Illegal Business and A Torn World

by Chels in my imagination, wondering who in the world designed this place.

I don’t remember what happened that day. My memory is fogged by a thick haze that is impossible to see through. The thought draws a blank canvas in my memory and will most likely remain forever that way.
Though that day congers up a blank splotch, I do remember him. He loomed over me like a dark silhouette that I surely thought would swallow me whole in an endless void. As soon as I saw his face, I knew things would be okay. His face was beautifully and precisely sculpted by his creator and his grey skin glittered in the dim lights. His iris were shifting and adjusting optics that created an elegant lavender. He was handsome and also an android.
It was illegal and violating so many rules. Those who did manage to get away with it were seen as an ill-minded person that had no hope of finding their true soul mate. I did recall my neighbour – what was here name? Gladys? Glenna? Geneva? Genevieve, that was her name, fall for an android.
She met an android, a CP-012 model, Citizen Programmed android, one day as he checked out her items she chose from the grocery store. My mother thought she was nuts and my dad despised her. But that didn’t stop them from throwing me into her house when they decided to spent the night together.
I would see him, in the living room, casually lounging on the embroidered couch, metallic legs kicked onto the coffee table, or in the kitchen helping Genevieve cook dinner. It was awkward on so many levels. I never associated with their kind and seeing him in such a causal fashion made me wonder if he knew what he was doing? If he was just following the orders or Genevieve some how changed his programming, which I seriously doubt considering her intelligence level to begin with.
Genevieve told me that his name was Edwin. I didn’t know they had names. Edwin seemed to approve of the name. But it always baffles me about how monotonous he is. I come in the front door and he greets me hollowly, “Good evening, Beatrice.” His cold gaze, staring down upon me, sending a shiver of uneasiness through me.
I feel sorry for Edwin because he didn’t have the programming to know emotions like “love” and “jealousy” or “anger” or “happiness”. Though, I envied him for the same reason I felt sorrow.
But, mostly, I feel sorry for Genevieve. The poor woman. She never had a chance with real men and had to result with an android.
I wonder about Genevieve. How she turned out when that day came. The day was named Revolution Day, the Day of the Riot. All the androids, all of the trillions we had, went berserk turning on us. Some believed that it was a chaotic virus that corrupted their mother broads. Everyone was lead to believe that.
But I knew otherwise.
Ah, yes, I remember now!
It leads back to the android that found me, lying in the rampaging people, batter and bruised. My life had seemed to explode in flames before my eyes. I couldn’t find my parents. We were separated at a gate feeding into the courtyard of the City Hall. They told me to keep going and follow where everyone was going. But that was before a mob of berserk androids ambushed us all. We scattered like mice, running for our lives in all directions.
At that moment, I felt so lost. Feeling dead inside because I couldn’t find someone to depend on, someone to lead me away from here. There I began to cry, in the muck, spinning around for someone who looked familiar. I found none.
Suddenly, everyone scrambled my way. I was too paralyzed to move. They trampled around and over me, not caring if they were destroying a scared child’s life and body.
I didn’t try to get back up. I curled up into a ball, hoping some force was come and save me.
He came, striding up, the hydraulics in his knees creaking and his arms swaying. As scared as I was then, I knew for certain he would strike me down and end this miserable life with one swift blow. But, he didn’t. He looked at me with sweet eyes and bent down and gathered me in his arms.
Everything around me moved so quickly that my eyes were so stimulated that a headache began to dully ached through my skull. He dodged around the people, heading the way we were running from.
I didn’t know what to think at that time. I was so lost, miserable, and destroyed I couldn’t understand anything.
He brought me to a computer store whose large display windows were boarded over with planks of wood. I saw a woman with wild red hair and dressed in grey overalls, at the door one arm outstretched the other hugging a rifle close to her chest.
She mouthed some words I couldn’t hear and the android gingerly handed me off to the woman. I looked up at the woman for some sympathy, some recognition but I found none. My mind was blank.
“I will be back.” The android said and departed.
The woman nodded and walked into the store, cradling me in her arms. I vaguely recalled going to that with my father to get our computer fix one time. The racks were bare and what looked like a refuge campsite was set up. There were other people, adults and teenagers of various ages, sitting about the room, watching my arrival.
“There you go sweetie.” The woman set me down on a wobbly steel table and looked me in the eyes, straightly. She grinned, a wide, white smile and said, “You’re a pretty girl. How’d you get mixed up in all that trouble outside.”
I shrugged listening for the screams from rampaging citizens and bloodthirsty androids. I heard none, just the stale, stuffy silence of the room. It must have been well insulated.
She slug her rifle over her shoulder and whipped her thumbs underneath my eyes. “My name’s Sallie. Sallie Fairfields.” She introduced with a winning smile. I tried to smile but I couldn’t find the will. “What’s your name?”
“Beatrice.” I croaked, realizing how dry my throat was.
“Beatrice,” Sallie hummed, handing me a bottle of water. I took it and examined it closely. “It’s a pretty name.”
I nodded silently, still eyeing the water suspiciously.
Sallie must have seen my suspicion. She gave me a light nudge. “It’s all right, Bee. Do you mind if I call you that?” I shook my head and she continued, “We’re here to protect you against the androids not hurt you.” She placed her warm hand on my shoulder and assured once more, “It’s all right.”
