Rogue Robot

New Beginnings

Cemus gave her a new change of clothing and ushered her into a shower. She let the water run over her, but one of the scientists warned her that they would turn the heat off after an hour and she hurried up. She slipped into her new clothing- identical to the outfit before- and guided her down a long white hallway with white lights. Everything white. So white. Like snow, but ominous.

Cemus stopped at steel door painted to match the walls. Cemus fished out a key from her coat, unlocked the door and let her in. She heard a click behind her as she locked the door again. The room was white, like the one before. There was nothing in this one except for a pile of folded blankets in the corner and a man on the floor.

He was deathly pale from being indoors, skinnier than was usual, with a lean build, like a marathon runner. His hair was a dark brown that brushed a little past his shoulders, and his eyes peered out from under it, a bright hazel. His nose was bird like and reminded her strongly of a beak. The man gave no greeting or notice that she was even there, not even when she sat down across from him. It took her  moment to register his clothes were exactly like hers.

She stared at him for a long moment, still trying to wrap her head around why she was brought here. He was an ordinary man, nothing more or less. Was it to see how she interacted with other humans? Didn't they already know that? or was there another reason- to see how she was now that she knew the truth? Finally she decided to talk. there wasn't anything else she could do and perhaps this man, as normal as he was, may be able to help. Funny, she thought to herself, only yesterday I was breaking down. I am going numb. 

"Hello." she said to the man. He looked up, a little surprised.

"Hello." his voice was somewhat raspy and soft, as if he was afraid of breaking the silence. 

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I won't tell you until you tell me. Besides I have been here longer." he manged a cocky grin. 

"Fine, it's fair enough." she paused, thinking. It was delicate matter after all. She decided to bite the bullet. "How long have you been here for?"

"A year or so. You're new, yes?" he asked, eyes darting. She looked at him, finally hearing his accent- British or Irish maybe?- but it was hardly there.

"Yes." there was no denying it.

"I've heard the scientists talking about you. They told me this morning you'd be staying here for a while."

"Well, yes. but I'm curious- why are you in here?"

The question earned her a secretive smile from him, as he said, "Once again, you'll have to share first."

She sighed, looking at him. Perhaps yesterday she had been in shock and completely and utterly distraught, but now she felt a sort of numbness travel throughout, as if her emotions had said that's it I can't be anymore confused! I quit! and stopped doing their jobs. What was the point in hiding her origins? He would find out sooner or later, and there didn't seem to be much more of a choice at the moment other than to sit in silence. It was odd how fast your feelings could change.

"My name is Eve Wires, but my... 'birth' name is Error. I happen to be a robot, with some faulty programming."

"Eve Wires, hmm? Interesting. How did you end up here?"

"I have only been...'alive' for five years, three of which I spent in a small town. I guess the government was tracking me for a while and came to me three days ago. I...I don't know much more than that." her voice, to her at least, sounded like a robotic sixteen year old.

"Do you know who programmed you?"

"No clue. It's your turn now."  he sighed heavily.

"I guess it is." he cleared his throat, "My name is Viggo Garent. I'm an illegal cyborg- if I wasn't I wouldn't be here right now. The government, as you called them, found me a year ago and brought me in for studying." he paused, and than added in an almost nonchalant voice, " It's rather horrible."

" A cyborg?" she questioned, dismissing the final remark.

"Yes." he seemed to cringe a little.

"Where are your...metal parts?" she looked at him curiously. He didn't seem like a cyborg. Then Viggo, blushing a little, stood up and took off his shirt. He was scrawny underneath, like a man who once was toned but no longer ate enough- which was probably what he was. But more interesting was his arms. His upper left one was encased in metal from shoulder to elbow. His right forearm was also mechanical from the elbow to wrist,and his chest and left side where also metal. All of it was dull greyish tone, and had a few wires, and when he turned around she could see a few tubes in his back.

"Whoa. What about your legs?" she asked. Viggo blinked rapidly before answering.

"Well, my left is almost completely metal."

"It's a very nice job for being illegal."

"It had to be. I was dying after all." he replaced his shirt, sat down and tapped the left side of his face. There was shimmer and half his face transformed into metal, just missing the eye. Viggo carefully averted his eyes from her.

"Holographic technology." she breathed, entranced. Viggo tapped a button and the illusion reappeared.

"You're smart, Eve."

"Eve?"

"That is your name, is it not?"

"Well, I guess so."

"Do you call yourself Eve?" he asked, leaning forward slightly. She blinked, looking at him and suddenly, she knew, in that moment, that she could trust him.

"Honestly Viggo, I'm not sure what to call myself anymore. I only found out that everything I know, everything I have worked so hard towards is useless. Society doesn't even know I exist. I didn't even know until three days ago! How can I live like this?" her voice rose with her stress. Viggo looked at her solemnly.

"I know what you're going through. Really, to some degree I do know. But you have to decide- will you fight for your own existence, for the existence for more like you, for what you believe in or what they, "he gestured violently to the door, "want? Will you name yourself after an old mistake or new beginning?" he shifted a little, and cringed again as if something hurt and muttered something that sounded like ' they don't fed me enough' under his breath. 

She took a deep breath. It was so hard to understand. So odd. So different. And she really didn't know.

*

She knew she had sat there for hours, eating roboticly, mulling over what Viggo said. She had come to a conclusion.

"Viggo?" she asked softly. he looked up from a glass of water he was sipping.

"Yes?" his voice didn't sound so raspy.

"I think I know now."

"What you will call yourself?"

"Yes. I think I'm a new beginning. I may not fight, but my name is Eve. Eve Error Wires." she nodded, as if that settled it. She knew it must be growing late, and set herself up the corner. Viggo didn't move, still drinking.

He glanced over at her, sad.  She had come in with...something like hope. It was there but different now, as if it had changed colour. 

"Funny how fast this place wears on you." he mumbled, sipping the last of the water and curling up in his corner.

He should know. This place had nearly broken him.

They weren't the government, but ignorance is bliss.