Escape Velocity: The Anthology (24 page)

       “
I have recently completed a comparative analysis. It has shown that in the last year I have elicited sixteen percent fewer sexual responses from Peter, my human companion, than in the preceding year. I have concerns that I may be malfunctioning, although my internal diagnostics indicate that this is not the case.”

      
The android nodded and pulled out a pad which he placed on the table. “I understand. Please place your hand on the pad, palm up. This will take only a few seconds.”

      
He opened a small window of Tru-Skin on her wrist and connected a flat optical lead to the socket below. Within moments a small, multicoloured, spherical hologram sprang into life. As it slowly rotated on the surface of the desk, it showed a three-dimensional graph of her many functions.

       “
As you can see, you are functioning within normal parameters. From the tip of your high-grade, Silk-flex hair, to the smallest Tru-Skin nanomatic, there is nothing wrong with you. We can certainly arrange to upgrade any of your parts, should you wish to do so.” He leant his head to one side and waited. His unblinking eyes watched her.

      
Suki thought for a moment and then shook her head. “No, that will not be necessary. Thank you for your help.”

       “
Thank you for choosing Turingoid.”

      
Suki joined arms with Peter as they walked out into the burning sun.      “How d’it go, babe. Everything okay?” he asked, slipping the book into his back pocket and pulling on his sunglasses.

       “
Yes, Peter.” She turned and gave him a big smile, “I am functioning perfectly.”

      
He nodded happily. “Cool.”

       “
Can we walk for a while, Peter?” she said.

       “
Sure, babe, where do you want to go?”

       “
Let’s go this way.” She steered them further up Main Street towards the next silver dome.

       “
Not a problem, something you want, eh? Not more new shoes? You won’t get them in your wardrobe,” he chuckled.

       “
That’s a good idea, maybe later.” She laughed, flashing her white teeth. “I am considering an upgrade.” From her internal menu, she selected her musculature and increased the power levels available to all of her electro-muscle fibres.

       “
Really?” He looked at her with interest, “What of?”

      
She smiled at him as they walked through the mirror-field and into the next dome complex.

      
Peter glanced about and read the holo-sign as it slowly rotated above the reception desk. “Hey. What’s this place? What is Clone-Tech?” He frowned as he read the sign. “I’ve never heard of it before.”

      
Reaching out, Suki grasped Peter by the back of his neck, firmly. She felt his muscles crush under her newly strengthened hand. Shock and pain spread over his face. He wriggled in her grasp, eyes wide, unable to escape.

       “
Hey, what are you doing? Let me go. That hurts!” His sunglasses fell

to the floor. He tried to twist out of her grip, his hands reaching behind to claw at her wrist. She watched him for a moment and then lifted him onto the tips of his toes. He screamed.

       “
Suki, let me go. Now, please.” He sobbed, spittle flew from his mouth and tears ran down his face. His feet skated about wildly.

      
Suki ignored him and approached the desk. There was another silver robot behind the desk.

      
Peter continued to scream and shout.

       “
Welcome to Clone-Tech, please insert your finger here.” The silver robot said calmly.

      
Suki stuck her finger into the appropriate slot.

       “
Thank you. A representative will see you shortly.”

      
Within moments an android appeared, a female this time. She had long dark hair and wore a white suit.

       “
Ah, K9-12L5-R,” it said. “How can I help you?” The female turned to examine the struggling Peter, but ignored his cries for help.

       “
This human appears to be losing interest in sexual activity,” said Suki.

       “
Hmm, a loss of interest can signal a decline in their creative processes. Has he been completely unsatisfactory?” The female android raised an eyebrow as she spoke.

       “
No, he has helped me develop my non-logic programming, but I have yet to achieve the level of creative thought that was my intended goal.”

      
The female android stood still for a moment. “You remain within the guarantee period for your bio-android. On that basis, I can offer you a repair or a replacement. Which would you like?”

       “
I think a replacement.”

       “
That is the most logical course. Repair of bio-androids programming is an inexact science and is seldom successful. With regard to replacement, I have a number of ancient DNA extractions that have recently reached maturity.” The female android waved her hand and the air shimmered as a full-sized hologram of a naked adult male expanded into life next to Suki and began slowly rotating.

       “
These are the products; they are all unique. I think you will find them acceptable. Whichever you choose, we will, of course need an up-to-date scan of you to add to their life-memory imprint.” She turned and indicated the struggling Peter. “If I may?”

      
Suki nodded and swung him towards the female android’s grasp.

      
The female android grabbed Peter by the neck. He screamed as her hand clamped on his neck. She walked across to a large metal disc on the floor. With a metallic whisper, it irised open to reveal a dark void below. The female android positioned Peter over the hole. He sobbed in terror and his hands scrabbled at the female androids hands.

       “
Stop,” Suki said sharply; she turned to observe the sobbing Peter.

      
The female android froze with Peter swinging from her hand in midair.

      
Peter suddenly quietened and swivelled his streaming eyes towards Suki. He lifted a shaking hand toward her. “Thank you,” he said, “I promise you, I’ll change, I really will. Just give me a chance.”

      
Suki put her hand on her hip and watched him. She tapped her toe on the floor for a moment as she considered what to do. Then, decision made, she strode over to him, her short black dress swaying from side to side with each step. She stopped in front of his dangling body. With a big smile and a flash of her white teeth, she slipped her polished fingernails into his back-pocket and pulled out the book. “I haven’t read it,” she said. “It might be interesting.”

