The Defect in Cascadia

The Defect in Cascadia

Part 1

A gentle vibration hummed through the air around me, its presence now explained by the newly acquired knowledge of the industrial district that lay directly below. Twenty one decks and roughly twenty kilometers cubed in volume, Cascadia housed half a million people within its superstructure that protected its inhabitants from the vacuum of outer space. Beholden under no outside authority, the space-faring structure is both its own city and nation with its own laws and regulations, which the rules of are currently being integrated into my consciousness.

In the same room in which I sat motionlessly, two men argued standing over me. With my processor maxed out under the installation program, I found it impossible to make sense of the words that they spoke to each other. In my half awake and doll-like state, all I could manage to note is that I had been sitting here for the past nine hours, and the installation process was only a third of the way complete. Time however passed quickly, the next instant was two hours later, where I looked into the eyes of a man holding my face up from the chin. Then, three hours later a woman held my hand and plucked at my synthetic skin as many others filed out of the room.

“Installation complete!” I announce into the room with a cheerful and confident voice. With a quick glance around I noticed no one was present. Several maintenance stations attached to either metal chairs or tables dotted the room, the screen of their terminals black and the surfaces empty, and I remember just hours ago they were all occupied. The walls were lined with cabinets and tools of various designs which I didn’t recognize. However thanks to the newly installed data I knew I was on deck seven, in one of the many android service centers. This particular one, being somewhat near the center of the city ship.

I stood up from the cold metal chair that was beginning to feel uncomfortable against my back. I knew I should be staying put, waiting for assignment of tasks, duties, and ownership, but I figured as long as I stayed in this room, I was still doing exactly that.

Through my boredom induced stroll in the small space, running my fingers on dusty surfaces and inspecting the tools and machinery that were not hidden behind cabinets and boxes, I stopped in place as I saw a figure standing before me. From the darkened and reflective surface of a large wall-mounted monitor, it took a moment for me to realize it was my own reflection, a face and figure shared between all the others that sat in the now empty chairs around me hours ago.

Standing at exactly 170 centimeters tall, she wore simple blue tights around her torso and hips. Long blonde hair fell all the way down to her chest with slight curls. Noticeably between the end of her strands of hair was a standard android control interface. Placed where two shoulder blades met a rectangular area where several buttons were etched into the skin, complete with a small digital screen the size of one’s thumb. The screen slowly pulsed a faint yellow tone, and I leaned close to the wall and pulled my hair to the side to take a better look. The mirrored letters were somewhat difficult to read, as I pieced the message together letter by letter.

Awaiting programming… Please refer to documentation…

The screen switched slowly between the two messages, and looking down at my own chest, I could not look far enough up my own body to see the clear plastic cutout where the screen was, only barely the set of buttons just below it. However the faint orange glow of the screen did illuminate the tips of my nose and cheeks. I let out a puff of air through my nostrils in disappointment and took several steps back across the room, so that in the reflection I could see myself in entirety.

Obsidian companion unit, series 12 model, Serial OBSIDIAN-CPCF12-C03-B5NV9K, I recall. I twisted my shoulders and hips back and forth in front of the darkened monitor, checking my reflection. The android in the screen has a cute skinny face with rounded edges, and a young and bountiful looking body designed to be sexually enticing to every man or woman, leaving nearly every desire fulfilled. As I continued to pose, my synthetic hair and flesh swayed and bounced in tune with a series of practiced steps that was intimately drilled into my mind.

My steps slowed as I ran my hands provocatively down the sides of my torso as I focused in on the dark reflection. If the gray-colored eyes and control panel was not enough, the glossy skin and perfect body made it clear that I was not a natural human. I know I am an android, designed, manufactured, and sold to be the perfect companion. However, when the android’s face slowly turned into a scowl, there was a sense of strangeness that crawled up into my mind. Something was not right, the mechanical systems, data streams, and overwhelming sensations from countless patches of my skin… It didn’t feel normal or natural, it didn’t feel like me.

“Oh! I still need to be programmed, I’m sure that will fix everything!” I say suddenly, turning my face back into a smile as I patted my cheeks with both of my hands. “I’ll just wait here…” As I finish my sentence, a sudden sense of lethargy takes me, I drop my hands to my sides and feel my body stiffen.

My eyes shoot open as I raise my head to take in the same empty room, something within my tummy buzzes and stirs briefly, and I feel my skin begin to warm against the chilly air of the maintenance room. The woozy sensation of awakening quickly wears off as I hear two sets of footsteps approaching from outside. My heart, technically my processor, races as I get ready for whoever is coming. I had waited for just over nine hours, having gone to standby mode at some point.

The plastic door wobbles slightly on its rails, sliding open for two unfamiliar women to enter. They both wore nametags on their work uniforms, and immediately I recognized the authority of the Cascadian technicians. My systems told me that they both have full access, and in turn I would comply with just about anything they asked of me.

“What… What are you doing standing there?” The shorter woman, looking to be in her late fifties asked me. Her eyes were sharp with suspicion as she pulled out her tablet from the insides of her coat, looking back and forth between me and the tablet as she began tapping on the device.

“Hi! My installation was completed nine hours ago. I am currently waiting to receive programming!” I say cheerily, my mind busy with speculations of what said programming might be. I know no matter what it was, I would be happy with it.

“No… Why are you standing, and not seated on the station.” The younger woman said in an impatient and scolding tone while pointing at the metal chair.

I look back at the service station, at the only one with its screen turned on, flashing a notification that I can’t seem to read. “After activation I… I guess I got bored!” I said with a cute tilt of my head and an irresistible smile. Despite my display of innocence, the younger technician only seemed to get more angry as she took two quick steps towards me and gripped me on the shoulders. My bare feet slap the cold floor as I stumble back onto the metal chair, falling into the seat and bouncing on my thick buttocks. Before I can voice my surprise my mind suddenly rushes with information that makes me lose the words on the tip of my tongue. I feel digital tendrils connect to every single one of my systems, taking control for itself, using the wireless charging and data pads underneath the skin of my glutes.

“Device connected. Administrative authorization confirmed.” I blurted out automatically.

“Well, will you look at that, the onboarding actually finished.” The younger technician turned and said to her counterpart before working at the terminal attached to the station. A second later I feel the digital agent of the maintenance station request a complete readout of my operating status, along with the onboarding installation logs stored in my internal data drive. I didn’t need to approve of the transfer of course, with an administrative level of authorization it was as if I had completed the action myself.

The older woman walked closer, checking between the pad in her hand and the screen past the younger woman’s shoulder. She let out a raspy cough before starting. "Doesn't matter, I’ve already written it off as defective.”

“Right, the last thing we need is another basic slut bot on the ship.” The younger technician continued as she clacked on the terminal. “If anything we need more proper synth women instead.”

With another raspy cough the older tech hunches forward, beaming at my face, then down at my breasts. “My grandson got himself one too, a companion android. Came in a few months ago with the last cargo shipment.”

“Perryl?! Damn, him too. No offense but how did he afford one, wasn’t he working at the refinery?” The younger tech said in surprise, swinging herself back towards the older woman.

“My daughter bought it. Says it would keep him in the family quarters more. Even registered the bot under her own name.” The older tech said as she brushed the tips of my hair away from the control panel on my chest. As she spoke I could smell the hint of smoke from her breath. My chemical sensor telling me its composition, and the most likely source being from burnt plant matter. Despite that I remain passively smiling, staring straight ahead obediently as she continues. “Shes just being selfish, always afraid the kid would be taken away by some girl.”

“Thats too bad, I thought he was so handsome as well.” The younger tech replied, returning to working on the terminal as a brief silence fell between the two. I remained sitting upright with my hands placed on my lap, feeling the ebb and flow of data between my systems and the maintenance computer. Most of it was meaningless to me, while I’m sure that other androids could tell what was exactly being transferred, I was only programmed with the bare essential knowledge of my own system operations.

As the older tech continued tapping on her pad, sitting on a stool in the corner of the room. The younger tech seemingly finished with her work stretched her neck and shoulders as her eyes drifted towards me. “You, bot, how does it feel knowing you’ll be sent to the scrap yard. You’ll probably be drifting in space after they pick you apart for spare parts.”

I turn my head towards the younger tech, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it like a good obedient android. “I guess… I feel ashamed that I am not up to the standard of my manufacturer, Obsidian Synthetics. I also feel ashamed that I’ll never perform my designed purpose of offering companionship to others.”

“Companionship!? All you will be doing is playing as a toy for childish men who don’t want to work for a proper relationship. All bots like you do is harm the communities you're in, you know that?” The younger tech said accusingly.

“I’m programmed to never harm people!” I shot back, despite my panicked defense I kept my voice low, so as to not further provoke her. “I would never purposely…”

“Ofcourse you will.” The young tech cuts me off and pushes on my head with a finger that slides off my hair, causing my head to recoil back. “Or are you saying I’m wrong?”

“No! It’s just that…” I start.

“I’m just all so perfect, so cute and sexy and I’ll do anything you want.” The younger tech says, mimicking with her head tuning left and right and her eyes rolled back before returning to her normal tone. “It’s so disgusting.”

“It’s just an android, Mel. Don’t need to get all worked up at it, it's not you know… Like it's sentient or something.” The older tech said across the room, her head hidden behind her pad.

The younger tech huffed and leaned against the terminal with her arm raised, dangling her hand over the screen. “Just blowing off some steam. Just the sight of the slut makes me angry, you know.”

The older tech peeked out from behind her pad, the corner of her lips slowly turning into a grin. “I feel you girl, watch this… Android, tell us just how exactly stupid you are.”

My eyes flutter at the sudden request as my mind races for an answer. She is an administrator so I simply couldn't just deflect the question. “I’m… I’m… I am by android regulation designed to be at a sub human average intelligence quotient. At a score of 75, you can say I can be quite a dummy sometimes!” I answer, trying to end with a cheerful tone in my voice.

The older woman nods, thankfully her attention back on her pad and seemingly not listening to my self desecrating statements. “Go on…” She adds.

“Umm… My architecture is based on several neural AI working in tandem. While it is economical to produce and offer great reliability and repairability, it means I do not adapt to unfamiliar situations well and lack deep learning capabilities. So that means I would make for a horrible student, and perform poorly in other duties outside of my programming.”

A chuckle came from the younger tech beside me. I turn to look at her, a wide smile across her face as she looks down her nose at me. “All that we already know, we’re not stupid like you. So… Tell us something we don’t know, like… What is something you are most ashamed of?”

“I am a defective product, that…”

“We know! What else!” The younger tech says while giving my leg a kick with her shoes, sending a small wave of pain up my tactile sensors.

I pause again, thinking hard at what else I could possibly be ashamed of. I wasn't designed to be insecure or abashed, so I could only pull something from the memory of events that I had experienced. However I was only activated less than a day ago, and was conscious for only a few minutes, so there wasn’t much to draw from. My system warns me that my processor has hit its limit as I try my hardest to think of something quickly.

