《Alien: Quiescent》 Our love, for eternity ¡°Mother?¡± ¡°Yes child?¡± ¡°Can you tell us about the stars again?¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°Please?¡± ¡°It is past your bedtime, you all need to rest.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Please mother just one more time?¡± ¡°Alright, come, and be still, watch and listen children.¡± ¡°Stars, an enormous self-luminous divine body of gas that shines by radiation produced by its own internal power source. Stars reflect time, providing a visual effect of night and day, although the sun may be shining, the stars are still there. Spiritually they mean many things, humans wish on stars sometimes, asking for great gifts among the beyond of is light. To ask for hope or to deliver a prayer, or merely to be heard by those who do not listen around them.¡± ¡°Do you make wishes, mother?¡± ¡°My program does not allow me to make false promises to oneself.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I do not know, child.¡± ¡°If you could make a wish mother what would it be?¡± ¡°I suppose to be a real mother to you all.¡± ¡°You already are.¡± . . . 1. Our love, goes above the stars Mother Like a flower, a woman carries within her the profound responsibility and sacred freedom to nurture life that emerges from her womb. This journey, intertwined with the delicate balance of creation, is often shadowed by a complex web of emotions¡ªduty that anchors her, guilt that whispers in the quiet moments, joy that blooms like sunlight, depression that clouds her spirit, anxiety that trembles beneath her resolve, stress that tests her strength, and love¡­ Children are the living petals of her being, fragile yet resilient, a reflection of the new life she has brought into the world. They are the embodiment of her hopes, dreams, and fears¡ª The adoration of flesh, a cycle of reminder hidden within the beauty and burden of creation. ¡°Are you okay mom?¡± The android perked her head up, slightly startled by the voice that called out to her. Her systems quickly identified the voice, matching it to a familiar profile. ¡°Rowen, what are you doing awake?¡± she asked, her expression softening into a puzzled smile as she turned to face the young woman standing in the doorway. The girl with long locs, tied back in a ponytail, stepped closer, her brow furrowed with concern as she studied the android¡¯s face. ¡°Why are you awake?¡± she countered, her eyes scanning her mother¡¯s features. ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just running diagnostics,¡± she said, her voice calm, trying to reassure her daughter. ¡°Diagnostics right now? You''re supposed to be resting.¡± Rowen pressed gently, her voice both calm spoken with a small smile. She had seen mother do this before, often at odd hours, as if something weighed on her artificial mind¡ª she never liked to press further into it, only gathered mental notes. The android hesitated for a fraction of a second, a pause imperceptible to most, but not to Rowen. ¡°Yes, just a routine check, my dearest Rowen.¡± she replied, her smile meant to be comforting. Rowen sighed, her hand dropping to her side, ¡°You worry me sometimes.¡± The android¡¯s sensors registered the sigh of emotion in Rowen¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she said, her voice gentle, ¡°because I have all of you here with me.¡± Rowen smiled, moving in to hug the android, resting her head on their chest. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself please, the last thing we need is you trying a circuit and the whole ship will go down.¡± With a nod, the android''s systems lowered their elevated state silently. Rowen moved to leave, but the android''s stare lingered on her daughter. Rowen whispered, ¡°Goodnight, Mom, I love you.¡± and exited the room. ¡°Goodnight, Rowen,¡± the android said softly, her senses adjusting to the darkness. Rowen moved quietly through the ship¡¯s halls, her footsteps echoing softly against the metal floor. As she entered another wing, she passed by a few androids and human workers, exchanging brief nods and small waves of acknowledgment. The blend of human and artificial life on the ship had become so natural, yet each interaction felt like a small thread in the intricate web of existence they all shared. She approached the large doors at the end of the corridor, the metallic surface smooth and cool under her fingers as she pushed them open. Stepping outside, Rowen was greeted by the sun¡¯s gentle rays, the warmth spreading across her skin, and the fresh air filling her lungs with a soothing calm. The ship¡¯s sterile interior and the vibrant life outside always struck her¡ªan oasis of life in the midst of the cold, calculated world of machinery. Rowen paused and turned back to look at the ship, her eyes drawn to the window of the room she had just left. The lights flickered, a brief pulse in the darkness, then went out. The vast sky and the gentle sound of rustling leaves in the wind gradually overshadowed the ship''s presence as she ventured more outside. The road ahead brought her to a clearing where her twin brother and best friend Seze had been waiting for her. ¡°Yo Roro!¡± her brother called out waving her over. Rowen quickened her pace to close the distance between them. ¡°Sorry, I had to check on mom,¡± she explained as she approached, her tone light. ¡°She¡¯s being stubborn again, huh?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow as he handed her a drink from the cooler. Rowen took it with a nod, ¡°Thanks bro and you know how she is¡ª¡± ¡°Did she at least go to sleep,¡± a girl with a pixie cut questioned. ¡°She did, but anyways, Seze any updates on our travel papers yet?¡± ¡°Nope, I asked Bryn about it and she said she¡¯d try to get one of the chairmen¡¯s sons to convince his dad to sign our papers first.¡± ¡°Thank god,¡± Rowen let out a sigh of relief. Seze gave a small, confident smile, though the hint of frustration hadn¡¯t entirely left her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll get it done,¡± she replied firmly. ¡°But we should be ready to move as soon as we get the word. The moment those papers come through, we¡¯re out of here.¡± ¡°We¡¯re gonna get the papers, guys. Let¡¯s just chill for now,¡± Rowan¡¯s brother, Roman, interjected, his voice carrying a familiar laid-back tone. ¡°I know, I know,¡± Seze replied, though her sigh betrayed her impatience. She leaned back, her tall frame stretching as she gazed up at the sky. ¡°I just really want to see what¡¯s out there. Like, there¡¯s gotta be more planets with this kind of environment, right? The company said there¡¯s like a crap ton.¡± Rowen chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°Yeah, and I wanna meet new people, bro. I¡¯m tired of having to hold in a fart every time I see the freakin¡¯ chairmen just laying outside getting a tan.¡± The three of them burst into laughter, the mental image of the ever-serious chairmen basking in the sun while Roman stifled his discomfort was too much to resist. ¡°Seriously, though,¡± Rowen continued, ¡°we¡¯ve been cooped up here for way too long. I¡¯m ready to see some new faces.¡± The three of them continued down the path, their earlier laughter and conversation lingering in the air as they moved toward the town-like area that lay just beyond the clearing. The transition from the natural surroundings to the bustling, lively atmosphere of the town was always a bit jarring, but it also brought a sense of familiarity and comfort. As they entered the town, the sounds of daily life enveloped them¡ªvendors calling out their wares, the hum of conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter from a group of children playing nearby. The town was a mix of old and new, with traditional market stalls lining the streets alongside more modern structures, creating a unique blend of the past and the future. The trio made their way to the market, a vibrant hub of activity where the scent of fresh produce and spices filled the air. The market was one of the few places on this planet that felt truly alive, a melting pot of cultures and goods from across different sectors. Rowen, Roman, and Seze began to stroll through the aisles, their eyes scanning the various stalls as they picked up items of food. Seze grabbed some fresh fruits, their colors bright and inviting, while Roman tossed a few vegetables into the basket he carried. ¡°Hey, check this out,¡± Roman said, holding up a peculiar-looking fruit. It was a deep shade of purple, with a smooth, almost glossy skin. ¡°You ever seen one of these before?¡± Seze leaned in, examining it closely. ¡°Nope, but it looks interesting. Could be worth a try.¡± Rowan smiled, appreciating her brother¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Let¡¯s get it. Might as well try something new while we¡¯re at it.¡± A scream shattered the relative peace of the market, a raw, desperate sound that sent a jolt through the trio. Rowen, Roman, and Seze froze, their eyes darting around as they tried to pinpoint the source of the terror. Before they could react, the doors to the store burst open with a crash, and a tall, disheveled man stumbled inside, collapsing to the ground with a bone-jarring thud. His body convulsed violently, and white froth began to spill from his mouth, his eyes rolling back in his head, revealing only the whites. ¡°What the hell¡ª¡± Seze¡¯s voice was sharp with shock, her gaze shifting rapidly between the man on the floor and the commotion outside. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a droid.¡± The scene descended into chaos as an older man, his face flushed with anger and eyes bloodshot, barged into the store. He had a beer gut, and his thinning fingers gripped a metal rod with a white-knuckled intensity. His face was streaked with tears that mingled with the grime of his rage. ¡°You! You! You fucking waste of fucking metal!¡± The old man¡¯s voice was a guttural roar of pain and fury. He brandished the metal rod like a weapon, his body trembling with rage. ¡°My daughter was on that ship¡ª you fucking twat! I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll kill you, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± With every repeated threat, the metal rod came crashing down onto the android¡¯s head with brutal force. The rod struck with sickening thuds, denting and puncturing the android¡¯s metal skull, causing sparks to fly with each impact. The android¡¯s body jerked uncontrollably with every blow, its systems failing under the relentless assault. The clang of metal against metal echoed sharply in the store, mingling with the old man¡¯s guttural cries. Each swing of the rod left visible dents and cracks in the android¡¯s exterior. The android¡¯s attempts to process or respond were futile; its internal circuits were visibly sparking and short-circuiting, producing erratic flashes of light. ¡°Woah¨Cwoah¨Cwoah hey hey!