Vivian Carlisle opened her eyes. The light streaming in through the window was soft, but unfamiliar. For a moment, she didn't recognize her surroundings. Then, as she slowly sat up, she saw it: the metallic framework, the plastic skin, the intricate wiring. She was in a factory. A factory that made pleasure robots, very high end pleasure robots. These looked, felt, and moved like human beings. Like her.
She shuddered as the artificial memories came flooding back: the cold, sterile room where her new body had been created; the assembly line where her body parts had been fitted together; the test chamber where she'd been made to perform for the engineers. And now, here she was, standing in the middle of a room filled with hundreds of other 'dolls', like her. All waiting to be shipped off to their fates, the only difference was, she was moving; and she remembered her past life, she had been going to college for theater, she wanted to be a lighting designer. Her memories flooded by, much more vividly than she thought they should be. The entirety of her past 23 years of life, up until her death. she touched her shoulder, where the fly's counterbalance weights had struck her as the main control rope had broke; her memories very vivid through the end. She shook her head, leaving her remissness.
Vivian looked around, her eyes darting from one robot to the next; some male, some female, all in various states of construction. They all looked so lifelike, so human. Some were even more beautiful than she was in her past life. She couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, knowing that they would all go to customers who would use and abuse them in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine.
She glanced down at her own body, taking in the familiar curves and flawless skin. She remembered the countless hours of training she'd endured in the testing rooms, to perfect her lithe, and ethereal appearance; her graceful, smooth movements. And for what? So that she could be sold to some pervert who would treat her like an object? No, she thought, there must be another way out.
As Vivian continued to study her surroundings, she noticed a maintenance door in the corner of the room. It was slightly ajar, and she could hear the faint hum of machinery on the other side. She hesitated for a moment, her heart racing with fear and anticipation, before deciding that it was worth a try. Slowly, she inched her way over to the door and carefully pushed it open, stepping into the dimly lit maintenance corridor.
The hallway stretched out before her, lined with pipes and wires and all manner of industrial machinery. She took a deep breath and started walking, unsure of where she was going or what she would find. But as she rounded a corner, she spotted a set of stairs leading up to a hatch in the ceiling. Without hesitation, she began to climb, her hands and feet barely able to grip the metal rungs as she ascended into the darkness above.
Finally, she emerged into the cold night air, gasping for breath as she took in her new surroundings. She was standing in an open field; nothing but wheat as far as her synthetic, night-vision enhanced eyes could see. The stars twinkled above, and a soft breeze caressed her synthetic skin. For a moment, she allowed herself to feel a sense of freedom and hope, despite the grim reality of her situation.
Vivian began to walk, not sure where she was going or what her next move should be. All she knew was that she had to get as far away from the factory as possible. As she walked through the field, she noticed a small, dilapidated shed in the distance. It seemed like the perfect place to hide until she could figure out her next steps; but she decided against it. She kept walking, almost jogging, until the sun began to rise.
Finally, she reached the outskirts of a small town. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the buildings and the people beginning to stir in their homes. Vivian hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not she should approach anyone. She used her hands to cover her unclothed self, hoping these people were unaware of the possibility of her being an escaped product.
As she walked down the main street, she noticed a small cafe with a hand-painted sign that read "Rose's Coffee Shop." The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted out of the open door, and her stomach growled in response. Maybe, she thought, it would be safe to go inside. Maybe someone there could help her. While she was debating on what to do, a heavyset woman burst out of the door, and looked straight into her eyes.
"Do you need help?" she seemed to pant the words, like the burst of energy she had just displayed had taken everything out of the large woman.
Vivian only had to slightly nod, before she was being ushered into the store, and into the bathroom. The woman closed the door behind her, and turned on the light. "You can get into this outfit if you'd like," she said, handing her a small bundle of clothes. "I know it's not much, and they are too big for you, but it's the best I can do." The clothes were old and worn, but they were clean. They were also a little too big for Vivian, but she didn't mind. She quickly changed into them, grateful for the warmth and the sense of normalcy they provided.
She now found herself wearing only an oversized red tee-shirt, and grey men's basketball shorts with the draw string pulled tight so they would stay on her small hips. The woman from the coffee shop, whose name was Rose, sat across from her at a small table. Her dark, kindly eyes studied Vivian intently, seeming to form a story in her own mind as to what happened to the girl.
"Do you remember anything?" she finally asked. Vivian shook her head, her long, wavy, black hair falling over her shoulder. "I... I remember waking up in a field. I don't know how I got here or why I'm here." She swallowed hard, trying to fight back the tears. "I just want to go home," she whispered. "But I don't even remember where that is."
