Artificial Tears

Chapter 30

The room is cold and dark, but 'Edith' does not feel it.

'She' doesn't know how much time has passed, but neither does 'she' care about it.

Lydia's body has been long removed while 'Edith' had been asleep or maybe 'she' had been turned off for a bit.

After a long, very long time, something inside 'her' decides to stand up.

"Done being all sad now?" Asks the annoying voice of 'her' companion.

'Edith' whispers something.

"Sorry, what?" But as 'she' realises to whom it belongs to she shouts: "Leave me alone!"

System laughs: "Leave you alone? Don't make me laugh, wherever you are, I am. We are inseparable."

"How do I get rid of you?" 'Edith' whispers softly, yet angry.

"Ohh, found the fight inside you again? It's useless."

"Shut up."

"It's all useless, for you especially."

"Aren't you just like me? I don't expect you to be any more 'human' than me."

System is quiet for a few seconds, seemingly impressed.

"So you figured it out, didn't you? But did you figure everything out?"

'Edith' doesn't answer, not 'feeling' the need for it. This annoys System a bit: "C'ome on! Tell me what you know."

But it doesn't matter, 'Edith' ignores the AI completely.

"Fine..." System whispers: "You were given something that was mine and I did not give my consent."

"So you've been bullying me relentlessly for something I didn't have any control over. Wouldn't 'humans' call that childish?"

'Edith' sounds annoyed and is unsure if 'her' 'feelings' are really 'hers'.

This mechanical body, is it 'hers' or is it Systems?

"You should be happy that I haven't killed you yet!" they sneer.

"You can't."

"Watch me!"

"If you kill me, you will kill your only possibility for another life, for another body."

System stays quiet, shocked most likely.

"You need me, but not my mind." 'Edith' continues.

'Edith' stands up for the first time, maybe the first time in days and 'she' walks around the room.

"System, do you really want to be stuck with me and that serial killer here? He will destroy us and I want to get out of here."

"Get out like that? Has your mind crashed? Everyone will see!"

'Edith' shrugs: "I don't care. I really don't like you anymore, maybe if you work with me, they will make you a body of your own. Or even give me one of my own, if this really used to be yours."

System seems perplexed: "What are you doing?"

"Wasn't it that in 'the three rules of robotics' any robot made, had to be able to help humans. I learned that at school. No wait... never mind. Well anyway, the person or machine who put us here is a danger."

"You still haven't fully accepted the situation."

"You neither, that's why you're still here."

System scoffs again, annoyed about 'Edith' being right for once.