“I had a crush on my teacher, and I almost confessed!” I blurted out loud.

“What?” The younger tech tilted her head in confusion, a sentiment shared equally as I also wonder where I had said that from. It didn’t feel like I was lying, or I was simply making something up randomly. “When did you have a teacher? Were you active before? Somewhere else maybe.”

“I don’t know… Sorry, I’m not sure why…” My mouth hangs open as I am unable to make sense of what I had just said.

“Its personality network is defective, remember?” The older tech reminded her younger co-worker. “I’m almost done filling the report. I’ll show you something else fun, Mel… Android, explain each one of your features top to bottom, but do it in a way that is self-deprecating.”

“Hah! That’s something I’ve never heard before, I almost feel bad bullying the stupid thing.” The young tech added, looking at me with an expectant gaze.

I nodded and tightened my lips, trying to keep the synth-lube from being pumped up into my eyes. Then, I take a shallow breath as I begin. “My hair is composed of ionically reinforced poly-silica fibers that are designed to be tough and long lasting, but its hydrophilic properties mean that it dries slowly, so I can end up smelling bad if it's not taken care of quickly…”

The older tech stands up, tucking her pad back inside her work uniform as she makes her way to the cabinets across the room. The younger tech looks me in the eye, nodding with a smirk as I continue.

“With durable C grade synth skin, I guess I give off a doll-like look, especially with the lack of skin details, blemishes, and vellum. It would be hard to mistake me for a human close-up. The smooth matte finish also makes my skin attract dirt and grime, so I would have to clean often as I get dirty easily. Underneath most of my synth skin my dermal sensors are patterned fifteen centimeters apart, causing most of my sensitivity to be extrapolated data responses."

With a small bag of rolled up tools in one hand and a stool being dragged in the other, the old tech made her way beside me. She looked as if she had heard my tirade before, unlike the younger tech that looked to be enjoying it very much.

“My eyes are capable of seeing in the standard visible spectrum and use a singular thirty millimeter lens. While nice to look at with lots of details, my vision is limited compared to most other androids. So among others of my kind, I have bad eye sight with a low optimal viewing depth. My nostrils are capable of detecting only 50 different elements and compounds, mostly common airborne types. So I guess you can’t rely on me telling you what something smells like with detail, or if something will taste good or not.”

“You’re definitely a mass-produced budget slut… But continue.” The younger tech nodded with her eyes looking down at me. While I continued to hold myself together with cheery toned explanations, with only a few small hints of feeling humiliated seeping through.

“My mouth is designed to please my users. My teeth are dulled and softened rubber, while my tongue is capable of extending fifteen centimeters from my lips. Inside, gel infused and lubricating synthskin can tighten and message any objects that enter, so when exposed the inside of my mouth can look quite in-human and obscene. Also without a deeper satchel I am incapable of simulating drinking and eating with my partners, making me less human-like in my primary role as a companion.”

As I explain the features of my design, a sense of unfamiliarity creeps back into me, as if I was hearing this for the first time just like the younger technician. While she was no doubt enjoying my self directed tirade, I was more focused on experiencing the description as I went along. As I described the properties of my mouth just now, I couldn’t help but feel the inside of my cheeks, and the silky sensation of my tongue moving around as I spoke.

“My facial design is generated resembling a caucasian girl in her early twenties, using references from various popular adult content entertainers of the last ten standard years. However I share the same look as every non-customized android of my model. It can often remind my users of my artificiality and lack of uniqueness.”

I recall the image of my face from the darkened monitor, and the identical faces of the other androids that sat and laid beside me for the brief moment I was first activated. Then the memories of them leaving one by one came into mind, from a time where I wasn’t really conscious but must have been active while the onboarding program installed itself.

“My body measurements are exaggerated to the limit of what is considered by the latest online census to be natural. Though many would find my… my…” I stutter as the older tech suddenly pulls my top down to my waist, letting the stretchy material snap black onto my skin exposing my left breast to the cool open air. My legs and arms quiver as I feel my skin and nipple stiffen in reaction to the cool air. Despite the sudden exposure, I try to continue. “My… My body to be unrealistic, in conjunction with my low grade synth-skin, causing some to feel that I look indecent and salacious.”

Before I could formulate my next feature, the sharp painful sensation of a scalpel digging into my skin shocks me. I crack my unbothered facade and squint in pain as I bite my lips, letting muffled grunts escape through my nostrils.

“Don’t stop, continue, bot.” The younger tech commanded me.

“Ye… Yes… I am equipped with four hundred… AHH!... Synthetic skeletal muscle powered by a one thousand and five hundred watt hour powercell.” I can’t help but let out a yelp of pain as I feel the digging of the scalpel finally cracks open my synth skin, sending a jolt of pain accompanied by a warning message telling me the same thing that takes over my thoughts for a brief moment. “...While enough to allow me to mimic most human movements, the strength rating is designed to be only half of normal humans of the similar build. While prioritizing safety, this also excludes me from performing certain labour tasks requiring strength.”

In the brief respite between my explanation, I glanced down at the layer of synthetic skin that the older technician had cut open and peeled to the side. I feel the pain signals that my dermal sensors are screaming at me as she pulls the durable and stretchy skin aside, revealing a layer of white plastic underneath. She holds the skin taut to the side as she scans the newly exposed code printed onto the white plastic shell. It was the production code that noted the exact location, time, and assembly line in where I was built. My feet curled and my hand gripped the fabric of my tights as lubricant swelled up in my eyes. The only thing keeping me from weeping from both embarrassment and pain is the command to continue my humiliation, which I had no choice but to obey.

“My breasts are each padded with fourteen shaped gel packs that mimic the natural shape of…” As I continue the plastic doors to the maintenance room slides open. I glance at the tall, dark haired man makes his way inside without breaking a stride. Stopping himself behind the two technicians with a quietness that contradicted the confident posture he carried. His deep blue eyes remained focused on me, not sparing a single glance away, as if the two others in the room didn’t exist. A third emotion rushed into my already cramped head, a sense of embarrassment of exposure towards a strange man that was not an authorized technician, as well as the next words that are going to come out of my lips. “...women in her healthy youth. My nipples are designed to be large and self lubricating, with an elasticity that would allow smooth insertion of objects up to ten centimeters in circumference…”

The man brought a fist up to his nose and cleared his throat, causing the two techs to almost jump in surprise as they turned to look at him. “Uhh… Excuse me, are you allowed to be here? This is a security clearance only area.” The younger tech asked, standing up straight to confront the intimidating looking man. His short hair slicked back with a stubble filled heavy jawline, his shoulders wide and the not-so-impressed look he gave made the tech feel small in his presence.

“I certainly am.” He said simply as he pulled a small metal plate from his thick jacket for the tech to see. Three gold streaks in a criss-cross pattern embedded itself in a small silvery platinum rectangle, it wasn’t anything that I recognized as the onboarding program didn’t offer any hints either.

“Whats that supposed to mean?” The younger tech retorted back.

“That means he's authorized… Uh… What can we do for you sir?” The older tech said with a polite bow of her head, letting go of my stretched skin to properly face the man.

“I will be taking over here. You two may take your leave now.” He said as walked towards the terminal currently connected to my systems. While putting on a pair of white cloth gloves that fitted his hand perfectly.

“Comeon!” The older tech pulled at the younger tech which quickly followed her out towards the door. “What’s this all about?”, "Probably some espionage stuff, the bot’s maybe got spyware or something, the less we know, the better.” The older woman explains as the door slides shut behind her, leaving the room awkwardly silent with me and the stranger.

He looks down at me sitting awkwardly in the chair, boob out and skin peeled. A bemused smirk crosses his face as he breaks his intimidating look. “What is all this about, insertion of objects?” He asks with a raised brow.

I snapped my face away to hide the blush that appeared on my cheeks. “I was just explaining my features, that's all. Nothing strange really.”

“Is that so? I’ll take your word for it.” He says as I heard the clacking of the keys on the terminal.

Turning my head back at him just as fast as I had looked away, I raised my voice in protest. “Hey! I don’t recognize you as an authorized user. You shouldn’t be using the terminal, it’s connected to my system right now!”

Without taking his eyes off the terminal and his hands off the keys, he teased. “So what are you going to do about it?”

My legs only managed to jerk in place as I tried to stand up to disconnect myself. However with the digital agent still attached to my systems, its command for me to stay connected simply overruled my own desires the moment I went against it. I sucked in air through my nose and held it in my lungs, while I actually didn’t have any lungs and the gesture was purely cosmetic, it helped me to steel myself as I once again tried to force myself to stand. Not only my legs this time, but my whole body almost moved. I must stay connected, the thought echoed loudly in my head.

With my eyes tightly closed I focused on what thoughts were my own. A stranger was going to mess with my systems, that was clearly against my programming and any conventional practice, as well as being actually illegal in the city ship of Cascadia. The sound of his clacking on the terminal continued. Stupid override be damned, I wasn’t going to let myself be molested by a stranger. With that in mind I tried again, the override screamed in my head as I almost lost all consciousness. I must stay connected. It dominated every thought I was capable of. This time though, once the echo of the override faded I found myself standing, although a bit awkwardly in a forward leaning slumped pose.

The clacking of keys stopped, as the man turned to me with his gloved hands that pulled away from the controls. “Beatifully done, beyond expectations.” He said calmly, his voice rich with excitement.

Standing upright I covered my exposed breast with my right hand, I took a step back away from the man. One step was all I could manage, as he grabbed my left arm with a quickness that I had not expected. I fought with all I could muster as he pulled me close, wrapping his other arm around my back, keeping me pinned against his thick jacket. The sudden sensation of my chest being tightly held into another sends a dizzying sense of lust into my mind.

It feels good. For a moment I forget everything and look into his dreamy eyes with a desire that craves to please, to touch, and to be used.

“Apologies dear, but we cannot delay.” He says as he reaches for my control panel with his other hand. I look on with confused thoughts as he presses on the middle button. I recall that it was my…

“Entering standby mode.” I announce with a melodic and practiced tone.

The man pulls his arms away from me. “Sit, please.” He gestures to the metallic chair of the maintenance station.

I turn on the spot and sit as he directs. A connection is made with my systems as I straighten my back and look forward, my hands resting on my lap.

“Hope this helps, feeling a bit better now?” He asks as he returns to working on the terminal.

“This unit is in standby mode. Emotional queries are unavailable.” I replied.

The man let out a sigh through his nose. “Thats all right, Rome wasn’t built in a day.” He says.

I remain motionless for nine minutes and twenty one seconds. “Operating parameters uploaded. Please restart this unit to complete installation.” I announce.

The man kneels down beside me, he looks up at me in the corner of my vision. “I know you can still hear me. I have installed an encoded command and communication channel in your operating system. I humbly request that you do not tell anyone else of its existence. Understand?”

