I stared down at a piece of paper that I held. Sin'Clair Shelter 70-9. I glanced up at the painted sign confirming I arrived at my destination. I knocked on the worn out door and wait for a response, I knock again.

...

I am not certain if anyone is inside considering the lack of response, I peered through the poorly boarded up windows trying to see anything at all. I did find a mess of cods and trash and a Category 2 plague.

It was very dark inside, so much so I could see my reflection. Tan skin, green eyes, short hair with a fringe, and pristine, clean uniform.

The streets are vacant, I do not see any public phones either. All I can do is wait for my master.

...

The Prism Obelisk is about 200 miles offshore in its own island, it is a sight to behold from this point of view. I could see Jupiter from my chamber in the Obelisk and I never imagined I would be selected as a Serf. I am truly honored to serve my country, my military and soon my master.

...

My watch tells me it is currently 1:43 P.M. I was supposed to greet my master at Noon. The bus dropped off at the stop 15 minutes prior and made it on time. Something must have occurred.

...

The seagulls, the waves crashing, they sound much more clear here. I am possibly 180 meters away from the ocean, I can see and hear it with such clarity. I never heard it in my chambers in Prism.

...

I hear music.

A blue car cruised by with loud rhythmic sounds. The driver, a young male, approximately in his early 20's is singing and jamming to the rifts of the instruments. My mind can't help but wonder why is he so...

...

I can't fathom why, but he looks so...

My brows knit involuntarily at the very thought I couldn't articulate. I brush it off, it is a waste of time and thought process. I will continue to wait.

...

I hear another car, this one a larger vehicle; a Prism Boogie, routine patrol. My heart raced, I stood up and held my left hand over my chest. The vehicle parked in front of me and a Prism Knight looked at me through the open window.

"You, present your I.D." they requested. I quietly turn away from them giving them access to my identification number on the neck brace. I hear the dreadful beeps and whistles of the infrared laser, I can only shut my eyes and clench my teeth as if to muffle the pain.

"M1-0001SiO," the Prism Knight said. "You are an active Serf, but I see you haven't been registered in the system yet; still on a neutral status." He got out of the vehicle, I turned to them, keeping my eyes on theirs.

"Affirmative, ..." I looked around his armor and found no tag or badge, it would be rude if I do not address them by their rank.

"Is there a reason as to why?" he asked, his eyes are intense, perhaps it was the glass visor or how his iris didn't move.

"I attempted to contact them but no one responded. Location seems vacant."

"Is it really?" The Prism Knight approached the door and knocks on the door.

"Affirmative, I decided the best action for now is to wait."

Also not receiving a response, the Prism Knight approaches me, "it would seem you are correct. But it is unwise to leave an active unit unattended in a neutral status." The Prism Knight's visor glows a vibrant green and his eyes shift rapidly scanning for information. "Did you receive an emergency contact from your owner?" he asked.

I looked at the piece of paper again and I scan for a phone number, I shake my head and hand it to them. "Unfortunately, only the address and the name of my owner Larry Sin'Clair, is printed."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

He was slightly puzzled as to why a number wasn't provided on the paper. "I noticed the system doesn't have a number. My possible deduction could be that the owner does not have phone service. But I do see in the system you were ordered from a phone catalog..." The Prism Knight, while expressionless he was confused, it is evident in his voice. "Perhaps it could be a prank... but the fact they wired the money, which means the transaction was complete..."

Another car approaches, my head turns to the street and I see a yellow car, it parked behind the Prism Boogie. An old white man gets out of the car, he seems irritated. "Might I ask as to why Prism is blocking my property?" he asked.

"Sin'Clair, Larry, I presume," the Prism Knight said as his eyes scanned through the visor.

"Yeah, who the hell are you?" He is pretty irrational if he thinks challenging a Prism Knight is anything but a good idea...

"Lt. Erick Johnson," the Knight said rather calmly. "Can you confirm to me your transaction number?" he adds.

"What the hell for?" the old man is rather unpleasant.

The Prism Knight is composed but I can hear his tone shifting to retaliation. "Did you not order a Serf?"

"What the hell is that?" the old man asked.