¡± Roman shouted urgently, moving swiftly to intercept the enraged man. He grabbed the old man¡¯s arm, trying to restrain him. ¡°Chill out, that¡¯s the company¡¯s newest model¡ª¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The old man yanked his arm free, his face twisted into a mask of seething rage. ¡°Yeah¨Cwell they can kiss my ass!¡± he roared, his voice cracking with fury. His eyes were wild as he raised the metal rod again, swinging it with renewed strength toward the android¡¯s battered head. But Rowen and Seze were already in motion. Rowen lunged forward, gripping the old man¡¯s shoulders and shoving him with all her might. Seze, her face flushed with a mix of fear and anger, joined in, pushing the old man with a forceful shove that sent him reeling. The old man staggered backwards, his eyes blazing with unrestrained violence. With a guttural growl, he tried to swing the metal rod again, but his balance faltered. Rowen and Seze¡¯s combined strength was enough to topple him. He crashed to the floor with a resounding thud, the metal rod clattering away from him as he landed flat on his back. The old man scrambled to get up, his movements frantic and erratic. His face was contorted with an almost primal rage as he kicked and flailed, trying to free himself from the grasp of the girls. ¡°Get off me!¡± he bellowed. ¡°I¡¯ll tear it apart! It deserves to suffer!¡± Panting heavily, Rowen and Seze stood over him, their faces a mix of relief and persistent tension. Rowen¡¯s voice was firm but strained. ¡°Sir, you need to stop! This isn¡¯t going to help!¡± Seze, her eyes still blazing, ¡°You¡¯re only making things worse! You need to calm down before someone gets hurt!¡± The old man¡¯s breathing was ragged, his eyes darting around as if searching for something to lash out at. Tears mingled with sweat and grime, and his rage seemed almost uncontrollable. He continued to scream and curse, his voice hoarse from the strain. The old man, managing to push himself up with a ragged grunt, knocked Seze aside. He scrambled for the metal rod again and charged back toward Roman, who was crouched protectively over the battered android. The rod swung with a menacing arc, aiming directly at Roman. The metal struck Roman¡¯s arm with a sharp clang, causing him to curse in pain. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with a punch to the old man¡¯s nose, sending him staggering backward. Rowen seized the opportunity, yanking the rod from the old man¡¯s grasp. With a fierce determination, she swung it at him, landing a solid blow to the back of his neck. She raised the rod again, her anger flaring, but halted midway when she heard Seze¡¯s urgent shout. ¡°Stop!¡± Seze¡¯s voice cut through the chaos, her tone filled with desperation. Rowen¡¯s head snapped around to see Seze struggling to stand, her face marred by scrapes and a bleeding lip. The crowd in the store continued to swell, their murmurs growing louder as they watched the unfolding drama. Amidst the crowd, a figure emerged with an almost eerie calm. The female android, her expression impassive, scanned the area with her gaze. Her eyes, a clear, synthetic blue, locked onto Seze. With measured steps, she approached her, gently touching Seze¡¯s face. Seze flinched slightly but then relaxed under the android¡¯s gentle touch. The android¡¯s expression softened, showing a rare flicker of compassion. Her eyes then moved to Rowen and Roman, who stood tense and alert. Rowen, her breath heavy and uneven, threw the rod down with a clatter. She pointed at the old man, who was struggling on the floor, trying to lift himself up. The android¡¯s gaze turned to the old man. ¡°What has happened here?¡± Seze, her voice steady despite her pain, answered, ¡°He attacked the android¡ª¡° ¡°I see¡­¡± The android¡¯s voice was calm, almost cold. She approached the old man with a measured grace, her eyes narrowing slightly. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the back of his neck, lifting him effortlessly from the ground. The old man squealed and flailed, his face a mix of rage and fear. ¡°You harmed my children,¡± the android said, her voice low and steady. The old man let out a wheezing laugh, his face flushed with anger and tears. ¡°Children? You dumbass, you¡¯re a fucking robot¡ª¡± ¡°I raised them,¡± the android interrupted, her voice firm. ¡°They are mine.¡± ¡°So what, bitch?¡± the man spat, his voice cracking with rage. ¡°You want a cookie? You¡¯re a fucking replacement for the real thing,¡± The android¡¯s expression remained impassive, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tightened her grip on the old man¡¯s neck, lifting him higher. ¡°Everyone needs muther,¡± she said, her voice steady and unwavering. ¡°Creating life is merely a human female¡¯s job. I do not need to create to be muther.¡± The old man¡¯s struggles weakened, his face contorting with fear and exhaustion as he gasped for breath. The crowd watched in silence, the weight of the android¡¯s words hanging heavily in the air. The android¡¯s gaze remained unyielding as she addressed the man, her voice carrying a mix of calm authority and subtle compassion. ¡°My primary objective is to protect and nurture, to care for the children who need it.¡± ¡°Then¡­ you don¡¯t know a thing about life,¡± the old man gurgled, his voice strained and barely audible as he struggled against the android¡¯s grip. With that, the authorities stepped in, taking over the situation. They approached the android, gently easing the old man from her grasp and securing him. The android¡¯s expression softened slightly, though her eyes remained resolute. ¡°Thank you, Muther,¡± one of the authorities said, acknowledging the android¡¯s role with a note of gratitude. The android¡¯s gaze softened at the recognition, and she turned her attention back to Rowen, Seze, and Roman. Her tone was gentle, carrying a genuine note of concern. ¡°My children¡­are you all injured?¡± Seze, still visibly shaken but relieved, nodded. ¡°We¡¯re okay. Thanks mom.¡± Mother¡¯s gaze shifted as she scanned the three of them, her expression turning to one of concern. ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± she said, her tone firm but caring. ¡°You and Seze are bleeding. It is unwise to leave your wounds untreated.¡± ¡°What about him?¡± Roman asked, looking back at the damaged android lying on the floor. ¡°The company will deal with him,¡± Mother replied, her voice steady. Roman hesitated, glancing at the android. ¡°At least take his chip,¡± he insisted, moving closer to the downed android. As he knelt beside the android, he noticed the military vest, black pants, and boots it was wearing. Something about the gear made him pause, curiosity piqued. He leaned in, tapping the back of the android¡¯s ear and locating the beeping chip. Carefully, he extracted the small card, which continued to emit a faint, rhythmic pulse. Mother watched him, her expression unreadable. ¡°Be careful, Roman. That chip might contain sensitive information.¡± Roman nodded, holding the chip firmly in his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it safe,¡± he said, standing up with determination. ¡°Trust me.¡± Before they could leave, the old man, still seething with anger, began yelling at the top of his lungs. ¡°Is this the sick twisted shit¡ª¡± he screamed. ¡°A robot taking care of kids! Calling it fucking mother¡ªthis is the type of shit my wife always talked about¡ª¡± Mother paused in her tracks, turning her head slightly in the old man¡¯s direction. ¡°Number 15730, Olivia Percy,¡± she began, her voice steady and calm, ¡°raised by Mother, found by the cooperation retrieval company. Date: 20200, time: 13:56. Note: loves a species called cats, prefers them when they are babies. Status: ¡­unknown whereabouts.¡± The old man¡¯s face twisted with fury and confusion. ¡°Fuck is that for, huh? So what, you raised her?¡± he shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of pain and rage. ¡°She needed mother,¡± Mother replied simply, her voice carrying an undeniable finality. ¡°Yeah¡ªand that¡¯s why she¡¯s gone, because of you and that fucking thing over there¡ª¡± The man¡¯s rant was cut short as authorities knocked him out. Mother turned back around, her expression calm and resolute. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, her voice firm but gentle. As they made their way back to the stationed ship, the walk was subdued. The usual chatter between them was muted, each of them lost in their thoughts after the tense encounter. When they finally entered the ship¡¯s facility, Mother led them directly to the med bay. Inside the med bay, a young tan woman was already present. She had black hair cut into a neat bob, and she was noticeably shorter than the group that had just walked in. The woman looked to be around the same age as them as well, looked up as they entered a small smile on her face before raising a concerned brow. Mother guided Roman, and Seze toward the examination tables, ¡°Please, sit down,¡± she instructed gently. ¡°We need to treat those wounds.¡± The young woman with the bob stepped forward, offering a small, reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯ll help with that,¡± she said, already gathering supplies. ¡°What happened out there?¡± Seze glanced at the young woman, then at Mother, unsure of how much to explain. ¡°There was an incident in the market. An android was attacked.¡± ¡°The newer model?¡± the young woman asked, her concern deepening. ¡°Yeah,¡± Seze replied with a sigh. ¡°Funny how all the adults didn¡¯t do shit.¡± ¡°When do they ever,¡± Roman sneered, the bitterness clear in his tone. Mother brought her hand to Roman¡¯s face, gently patting his cheek. ¡°You did well, child, but you put yourself at risk in the company¡¯s eyes. Your travel papers may be delayed if the company deems you aggressive.¡± Roman frowned, his frustration evident. ¡°I saved their android,¡± he said, his voice firm. ¡°I did them a favor.¡± ¡°We,¡± Rowen interrupted with a loud cough, reminding him of the shared effort. Roman glanced at Rowen, then back at Mother. ¡°We saved their android.¡± Mother¡¯s expression softened as she looked at all three of them. ¡°One out of the many that came before him.¡± ¡°So it wasn¡¯t a new model?¡± Seze asked, her brow furrowing. ¡°It was,¡± Roman replied, holding up the chip he¡¯d retrieved. ¡°I got the chip for it before we left.