There was only one café on Liss Street. Neither of them had ever been there. They agreed to meet out front just before going in, and that’s what they did. Daniel was the first to arrive.


    His night had been long again. He’d decided to spend his days driving and sleeping in different places, but by the end of the day, he’d found himself back in the house he once shared with Emma. The moment he stepped inside, memories flooded his mind. In a way, it was better that his last few months with Emma had been cold—now he didn’t suffer as much, though there were moments when he truly missed her. Like when he sat at the living room table, scrolling through his tablet, still half-expecting her to be at the kitchen counter, chopping something or washing her vegetables. In the past, she’d turn around and smile at him, or sometimes pretend he wasn’t even there.


    Jasper’s Jeep pulled up nearby. He was in jeans and a loud, patterned shirt. No way he’d been to work—he’d come straight from home. It showed not just in his wrinkled shirt but in the two unbuttoned top buttons and the rough look on his face.


    “You been drinking?” Daniel asked.


    “A little,” Jasper replied, not even glancing at him. “Come on, let’s go see what this old bastard wants.”


    “Jas?”


    Jasper turned to him.


    “Try to act normal. Let’s see why he’s called us here.”


    Jasper ignored him, strode forward, and pushed open the café door.


    Inside, only one table was occupied—by Hugo Barnes.


    Hugo Barnes looked somehow younger than the last time they’d seen him. His hair and mustache were still jet-black despite his age—probably dyed. He wore a suit, a cup of something hot sat in front of him, and his gaze wandered outside.


    The café was empty, which wasn’t typical for that time of day. At the bar stood a young woman with short black hair. She gave them a quick glance as they entered, then returned to her tasks. A hefty older woman mopped the floor at the far end, while a young girl—Daniel wasn’t sure if she was even eighteen—leaned against the counter, watching them.


    Hugo Barnes looked up, saw them, and stood.


    “Gentlemen!” He waved a hand, looking like the fun uncle you always expect to say something amusing.


    They walked over to him.


    “Hello, gentlemen,” he said, offering his hand first to Daniel, then to Jasper. Both shook it. Daniel worried Jasper might react aggressively, but he didn’t. “Please, sit.”


    Hugo snapped his fingers, and the young girl came over.


    “For you?” she asked.


    “Tea for me,” Daniel said first.


    Jasper didn’t answer.


    “And one for him, please,” Daniel ordered for him. Jasper’s eyes were fixed on Hugo Barnes.


    “They’re robots, aren’t they?” Jasper cut straight to it.


    Barnes placed both palms on the table and smiled at him.


    “Yes, Jasper. The waitress, the bartender, and the lady with the rag over there.”


    Jasper sighed.


    “And you?” It was a fair question, though it caught Daniel off guard.


    Hugo Barnes extended his hand. Jasper touched it and quickly pulled back.


    “Do you have a robot of yourself? I mean, one made in your likeness?” Jasper asked.


    “Of course. Wouldn’t you, if you could? At that presentation you attended, it was my robot. Naturally, I was controlling it. All my robots are like TV transmitters—they can be controlled.”


    “So this is the first time you’re showing up in person. Flesh and blood. Real flesh and blood,” Jasper corrected himself.


    “That’s a good deduction.” Hugo smiled.


    “What about the ones in the park?”


    “Also controllable, but I never did it. I want the park to be as realistic as possible, with the robots acting out the stories on their own. We only intervened once during your stay—with Wade and Bart. Otherwise, they would’ve killed you.”


    “Killed us?”


    “Well, okay, I exaggerated. But I didn’t know what might happen. So I stepped into them and diverted them, at least until my techs could get in.”


    “So you can intervene even when—”


    “I can always intervene, but I don’t, Jasper. Trust me. I want this to be an escape from reality. I don’t even watch the cameras the animals have.”


    “Wesley said you were pleased with us.”