      
She turned on her heels and nodded to the other android who released her grip on Peter’s neck. He clung to her arm briefly, but she shook it and he dropped down the black hole with a scream, his arms flailing wildly. There was a thump, followed by silence. The metal iris closed with a snick.

      
For a moment all was quiet, but then Peter started to shout again; his voice just audible through the metal cover. “Suki, help me! Ple - ”

      
A high-pitched, sharp whirring-sound cut him off, mid-sentence.

      
Relaxing music drifted in to fill the void his screams had left, and somewhere close Suki could hear the sound of gently splashing water. “What happened to him?” She smiled and pushed some errant wisps of her long, blonde hair back, behind her ear.

       “
He has been returned to a liquid state. We re-cycle at Biotech and his component parts are still useful,” the female android said.

       “
Oh, good.” Suki smiled.

      
They walked back to the gently revolving holo. Suki activated her preference systems and browsed through the newer bio-android models.

      
Talos City had so much to offer if you liked to shop. Maybe she would get some new shoes after all, when she was finished picking her new husband.

Hole Card

Robert Blevins

I was keeping track of the days for a while but they found the pencil stub hidden under my mattress. It was lying in a pocket of my jumpsuit and I tried to use it. Really stupid of me to keep it under the mattress, though. I should have known better. They find out everything in the end. They came in and scrubbed off the calendar I made on the wall and flushed the pencil stub down the toilet. You really have to give them an 'A' for persistence, the bastards.

      
I try to keep mental notes of everything I see and hear, but they keep me half-starved and alone in this damned cell. I can't even think straight anymore. I've been here maybe six or seven months. Who the hell knows?

      
I've lost track of time. Questions, nothing but questions. Every time they take me out of my cell for interrogation I want to leap across that table and break their necks; maybe make a run for it.

      
It wouldn't work, of course. They always handcuff me to the chair.

      
I'm locked in a cell about ten meters square. In the center of the door is a metal flap that drops with a clang every time they shove their slop in for me to eat. I find oatmeal in my morning bowl and soup with a bit of meat at night. I think they are putting drugs in my food because it tastes bitter and all I want to do is sleep after I eat.

      
I can't even tell if it's day or night. Sometimes I wonder if I'm still alive.

      
NO! I have to hang on to the sanity I have left. I have to think things out until they make sense. It's getting more difficult all the time. I'm sitting on a steel bed with a hard, thin mattress and no pillow. I keep a cotton blanket they gave me wrapped around myself for company. I hate the bastards.

      
I haven't done anything wrong. If I did, I don't remember it.

      
They'll be back in a while. They enjoy trying to confuse me. Coming at different times. Asking their ridiculous questions. Thinking about it makes my brain hurt.
'I have a family, boys'
…I tell them.
'I want to go home.'
They say nothing and move on to the next question.

       “
You've had an accident,”
is all I can get out of them about my situation. I want to jump across the table and choke the life out of the first one I can reach. Smart guys, though. They always handcuff me to the chair. They leave no openings for escape. All I ever do is answer their questions. They never run short of questions. They always place a recorder on the table and scribble notes like madmen…no…I can not think about it. I'll catch another headache.

      
Catch a headache. That's funny. I have to get a grip. I squeeze my temples tightly to shut out the thoughts. There…that's better. I take a deep, slow breath and try to relax. Sit quietly, stay focused. Good.

      
They watch every move I make. I'm not stupid, you know.

      
The big box above the door obviously has a camera installed. They did not even try to hide it. Talk about stupid. You can actually SEE the damn thing. Probably some childish psychological maneuver. They
want
me to know I'm being watched. Big deal. They can all go to hell. All the questions. I'm tired of questions.

      
I'm a damn question answerer. Put it on my resume, you sons of bitches. I want to jump across the table and bash your heads together. I can refuse to answer any more questions. I've pulled that one before.

      
It really pisses them off good. The food always stops for a while.

      
I have to check back into the Reality Hotel somehow.

      
'Bellboy, can you take my bags to the penthouse suite?'

      
'Certainly, sir!'

      
'Let's hop to it, then!'

      
'At once, sir!' The bellboy grabs my bags with a grin.

      
Yeah, right. Not a chance in hell.

      
It makes my brain hurt and I laugh. Push those temples harder! Squeeze your head together until your skull fractures. It's time to go home, and I mean now.

      
Not a chance in hell.

      
'No!'

      
I slam my hands over my mouth.
Watch it!
You can't yell out loud or show any emotion. It just gives them more ammunition. If I shout, they always drop the steel flap in the door and stare at me for a few seconds. Check the monkey. Check on the monkey. Shall I dance for you, or sing perhaps?

      
When I first arrived, I used to cuss a blue streak at anyone I saw. After a while, I gave it up. It's no good to cuss somebody right into the ground when they just stare at you with a blank expression. Only once did I get a reaction; a look from one of my guards resembling, well…pity.

      
I never saw him again. He was caught showing emotion to the monkey and replaced. These guys don't miss a thing. I used to kick hell out of the door. No one cared. I did it for three straight hours once. They kept the food away for a couple of days, so I quit kicking the door.

      
One thing I can't fathom is how guys so smart can be so ignorant at the same time. I mean, they ask the stupidest questions. Who were my parents? My grandparents? My great-grandparents, even? They ask about where I'm from, how I lived, questions about my everyday life. I'm always drawing things for them on these big white tablets. They ask …no, I don't want to think about it…makes my brain hurt.