Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Cybots
Ever had that feeling? You know, the one where you feel like you’re looking at everything from behind a screen and you can’t feel your body? I know it all too well, this feeling is my best friend now. It’s been two years since The Incident. Two years since my village and many others lost our free-will and assimilated. Two years since I became a Cybot.
“Tristan!” Primrose, my owner, screeched. God how I loathe that woman’s shrill voice.
“Yes, Master?” My robotic tone echoed throughout the mighty residence. If I was able to cringe, I would have done so at my voice.
“It is time. Fetch me my things. We are taking you to the auction.”
If I could still experience fear, I think my whole body would have tensed up. Complying, I retrieved Primrose’s belongings.
“Do not forget your charging equipment!”
An intense urge to roll my eyes rose within me but I think only a slight twitch of my eye muscles escaped. It’s a good job I was facing away from her.
I’m not like other Cybots; I noticed this in the beginning. We weren’t supposed to be able to remember our former lives, or have individual thoughts. We were converted to obey; to follow the system and fulfil our owner’s needs. However, a small part of me remained. Just little snippets and flash backs at the beginning. But recently, these thoughts have been growing stronger, culminating and escalating. So much so, that small defiant actions such as eye rolls can be performed.
If anyone was to find out, I would be deactivated. I’ve read the manual, probably more times than any other being. I know every sub-section, every tiny detail, and every small print and double negative clause. If asked to, I could recite every word without pause. It’s almost searingly burned into my memory.
“Cybots who are faulty, meaning:
i. Have ceased following commands or show signs of defiance,
ii. How shown indications of memory regain and individual thoughts/actions,
iii. Show any deviant or abnormal behaviour,
Must be reported and re-set or terminated IMMEDIATELY.”
Terminated. Such a casual term for ending someone’s existence. I’ve seen a Bot reported before. Little tics at first, much like my own. However, they couldn’t control it. One day, Oliver snapped. He destroyed the place, smashing possessions and attempting to harm his human. The knowledge of his previous life got to him and devoured him from the inside. That’s why I have to be clever, that’s why I waited so long for an opportunity like this...If I play my cards right, I could escape this pitiful existence and be free again.
Twitches like earlier can’t happen again. Especially at the auction.