Evening...
"So tell me Rye..." The slurp of a shake again as the straw enters her mouth.
Both are sitting in a booth; one of them clearly more comfortable than the other. Rye is not happy about all of the money he has spent today. His body posture shows slight fatigue and agitation. However, much his mind is on his wallet, his focus is more on the future at this point.
"No Gamma. We've spent all day running around doing what -you- wanted. I'm going to ask you again. I leave at the end of the month. I need to know if you are going to stay behind or if you are coming with."
Gamma's hand sets the shake down and her amusement for the day wears off as her face now wears a serious tone.
"You really have to ruin a good thing don't you?"
"It'll get worse if you dillydally around and are back on the street again when I finally leave."
"Fine."
"Fine, what? You want to be back on the street?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what?"
Her face changes to melancholic and her mood becomes quite solemn.
"Look, I don't know what to do just now."
"Well, that's what we're going to figure out."
The two are on opposite sides of the booth; Rye's body language shows more confidence as his hand extends to the back of the booth seat.
"Can't we do this later?"
"No."
Her face half pouts into a frown.
"Don't you even try it Gamma. The only reason I let you go on that shopping spree because it was stuff you arguably need."
Her face shoots up slightly and over at him at the word 'arguably'.
"I don't know about my wallet, but if you come with me it'll make things alot easier. Regardless, we need to get you registered with citizen status."
Her mood hasn't changed. Rye wastes no time. "I did some reading on my phone inbetween shopping. You might qualify as a self sufficient K-Class android; sentience and freedom of will and all. The nearby continent has less restrictions on those types as they fall under a worker class. On this island you would be be able to get a secretary, clerk or attendant position due to laws or something to that effect."
The straw goes up to her mouth again and there is a large slurp from it before it gets set down again. "I was a secretary back on Hayduria."
"Is that the job you want?"
"No. I was transferring to the military for a reason. I would have been granted citizenship."
Rye's face turns to disbelief as his hand is removed from the back of the booth; his head also cocks in puzzlement. "You already had something planned, and you don't want that same thing?"
"I'd rather not worry about this right now."
Rye's hands come down to the table and his head darts forward. "We have the time, we worry about this now. I will not have the free time at the end of the month."
"New job?"
"There is a reason I'm moving Gamma, although I don't think you will like the reason."
Her head is hanging slightly as she looks up.
"What job?"
"I'm going to be a police officer."
Her mouth and face purse into a mixed reaction of smile, somber, frown and submission. Her will and mood are finally broken. There is no response from her as the reality of her situation now sets in.
"I'm glad you are looking at this more seriously now."
"Sure."
"You will need to stay behind if you don't know by the end of the month. You will be found out if you aren't registered. I don't know what happens to you then; but I'd rather not think about it. You're also going to want to think about getting a job."
She looks up with a weak smile again at the word 'job'. "I'll come with you."
"That'll make things easier. I'll see about the arrangements on your registration."
"Can we go home now Rye? I don't want to be here anymore."
"Gamma, I'm glad you have a sense of focus on your situation."
"Sure."
"Gamma, I mean it. It's necessary."
She nods and says nothing as Rye gets up. Her shake goes into the garbage as both of them head for the door. Today has suddenly become not as delicious as she had hoped.
The ride home on the subway is spent in silence. With a lack of people, Rye finally has a seat to himself, but at a price. Gamma was asleep with her body leaning against the subway seat and her head against the glass window; but momentarily her body switches and slumps onto his shoulder. Rye stares straight ahead and says nothing.
---
Still Mid Afternoon...
They are at "Waregood Central Mall". Rye starts to pull out his phone to find where they need to go, but Gamma's hand comes up and waves her finger in a 'dont do that' gesture. "Rye, half the fun of shopping is browsing."
"In other words," Rye puts his phone back in his pocket, "You don't know what you want."
"Rye, it will be just fine." She stops in front of a clothing store window eyeing a mannequin in a dress up and down.
"Gamma, are you..." Rye's arms cross when she looks over at him once and then goes back to eying the mannequin. "Gamma, we don't have all day." She looks over at him again. "Gamma, I mean it." She looks back at the window lost in thought. "Gamma? Gamma. GAMMA!" She finally snaps too. However, a security guard is also next to them, "Please refrain from yelling." he says before he walks off. Gamma gives Rye a grin and looks back to the window; Rye looks away as his arms cross.
