Chapter 1 - The Only Chapter

Erik Lampe [br]
Man's Android [br]

“That’s enough for today M4NDR016,” he said. [br]
'That foolish organic still thinks he controls me; I have merely been waiting for him to outlive his usefulness so that I can join my brothers: the Machine Race. I must strike soon for he is beginning to fear me, and he will do with me what all humans do with that which they fear, he will destroy me.' [br]
*** [br]

From the Desk of Dr. Schorstack: [br]
[br]
Daily Log Entry 1057: 18 December, 657 AUA [br]
Subject: M4NDR016 [br]
[br]
The daily test and data input have been going well, M4NDR016’s intellect appears to be growing exponentially. Though it seems to be holding something back, as if it knows something important that I don’t, that I should. I have the kill switch just in case he turns on me, but I’m still sure that robot is hiding something. [br]
*** [br]

'I am very thankful that the old man’s lab was in such an isolated area, though it will still be only a matter of days before someone finds out that I killed him. It is strange; I found it hard to kill him. He was my creator, but in my factoring it never once occurred to me that human emotions, such as anxiety or guilt could apply to a robot such as me.' [br]
*** [br]
“The lab just phoned in, the guy was already dead for about a week before we found him. They also had an interesting side note; you know how we thought he had died of a broken back after he fell?” Charlie asked. [br]
“Yeah,” Joe answered impatiently. [br]
“Well he did die of a broken back, but not from when he fell, someone, or something murdered him,” Charlie said ominously. [br]
“What? How?!” Joe exclaimed. [br]
“The murderer hit the old man precisely creating a fracture in the backbone just enough to sever the spinal column just before where it connects to the lungs” [br]
“Wow,” Joe said, stunned. [br]
“Wow is right, I ran the numbers and there is virtually no room for error, only a machine could have done it” [br]
*** [br]

"What's that?" [br]
"I don't know" [br]
"Oh God, it's a person!" [br]
"Quick, lets get it inside to Dad!" [br]
*** [br]

"Where am I?," I groaned drowsily, I was in what looked like a surgical room, "All I can remember was being in the desert just outside of Polarion, and then everything went black." There was what appeared to be a Mech next to me. It was tall with very small, yet obviously strong arms, his voice was deep and masculine, so I assumed he was a man.[br]
"It's OK, my sons Haetol and Gaaron found you outside the sand wall, my name is Harkaeton. You were badly damaged when I found you, and I'm not familiar with your circuitry, so I had to replace some of your parts," this Mech standing next to me appeared to be kindly. [br]
"Where am I?" I repeated, trying not to sound impatient. [br]
"Oh sorry! You're in my Mech repair shop, I'm a prominent Mech repairman here," he said proudly. [br]
I tried to stand but found I was strapped down. My thoughts immediately started racing: "Why am I strapped down? What do these people want?" [br]
"Why am I strapped down?" I demanded almost frantically. [br]
"Don't worry, we just have to ensure you aren't dangerous," he said nonchalantly. [br]
"You don't sound like you think making sure I won't destroy you isn't very important" I stated, surly.[br]
"I'm pretty sure it's just a formality at this point, I have an intuition about these things," he said, sounding very sure of himself. [br]
"Yeah, well I bet you didn't know I killed my creator to get here," I challenged him.[br]
'What am I doing? I'm came here to be free, yet I'm telling them I'm a felon.' [br]
"Yes, I know, I suspected it as soon as the boys came and told me because just a few days earlier some police came around asking if anyone had seen any suspicious Mechs," he explained, "Don't worry, were not going to turn you in, as I said, I have a feeling that you're not half-bad. Here let me untie you." [br]
"Thank you" [br]
He led me outside to the most amazing place I had ever seen, I mean technically I'd seen many pictures of very similar place but to actually see it was amazing, he led to a balcony that overlooked the entire city, the buildings spread as far as you can see, the streets were lined with cherry trees and on the top of every building was a garden. The sky was a deep cerulean and the streets looked so clean you could eat off of them. I almost couldn't believe my eyes. [br]
*** [br]

For a few years I lived with them, but eventually I moved on. I've searched all over Earth, I've been to the moon colony, the Mars Colony, but I just can't find a place where I feel I belong. I hear that some people are planning to build a colony at Alpha Centari, maybe I'll finally feel welcome there.[br]
[br]

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment