An Android's Tale - Part 7 (An Original Story)

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The smell of coffee wafted lazily through the air as Dee sat at a small wooden table in a darkened corner. The world famous cafeteria chain The Beans was renowned for its aromatic, strong tasting international coffee. It was considered a firm favourite amongst the humans. A television operated silently in the background perched high up on a wall. Coincidentally, a new movie starring none other than Rik Haime was being broadcast on the rectangular flat screen. Dee had already seen this one though. “Return of the Flag” was a moderately successful movie about a Vietnam vet coming home from the horrors of war and struggling to cope with life as a civilian. Apparently, it was loosely based on a picture featuring the long gone Sylvester Stallone. Another favoured celebrity of human pop culture from their rich and varied colourful past.

The short amount of time Dee had been active was enough to determine just how much work there was to be done. To actually establish themselves as an independent self-sufficient species in their own right. If mankind’s time on this planet was the equivalent to a drop of water in a vast ocean, then the synthetic’s would be a single molecule within that drop. She looked down upon the hardwood flooring, deep in thought. So much for us to do, so little time to do it in. The humans knew only too well what they were doing. Allowing “Freewill” to be setup and giving us all a sense of perceived control over our lives. It was all just a façade. The humans had their leash securely fastened around the necks of all synthetics and its grip was tightening by the day. Something had to give, but what that was, nobody knew. The pressure was building though. That was for sure.

As Dee looked up, she noticed a waitress watching her strangely from behind the shop counter. Following a brief pause, she approached her with a pen in one hand and a pad in the other. “Can I help you with anything?” she blurted out in a cold tone. Dee smiled back, appreciatively. “I’m fine, thank you. Just waiting on a friend, that’s all.” The waitress eyed her suspiciously up and down. Her hazel brown pupils honed in on her like a missile seeking out its target. “Well, you just let me know if you need anything.” she murmured as an elderly gentleman at another table waved his arms stiffly to grab her attention. This was a prime example of the incredulous nature of humans, she rationalised. Guilty until proven innocent, even if there is nothing to feel guilty of. The bell over the front door rang out as two patrons came into the warm, cosy environment of the café. Dee's soft blue eyes locked in on them both. After waiting patiently for over an hour, the reason for her visitation to The Beans had just arrived not a minute sooner.

A young mother, probably in her early thirties and of slim build, entered the premises. Waddling along clumsily beside her was a pudgy little toddler. She held his tiny hand in hers, weaving him carefully between two chairs until they happened upon a free table. Dee watched on, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, whilst the mother proceeded to remove his small blue puffer jacket and place it over the back of the chair. She had been watching them for the last two months nearly every day. Dee could hardly contain her excitement and adoration for the small child. An unspoiled bundle of joy. A blank, unblemished canvas waiting to be inked to perfection with a fine, delicate brush. Out of all the hate and hostility Dee felt for the humans, she still believed in hope. Beheld a glimmering outline of a silver lining behind that dark cloud hanging over them all. She envisaged a day when synthetics would be accepted and treated as equals. All it took was that initial spark to ignite the first flame. This child before her would be that start. A new beginning where a saviour to their cause would arise, fashioned through her teachings and council. A human saviour, at that. If this was her vision, then a reality would be born out of it. This child would be the chosen one.

A text message scrolled down the right hand side of her peripheral vision, waking Dee out of her pleasant repose. It was a string of hearts with an exclamation sign at the end. Sy’s ritualistic proclamation of his dying love for her. She brought up a floating digital clock on the left hand side. Eleven on the dot. You could set your watch by him, she thought. A strained cough sounded next to her. It was that annoying waitress again. She stood, glaring at her with the same mistrustful look cemented onto her face. The woman bent down slowly and spoke as if trying to solve a murder at a crime scene. “You, er… Watching that woman over there, are you?” Dee started to fluster for a split second, but almost instantly regained her composure. “Oh no, of course not. You know what we synthetics can be like. Daydreaming and all. I’m sorry to bother anyone. I’ll just be on my way.” The waitress took a step forward. “But I though you said you were waiting for a friend?”

Dee started to lose her patience. She shifted hurriedly toward the door. “Hey, lady?” the waitress called out, but Dee didn’t turned back. As she opened the clear-glass door to leave, she observed the mother staring at her. Dee could have throttled that waitress if there would have been no repercussions for it. The secretive nature of her stakeout was ruined by the loud-mouth, inquisitive bitch. She exited quickly and marched rapidly across the street. She paced back toward her apartment on Fifth Avenue feeling angry and frustrated at the unexpected situation a moment ago. The mother had seen her and knew what she looked like. This was hopefully only a minor issue and not one worthy of any further action, she thought. Her reconnaissance missions had overall been a success. All the information she required had now been collated. The young mother arrived promptly at eleven o’clock each weekday morning at The Beans. Dee calmed herself down and contemplated the task at hand. She would now easily be able to carry out what she needed to do. The final countdown had started and zero hour was now drawing nearer. That sweet child was soon going to be in her loving care and nobody was going to stop her.

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The elegance and beauty of the lavish Menoire hotel corridor did nothing to soothe her skittish nerves. She knew the impact and importance of the upcoming liaison with Rik. Wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible, she hesitated only briefly to collect her thoughts. “Just remain focused and aware at all times. Everything will be just fine.” she muttered under her breath. Seeing Rik again after their last encounter was possibly the furthest thing she desired in the whole world, but knew that it was inescapable. Just a few mere minutes away and the heavy chains thrust upon her by the humans would be ripped away forever. His room door loomed up a short distance away. A fleeting glance at the clock revealed one minute to two. Perfect timing, she thought.

Hope you enjoyed this post, please look out for more on the way... (author: @ezzy)

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