Work Text:
10:22 PM//July 9th// 2086
MORGAN’S APARTMENT//
Serra sat alone in Morgan’s apartment, lounging on the sunken couch she now used as a bed.
I did ask Adonai to buy me a bed, but she looked like she was going to strangle me, so I dropped the subject quickly. I won’t give up on this! I’ll just wait until she’s more comfortable with my presence.
Her sleep has not been restful thus far, and Serra had only realized the reasoning just ten minutes ago when she felt the sting of internal systems shutting down.
Serra was about to lose her charge, despite her supposed solar-charging hair she bragged so much about. As it turns out, the Canopy blocks most sunlight from reaching this level of the city, making this invention nearly useless in her day-to-day life.
If Adonai finds out about this, she will never let me live it down. I must fix this before she gets back from her “meeting with a friend.”
Serra finally managed to peel herself off the couch and scoured the apartment for snacks of any kind. But any scraps of food she could find were not the kind that could sustain an automated dependent.
I can’t exactly use Adonai’s card to order the kind of food Father bought; she’d kick me out immediately. I’m already on thin-ice due to my office-supply habits.
Searching her memory banks for any relevant solutions to this dilemma, it brought up her conversation with Morgan about the nutritional pellets that warm androids may consume for charge. Serra fumbled her sandals and coat on, and left the apartment for the nearest pet store.
10:41 PM//July 9th// 2086
IN TRANSIT//
This city is far less walkable than I would imagine in the year 2086, every 10 meters I find myself at a crosswalk with a crowd large enough to fit a protest. In old movies they always set their Sci-Fis so close in the future. They were so optimistic about how much we’d people would improve in just a few decades.
The streets were so packed, Serra bumped into nearly every person she walked past. She muttered apologies for the first forty, but she was only ever met with scoffs or swears. Since learning and experiencing some of the harsher views on androids, Serra was on edge in public. She felt eyes on her, digging into her skin searching for purpose or motive or-
Her foot caught on something, and she fell. The wave parted around Serra as she impacted the ground. To her, the world had stopped to stare.
“Sorry! Sorry, I’m okay I’ll just be on my way” Serra trailed off, refusing to make eye contact with the ones watching and judging. She shuffled onwards, mind still dripping fear into itself in a rough cycle.
It’s only been a week since I moved in with Adonai, but her cynicism has begun to rub off on me. Maybe I should dye my hair, or wear a hat to cover my GIN, but unfortunately the former is difficult, and the latter is illegal. Technically, I am still allowed to wear my hood, as it is not a hat! Alternatively, I should calm down; how the hell does Adonai do it?!
10:49 PM//July 9th// 2086
PHOEBE PETS//
The pet store is far different from how they look on TV; the most noticeable difference being the… lack of pets. Instead of pets there are screens lining the walls, each showing a live feed of specific pets, located elsewhere, ready to be relocated at a moment’s notice.
“How can I help you today?” a voice intruded into Serra’s mind. She whipped her head around to see a desk add flickering on behind the counter.
“Um. Do you have any nutritional pellets for adds?” Serra responded out loud, earning a look of confusion on the add’s face.
“Of course, they’re in the second aisle, just below your eye-level.”
“Thank you.”
Serra heard a chuckle from one of the aisles, followed by a muttered comment, “It’s buying its own fuel. How cute.” The customer clearly didn’t intend Serra to hear, but her hearing is far too sensitive to miss it. Serra’s face scrunched up in confusion and frustration, but tilted her face away from the customer, and moved to the second aisle.
As she entered the aisle, her vision distorted slightly, and a glowing outline appeared around a bag on the shelf in front of her. She identified the glow as originating from the desk add, giving her a ping on the item’s location.
I wish she would have asked before interfacing with my vision. It’s too late now I guess, I should be more wary of that in the future.
She squinted at the item’s label, filtering out the glow. The bag had “Tethys’ FakeFlakes” in bold sans serif letters, with an image of a legally distinct android on it.
FakeFlakes? Really? That’s the best they could come up with?
Serra’s eyes drifted over the nearby items, curious about what else is even sold at an android aisle of a pet store. Her confusion grew as she passed over each item. Rental badges, distance ear-pieces, and some purely decorative apparel.
I didn’t expect this many accessories in the android aisle. I wonder… would I look good in a choker? Well, I’d have to take off my fluffy coat and I would rather be scrapped than do that.
Serra walked the pellets back up to the desk add, shielding herself from any unwanted intrusions from her, and said, “I would like to purchase this.”
“…Sure.” The add replied, with a holographic eyebrow raised.
Serra attempted to transfer the funds from Morgan’s account, but was met with a notification saying “Error! Please try again later! :( PS: If you want to avoid this in the future, you should try our LiveBank Service.”
The desk add seemed to lag for a second, before clearing her throat and saying, “Sorry, it appears we’re having difficulty with our systems, can you just input your information here?” She pointed to a small screen that lit up on the counter.
Serra felt static all around her, like headphones just barely unplugged. She glanced at the offline pet screens before typing in Morgan’s bank information, mumbling thanks to the add, and exiting the store.
11:09 PM//July 9th// 2086
IN TRANSIT//
Something felt off to Serra. Her mind felt slightly more constricted, and the streets were quiet. She passed by a couple stopped cars, alert police androids, and a few whispering citizens huddled at charging stations. The freedom of the open sidewalks would be exciting to Serra, if not for the static that still buzzed in her mind.
A flicker in the shadows pierced the fog around Serra's mind. Power diverted, switching off non-essential systems to prepare for any split-second danger. Mid-step, her entire demeanor changed to that of a perching predator ready to strike. Serra had not encountered this side of herself many times before; she understood why it was implemented, but felt that it distanced her further from the humanity she admires.
Far off to her side, Serra heard droplets falling to stone. Blood, from the faint smell she picked up over dozens of other masking smells.
Serra’s attention snapped to the entrance of an alley as metal scraped, sparks flew, and a flame bloomed. A lighter. The tiny flame was the only light within the alley to Serra's side, revealing blue surgical gloves holding a familiar golden lighter. Her eyes scanned upwards to crimson hair emerging from a black hood. The head tilted backwards, and Serra’s eyes met those of Morgan’s.
"Adonai...?" Serra spoke, her voice trailing as the world tilted. Warnings flashed in all her senses. Her self-preservation had used up the last bit of energy she had, and had sent her plummeting to the hard concrete.
Everything went white.
12:45 AM//July 10th// 2086
??????’? ?????????//
Jolts ran through a body. Air filled synthetic lungs. Veins pumped liquid. Neurons fired, and Serra became aware of herself yet again. She had never lost charge before.
From the ambient airflow and just-audible breath, she could tell she was in Morgan's apartment, with its owner leaning over her.
Serra’s consciousness had ended and started with the sight of Morgan's eyes. Her eyelids did nothing to obscure her vision. She stared at Morgan, making unknowing eye contact. Her face was blank as usual, fake. In her eyes there was worry. Genuine worry.
Serra lifted her eyelids, and Morgan's true expression was hidden again.
"Not the smartest plan, Serra." Morgan said in a low voice.
"Adonai I-"
"Shush, I don't want my only paralegal to get taken apart in an alleyway. It’s really refreshing to pass my paperwork on to you."
Serra sat up slowly, "Did you... feed me those nutritional pellets I bought? There’s an awful taste in my mouth."
"Do I need to start putting these in your food like I'm medicating a dog?" Morgan chuckled.
Serra grumbled, "I wouldn't word it like that, but yes that would be helpful. Your cooking is good so maybe it will cancel out the bad taste."
"Can't you just... turn off your taste buds or something?"
"...I don't want to." Serra looked down. Morgan raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to speak, but decided otherwise.
Silence fills the room- or, as close to silence as Serra can experience naturally. The flow of air through the room still fluttered through her ears. If she focused, she could even hear Morgan's heartbeat. She decides not to listen; it's an invasion of privacy in Serra's eyes.
"Thank you Adonai, for helping me."
"Why would I spend so much time defending you in court just to leave you on the street?"
"Youuu care about me~" Serra teased.
Now it was Morgan's turn to groan.
“Anyways, it’s late, Serra. I’m going to bed now; don’t wanna end up with Emma’s sleeping habits.” Morgan yawned, and headed out of sight.
Serra decided to follow her lead and curl up on the couch. Her body ached for the first time in her life. She had to sleep on her right side tonight, noticing some bruises and scrapes from falling.
Sleep is supposed to be instant for adds, but that luxury was not given to Serra. She replayed the last few hours in her mind.
I feel like such an idiot. This was all preventable. My stupid body. My stupid mind. If Adonai wasn’t there I really might’ve- Wait. Why was she even there? There was a bar just near those alleys, so maybe that’s where she met with her friend? Maybe my dumb decisions were well-timed? Given the danger I sensed within those alleys, Adonai might’ve been in danger! Okay, she carries a mag-rail around, she can take care of herself.
Eventually, Serra’s mind wandered off in a more comfortable direction. She finally tipped over the edge and fell asleep. Automated dependents don’t dream, but Serra is not an add.
So, Serra dreamt.