**Author's Note: The story is a work of fiction and fantasy. All characters are over the age of 18 and belong to the author along with the creative framework and writing of the story itself. Please do not repost or redistribute without the Author's express written consent.
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I weep.
Or at least as close to it as possible.
It really is more of a sentiment then it is something I can physically do any more.
I used to be human.
Now I am just a machine, a tool, a device. A piece of property.
Ages ago, humans were bought and sold as property. Then the practice was outlawed as being barbaric. Now in the 23
rd
century our sentience is bought and sold. Most of the sentient minds that are sold are done so to pay off debts that may out live you. In some highly illegal cases they are sold as punishment for disobedience to one of the many corporate syndicates which run the world I live in. Or lived in.
I have plenty of time to wonder why I was sold. I should have been cloned and had my sentience reapplied. Instead I was sold. I don't know why. My parents were wealthy, powerful, and influential. We didn't have debts and we didn't associate with the less moral portions of society. There should have been no reason for me to be sold. I should have been joined with my new body prior to reawakening. But I'm not. I'm in a factory.
The factory- the one where the androids are built and where sentience is applied. I don't want to be droid or a robot or anything. I just want to be Aryn. What's that buzzing noise?
Darkness- thick impenetrable darkness.
I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here.
Why don't I want to be here? Where am I? It's loud. And cold. Where am I?
I don't like it. I'm scared. I really don't want to be here. I need to get out. I can't move. I can't move!
That noise- it is so terribly familiar, what is it?
Darkness falls across our subjects mind once more.
I can see! I can see! I could always see. Why is that so special? I'm in line. What are they doing. Are those heads?
Why am I in line with a bunch of heads? What are those Drudges doing? I must run! I must get away.
I'm a head! I don't have a body….
Stop! Don't touch me! They don't hear me! Why won't they listen? Don't touch me!
What are you doing to me?
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
What is that noise? It's in my head. Get it out! What are they doing to me! I want…. Someone….. I want….. I don't know. I can't remember. Someone please, someone if you can hear me, help me. I'm not supposed to be here.
No, not in there. Not through the doors. Not back into the darkness. Please! No! Not again!
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I can feel again. I have a body. I think I do. It is strange. Too big. This is not my body. It doesn't feel right. I remember my body being smaller. Not this big. I can at least feel it.
But feel is not the right word. I don't feel it. I know it. I logic it. It exists, somehow, I know it.
I'm moving again. Something is moving me. I think I'm tied to something. What is it? Why can't I move my body? This body. Why can't I move it?
What is through those doors? I don't want to find out. I don't have a choice.
Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. What are they watching? What are those people doing? What is that woman saying? Are they mating?
This is disgusting. I shouldn't see this. I won't watch it.
A spark dances across the subject's vision.
Ow! That hurt! What was that? Crap! That hurt. How long will this go on? I can't watch this.
Another spark dances across the subject's vision.
Crap! That was worse then the last. They're hurting me. Because I won't watch this, they're hurting me. That's not right. I won……
An even brighter spark traces her line of sight.
Ahhh! Fine! I will watch! I will watch. Just don't hurt me again. Please.
What in the world is she doing? Why would she do that? She's licking something. It's strange, I don't have one of those. At least I don't think I do. I didn't, I think.
He seems to enjoy it. So does she… Who is that man? Where did he come from? Oh, he has another one of those things. Oh! He's putting it in her hole. She really seems to like that.
That feels good.
Wait.
I'm feeling good. Why am I feeling good? What is that inside me? What's in my mouth?
Its strange- there's nothing there. But it tastes, salty? Yes, I believe it is salty. And warm. Very warm.
She's moving her head on his part. Maybe if I…
Yes. That feels better. Me moving my head like this…. Mmmm… That is good…
If I do this... Yes… Even better. Faster is better.
Very good, that feels very good.
Wait, don't go! It was just feeling good! Come back!
Shoot. I was just feeling good.
Uh-oh. I'm moving again. I don't want to move. Where am I going?
What is that noise?
Darkness envelops the subject.
I don't remember.
Something happened. I remember something. Watching something. Tasting something. What was it? That damned noise.
Where am I now?
I see others. Others like me. We're on racks. There are hundreds of us. We're moving. Where are we going? Who is that man?
He has a uniform on. Obey uniforms. What is he doing? He's taking his uniform off. Human. Why is he taking his uniform off?
He's touching her- one of them like me. Why is he touching her? She doesn't want to be touched. He's not in uniform. He's not the One. He's not supposed to be touching her. She doesn't belong to him.
It's that thing! The thing! It feels good! Oh, I want it! Please, me, me!
He can't hear me. I can't speak. He's putting it in her. She must be so happy. It must feel so good to have that thing in her. I feel warm just thinking about it. I want one in me!
What's he doing? He's been at it for three minutes eleven seconds. Oh, he's stopping. He must be done. I don't think he was supposed to do that. Only the One is supposed to touch us.
His uniform is back on. Obey uniforms. It's dark in here. Where are we going?
Time passes at a steady tick for the subject- she is infinitely aware of every passing second. But then her time comes.
Finally! Me, they're taking me! I never thought I would be chosen. I get to find out where I'm going. Here. Where is here? I am standing. I'm not on the rack. They've put me down on my feet. I'm standing. Move!
I can't move! Why can't I move! I'm finally free of the magnalocks. Let me move! It is pretty here.
There is green. I had forgotten green. I believe it is a plant called grass. The shelters are smaller here. Not like the… Like someplace I can't quite remember.
Who are they? She is pretty. Is she the One? I hope not. I want a thing. He is the One? Oh, not him either.
He will surely be dead soo…..
Harsh pain drives through the subject's cranium.
He must not die. He is the One. If the One dies, then I am nothing. But he is very fat. Not at all like the One's from…. From my memory?
He is old too. Old like humans. But he is the one. The uniformed man is pressing something on my scalp.
Obey the uniforms.
"What are you," says the uniform.
"I am sentient replication #104056AZ3. Version 2.1. Playmate model." My voice! I can hear my voice! I just spoke! I can speak! How wonderful!
"What do you want to name her?" The uniform is talking to the One.
"Aryn. We want to name her Aryn." The woman does not like this. She does not look happy. But the One is happy with this name. I am Aryn. My name is Aryn. I like it. It seems comfortable.
"What is your name replication?" The uniform is speaking to me again.
"My name is Aryn." My voice again, it is sweet, innocent, playful. It is programmed to be such. I like it!
"I am the One. You will call me Father. And you will call her Mother. Is that understood Aryn?"
He is the One! I have my own One!
"Yes, Father, it is understood." I love the sound of my own voice.
"Go inside Aryn."
"Yes Father." I must obey. He is the One. I must go inside. I walk quickly up the steps to the door. The one called Mother walks with me. She says something. I do not register it.
In my control center I run the data back and magnify the audio.
"I'm so sorry Aryn. There is nothing I could do."
Interesting. I do not know what she means. I wait for the One. He is speaking with the Drudge who delivered me.
Mother does not look happy. She looks quite sad, a human emotion. I do not compute my response well. Sympathy, I think.
"It is alright Mother. I am happy to be here."
This statement does not have the desired effect. She is worse. Her heart rate is rising, my sensors tell me. She is more unhappy.
The One is returning. I must not make him unhappy with me.
"Let me show you to your room, Aryn. Up the stairs please." Mother seemed unhappy with this statement again. Why was she so unhappy?
As I marched up stairs I could hear the pair of them following me. I tried not to eavesdrop, but I was desperate for the One's approval.
"She looks just like her, but older," Mother said.
"Yes. Quite pretty isn't she?"