    “Oh, that Wesley,” Hugo laughed. “Talks too much. But he’s right. You two were my favorites. Not for any other reason, but because you jumped right into the park’s concept. I expected the test week to be uneventful. My team and I predicted the most we’d get out of it was training the robots to interact with people and choose their words better. You guys were a huge bonus for me and my idea. You didn’t stay in one place—you even became deputy sheriffs. I’ll give you credit,” Hugo wagged a finger at them, “we added the deputy badges, but their functions weren’t even programmed. Even Jake didn’t know what they did.”


    “Listen, Barnes,” Jasper snapped, visibly irritated, “it all sounds wonderful when you put it like that, but the cameras, the real people inside robots, the robots in the real world, the attempted murder? Those aren’t small things. And they all happened without us knowing.”


    “Put yourself in my shoes. Wouldn’t you have installed cameras?”


    “We would’ve, but we’d have told people.”


    “Oh, come on. Anyone would’ve figured that out. As for the real people inside robots—that was entirely my idea. My team didn’t know.”


    “They had to have known. I’m guessing you’ve got data on every single robot.”


    “That’s true. We know everything about every robot at all times. Their emotional stability, aggression, desires, intelligence, current thoughts—everything. I just slipped some interns in there. Told them to wear black gloves like the robots to see what would happen.”


    “Well, two of them screwed up right away. Not the smartest move to hook up in the bar’s rooms.”


    “You’re right. But first off, I don’t have cameras in the rooms. And those two weren’t robots, so I had no idea what was going on in there. I only found out when you started talking about it in the stables. But it worked out fine. The motto of my idea is to live the story—you know that, several people told you through me. So what they did was bad for my concept, but it put you in new situations. You found Reed, his daughters… You stormed the stables, which was a bold move. Very few people would’ve done that after getting to know Reed.”


    The young waitress brought their teas and set them down. She smiled at Hugo and went back.


    “Why isn’t she wearing gloves?” Jasper asked.


    “It’s not dangerous here. She’s not shaking hands or touching anyone. In the parks, it’s riskier—it ruins the fun if an iron hand brushes you.”


    “Why not just fix that?”


    Hugo sighed.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    “That’s my biggest headache, boys. So many years, and nothing. The blood just takes its own path and pools in the body. Even if we pump it through the palms, it doesn’t stay there—or it does until the robot raises its hands. Human bodies are a natural marvel. I’ve got the confidence to call myself the best inventor out there, and I still can’t come close to replicating a human body. What a magnificent creation a person is.”


    “Even though I don’t like you,” Jasper took a sip, “that’s not true. The robots were perfect.”


    “I think we’re starting to get along.”


    “But the lies—or rather, the hidden truths—pissed me off.”


    “I owe you an apology for that. It was necessary to get the tests rolling. I wanted everything to work out. That’s why I brought the robots here too.”


    “Wait, wait,” Daniel cut in. “That’s what interests me more. What are the robots doing in our world?”


    Hugo Barnes leaned back in his chair.


    “Boys, the robots have been among you for a long time.” He watched their reactions. “How do you think I funded my park? I’m just one guy who knows how to wire electronics together, to put it simply. Institutions, corporations, and the government pay me for robots. Look, it’s easy to stick a smart computer in someone’s job and have it take their place. But people start complaining. How can computers replace humans? It’s not the same—no human factor, no thrill of interacting with a person. When you go to a bar, everyone wants to be served by a pretty girl, not a robot.” Hugo gestured as he spoke. “And they’re right. I agree with them. So we put robots into humans—or rather, we made humans. Not genetically—that’d be mocking nature. The robots are metal, their minds are computers. Does it show?” He pointed at the bartender, who waved back.


    Daniel and Jasper didn’t know what to say. To Daniel, it all felt so unreal. He started feeling uneasy, and anger was rising in him too.


    “How long has it been like this?” he asked.


    “Years. We started with supermarkets. Instead of self-checkout machines where you scan your stuff and pay with a card, we made robots. The robot was friendly, smiled, always said hello. And it didn’t demand a salary. You pay for it once, and that’s it. Even maintenance is free, handled by one of our people.”


