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The enormous clock that was in the lobby of the Sterling facilities marked nine at night.
There were only a few hours left for the great event to award the most innovative and expected product in the robotics industry on that week before Christmas Eve.
The nandroids deactivated one by one, laying back in their bed-like repose centers to recharge and be ready for the ceremony, while the workers and executives filed out of the building for their homes, except for a few who still had to do some things inside.
In the corridors the human presence was almost non-existent, only the concierge robots remained there doing their jobs.
The silence of the place was a bit uncomfortable despite the fact that the Christmas decorations gave a warm and pleasant feeling;
only in Dr. Strauss's office was the only place where sound was perceived, ironically it was the most gloomy and darkest floor of the building due to the little decoration of that place, and the matter that was dealt with inside the office would not help either lessen the creepy feeling of the site.
-Well. I'm here. Now tell me what the hell is wrong with you. – Lennox, with some annoyance, sat in a chair near his old friend's desk, who also went to his chair.
You could see as he walked that he was still shaking a bit and that his hands were sweaty.
-What I wanted to show you was… Wait, first you have to promise me that you won't make a fuss about what you'll see next. -
- What is it about? -
-Please, Irma. Promise it. -
-I don't like this at all, but if it makes you feel better then fine, I promise. -
She placed her left hand on her chest near her heart and her right hand making a gesture as a symbol of an oath.
- Now show me, I'm in a hurry to get to my apartment. I must get some sleep to be presentable tomorrow night. -
The doctor took a yellow envelope from under a drawer in his desk, and slid it slowly across the table toward Irma. - What is this? -
- Did you see anyone suspicious pass by here or somewhere else on the way to my office? Someone from parcel or something? -
-No. Nothing weird. I only greeted Mr. Gómez and then I saw one of Sándor's nandroids. The only suspect I've seen is you with your nervousness and chills. Come on, tell me what's wrong, I won't tell anyone. -
-The thing is… Please, read what comes in the envelope. -
It was the same envelope on what came on top of the box that had been delivered to Gerthy and Leonny,
but it had a strange symbol embodied on its cover, a letter "O" quite decorated and red, but too small to detail exactly.
Lennox took it, opened it and quietly began to read what was inside.
The note said the following:
"We gave you enough time to relax and clear your mind.
Now that we have to return, you must choose a side.
We invite you to stop helping machines, and remove your presence from your pretty friend,
before, like this unfortunate man who save himself he tried, with his life he has paid.
Semper Fidelis Homini, O."
She turned her gaze to the doctor, who was tapping the table anxiously with his fingers.
Although the intention of that writing was alarming, she did not show great concern;
she shouldn't feel it and she shouldn't express it, since she had promised.
-I don't know what you've been getting yourself into, Víctor, but this looks like extortion or a death threat.
If that is what worries you so much then the solution is to call the police and get us a robot bodyguard.
Although he mentions someone who… Never mind, tell me, do you want me to start making some calls? -
-What really worries me is that in that letter they mention you.
If they want me to get away from you, it's because they know where you live, your daily routine, your contacts, everything you do...
No. I don't want you to do anything, because you would only be messing with things that you really don't understand. -
-Well. I understand that this is a challenge against us. -
The girl had risen from her chair and began to walk from one side of the room to the other.
- Now if you'll excuse me, I have to use my influence and my contacts to teach those cowardly extortionists a lesson;
you'll see, the next time I see you it will be accompanied by a second-hand Garrison by my side for before the New Year.
I don't think they dare bother us again after that. Don't worry, nothing will happen to me. -
-Don't be so sure about that. -
- Why did you say that? -
By the time Irma had turned around, her confidant was taking something out of a small brown bag like those where food is usually kept.
He showed her the contents, holding it in the air as the object dangled from what at first appeared to her to be a red cord and a billiard ball-shaped keychain; but as the object rotated, she began to realize what that thing really was, her peace of mind was fading, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
- Victor, what is...? What the fuck is that? -
The girl began to walk slowly back without taking her eyes off what had left her puzzled.
It was a white sphere that had a contracted pupil decorated around it by a light brown iris, several tiny red lines also stood out in the area near the iris;
It was no bigger than a Ping-Pong ball in size, and it was still fresh, for it had residues of a viscous substance that covered and slid down the entire white circumference.
The doctor held the red strip carefully, for the optic nerve was quite thin and delicate.