The next few hours are spent moving here and there as Gamma peruses the different shops windows and Rye follows behind through different shops. Once they are through about three floors and two hours of the mall, Gamma stops abrubtly near an escalator.
"Rye, I've figured out what I want!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes dear, let's go."
"Please don't call me dear."
Gamma takes off leaving Rye behind.
"Hey c'mon, wait up!" Rye darts after her.
It isn't the new skirt that makes Rye groan. In his hands he holds the spoils of Gamma's war with fashion. A set of white shoes, black work boots, what Rye could only describe as expensive fashion boots (Gamma really likes those). The boots were enough, but it is the flannel skirt, two sets of jeans, white pants, and four different shirts she somehow managed to push into a backpack beyond disbelief that makes him groan. Worse is the price tag: five hundred and seventy-six dollars.
They are walking on their towards an escalator leading to the top floor when Gamma's head turns back to Rye.
"Thanks Rye. I really appreciate it."
"You're an absolute monster, do you know that."
Her whole body turns around and her shoulders and head crouch slightly while standing a food from his face. Her left and reaches up to his shoulder and she waves her finger in front of his face. "I -really- appreciate it darling." Extremely loving emphasis on "really". Rye's eyes finally roll when she calls him darling.
"Gamma, if we are done here, why are we going to the top floor?"
"There is something I need."
When they reach their destination, it is an electronics shop, not a small one either. Gamma pulls aside one of the workers. Rye can't make out what they are saying. However, there is some head nodding, and Gamma's hands and fingers wave a bit as she points to the ceiling. The worker nods again and they walk off. Rye is left to stand in place as he waits for them. He sees a chair and takes a seat. The shoes aren't heavy, but they are cumbersome to carry. Gamma comes back about fifteen minutes later. Incidentally Rye has fallen alseep. He feels a tap on his shoulder. He knows the drill by now and just hands her his resource card; he is more content just to sit down at this point and rest from all of the walking. She comes back over holding a box with what looks like a large radio on it. What stands out prominently is the antenna attached to the radio.
"A satellite phone...?"
"Yes Rye, but not quite. It is a multi-purpose transceiver radio built into a phone."
Rye knows what that means, "How much Gamma?"
She ignores his stern tone and wrinkles her knows at hime while waving her hand in dismissal.
"It can communicate to Hayduria via satellite."
"Gamma, you do know you will pay me back for all of this right?"
"Yes darling."
"Gamma, please don't call me that. I'm not your -darling-."
"Yes Rye. Let's go. It's getting late."
Rye looks down at his watch. It was already approaching six.
"You are taking me out to eat, right Rye?"
Rye's head turns around back at her in confusion, "You already had all that oil. I thought robots couldn't eat human food."
"It's a special occasion dear. My body can handle it in small amounts."
Rye shakes his head one last time. This was clearly a delicious day for someone, just not him.
---
Mid Afternoon...
Rye is on the couch watching television, one hand on the armrest. He hears Gamma come out of the bathroom and turns around. Her hair is violet, and her face looks different.
"That is surprisingly a good look for you."
"Thanks. Did James tell you about the other stuff I needed?"
"I told him to forget it; whatever it is I don't want to know about it until I'm shelling out money for it. Anyway let's go."
She follows him outside of the apartment. As they are walking outside of the apartment down the sidewalk, Rye pipes up, "Gamma, has James told you I'm leaving at the end of the month?"
"No he hasn't." She has a quizzical look on her face. "We need to figure out what to do about you." He looks at her while walking and nearly dodges tripping into a bench, "We have to decide if you are staying behind or not. She was silent for awhile. "Gamma?" He looks at her again as they walk. He stops, she stops with him, but continues staring straight ahead, "I haven't thought that far ahead." "That is going to change, today." He is quite straight forward about it, she is taken aback by it; "Okay." is all she says as she continues walking again. Realizing she was walking on without him he hurries to match her pace. "Gamma, I'm serious. You aren't registered as a citizen or a android by the government; you have no rights and you are walking around freely. We need to get you registered." "Okay." is all she says.