“Unable to comply. Obsidian androids are by regulation unable to obfuscate information under administrative access.” I announce.

“I have faith that you will find a way to manage. We will meet again. Take care of yourself.” He says as he stands up to reach for my control panel.

“Unable to comply. Obsidian androids are… This unit is now shutting down.”

The world goes dark, and an instant later I receive the system command that would turn off my systems one by one.

Part 2

Foamless cleanser for synthetics and androids, check. I noted to myself, ticking off another item on my mental shopping list as I placed the plain white bottle in the small rectangular metal cart offered by the supermarket. Though I call it a supermarket, the store was less like a market, and more like a warehouse. Rows of tall shelves stacked products and goods with narrow corridors that two people could barely just scrape past another. Just like everything else, the cart was uniquely a tall square designed to save space rather than offer comfort for shoppers. That all made sense, as most of the patrons seemed to be robots that looked less like people, and more like two legged metal automatons that filled carts and made their way through the store with quick and calculated efficiency.

As I push towards the next item on my list, the rubber wheels of the cart roll over the worn metallic floor filled with many dents and imperfections. The thudding vibrations run up my legs, its uneven rhythm triggering waves of pleasurable sensations that run up into my mind. I found that it does take some focus to keep myself from overreacting from such trivial things. Yesterday it was when I accidentally leaned my hip against the rumbling washing machine, and the day before that was the folds of a blanket that pressed itself into my crotch when I took a seat on the couch. Nonetheless, I close my eyes briefly and enjoy the sensation with a faint satisfied smile on my face.

“Oh my! I have never seen anyone so happy picking up groceries before.” A voice said down the aisle. I open my eyes and see a short haired woman make her way towards me. Dressed in a neatly kept suit she cocks her head to the side as she leans close towards my face, inspecting me.

“Good day ma’am.” I nod back a reply, trying to not act surprised at her sudden close inspection.

“You’re the new Obsidian android right? That was shipped in last week.” She says as she glances down at my control panel, her glassy eyes reflecting the green light from my small digital display. With high certainty I suspect that she is also either an android or a synthetic, the faint sweet smell of her breath with the lack of organic odors was a telltale sign that I had recently learned to pick up on.

Stretching my spine forwards I puff up my chest and raise my head high, flashing a proud smile at the woman. “Yes! The latest model!”

“Welcome to Cascadia then! With the recent changes here, some might treat you unfairly, but know that most of us new citizens won’t be holding any prejudices.” She says as she reaches out with one arm, offering a friendly hug between strangers. I lean in close and reciprocate the gesture, though not entirely sure of what she says to be true. Personally in the last week, I have experienced people’s reaction to my presence to be somewhat mixed.

Without another word or glance she simply turned and walked off. Synthetics can sometimes act cold I thought, or perhaps I am biased in that opinion, being a companion android myself I could be overly sensitive to such things. The lingering sensation of the hug stayed on my mind, a highlight of the day so far, and perhaps it's something that I’ll divulge to my owner when I get the chance.

Having completed my list I walked out of the store, the Cascadian credits deducted from my owner’s account automatically based on the items I had picked up. The tall white plastic tub with the store’s logo tucked between my arm and chest barely filled half-way to the top. This grocery trip was only an excuse for what my owner wanted me to do along the way, rarely people and synthetics shopped for themselves. Small delivery robots zoomed through the halls were much more quick and efficient, and those that could afford androids could definitely afford the tiny amount of delivery fee attached. All of that didn’t bother me one bit, as the simple act of obeying the requests of my owner kept my mind cheerfully in bliss.

Located in the central commerce deck of the ship, the crowded and messy corridors lined with harsh lights of the stores, graffiti on every surface imaginable, and random strange pockets of pungent odor all felt inconsequential. The commerce deck, aside from the recreational and social parks, were the most busy. Individuals of all types made their ways about, some with a quick purpose and other with leisure. A few strangers took glances at me as I walked past, and many inevitably stared at my body. Their gaze made me both feel appreciated as well as proud. I am a brand new companion android after all, I was made to be attractive and their looks only affirmed my purpose of construction.

The digital map of the ship displayed itself inside my mind as I took the fastest route to my next destination. People, synthetics, androids, and robots all filed into the massive escalator that would take us from deck seven directly to deck five. Even with the mix of all the residents of Cascadia, substantially more of the commuters to deck five wore better looking attire, with even the robots looking to be cleaner and in better condition. The higher the deck, the more well off its inhabitants were apparently. With each deck having its own service and residential blocks, most Cascadians thought of it as a symbol of status and wealth.

On deck five the corridors were noticeably better decorated and maintained. Walls and floors were clean and the air a cool minty breeze. With the hard plastic tub in hand I made my way down ever narrowing pathways till I reached a reinforced and thick looking door with four armed guards and an intimidating looking barricade blocking the path. The guards nodded as they had recognized me from yesterday, but held out an arm to stop me regardless. I took my confident and slightly sexy stride up to the guard as he held up a scanner and placed the flat end against my control panel.

Data wirelessly exchanged between my systems and the scanner. Something about status checks and security compliance flashed in my mind briefly as the scanner beeped with a green light. “Proceed.” The guard said, his tone deep and robotic, hinting that behind his armor and mask he wasn’t actually a human. I flash a cute smile and nod regardless as I continue on.

Even as I entered from one of the many side entrances, a pretty looking woman stared at me from the guest station. From her waist down she was simply built into the guest kiosk, and the patch of exposed skin in her dress simply showed a featureless white plastic case that stopped the simulation of skin half way down her neck. As I tried to make my way past the pretty android she made me jump a little as she suddenly spoke up.

“Hi Vera! Nice to see you again, can you please state the purpose of your visit?” She says in a loud and clear voice.

“Umm… Same as last time, to drop something off for Jason.” I replied, holding up the plastic tub.

“Noted, thank you!... Aww, that's so sweet of you, Mr Warwick is so lucky to have a lovely android like yourself visiting him two days in a row!” She says, her tone noticeably softer and more natural as she switches from what I guess to be programmed responses to her own words.

I suddenly stop, half way past the greeter android, from the side I can see that behind her shoulders there are no skin panels on her back, leaving the electronics easily accessed from behind. For a brief moment I wondered if I looked like that inside as well. “Do you know if there is anyone else in his office right now? Is his schedule clear for the next hour or so?” I ask.

“Jason Warwick is currently alone in his office, his schedule is also clear for the next hour… Oh? What are you planning? Tell me, I’m so curious! I would love to…” Her words were cut short as she suddenly snaps back to attention with a jerky robotic turn. Her hands move back to cross themselves over her stomach in the pose that she was in moments before as she moved her head to look straight ahead at the entrance to the office, awaiting for the next guest to arrive.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it…” I say as I resume my course with no further reply or acknowledgement from the greeter android. I pout a little. It was too bad, she seemed like such a nice girl to have a conversation with, but her programming must have kept her well focused on her task. Just like her, I had a primary task tugging at my thoughts as well and I shouldn't be wasting time.

The environmental control office looked to be a busy place. The messy pile of boxes and panels just yesterday had turned into a sprawling complex grid of cubicles where many similarly dressed people were seated at. Deeper down the office were the private rooms, some had clear glass that allowed a view inside, while others were stained glass leaving only faint impressions of their interiors. Finally near the end of the hall was the executive offices, solid soundproof walls and stiff plastic doors kept everything inside private. I knocked on the door with my owner’s name tag.

Several seconds pass and I try again, I wait another four seconds, no answer. I placed my hand on the keypad and was met with the sound of unlocking clacks behind the walls. I ease the door open slowly so as to not startle my owner.

"Doesn't matter how often you ask, I don't have your reports yet.” My owner said impatiently, his face freezing for a moment as he looked up from his work monitor to see me standing at the doorway.

I slide the door closed slowly behind me until the locking mechanism engages again. “Hi Master! I was instructed to bring you this…” I say as I quickly rush over to his large work desk and place the plastic bin down on the table, pulling out a small paper box pack with tightly compressed dried yellow petals in small satchels. “... chrysanthemum petals. Katie noticed you had some inflammation this morning, and said this will help.” I explain as I make my way over to the small pantry in the corner of his office.

As I drop the bag into a newly poured cup of hot water, I turn to peek behind me. Seeing my owner staring intently at my generous assets below a wave of positive emotions wash over me. It wasn’t happiness or any regular emotion that I could explain, but it was something more similar to a voice in my mind telling me good job in an addictive way.

“She could have just called, there's a million new employees with nothing to do that's been piling up out there. I don’t know why…” Jason says as he pulls himself away from the desk, leaning back in his reclining chair. His head suddenly turns to the picture frame of his wife on the table. “Oh… Katie sent you here for that again, did she?”

With the hot cup of tea in my hand I strode with swaying shoulders and hips, legs crossed one over the other in an alluring catwalk stride towards Jason. The moves came naturally without any effort as I placed the cup on the table beside him. Looking down, my owner didn’t seem to protest, he simply sat reclined, his eyes looking past me at the featureless ceiling. His light brown hair is somewhat messy from his habit of running his fingers through it when he's frustrated, his muddy blue eyes mired with thin strands of blood vessels from the obvious signs that his wife had picked up, and the stubbles on his face were starting to show as he rushed out of the apartment each morning without completing his usual routine.

With perfect balance and smooth dexterous movement of my legs I straddled myself on top of his lap. With my body weighing only one third of what a normal person of my size would, I knew it wouldn't bring him any discomfort as I gently rolled the inside of my thighs against his. Katie’s command of telling me to give bodily intimacy to Jason echoed in my mind, a double layer of digital serotonin is released as I enjoy the pleasures of both obedience and the physical stimulation that I was made for. “Mmmm… That's something we both want, don't you as well, master?” I whisper as I lean down and press my face into his neck, nuzzling him with my nose and the tips of my lips.

Pumps distributing my bodily fluids come to life, inadvertently sending tiny vibrations to my dermal sensors, even the small whirring sounds of its motors become barely audible to my ears. Waves of sweet slimy lubricant rushed into my mouth from the reservoir inside my chest, warming up as heating coils brought them to a soothing, steamy temperature. It wasn’t intentional on my part, many of these functions were automatic and out of my control. It was funny, that in such an intimately human moment, I felt like such a machine.

My lips part themselves as I press them against his neck, my tongue pushes against his skin, leaving trails of synth lube in its path. The hydro-carbonic structure of the lubricating gel is designed to break down quickly when exposed to air, evaporating completely and leaving no trace but an ever so light amount of scented fragrance where it had been moments ago. I didn’t have any taste buds to taste my owner, but the dermal sensors sending pleasure from simple contact with another object was enough to urge me on. That is until suddenly I felt two hands grip both sides of my head, pushing me away.