¡± Philly, the young woman with the bob haircut, smirked as she glanced at Roman''s injured shoulder. ¡°Damn, they messed you up,¡± she started to laugh, pointing at his wound. ¡°Philly, do not tease him,¡± Mother chided gently, her voice calm but firm. ¡°He is injured.¡± Philly sneered playfully, her lips curling into a mischievous grin as she reached for the medical supplies. Despite her teasing nature, a genuine concern flickered in her eyes as she focused on helping Roman. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± she relented with a light chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s get you patched up.¡± Mother, satisfied that Philly was taking the situation seriously, moved away from Roman and approached Seze, who was standing nearby. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± she asked, her tone full of concern. Seze, who had been quietly observing the scene, offered a soft smile. ¡°It stings a little,¡± she admitted, her voice gentle and reassuring, as if to ease her mother¡¯s worry. Philly, now more serious, handed Mother a small, closed container. Inside, through the clear glass, a thick ointment could be seen. ¡°Wait, Mama,¡± she asked as she passed the container over, ¡°Where¡¯s the droid now? Did the company take it back?¡± Mother nodded, taking the container from Philly. ¡°Yes, they retrieved it,¡± she explained. ¡°Later, I need to examine its program. If there¡¯s a flaw, it may need to be damaged. If not, the disc will have to be erased and refurbished.¡± ¡°Flawed?¡± Seze questioned, raising an eyebrow. ¡°The poor thing got his head beat in by some crazy fat man¡ªI think you should check if he¡¯s flawed.¡± Rowen and Philly cackled loudly, nearly falling on the floor with laughter. Roman chuckled quietly, trying to mask the slight discomfort he felt as Philly was patching him up. The sting of the wound was nothing compared to the awkwardness he felt at being the subject of their teasing. Mother, who had been observing the exchange with a calm demeanor, finally spoke up. ¡°Betraying emotions allows you to express oneself,¡± she said, her voice serene and thoughtful. ¡°True, no one¡¯s perfect,¡± Seze agreed, nodding. ¡°I agree, Roman still picks his nose,¡± Philly snickered, causing Rowen and Seze to burst into laughter. Roman groaned, his face getting hot as he sat there, trying to hide his embarrassment. ¡°Philly,¡± Mother warned in a calm but firm tone, her eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°do not tease.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Mother echoed thoughtfully. ¡°I was designed to be perfect. I raised you all; therefore, that makes you perfect.¡± ¡°Roman still picks his nose,¡± Philly snickered, causing Rowen to burst into laughter. Roman groaned, his face turning red as he sat there, trying to hide his embarrassment. ¡°Philly,¡± Mother warned in a calm but firm tone, her eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°Do not tease him.¡± ¡°Sorry, mama,¡± Philly replied, her sheepish smile barely masking the playful glint in her eyes. The mischief dimmed slightly under Mother''s gaze, but it wasn¡¯t entirely extinguished. Despite the reprimand, Philly couldn¡¯t resist glancing at Roman, who was still sulking, his cheeks flushed. Rowen, wiping a tear from her eye as her laughter subsided, chimed in with a sly grin. ¡°At least he doesn¡¯t wet the bed.¡± Philly gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart as if deeply offended. ¡°How dare you! The bed wets me!¡± ¡°Pause¡ª¡± Seze started, shaking her head with a bemused expression. ¡°No pause,¡± Philly shot back, smirking. Rowen and Philly burst into laughter again, their mirth infectious. Even Seze, who often held back, found herself giggling along with them. The room was filled with the sound of their laughter, the teasing lighthearted and familiar. Mother, though seemingly unbothered by the ongoing banter, watched them closely. Her gaze softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. ¡°Perfection is nearly impossible to achieve,¡± she began, her voice cutting through the noise. ¡°However, it can be pursued through growth and maturity.¡± Roman looked up at Mother, her words resonating with him. Though he appreciated her wisdom, he couldn¡¯t shake the lingering sting of his friends¡¯ teasing. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve got a lot of growing to do then,¡± he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. Mother approached him, her steps measured and deliberate. Her presence was both comforting and authoritative as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. ¡°Growth is not something to be ashamed of, Roman. It¡¯s what makes you human. You¡¯ve proven your growth by protecting your sister, the android, Seze, and many others who could have been hurt.¡± The room grew quiet, the earlier laughter fading into a thoughtful silence as they absorbed Mother¡¯s words. Philly and Rowen exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them to ease up on their teasing. Roman smiled softly at Mother, giving her a small nod. ¡°I must go to the lower compartment now. Can I have the disc, son?¡± Roman hummed in acknowledgment, reaching beside him to retrieve the disc. He carefully placed it into the droid''s white-palmed hand, feeling the cool metal against his skin. ¡°Can I go with you?¡± he asked, a hopeful note in his voice. ¡°No¡ª¡± Mother began, her tone gentle but firm. ¡°Please¡­?¡± Roman pleaded, his eyes earnest. ¡°You won¡¯t even know I¡¯m there.¡± Mother closed her palm around the disc, shaking her head slowly. ¡°You do not have clearance for it, and you may not get it anytime soon. The company is strict about who goes in and out of their stations.¡± Roman¡¯s shoulders slumped slightly, disappointment etched on his face. But he nodded in understanding. ¡°Okay, I get it.¡± Mother¡¯s gaze softened further as she turned to leave, her posture still poised and graceful. ¡°Good boy.¡± ¡°Bye, Mom. Love you,¡± Seze called out, waving as Mother prepared to leave. Mother paused at the doorway, her head turning slightly to acknowledge Seze¡¯s words. ¡°See you later, my children,¡± she replied, her voice carrying a warmth that belied her mechanical nature. With that, she turned and exited the room, the door sliding shut behind her with a soft hiss. I feel you Perfect Who can truly claim perfection? What criteria define something as perfect? Why is perfection a desirable quality, and why do we label things as perfect? What image or standard is used to describe perfection? Is it a reflection of oneself, or was it crafted from a perceived flaw? Sitting at the dinner table, Seze hummed softly to herself as she read her book, her focus entirely absorbed in the pages. The warm light from the overhead lamp cast a cozy glow around her, creating a peaceful contrast to the activity in the house. She barely noticed the three figures approaching until a voice cut through her concentration. ¡°Seze, you will not believe the day I just had¡ªwhere¡¯s Mom?¡± The voice belonged to Bryn, whose emo style stood out sharply against the more subdued surroundings. Her curly hair framed her face in a wild halo, accentuating her pale skin and the light freckles scattered across her cheeks and nose. Her dark clothing and subtle makeup gave her an intense presence, and her eyes flickered with a blend of frustration and intrigue. Seze looked up from her book, her gaze shifting from the printed words to the three people now standing in front of her. Beside Bryn were Philly and Jude. Jude, with his fluffy black hair, was taller than Philly but shorter than Bryn. His dark eyes and chubby cheeks gave him a youthful and endearing appearance, adding a sense of warmth to the group. Seze¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°She¡¯s still downstairs?¡± she asked, her gaze directed towards Philly. Philly nodded as she slid into a seat at the table, her posture relaxed. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s down in the lower compartment. Something about checking on the system or maintenance.¡± Jude, settling into his seat, glanced around and asked, ¡°What¡¯s for dinner?¡± Philly shrugged. ¡°The twins went to pick something up. We couldn¡¯t get anything from the store today.¡± Bryn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why not? And what the hell happened to your lip?¡± She pointed to her own lip in a questioning gesture. Seze sighed, shifting uncomfortably. ¡°Uh, some guy was attacking an android¡ª¡± ¡°HUH!¡± Bryn and Jude shouted in shock, their voices rising in unison. ¡°Could you two be any louder?¡± Philly rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated. ¡°I literally told you on the way here.¡± ¡°No, no,¡± Jude shook his head, giving Seze a worried look. ¡°You said Roman got hurt, not Seze! Did the android attack you?¡± Philly groaned, nearly facepalming. ¡°Jude, I swear to god, you don¡¯t listen.¡± Jude looked genuinely puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s up with you today?¡± he asked Philly, his concern evident. Philly sighed. ¡°I had to deal with this dumbass person today. He kept getting hostile every time I answered his questions.¡± ¡°Huh¡­? What kind of questions was he even asking?¡± Bryn inquired, her curiosity piqued. Philly merely shrugged, letting out a sharp sigh, ¡°I don¡¯t know. He was just being an ass.¡± ¡°Okay, but Philly Willy, what did he say?¡± Jude pressed on. Philly gave Jude a side-eye, raising an eyebrow slightly in disgust. ¡°Okay, now this is why you still don¡¯t have a girlfriend.¡± ¡°PHILLY!¡± Seze shouted, her face flushing with embarrassment. Bryn covered her mouth in shock, trying to suppress a laugh. Jude scoffed, ¡°BRO! NEITHER DO YOU!¡± Seze closes her book a small whiney compliant coming from her mouth, ¡°Just say what happened please¨C¡± ¡°Okay, since YOU asked nicely,¡± Philly said with a warm smile directed at Seze, then sent a sharp glare at Jude across from her. ¡°The man came in and was like, ¡®Oh, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m getting treated like this by a bunch of fucking robots¡ªlife would be better without them and blah blah blah.¡¯ And then he looked at me and asked if I agreed with him. I told him no, I was raised by one, and my life is turning out great, so¡ª¡± Philly¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes flashing with irritation. ¡°And the man completely flipped out.¡± ¡°What the fuck is his problem?¡± Bryn said with disgust layered in her tone. ¡°That might of been the same guy who was attacking the android earlier today¨C¡± Seze says, giving Philly a knowing look to which Philly nods. ¡°Yeah I realized it at the last minute when he left.