"A laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate, in other words, a slave..."

"Oh...!" The old man smirks deviously, "I did order a slave." He looked at me from head to toe. His stare made me uncomfortable in my own skin. Larry seems mildly disgusted with me and he saying, "you better be worth the time. You cost me more than my own life."

I hold my heart with my right hand and bow respectfully. "Yes, Master Sin'Clair."

Larry grumbles as he fishes his keys from his pocket and tries to open the front door.

From the corner of my eyes I noticed another civilian, they wear a jean jumper suit and a gas mask shields their face. They seemed to hesitate when they got closer to us and gathered whatever courage they could. Once they were close enough they removed their mask, revealing their feminine face. "What's going on?" the brunet asked.

"The slave arrived," Master Larry said still trying to find the correct key.

"Father! Don't use such a foul language!" she said rather annoyed, seems as if this is a common thing. She then turns to us with a bright smile, "Good Afternoon, my name is Francine Sin'Clair. I hope my father is not causing too much trouble."

"None at all," the Knight lied. "But before I do take my leave I will help register the Serf since you lack a phone line."

"Oh, well--" before she could even speak, her father chimes in, "Don't meddle in affairs that do not suit you, Francine." Master Sin'Clair said, and finally opens the door and turns to the knight. "What do you need from me?"

"Right, I would need you to register a name for him."

"He doesn't need a name! He is a goddamned nobody," Master Sin'Clair shouts.

"The Serf is a civilian regardless of its purpose, therefore the law requires a legal name to be registered," Lt. Johnson said.

"Uhg..." Master Sin'Clair is growing frustrated with the circumstances. "Whatever, name him David."

Lt. Johnson nods and his eyes scan through the terminal adding information. He approaches the boogie and after several minutes he comes back with paperwork. "Alright, here is his driver's license, and his official birth certificate, along with an instructional manual on how to proper care and use your Serf." He then adds as he holds a transparent keypad.

"By typing in your name and inscribing your thumbprint, you are agreeing to the Terms and Services of owning your own Serf under Prism Status Quo (PSQ). Prism is not responsible for any accidents, misconducts or defects the Serf may have. You will be held accountable if the Serf is unattended, or used to retaliate any Prism Alliance or Prism directly. If a catastrophic event occurs, your Serf may be selected for active duty and will automatically respond to the Prism Call of Action (PCA). If your Serf dies due to reasons out of your control, or during any Prism related service & it does not have any defects caused during the time period of your command, you are entitled to a replacement clone or a completely different Serf. By signing this Terms of Service, you agree that your Serf is a blank slate and cannot under any circumstance develop free will. The Serf will be terminated upon self awareness. If the Serf becomes unstable under any or all of the Eight Errors: Gula, Cupidity, Ego, Apathy, Dejection, Avarice, Desire, and Inertia, they may be elected for a program and personality wipe only if the Error was out of the Possessors control, otherwise the Serf will be terminated and the Possessor will no longer be eligible for a new Serf. In addition, if the current Possessor dies, the surviving kin will be granted full legal ownership of the Serf. If you agree with the Prism Status Quo Terms of Service (ver. 1.12), please continue and type in your full name, timestamp and your thumbprint."

Master Sin'Clair, didn't seem too interested in the Terms of Service, but Francine was. Her expression slowly deteriorated from content to confusion to horror saying, "Daddy, I don't think this is a good idea--" Master Sin'Clair interjects, "You don't have a say in this." He typed in his name, my name, and pressed his thumb against the transparent screen.

"You will also need to add your next of kin," the Prism Knight said.

"Uhg, Francine, sign your name," the Master demanded and she complied.

"Your registration is complete," Lt. Johnson said, "may your life be simpler with your Serf," and leaves the premises after placing his left palm over his chest.

"Well, get inside, we got a lot of work to do," Master Sin'Clair said.

"Yes, Master," I say and grab my trunk.

I hear more music. It's coming from the Prism Obelisk. This sounds much more raw than any compressed radio signal.

...

My chest hurts.

"David!" my master sounds very mad. "Hurry up inside I haven't got all day!" I should oblige. My chest will alleviate the second I rest in the Stasis.Chamber.