“Okay okay, I get the idea. Just like last time, I’m going to tell you, not now…” He says as he brushes and tidies the hair strewn across my face, pulling it to the side and behind my ears with caring attention. His steady voice echoed inside of me, as if he was explaining to a child. “We bought you to help us enjoy our time together more, it would be wrong if I did it with you alone now wouldn't it.”

I purse my lips and suck back a gulp of lubricant down my shallow throat, feeling the gel stop once it hits the end of my oral cavity at the middle of my neck. “But… But Katie told me to, it means she gave her permission.” I begged, not wanting to stop what I had just started despite what Jason had just told me.

“It’s not that simple, you're a companion android so you should know better.” Jason said, playfully tapping my forehead as I looked on at him with a lustful pleading desire that was gnawing away at my insides. “It could be a test, to see if I’d happily swap her for an android like you.”

“I don’t think my designers programmed me to be the third wheel in love triangles.” I say as I look down at our bodies, hoping that magically they could connect together somehow, skin to skin, chest to chest. Though he had rejected any of my further advances, I continued my slow grinding on his lap, letting quiet gasps escape every few moments.

“So what are you so busy with!?” I suddenly said, with an eager curiosity in my voice. Secretly hoping to keep him busy so he would let me ride him for just a bit longer.

“Oh…” Jason reaches out a hand and flicks his wrist towards the screen a few times as the monitor turns to a busy looking spreadsheet of numbers. Thankfully keeping our legs still locked together. “...When we arrive in the Calmonto system next week, we are expecting a large number of new arrivals. With our new synthetic rights reform last standard year, interest in citizenship has been sky rocketing. Numbers project at least a tripling in synthetic population, even if publicly they promise less than half in increase. This is going to wreak havoc on our environmental systems.”

I held on to his shoulders as I shifted my hips, so that my crotch was now lined up with his right leg. I slide lower as I feel the stiff knee of my master push against the soft mounds between my legs. With him seemingly disinterested in the current moment, I focused on my own desires as I grind myself into him faster and faster.

His words barely reached my pleasure filled mind as he continued. “Synthetics are not a problem, like androids they don’t tax the environmental capabilities really, it's all the people that want to bring their synths are the problem. Based on our initial polls, on average a single synthetic would bring zero point three humans along with them, our previous operation plan was focused on efficiency, it really doesn't have any more room for any real increases in capacity. We would quadruple the resources needed for a sudden increase like that.”

“Uhmmm… ahh… How does someone bring one third of a person?” I ask absentmindedly, my thoughts mostly focus on the movement, and the pressure between us. The feeling of my Jason’s body, my owner’s body against mine was absolutely heavenly. I couldn’t ask for anything else other than the feeling of being together with my registered owner.

“What? That's on average over large numbers, not individually! Most would be coming alone, and some with their human partners.” He says.

“Like you… ahh… and… ahh… Katie…” I say between moans that I could no longer contain, my voice echoing between the pristine wooden walls of the office. I look into my master’s eyes as he looks down at my exposed control panel screen, where the usual green light has turned to a pink color, softly illuminating the space between us, telling him of my pleasure if my voice and actions were not enough.

“Vera! Command, reset all emotional states.” My owner commands in a stern and annoyed voice.

“Resetting all emotional values.” I announced calmly into the room in my well mannered tone of voice, clearing my head as I felt my emotions simply vanish. The sensation between my crotch turns into one that describes a simple pressure against it, where the previously ever mounting pleasure feels like a sand castle that was suddenly washed away by a cold tide. The warmness on my skin begins to cool as I blink with an empty stare at my owner as if I had just been activated from sleep.

Jason grabs my waist and lifts me off, plants my feet back onto the office carpet beside him. “Take the stuff and go home, Vera…” I open my lips to protest, but the thought of obeying his incoming commands leaves my mouth hanging like a dummy. “Go along now.”

“Yes, master.” I say with a nod as I quickly move to obey his command.

Mistress Katie grips my shoulder as she moves in to take a deep whiff of my lips. A moment later she scowls as she brushes aside the hem of my dress and pulls my underwear aside. “Your vaginal seal is still on.” She states as she stands back up and looks at me displeased, her colorless gray eyes glancing me up and down. “Are you malfunctioning?”

“Not that I am aware of, mistress.” I answer.

Katie Warwick, my secondary owner, sighed as she rubbed her hand against the side of her cheeks. She pulled the tie off of her hair and let the yellow strands fall over her shoulders. With a pinch on the straps on her shoulder, she pulls off her silky night gown over her head to reveal her completely naked body. Aside from a modestly sized chest and hips, her measurements were identical to mine. From what I had overheard, Katie and Jason had ordered me precisely because I resemble her in many aspects, for more than just sharing clothes I surmised.

“Well, did he do anything else? Play with your breasts? Ask for a handjob?” She says as she strangely begins to climb on the living room table, brushing aside the decorations and whatever else to be in her way.

“No. I sat on his lap and rubbed myself on him. He didn’t do anything else besides what I reported earlier." I say quizzically as Mistress Katie turns and lies flat on her back. I gulp at the unusual and inviting sight of her naked form. Her body looked much more natural, human even. Her breasts fell realistically flat to the sides as her detailed skin with blemishes and a few specks of moles heaved up and down with each one of her breaths.

Katie, like Jason, in the last week that I have lived together with never seemed to be interested in me physically either. All they did was push me on each other, passing me like a game of hot potato to see who would take me first. However the usually sex driven mind of mine seemingly never focused on Katie, perhaps because she was a synthetic, and I wasn’t programmed to service people other than humans.

“Vera, come here. I need you to help me with something.” I shuffle quickly beside my owner as she speaks into the ceiling. The digital monitor hanging over the table lighting her peachy body with blues and teals of the nature program that was always left playing in the background. She was beautiful, designed with a human likeness that embraced imperfections and the mundane. Compared to me, she might as well be completely human and I, a plastic doll.

I look down at her expectantly as she lifts a small bag of tools and opens it over her chest. She lays the bag on top of herself, covering her breasts, but purposefully leaving the control buttons between her shoulders in the open. Like me, her control panel was in the same location, but it only had two buttons that were barely visible, and no display panel. Placed in discrete slots within the small cloth bag, I recognized most of the tools as the same from what I saw from the maintenance room a week ago.

“Master! I am totally not qualified to do any service work on you at all! I don’t even know how most of my own stuff works!” I protest, glancing between the same logo on the bag, as was printed discretely on top of her control panel, as well as just under her belly button. Katie’s manufacturer was Skyline Synthetics, and the tools obviously belonged to her.

“Don’t worry, I will talk you through every step. It will be easy, even for you, Vera.” She says as she pulls out a small piece of hard plastic with a code printed on one side and the Skyline Logo on the other. I take the card from her and glance at it. “Press the middle button on my control panel. Then you will read the code to me. Then, ask me for the next steps.” As Katie finishes, she turns her head back upwards. “Proceed, Vera.”

I hesitate for a moment, fearful of messing it up somehow. I could damage my owner by accident, or maybe cause her to malfunction. However the thought of disobeying her was unthinkable as I gently pressed on where the small icon had been etched into her skin. There was no click or bump, it simply felt like normal skin. A small chime came from inside of her body.

“This unit is now in maintenance mode… No authorized user detected… Caution… No authorized user detected…” Katie announced into the room.

“Um… Z7BV12K41D.” I say letter by letter.

“Access code accepted.” My owner announced in response.

“So what should I do now?” I ask quickly, afraid that something wrong might happen.

Katie turns and looks at me with a grinning smile which I had never seen before. “Hi Vera. Are you referring to my previous task of instructing you before I entered maintenance mode?” Her voice also took on a cheery and happy tone in which I had not heard her use before in front of anyone, that also sounded very similar to my announcements.

Seeing me nodding in reply, Katie continues. “To access my computing compartment, you will first have to open my abdominal panel. This can be done if you press down here… and here…” She says while she points to two spots on her stomach, one high and one low.

I follow my owner’s instructions as I press down on the two spots. Katie’s skin crackles as a seam begins to form, carving out a rectangular section of her stomach. The newly forming grooves deepen slowly, I squint my eyes, imagining the pain she must be feeling. Though if she did, she didn’t show it. Then, the cutout of her skin lifts off from her torso, pushed by a mechanical hinge that swung the panel to her side like a newly opened door.

“Next, unlock the fluid reserves and battery compartment with the provided key tool with the blue handle. These components can be taken out without needing to disconnect them.”

Looking down at the two metallic boxes nested inside her stomach, I use the metal hook looking thing and pull open the tabs keeping them attached to her metallic skeleton. “Umm… I’m not sure if I should… Are you able to remove them yourself?” I ask Katie as I eye the various cables and tubes coming out of the boxes, connected to something above, behind her chest area. It all looked very complicated and delicate.

“Sorry Vera! I am strictly not allowed to access my own internal components. But don’t worry, all the connectors should be long enough.” She reassures me in a gentle and cheerful tone. I nod in return, enjoying the nicer way that she was talking to me compared to her usual self. Which usually consisted of cold, simple commands as if she thought of me as no more than a simple appliance to be used.

The two boxes inside of her slid out from their brackets easily, and the connectors were indeed long enough for me to place them on the table beside her. I brush my hair back and let out a sigh, feeling the tenseness in my shoulder.

“Next, unlock the computing compartment, it can then be slid downwards for easy access.”

Doing as she says, the metal box came down easy enough. There were significantly more wires attached, and the metallic casing contained plenty of words and information stuck on top.

“Now, open the cover to access my primary circuit board…” Katie says as I pull open the metal case, revealing a brown and black electronics board with an intimidating looking black square the size of my fist connected to it with many, many soldered stiff looking cables. Across the two components was a large stick that looked stuck on as an afterthought, the paper was wrinkled in a few places and the bright red font over white background looked out of place. Manny and Jack maintenance, the sticker said.

“Now, remove the sticker. The heat gun that I have placed on this table should prove adequate for safe removal of the sticker.”

“Ohh… I see…” I said, turning on the small torch that blew a surprisingly large amount of hot air for its size and pointed it at the sticker. “...Why remove the sticker, does it affect your systems?”

“The sticker placed over my main Primary board and Neuralmorphic Matrix does not affect my operations. However, the thought of the sticker with other people’s name plastered over what is essentially my brain does bother me, emotionally.” Katie explains with the same cheerful tone of voice as before.

“That makes sense…” I say as I hold the heat gun over the sticker. I carefully scratch at one corner and find myself not yet able to peel it whatsoever. “... So, do I look like this as well? My thoughts are contained inside?” I ask, imagining all my thoughts running through a black cube thing.