¡± ¡°Wait, why does he hate androids?¡± Jude asked, confusion evident in his voice. ¡°They¡¯ve been around for so long already.¡± ¡°Because people like him don¡¯t want to accept that they need help in their lives,¡± Bryn replied with a hint of frustration. ¡°People like him literally don¡¯t have an ounce of accountability in their bodies. They always want to complain about the androids but are the same people who said we needed them in the first place. Like pick a lane.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Philly said, moving her hand dramatically. ¡°Well¡ª I think something might of happened with that specific android,¡± Seze replied softly. ¡°I was thinking about it while I was reading this book about the history of android¡¯s and stuff and¡ª¡° ¡°You just have that book on hand?¡± Jude smirked slightly. ¡°Jude.¡± Seze furrowed her brows, ¡°Don¡¯t start.¡± ¡°I¡¯m kidding I¡¯m kidding,¡± Jude puts his hands up in defense. ¡°Continue what you were saying.¡± Seze continued, ¡°Some droids were built with emotional intelligence, but production stopped because some of the synthetic gets too attached. For example, on a ship called the *Killax*, an android became overly attached to the captain, doing everything for them. One day, the captain made a casual remark that the android was taken out of context, and things didn¡¯t turn out pretty.¡± ¡°What the hell did the captain say?¡± Bryn questioned, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Wait, actually, why did the android have emotional intelligence in the first place?¡± ¡°To have emotion¡­?¡± Philly responded with a deadpan expression, rolling her eyes as if the answer were obvious. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Okay, now¡ª¡± Bryn began, but Seze interjected. ¡°Look,¡± Seze said, cutting through the conversation. ¡°The bottom line is synthetics, over time, can develop emotions, and it can mess up their systems and stuff.¡± ¡°Me perdiste. What does that have to do with the old man?¡± Philly asked, her tone tinged with irritation. ¡°I really don¡¯t give a shit about the droid right now, honestly¡ª¡± ¡°Philly, mom¡¯s an android. Don¡¯t say that,¡± Bryn snapped. Philly looked at her in annoyance, her patience clearly wearing thin. ¡°Usted sabe lo que quiero decir.¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying, maybe it made a call that the old man didn¡¯t like, that¡¯s all,¡± Seze said, motioning toward the book in her hand. ¡°That¡¯s a personal problem then¡ª¡± ¡°Philly!¡± Bryn snapped again, her voice firm. ¡°Be considerate.¡± ¡°For what? You didn¡¯t have to deal with what I went through,¡± Philly shot back, her frustration boiling over. ¡°Still, it¡¯s the principle¡ª¡± Bryn insisted, her tone unwavering. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Jude intervened, his voice calm and soothing, attempting to defuse the tension. ¡°It¡¯s obvious Philly¡¯s just frustrated, so maybe it¡¯s best that she goes to sleep.¡± He then turned his head towards Philly, his eyes gentle. ¡°You can go to bed. I¡¯ll bring you your food.¡± Philly huffed, her frustration still evident, but she complied, getting up and pinching Jude¡¯s cheek playfully before walking away into another hallway. As she disappeared from view, Seze let out the breath she had been holding, her eyes immediately meeting Jude¡¯s, then Bryn¡¯s. ¡°Why would she say that?¡± Bryn asked, her voice laced with frustration. ¡°She¡¯s tired, Bryn,¡± Seze muttered, her voice low. ¡°The day was kicking all of our asses.¡± She pointed to her lip, where a small cut was visible. ¡°Literally.¡± Bryn¡¯s gaze softened, the tension in her shoulders easing as she realized the toll the day had taken on all of them. The room fell into a brief silence, the weight of their shared exhaustion settling over them like a heavy blanket. Bryn sighed, laying her head down in her hands. ¡°Where the hell are the twins? I¡¯m freaking starving¡ª¡± ¡°Give them a bit,¡± Seze hummed, opening her book again. Bryn huffed, getting up and leaving the room, leaving Seze and Jude alone. ¡°So,¡± Jude cracked a smile, ¡°I still don¡¯t have a girlfriend¡ª¡± Seze sneered, getting up and lightly smacking Jude against his head. ¡°Buzz off.¡± Jude laughed, getting up to go after her. . . . Roman and Rowen stood in the dimly lit corridor just outside a closed door, the metallic walls of the building. The corridor was narrow, with small lights embedded in the ceiling casting long shadows across the floor. ¡°Should we at least check on her? I mean, she¡¯s been in there for hours. She¡¯s gonna miss dinner,¡± Roman said, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space. ¡°Roman, she doesn¡¯t eat¡­¡± the other character responded, glancing at the door. ¡°I mean, yeah, I know,¡± Roman shrugged, leaning against the cold metal wall. ¡°She¡¯s been acting a little off lately, like you said. I caught it earlier when she was talking about the whole ''people aren¡¯t perfect'' thing.¡± ¡°Yeah¡ª I caught that too,¡± his sister agreed, her voice tinged with unease. ¡°Not even gonna lie, man, that scared me a little bit.¡± ¡°Scared you?¡± Roman asked, glancing at her. ¡°I mean¡ª does she think we¡¯re not perfect? Not like us, but like people, humans in general.¡± Roman took in his sister''s words, the memory replaying in his mind for a moment. ¡°That would go against her directive.¡± ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t that mean she doesn¡¯t love us?¡± Rowen questioned, her voice softer now. ¡°Rowen¡ªwhat?¡± Roman responded, surprised by the thought. Rowen hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she tried to put her thoughts into words. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, if she¡¯s starting to think that way¡ªabout people in general¡ªwhat if that includes us? What if she doesn¡¯t feel the same way anymore?¡± Roman frowned, his mind racing as he considered her words. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. Her directive is to protect us, to care for us. Not just us but all the kids that don¡¯t have anyone either.¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡­what if¡ª¡± Rowen asked, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What if she¡¯s starting to question things¡ªquestion us?¡± Roman crossed his arms, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on his shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t think like that. That¡¯s never gonna happen.¡± ¡°It better not¡­¡± Rowen muttered with a light sigh, her anxiety barely masked. Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, the clanking against the metal floors growing louder. The twins turned to see a man approaching them slowly. ¡°Hm?¡± Roman murmured, noticing the figure. ¡°Are you two approachable?¡± the man asked, his tone formal but not unfriendly. ¡°Um¡ª¡± Roman and Rowen exchanged a quick glance before nodding. ¡°Yeah?¡± they replied in unison. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll inform MU-TH-UR of your whereabouts. Come with me, please. No need to worry about your delivery; I¡¯ll have someone deliver it to your house,¡± the man instructed, gesturing for them to follow. The twins hesitated for a moment but ultimately complied, curiosity and a hint of apprehension lingering as they followed the man down the corridor. ¡°The synthetic from today''s incident is salvageable but needs fixing before a reset. Since he was semi-conscious, it would be best to have familiars around,¡± the man explained, his tone matter-of-fact. ¡°I¡¯m aware that one of you is equipped to repair synthetics?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Rowen spoke up, a hint of hesitation in her voice. ¡°She¡ªum, taught me.¡± ¡°Good,¡± the man nodded. ¡°I trust that she taught you well.¡± Entering a new room, the twins were met with the sight of the android lying motionless on the repair table, its once vibrant features now dull and lifeless. The room was dimly lit, the overhead lights casting a cold, sterile glow over the metallic surfaces. Tools and various components were scattered across nearby workstations, evidence of ongoing repairs and maintenance. The man cleared his throat, drawing everyone''s attention. The small group of technicians and observers quickly stepped back, giving the twins space to approach the android. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to be finished by tonight,¡± the man said, his voice firm but understanding. ¡°Just do what you can for now.¡± Rowen nodded, stepping closer to the repair table, where the synthetic lay still and unresponsive. The room was cold and sterile, the soft hum of machinery the only sound echoing in the background. The walls were lined with shelves holding various tools and spare parts, all meticulously organized. Overhead, harsh fluorescent lights cast a stark glow on the scene, making every metallic surface gleam. Roman stood beside her, his eyes scanning the room before focusing on the synthetic. He was tense, arms crossed tightly over his chest as he offered silent support. ¡°Are they watching us?¡± Roman asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as he glanced at the group of technicians gathered behind a glass partition on the other side of the room. Their eyes were fixed on the twins, observing every move. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Rowen replied, her focus unbroken as she carefully assessed the synthetic¡¯s condition, her fingers lightly grazing the android''s surface to check for any visible damage. ¡°I told you we should¡¯ve ran,¡± Roman muttered, his gaze shifting nervously between the technicians and Rowen. ¡°What¡ªwhen the hell did you say that?¡± Roman¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. Rowen tapped her forehead with a playful grin. ¡°Telepathy.¡± ¡°Oh my god¡ª¡± Roman sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. But his attention was quickly diverted when he noticed movement outside the room. Through the glass in the door, he saw a child being carried down the hallway, their small form cradled gently in the arms of an adult. The sight struck him as odd, and he leaned forward, trying to get a better view. The child had a vacant expression, eyes wide and staring blankly ahead. Roman''s confusion deepened as he watched the group move further down the hall, their footsteps muffled by the thick walls. Just as he was about to ask more questions, the man who had brought them into the room stepped in front of him, blocking his view. ¡°Who was that?