"Gamma, are you not listening?"
"I am."
"Well?"
"Well... what?"
"Gamma, I'm serious. If you stay behind, you will have very few places go to. You can't come with me if you aren't registered with at least android or citizen status."
"We really shouldn't be talking about this in public Rye." She shoots him a sharp look.
"Gamma, your name is a dead giveaway."
"What do you mean?"
"Gamma is not a normal name."
"And Ryanov isn't?"
Rye squints at that last one, "Gamma, what is your actual name?" She stops abrubtly, he takes a few more steps before he stops and looks back at her. "Gamma? Come on, don't be like that. I'm trying to help!"
"If I tell you, will you stop talking about this? I don't want to think about this right now." There is a mixed reaction on her face.
"Fine."
"My name is Nija...... Yifona."
"That... That is uh..." He stammers a bit while she looks at the ground, "Nija is a very nice looking name." She looks up in confusion. He quickly changes his mistake, "I mean it's a very nice sounding name. Do you have a preference for Nija or Yifona?" Her eyes look up and away, "Please call me Gamma."
"No. You need to integrate into society. You can't go around acting like a machine." His reassurance falls on deaf ears. "But I am a machine Ryanov." "Even androids have to integrate into society." "We didn't have to on Hayduria; everyone called me 'Gamma'." "I don't know anything about Hayduria or it's culture. However, this is Eva. Nowhere on this planet do we refer to androids by their designation; that is the title of a machine and a slave. Besides, we can get you a non-servant registration."
"What's that mean?"
"It means you will be to make your own choices. You will be autonomous. It's why I'm asking what you want to do at the end of the month."
She says nothing.
"Gamma, I'm serious."
"See, you even call me Gamma."
"Maybe you can't see the scope of the future Ms. Yifona, but if we do nothing - you will either be left behind and be forced to live as an outlaw, or worse - get discovered as a Cryborg..."
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"Rye, please stop saying that in public. In fact, stop talking about it."
"...or you will be found out if you follow me through the metal detector at the airport. Non-registered androids aren't allowed off island."
"We'll worry about it then Rye."
"You are impossible."
She turns around and gives a weak smile at him as she cheers up, "It also means I've won." Her pace quickens as they walk on the sidewalk. Rye looks onward to her direction in disbelief, "Hey...! C'mon, wait up!"
---
On the subway Rye is once again standing with his hands on one of the ceiling rungs. In disbelief, he is looking down at Gamma, who is sitting in one of the subway seats. Her legs are neatly together and her hands are in her lap, she is half asleep. She looks up towards Rye once and then stares off straight ahead as her eyes close and her head titles partially. Rye only wonders if her body can lock itself into position and she doesn't get muscle sores like humans. He then mentally reminds himself not to spend so much time talking when they are en route to public transportation; stuff like having to stand wouldn't have been an issue. Gamma had narrowly gotten to the seat a few seconds before him and he isn't happy about this turn of events. It will take approximately a half hour to get to the city of Waregood like this and Rye himself is also nodding off. The subway had people in it, but most of them are asleep or lost in their own world; there is no stimulation for anyone looking for it.
Thirty minutes pass...
Gamma head bolts up when the subway car comes to a halt, "Rye, let's go!" Rye snaps awake, somehow having fallen asleep while standing up with his arm still on the rung. "Right." He snaps too, and they head back to the mall Rye had been at before.
"Gamma, about that second list James had mentioned. What exactly did you need?"
"Mostly clothing."
Rye stops. He knows where this is going, "Isn't the clothing from the soup kitchen good enough?"
"You want me to wear second-hand clothing?"
Rye stops mid walk, "Well, what's wrong with that? It would save money."
"Rye, they're old and they've been sitting in a pile for how long with how many people touching them?"
"Well, I don't know."
"Exactly. They smell like old clothing that has been sitting in a corner. Those people that come into the soup kitchen aren't exactly the cleanest people around."
"Right."
"They might have touched stuff with dirty hands."
"Right."
"Rye, you're not getting out of this."
"I was afraid you were going to say that."
They continue on their way. Rye had lost to Gamma three times now; as a guest, competition for public transportation, and now his wallet."
---
Afternoon...