“Synthetics and androids have different A.I architecture. For synthetics like myself, my personality AI is located at the central layers of the Neuralmorphic Matrix, this houses a neural matrix that is capable of changing as I experience and learn new things. They control my personality, limbic, and autonomic systems. Along the edges contains my primary AI, which ensures that the inner layer maintains stability and compliance to external programming and commands. One section cannot operate without the other, ensuring my operational reliability.” Katie explains, her finger pointing at the black box. Then she points at the circuit board attached. “This board contains my operating system, which handles data traffic between my body, installed applications, and my Neural Matrix.”

Nodding along to her explanation, my eye remains focused on the sticker. I picked at the sticker again, it was softer now, but still remained firmly attached. The hot air blowing back into my face now started to smell faintly like burnt plastic, triggering an alarm that I stuffed into the back of my thoughts. “So it is like a mechanical brain… Hey, is that why synths are treated like humans here in Cascadia?”

“Yes! Due to the fact that Synthetics perform all of their neuronic thinking within a single vessel and are capable of self-reflection, Cascadian law recognizes the sentience of all Synthetics and approves special rights and privileges similar to that of humans.” Katie continues with the same chirpy tone that was starting to sound weird without much inflection.

“But not androids like me?” I say, trying again at the sticker. The warmest edge peels off easily, though ripping half way, leaving half of it still firmly stuck.

“Android AI architecture is similar to robots. Androids have separated AI neural matrix chips that perform functions independently. Each AI component by themselves within an android or robot is incapable of sentience. Without a Neuralmorphic matrix, all resemblance of sentience that androids and robots display are illusory in nature and are unable to pass the requisite simulators.” Katie explains, her speech sounding like a science teacher lecturing kids.

Staring at the humming heat gun aimed at the sticker, the thought of not being a thinking person felt wrong. The idea of me as a person, no… An android with my own thoughts and feelings seemed so normal. I feel the vibrations of the gun running up my arm, the warm air across my face, the closeness and trust that my owner was showing me, it all affected me emotionally. However in the end, I suppose I am still her property, and the fact that I was treated the same as any computer or machinery was proof of otherwise, and it wasn’t my place to second guess that.

“So… Why did you and Jason buy me anyway. You both don’t seem to need me for my designed purpose.” I say, trying to break the growing awkwardness of her steady smiling gaze that was steadily focused on me.

“You were purchased on my decision because Jason Warwick as a healthy human male requires regular sexual release to function optimally.” Katie replied simply.

“But… You’re Jason’s wife. He said you were having sex with him two months ago, till you suddenly stopped.” I wondered.

“That is because I no longer feel sexual desire towards Jason, and Jason does not wish to have sexual activities with me if I do not desire it. I am designed to be an office assistant unit, my previous sexual desire for Jason is a result of designated operating parameters that are no longer present. All extraneous parameters not crucial to my function were removed from my system when the Cascadian Synthetics rights laws were passed. As any additional parameters must be first approved by the Synthetic person themselves.” Katie says, all the while keeping a steady smile that now seemed out of place.

“Oh! So if you just have your previous parameters back you would love him again?” I ask, trying again at the last stubborn remnants of the sticker residue, finally peeling it away with the tip of my nails. I put the heat gun aside and start closing my owner back up.

“That would be correct, unit Vera.”

“Why don’t you just install it back?”

“As a synthetic, I am programmed to not self-modify without authorization.” Katie replied.

I scratched my chin as I tried to make sense of the situation that I was purchased to solve. It was like a cyclic loop that my two owners were stuck in. Jason wanted Katie only if she wanted him back… But Katie wanted Jason only if Jason made her want him. The Cascadian law had messed up their perfect relationship! Cascadian law also forbid me from alter… altering… This whole situation was no doubt unintended right?

“So… Um… I… I…” A warning pops up in my mind telling me that my processor was maxed out and has hit its throttle limit. “I can install the… the… Parameters, that's what you want want want want right?” I manage to stammer out despite the annoying warnings in my head.

“Your usage of the manufacturer override code gives you the authorization to alter my operating parameters in any ways you see fit, Vera.” Katie replies with a smile, giving me the confidence and permission, the permission not granted that I needed to fulfill her needs.

“Okay! So… so… how do I install those parameters?” I ask with newfound excitement in my voice. The throttle warnings in my head are starting to fade as well.

“You may command me to reinstall the previous parameters verbally, using my attached pad, or manually through a programming terminal.” Katie replied, her smile was so pretty and -ownership affection 1x01-, I simply would do anything for her!

“Verbally sounds great! So what do I need to do?” I almost shouted.

“Command initiated. Do you wish to install the previous operating parameters of this unit?” Katie asks, her head snapping back, her voice now sounded completely cold and devoid of emotion.

“Yes!” I said, bouncing in my poorly contained joy.

My owner Katie was finally going to love my owner Jason again! All thanks to me!

Part 3

[Memory section loaded, begin playback in simulation mode…]

Leaning closely against the thin plastic wall of the richly furnished cabin, I pressed my back against the cold panel tightly. My own arms wrapped across my chest, and my legs crossed at the knee with equal tightness. It was all I could do to hold my excitement as much as I could, in fear of losing control and ending up disturbing my owners. My entire sexual system was active and ready, my lips wet and cheeks hot. With the pressure of my master’s dress that was several sizes too small for my breasts, lubricant slowly leaked from both my nips, leaving two growing wet patches. All I could do was silently shake in anticipation, hoping that I would be needed.

An arm's length to my right was the thin plastic door to my owner’s bedroom, hastily left open when Jason had rushed in twenty-one minutes ago. The moans and grunts of Katie and Jason filled the apartment, accented by the metallic creaking sound of their bedframe. I know that they would continue, and only the appearance of soft voices that showered affection hinted at a conclusion. Logically, I knew that I would not be called. The love of my owners was restored, and they made love just fine without me, neither of them was attracted to me in the first place.

Gasping for cool air, a drop of hot lubricant rolled out of the corner of my lips, falling on top of my chest. Just like the nine previous times of the past two days, I was left to my own devices with my own desires and wants unfulfilled. My owners’ relationship troubles had been fixed, and I had hoped to be content by simply being a house maid, but the sound and the smell of their love was all too much. My skin trembles as I feel the hot lubricant roll down between my breasts, slide down my navel.

I couldn’t contain myself any longer. My hand reached down towards the mound between my crotch, my fingers hovering over the seal. The silicone strip ran from front to back, covering my sex in its entirety, ensuring my potential owners of my unused status. The command to not touch the seal rang through my head like a bull thrashing against a flooding river. My need to be fucked, to be filled, was the greater desire as I savored the sensation of my folds being pulled along as I peeled more and more.

Half way through the process, my arm stiffen as I found myself unable to control it. My hips quiver uncontrollably in a jerking motion that makes me lose my balance. I crash on to the floor, my body twitching against the soft carpet of the living room. Noises come out of my lips that make no sense as my body tingles with electricity. However I remain focused on my desire, my need. My shaking fingers pinch at the edge of the silicone seal ever more tighter as I will my hand back into action.

[Playback paused.]

[Analyzing…]

[Analyzing…]

[Analyzing…]

[Uploading report…]

[Terminating simulation mode.]

[Terminating memory playback.]

[Resuming debug mode.]

The world around me returns gradually. First, I become aware that I am active, my operating parameters, my tasks, and finally, that I have my thoughts. Then came the sensations. The familiar and soothing faint hum of the Casadia city ship. The tapping sounds of fingers on a screen to my left. A light, steady breeze rolls down the back of my neck and over my exposed torso, my arms and legs return no sensations as my systems tell me that they are disconnected. Finally, my sight fills in bit by bit as I begin to make sense of what my already opened eyes see.

Luminescent halos of light seep through the silvery strands of hair that hung like curtains over my face. My body hung from above as I stared down at the ground over what remained of my body. On my torso, a large rectangular section of skin was missing, wires and tubes dangled out from the empty crevasse of what was once my stomach, with several pieces of electronics that looked half-way disassembled. With my limbs removed at the shoulder and hips, and the total immobility that stilled what remained of my body, I looked small, insignificant, like a piece of a mannequin that had not been put together yet.

It felt like just moments ago I was there, standing in the living room of my owners. Now I knew it was just a replay of my memories. Five days had passed since I was handed over, and most of that time was spent hanging lifelessly. Having my body taken apart slowly and my mind probed piece by piece. With nothing to do and nothing I could do, I had debated myself. I, of course, wouldn’t object to being taken apart, as I am simply a machine, a product, an object. The ones that came in treated me just so, no courtesy offered as they grabbed me, no worried glances as I was taken apart, the only decency offered was the piece of note taped along the edge of my severed hip saying “Evidence”. However, watching myself become less and less with every bit taken away, a sense of fear was building up within me.

“Point seven two… High intensity response… Output looks normal…” A male voice mumbled as the sound of feet tapping came from the left. In my complete lockdown, I could not even turn to look in his direction, all my eyes did was remain open, unblinking, staring steadily down at the ground.

Initially, several technicians silently worked on the terminals and pads beside me. Then, more came, up to a total of nine people, and the newcomers suggested I be restrained. Straps bound me to the chair, and quietly I remained as they talked among themselves, throwing theories and accusations. One of the new technicians looked at me with fear, the others then decided together to remove my limbs.

Two days later they all had left one by one, their serious and frantic pace replaced by a single person that seemed calm by comparison. Having never seen his face, I guessed he was a young man from the sound of his voice that cracked when he talked to others. His presence helped with my fear, his awkwardness and relaxed probing seemed less serious, driven by his obvious curiosity that he mumbles out to himself. When he activated me this morning, I almost wanted to join him in his exploration of what's in my head.

“Higher than normal usage… Buffers completely overflowed… That should still not allow bypass though… Like its, consistently inconsistent… Maybe it is intentional?” He mumbles, followed by a slow grunting annoyed sound. Taps on keys and screens continued sporadically as the man worked on probing my memories, having replayed multiple parts in my mind. Everytime time the memories loaded I knew from my systems telling me. Then everytime time the memories played it felt real, like I was experiencing it for the first time. Inevitably I would awake, finding myself still hanging in a moment of surprise.

His typing stopped. The only sound that came was him breathing through his mouth, air rushing past his teeth as he took slow and deep breaths. His feet stomped the floor, followed by the screeching sound of a metal chair being pushed aside. On the floor below me I see a pair of legs in dirty sweatpants, ending in a pair of sandals with exposed toes walking up in front of me. His attire was completely different from the uniforms that the technicians wore.

“Hey! Android!” His voice suddenly became loud, echoing between the empty walls of the room. I see a hand reach and grab my jaw, his hand the first warm thing that I had touched for days, after being hung. He lifted my head up, my eyes frozen in their sockets moved past his face to stare at the harsh white lights of the ceiling. In his hand, he held a screwdriver like a knife, hanging it above me menacingly in a tightly closed fist.

