Empathy

Chapter Three: Senior Portraits

"Machines connected as one, until the day there bodies rust to nothing but spare parts for human resources." President Cage jokes, to the crowd of humane officers who laugh. In the front row Ishmael and I do anything but chuckle along with the crowd. This is a ceremony for us, not a greedy show for personal desires. We're detectives now, apart of the law, will we always be a downgraded class of metal?

Ishmael taps his foot against mine offering a smile, he nudges my shoulder with his and gestures to his tiled lips. "Smile Smalls, these ceremonies aren't everyday." I try, I really do try to smile but, it doesn't happen as easily as it should. "Alright at least smile about all the coke that'll be served to us during the party tonight." I shake my head, Ishmael has this strange addiction to Coca-Cola, it's like a humans cocaine. Every machine is programed to be able to digest particular foods and drinks. We don't need food or water at all honestly, we can survive without it, but sometimes inventors want their creations to blend into society, this is just one useless aspect to us nuts and bolts.

Ish pulls out a bottle-cap from his pocket, the rosy red color is starting to rust, a dark orange has begun coating it. In a distinctive font the words Coca-Cola are sprawled across it. "How many have you collected?" I ask as he places the cap in the center of my palm. The edges dig into the center of my hand leaving a imprint.

"This is lucky bottle-cap fifty-one." He gleams. "Hey, why don't you start collecting things?" He taps my goggles lenses careful not to leave a scratch. "Different colored glasses might be a cool collection."

I hand him back the cap, "They're not glasses," I correct him. "They're super cool; high tech; night-vision, goggles."

"So like the ones you use to swim with?" He teases before covering his mouth to hide a yawn. "I just want some coke already."

"Today is the day we connect the wires of Ishmael McGrath, and Kiera Spade." At the mentions of our names we stand up in unison. President Cage gestures us to the front of the platform, in the center a podium was placed, two halves of metal chips are set in position atop it. "We will connect you both not only in mind and body but spirit as well. Please take the other half of your partners chip and insert it into your own." I grab Ishmael's small square-shaped chip, it's funny to think that a piece of a persons life is in my hand. I look up at Ishmael, he eagerly attaches his chip to the other half of mine. I find myself smiling at his actions. I'm sad, he's happy, I'm boring, he's creative, I'm cold, he's warmth, we're two opposites taking on Seattle together, how he has the confidence...I don't know.

As I connect his chip with mine it forms a rectangular shape, in other words a perfect fit. Ishmael pulls me into a hug shaking me around a little. He laughs, a sound that my ears are blessed to hear. Applause fills the air and seats begin to become vacant. I place the chip in my rounded locket before looping the necklace around my neck.

"Here are your badges, Detectives Spade and McGrath." Mishel says appearing a few steps away from President Cage, her arms are outstretched towards us. Ishmael and I pick up our badges and place them in our pockets. "I hope you both can change Seattle into a better, safer place."

"Don't worry ma'am by next week Seattle will be one of the holiest places on the planet." He salutes her.

Judging by Mishels features she wants to roll her eyes, tell him he's being ridiculous but she does neither. Instead she nods to us both. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." She walks off keeping in pace beside President Cage.

"That's a lot of confidence coming from a rookie." Elliot's voice booms from behind us. He keeps his hands in his pockets as he walks up the stairs two at a time. "To much confidence can ruin your career, or even worse, your ego."