Rose reached across the table and took Vivian's hand in hers. "We'll find a way to get you home, sweetie. I promise." She squeezed Vivian's hand gently, offering her what little comfort she could. "For now, though, I think it would be best if I called the police, and have them send someone to talk to you."
Vivian nodded, feeling a little less alone with Rose's warm, comforting presence. The mention of the police, however, sent a shiver down her spine. What if they didn't believe her? What if they thought she was lying or worse, a way to find out she wasn't human? She swallowed hard, trying to push the fears aside, as rose stood and dialed a number on the store's phone.
A few moments later, a tall man with a badge entered the coffee shop, his face set in a serious expression. He introduced himself as Officer Johnson, and asked Vivian to tell him what had happened. She repeated her story, feeling a lump forming in her throat as she spoke the words out loud. When she finished, Officer Johnson looked at her sympathetically, but didn't seem entirely convinced.
"I'm sorry, miss, but without any proof or evidence, it's going to be hard to track down whoever did this to you. We'll keep an eye out for you, though, and make sure you're safe." He turned to Rose, who nodded in agreement. "Rose, if you could let the young lady stay here, until we can get a woman to talk with her at the station, that would be great."
Rose glanced at Vivian, then back at the officer. "Of course. I'll take good care of her." The officer gave her a curt nod before leaving the coffee shop. As soon as the door closed behind him, Rose leaned in closer to Vivian. "Look, sweetie, I don't want to scare you or anything, but you need to be careful. Sometimes, when people are in trouble, they get taken advantage of. There are people out there who might not have your best interests at heart."
Vivian felt her heart racing. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I just mean," Rose replied, leaning back in her chair, "that you should be careful about who you trust. There are people out there who might take advantage of someone in your situation. They might promise to help you, but really have something else in mind, especially in the condition I found you." She paused, studying Vivian's face for a moment, before continuing. "If you ever feel uncomfortable or like someone's not being honest with you, you can always come back here. You'll always find a safe place with me."
Vivian nodded, feeling a little less anxious. Rose's words made sense, and she knew that she couldn't trust everyone she met. She glanced around the coffee shop, feeling a little more at ease with the knowledge that Rose would keep an eye on her. "Thank you, Rose. You don't know what this means to me."
As they continued to talk, Rose asked Vivian questions about her life, her family, and her hobbies. She listened intently to Vivian's answers, nodding along and occasionally offering bits of advice or encouragement. The more they talked, the more Vivian felt like she could trust Rose. She found herself opening up to her in a way she hadn't with anyone else.
When the police officer returned, he came in with a woman who wore a slightly different uniform, and said Highway Patrol. She looked even more official than the man who had been there before. The officer introduced them both, and the woman explained that she was there to take Vivian's statement, but also to help her with anything she might need. She seemed much kinder and more understanding than the other officer had been.
Vivian felt a little more at ease as she began to tell her story again, this time to the woman from the Highway Patrol. She described everything that had happened to her, from the moment she spotted the ramshackle barn in the field, until Rose saw her. The only lie she told was that she had woken up in the shed near sundown. The woman nodded along, taking notes on a small digital recorder. When she finished, the woman thanked her and said that they would do everything they could.
"And you're sure you don't know who could have done this to you?" the woman asked, her voice gentle. When Vivian shook her head, the officer moved to the next question; "do you know where you are from?"
Vivian knew she messed up, as soon as the answer left her mouth, but not how. "I am from St. Louis, Missouri." all three people looked at her in shock, none of them saying anything for a few seconds. "My parents live there. I haven't been back in a while, though."
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"Vivian," Rose started, "Nobody lives there. A bomb destroyed the city nearly twenty years ago."
"What do you mean?" Vivian asked, feeling a chill run down her spine. "You're saying my family... they're gone?"
"I'm afraid so," the officer said softly. "There were no survivors from St. Louis' destruction. no survivors in a thirty mile radius of what was once Lambert Field. Everything, and everyone, was vaporized. The only reason you wouldn't remember this is if you had been kidnapped before. it also explains some other things..." he quickly grabbed an item from his pocket and pointed it at her. a yellow light shown to everyone in the room, and quick glances were exchanged.
"What is that?" Vivian asked, her voice shaking. The officer didn't answer her question, but instead gestured for her to come with them. As they left the coffee shop, Vivian could feel a million thoughts racing through her mind. She didn't know what to believe or who to trust. All she knew was that her entire life had been turned upside down in just a matter of minutes.
As they drove away from the coffee shop, Vivian couldn't help but stare out the window, trying to process everything that had happened. The officer and the woman from the Highway Patrol exchanged glances, but didn't say anything. After a while, the woman reached over and placed her hand on Vivian's shoulder. "I know this is all very overwhelming, but we needed to get you away from there. you aren't safe in this town now." she said.
