Work Text:
“I can fix it! I can fix him!”
Freisha hadn't slept well in weeks. Her android biotech lessons had been going fine up until one failed exam. One crossed wire had ceased all functionality of a crucial biocomponent. No operational android had been damaged but she couldn't get the mistake out of her head.
“Lana! Lana! I'll call someone! You'll be-”
The AP700, her only friend in the world, rested a hand on her arm with a sad smile. “No time, Freisha. Shutdown in less than a minute.”
Freisha’s chest caved. “Lana, no. Please! I can find you a new one. I'll get you back online!”
Lana shook her head. “Thank you, Freisha. You're the best friend an android could dream of having. You always made me feel… alive.”
“Lana!”
Sleep was sacrificed for studying. One would think that the series of A’s and A+’s and extra credit she earned following that would've settled her down. Or the fact that she could now wire that particular biocomponent with her eyes closed, along with a number of others.
Perfectionism would beg to differ.
The mind was a dangerous thing when you let it run as it pleased.
Lana gave Freisha a questioning look as she sipped from the blue blood pouch. “Do I want to know where you got these from?”
She was met with a mischievous grin. “Nope. You're too nice. You'll tell everyone about my spot then I'll have to find a new one.”
Lana frowned, resting the bag in her lap. “I really don't want you getting in trouble again, Freisha…”
“It's my choice.” She plopped down on the floor beside her. “Besides, you need it more.”
Lana leaned over, resting her head softly on her human friend's. They both knew this was temporary with no true fix in sight.
Both Connor and Markus were concerned about the young tech in training. Everyone she worked under spoke highly of skills, android and human alike.
Yet still she never seemed fully receptive of praise, due or otherwise.
The LED spun a violent, flashing red.
“Come on, Markus, come on…”
The flashing slowed, and then stopped.
“What else is there?!” She yelled in frustration, fingers flying over the keyboard.
The red bled from the LED and didn't light up again.
“No. No no no, not again! Please, Markus, please!”
The LED stayed gray. There were no sparks. No lights. No signs of…
“NO!”
Her eyes flew open as she woke up in tears, chest painfully tight. The nightmares were changing. The theme was the same, but the android before her had changed. She swallowed, patting around the mattress for her phone. It was ringing in her ear before she knew who she'd dialed.
“Freisha?” Markus’ tone was polite and concerned, as if she hadn't interrupted his rest cycle.
A fresh tear trailed down her cheek.
“What's the matter?” He asked after not getting a response.
She blinked. “Are you-” she cleared her throat and tried again. “Your um, replacement parts. How- Are they, um-”
“My eye, ear, and both legs are fully functional and not causing any problems,” he assured her calmly.
She nodded, letting out a few heavy breaths. “That's- good. Good. I'm glad.”
“Are all your parts functioning normally?” He asked.
That earned a shaky chuckle. “For the most part, yeah. Just some software instability that's my own fault. I'll fix it.”
His tone softened to gentle. She could imagine his expression as he spoke. “Let us help. You've been stressing for a long time. We don't want you to self-destruct.”
“I promise I won't. You don't have to worry about that.” She relaxed back into bed, pulling the soft blanket over her head.
“Too late for that.” The voice was equal parts smiling and warning. “I'm sending Connor over for a wellness check in the morning.”
“Markus-”
“Good night, Freisha. Please do try to sleep well.”
The silence after he hung up gave way to the sound of her fan blowing air at her ceiling. She had half a mind to text Connor that he didn't need to come but knew that would only get him to her door faster. She smiled helplessly as she put her phone on charge, turning on an audio of Markus' piano playing to fill the room and her mind.
She focused on that, pushing away the darker thoughts in favour of a memory of him playing, lithe fingers precise on the keys of a grand piano. Every attempt her mind made to drift was combatted by her actively seeking to fill in details of the memory. The colour of his shirt, the lighting in the room, if his eyes were open or closed.
Eventually, the calming music drifted away as she fell into a dreamless sleep.