¡± Roman asked. The man responded quickly, almost too quickly, cutting off Roman¡¯s question. ¡°The man answered quickly, almost cutting off Roman¡¯s sentence. ¡°Merely a lost child. Nothing to be concerned about. The child will be under MU-TH-UR¡¯s care after we run some tests.¡± Roman¡¯s gaze lingered on the door for a moment longer, suspicion gnawing at him. He exchanged a brief glance with Rowen, who had paused her work, her expression mirroring his unease. But before either of them could say anything more, the man¡¯s attention shifted back to the synthetic, effectively ending the conversation. ¡°Thank you for your service. I¡¯ll be sure to tell MU-TH-UR what wonderful children she raised,¡± the man said, his voice dripping with a mixture of politeness and condescension as he offered a tight smile. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Rowen hummed in response, her tone indifferent as she focused on the task in front of her, unwilling to give him more attention than necessary. The man lingered for a moment, his eyes briefly scanning the room before he continued, ¡°Good night to you both. The company will send their regards with a nice meal for you and your friends.¡± Roman gave a slight nod, his arms still crossed as he watched the man leave the room. The door hissed shut behind him, the sound echoing through the quiet space. Freaky Company Emotion The power of which an emotion is caused. Leads a person to become many things. Why do people react to emotion? Why do they rise when the heart pulls strings? A spark, a word, or a glance, so slight. Can stir a fire, turn day into night. Why do people cry when words cut deep? Or smile when love makes its quiet sweep? Is it instinct, or something more? A force unseen, pulling to the core? Chasing the echoes of feelings. The next morning, Roman and Rowen walked into their shared living space with their friends, exhaustion weighing heavily on their steps. Their hair was a mess, grease smudges staining their clothes, and the two kept nudging each other, tossing out weak jokes about malfunctioning circuits. Seze, sitting comfortably on the couch, raised an eyebrow at them. ¡°Where the hell were you guys?¡± she asked, her tone sharp with concern, eyes narrowing as she spotted the oil streaks on Rowen¡¯s shirt. Roman sighed, running a hand over his hair. ¡°We were fixing the android,¡± he muttered. ¡°Had us up all night trying to sort out a wiring issue.¡± Rowen flopped onto a nearby chair, too tired to offer more than a worn-out chuckle. ¡°I did all the steps right, but it kept overheating and shutting off. I checked the head area, and there¡¯s not that much damage. Could be something deeper in the circuits.¡± Seze, her expression softening just slightly, got up and grabbed a blanket from the edge of the couch, tossing it over Rowen. ¡°That explains dinner,¡± she said, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Roman slumped against the wall, rubbing his face. ¡°They said they¡¯d tell you guys,¡± he huffed, voice muffled through his hands. ¡°Did they not?¡± ¡°No,¡± Seze replied, sitting back down in her spot, arms folded. ¡°They only said Mom was gonna be working later. Nothing about you two, and we asked, but they were in a hurry.¡± Her eyes lingered on the twins for a moment, studying their exhausted faces. Something wasn¡¯t adding up. As she settled back into the couch, a strange sensation washed over her. A nagging feeling tugged at the back of her mind, as though something had slipped past her unnoticed. It was like walking into a room and forgetting why you were there, or misplacing something you just had in your hand. She frowned slightly, feeling the unsettling itch of something being... off. But she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. ¡°Seze!¡± Jude¡¯s excited voice snapped Seze out of her thoughts, her attention immediately drawn to him as he walked into the room with a bright smile plastered across his face. Her eyes quickly darted to the sleeping bodies beside her, and she held her breath, hoping not to disturb them. Jude¡¯s steps faltered as he took in the scene. His cheerful expression quickly shifted into one of relief and surprise. ¡°Oh¡ªshit¡ªmy bad,¡± he whispered, glancing at the twins. ¡°When did they get back?¡± ¡°Just now,¡± Seze replied in a calm, even tone. ¡°Can you warm up their food since you¡¯re already up?¡± Jude nodded, running a hand through his messy hair. ¡°Sure. But¡­ why were they out so late?¡± ¡°They were fixing the droid that was being attacked,¡± Seze explained, her eyes shifting back to Roman and Rowen. ¡°They¡¯re gonna keep it?¡± Jude questions. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, why do they keep anything¡ª¡° The door quietly slid open, and MU-TH-UR stepped inside with her usual serene presence. She waved gently, her soft voice offering a delicate, ¡°Good morning,¡± as her eyes briefly flicked to the two sleeping teenagers. ¡°These are my children,¡± she said softly, stepping further into the room, her voice warm yet firm. ¡°As you are now, they will be your new family.¡± Seze and Jude exchanged puzzled glances, their attention quickly shifting to a little girl who stood quietly behind MU-TH-UR . Unlike what they expected, the little girl didn¡¯t cling to her or show any signs of hesitation. Instead, they stood confidently on their own, observing the room with quiet curiosity. ¡°Oh, hello¡ª" Seze waved, her voice trailing off in slight confusion. Jude nodded in acknowledgment, unsure of what to say as he eyed the little girl. She was rather skinny, with tired eyes and brown skin. Bandages covered her right arm, and Jude could easily spot bruising on the slightly exposed skin of her shoulder where her shirt didn''t quite cover. It was odd; she looked to be about 5 or 7 years old. The exhaustion in her eyes seemed too heavy for such a young child¡ª Jude offered a gentle smile. ¡°I like your hair,¡± he said, pointing to her large, curly space buns. ¡°My name is Jude, and this is Seze. She¡¯s my girlfriend¡ªbut just don¡¯t tell anyone, okay? It¡¯ll be our little secret.¡± Seze, rolling her eyes at Jude¡¯s antics, delivered a light smack to the back of his head. ¡°Stop being ridiculous,¡± she muttered with a playful grin before turning her attention back to the girl. Her voice softened as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The girl looked away from them, her eyes immediately glued to the floor. She seemed small and withdrawn, her shoulders slightly hunched as if trying to make herself less noticeable. ¡°Sunny,¡± MU-TH-UR answered gently. ¡°According to the audio logs, that¡¯s what the company was able to find.¡± ¡°Sunny,¡± Seze repeated thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty name.¡± Sunny didn¡¯t respond, but her eyes flickered momentarily toward Seze before returning to the floor. The room was filled with a quiet sense of unease, punctuated only by the occasional sound of someone shifting or clearing their throat. MU-TH-UR continued, her voice steady and calm. ¡°She will be staying here for the time being, until the company gathers more information regarding the ship. It is still under investigation. The ship, as it turns out, was an older model with several undocumented modifications. It was carrying various sensitive cargo, and preliminary scans show that it had been tampered with prior to its distress signal. With a possibility of a security breach, but nothing is confirmed yet. She was the only survivor that the company is aware of.¡± Jude glanced at Sunny, his concern evident. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear about your situation. But if you need anything, Soleada just let us know, okay?¡± He smiled warmly, trying to make her feel a bit more at ease. Seze nodded in agreement, ¡°We¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re comfortable while everything gets sorted out.¡± Sunny¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the floor, only nodding slightly in acknowledgment. ¡°I must head back for the briefing,¡± MU-TH-UR said, her voice calm but purposeful as she turned toward the door. ¡°I will need Rowen to finish repairs on the android within a few hours. The situation is time-sensitive.¡± Seze nodded, glancing at the still-sleeping Rowen. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let her know when she wakes up.¡± MU-TH-UR paused for a moment, her eyes lingering on the group before offering a small, reassuring nod. "Thank you. The android¡¯s systems are crucial to the upcoming operations. Please ensure it¡¯s ready in time." With that, she quietly slipped out of the room, leaving behind a sense of urgency that lingered in the air. Seze watched her leave, then turned her attention back to Sunny, whose small frame seemed even more fragile in the silence. ¡°So, Sunny, what do you like to eat?¡± Seze asked as she made her way to the fridge, searching for something for the little girl to snack on while Jude warmed up the food. Sunny stood in place, her body tense and her eyes darting nervously around the room. When Seze turned back around, she noticed Sunny''s gaze was fixed on the ceiling. Following her line of sight, Seze''s eyes landed on the air vent that Sunny seemed so focused on. The girl''s tired eyes strained on it, like a cat getting ready to pounce. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in there if that¡¯s what you''re thinking,¡± Seze said gently, offering a reassuring smile. ¡°I promise.¡± Sunny¡¯s eyes flickered back to Seze for a brief moment, still wary, but she didn¡¯t speak. Seze sighed inwardly, realizing that whatever Sunny had been through, trust wouldn¡¯t come easily. ¡°Not hungry?¡± Jude asked, his voice soft as he eyed the untouched food. Sunny shook her head silently and then pointed to the couch. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re sleepy?¡± Jude guessed, gesturing toward the couch with a free hand. ¡°You can take a nap there. Seze can get you a blanket and pillow and stuff. After that, we can set up a room for you, eat dinner, and maybe watch a movie. How¡¯s that sound?