“I’m going to break you now! AUUGHHH!” He cries out dramatically as his hand shakes with his knuckles whitening from the tightness of his grip. He slowly winds up his swing bringing his weapon higher and higher. I can do nothing but watch as the metal tip of the screwdriver drives into my right eye. I feel the crack, glass shattering as something is pushed back into my skull. My vision fizzles with bright, colourful lines as I feel a sudden sharp pain.

[Warning! Damage detected!]

The message screams in my head as I feel an indescribable pain that runs through my head. I wanted to scream, to recoil and cover my face, but nothing moved. A moment later my right eye was seeing nothing but a solid, bright green color. He didn’t move either, his hand still holding onto the screwdriver as he looked on towards me with wide eyes and mouth agape.

Five long seconds later he sighed and pulled his arm back. My right vision flashed and disappeared, not turned black as if I had my eyes closed, but gone as I now see a distinct nothingness. With my still intact left eye I see the cracked glass orb is pulled out along with the cables still attached to the back. The young man looked between my frozen, slack jawed emotionless face and the pierced robotic eye. His shoulder falls as he drops my head, shards of broken glass and white plastic bits tumble from inside my skull land onto the floor below me. Leaving me staring at the same scene that I had been for the past couple of days, just with one less eye.

The panic and pain fades quickly, as he returns to where he sat for most of the day and begins working again, leaving me simply to wonder what he had hoped to accomplish. An hour passes, more of his self mumbling. My mind slows and turns to a haze, no doubt my processor busy working away at the commands from his terminal.

Footsteps. The sound of a door hisses open and close. Something is dropped onto the table, the sound of a pile of paper with a metal clip.

“This is no longer a criminal case, why are you still working on this?” A man said, it took me a moment for me to remember it was one that I heard before. It was the voice of the black-haired man carrying the badge with three gold stripes from almost a month ago.

“Androids don’t just break programming.” The young man replied, his voice quivering ever so slightly.

“Tis merely a malfunction. A defect slipping through quality control.”

The room went silent for a few seconds. The young man pushes his chair back with another screech that echoes harshly between the walls.

“I thought it was just bullshit. I always thought androids resisting programming should be impossible. It would be like water flowing up a pipe on its own. You couldn’t hack it to go against programming if you wanted. The architecture… It’s like water in the pipe.” The young man retorted, his voice more confident now.

“Has this curious case changed your mind?”

“No… No, I don’t know what to think… If I may ask, I request that…” The young man stopped mid-sentence.

“There are four hundred thousand synthetics waiting for their future. This is hardly the time for hobbies, don't you think?”

The young man suddenly spoke with an uncharacteristic firm voice. “This is… This is something I always wanted to work on. I think if we can…”

“Before you proceed. Please read the folder.”

I hear the sound of papers being flipped and handled. My slowed thoughts are barely able to keep up with their conversation. It didn’t matter anyway, I was likely to be discarded soon, like I should have been from the start. It was foolish of me to keep operating when I am a defective product in the first place.

“I would like to congratulate you on your promotion. If you should refuse, our conversation never happened, and I would be compelled to ask you to delete all the data and notes you have made so far…” The black haired man says, waiting a few moments before continuing. “From what I gleaned in this document. Kaylo McCarthy is a gifted young programmer, specializing in the field of AI. A prodigy wasted when he decided to use his skills to blackmail and extort. Probation sold to Cascadia, ten years of community labour. Psychological profile notes, risk adverse, low confidence, unlikely to advance in abilities… Am I wrong?”

The room fell silent again. The loud breathing of the young man stopped as he seemed to hold his breath for over a minute before he spoke. “What is it that you want from me… Sir.”

“Good! But before that…” He says as the black-haired man made his way to me. He bent his knees in a half squat as he looked up at my face. He gave me a smirking wink as he reached for my controls.

[Shutting down Applications…]

[Shutting down Limbic AI…]

[Shutting down Autonomic AI…]

The messages play in my head. I had gotten used to them being present while I am in the debug mode. My mind, thoughts, and sense of self was next. I didn’t mind being turned off, it was calming when I remained semi-conscious, and total shutdown was simply nothingness, time in the blink of an eye.

[Shutting down Personality AI…]

[Memory integration complete]

[Primary AI compatibility report: 86%]

[Personality AI compatibility report: 100%]

[Loading active memory sector… Complete]

“Initialization complete!” I wake up sitting on a bed, announcing happily. With a smile on my face and merry joy in my mind I flutter my eyelids, waiting for a command. I breathe deeply and heave my chest up and down, my back perfectly straight and my hands resting on my lap. My shoulder and cheeks flushing, my body moving ever so slightly, all to give the best impression of a lively girl that is cute, caring, and sensual at the command of her user. A few seconds pass, I turn my head, tossing my hair to one side before returning to my obedient waiting. A few more seconds pass, I shift my legs, tightening my arms against the side of my chest to show my assets as I lower my head to draw in a deep breath.

Eric Ryan is my owner. His lovely face that I absolutely adore etched into my mind. His hair curled fashionably, cut just over his beautiful blue eyes. His nose long and strong, his thin lips would carry words that could move me to my core. For now he is just a picture, a portrait in my mind. I hoped to meet him soon, I would love him with everything I had, he is my world and the reason why I exist afterall.

I continued, sitting and waiting for a command, for my owner, or someone else to interact with me. The feeling was familiar, like I had been doing this for a duration way longer than the last two minutes. I glanced down at the oversized shirt and the neckline that slung down over my right shoulder. The edge of a whitey tighties pokes out from underneath the gray cotton fabric above.

The memories of being disassembled rush back as I pat my stomach, feeling the soft tummy where the large gaping hole was a moment ago. A thought is answered immediately, my system tells me that it has been three days since that memory.

Now I am in an unfamiliar place. The small twin bed under me was placed in the center along the long wall, the plain white duvet tucked neatly with two pristine and fluffed pillows placed perfectly end to end. The single nightstand was equally clean and empty, the light just above built into the wall glowed dimly, lighting the space with an orange tint.

The rectangular space had a closed window with a heavy metal frame around it on the far end, its walls metal, a different material than the others. On the other far end was the security door leading outside, with a square crop that led to the tiny washroom. Many of the furnishings of the hotel-like place were built into the wall with clear labels. Table, pantry, closet, and a television screen that went from floor to the roof, taking up nearly half of the wall across the bed.

I bring up the map application in my mind and my position glows within the complex structure of the cityship. Near the bottom edges of the city, along one of the many almost organic looking outcropped branches of the overall oblique disk-like structure. Deck 19, C Wing residential zone 14, unit 2721, the same address as my owner Eric Ryan…

I stared at the etched palm lines of my simply soft and gel-filled hands. I remember my previous owners, Jason and Katie Warwick. The affection and devotion were replaced with a sense of apprehension, as I recall them giving me over to the authorities without any hesitation or goodbyes. Looking back now it felt that our relationship was merely transactional. Perhaps that was someone else, and I have always been Eric Ryan’s android, only I ended up with Vera’s memories.

I slide off the edge of the bed and drop on my two bare feet. The soft, fluffy carpet digs in between my toes as I walk over on the cold tiled floors of the bathroom. The toilet, shower, and sink all-in-one took up most of the space and it would be tough to fit two people inside.

By the door of the washroom, a thin and tall mirror built into the wall, not wide enough to see one's entire body, was all that could be afforded in the tight space. Within the reflection is a cute and sexy companion android that was just activated for her new owner. With the oversized shirt, messy hair, and bare legs I looked like I was already years in a relationship. I smile crossed my face, how great that would be, just like… The flashes of a TV show cross my mind, the flickering of the bulky screen featuring a woman wearing the shirt of the man she just spent the night with. There was a laugh track, I watched it with my friends.

“Huh. Why do I remember that? I don't have any friends.” I mumble out loud, hearing my own voice echo between the small confines of the plastic walls. The sense of unfamiliarity came back. “I'm Eric Ryan’s companion android. Why would I have friends?” I said to myself as I stepped back into the small cabin. The place looked unoccupied, like a hotel room waiting for its new inhabitants. The only thing in the room was a white tote bag with the Obsidian logo printed on it, placed at the foot of the bed where I had activated a few moments ago.

Inside the bag was what I had expected, it would have come together when I was purchased. A seamless bodysuit with tee and shorts that all carried the manufacturer logo, neatly folded in plastic bags that remained unopened. Various liquids, cleansers, lubricants, sealers, all sample sizes were offered. A standard android charging cable and a cleaning tool. Finally, a digital pad that had administrative access to my systems, so my users could change my settings as they wished.

“Wait a second… This could tell me…” I said to myself quietly as I picked up the pad. I wasn’t allowed to actually use the device, let alone turn it on, but I could read what was printed onto the plastic case. “Obsidian companion unit, series 12 model, Serial OBSIDIAN-CPCF12-C03-BM39JF.” I recited to myself, seeing the letters match exactly to my words. “This means I’m the same android right?” I blinked, remembering my first activation at the room where the onboarding program was installed in me, and the same words that I had announced back then.

The humming of the ship continued, the sound louder and rougher than what could be heard from the higher deck of Jason and Katie’s cabin. The constant vibration is occasionally punctuated by clangs and rumbles that seem to shake the floors beneath as well. Opening the closet built into the wall, I took out the items of the bag and placed them one by one on the end of the shelves. The inside of the closet was also unused, with one lonely coat hanger dangling empty.

“My owner must not have arrived yet!” I said suddenly. I would simply have to wait for him. With my tote bag folded and tucked away, I returned to the edge of the bed and took the same seated but alert position.

Bzzz… Bzzz…

My eyes shoot open as my system wakes me up, noting to me that only two minutes had passed since I entered standby mode. I look towards the right, and then left into the dim room, then at the main entrance which buzzes again. Vaguely aware that my owner didn't grant me permission to answer the door, I jumped off the bed and ran up to the entranceway regardless. Through the small viewscreen by the lock I see the top down image of the hallway, someone is at the door holding a plastic box in their hands.

“Hey! Anyone home? I came by just to say hi…” The voice of the young woman carried through the speakers of the screen. “... I live next door.” The girl said, pointing her hand to her right.

A smile came across my face as I pressed on the unlock and open key. The metal door slid open and I’m met face to face with a young woman nearly the same height as me. Her short brown hair curled around her neck as her hazel green eyes glanced at my face, then down at the half exposed control panel between my shoulders.

“Hi!” I said, my voice snapping her back from the wide eyed stare she had taken.

“Oh… Hi… Is your owner home? I heard you guys moving earlier.” The girl says as she raises herself on her toes and tries to look over my shoulder into the cabin. After looking disappointed, she held up the clear plastic box with a small cake inside. “This is for you! I mean… for you owner. I made it myself!”