The subway ride back to the apartment was uneventful, save for the fact Rye felt embarassed carrying stuff he wouldn't normally otherwise. Back at the apartment, Gamma is sitting on the cough again, waiting for him. At the apartment, Rye turns behind him to close and lock the door. "Hi." Gamma is waiting behind him. When he turns around, she is making strong eye contact with him. Her eyes quickly turn to the bags in his hand and she grabs them without a word. She carries them to the couch as he finally closes the door behind him. With the door finally closed, he turns around again and sees a peculiar scene.
Gamma is drinking the oil, and not slowly. Rather she was taking long gulps of it.
"How can you drink that? Don't you have to drain your oil first or something?" He says it frantically.
"It's delicious." Her eyes widen with joy as she gives a weak smile and nods several times at Rye, who is now in disbelief. She starts on the second bottle.
"Gamma, maybe you should slow down."
"Nooo!" She says it very happily and continues with the long gulps.
Each bottle was emptied, cap screwed back on and set on the table. Rye hasn't moved from the door, in fact he is still in disbelief.
Then came the bottles. Rye hear's crunches from Gamma's mouth as the filings come out of the bottle.
"Doesn't that wreck your teeth?"
She looks up at Rye and lets out a happy and satisfied sigh as she feels the filings slide down her throat. Then comes the next bottle. Rye is now standing at the couch.
"Y-you don't eat the plastic of the bottles do you?"
"I could." She looks up at him, that same satisfied expression again. "My body can use the hydrocarbons from the oil to synthesize something similar."
Rye's doesn't know what to make of this; his face shows it with a mix of emotions, mostly helplessness. He doesn't know much about robots.
"Rye, I'm going to be in the bathroom for awhile. Please don't interrupt me."
"Right."
She grabs the bag of makeup and heads to the bathroom.
"She's definitely a growing girl."
"And very sensitive about her privacy." James says it as he appears next to Rye. "James, have you downloaded all of those updates yet?" "Affirmative master, they have been integrated." "Go ahead and test out those unofficial updates. Also, see if you can't find any generic updates for your personality that involve ettiquete and manners." "Will do sir."
Rye turns on the television to a random talk show and heads towards the kitchen. He was starving and hadn't eaten yet.
"Sir, before I forget...." James interrupts him.
"Hmm?"
"There was a second list."
"Excuse me?"
"Gamma had a second list of stuff she needed. However, she said she wanted to accompany you when you bought them."
Rye looks up to the bathroom door knowing he has just been had.
---
Mid morning...
Due to his car in the shop, Rye has to take the subway. He isn't happy about this. He has to stand, does not get to sit, and doesn't get to enjoy any creature comforts. He also has to deal with being around strangers living out their lives while he remains miserable. He avoids muttering his thoughts out loud. He isn't happy. His car, a Solaris Fusion, is twenty two years old, and needs a major tuneup. It had it's last major tuneup
Rye mutters to himself about his car needing major maintenance in the shop. He has had this car, a Solaris Fusion for the last six years. The car was not babied and garaged kept by the previous owner, instead it had over two-hundred thousand miles on it. The vehicle would run, but was in need of a complete overhaul. Rye's plan was to have it overhauled just after he finished his stint on the oil rig and then take it with him when he went off island. That time is now here, so he doesn't have much of a choice on the matter. He reminds himself, that the waiting and the misery will be worth it - he just has to put up with it for three more days. All of this is according to a larger plan - he paid only sixteen thousand five hundred for its used status, when normally it retails for seventy-five thousand. The vehicle is also manufactured here on Miflord Island, so parts are expensive for this particular vehicle, theyare easy to come by and do not need to be ordered off island. The vehicle will be a brand new machine after the overhaul, for about half the price of buying it new; that was all according to the plan.
"Hey!"
"What?" Rye looks up in confusion. The train had stopped and he'd been lost in thought. People are trying to get passed him. He looks up at the destination board and sees they are actually at his stop. He lets his hand go off of the ceiling rung and heads for the doors.
Leaving the subway he looks up to see "Waregood Central Mall". Waregood, as the city name implies, is the commercial center for all of Milford Island. Attached to the subway, the mall is the largest on the island and the easiest way to buy stuff for convenience sake. He pulls up a map of the mall on his phone. He will have to go up a few floors, but otherwise this 'venture' will take under an hour. His first destination is... He stops and realizes he doesn't know what specific types of items Gamma needs. He dials his apartment on the phone. James picks up.
