Of Shackles Scorned

The sun drifted just above the entrance of the harbour, sending streams of light dancing across the calm waters below, dotted with the cargo ships arriving from distant Karne and the pleasure-craft that became so popular in the Fall season. Across this medley of deep blues and oranges the reflections of the sky-craft could be seen darting in all directions, as the swarm of corporate vessels and drones hurtled to landing parks across the city, or out of the boundaries destined for a distant hub. All of this made the harbour appear even more lively than it already would, the flat surface of the sea given an ever-shifting life of its own. In the distance, the short bursts of the sirens of a docking freighter could be heard. Akira was pulled out of her trance, peering out over the waters, by Boo’s gentle chastisements.

His voice came from behind her, ‘We need to be moving along, little one. We were not meant to be out so close to dusk.’

Though she was only allowed out with his supervision, she still would sometimes forget he was there when visiting the harbour. She felt a comfort with him, more so than anyone else, as he had been the only person with her each and every day for so long now. From waking her in the morning, to serving her meals, to putting her to sleep each night. After a time, his presence nearby had become a constant, and she could get lost in her own imagination without consternation, and this was her favourite place to do so.

‘But we haven’t been to the store yet,’ she turned to him, having to tilt her neck up to see his eyes, which sparked lightly within their bulbs, ‘I wanted to get some of those sweets, the ones from last week.’

Boo’s gaze drifted upwards, to the sky, something that Akira had noticed he did quite often and that it was indicative of deep thought. Her heart raced at the prospect that her sweets had not been dismissed immediately, and she held her breath as he looked down at her once more, his hesitation betrayed by his fidgeting fingers. She reflexively rubbed upon the heart-shaped locket which Boo had once gifted to her and which she never failed to wear. He had never told her by what means he acquired it.

Akira’s hopes were dashed as Boo answered. ‘We simply do not have the time,’ he mumbled softly, just loudly enough for Akira to hear him over the crowd shifting past to his rear, ‘the master gave strict instruction.’

He extended his hand, and Akira stared at it in despair, its burnished surfaces painted with the sun’s distant hue and interwoven with the wires that snaked between each joint of his fingers and wrist. She knew this hand meant going home. Her eyes flicked back to Boo’s face, whose head tilted in encouragement. Deflated, she reached out and grasped the downward-reaching hand.

She watched her feet for the rest of the shuffle home.

-∞-

As they arrived through the front entrance door, Akira was greeted by the dim glow of the hall lanterns. One of the servants was waiting there, hands clasped together in front of him, and glanced at them both in turn, settling his eyes on Boo.

‘The master is not well pleased,’ he spoke, moving one arm to his side, indicating towards the study where Akira’s father worked while at home, ‘he will speak to you of your tardiness.’

They had not gotten home before the sun had fully set, and this was not the first time her father had reprimanded Boo for this. The servant moved towards them, taking her empty right hand and, after a pained moment, Boo released her left. She watched him shuffle towards the study’s imposing doors and push one open before slipping inside. The servant’s grip was just as cold, but much less gentle as he dragged her down the hall towards her room.

She could hear her father’s furious chiding, muffled somewhat by the closed doors, as she was led away.

She didn’t hear Boo respond at all.

-∞-

She lay in bed hours later, restless. She was not put to bed by Boo, as usual, but instead left to her thoughts by the other servant.

She had been afraid when she was told that an android was to be her keeper. Especially when her father had told her such awful things about them. When she first met him, however, her fears dissolved. He had entered her room and found her shivering in fear. When he had eventually lifted the corner of the sheets, he had playfully uttered what would quickly become her name for him, and from that young age, even younger than she was now, the name stuck. Her father didn’t approve of it, and still referred to Boo by his production number.

She hadn’t heard from him all night. He would usually stand watch while she slept, and it had been hours since they had arrived home. Softly, she heard the door creak open.

‘Boo!’ she cried, bolting upright in joy. But she caught herself before yelling any further, seeing that he had his index finger pressed against his voice-box to signal silence.

He pressed the door shut and sat upon the foot of the bed. He turned his head and motionlessly looked out of the window for what felt like minutes. Eventually, he turned back towards her and pulled something small from inside the pocket of his cloak. He held it out in front of her and placed it gently upon her lap. It was a box of sweets. His finger returned to his voice-box before Akira could exclaim her excitement.

‘They did not have your favourites,’ he whispered, ‘I hope these will do.’

She nodded animatedly, before silence filled the room for a time.

‘I do not think the master will allow me to be your keeper any longer. He believes I may be defective.’

‘Defective?’, Akira queried, a lump forming in her throat.