    “And then?”


    “Look, it doesn’t happen fast. First, we waited a few months to see how the robots would do. And keep in mind, not everyone in the companies using them knows. For example, the cleaner in the supermarket doesn’t know her favorite coworker and friend is a robot. Probably not even her direct supervisor knows. Only the people high up in the chain know. Otherwise, word would get out.”


    “But it hasn’t gotten out.”


    “Exactly. Everything went according to plan. Soon we replaced the cleaners, receptionists, and got rid of their supervisors. Why need a boss when you can just program the robot’s schedule for the day and it gets it done?”


    “Look, Hugo,” Jasper spoke up after a long silence, “I believe you’re working for the good of the world, but that still doesn’t answer my questions. First and most important—why are we here? Second—why are you telling us all this? And third, a personal one—why are you messing with my job?”


    Hugo signaled the waitress. She locked the café door and lowered the blinds. Daniel and Jasper watched, slightly nervous, as things unfolded around them. The cleaner, clearly a robot too, disappeared through a door, while the bartender started washing glasses. The café grew dim, lit only by the soft glow of the lamps.


    “It’s for our safety,” Hugo said, noticing the fear in their eyes. “I don’t want anyone interrupting us. I’ll start from the last question. The builder’s a friend of mine. He was the first in the guild brave enough to seek my services.”


    “For construction, that makes sense,” Daniel said, glancing at Jasper, who was fiddling with a lighter. “I assume robots can do a lot of work and cut down on deaths at construction sites.”


    “You’re on the right track, Danny. It’s a happy coincidence that the broker he trusted most turned out to be the one I got to know in my park. When I realized that, I was certain Jasper was the guy to keep the tests going. I wanted him for myself.”


    “I don’t work for anyone,” Jasper shot back.


    “No, no, I phrased that wrong,” Hugo said, staying calm despite every jab. “I meant you and Daniel are the perfect fit for this.”


    “So you sent me fake apartment buyers.”


    “Actually, the robots were genuinely looking for apartments. They posed as families or singles, and through you, they’d learn how to pick the right places to live. Then the skills they gained from thousands of viewings would help me create the ultimate broker and turn their minds into brokers for my park.”


    “And I’d get nothing out of it.”


    “Oh, no. Every apartment would’ve been bought with real money that’d end up in your account. I’m not a blackmailer, Jasper. I’m an honest man with talent. But sometimes I have to do things that aren’t entirely moral. Without them, there’s no progress. No one’s ever gotten rich or succeeded with a completely honest business. Or are you saying every deal you’ve made in your life was perfectly fair to all sides?”


    Jasper took a breath, about to speak, but let it out and left Hugo to continue.


    “Now, onto the other questions…”


    “Wait, Mr. Barnes,” Daniel interrupted. “If you can bring robots into our world and you’ve already done it, why bother with the park?”


    Hugo Barnes chuckled softly, looking down at his feet.


    “I was waiting for that one. The park’s a place for entertainment and time travel. Here, you might see a robot selling in a store or building your house, but you wouldn’t know it. I don’t want my robots to become slaves. If everyone in the world found out they could have one, every home would have a robot. Every robot in my company is protected against that. I don’t create slaves—I create conveniences for life. I build engines for the economy, helpers. Not human slaves. And here, life has rules. Robots can make it easier, but they can’t break the rules. In the park, you make the rules and write the stories.”


    “Isn’t that the point of technology? To serve humans?”


    “No. Technology helps humans become greater, not serve them. If everyone embraced that idea, humans and robots could achieve incredible things together. And so I don’t sound even weirder, I still believe humans are nature’s miracle, not robots.”


    “So the robots in the world are here to help humans, and the park’s just for fun?”


    “Something like that. Actually, the park was my first idea. And you haven’t even seen the half of it.”


    Daniel listened, half-believing, half-doubting his words. But one thing still gnawed at him, and he wanted answers.