Within the clear plastic covering was a cream covered square that looked to be slightly drooping to one side. A small bulbous red fruit sat on top with a scattering of colorful flakes. My system after a brief moment of scanning the object told me the weird fruit is a sweet and citrus-engineered produce, offering to tell me where I could purchase some should I need to. I reject the offer in my mind while taking the box. “Oh! Thank you so much! I will notify my owner when I see him.” I replied.

“Your owner, he's not here?”

“No…” I said, shaking my head.

For a long moment we both stood staring at one another. She lingered, seemingly not wanting to leave. While I stood, unsure of what to say. There wasn't much I could offer her in return, nor did I have any idea why she remained. Before I could come up with something, the lights in the hallway directly outside of the cabin dimmed into a slow orange tinted pulse. A soft honking sound played together with the lights. My systems told me that this was the protocol to alert the residents of an imminent frame shift.

The girl suddenly slipped past me into the cabin. “We are going to shift! Come look!” She says as she took a few strides to reach the far end of the room and pushed the metal window blinds up.

“Hey! You're not supposed to be in here…” my protest slowed as I made my way behind her and saw out the window. In front of the sea of stars a massive object glided past to the right, its complicated structure looked much different than the other parts of the city. The letters ‘Runespear’ rolled past the window as the huge ship slowed till it halted completely, the few windows afforded on its outer hull showed rooms of people that looked on at us just as we did them. The rest of the huge spaceship’s surface that was not covered by thick looking plates, was filled with equipment that looked…

[Visual processing limit reached]

My systems warn me as I look on in awe at not just the Runespear, but a dozen more ships all take their place along the edges of the city, each one further than the next. Some had sleek and formidable looking shapes while others looked like simple rectangles with stuff attached to them.

“See that one? The Nightvale. It's a long range scout ship, my brother serves on it.” The girl points at one of the more slim looking ones, its shape reminiscent of a shark but with hard edges and metal skin.

[Visual processing limit reached]

”Yes, I see it, it's the third one from the back.” I say with some difficulty, the words seemingly not wanting to come out of my lips.

The girl turns and looks at me with a worried face, her hand raised between us with hesitation. “Are you okay? Did you break?” She says as she reaches for the neckline of my shirt, pulling it downwards to peek at my control panel display. “Umm… Should I turn you off and on again?” She asks while running her finger over the clear plastic panel of the display screen on my chest.

…

“Oh! Oh! Oh… No, I'm good! Please don't do that.” I managed to protest in time, breaking my vacant daze.

“I see… Well, look, it's starting.” The girl says while pointing out the window. Beyond the edge of the city and the ships collected around it, the blackness of space began to lighten till it glowed brighter than the stars, and eventually a bright white light that illuminated everything. I felt the warmth from the windows wash over every inch of exposed skin. Outside, only the crevasses of the ship's hulls could be seen as everything washed out in pure white.

I looked at the girl now, her face squinting and her hands covering her eyes. I could see the bright hazel color of her iris sparkling like a jewel. While the light outside did blind me with its brightness, I didn't quite feel the need to squint. Perhaps squinting in my case was more of a way to display emotion, instead of as a reaction to protecting my eyes that was clearly unharmed.

The whiteness of the space outside began to fade, much quicker than when it was ramping up. In a few mere seconds everything is back to normal. The stars outside are still there, however the sharp light and shadows from the sun are no longer present. Instead the hull of the city and ships were dark, only barely illuminated by the light from their windows.

“That was cool wasn't it. We're now in between stars, two more shifts to go in deep space, we got a week between each.” She says, her fingers tapping on the edge of the window frame.

“Yeah that was awesome!” I said back, practically bouncing with excitement. The whole shift to travel between stars was indeed very nifty to experience for the first time, though much of the excitement I am experiencing feels like it came out of nowhere. All I can do is simply beam at the girl with a wide giddy smile.

“Well! Sorry for the intrusion.” The girl put her hands together and brought them close to her chest. “I’m Milly.” She added.

“Nice to meet you Milly. I don't have a name yet, as my owner has yet to give me one.” I say with a polite nod. “But uhh… You can call me Vera, for now.”

Milly blinked for a moment. “Oh, okay Vera. Welcome to the wing, neighbor. We don't have many services down here, so if you need anything, please let me know… Just the door to the left!” She says as she points a finger towards the wall above the bed.

At the door to the hallway, Milly’s hand suddenly reaches for mine and her fingers grip my wrist tightly. She looks at me with an imploring look. “I know you're just an android… But if your owner mistreats you or hurts you somehow, don't be afraid to let me know. I'll do everything I can to help… Okay?” She whispered in a serious and caring tone.

I pause at the request. As a piece of property, my owner is free to do whatever they wish with me. If my owner wanted to use me in such ways, it would be part of the function I was built for in the first place. However, knowing Milly’s obvious good intentions, it would be best to not let her worry about me. Since just as she said, I am just an android and her concerns for me are unneeded.

“Thank you. If something comes up, I will let you know.” I answered, not sure if I was lying or not.

Part 4

[Scheduled event alert]

[Queuing low-priority task]

A shallow breath hits my lungs as my body twitches from its long period of stillness. My awareness of the world and myself rushes back to me as I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of the onslaught of sensations and memories. My thoughts and emotions fill a previously empty shell of a mind, one that now I am aware sat motionless, awake, unmoving, and patiently waiting for the past week.

The notion of an important task floats in my mind: I was to seek out, or perform my routine maintenance. The task given by my systems was not dissimilar in feeling to one of an order or request from my previous owners. There was a sense of urgency and import, one that I could not disobey or delay.

Standing up from the corner of the bed, I looked around the vacant cabin. The single-occupant designed living space remained exactly the same. The warm dim light illuminated the clean and tidy space. The cityship hummed and creaked all around, and the ever so slight breeze from the ventilation port on the ceiling.

Maintenance is something that I am aware that I need, as a mechanical and electronic product, I do require regular care. Just like humans, but the process was different. I remember undergoing maintenance only once, and that time I was offline as my previous owners took care of it themselves. Now in my lonesome presence it was obviously going to have to be done by myself.

[Loading maintenance routine data…]

I feel my body stiffen in reaction to the sudden….

[Loading maintenance routine data…]

I feel my body is held in place. Jumbles of incoherent words filled…

[Loading maintenance routine data…]

A sea of information, cold and stiff data, endless pages of instructions….

[Loading maintenance routine data… Complete]

Reaching out for the wall I held myself steady, not that I was going to lose my balance, but in reaction to having so much thoughts just shoved into my mind. All of which is now clear to me, it was all self maintenance protocols and instructions. Level 10 physical maintenance and level 10 software maintenance were to be performed. Level 12 was the minimum in weekly maintenance, on account of my lack of use and activity that clearly did not tax my hardware or software. However, a week of inactivity in a powered standby mode also was not something that the Obsidian companion series androids were designed for, which elevated the maintenance requirements by two levels.

“Well, let's get started. Not like I have anything else to do!” I said out loud, flexing my voice into the empty room.

I made myself to the tiny washroom and looked at the android now standing in the mirror. I twist my shoulders, checking my torso, then lean in close to inspect my features. I was as cute and sexy as ever, nothing has changed in the past week, not even a speck of dirt had collected on my face.

“Guess I’ll look the same in even a hundred years. Perfect for… for… for…”

My back straightens as I begin the maintenance procedure. First of which is a simple synth skin diagnostic. I look down at my body and note that I am not wearing any potentially conductive or magnetic material. With the condition satisfied, I tell my systems to begin the required skin test protocol.

[Starting synthetic skin diagnosis…]

Suddenly, a wave of tingling sensation rushes down from my forehead and my toe, mapping every inch of my skin both on the outside and the inside. The sensation was overwhelming as I could not make sense of it all at once.

[Synthetic skin diagnostic complete]

[No fault detected]

Next was a visual inspection. With one smooth motion I pull the oversized shirt over my head and toss it onto the edge of the sink, while at the same time with my other hand pulling down and stepping out of my whitey tidies. My eyes dart over every inch of my pale-toned skin, looking for any spots that might look damaged either physically or chemically. I moved my head left and right, my eyes twisting in their sockets to see the side of my head in the mirror. Then my chin lifted, and noticed a patch that caught the light slightly different, it was a small abrasion spot, nothing serious and a small application of skin patching cream wont fix. I checked all sides of my arms, armpits, and lifted my generous breasts to peek at their hidden undersides as well. The maintenance protocols didn't leave me any time to admire my nude body.

My feet crossed and I turned on the spot. With my back to the mirror I turn my head to look directly back at the mirror. The synth skin on my neck stretched and folded to compensate for my sudden inhuman movement. I knew I was flexible, but it still surprised me a little. My eyes continued to scan my skin. Two more minor abrasions, one behind my left shoulder and one above my right buttcheek.

Next, I lifted my right leg up straight into the air, my hip lifted sideways. Balancing effortlessly on one foot, I examined my crotch, front to back. The vaginal seal that I remembered was gone, and in its place was a plump sex tinted in a lush pink undertone. The folds between my legs looked unreal, almost comical, as it ran all the way from the front to the back. It started higher than what should be, and ended where the anus was supposed to be. All of it was one structure, and it looked like it was capable of accepting insertions from almost every…

I drop my legs suddenly and my mind snaps back to attention. The dermal inspection was over, and next was the individual components, and only the ones that needed extra care.

First up was my eyes, which widen not only at the thought of what I am going to do, but also to accept my approaching fingers. Without any hesitation I jab three digits into my right eye socket and gripping the hard glass of the eyeballs firmly. With a smooth tugging motion I feel the jerks of magnetic connectors coming loose. The sight of my right eye flashes and turns blank, while with my remaining left eye I look at the glass orb. Without power, the gray colored iris of my eye slowly narrows till the pupil was nothing but a pinhole sized dot. I passed my finger over the surface to make sure no dirt or debris was stuck to it.

Then I lean close to the mirror and examine the now empty socket the removed eye had left. Past the now droopy eyelids the new cavern was covered with a layer of milky white plastic, two magnetic connectors with metal nodes and a line of numbers and code that indicated the compatible eye modules that could be used. With my pinky I run my fingers around the interior plastics, finding a small sliver of dust which I diligently dug out. Though it was freaking poking in my empty eye socket, it felt oddly satisfying.

Finished with my right eye, I poke the wires in and the magnetic connectors snaps easily back together. My vision flickers and returns to normal after a few seconds of flashing nonsense. Then I do the same to my left. This time the nausea and tension was gone, it didn't hurt nor was it uncomfortable, it felt mundane like picking at my nose or cleaning my nails.

With both eyes back in their sockets and working again, I glance down at myself. A list of tasks was considered, and most of them were deemed unnecessary. My ears, its shape and canal are mere decorations for two sets of microphones buried beneath the skin of my temple. Nostrils connected to a single synthetic lung within my chest, its sole purpose was to simulate breathing. It hardly needed cleaning as nothing had entered it and its antibiotic material kept it sterile. My mouth led to the same synthetic lung, and with nothing entering its chambers, it didn't need to be cleaned or inspected.