I took a sip from the water and gulped down half of it without realizing it. Sallie laughed and good hardy laugh before turning to the rest of the people present in the room.
“Well, this is Beatrice. I’m calling her Bee and she’s mine. So, if any of the perverted men think you can lay a hand on my Bee, then you got another thing coming.” Sallie patted her rifle.
Her words tugged at my swollen heart. Sallie seemed very motherly and nice and she was already caring for me. I was already be loved.
The men hummed with approval and few greetings There were only a few woman, I saw, not including Sallie. Just two.
Sallie turned back to me. “This is our resistance group. There are several teams around the city that have been prepared for this.” She chuckled. “Some said we were crazy. Now they’re eating their words.”
A resistance group? Was the world going to be destroyed? I didn’t like the feeling of being alone...  I wanted my parents, I wanted to see them. To see if they were okay.
“Where’s your parents?” Sallie asked, concern creasing her face.
I shook my head, feeling the tears welling up and my chest knotting. “I don’t know.” A tear leaked from the corner of my eye and dribbled down the cheek.
“Don’t cry, Bee.” Sallie said, whipping the tear away. She smiled assuringly. “You’re going to be all right, trust me.” She hopped onto the table too, next to me. “Y’know, I lost some of my friends too.”
“You did?” I gasped, interested. Nine year olds could be interested by the slightest thing. I was interested that she knew how I was feeling.
“Oh yeah, even before this. But you have to acknowledge them and grow from their parting, y’know? If you’re sad the rest of your life, you really wouldn’t be living.” Sallie said. I looked up at her, eyes glossy and sniffing. “I know ya miss ‘em. I miss my friends too. But I had to move on. Remember them, don’t forget. But those people give you the reason to live, y’know?”
I nodded.
Suddenly the door opened again and the android strode in with synchronized footsteps, metal feet tapping on the tile floor. He stopped just in front of Sallie and said, “It appears to be dying down. I saw many dead, human and androids. What a catastrophe.”
“You got that right, pal.” Sallie hissed.
“Ms. Fairfields, you know I didn’t have a part in this wreck.” The android sounded so normal (for their kind), apologetic and respectful and unaware of the verbal beating they were receiving. “I wouldn’t have the desire nor need to harm my creators species.”
“Yeah, yeah, Will. I know that.” Sallie muttered. “We all know that but you’re making me edgy. I don’t want you to come at us arms flailing all of a sudden and say it was just a glitch. I will shoot you at any given moment.” Sallie’s words were harsh and I knew she meant them.
“Yes, Ms. Fairfields, I understand. I would self terminate before that would happen.” The android’s eyes fell onto me. “Hello.”
I managed a small wave.
“What’s your name?” The android was referring back to his programming.
“Beatrice.” I mumbled, quietly.
“Bee will do.” Sallie piped, wrapping an arm around me. “And she’s mine. Don’t lay your cold hands on her, ya hear?”
“Of course, Ms. Fairfields.” The android affirmed with a curt nod then he reverted back to me. “I am Willfred, LA-013 model.”
Librarians’ Assistant?
“But you just call him Will, that’s what we call him.” Sallie told me.
“Thank you, Will.” I blurted out, politely.
“You’re greatly welcome, Miss Beatrice. I made an oath to protect and service the human race for as long as my mother-”
Sallie rudely interrupted, waving a hand at him. “Yeah, yeah, we know! You don’t have to preach to every single one of us.”
“Pardon me, Ms. Fairfields.” Will automatically replied.
“Yer excused...” Sallie muttered.
I never thought that Will would call me Miss Beatrice for the next two years. I never thought the world would still be in such a wreck two years later. I never thought I would be taught how to use a gun, outsmart any man, hot wire a car, pick any lock, hack computers, and mess with androids anyway I pleased. I never thought any of that would happen.
Of course, life is just that way. Just that relentless and ever-changing. Sometimes too fast for someone to comprehend; like me.
Now, I write this memo, the last of my many memos I’ve written in the past two years. Times have changed and I have found myself loving Will. He was so handsome and so intelligent that it made my adoration prosper even more. And he saved my life.
I know loving him is illegal but come to think of it, the government collapsed when Revolution Day hit. So did the rules.
I haven’t told Sallie, you won’t tell her will you? I could only imagine what she would say if she found out. Something like, “Child, I’ll tell you what, fallin’ in love with such a cold, heartless machine gives me the creeps and you doing that crap leads me to think you have a virus.” Or something worse than that.
Sallie has become my new mother. She looks out for me, protects me, teaches me, and loves me. She confessed it. She never got married or had kids because she couldn’t stand men and she couldn’t stand kids. Now, she regretted her decision but she then again, she says they’d probably end up as rotten as her, she says. I don’t think they would have.
My memo is running low on space and I have to say one last thing. Today’s my birthday. I’m turning thirteen and I live in a rotten, ruleless world full of angry androids, crazy humans, and people I’ve come to trust. I know all the things a criminal should know and I’m in love with an android.
I’m not worried about my life, even if Sallie said I should live on no matter what. Why I’m not worrying, because there is no life ahead of me. All my dreams died on Revolution Day. But that doesn’t mean I won’t find a new life in this god-forsaken world.
I have to go, Sallie wants me on patrol again and it’s with Will. And he’s been awfully jittery today and I saw him tuck a bright flower away.
Ha, this might be my lucky birthday. My only wish: is to love Will without anyone caring  but wishes don’t come true like that. I have to make that come true and that means I have to live.
And I’ve found a new life in this place, this hellhole. A new life that I have to admit I like more than my previous. Happy thirteen birthday to me and live on forever and find a life you think is worth living...
But honestly, what do I know?

Signed,
Beatrice “Dagger” Annabelle Anders,
Sigma Resistance Team.