“I don’t even recognize you, Jas. Feels like you’re hiding something from last night. Did something happen I don’t know about?”
“No, brother, honest. It’s just… this whole thing’s starting to stink. I’m not sure, of course. Part of me loves that we’re deep in the locals’ movie, but part of me’s scared. Maybe it’s the tension from the unexpected.”
Jasper was odd when he wasn’t cracking jokes or being cheerful.
They walked along a path that alternated between haphazard wooden planks on the ground and hot dirt swallowing their steps. Houses lined both sides, with faces peeking through windows—some watching, some hiding. Daniel caught their shadows. He figured they might not all be robots. There could be techs or park staff watching them too. He didn’t want to dwell on it, sensing Jasper was either angry or, more likely, afraid.
“Still think there are real people among the robots?” He couldn’t resist asking.
“I’m starting to suspect everyone, brother. Back there, I wanted to jump Violet and rip off her gloves. Their hands are supposed to be cold, right? Fine, but are we sure?”
“Even if that’s true, Jas, so what? The experience is intense. Look, we’ve even got a mystery to solve now—Reed, his daughters…”
“I’m not mad there might be real people among the robots, brother. I’m mad they didn’t tell us.”
“They said it’s a test. Maybe we’re supposed to expect anything.”
“I don’t buy it,” Jasper kicked something on the ground. “You can be whatever, but you’ve got to be honest. Especially when so many lives are on the line.”
“Lives? You’re exaggerating, Jas. We’re pawns in a safe game. Nothing can happen to us here.”
“It’s about principle. Plus, I’ve done so much dumb stuff since we got here—I’m starting to feel ashamed. Some chick danced in my lap, and I gawked like an animal, thinking we were surrounded by soulless things.”
“Ashamed?” Daniel barely held back a laugh. “I never thought I’d hear you say that word.”
“It’s one thing to act stupid knowing people are watching, another to find out later. But why am I explaining? These corporate clowns are capable of anything. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re broadcasting us on national TV right now.” Jasper bent down to Silver, the dog trailing them again. He crouched to its level and shouted, “Hey, hey, Barnes, you watching me, you old bastard?”
“Jas!” Daniel yelled, trying to pull him up. “Get up, Jas. People are watching.”
“What people, brother? The robots?” Jasper stood. “Screw you all, you jerks.” He flipped the middle finger and waved it at a few innocent locals. One mother had to cover her kid’s eyes, while another shouted back with her own profanity. Jasper was pissed, but it helped reveal another side of the robots.
They were almost at the fountain, and Daniel was glad there weren’t many people around yet. An old woman in black gloves watched them from a distance, then waved, said something, and went back into her house. It was the kind of reaction a real woman might have.
Jasper straightened up, calmer now. He looked down at Silver. The dog stared back. Daniel hadn’t heard it make a sound.
Until now.
Jasper swung his leg and kicked Silver so hard the pup flew at least three meters forward. It let out a loud whimper and stayed down for a while. When it got up, it didn’t come back. It paced around, barking at them angrily.
“You’ve lost it, Jasper. What’d Silver do to you now?”
“That’s so they know not to mess with me.”
Daniel knelt and slowly approached Silver, touching its head. The dog’s eyes were dark, then lit up again. It stuck out its tongue, pulled it back, and suddenly started barking and hopping. But when it saw Jasper, it barked at him.
“At least it’s okay.”
“And at least we know it’s not real. Now we just need to find the others.”
Daniel stood. He’d seen Jasper riled up a few times since they’d known each other, but never like this. Usually, his anger was over something small, passing quickly with a smile. But today, he’d been in this mood all morning.
“You might be fifty kilos bigger than me, but I’ll end up hitting you. You’re ruining my fun too.”
Jasper grabbed his head. Sweat dripped from his hair.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Sorry, brother. Something happened with that chick last night. With Aria. Something that broke me. I don’t know if it was her shutting me down or hearing those techs.”
“Did you think Aria might be real?”
“Brother, did I? No, I don’t think so. Look, I’m still not sure about what I heard. But I’ve been chewing on it since. I told you already…”
“Yeah, you felt deceived. Try to calm down. We’ve got work to do, and you need a clear head.”
Jasper said nothing. They passed the fountain and turned toward the farms.
The gate to Reed’s farm was open. They slipped in quietly, checking first to see if the old man or his daughters were nearby. They saw nothing but a few cows grazing in the distance. The field was so vast that if Reed or anyone was near the house, they’d be hard to spot. And vice versa.
“This way, Jas.” Daniel pointed to a path cutting across the main road to Reed’s farm. “To the stables.”