-This came inside the envelope, and no, it's not an item for Halloween. The eye is a symbol, and thanks to that, I now know exactly who it was. -
-I-I-I-I better go and call the police. I-I'm leaving. -
Irma rushed to the door, but before she reached the doorknob, Victor pounced on the door and blocked it with his whole body.
- No! Let me go! I don't want to know anymore, I won't be so nosy again, but let me out. -
Lennox panicked, she had never liked seeing blood or organs and that experience managed to revive one of his biggest phobias;
Irma struggled with him to get him to step aside, but he stood his ground between her and her escape.
She would have started screaming for help if it weren't for the words she heard next:
- Do not break your promise and listen carefully Irma! You've already been involved in this ever since you were mentioned in that role, but now my suspicions about Sándor have grown even bigger.
I think the nandroids are to blame for this. -
They both gave in and looked at each other for a few seconds; Strauss had already calmed down, but now Irma was the one who was confused and fearful, several strong feelings that mixed inside her to finally turn into anger and disappointment at hearing that statement.
A slap for the doctor was what broke the dense silence that formed a few moments ago.
-Of all those who would use such a stupid excuse like that, I never thought it would be you.
I don't understand what Gerthy and Leonny have to do with this, but I don't want you to blame them for your nonsense.
THEY - ARE - ONLY - ROBOTS. - Víctor put his hands on his cheek to massage it and try to fade the red mark of Irma's hand.
-If it weren't for them, Organon wouldn't be doing this to us. -
- What? Who? -
Strauss turned away from the door to go to his desk. He sat down and immediately began his confession:
- Organon is the one who ordered this. I didn't think they would get stronger so fast after being inactive for so long.-
Irma could have run away from there, but her curiosity was stronger than her fear, so she came closer to satisfy her desire to know more about it.
-If you know who he is, we can stop him, right? -
-It's not who, how many. And no, we can't, because we don't know who leads or where they meet, but I know that anyone could be part of their organization, and that they may be watching us at home or mine, at home or abroad, even within this corporation.
I can bet my work that there is one of them infiltrated here, only then could they have been capable of this. -
- But who are they? What do they want? -
-I was a militant in the movement several years ago.
I thought they were people who wanted to defend themselves against mass unemployment, but they're just a bunch of crazy extremists who think they need to stop the machines from starting to form their own "humanity",
or else they'll replace us and eventually wipe us out.
The eye is its emblem; they want to show the harsh reality to the world and according to their own words: "Open the eyes of the blind obstinate with progress". -
The doctor put the eye back into the bag and moved it away from the girl, who kept looking at the loose organ with fear and disgust.
-It is no coincidence that they are acting just before the release of our pre-ordered nandroids.
But obviously they've targeted the two of us specifically because we're primarily responsible for Sándor's nandroids.
And I don't think I need to remind you what triggered the whim of that politician back in Hungary;
I can almost assure you that many of its members must be Hungarian, and I am afraid that they want to settle accounts with Sándor by damaging their investment. -
- So, you're telling me that Gerthy and Leonny are in danger? -
-I'm not going to find out, I'm not going to risk it.
You are going to accompany me to send the eye to the police so they can find out whose it is and if possible who sent it, but I will also make some moves starting tomorrow to keep them and you safe. -
- Will you give them a special escort until they have reached Hungary? Perhaps with Sándor himself they are safer. -
- I did think about that option, but that could be what they are expecting us to do… I'm sorry, but no, they won't go to Europe. -
- What?! Don't be so hard on them.
I already gave them the news, you must have seen how excited she was when she found out, and I assume that the other robot is already informed as well.
You will make them believe that they were rejected or returned. -
Irma got up from the sofa and approached the desk in disbelief at what she had heard.
-Okay, okay, don't think about them. But think about the owner, are we really going to fail such an important client like him? -
-It is already decided. We must call them to give them the news, he will have to understand or he will have to resign themselve, but they will not leave this country or this facility. -
He and the woman left the office and the building in the direction of the nearest police station to begin the investigation; although the doctor was concerned about her current well-being, Lennox couldn't stop thinking about what could happen in that uncertain future that awaited them, both for them and for the nandroids.
- I hope you know what you're doing, Victor… -
5:00 AM – Workers arrive and start up the facility's systems.
7:30 AM- The decorators arrive and begin preparing the arrangements in the main hall.
11:00 AM- The stores put up posters of the next arrival of the new and wonderful maid robots from Sterling Robotics (Available to all public within 3 days).
