted her head to the side to study me.

“You can’t talk about this with Grant. He will disapprove. He was made to protect you and next time he won’t only lose an arm,” she held my gaze. My heart squeezed inside my chest at the mention of that event. How could I forget that day, it has shifted how I felt about Grant. And that made it more painful when I think about what I told him last night. He would die for me without hesitation and I still couldn’t return his feelings properly. Olga was talking but I wasn’t listening, I tried to focus on her voice.

“—as we will work on restoring Demos’ body we’ll use the printers to print guns. We’ll need to careful around Atlas. He is one paranoid son of a bitch,” the fact that she used this kind of language bothered me but I kept it to myself. “Let’s head back,” Olga didn’t wait for my response. She jogged to our neighborhood where Grant waited for us with a worried face. He had tight his hair back in a cute pony hair. His silver eyes seemed larger with that hairstyle.

“There you are! I was ready to call the police,” he frowned at me. “I couldn’t feel you, so I got worried,” I gave a quick peek at Olga. Was she the reason why he couldn’t contact me? I pushed the thought away with the other bothering ones. Especially the one about the wea—shit! I almost thought about it. I’ll have to find a better solution to deal with all those thoughts that keeps popping up. Cage them in a metal box and throw away the key.

“Are you ok?” Grant placed his hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed it. I gave him a tight smile.

“I’m sweaty,” I moved away from him. “I need a shower,” I marched to the house leaving them behind.

“I’m doing this for you and Demos and for myself,” I murmured.

***

The first thing we did when we reached work was rushed to the lab where Demos was. I can’t imagine the pain and confusion he must felt being alone all night. We’ve always slept together. and yesterday I felt the lack. His solid presence in my life. As we pushed the door to that tiny lab and peered in, his surprised voice startled me.

“Liliane!” it sounded less synthetic and hollow. Maybe, it was because I was in a better mood. I smiled as I marched to the middle of the room. I was careful to stay in his field of vision.

“Good morning. I hope it wasn’t so lonely to sleep here,” he was silent for a moment and I got worried and turned towards Grant with a puzzled look. He slowly nodded.

“I-I missed you—” I started but was cut in midsentence.

“I was lonely,” I couldn’t bring myself to associate his new voice with the image of Demos. I was so used to his deep s.e.xy voice. This one was a pale imitation compared to his rich and complex tone. “And I was worried. Grant said that you would visit later but one of the employees who came to check on the devices said that you weren’t feeling well and went home,” he paused. I frowned at the black box. I opened my mouth but couldn’t find anything to say to comfort him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t inform you. Liliane was feeling dizzy,” Grant stepped in. I closed my mouth looking down at my hands. Why was it so awkward?

“Did you water the plants?” I looked up at the box. I had the horrible visible of visiting someone locked in jail. That sick sensation that we are being watched and our interaction are limited.

“I’m sorry, I’ll do it tonight when I get back,” said Grant.

“You need to water them before the sun gets too high, else they will burn. Also, I left the laundry to dry,” I had to avert my eyes. I’ve promised I won’t cry but it was so freaking hard no to.

“Demos, it’s going to be ok,” I said biting on my lips. “I just want to know if you are doing ok. I’m worried sick. It kills me not being able to touch you,” I had trouble keeping the quiver out of my voice.

“I’m ok, my memories were restored. I just can’t access my basic sensations. I’m so used to have a body, the moment it was stripped away from me—I can’t seem to cope with this absence,” he sounded thoughtful. I wanted to hug him it pains me to see him like that. The door opened and Olga peeked in.

“Sorry to disturb you, lovebirds. But we have to work,” her eyes darted from us to the black box. “I’ll come to see you later. I’ll run a full diagnostic. Also, I’ll see with the engineers if we can move you to our lab, instead of leaving you here all alone,” Grant nodded at her and we turned to the door.

“Later,” I waved at him.