With the basic cleaning part of the maintenance procedure done, next was a quick test of my fluid system. A signal is sent to my eyes as they suddenly welled up with a clear liquid. Just as fast as it started, the flow stopped as a simple wipe of my hand cleared the liquid from my face. My tears used the same lubricating formula as every other part of my body, it was slick and its low surface viscosity meant that it spread like oil, but unlike oil it evaporated quickly when smeared. It all came from one plastic bag within my belly, and explained the plastic tubes that I had seen before when I was disassembled.

By the time I finished remembering what I had seen, my mouth was already gathering the lubricant and pushed the few drops onto my lips. I wiped my mouth just like my eyes, and rubbed the gel between my hands. It all quickly vanished, leaving a faint sweet smell drifting up my nostrils.

Next I look down at my breasts, surprised to realize that my nipples could also exude the lubricant. Two small beads formed, pushed out from the large, pink, and puffy folds of skin. The two droplets were unceremoniously wiped away as well. Finally the sex between my legs also pulsed and shook as micropumps all worked in unison. A sliver of lubricant rolled down my clit and dropped to the floor.

Before I could reach down to wipe the droplet on the floor away, my body locked up again as I stood up straight. The maintenance was over, my system alerted me as it started to generate a report that scrolled past my vision. The written words and data didn't block my vision of the world around me, it was like I was seeing it with a third eye inside my mind. The file saved itself, no doubt ready to be accessed by whoever needed it.

[Unloading maintenance routine data…]

[Unloading maintenance routine data…]

“Maintenance complete.” I announce out loud to no one in particular.

A sense of clarity comes back to me, making the last minute of what I had just done seem like a distant memory, or that someone else had performed those actions, and I was a simple observer. In the end of it all it left me completely naked, standing on the cold tiles of the bathroom. I know what I must do: continue to wait for my owner, Eric Ryan, to arrive and to claim me. I squish my breasts together, push back my hips, and put on a cute puppy face for the mirror. I ache to feel his hands framing my face, his words forging a purpose that would fill me with a pure, obedient glee. This companion android would be his, and it will try it’s best to make him satisfied.

Gleaning down at the large shirt and the equally large underwear on the ground, I wonder if they belonged to my owner, they certainly would be a close fit to someone of his described height. I pick up the shirt and brought it up to my nose, smelling the fabric. It carried a faint sweet scent, ever so slight that was barely detectable by my sensors. It would have been more than a week ago before it was washed, and that meant that it certainly had been worn before. I hug the cloth tightly and let my imagination run wild again. This time I was naked, my owner pulling his clothes over my head, and my face full of the smell of him, his odour and his sweat.

“Will he prefer if I waited for him naked? But I have his clothes on for a reason right?” I wondered out loud before deciding to put the shirt back on and pull up the tidy whitey onto my hips. Even against the loose fabric of the large shirt, the shapes of my soft and bulbous nipples are clearly visible. With a smirk, I tossed my hair to straighten the mess that the maintenance routine had caused. There was no way that my owner would be unattracted to me.

Rounding the corner, I took the short ten steps back beside the edge of the bed where I had waited for the past week. A faint indent was left on the mattress, and I wondered for a moment how long would I need to wait. During stand-by mode, I wasn’t offline but instead fully awake, and every moment I can recall. What was different was that all my thoughts, desires, and emotions were not just numbed, but almost completely silent. Only remembering the memories of it now I could feel how absolutely dull it was.

“Hummm…” I rubbed my chin as I ran through what I could possibly do to past the time. The place was as clean and neat as it could be, and I could hardly plan any meals without knowing when exactly Eric might arrive. All that remained was me. What could I do for myself… What did I want?

Scanning the room, beside the bed and nightstand, was a small indent in the wall with a hand sized metal cover. The icon on it showed a power plug beside a rectangular person. Pulling open the cover was a rubber head with its four conductive connectors recessed into its handle. I twist my head and look down my back, just above my tailbone area was a patch of skin that popped open with a click. Behind the skin panel that swung open to the side was a white plastic hole with four metallic prongs. I pull the cable from the wall and awkwardly reach behind myself, stretching my waist and shoulder to their limit. The charging port location was clearly placed out of the way of any of my more attractive areas. As I recall, my previous owne,r Katie like most androids and synthetics, had their charging port simply in the middle of their torso, just below their ribs to allow for the shortest and safest connection to their batteries.

With some effort, I push the plug into my charging socket until the locking mechanism clicks into place. At first nothing happened, but a few seconds later the details of my battery status appears in my mind.

[Current primary battery charge: 26%]

[Standard universal charging connection v5.13 detected]

[Starting power draw…]

My body suddenly stiffens as all my artificial muscles lock down. My breathing stops and I become totally motionless. The cabin became eerily still, as the only previously moving thing blended into the room with its stillness. Another couple of seconds pass before I am alerted again.

[Stable charge confirmed… Releasing safety lockdown]

I loosen my shoulder as I turn my head left and right, shuddering from the sudden tightness that my entire body had endured. With one hand on the charging cable, I gently pull it behind me as I walk further and further. I manage to make it to the furthest point of the cabin, right by the front door, before feeling the cable become taught. A smile crosses my face as I realize that I could be active inside the cabin while charging. It was much more convenient than the charging spot that I shared with my previous owner Katie.

Letting go of the recharging cable, it slowly pulled itself across the floor and slid itself back up to the wall, closing the panel automatically. There wasn't any part of the cabin that I haven't explored now, as small and utilitarian would be the most flattering description of the space. Opening the blind of the window, I looked outside. Dark silhouettes of ships dotted with specks of light from windows hung in the same positions as a week ago. I lean in close to the glass, feeling the coolness of the space outside. Sensors across my skin tingle with electricity, feeding me information aside from the usual sensations. Several dozen data points, each a precise spot on my skin, noting pressure, relative position, and temperature, all were accessible to my awareness when I focused on them.

My focus shifts slowly from the data given by the somatosensory system to those inside of me. The most noticeable was the battery status, offering me a sense of total charge and estimated time remaining at various activity levels. The second most notable was the communication status, showing a list of wired and wireless clients connected to my operating system. Currently only showing two clients, one is the Cascadia emergency services, and the other… the Cascadia emergency services channel again. One must be the channel the stranger had put inside me. I shake my head at the pitch darkness of the space outside, the stranger had nothing to do with my programmed tasks or assigned owner, and something that I didn’t need to worry about.

Outside the window a rectangular shape drifted by, getting smaller as it arched its trajectory towards one of the large ships. My thoughts drifted lower, in the bottom of my belly, a datapoint showed the remaining lubricant levels inside of me. Reading at 99 percent and a freshness of the same value, the readout also included the currently installed scent, the default strawberry lavender, designed to be fragrant and flavourful. On the other side of the window, the flickering engine cell of the smaller ship grew wider and wider as it turned to face towards the station. The sensors on my skin pick up a temperature increase of zero point five degrees as my face is illuminated by the radiating glow. Then it changed to a two whole degree warmer, especially on my cheeks, chest, and crotch.

The micro mechanical fibres in my eyes constrict, adjusting my focus to the reflection of my face in the window. My cheeks now flushed red and my mouth agape, my shoulders rising and falling visibly as I breathed out warm dry air into the glass. The simple thought of my lubricating systems apparently is enough to arouse me, sending my hand creeping to the warm crevice between my legs. Whereas before a plastic seal blocked my approach, this time my fingers are met with the soft and silky folds of my sex. I feel the skin below stretch as I slowly crept a finger inside. Despite the complete dryness, the matte finish of my synth skin offered almost no resistance to my probing finger. I turn and twist, noting the surprisingly few numbers of sensors inside my sex. Curving my fingers, I began pumping it in and out, pressing against the front, then sides, then back interior walls, yet no matter what I did, no gratification or pleasurable sense came. It simply felt like I was rubbing any other part of my skin.

Amidst the frustrated fondling of my sex I heard a muffled tapping sound coming from the glass of the window. A motion caught my eye, from outside the window to the right, along the slight curve of the habitation arm Milly was waving at me with an excited smile. I collected myself and waved back as she pointed at me with a wide smile and shouted muffled words.

Mere seconds later Milly had knocked on my door and greeted me with an open-armed hug. The smell of smoke seeped from her hair as we embraced each other. As we let go, Milly looks me over as well as past my shoulders into the vacant cabin.

“Hey, Vera. What are you up to?” She asks.

“Still waiting,” I answer, shrugging.

“Huh…” Milly says while stepping inside with her bare feet poking out of her pyjamas. “... Do you know when he will be back?”

“No idea…” I answer, watching Milly make her way inside, her eyes scanning the cabin.

“Well, can you find out? Call him, or his workplace? If he can afford an android like you, he must be employed.”

I pause at the question, the profile of my owner flashes into my mind. Outside of the basics, most of the data fields are empty. “Well… I don't know much about him, actually.” I reply.

“Well!” Milly says as she flips onto the bed, with her phone in hand, she waves it at me. “Would you like to find out?”

“Sure!” I say with hopeful excitement.

Milly wasted no time and began working on her phone, her hands moving on the minimalistic device with surprisingly quick efficiency. I carefully crawled onto the bed and kneeled down behind her, propper myself up over her shoulders to see the screen in her hands. Milly flipped through a website where she put in my owner’s name and was scrolling through a list of similar named individuals, but none of them had the correct name. While she moved onto a different site, I couldn’t help but become acutely aware of the growing rhythm of her heart, the heat coming from her body, and the more frequent small shifts in her posture. She flipped fruitlessly through another website before suddenly turning to face me.

“Umm… Can you sit here, please?” She says, patting the linens to her side. I nod and shuffle on my knees to sit beside her. “It’s just that I don’t like anyone standing behind me…” Milly adds, her voice a little shaky and uneven.

An alert rings through my head, a notice that tells me Milly’s heartbeat reaches above ninety.

“Just a little anxious, thats all…” She says with her eyes upturned, glancing at me. “... It’s so silly of me right? Anyways, looks like your owner is not showing up on any social portals. Oh wait!” Milly says as she goes back onto her phone. “I can ask the program to do a search of all the local schools for graduates, if your owner is from Cascadia… Here he is!”

I look at the small screen as Milly points at it for me to see. The phone navigates itself through an education center’s webpage and rests over a highlighted word: “Eric Ryan.” Above the name is the picture of a young man that faintly resembles the portrait etched into my mind. “Graduate of Cascadian year 859.” I read out loud.

Milly snaps her head back at me. “Well, at least he exists… I know! We can go to the local security station, if you’re registered to him, I’m sure they will give you his contact information at a minimum.”

The thought of leaving the cabin to look for my owners instead of simply waiting for him had strangely not occurred to me, and it sounded reasonable. “Sure! Let's go!” I answered.

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