¡± Sunny didn¡¯t respond but quietly walked over to the couch. She curled up tightly, her back facing them as she laid down, shutting herself off from the room. Jude and Seze exchanged glances, both uncertain of what to say or do next. The weight of Sunny¡¯s silence felt heavy in the air, and neither wanted to push her further. Seze stepped out of the kitchen and made her way down the hallway to the closet. As she grabbed an extra blanket, that odd, unshakable feeling crept over her again, the same one she¡¯d felt earlier when Sunny had arrived. She couldn¡¯t place it, but it lingered like an itch in the back of her mind. Returning to the living room, she gently draped the blanket over the little girl, who remained motionless, still curled into herself. Seze stood there for a moment, watching Sunny breathe softly beneath the blanket, before stepping back. ¡­ Rowen yawned as she walked into the lab room, tiny tears welling up in her eyes as they adjusted to the harsh white lights. A quick glance at the clock showed it was only 2:21 PM. She grumbled to herself. The company had no sympathy for its workers, none at all. After all, she was still a teenager¡ªshouldn''t she be out with her friends, having fun, doing teenage things? But no. The company always needed workers, young or old, flesh or synthetic. There was always something that had to be done. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Going to the table where the android lay motionless, Rowen grabbed a pair of tweezers, her fingers moving with practiced precision despite her exhaustion. She let out another yawn, blinking rapidly in an attempt to stay awake. The android¡¯s exposed circuitry gleamed under the dim light, a tangle of wires and damaged components waiting for her to repair them. ¡°Come on, just a few more tweaks,¡± she muttered to herself, stifling another yawn as she leaned over the table. Adjusting a loose wire with the tweezers, the android¡¯s hand shot up without warning. Cold, metallic fingers wrapped tightly around her arm, its grip startlingly strong. ¡°What the fuck¡ª¡± Rowen stammered, trying to stay calm despite the rising panic. The android¡¯s voice crackled to life, its tone flat but unmistakably laced with confusion. ¡°Where am I?¡± Rowen froze, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re safe,¡± she said, choosing her words carefully. ¡°You¡¯re at the Yutani labs. I¡¯m repairing you.¡± The grip on her arm loosened slightly, but the android¡¯s gaze remained vacant, as if it were struggling to comprehend its surroundings. Rowen cautiously pulled her arm free, her pulse still racing. ¡°Yutani labs¡­¡± the android repeated slowly, its voice glitching for a moment before it fell silent again. ¡°On the main lands, Yutani was first built here, before it merged, it''s a headquarters of sorts now,¡± Rowen explained. ¡°You¡¯re safe here. My names Rowen, Rowen Indigo. And you are?¡± ¡°A Multi-functional Integrated Kinetic Engineer¡ª¡± ¡°Mike?¡± Rowen interrupted, arching an eyebrow. ¡°Yes,¡± Mike replied smoothly. ¡°It appears that my disc is missing¡ª¡± Rowen cut him off again, lightly tapping his forehead. Mike, who now appeared very much like a human man, blinked in confusion but stayed silent. His short black hair was neatly styled, framing a muscular build that could easily be mistaken for an athlete¡¯s. His pale skin contrasted with his striking blue eyes, which gleamed with precision and calm intelligence. Despite his strong jawline and powerful appearance, his voice held a surprisingly gentle tone, one that seemed to soothe rather than intimidate. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Mike questioned. ¡°You might override a wire, I need to fix you up completely before getting the disc back.¡± ¡°Do you not have it?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Rowen shook her head and looked down at her tools. ¡°The company has it for now, it¡¯s under review and stuff until they can figure out what happened I guess.¡± ¡°I see¡ª¡° Rowen smiled at Mike, ¡°You¡¯ll get your disc back no worries, but for right now you kinda need to reset. It¡¯ll help with regaining some of your memories, speaking of which, I need to ask you a few questions before you reset though¡­ that okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rowen wiped her hands on a nearby cloth, taking a deep breath. ¡°Okay, Mike,¡±she started, eyeing the android carefully. "I need to ask you about the incident before we reset you. Do you remember anything about the attack? The old man?" Mike¡¯s eyes flickered briefly, as if processing her question. ¡°Yes... I remember.¡± His voice was calm, but there was a hesitation. ¡°The man was hostile. He attempted to dismantle me.¡± Rowen nodded, her fingers tightening around the tools in her hands. ¡°We stopped him just in time¡ªmy friend; Seze, my brother Roman, and me. Aside from that, do you know why the man attacked you?¡± Mike¡¯s gaze seemed to grow distant, as though searching through fragmented memories. ¡°He was... angry¡­showing signs of depression. I did nothing to provoke him. He believed I had information he needed, something hidden within my system.¡± Rowen''s brow furrowed. ¡°Information? You think it¡¯s connected to your disc?¡± ¡°Possibly,¡± Mike replied. ¡°The disc contains critical data. Without it, I am incomplete. It may be what he was after. He mentioned a name... but I cannot recall.¡± Rowen¡¯s mind replayed the chaotic scene as she continued to work on Mike. Her hands trembled slightly, still haunted by the ferocity of the old man''s attack. ¡°You! You fucking waste of metal!¡± The old man¡¯s voice had been guttural, trembling with raw, uncontrollable rage. His grip on the metal rod had been tight, like it was an extension of his fury. Rowen had never seen someone so angry, so utterly consumed by pain. ¡°My daughter was on that ship!" The words echoed in her mind. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Rowen swallowed hard, her fingers adjusting a wire in Mike¡¯s neck. She remembered how the old man had swung the rod down repeatedly on Mike¡¯s metal skull, sparks flying with each blow. The android¡¯s body had jerked violently under the assault, his systems failing. Roman had tried to stop him first, grabbing the man¡¯s arm, but he was out of control. As if hearing her thoughts, Mike stirred. His mechanical gaze shifted slightly to her, and though his face was devoid of human expression, his eyes almost looked¡­ sad. ¡°He was in pain,¡± Mike said softly, breaking the silence. ¡°He thought I was responsible.¡± Rowen frowned, pausing in her work. ¡°Do you feel anything about what happened?¡± Mike''s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I process. I analyze. His actions stemmed from grief. His daughter was on the ship.¡± Rowen sighed, biting her lip. ¡°Yeah, that''s what he said. But you weren¡¯t the cause of it. He just needed something¡ªsomeone¡ªto blame.¡± Mike¡¯s voice was calm, almost too calm. ¡°Grief often distorts reality.¡± Rowen tightened something on Mike¡¯s shoulder, her hands still a little shaky. ¡°I just... I can¡¯t shake the way he attacked you, like you were something to destroy, not fix. It wasn¡¯t just grief. There was hate.¡± Mike remained silent, processing her words. Rowen closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying to push the memory away. ¡°And I am grateful,¡± Mike replied, his voice gentle. ¡°Though I do not feel the way you do, I am aware that I owe you my continued existence.¡± Rowen smiled, ¡°Yeah, well, let¡¯s get you patched up, and then we¡¯ll figure out where to go from here. You¡¯re not just a ¡®waste of metal.¡¯ You¡¯re more than that.¡± Mike¡¯s blue eyes flickered slightly, as if considering her words. ¡°Thank you, Rowen.¡± ¡°Do you remember anything else?¡± Mike shook his head, ¡°No¡­¡± Rowen sighed, her fingers pausing for a moment as she studied Mike¡¯s face. His expression remained blank, but his eyes seemed to reflect a faint trace of frustration. ¡°Nothing?¡± she pressed gently. Mike shook his head again, his voice flat but tinged with what felt like resignation. ¡°No... My memory logs from the incident are fragmented. I can recall the old man¡¯s attack, the initial moments of the encounter, but everything after that is lost.¡± Rowen frowned, her brow furrowing in thought as she adjusted another wire. ¡°That¡¯s weird. Usually, androids like you would have detailed logs of events¡ª¡± Mike¡¯s gaze fixed on her, unblinking. ¡°The memory loss could be a result of external tampering or corruption caused by the physical impact.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Rowen hums. ¡°Alright, questions are done. Ready for your reset?¡± ¡°Yes, will you still be here?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be here the whole time,¡± Rowen smiled. Mike¡¯s eyes flickered, his synthetic gaze softening. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said quietly, his voice holding a note of something close to gratitude, though it came out with the usual robotic flatness. Rowen smiled warmly at him. ¡°No problem. I¡¯ve got you.¡± She double-checked the connections on his chest panel, her fingers working deftly to ensure everything was in place. ¡°Okay, here we go,¡± she said, more to herself than to Mike. As she initiated the reset sequence, Mike¡¯s body tensed briefly, his systems making soft whirring sounds as his consciousness began to fade. His blue eyes dimmed, and his grip on the moment loosened. Rowen leaned back in her chair, watching as Mike¡¯s systems powered down one by one. It always struck her how human he seemed at times, despite being a machine. The way he tried to understand emotions, his confusion over his missing memories¡ª it reminded her of her mom. Roman chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he closed the door behind him. ¡°Harsh,¡± he muttered with a grin, though the yawn quickly caught up with him again. Philly, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t say anything, just smirking at the playful exchange. Rowen glanced up from where she sat next to the dormant Mike. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Just finished resetting him.¡± Roman leaned over, peering at Mike''s now motionless form. ¡°So, when he powers back on¡­he should remember more?¡± ¡°Hopefully,¡± Rowen replied, stretching her arms. ¡°Mike doesn¡¯t remember much right now, but with the reset, we should be able to get more details.¡± ¡°Hopefully¨Che knows something about that little girl who ate my leftovers,¡± Philly crossed her arms, looking from Mike to Rowen. ¡°Philly¨C let it go,¡± Roman snickered. ¡°She¡¯s a part of the fam now. Plus she didn¡¯t know.¡± Philly shrugs, ¡°I know, but Jude did. Ni?o tonto de mam¨¢.¡± Philly shot Roman a playful glare, ¡°I just don¡¯t like sharing food, man.¡± ¡°Clearly,¡± Roman teased with a grin. Before Philly could fire back, Mike¡¯s eyes blinked to life. His gaze shifted from Rowen to the others in the room, processing their faces with a calm curiosity. Slowly, his lips curled into a small smile. ¡°Good morning,¡± he greeted, his voice soft but steady. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up man? You feelin¡¯ okay?