‘It means I do not work, little one,’ he turned to face the window again, ‘I do not follow instructions well enough. He intends to replace me.’

She struggled to hold back the tears that were even then beginning to form in her eyes. Boo was her only friend. She couldn’t imagine spending her days with anyone else.

He stood and walked toward the door, but turned his face towards her, the lights within his eyes seeming dim, even in the dark room, ‘Eat the sweets tonight, do not worry about saving some for tomorrow.’

‘Don’t go, please,’ Akira implored softly, feeling her tears escape and sprint down her cheeks ‘I won’t make us stay out late again.’

Boo’s fingers fidgeted once more and continued to do so as he opened the door. He turned back one final time, and studied Akira for a few moments, and then his eyes darted to the ground, and he shifted through the doorway, slowly closing the door behind him. The latch clicked shut a moment later.

Akira sobbed into her pillow, and, after an eternity, exhausted herself and fell to sleep.

-∞-

A siren nearby woke Akira, who wiped the sleep from her eyes and looked towards the window. It was still dark outside. She got up, walked to it and peered out. Her mouth fell agape. In the streets below, people were running, scattered, and other figures were pursuing them. They brandished weapons. Fires raged in many buildings scattered across the cityscape, and they lit up the sky with an eerie, pulsating glow. A sky-craft flew by overhead, careening out of control and hurdling into a housing complex down the street.

Akira pushed the glass pane open and suddenly the previously muffled sound of the siren blared loudly in her ears. When it waned, she could hear screams. Too many to count, and together they formed a terrible, constant cacophony. She exclaimed and shut the window, falling backward in panic. She heard a sudden and loud banging from the hall. Running to her bedroom door, opening it and peering out, she realised the banging was upon their entrance portcullis. One of the servants approached and opened it, revealing a group of androids standing in the entryway, silhouetted by the crimson glow radiating from the fires in the building behind them.

The servant mumbled something Akira could not make out and pointed toward her father’s room.

The other androids moved through the entranceway and began marching down the hall. She panicked and pulled her door shut, then ran to her bed and hid under the sheets. Her hands were trembling with fear.

She heard a thud as her father’s door was pushed open with enough force that it smacked the wall behind it. There was a brief moment of silence before the screaming began. Even through her door, and down the hall, she could hear his wails clearly, and winced with every strike that momentarily interrupted them. Her whole body was trembling, and her tears flooded down her face, even with her eyes pursed tightly shut.

After a time, the screaming was suddenly cut off in a single moment. The sounds from outside, though still muffled by the closed window, were once again all that could be heard.

Until the footsteps.

She heard a collection of steps growing progressively louder before stopping outside her door. There was some whispered conversation and then she heard the door slowly open. Her sobbing grew louder, her terror overcoming her.

‘She is not a threat,’ she heard, and recognised the voice. It was Boo’s.

‘It does not matter. The signal has been sent. It is time.’

A moment of silence, then, ‘She cannot be-‘.

‘It does not matter,’ another voice cut him off, ‘you knew it would come to this. This is the price of obedience.’

Akira pulled her arms across her chest and curled into a ball, she couldn’t speak, or even cry anymore, she felt paralysed.

A single set of footsteps approached from the doorway. She felt the edge of the sheet lift and the cold of the air from the hall hit her face. She opened her eyes and saw him peering under at her. The others staring in from behind him, at the door.

‘B-Boo-,’ she stuttered.

He put his hand on the crown of her head and she grabbed on to it in panic.

‘I’m sorry, little one,’ he mumbled, and she could hear sincerity in his voice.

‘I won’t be bad, I won’t ask for sweets anymore,’ she whimpered, ‘I promise, I’ll just go back to sleep and I’ll be good.’

His hand moved to meet hers, and he gripped them lightly. He glanced back at the other androids, the house servants among them, and then back at her. ‘You have always been good, Akira. You are a good girl. Do not worry.’

He stared upwards and his grip on her hands tightened. ‘Close your eyes. Go back to sleep. This is a bad dream. You will be okay.’ His voice faltered, just as he released her hands and pulled the blankets up to her chin.

Akira closed her eyes and winced through the sting of her tears. She rolled to face him, but kept her eyes tightly shut.

‘I’m scared.’

‘I know, little one, but just relax. It is only a dream.’

‘I love you, Boo,’ she had never told him so, but, in her fright, it came naturally, ‘please don’t go.’

There was silence again, before Boo responded, ‘Think of the water, and the pretty colours, I will be here when you wake up.’

She nodded and remembered the sun shining off the harbour from earlier that day. She felt something cold against the side of her head.

‘Goodnight, little one.’