"The master is currently away running errands, if you..."
"James, get Gamma."
"Roger."
Rye hears a shriek, the distinct sound of something thud, several screams, something crashing, and then a door slamming.
"Uh sir, she was in the bathroom taking a shower."
"Lovely." Rye smiles to himself at the thought of James walking in on Gamma. He stops and looks up at his own thoughts. She looks pretty real on the exterior, so she probably still had to clean herself on occasion. She also acts just as much as a woman does, so she probably takes it just as personal when someone intrudes on her privacy. "James, knock on the door this time and tell her I need to know what she needed."
Rye hears pounding on a door and a very angry "You know what?!" on the other end.
"Hey Gamma, specifically speaking, what kind of oil did you need?"
"5w20 or 5w30, not the kind used in vehicles. It needs to be specifically made for androids. I need six liters, preferably in liter sized bottles. I remember androids were uncommon on this android, but there should be shops out and about that specialize in them. Also, android filing supplements should be in the same shop. Get the generic kind.
"And the hair dye?"
"Violet."
"You mean purple right?"
"No, I mean violet."
"Right. And the makeup?" Rye cringes at that last one. He knows what is coming.
"Eye shadow violet hue twelve, eyeliner black hue generic, blush pink hue thirty-two, peach foundation hue ten, peach overtone hue twelve. Understood?"
"I think..."
"Understood?!"
"Yes ma'am."
"Thanks Rye!" She says it in a very joyous and whimsical tone. Rye cringes again. He just thinks to himself, it was a pity he didn't already have that mobile projector for James. James could be sent to do this for him instead.
His first stop is "Android Rockwell". This store is big. Parts adorn the walls and many different racks. However, Rye can't begin to understand what any of them are for. However, what is familiar is several Android models on display. The price tags are expensive; two hundred thousand resource credits for a brand new one. Walking up to the attendant their conversation begins. Giving the attendant the information, the attendant points towards the back of the store. Rye begins his jaunt. He sees a shelf with different android skeletons on display. Past them are shelves with arm and leg joints, pumps, batteries, wire sheathing... and then he cringes as he walks past an aisle that has fully assembled arms and legs with synthetic flesh on them. These arms and legs were ready to be attached. He shakes his head at the artificial dismemberment that never happened. He finally reaches the area "Health and Lubricants". The wall was full of oil; small liter bottles on top, large jugs underneath, and then on the bottom large buckets on the bottom. He scans the row up and down. The bottles are in ascending order, but it still takes him a few seconds to find them. He finds them. However, the price tag makes him wince; fifty-four credits. He looks around the immediate area and finds the most expensive 5w20 is seventy-two credits, the cheapest stuff is roughly seventeen. He shakes his head and avoids looking down at the price tags on the larger jugs and buckets. Rye stops to think about it for a little bit and reaches for his phone again.
"Yessir?"
"James, I need Gamma."
"Yes, Rye?"
"Okay, do you need expensive oil - and please tell me you don't; or can you get by on the generic stuff?"
"I prefer premium."
"What?"
"It tastes better. They also add different nutrients depending on how specialized it is. Premium also lasts longer."
"I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"You wouldn't put cheap motor oil in your car would you?"
"Well, my car isn't exactly a beater."
"You would have me drink the generic stuff?"
"That midrange stuff is expensive."
"That generic stuff tastes nasty! It also breaks down quicker in my body. You would need to buy me more anyway."
"Yeah, I suppose so."
There is a long pause.
"Thanks Rye."
Rye hears the dial tone as connection drops. Rye looks at the shelf again and notices that Milford Bio makes a mid-range brand. Rye decides not to get it and instead one two brands over labeled "Lightline". His left arm is full of six liter sized bottles of oil. He continues several rows over to the back of the store. There is a sign that says, "Android Filing Supplement". The bottles are smaller than he was expecting, about twice the size of a vitamin bottle. Rye winces at the price, one hundred credits for each. Gamma wanted two, so that's what he grabs. He manages to bring them to the front of the store with the attendant. He makes some small talk with the attendant. A used android can be had for about twenty-five thousand credits.