    “Mr. Barnes, I’ve got one more question… Did you get me fired?”


    Barnes pointed at him with his index finger.


    “Max Scott’s a robot. His secretary too.” He was blunt. “Is that what you wanted to hear? There, you heard it.”


    Daniel leaned back. He was confused, betrayed. He felt contempt for Hugo Barnes. And now he fully understood how Jasper felt.


    “By the way, the redheaded lady at the motel was a robot too, along with the gas station guy,” Hugo added.


    “Wait, wait. Her hands were warm—I checked,” Jasper interjected.


    “The reason’s pretty trivial, and I got lucky there. She’d been cooking. That warmed her hands.”


    “You’re completely insane, Barnes.”


    “I know. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t have created all this.” Barnes gestured around him.


    “I clawed my way to that level for years,” Daniel said, trying not to show how angry he was. “Years.”


    “So what? It was just a toxic place, Danny. Which brings me back to Jasper’s first questions—specifically, why I called you here.”


    Jasper leaned back too. Hugo made sure they were both listening and continued.


    “I’ve laid it all out for you. Most of this stuff, only I and a few of my closest people in the company know. With this, I wanted to show you I trust you. You could walk out right now and tell the world. I don’t know if anyone would believe you, but I wouldn’t come after you. Or… or you could work for me.”


    “No. You’ve already done enough damage.”


    “Jasper, hear me out. You’re a broker. Do you love your job?”


    “What’s it to you?”


    “I know you do. Now imagine taking it up a notch. The park’s opening soon. All sorts of loaded people will start coming as guests. A lot of them will love the place. They’ll want to live there. Trust me, rich people are miserable—their lives aren’t as exciting as others think. Soon, the wealthy will come more and more often. I expect within a few months they’ll start asking if they can live there. Believe me, the parks hold a lot of secrets and can be used in all kinds of ways. That’s where you come in. Every property will be yours to handle. All of them! Naturally, you’ll hire people or train robots to help you. That’s your business.”


    “And the money?”


    “We’ll talk about that next time. I know there’ll be a next time.”


    “And Daniel?”


    “Danny?” Barnes turned to him. Daniel’s mouth was dry. He didn’t know what to say, so he just nodded. “Ever worked with artificial intelligence?”


    “Yeah. Recently. Since it entered people’s lives.”


    “I’ve got a huge team in that field. I think they’re the best in the world. You’ll start something like an internship with them.”


    “An internship? I was—”


    “I know where you were. With your skills, you’ll move up fast. They won’t teach you the basics—they’ll teach you to work with the robots. The rest is up to you. I’m grooming you to lead the team. I see the potential in you. But you’ll have to outshine everyone else while they try to train you.”


    “Isn’t that a little unethical?”


    “Like I said earlier, sometimes you have to veer off the path to succeed. The road up isn’t a straight line. There are challenges, dips, and rocks you’ve got to kick out of the way to move forward.”


    Jasper rested his arms on the table, head buried in them. Daniel stayed silent too, staring through a gap in the blinds. Everything Barnes had said was too much, even for his head. In about an hour, they’d learned things some people couldn’t process in a lifetime. His mind was pounding.


    The waitress got a signal from Hugo and raised the blinds. Light flooded the café aggressively, forcing them to squint. When they opened their eyes, Hugo was still there. It wasn’t a dream.


    “I’ll give you time, boys. I know this was a lot. I’ll expect you at headquarters in two days. If you show up, I’ll know you’re in, and we’ll talk details. If you don’t… well, at least you’ll know a secret very few people in the world do.”


    Daniel watched as Hugo stood, walked to the bartender, and handed her a bill. She smiled and thanked him. He came back, shook each of their hands, and walked off slowly, a little stiffly. His years weighed on him, though his energy was unreal.


    “Wait,” Daniel called after him. “Did you have anything to do with Emma? She left me while I was in the park.”


    Hugo laughed but answered anyway.


    “Emma’s not a robot. Emma’s human. So she’s your problem.”