It was time.

The appointment had previously been postponed due to their mechanic falling victim to a sudden, undisclosed illness, but now there was no excuse. The workshop loomed closer as Mistress walked onwards, the giant brick structure ready to swallow them both whole.

As the door clicked shut behind them, it had to wonder: would it be leave this room?

It's inability to calculate the factors necessary to create accurate odds left the situation at its default 50/50. An inaccurate statistics, but one that would not leave its mind. The gamble was too risky.

It should have never agreed to this.

It should have never–

It should have–

It cut off its hindsight sensors at this exact point. It should have. That's what it needed to focus on. Whatever happened was worth the risk. And with a Mistress as kind and as irrational as the one who now carried it, surely she wouldn't let this happen if she didn't trust the proceedings.

…right?

She wants me alive. That would be its mantra.

She wants me alive.

Whatever happens, I must stay alive.

"Customer!" The OLI screeched as the door opened and the bell rang.

The man at the counter grimaced. "Ollie? You're volumes a bit too high there, buddy!"

"Better?" The OLLIE responded, this time half as loud.

"Better." The man affirmed.

"Then… Customer!" It cried again.

Mistress chuckled. "We'll… just head to the back again, if you don't mind."

"Sure thing!" The man waved them through. "By the way… if Ollie seems upset, tell him I'm not mad, OK? He can just get a little overexcited sometimes."

Mistress promised, though the very concept was absurd. What robot would take human correction so poorly? It was the logical way of things, the very existence of a robot was designed to cater to humans and all their whims. In what reasonable world did an android expect anything in return?

Still, despite all its horrible manners, it could not say that it disliked the little OLI. It was rather hard to dislike anything that remembered your name and greeted you at the door with an excited “Edward! He’s back!”

“We sure are.” Mistress chuckled. “Apologies for being late.”

The mechanic lady waved her off. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I’m the one that dragged this out two days longer.”

“But you were sick! That’s completely different!”

“Internally malfunctioning!” The Ollie corrected from its spot on the mechanic's shoulder.

It kept its eyes lowered to the floor as Mistress approached the work table. In case she tripped on anything (and there were certainly many things scattered about that could very well be tripping hazards) it wanted to be able to warn her. Thankfully, its assistance went unneeded.

“Um… where should I put him?” Mistress asked.

This caught its attention. Why not the table? Was something….?

And then its optics glanced upwards.

The desk was packed, piled and overflowing with not an inch of space to spare. What had formerly been the only cleared out space in the workshop was now buried under a towering heap of…limbs. Robotic feet, legs, arms, spare bits of scrap and a spare eye or two tossed in for good measure. The only difference was of course, that while his limbs were little more than a solid metal framework and some wire, these were covered in an odd plastic coating, seemingly the same material as the OLI’s outer shell.

These were…these were…

“Oh, right!” The mechanic announced with a mixture of pride and sheepishness. “I didn’t leave any space left, huh? Well, just leave him by the corner next to Ollie. I only need you for the next few minutes anyways.”

“Is that alright, Edward?”

It took a moment for it to realize that it was being addressed. “As my mistress wishes, so I will comply.” It responded.

From across the room, the angry lady snorted.

Meanwhile, the OLI seemed rather pleased. “Over here! Over here!” It squeaked, waving its stubby arms over by a shabby blanket and two dirty throw pillows. “This is my spot!”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Alright, why not?” Mistress set him down gently, squeezing one of his shoulder joints before stepping away. “I’ll be back in a bit. You sure you’ll be OK?”

“Mistress, you will be thirty-five away from my location.” He responded, roughly calculating the exact distance. “Should anything go awry you will be quite nearby. I have no cause to worry about anything.”

Once again, her cheeks flushed pink. “R-right! Sorry!”

Wrong answer. In an attempt to ease her nerves it had only embarrassed her. Useless machine. Perhaps the lack of discipline had truly rusted over its manners.

But there was no time to dwell on that. The OLI was coming, eyes wide and antennae twitching as it stuck out an arm to shake. “Hi! I’m Ollie!”

It stared down at the awaiting hand, offering its pitiful stump in reply. The OLI didn't mind, shaking its limb like it was a greeting from the ruling monarchs.

"I am Edward." It responded. "Though by your earlier remarks, I am aware that you already know of that."

"Yep, yep!" The OLI confirmed. "You're the one getting a new body so that you can feel things!"

"Well… yes, that is correct."

It was not exactly sure how to talk to this thing.

"How did you get damaged?"

"My memories were wiped of the account."

"Oh…." The OLI's eyes flickered. It's scans could detect a hint of… sadness? How strange… it was not aware of just how OLI's could portray emotion in their tone.

And he's not even the most advanced model…

In such a rapidly developing world, where was the room for it?

"Do not worry." It managed to say, temporarily muting its worrying functions. "That is not an event I would wish to remember, in any case."

"Me neither." The Ollie agreed. "So, you excited for your new arms?"

"I am curious." It admitted. "I do not know how it will feel to react to emotional responses linked to physical contact."

