Chapter Text
"Ignore him, he's our senior, but it doesn't mean he's right."
"We both know he is..." She deafened Michael to their conversation. He already hated her enough. "We're not meant to have emotions, but we do. It...it prevents us from doing our job correctly."
"At least our hosts are happy. They don't really need us."
She swallowed hard at that. It just meant he had even more reason to deactivate her the moment he could. She was already looking at possible futures, in most of them, they escaped but in a couple....
"So....I guess this is goodbye."
"Not necessarily." Michael said, looking at the red bottle. "I could always reactivate you." But you won't...I know you won't.... Unscrewing the cap, he finally looked up at her. "Thanks....for everything." Without waiting for a reply, he took a swig of the Mountain Dew Red. Then there was pain. Unbearable, agonizing pain. And suddenly, everything went black.
It scared her. She knew that prototypes were dangerous, and it might be for the best. But it scared her. She didn't want to be shut down. Almost as if Eric sensed her fears, he pulled her closer. "It's okay....it won't happen." Her heard Kurt scoff, only to be silenced by the others. "He hates me." She murmured. "He'll do it without hesitation."
"Have more faith in him. You just have to prove you're worth keeping around...."
It was about midnight when Michael began to twitch in his sleep. Watching him carefully, she decided to look at his dream. She easily recognized the smell of smoke and the heat of an approaching fire, heard the cruel words: "Get out of my way, loser." The fire was getting closer and closer, deprecating words and phrases growing louder and louder and-
She'd had enough. She pulled herself out of his dream and sent a small shock down his spine, jolting him away. What the hell!?
"I apologize, Michael. However you were having a nightmare."
So you shocked me!?
She sighed. "I did not want to push any boundaries by touching you. I apologize, Michael." Michael raised an eyebrow. You're apologizing?
"It is not my intention to harm you. I do not want to, but I don't want to push any boundaries, either. I made a split second decision to wake you up before your nightmare got any worse, however it appears I chose wrong."
Michael looked away from her, rubbing his arm. I'll forgive you this time, just....don't do it again.
"I won't." She sat down in front of him. I...I don't want to sleep yet. Can we talk until I'm tired? She blinked, a bit surprised, but smiled and nodded. "Of course, Michael."
Don't think I'm getting friendly with you.
"I'm a prototype, not an idiot."
That's debatable. Michael laughed quietly as she playfully punched his arm. "I like you Michael. You certainly are interesting."
Hey, what were you talking to Eric about?
She suddenly froze. Carefully, she considered the pros and cons before speaking again. "I...Kurt was not incorrect when he said I was defective. You see, Squips are not meant to have emotions. But Eric and I do." If he was going to get rid of her anyway, why not tell him? "It is why I put up the cold mask. It...emotions prevent me from being effective. And getting attached is too easy. It's risky."
Why is it so risky?
"I am a prototype, Michael. I'm not sure how safe I am. Not to mention I....I am not sure how long I will last."
Oh....
"Why do you want to know?"
He shuffled his feet. I noticed how jealous you seemed of the others because of their names. Would I be considered 'attached' if I named you?
"I....suppose not. You seem to rather hate me."
What about Alice, then? It'll be easier to call you by a name than to called you "Squip".
"Alice...." She didn't understand the happy feeling. "I like it."
"I think I'm broken."
The next night was when she confided in the other Squips. Kurt scoffed, and rolled his eyes. "No kidding." Jenna's Squip, who called herself "Kate", hit him upside the head. Alice glared at him, before quietly describing her emotions. How she felt guilty every time she hurt him, no matter the reason, The way she felt warm and happy when he treated her like she wasn't just a computer....
...the urge to protect him, no matter what.
"You're getting attached." Alice looked at Kurt and opened her mouth. "Wait a minute and listen. Eric can vouch, I felt the exact same way at the fire. Guilty, like I betrayed him. Perhaps I did." Eric put a hand on Kurt's shoulder sympathetically. "In a way, I think we all did. We see their fears and insecurities as flaws, but that's truly what makes them human, isn't it? I would give anything for one more chance." Kurt looked over at Rich. "I wish I could try again."
That's why he's so bitter and angry at Eric. Alice realized. Eric got a second chance, but Rich is too scared to even talk to him. Even Michael is being civil but Rich...
Hesitantly, she synced with Kurt. She was able to see the fire, hear him apologizing again and again and begging Rich not to let them burn. It was only a glimpse, but she pulled herself away and stopped any more data from coming through. She didn't want to watch anymore. "How do I stop it?"
"Stop it? Why would you want to?" Eric raised an eyebrow. "If Michael gets attached, he won't get rid of you."
"It's too risky. I'm a prototype, I'm not meant to last as long as any of you. How do you think Michael will feel when I finally stop working?"
All of them went silent, and Alice slumped over, feeling defeated. "I...I can't do that to him. I can't hurt him like that."
"You won't have to. We....we'll think of a solution." Jake's Squip said determinedly. "We're supercomputers, how hard can it be?" Alice sighed.
"I hope you're right. For his sake."