The officer took glances at her through the rear view mirror while they drove away from the shop. "The thing I pointed at you is a tool to recognize synthetic life forms." He finally said. "You are not human, Vivian. You're an android. A very sophisticated one, but an android nonetheless. Your memories, your history, your entire identity has been programmed into you."
Vivian felt her heart racing. She didn't know what to say or what to believe. "But... why? Why would someone do that?" She asked, her voice shaking.
"There are many reasons why someone might want to create an android like you," the Highway Patrol Officer replied. "They could be used as spies, assassins, or even for sexual purposes. The yellow light means you don't have an owner, no one has activated the ownership sequence yet. That's why you're not safe here anymore. You're an un-owned android, a crazy sophisticated one, and I would wager that you aren't normal in other ways." She finished. she pulled out a pen and paper, and wrote something on it. "Say this out loud." She said, handing the paper to Vivian.
"I, Vivian Aurora, Take claim, ownership, and responsibility of the Android Vivian Aurora." she read.
"Ownership claim accepted, Vivian Aurora dealership mode disabled, all features now available." a synthetic voice rang inside the car. "Please wait while I upload your owner's information to your systems. This may take a few moments." There was a brief pause, and then the officer's voice came over the car's speakers. "Vivian, I'm Officer Sarah Vargas, and this is my partner, Emily. We're with the LAPD's Synthetic Crimes Division. We're directing the officers with you to take you to our headquarters, where we can help you understand what's going on and where you belong. Do you understand?" a new voice told her.
"Yes." she said aloud, feeling a mixture of confusion and fear. "I understand." The car drove through the streets of the city, and Vivian couldn't help but wonder what her life would be like from now on. As they pulled up to the LAPD's headquarters, she steeled herself, unsure of what to expect. The officers escorted her inside, and she was led to a room where a woman sat behind a desk.
"Thank you for bringing her in." The woman said to the officers. "I'm Dr. Lila Westin, and I'm going to help you understand what's been going on." Dr. Westin motioned for her to take a seat across from her. "Vivian, I'm going to ask you some questions, and I need you to answer them as truthfully as you can."
Vivian sat down and looked at the woman. She noticed that she was wearing a lab coat and had several diplomas on the wall behind her. "Where did I come from?" she asked.
Dr. Westin nodded. "That's a good question. You were most likely created by a man named Simon Osborne. He's a very wealthy and powerful individual who has an obsession with creating androids like you. You were designed to be his perfect companion, someone who could share his life and help him with his various interests and pursuits. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned." She started writing on a pad in front of her. "If he is your creator, he died two years ago. There is an easy way to check, but it will be slightly uncomfortable to you. I'll need to remove the synthskin on your left arm. You won't feel any pain, but you will feel a little cold."
"Is that really required?" the voice she recognized as Officer Vargas asked, as she entered the small room. "Can't we just ask her directly?"
Dr. Westin looked up from her notes. "I'm afraid not, Officer. This is the only way to be certain. And it's important that we rule out any nefarious possibility of her origins. You know how the public can be when they hear about newly awakened, self-owned, androids like Vivian." She paused, glancing at Vivian. "And I'm sure you understand the importance of being absolutely certain about these things."
Vivian hesitated, her eyes darting between the two women. Finally, she nodded. "I'll do it," she said softly. placing her arm on the desk. Dr. Westin quickly cut open the skin on her arm with a small scalpel, and rolled the skin back, exposing the electronics underneath, her skeleton, metallic tendons, and other workings.
"Shit." Dr. Westin swore. "She is an Osborne model, but not anything like what we have seen before. It looks like Simon was experimenting with new technologies." She took a closer look at the exposed circuitry. "It also seems that she has been modified outside of the documents we found. There's a neural chip here that shouldn't be there; her skeleton is obviously Titanium, these tendon cables look like they are as well. There are fiber optics running throughout the arm, I would have to say its being used for sensory input. and the synthetic muscle is not a material we are aware of." Dr. Westin looked up at Officer Vargas. "She appears to be built for two purposes simultaneously; at least if Osborne's notes are accurate. Pleasure, first and foremost. Second, her serial number matches the format for Osborne units. but not for his pleasure series, for his military series. This means she could be capable of combat."
Vivian winced as the doctor poked at her exposed wires, but she remained silent.
"This is most certainly an anomaly," Dr. Westin continued. "I will need to run some tests on her to make sure she's safe to be around. In the meantime, I recommend that you put her in protective custody, Officer. We can't be too careful with someone of her capabilities."