“The stable boy?”
“Yeah. I’ve got an idea.”
“What if he’s not there?”
“If he’s not, we’ll figure something out. But I think he’ll be right there. Remember the girl he was with the day we arrived?”
“Blonde, hair tied back, petite. Don’t remember her face much.”
“Me neither, but I think he’s got answers.”
The stables weren’t far from the road but were a good distance from Reed’s house. The smell of horses hit them as they approached. The wide space was fenced off. Two horses roamed calmly in the middle, their graceful movements so natural they didn’t seem like robots—though Daniel was sure they were. In the stalls where they slept, he could see the tails of two more.
They hopped the fence easily. No dogs around, which was odd, but their Silver was still trailing them. The two horses ignored them. Jasper walked a bit faster, while Daniel lagged slightly, trying to take in everything. Maybe that’s why he and Jasper clicked so well as friends. Jasper was the drive—he’d set his mind on something and do it. Daniel was the conscience, thinking things through for the best option. Together, they balanced each other. If there was a way for Daniel to talk sense into Jasper, he’d do it so his friend could still pull off his antics, just a little calmer.
Daniel caught up to Jasper at the stable entrance.
“Hey, stable boy,” Bad Jasper was back—Daniel could hear it in his tone.
The boy turned, looking at them with fear.
“You? How—”
“We’re deputy sheriffs, remember? Jake appointed us.”
“I remember. Just didn’t expect you here. How’d you get in?”
“Easy, Jas. He gave us the revolvers, remember?”
“So what? We didn’t hit a damn thing with them anyway.” Jasper was set on squeezing everything out of the kid.
“But he tried to help us,” Daniel said, trying to calm things down.
“Maybe his guy Reed made him.”
The boy stepped closer.
“Look, gentlemen, you helped me in the bar, I helped you with Jake. We’re square. That’s enough.”
“Say your name,” Jasper growled again.
The boy paused, glancing between Daniel and Jasper, then answered.
“Yann. You already know it.”
“Fine, Yann. We’re not square. Your problems would’ve been way bigger if someone else had found you.”
“Y-yeah. You’re kinda right. But Jake’s no pushover either, just so you know.”
“We’ll handle Jake. Tell me, your boss—Reed. Is he expected around here soon?”
“Reed? No. He usually comes to the horses if he’s hunting. If he’s not, he rarely shows up, mostly at night. No chance he’s coming now.”
“I believe you, Yann. Now find us a place to sit. Daniel wants to talk to you.” Jasper glanced at Daniel and nodded, signaling it was his turn.
Yann pulled out three small three-legged stools, likely used for tending the horses’ hooves. He sat on one, while Daniel and Jasper took the other two across from him. Jasper looked comical, his bulky frame perched on the low stool. It clearly wasn’t comfortable—his flesh spilled over the sides—but he kept up his tough-guy act, refusing to show any feeling. Sometimes, he was the robot.
“Yann,” Daniel started calmly. The boy looked at him. “Take off your gloves.”
Yann stared into his eyes, confused. Jasper smirked, finally catching on to Daniel’s plan.
“Yann,” Daniel tried again. The boy looked at him once more. “Do you know what gloves are?”
“No.”
Daniel pointed to his own palm. Yann looked at it, then down at his own.
“My hand? Honestly, I don’t get you.”
“See my skin?” Daniel pinched the back of his hand lightly with two fingers.
“I can do it the fast way, brother. We’re wasting time,” Jasper said.
“No, Jas. Hold off.”
“Gentlemen, you’re starting to scare me.” Yann looked ready to stand. “This is my hand.”
“No, Yann. That’s a glove. Look. My color’s pink. Yours is black.”
Silver barked. Jasper stood and shooed it off. That was easy—Silver was already scared of him.
“A glove?” Yann clearly didn’t follow.
“Yes, Yann. Pinch it like this.” Daniel pinched his skin again. Yann mimicked him. “And pull it aside.”
The glove slid down Yann’s hand until it fell to the ground. The hand underneath was perfectly normal, its skin tone matching theirs.
Daniel offered his hand. Yann sat there for a few seconds before responding.
It took him a moment to react. Just as he extended his own hand and stood—sharper than the other robots moved—he spoke.
“When did you figure it out?” His voice was the same, but his eyes brimmed with life. The second glove was already on the ground too.
Jasper was a big man but quick. Before Daniel could stop him, his right hand smashed into the boy’s face.
Daniel heard a crack and wasn’t sure if it was a bone breaking—whose, he didn’t know—or the stool Yann fell onto.