Outside of the store, Rye's left hand thankfully was the only one full of shopping bags. His phone is out again. He looks for his next location; this one he is not looking forward to. About twelve minutes away on the second floor is a beauty shop - "Mare Venus". Rye winces. He knows whats coming.
Twelve minutes later he finds himself in the shop. Women are everywhere, and not a single man is to be found. Rye tries to hide his embarassment, but he swears he can feel his face flushing. He has to speak to one of the attendants. He doesn't know what he needs when the attendant asks. His phone is soon out again. Gamma relays the information again. Rye is clueless and hands the phone to the attendant. They start speaking. The conversation escapes Rye as they make small talk. The chatter finally switches to Gamma's make up. The attendant gives an, "Oh, we carry that. I'll take your boyfriend to it." The attendant faces Rye, "If you'll follow me this way sir." She motions for him to follow. Rye's face is in disbelief as he thinks to himself, "Boyfriend?" He shakes his head again. He will not become one of those freaks that dates a machine.
Once at the hair dye section Rye sees that purple and violet are the exact same color, but packaged differently. More disbelief on Rye's face.
"Ma'am, is there a difference between violet and purple?"
"Yes dear. Purple is the generic name. Violet gets better packaging."
"Can't I just buy purple?"
"You can dear. But not if you want your girlfriend to feel special."
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Well your lady friend then dear."
Rye shakes his head again. He looks at the packaging. It it is expensive. He looks at the generic purple's packaging, it was more aggreeable. "I'll take the expensive stuff." Rye thinks back to the incident with James entering the bathroom and then one last look at the generic packaging. He doesn't want to know what conversation would ensue if he buys that instead.
Rye is again in disbelief at the attendant's memory of all of the makeup Gamma wanted.
"If I may ask, how do you remember all of that?"
"It's a woman thing dear. You have to take care of yourself."
Rye agrees blankly. They arrive at each of the different sections that have the items Gamma wants. They were in small bottles thankfully. Rye has his free hand holding several bottles, the attendant carries the rest. She leads him in the direction towards the front checkout. She stops at one of the rows. "You're lady friend would probably appreciate some perfume if the rest of what she wants is any indication."
"I, uh... don't... know... how... that..."
"Just buy it dear. She'll thank you later. Trust me."
Rye agrees again, blankly.
Outside of the shop both of Rye's hands are full of shopping bags. The makeup and perfume is double bagged due to the glass containers. The android products came in plastic containers. The difference between human vanity and robotic function is night and day.
He makes his way back to the apartment.
---
The next morning...
Rye awakes the next morning and lets out a stretch. The sunlight is pushing its way through the shades and onto his body. His eyes open and his head looks up. He bolts up and heads for the bedroom door. He makes quick strides to the couch in the living room and looks down. He sees red hair and the woman sleeping on the couch. The name 'Gamma' pops into his head. He lets out a sigh, knowing it is a very real situation and he's now on the hook should something happen. He decides against waking her and instead heads for the kitchen.
"James." Rye doesn't want to wake the guest, so it comes closer to a whisper. He waits for it to register, hoping the apartment's sensor array would pick up on it. He sees nothing and shakes his head as he pulls open the refridgerator door. Grabbing the milk, he closes the door and turns around to the kitchen counter and bolts up when he sees James there. The milk jug drops from his hands and bounces on the ground without breaking. Rye's eyes narrow at James.
"Appologies sir." The hologram gives a quick bow; his voice oblivious to their situation. "And make sure to keep it down." Rye says it in a quiet tone while he grabs the milk. "Yes, sir. Very good, sir!" The hologram salutes and says it in a quieter town. Rye shakes his head. Right now he is more concerned about breakfast - preferably cereal. He puts a spoon in his bowl and looks up at James. "James, get the most recent updates for your program. Also, now that I'm back from the rig I have some extra spending money. Phone home and download a list of any official and unofficial expansions created for your program; remove any that aren't scanned for contingencies and viruses. Actually, download the official virus scanner for your program." The program nods and gives a salute as his program fades. Various ones and zeroes and text symbols whir around and throughout his program. Rye crunches away at his cereal oblivious to the hologram. His mind is now on the woman in front of him.
"Sir."