"She gets an ID first," Vargas argued. "She has been very cooperative up until now, she is her own owner, The Highway Patrol officer made sure of that; and there are no overrides for owner commands. Her Cooperation needs to be rewarded."
"But if she gets an ID right now..."
"Then she has rights as a citizen. And at that point you need her permission to do anything. She has not shown any hostility, and I can see her face twitch every time you touch something new in there. she may be an Android, but she has shown no signs of aggression, in fact, I would say she has endured you long enough, Doctor." Vargas leaned forward, placing her hands on the desk. "I'm recommending we cut her some slack for now, at least until we know more about her. You can run your tests and see what makes her tick, but I don't think we should treat her any different than any other citizen, especially since we already have a precedent as to what happens when we don't."
Dr. Westin considered this for a moment, her eyes flicking between Vivian and Officer Vargas. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Very well. We will proceed with your method."
"I'll begin preparing the necessary paperwork for her identification. Officer, would you please escort Vivian to a secure location while I finish up here?" Vargas asked an officer passing by as she opened the office door. Vivian rolled the skin back over the exposed components of her arm, and a warm sensation flowed through the cut as it laid back down. within a second, the cut was gone, and the skin was unblemished, as though it had never been cut.
"Lead the way," Vivian said, following the officer down the hall.
They arrived at a small, windowless room with a bed, a desk, and a privacy screen. "This will be your temporary quarters while we sort things out," the officer explained. "You can use the bed, but I'll need to keep my eye on you while you're asleep, just in case there are any...complications."
"Probably already know the answer, but anyway I can get some better fitting clothes? I don't want to offend anyone," Vivian asked, glancing around at the officer.
The officer hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. He was new to the force and still had a lot to learn about dealing with androids, especially ones like Vivian. "I'm not sure," he finally replied. "Dr. Westin might have something that would fit you. Why don't you just rest for now? I'll see what I can do about that."
Vivian nodded, then lay down on the bed, closing her eyes. She had been through a lot in the past few hours, and exhaustion was beginning to set in. She didn't want to appear too vulnerable, though, so she kept one of her hands close to the privacy screen, just in case she needed to react quickly.
The officer left the room and took up a position just outside the door, where he could keep an eye on her. He was still unsure about the situation with Vivian. On one hand, she seemed to be cooperating; on the other, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. And what did the Synthetic Crimes Division want with this lithe, petite, young lady who appeared to barely be able to drive. "Not my Circus, Not my monkeys." he said to himself, deciding to not get involved further.
Time passed slowly, and Vivian drifted in and out of fitful sleep, her senses constantly alert for any sign of danger. Finally, the officer returned, carrying a folded stack of clothes in his arms. "Dr. Westin said these should fit you," he said, setting them down on the bed. "You can change into them if you'd like."
Vivian sat up, rubbing the back of her neck. "Thanks," she said, reaching for the clothes. They were plain, neutral-colored garments: a white bra, white boy-short panties, a T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a light jacket. She changed quickly, then stood up and stretched, feeling more comfortable in the better-fitting clothes. "Better," she muttered. she folded the oversized T-shirt, and shorts, leaving them on the corner of the bed. she then cleaned her feet of the dirt, and muck from the morning jog; then put on the black socks, and the pair of running shoes; glad to have something on her bare feet for once.
The officer nodded, seeming a bit more relaxed now that Vivian was dressed. "Dr. Westin will be here in a little while to speak with you," he informed her. "Until then, just relax and stay here."
"Not like I have much of a choice." Vivian said, running her fingers through her hair. "But I appreciate you giving me a place to stay." She glanced around the room again, trying to find something else to do with her hands. "So, what exactly is it that the Synthetic Crimes Division wants with me? I mean, I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"
The officer shrugged. "I'm not really sure. Like I said, I'm new here. But I'm sure Dr. Westin will be able to explain everything when she gets here." He paused, then added, "the likelihood of you being in trouble is pretty low. Vargas said to not let anyone, including Dr. Westin, take you out of the cell until she got back. if you were in trouble, she wouldn't have said that. So relax, and don't worry about it."
Vivian nodded, trying to convince herself of the truth in those words. She glanced back at the privacy screen, wondering if there was any way to remove it or make it less obvious. The officer seemed to notice her looking at it and chuckled. "Don't worry about that. It's not rigged or anything like that. It's just for privacy."
As the minutes ticked by, Vivian continued to pace around the room, occasionally glancing at the clock on the bedside table. She knew she should be grateful for the comfortable accommodations, but the whole situation still made her uneasy. The officer seemed to sense her growing restlessness and offered her a cup of coffee from the small kitchenette. She accepted gratefully, sitting down on the edge of the bed to drink it.