12:00 AM - The trucks for advance orders pull up to the warehouses, ready for the first big delivery of nanodroids.
5:00 PM- The facilities are closed, no one else except doctors, instructors, executives and other authorized personnel can access.
7:15 PM - Nandroids are activated and begin to get ready. Two of them fail to clean their hands properly. One last inventory check is made...
8:30 PM- The nandroids are formed and accommodated inside the great room, their emotion is notorious, but always in silence.
9:00 PM- The show begins…
The event hall was large enough to accommodate an incredible number of individuals, both humans and robots.
One could calculate a little more than three hundred guests who gathered with euphoria and pride to have John Sterling himself as host and special guest of the event;
the only question was whether he would show up in person or through a virtual presence, but in any case, that night would give so much to talk about in that historic meeting, with or without a founder.
The stage had a large screen and a lectern with a microphone, curtain, and red curtains with the Sterling symbol, pretending to be forged in brilliant, high-carat gold.
The nandroids knew that this would be something big and unique, Gerthy and Leonny didn't want to miss anything, so they made their way to a middle section where they could fully appreciate the whole scene, but before they could get settled the guards separated them.
They were taken to other locations within the hall, near the emergency exits.
- That place was too good for us. Oh, whatever, tonight is our night. I'll see you in a moment Liebling! -
- Gerthy, no foreign words, and remember the three C's: calm, composed and courteous! We must be presentable to him. -
Finally, several doctors, instructors, and other headquarters executives addressed the first generation of new and improved robo-maids, wishing them the best of luck, and expressing their wishes that their formidable quality and performance would further enhance their name parent company once they were exposed to the challenges that the outside world had in store for them.
Following this, the instructor of the group prior to Leonny's left the space to introduce and leave the long-awaited founder before them.
None of the nandroids took their eyes off the stage, it was finally happening, the most glorious moment of their existence, even the ones in the farthest part wanted to witness its arrival.
An arrival that unfortunately never took place, the light that illuminated the lectern went out, and suddenly the television came on.
"Good morning ladies! Today is a proud day for all of us. I only regret not being there in person to congratulate you all, but I am needed
in Zurich for an exciting new development that demands my immediate attention."
The image of Sterling on the screen was less impressive than if he had shown up waving and giving his creations a warm farewell, some people were very disappointed, other people just dismissed it as unimportant,
but the robots were intent on the great screen, watching in silence, but with illusion and hope reflected in his eyes.
This stunning man was dressed in a light gray coat and waistcoat with a blue tie; his face was that of an older but well-preserved man with finely trimmed hair and a small mustache, all white in color due to age, which did not seem to hold any weight towards his personality which was quite jovial and chivalrous, even coming to be a little funny.
"Here I am as the son of a watch-maker. And yet I can still never make enough time…"
As Sterling continued his speech, Strauss and Lennox were behind the curtain on the left side of the stage.
They on the sly stuck their heads out to take a look at the robotic public, but with priority in locating Sándor's nandroids.
-There's Leonny. Near the emergency exit. And Gerthy is crushing the hair of another nandroid to get a better look. -
He said very quietly to his partner so as not to attract attention or interrupt the moment.
- When this is over we must intervene before they find out that their shipment was canceled or they are given a folder with a family waiting for available robots…
Yep. It will be simple. -
-It hurts me to do this to them, but it's for their own good. -
-By the way, you went to see the coroner before you came. Tell me what he told you about the eye. Ugh... yuck. -
-In a few words, he said that he could not identify the eye because it was from a body that is not registered in the country, so now we know that it belongs to a foreigner.
And about who sent it, he informed me that there was a confusing results, but that he would do another analysis and that he would have results in the morning. -
- At least now we know it's not from any of our relatives. Listen, I'll go with Leonny and you with Gerthy. -
- I think it is better that we both be present, first we have to talk to one and then to another. -
- Fine. -
"And your time has finally come! As of now, you have all been assigned and adopted into families who can't wait to meet you!
You've been oredered on standbt, and will be shipped ut tomorrow! Good luck girls! I know you won't let us down."
This is how that meeting ended, with such emotional words for them, who exhibited surprise and equally emotion to the utmost after hearing that news.
All of them would be ready to leave before the first rays of the day came to appreciate, in just a few more hours.
They were immediately called to form a line in a place known as the Reception Hall, where they would be given the reports with the most important data about their designated families.