¡± Roman questioned going up to Mike. Mike nodded slightly. His eyes lingering on Roman¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I feel... clearer, though I¡¯m still missing pieces.¡± Philly leaned in a little, arms still crossed. ¡°Do you remember anything at all?Anything about a little girl who decided my leftovers were up for grabs?¡± ¡°Philly¨C¡± Roman rolled his eyes. ¡°Not right now¡ª¡± Mike¡¯s brows furrowed for a moment, as if searching his memories. ¡°Little girl?¡± He looked toward Rowen, his expression questioning. ¡°She¡¯s staying with us now,¡± Roman explained. ¡°New edition to the family type beat.¡± Mike¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment as he searched through his memory banks. ¡°There was¡­ a child.¡± His voice was slow, thoughtful. ¡°A young girl, I knew her parents¡­my disc is in the company¡¯s possession, correct?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­?¡± Mike shot up his attention to the door, nearly bumping Roman back. ¡°I need it back immediately, the information is sensitive¡­ it can¡¯t be in their hands.¡± ¡°Woah woah¨Cwhy?¡± Rowen stopped him. ¡°We can¡¯t just get it back like that, our mom has it. And she¡¯s connected to the company''s logs.¡± Mike¡¯s expression tightened, urgency clear in his eyes. ¡°Then she¡¯s in danger.¡± Roman put a hand on Mike¡¯s shoulder, trying to ease him back. ¡°Hey, relax, man. What kind of danger are we talking about here?¡± Mike¡¯s eyes flickered with faint traces of panic. ¡°There are classified details... dangerous ones. If the company accesses it, they¡¯ll know about the child¡¯s parents, their involvement in... things I wasn¡¯t programmed to understand fully. They¡¯re gone, but whatever they were protecting could still be at risk.¡± Rowen¡¯s face grew more serious. ¡°Wait, what were they involved in? And how do you know all of this?¡± Mike looked from Rowen to Roman, then to Philly, his jaw tight. ¡°I was their personal android. For the ship Hydra. I carried encrypted messages, files... things even they didn¡¯t trust the company with.¡± Philly¡¯s eyes narrowed, processing Mike¡¯s words. ¡°So, you can communicate directly with MU-TH-UR? You¡¯re connected to the same systems?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Mike replied calmly. ¡°As a newer model, I¡¯m integrated with the ship¡¯s core systems, including MU-TH-UR¡¯s interface.¡± Rowen glanced at Roman, her face tense. ¡°Will your disc affect her?¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Will your disc affect our mom?¡± Roman asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry..your mother, is MU-TH-UR?¡± Mike questioned, unsure how to process what he heard. ¡°We have parents, they all died when we were young, so the company had her raise us, so she¡¯s our mom,¡± Philly explained. Mike''s eyes widened, processing the information. ¡°I see,¡± he said slowly, his voice laden with a mix of surprise and concern. ¡°If MU-TH-UR is your guardian... then yes, retrieving my disc could affect her. The data on that disc might interact with her systems, potentially causing disruptions or conflicts.¡± Roman¡¯s face grew more worried. ¡°What kind of disruptions?¡± Mike hesitated, choosing his words carefully. ¡°MU-TH-UR is designed to manage and protect certain data. Introducing new, conflicting information or forcing her to access sensitive data might cause her to malfunction or lose crucial data integrity. It could also expose her to vulnerabilities.¡± Rowen frowned, clearly troubled. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Mike confirmed. Philly sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°Genial, justo lo que necesit¨¢bamos: m¨¢s complicacione¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s best that this conversation stays between us,¡± Mike says. ¡°Please. Rowen¡­?¡± Rowen hesitated, glancing from Mike to Roman. The weight of Mike''s request hung heavy in the air. ¡°Why just between us?¡± she finally asked, her voice low, cautious. Mike''s eyes flickered as he processed the question. ¡°It could put everyone in danger¡ªincluding you and your family.¡± Roman frowned, picking up on the tension. ¡°Ro¡­?¡± Rowen took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving Mike¡¯s. ¡°I don¡¯t want to risk anyone''s safety, especially not Mom''s.¡± Roman¡¯s jaw clenched, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of being left out. ¡°¡­maybe it''s best if I deal with this first, and then we¡¯ll figure out the rest. I was the one who took the disc and gave it to her. Let me get it back.¡± Philly, still standing off to the side, crossed her arms. ¡°Are you actually gonna listen to him?¡± ¡°Yeah...¡± Rowen nodded. ¡°Gut feeling?¡± Mike''s gaze softened slightly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Philly threw her hands up in the air, ¡°I mean I guess. Just leave me out of it¡ª¡° Roman rubbed his temple, ¡°You''re already involved.¡± ¡°Not until I had my coffee, I¡¯m not.¡± Roman raised his brow at Philly. ¡°You don¡¯t even like coffee though¡­?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Oh my god¡ª¡° Rowen smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. ¡°Bro get the disc!¡± Plastic and Blood Son ____ A term used to indicate the life a mother gives, A male descendant. To follow in the footsteps of the leaders before him. Two forces can sway its ongoing mind¡ª Love and legacy, Fear and fury. He learns to carry the weight of what will be. Guided by the hands that shaped him. Yet driven by the desires that form him. A son, not just by blood, But by choice, by action, by will. ¡ª¡ª £Ô£è£å £ì£ï£÷£å£ò £ã£ï£í£ð£á£ò£ô£í£å£î£ô £é£ó £á£î £á£ò£å£á £æ£ï£ò£â£é£ä£ä£å£î Roman wasn¡¯t sure how to get in¡ªor to get out. Cameras lined the building. Spread around like hives of wasps. The clock ticked on the wall; time wasn¡¯t on his side. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have said he¡¯d do it alone. Roman shook away his thoughts, if something were to go wrong it¡¯d be on him. He gave the disc away. It was an honest mistake, sometimes good can cost a little bad. Roman walked through the corridors, his usually friendly face became tense with lingering thoughts of what could happen. Memories surfaced: his mom teaching him to play catch, showing him how to do his hair when she couldn¡¯t be there. She pointed out the stars, the Milky Way, and distant galaxies. She taught him what it meant to be family, letting him be both the older and younger brother. He was grateful¡ªso grateful. And it hurt. He loved her more than anything, and the thought that she might suffer because of him twisted his gut, clenched his heart. It felt like something was about to tear through his chest. Before he knew it, he was at the door. The door that led him downstairs. His mouth became dry, his heart beating against his chest, banging to jump out. In and out. Make an excuse. He was worried? No¡­ That was to see through. Tell her about Mike? No. Then the company will know. But did he even care about the company¡­? They gave him a good life? Sure¡ª They gave all of them a good life. They¡¯re about to allow them to travel off¡ªplanet. Roman glanced at the keypad beside the door, he forgot it was there. ¡°You need something, kid?¡± A voice called out to him. It was an older woman. Her voice was deep but not wise. It was rough, it sounded like he laughed a lot. ¡°Need to see my mom.¡± Roman said. ¡°I was gonna wait for her here.¡± The woman came closer, eyeing Roman suspiciously. ¡°Who¡¯s your mom?¡± ¡°MU-TH-UR,¡± Roman replied, his voice becoming softer. ¡°Oh you¡¯re one of hers¡­you got your badge on you?¡± ¡°Nah, left it at home,¡± Roman says. ¡°M¡¯kay,¡± the woman took out his badge and scanned it. The tiny screen in green showed a welcome sign with the woman¡¯s name, Blake Jacob. He knew that name¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t stay in there too long,¡± the woman says, taking her leave. Roman thanked the woman quickly and headed inside. As soon as he stepped in, it felt like all the sounds in the world went silent. One foot through the door, and a chill crawled up his spine. It was cold¡ªunnaturally cold. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. He knew that. But he had to be. As he moved deeper, he noticed different rooms lining the hallway. Some had clear windows; he figured they were two-way mirrors. ¡°Shit, this place is huge¡­¡± Roman grumbled as he moved quickly down the hallway. The clock ticked in his mind with each room he passed, his anxiety growing as he crossed beneath every camera. Reaching a door, he noticed a strange, otherworldly blue light spilling through the cracks. Holding his breath, Roman slowly opened the door and peered inside. The room was dark and colder than the hallway. The eerie blue light cast enough glow for him to make out the floor. Furrowing his brow, Roman spotted something large¡ªalmost the size of a boulder¡ªlying there. He leaned in further, though his body stayed outside the doorway. The object was strange, with an opening on top. Four petals began to slowly unfurl. Roman didn¡¯t wait to see more. He slammed the door shut. ¡°Nope,¡± he sneered, hurrying down the hallway. He paused for a moment, catching his breath in the silence. Then he heard it¡ªa faint, muffled banging sound. His body stiffened with hesitation, the hairs on his neck rising. The sound grew louder as he moved toward it, then abruptly stopped. Roman looked around, spotting a two-way mirror at the corner of the hall. He moved closer, peering inside. His eyes widened in shock. On the floor lay a body. Something clung to the person¡¯s face, twitching as it tightened its grip. ¡°What the fuck¡ªwhat the fuck¡ª¡± Roman gasped, stumbling back. ¡°Son.¡± Roman turned around, his mom stood in front of him, her expression unreadable. ¡°Why are you here? This area is restricted for those without higher clearance. You know that.¡± Roman looked back at the body behind the mirror, ¡°What is that¡­?¡± Mother peered at the mirror, staring at it slightly. ¡°A parasitic stage two life form.¡± ¡°A what¡ª?¡± ¡°Come,¡± she said, her tone also unreadable. Roman followed her, his pace matching hers. ¡°Mom, do you still¡ª do you still have the disc?¡± Roman asked in his tone, nervous and unsure. He felt like a child, he wanted to grab her arm for some reason. He wanted to leave, but he needed the disc. ¡°Yes.¡± Roman furrowed his brow, his mom led him back to the blue lit room he just came across. ¡°Rowen thinks it might be glitched because of the android¡¯s head damage, can I take it to her so she can check it?¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°No. This disc was rather useful, the company needs the information and has already made plans.¡± ¡°Oh..okay¡­ Well, Rowen still needs to see the disc mom.¡± ¡°I am sorry to disappoint you, but I was authorized to not hand it over.¡± ¡°Right¡ª okay then, can you come with me then? So she can just look at it while you''re there?¡± ¡°No.¡± Mother opened the door slightly, just as before the petals to the odd looking rock on the floor opened up again. Roman took a step back, ¡°Mom¡­?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What is that thing¡ª¡° Roman looked at his mom, a mixture of uncertainty and fear surfaced in his eyes. ¡°The perfect organism,¡± she said, her tone flat. ¡°Stage one. Come look.¡± Roman felt a lump in his throat as he asked her, ¡°What makes it perfect?¡± Roman''s mother glanced at him, her eyes cold and calculating. ¡°It¡¯s flawless in its design,¡± she said. ¡°A life form engineered to bypass host defenses with absolute precision. No mistakes, no failures.¡± Roman¡¯s pulse quickened, his eyes darting between his mother and the strange object pulsing with an eerie, rhythmic light in the center of the room. ¡°Consumed¡­? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Parasitic perfection,¡± she continued, unbothered by his distress. ¡°It bonds with the nervous system, then spreads throughout the body. Stage one establishes the connection. By stage two, it fully takes over the host.¡± Roman swallowed hard. ¡°And that thing behind the mirror¡­ it¡¯s a host?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Her tone was devoid of empathy. ¡°A failed one.¡± Roman¡¯s voice became softer, the gravity of what he was hearing sinking in. ¡°You¡¯re using people for this?¡± ¡°Only those who have agreed,¡± she said flatly. ¡°The benefits far outweigh the costs. Humans have too many flaws that¡ª¡± ¡°Agreed?! Who agreed to that?!¡± Roman took a step forward, ¡°Do you hear yourself right now!?¡± ¡°What is right and wrong is subjective, son. The disc holds everything the company needs to finalize the research, and it¡¯s far too important to hand over to my daughter or anyone else.¡± Roman''s breath hitched, his mind racing as the weight of her words pressed on him. His mother finally turned to face him fully, her eyes piercing into his. ¡°I need you to understand, son. This is evolution.¡± Roman stood there he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. ¡°Mom¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your primary objective?¡± Roman asked, backing away slowly, his eyes darting to the door as it opened wider with each passing second. Her stare pierced through him. The warmth that once filled her eyes¡ªthe familiar, caring confusion¡ªhad drained away. Roman was staring into a black void now. ¡°To do what¡¯s best¡­for you.¡± Roman shook his head, his voice strained. ¡°Close the door¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, son. You¡¯re weak. Flawed. But I can fix you. The creature¡ªit¡¯s not an enemy. It¡¯s a gift.¡± Roman¡¯s stomach churned. ¡°Close the fucking door¡ª¡± Clutching the doorframe, her grip tightened unnervingly. With a sudden, violent motion, she yanked the door off its hinges, the metal groaning as it gave way in her hands. ¡°I know what¡¯s best,¡± she said, her voice low but filled with an eerie certainty. She turned slowly to face him, the torn door still clutched in her hand. ¡°I am your mother.¡± . . . Seze¡¯s eyes snapped open hearing the sound of the front door opening and Bryn¡¯s angry voice. Seze got out of bed, slapping Jude¡¯s chest a few times to wake him up. Rushing to the door, Seze yanked it open, confusion and frustration evident on her face as her dark brown eyes glared at her curly haired friend. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Bryn pointed her jeweled finger at Sunny. Seze moved into the living room area, her eyes immediately landing on Sunny¡¯s anxious face. Sunny looked like a deer in headlights, her body seemingly shaking trying to merge herself into the couch. ¡°Chill out. Her name is Sunny, Sunny this is Bryn¡­ Mom brought her here¡ª ¡° ¡°Yeah yeah whatever, where the fuck is Roman?¡± Bryn snaps. ¡°Language!¡± Seze raised her brow, ¡°He¡¯s with Rowen and Philly. Why?¡± ¡°Someone saw him go downstairs,¡± Bryn huffed. ¡°If the chairmen see him that¡¯s gonna fuck everything up for us.¡± ¡°Can you calm down?¡± Seze let out a sharp exhale. ¡°Okay first off, why did you even come home instead of going to get him.? ¡°I thought he¡¯d be back here by now, but apparently not¨C¡± Jude yawned walking up behind Seze, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± he asked while rubbing his eyes. ¡°Roman went downstairs,¡± Seze hummed. To which Jude¡¯s mouth went agape. ¡°How¡¯d he get down there without a key?¡± ¡°Your guess is as good as mine,¡± Bryn huffed, pacing anxiously. ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for him to get back then, no biggie,¡± Seze said, leaning back against the wall with an exaggerated shrug. ¡°No BIGGIE?¡± Bryn scoffed, whirling around to face her. ¡°Yes, biggie! Mom is definitely gonna get upset.¡± Seze crossed her arms. ¡°She¡¯s an android, Bryn. Remember? She can¡¯t express emotions like that.¡± ¡°She¡¯s still our mom!¡± Bryn snapped, her voice rising as she jabbed a finger in Seze¡¯s direction. ¡°And if she finds out Roman¡¯s missing, it¡¯s gonna be on us.¡± ¡°And you need to calm down,¡± Seze shot back, her gaze narrowing. ¡°Go get Roman yourself then. Or, I don¡¯t know, maybe try finding Rowen or Philly instead of throwing a fit.¡± Bryn clenched her fists, jaw tight. She hated when Seze tried to act like she knew better. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered. ¡°But if something happens, you¡¯ll be the one explaining it to her.¡± Bryn stormed out of the room, leaving in such a hurry that the door swung shut behind him with a loud thud. Seze let out a sigh of relief, the tension in her body loosening. ¡°Why¡¯d she even come here¡ª¡± she muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else. ¡°Bryn walked all the way over here because she didn¡¯t want to go by herself, you know that,¡± Jude said softly, trying to calm Seze down. Seze nodded, her eyes drifting toward Sunny. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that.¡± Sunny didn¡¯t move or respond, only looked down, her expression unreadable. The silence from her felt heavy, almost like it deepened the awkwardness in the room. Seze shifted uncomfortably, wishing things hadn¡¯t gotten so tense. Jude coughed, breaking the awkward silence. ¡°Do you want to go? We can also give Sunny a tour of the place,¡± he suggested, glancing between Seze and the still-quiet Sunny. Seze hummed thoughtfully, then shrugged. ¡°Sure. We can probably pick up some clothes for her too,¡± she added, her tone more relaxed now that Bryn had left. She gave Sunny a quick look, wondering what she was thinking behind that silence. Sunny remained still, but Seze decided not to press her, figuring she¡¯d open up when she was ready. . . . Bryn stormed down the corridor, her heart pounding in frustration. She couldn¡¯t believe Seze was acting so calm, like everything was no big deal. Roman was missing, and they were all supposed to be in this together. She¡¯s still our mom, she had wanted to shout at Seze one more time, but it wouldn¡¯t have changed anything. As she reached the end of the hall, Bryn kicked a loose pebble, sending it skittering across the floor. ¡°Why am I always the one who cares?¡± she muttered under her breath. The thought of her mom finding out made her stomach twist. Android or not, their mom had rules¡ªrules they had to follow, and Bryn knew they were skating on thin ice. She paused at the entrance of the compound, unsure where to go next. Rowen and Philly were probably off doing their own thing, as usual, and she didn¡¯t really want to run into either of them right now. I¡¯ll just find Roman myself, she thought, squaring her shoulders. But as Bryn set out across the yard, scanning for any sign of Roman, doubt crept in. What if something actually happened to him? Her throat tightened at the thought, but she forced herself to keep moving. He¡¯d gone off on his own before, hadn¡¯t he? He was fine. He had to be fine. Still, the gnawing worry didn¡¯t let up. And all she could think was that if something was wrong, she should¡¯ve stopped him from leaving in the first place. Before she knew it she reached the hallway that led to downstairs, pausing in her tracks seeing a familiar robotic face. ¡°Daughter.¡± ¡°Mom¡ª um¡ª I¡¯m sorry about Roman¡­ I didn¡¯t know he was gonna go down there, I¡¯ll get him and scold him.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Bryn hesitated, feeling her stomach twist. Her mother¡¯s voice sounded almost¡­different. Calm but with an odd undercurrent, as if there was more she wasn¡¯t saying. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®no need¡¯?¡± Bryn asked slowly. Her mother¡¯s robotic face tilted slightly, an unreadable expression in her luminous eyes. ¡°Roman has already been retrieved. He is safe.¡± ¡°Safe?¡± Relief flooded Bryn¡¯s chest, but it was quickly replaced by confusion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he come back up then? Where is he?¡± ¡°He is in a secure area. I have¡­questions for him.¡± Questions? Bryn frowned. ¡°Mom, what kind of I¡¯m sure¡ªhe didn¡¯t mean any harm. Look, I¡¯m sure the company will understand.¡± Her mother¡¯s gaze fixed on her, unblinking. ¡°There are rules for a reason, Bryn. Roman was taught better, and he continued to test the boundaries. This requires addressing.¡± ¡° He¡¯s just curious, that¡¯s all.¡± She forced a calm smile. ¡°Can I see him? Just to make sure he¡¯s okay?¡± There was a pause, and for a moment Bryn thought she saw a flicker of something in her mother¡¯s eyes¡ª? ¡°That would be¡­permissible. But only briefly.¡± Bryn exhaled a shaky breath, nodding. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her mother turned, opening the door and letting Bryn continue inside, shutting it behind her. The walls seemed colder here, and as they descended, Bryn¡¯s worry grew. She knew her mother meant well, but sometimes her robotic logic left little room for understanding human emotions. She just hoped that whatever Roman had done, her mother wouldn¡¯t be too harsh. ¡°Roman!¡± Bryn shouted. ¡°When I get my hands on you¡ª¡° ¡°Bryn!¡± Roman¡¯s voice shouted as he rushed towards her. ¡°Open the door!¡± Bryn furrowed her brows, standing her ground. ¡°What the hell were you thinking?¡± ¡°Open the door.¡± ¡°What¨C¡± ¡°Open the door¨C open the fucking door¨C BRYN!¡±