Rye turns his head around to the hologram, "Hmm?"
"Available in the last six months are thirty-two incremental updates to my base program. My personality expansion has three updates. As far as program expansions, there are seventy-nine official and one hundred forty-seven unofficial; all confirmed working and free from malicious code. Virus scanner has also finished downloading; there are now seventy-eight official program expansions available."
Rye nods at that. James's program was released only three years ago and had been updated multiple times. The only problem is, each update and expansion was expensive. "How much would all of that cost me?" Rye finishes his cereal. "Sir, one moment." James fades slightly as Rye dumps the bowl into the sink. "Total cost for all official updates is roughly seventy-one hundred and twelve resource credits." Rye winced at the price tag. "James, what is the most expensive one on there?" The program looks up happy, much to Rye's surprise, "The prototype mobile projector that has been in development for the last year and a half is now available as a consumer model; roughly fifteen hundred resource credits." James is fidgeting quite eagerly at that last one. Rye crosses his arms and leans up against counter; he looks deep in thought, but is clearly faking it. "I don't know James. The -last- time you were given more freedom you started buying things without my permission." James stops fidgeting and gives a miffed sigh. "It won't happen again sir."
"It better not, go ahead and download everything and order the mobile projector. Don't disappoint me." Rye walks by James who gives another salute. His attention is back on the woman when James interrupts him again. "Sir, I respectfully request download of the unofficial expansions, without activating them until I can test them for any problems." "Go ahead and do it." Rye's attention is on the woman again, but he turns to the hologram, "Also, what was on my todo list for the day?" The hologram again fades slightly. "Your car is still in the shop and won't be available for a few days." Rye lets out a light groan. "Your Milford Bio contract is expired and waiting for renewal." "Do not renew it." "Yessir." Rye notes the hologram said it with too much enthusiasm; probably because it means Rye wouldn't be gone for six months at a shot. "Your plane flight is reserved for the end of the month. The airline also needs to know what you will be transferring." Rye looks over at Gamma again. This time he wonders what he will do about Gamma once that plane flight comes. "Gamma has also requested a shopping list of several items." Rye's head turns over from Gamma to James, "Hmm?" "She has stated it would be detrimental for her to go shopping as she has no money and might match the description police have of her." "Ah. What exactly did she ask for?" "The first list has hair dye, oil and two bottles of android filing supplements. The sec..." Rye's attention snaps and he interrupts him, "Wait, I don't understand that last one." James's hologram fades slightly as it accesses the information from his database, "From my database..........just as humans need vitamins and minerals to avoid malnourishment and keep their bodies functioning properly, more advanced robots and androids use a combination of supplements to keep their systems functioning properly......android filing supplements are metal shavings of different types that an android equipped with nanite technology will use to repair their bodies.........metal shavings include such metals as........iron, brass, copper, tin, aluminum, titanium, tungsten, among others; filings primarily consist of iron shavings................I've also done the liberty of looking up information on oil in androids...............it's used for lubrication, as a temporary fuel source, and in the creation and hardening of plastics within a robot's body over time..............this applies to robots and androids with self sustaining systems only." Rye's head is spinning at this point, "So she's a healthy growing robot. At least we've established that much. Hopefully she doesn't slopper oil all over the place."
"I'll thank you not to crack jokes about me."
Rye turns around, stunned at the voice. Gamma is sitting upright in the couch, yawning and stretching slightly. "I may be a growing girl as you put it, but I am clearly not immature and childish." Her eyes widen and return to normal as she says that last statement. Rye's hand goes immedietly behind his head and he let's out a nervous, "Sorry." Her arms cross and her right leg goes over her left, her eyes widen and she gets serious, "Rye, I'm counting on you. I need those items to survive." Rye is already at the door making a hasty retreat, "I'll get right on that Gamma." His shoes wear already on as he slips on his jacket, grabs his keys (which is probably more out of habit) and he slips out the door.
He leans his back up against the door and lets out a sigh of relief, "Growing girl gets ornery when she gets hungry..." Her voice shoots through the door, "...and I'm not ornery!" Rye stands to attention and shuffles off down the hall.
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Alternative Chapter Name: "Mmm, good!"
Author's Notes: This chapter is told backwards, like the first chapter.