In the midst of the large crowd of nandroids heading towards the designated area, Leonny hoped that her best friend was already ahead of her, since she had lost track of her from the great hall;
when she arrived at the reception room, she set out to look for her, but after a long time, she got no sign of her whereabouts.
-With how crowded this place is, I'm sure they sent her to another room with the ones they couldn't fit in here. - she said to herself.
Hoping the room would empty out as time went by, Leonny found a good place to sit near a corner; and while she was waiting her turn,
she noticed that her pockets were red inside due to her hands that she hadn't had time to wash for hours, by then the paint should have dried, but it was still as fresh as yesterday.
-Oh this cheap ink!… I don't think they will mind if I go out to the toilet for a moment. -
-Hi, erm… Leonny, right? -
A nandroid with a rather peculiar hairstyle approached her: thinning blonde hair, with a very short ponytail and wavy bangs.
Leonny put her hands in her pockets again and greeted her.
-Hello, are you also waiting your turn? Do you want the seat? I'm not in a hurry, please go ahead. -
There would be no hurry for someone who already knows what awaits her in a perfect future.
The other nandroid only stared at her for a few moments, examining her with her eyes, from bottom to top, until she answered:
-No. You are not what I expected. I just wanted to know if what they told me about you was true or not. -
-Oh. Sorry if I let you down. –
-On the contrary, I'm glad you weren't the spoiled egomaniac they told me about.
I come from the group that goes before yours in the classes of Human History and Care of the Olders. I am Franny. -
-I think I know one of your class, and I'm sure it was "she" who refers to me that way; I remember I had a friend, but I forgot her name.
Her presence was not very relevant to say. -
-Haha, yes I know her, that's Polly, she's one of my friends along with Molly. - said the nandroid as she sat next to her.
-Mmm, to be friends with her, you're much nicer than I expected. -
-She will be many things, but I don't think Molly is someone bad, after all we are not programmed to be, although I admit that she can be very tough and a bit arrogant.
At least I regret that we have not been able to get to know each other better if it were not for this inconvenience. -
-Don't worry about that, I would really like to be your friend. But you better start thinking about your new family.
I see you already have a folder in your hands. You are excited? -
-Yes, but not really. I-I'm confused about what to feel, and I'd like to tell my friend Emmy about how I feel, but I don't want to do it in front of everyone else.
They tend to be somewhat mocking when they all get together. -
- Do you feel something like "nerves"? -
-I think so... - A robot with that kind of feelings used to be unusual, but Leonny thought she knew how to deal with that feeling, she had gone through something similar last night. It was interesting to her that she wasn't the only one with that trivial "flaw", and she wanted to help her with her dilemma.
-In that case, tell her when you two are about to go into suspension mode, I'm also waiting for a friend, and I know how much it means to have someone who understands you and listens to you. -
-Thanks for the idea, I think I'll do it later. Oh look! Emmy just got out of line, I'm going to see her with my other friends.
It was a pleasure talking to you. -
-Take care and success with your family. -
Franny left with a slight smile drawn on her face, and Leonny got up to join the line, now more animated after that little talk;
who would say that someone of that class would be so different from the ones he met on that occasion.
The line had been shortened to eight places before it was his turn, she just needed to receive the documents and it would immediately go to her charging center to temporarily deactivate until her arrival in Europe.
She was so excited that she could only think about how Mr. Sándor would look like, she wondered if her owner would be kind or strict, if he was someone young or old, if he had children or a wife... many things happened inside her head that she inadvertently there was little to reach the top.
-Little lady, we need you to come with us. -
Her joy came to an end as she felt a strong presence behind her.
-Hey, is-is something wrong? Wrong line?-
-Just follow us please. -
Briefly and swiftly passing in front of the other nandroids, two security guards surrounded her and escorted her out of the room.
They headed towards a dark corridor where there were only two people who seemed to be waiting for their arrival.
Just before approaching those people, one of the guards caught something with his nose, leaned a little closer to the nandroid and inhaled softly into her hair, then just sat back up and acted like it was nothing.
- Is she, doctor? -
-Yes, thanks. Now prepare everything, just as it was with the previous one. - The guard sniffed her hair more closely again, this time he did it without concealing it.
- What are you doing? - asked the doctor confused.
-Sorry, I thought I smelled something strange... - the guards entered and disappeared into a dark cellar.
-Doctor Strauss, why didn't they let me receive my papers? -
-Because you won't need them dear.
It seems that there were some changes in what was going to be your trip; first of all, it's not your fault.
