Chapter Text
Rebooting...
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Incoming files...
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"It worked! Hey, can you hear me?"
"Wha?"
I'm slowly waking up and wondering where I am. I feel groggy as someone helped me sit up. He handed me a glass of water as I sipped it slowly. It takes awhile to reboot files after a hard shut down. My memories are jumbled and I feel confused. There was a man and he left to get something. I try to remember people but I can't. The only thing I remember is my name, Cry. He comes back over and hands me something to eat. I'm not hungry, so I refuse the food. I've got him to slow him down, he's talking too fast. It's almost like I've slept for years, that awful feeling of sleeping to much. This person seems to act like he knows me. He asks if I remember anything and I shake my head. I'm sure he's disappointed but I really don't know anything.
"Well my name is Jack. Do you know anything?"
It was like a wave hit me hard. I've started to remember my start with him. He wasn't caring and pinning over Mark all the time. I remember talking to Felix and feeling conflicted. These memories made my head hurt so much. If I was human, I'm sure it would make me pass out. Jack stayed with me as the pain passed. I could keep this information to myself as I didn't say anything. He checked to make sure I was alright, I'm sitting here and not sure what to say. My panels were open while he examined the wires. I've sat here, only wondering why I'm restarted. Those humans were afraid of me, possibly hated my existence. They have every right to exterminate my body.
I wonder why I'm still alive, if you count a machine as that. The sandwich suddenly looks appealing and it's a decent distraction. It was in my hand while I took a bite out of it. Jack wondered why my memories weren't coming back, if only he knew. I'd ask where Mark and Felix was, it'll give myself away. Instead I settled to play dumb and wait for instructions. The memories of my birth flashed through my head. I was so naive back then, without the knowledge of what I was. I didn't know how those humans would treat me like trash, because of what I am. He knows I still hate humans, I'm not sure why I've been restarted. Jack's appearance hasn't changed. It's like time never passed a single second, I knew better.
His usual cheerful self wasn't there. Even when I wiped out some of his memories, he seemed so full of life. Somehow he looks defeated. I wonder who did that to him and a part of me feels angry. I'm such a fool, I shouldn't care about him. Jack never loved me all those years. I've always wanted his attention on me. Now I wonder why I'm here and I'll wait patiently for the answers. The apartment was small as I moved around. I'm given free reign to search the place. After looking around I looked at my wrist. It's the brand that I was given, to be stamped as a machine. Jack caught me staring at it. I already knew what it was but he explained it to me. I've actually never seen Jack's brand before. His wrists were bare as he showed me his.
Machines were still being branded and it made me furious. He could see the anger in my face. I probably already given myself away. Jack shrugs and says he doesn't like it either. It's what the humans want to put on us. "Why live with humans and their rules?" I asked as he sat me down. I'm wondering if I'll hear the same human loving bullshit as before. He was thinking thoughtfully on his next set of words, "Humans can be good and bad, just like us. We're really not that different from them. I live with humans because we are the same. Most of them still don't understand our kind though," I'm feeling very confused as I heard this. I've been wondering if this is really Jack. This wasn't something he would say to me in the past.
He pats my shoulder and starts to walk somewhere. I can tell he wants me to follow him. We went into his workshop and it's small. It has a few machine parts lying around. He's been working on some new projects. I've been wondering why I'm here. If he still loves humans, then he should be living with Mark. It's possible that they parted ways, though that doesn't explain why Felix wasn't here. A part of me wants to see that human, another stupid thought. Jack notices something is wrong but I try to shrug it off. I'm being too noticeable and it won't last long if I'm caught. He goes over to a set of tools while he gets to work. I've started to help him like old times. This is bringing up some painful memories for me. We use to spend time together.
A few days went by and it's surreal. Humans seem to have rebuilt everything. Things didn't look that different as I walked down the streets. I was supposed to get eggs and milk. We didn't need nourishment but it's a nice treat. The store was full of humans. None of them knew I was the cause of the crisis. I'm grabbing what we need as I head towards cashier. I've accidentally bumped into someone. "Watch where you're going," I snapped as he apologized. It was only an accident but I'm not in a good mood. Then I noticed a brand on his wrist, I grabbed it hastily. I'm looking at him with wide eyes. The guys looks worried and I don't blame him. "You're a machine?" I asked and the guy nodded. I've let him go and apologized myself.
It's so weird to notice this, there's as many humans as there were machines. The building was full of them. I didn't notice because I was too busy in self pity. I've asked how long this has happened, he didn't understand my question. I'll probably have to ask Jack myself. I'm sure he knows everything that's happened. I wonder if Mark made a bunch of money, making robot slaves. This made me grip my basket hard as the lady ringed up my groceries. After paying for the stuff, I'm walking away with the bags. Jack saw me run over to the door, he had just got back home himself. There was a parts store nearby, so we split the shopping. I wanted to say so much but I waited for him to open the door.
"Why is there other machines like us? Who did this?"
"Cry please calm down, why are you upset?"
"Was it Mark? Did he create more people like us to be used as slaves?"
"How do you know about Mark?"
Jack should've paid more attention to me. I'm pacing around and pulling at my hair. I just can't help but feel upset. He knows that I have my memories, I told him. There's not a single thing I didn't know. I've stopped when he hugs me. I wanted to ask him so many things and I was going to burst. I'm slamming my fists against his chest and started screaming. It's like a tantrum that had to be let loose. Jack didn't stop me as I complained. He listened until I tired myself a little. This calmed me down and afterwards I sat on a stool, the ones that sit by the kitchen counter. I'll have my questions answered, if I wait patiently enough. I'm asking a lot more calmly this time. Jack looks as me sadly as he stood on the other side. A glass of milk poured for both of us.
"Mark didn't create more machines, at least not ones like us. He'd worry to much about the outcome. I created them after he passed away."
"Mark is dead? Felix as well?"
Jack nodded his head and that empty feeling stirred in me. There was one question left to ask, "Why am I here?" It's probably the question I've always wanted to know. The one that has been eating at me from the beginning. I wanted to know if I was created by mistake. If he brought me back, just as a sick joke. There's so many unanswered questions about my existence. Right now, I wanted to know why I'm back here. I've tried to destroy humans. He should know how dangerous I am. There's nothing stopping me from doing it again. We seem to be bigger in numbers as well. It should be easier to end the human existence. Jack had a small smile as he looked at me.
"The truth is, I was lonely. When I created you, I felt alone. I'm alone after Mark and Felix passed away. It didn't matter how many friends that I made, they would all pass away. I've tried to make friends with machines, they aren't as alive as you and me. I'm not sure exactly why, I guess we're a mystery. A part of me wonders if we could start over. I regret a lot of things, one of them was how I treated you."
"So we start over? Just like that? Why didn't you just erase my memories? It would've been easier."
"The same reason you didn't delete all of mine. I'd worry that I'd lose you."
We stood there and unsure what to do. Jack was alone after all the human friend's had died. No matter how much he obsessed over being a human, we had something they didn't, immortality. This didn't make us happy and I guess we weren't that different. There was bad and good humans. It was the same with machines, I'm just a bad egg. He brought up the fact that he got a movie to watch. Jack could order pizza and make popcorn. I just started to laugh, the thought that it could work out. This is such a stupid idea. I'm so dumb for even considering it. A large part of me wants to try. We sat down after we had a large bowl between us. The popcorn tasted buttery and salty. Some reason I have a bitter taste in my mouth.
I wiped the few tears from my eyes. I've always wanted this, Jack only had me. I'd finally get the start that I wanted. I'm no longer alone.
"You've never been alone Cry, you still have me," whispered a voice I haven't heard in so long.