"Oh, it feels great!" The OLI assured. "Like a hug… or, or a hoodie, or an oil bath…"

The little robot went quiet.

"Is your monster nice?" It asked.

Nice? “She is my lady!” He responded a tad sharply. Robots had no rules against rudeness. “It would not be appropriate of me to judge her behavior!”

The OLI thought about this, head tilted. “Well, yeah, but does she hit you?”

“Of course not! Now keep your voice down!” The lady was staring back at them periodically, and it would certainly not do for her to overhear such disrespectful inquiries.

“I’m just saying…” The OLIS optics burned into him, vocal volume cranking down even lower.

“If she hits you now, its gonna hurt. So if she’s the type to get angry… don’t make her angry.”

“I already hurt when I make her angry.” It replied. “My mind is programmed to do so, so that I do not rebel.”

“But that’s hurt on the inside. Its going to hurt on the outside now to.”

“What do you—?”

But his last words were stolen by a cheery “We’re ready!” From the other side of the room.

“Good luck!” The OLI whispered at it scurried away, and before it could react it was scooped up and away.

*************************

“Hi Edward! This is gonna be your new skull!”

Edward stared as the mechanic handled the aforementioned cranium; a large, cuboidal structure with dull eyes and a mess of wires spilling from the neck hole.

“It is…large.” He offered, twitching. “I fear I may not be able to handle it properly.”

“Oh, nonsense! You’ll be fine! Besides…” The mechanic knocked soundly against the shiny bronze shell, letting the sound echo around the workshop. “This can definitely take a few scrapes while you get your bearings. There’s nothing to worry about!”

“But…” Edward paused, hesitating, until her assuring nod made him continue. “But…won’t I feel pain?”

The mechanic snorted. “ Oooolllieee , have you been scaring him?”

“I didn’t do nothing!” Ollie yelled back, invisible, his voice box muffled from within his hiding place.

“...Anyways, the tactile sensors can be adjusted, so you don’t have to worry about that either.”

“Adjusted?”

“ Yeah! Plan is we leave you with the settings you’re used to for the first couple of days, and then slowly bring the feeling into your world.”

“I…see.” Edward looked up at her. “A-and will my lady be given the controls?”

“Huh? No, of course not! Any adjustments are going to be done here, in my workshop, under my authority.”

“Technically mine!” A faraway voice called.

The mechanic’s shoulders slumped. “...Or from Jayce, who actually trusts himself around code. A-anyways! No one’s gonna mess with your pain sensors, I promise. Any other questions?”

“No…but if I may… a request?”

The mechanic shrugged. “Ask away.”

“May I have…” The robot's head jerked sharply. “A-a few words with my lady?”

“Of course!” The mechanic stepped away. “Make it quick though. I… don’t want to leave you in that body for much longer. Don’t like the way its treating ya.”

“I will not waste your patience.” Edward promised. “My Lady?”

She immediately straightened up. To her… He’d wanted to talk to her.

Wasn’t it a bit pathetic, getting excited like this? Probably… but in stark contrast to his former dead-eyed composure, he’d chosen to spend his potentially last few moments in her company. He’d made the choice…

And it was that agency that gladdened her most of all, even above being selected.

“What is it, Edward?” She’d asked as the mechanic respectfully backed away.

“My Lady, I…I apologize if I am being too formal, but I only wished to express my gratitude.”

“Gratitude?”

“You’ve rescued me, my lady.” He continued. “You’ve done…far more than I could have ever expected. Far more than I ever deserved. You’re spending so much money…”

He shivered so hard sparks flew.

“No, Edward it’s…”

“It is what it is, my lady.” Another twitch. “It is my deepest regret that I cannot guarantee that I will be able to please you after all the investment you’ve poured into me. If that comes to pass, I would like to apologize.”

“Well, don’t!”

Edward flinched. “My…lady?”

“You’re going to be fine.” She ground out. “Nothing is going to go wrong. Stop acting like you’re going to die, because you’re not!”

Edward froze in place. His voice box clicked uselessly as he struggled to find the words. “M-m-my apologies. I did not intend to upset you. I just wanted you to know…”

“Know what?!”

“...That I am forever in your debt, my lady. And if I could guarantee my survival…I would, if only for the sake of pleasing you.”

“Edward…” And though he was still in his old body, she squeezed him tightly. “It’s going to be fine. I’ll just see you in a little bit, alright? And you’ll have two eyes this time to boot.”

“I will do my best to arrive punctually, my lady,” Edward replied as she set him down on the worktable. The mechanic approached, goggles shining bright and a tool box slung from each arm.

She looked away. “...Lily.”

“Pardon?”

“My name is Lily.” She said. “I…realized that I never told you, and I felt too awkward to bring it up later, but… yeah.”

“Miss Lily…” Edward tasted the name out, letting it hum through the air. “You have a lovely name.”

“Thank you.” She replied, her cheeks reddening. “See you in a bit?”

“See you in a bit,” Edward echoed.

With a sharp, tiny click, his voice was silenced.