“Bye, Liliane,” I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath. Damn, he seemed so terribly sad, it broke my heart. I followed Grant to the elevator.

“Can’t we do something like we did with Jil?” I asked. Both glanced at me with arched brows.

“What do you mean?” they said at the same time. Those two were awfully similar in a strange way, lately.

“I mean with the hologram,” well, I wasn’t an expert but it would be cool to actually see Demos even if I couldn’t touch him. The elevator door opened and we stepped inside. Grant leaned against the metallic wall with a sigh.

“Jil already had her digital library with all scripts and behaviors worked out. If you want a hologram of Demos we’ll have to scan him and match each of his behavior with the appropriate response. It will take long hours and I don’t think there a holographic department eager to work for free on this island,” I frowned at him. He pushed away from the wall and met my gaze. “Liliane, what they are doing to restore Demos is not free. Everything has a price,” my heart sunk. I never thought about that. I lowered my head.

“How much?”

“From the cost of an emergency unit and the transfer from his damaged body to the unit—a lot,” answered Olga as she crossed her arms over her chest. I took a deep steady breath. “Then you all the repairs, the new parts and our labor. I’m guest you won’t have any salary for a while,” my eyes widened.

“What? You’re saying that I’m basically working for free?” my voice echoed in the small space.

“That’s not correct,” said a voice from the ceiling. I forgot the god of this island was always keeping tabs on his subjects. “You don’t have to pay rent, electricity, water, internet, and the food at the cafeteria is free,” I had to take another deep breath to not shout. This was slavery. Should I kneel and kiss his butt cause he allowed me to live another day?

“Atlas, I have a question?” I tried my question to keep my voice steady. Both of my companions faced with worry.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

“I want to know what you’ll to fix that injustice since you value order so much. What will you do to bring justice to how an artificial was beaten up by the security who was supposed to protect civilians in your city? Demos was wrongly arrested. Since you are the law—fix this,” I shouted my anger spiking. The cabin of the elevator became very still. And after a moment, he answered.

“I’ve looked in the matter and consulted with my peers. Delta said to he doesn’t want any part in it. I’ll apply judgment as of today. You can rest assure, Liliane. Us three are the absolute law,” his voice was solemn and it scared me when he was polite. The door chimed and we silently walked to our lab. That day we kept quiet, talking only when it was necessary. Dr. Churchhil didn’t appear until lunchtime. I gave up trying to understand the old man. He was sometimes good and sometimes brewing plans to take over the world. I had other fish to fry.

“Kids!” he smiled as he entered the lad. I was getting up for lunch at the cafeteria. “I have awesome news,” my stomach groaned. I was planning to ignore him. “The connection is restored, Atlas lifted the shutdown. We can contact our relatives,” I stopped in my tracks.

“Really?” I scrolled through my bracelet. When the online logo appeared I almost cried. My bracelet chimed like a million times as messages flooded in. I chuckled when I saw the names of the senders. Anna, Mr. Ramdin, Mr. Palmer, and my brother. I stopped at his message and clicked on it. It was not a video like the other. I frowned at it. Grant got to his feet.

“What’s wrong?” I slowed the lump in my throat.

“It’s my brother—this message is from five days ago,” I looked up at him. “H-he—my mom died,” my voice came out choppy. No tears stung my eyes. No sorrow. Nothing.

“I’m sorry, Princess,” he took me in his arms. Dr. Churchill shook his head.

“My condolences,” he looked away. Olga also nodded once. Grant held me closer and kiss my hair. I felt good. Still, I didn’t cry. Why did it hurt more not having Demos close than knowing my mother died? Was I such a horrible person.

“Hey, you’re just in shock. It’s ok you don’t cry,” he whispered. My stomach groaned and I looked up at him.

“I’m hungry. I think my stomach is not in shock at all. I’m craving a large slice of cheesecake,” he nodded with a grave face.

“You want me to accompany you?” I gave him a tight smile.