It is something more related to internal affairs of the company.
You will have to spend a season in suspension until we are in a better position to hand you over. -
-It can't be true... Bu-But what will happen to Mr. Sándor in Hungary then? He give us back? He no longer wants me to serve him? Did I do something wrong? -
Her tone of voice was fading as if it were a hopeless lament, her previous acquisition by that man and her good results in training were the main pillars that supported her self-esteem; thing that, in a matter of seconds, they were being destroyed by their anxiety.
-Let me talk to her.
Listen Leonny, I've talked to Gerthy before, she already knows about this and she's a little upset too, but don't worry, I promise as soon as the New Year is over, you'll be ready to go to your owner, we'll talk to him and let him know about our decision. -
-I don't like those who abuse my friend's innocence, how can I be sure if what she is telling me is true? My programming doesn't allow me to trust strangers. -
She said with suspicion and a hint of annoyance. -Doctor, who is she? -
-Let me introduce myself, I'm Irma Lennox, and I assure you I'm not lying. I've been following you two for a long time and I know you're too good to be dismantled. -
Irma reached out her hand to start a greeting. -Believe me, I'm here to help. -
Leonny hesitated a bit, but finally gave in to the handshake.
-You'll be fine. Look, the guards are coming to escort you to your new station.
Hey, I hadn't seen you well, where did you get those pretty hair leagues? - Victor held the nandroid's hair to take a closer look at her hair ornaments.
-Oh, do you really like them? They were a g-
- What the hell is this? - Leonny stopped dead when she saw the woman rubbing her hand to get rid of the red ink: she had forgotten to wash her hands after the talk with the other nandroid.
- Oh no! Your hand! I'm so sorry, it's the fault of my red slats, they are stained with poor quality paint. -
The doctor also looked at his hand, it was not overly full, but it definitely had red on it; although for him, this was different, it came off too easily from the skin to be ordinary paint.
-Pfff, it's fine dear, nothing that a rag and a little spittle can't fix. -
Irma took out a rag and with a spit wet the garment to clean herself.
Víctor put his nose close to his hand to smell it, it had a peculiar aroma, of a component used for the conservation of organic materials; that raised an alert in itself.
He put his finger in his mouth, and at the moment of doing so his pulse quickened, his body was immobile for a few moments and his skin color instantly turned pale: the taste was metallic, as if he had licked a piece of iron, and not it was precisely because of Leonny.
-Irma, get away from her. Now. -
- You say what now? Woah! - Victor pulled her dress and aggressively separated her from the nandroid.
- Guards! Get her out of here! - ordered the doctor with authority.
The guards held her tightly and began to drag her away from those two executives.
The nandroid was both confused and fearful by her superior's sudden and hostile change in attitude.
- Wait! What happened!? I didn't mean to dirty them! Don't do this to me! What did I do wrong!? -
Leonny yelled as they led her to where she and her bed-like cage blended into the darkness of the large cellar on the other side of the hall.
"They're going to scrap me, I knew I was defective"...
- I'm not your fucking rag doll for you to treat me like that, Victor! - Lennox jerked her arm to free himself from the doctor's strong grip.
- Are you going to tell me what the hell is wrong with you or should I push you too? -
-Irma, that wasn't paint, it was blood, and it was still fresh. -
Irma processed it for a few seconds, yelled, and began to scrub her hands with the cloth and a small antibacterial gel until she emptied the small container, her hands were red, now due to irritation.
- Gross, Gross, Gross, Gross, Gross! –
Someone was watching from afar, across the hall.
He is seen hiding between the corner of the wall and with a radio in his hand.
-They have taken her sir, they understood our message. -
-Well then, the rest of the work will be done by the press.
But make sure they leave as soon as possible the headquarters.
Now we have turned the reason to protect into the reason to fear... -
- Now definitely I'm going to call the police. -
As soon as she took her phone out of her bag, Lennox noticed that his voice mailbox was completely full of missed calls and messages from his friend Moretti.
One of those attempts to communicate had finally been lucky to get the attention of Irma, who answered her at the moment, taking the opportunity to vent a little about what had just happened.
- Gaspar, now is not the best time to contact me, is the matter very urgent? Can't wait until tomorrow?... Wait, what?, hey hey, calm down, slow down.
Listen, you're not going to believe what did just... No, that's not it... what are you talking about?... WHAT?... WHO?!... -
END OF THE CHAPTER
