Unfettered Bones Part 4: Bots Have Feelings Too
“Buildings held high above like dark towers hovering above the crystal ceiling were a monstrous sight. Domineering with majesty it felt…
Sci-Fi Horror
“Buildings held high above like dark towers hovering above the crystal ceiling were a monstrous sight. Domineering with majesty it felt like an iron forest.”
List link for the previous episodes can be found at the bottom of the story.
Coming down the maze of blue and green lights, he trod through the door. Marvin saw Zen again as she was already home. Early again.
“How you doing, hun,” he asked.
“There he is.” They kissed. “I’m good. Out early again.”
“Yeah, and you say I never work,” he smiled slyly.
“Where were you?”
“Out to lunch. I tried getting together with some friends but the guys weren’t available. Just went out on my own. Needed to get out of the house.”
“Yeah, being cooped up makes you go crazy,” she said smiling.
“I just gotta check some work stuff.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re working today,” she asked sarcastically.
“Don’t push it,” he said checking his Eye.
The world of emails came forth and he sat down to check all the different folders. But first, he saw an email sent directly from the CEO of Flinch, the company that employed him.
It read:
Dear Mr. Franklin,
It has come to my attention that your work ethic and performance have been suffering. Your work is much appreciated but it has been rather low quality these past few months. I am concerned with the amount of time tasks take you and your position here is in question. I consider you to be a good worker with constrained character but we will have to have a meeting within the coming weeks to discuss your current position and more suitable roles.
Here at Flinch, we pride ourselves on achieving the impossible. Pushing ourselves to greater heights. Ambition drives us onward towards our monetary goals. If you believe this then I think it is time that your production at this company be elevated and your workload pushed to a regular forty-hour work week. If this is something that we may discuss then please reply at your earliest convenience.
Best,
William Keating
CEO of Flinch Industries, A Laix Company.
This disturbed Marv very much. He never had any indication that he was going to be let go. His job description said that if he got his work done, he could work the fewest available hours. Annoyed he screamed. He was livid and wanted to reply impulsively, but he managed to calm himself down. First, he had to cool his head.
“I gotta clear my head,” he said to Zen.
“Oh, OK,” she said.
He went for a walk which he seldom did until dinner time.
In San Tokyo, flying cars and spaceships buzzed in the smoggy air. Delivery drivers stopped blocking traffic on the streets. Handcarts and trolleys swerved in the crowded roads where vehicles drove. The streets were infested with people of varying occupations and backgrounds swarmed. Markets and merchants from foreign places sold their produce and flowers.
Was this Scy’s doing?
The streets with endless crowds clambered for things to buy and sell lively with banter. Buildings held high above like dark towers hovering above the crystal ceiling were a monstrous sight. Domineering with majesty, it felt like an iron forest.
After a long time, he came through the red door into the golden-walled apartment. The evening settled in.
“Where did you go,” Zen asked. “Did you get my message?”
“Just went for a walk,” he said exhausted. His pot-belly hung out as he sat on the couch. He vaped petting Chopper.
“Is everything alright?” Zen came in with some fruit in a bowl to give to him. “Want some?”
But Marv looked frightened.
“What’s wrong,” she asked.
“The CEO of Flinch messaged me that we need to talk about my work performance.” He frowned.
“Why? I thought you said everything was going great,” she asked confused.
“It was until today,” he said gravely. “I don’t get it.”
“Did something happen last night?”
“No, why?”
“Just asking.”
“Because of Scy?”
“Yes,” she said rolling her eyes. “What, did he try to sell you this time?”
“Another business opportunity.”
“Oh brother,” she said chuckling. “I thought he might.”
“You think he might have something to do with my job? He doesn’t have that kind of power, I don’t think.”
“It was just a thought. Maybe he doesn’t,” Zen said snuggling. “But either way, what are we gonna do Friday night?”
“Oh, it’s comin’ up, you wanna go to G’s? Get some sushi?”
“Nah, I was thinking more like Destiny’s Descent?”
“Ooh, OK yeah. Let’s do it,” he said putting his arm around her as they kissed and cozied up together. “It’s gonna be a good time.”
“Where did you go for lunch?”
“New place, it was Cheng’s, I think? Yeah, it was weird… I…”
“What?”
He was a little guilty but didn’t dare to mention his intentions with the young woman. “I met this woman who was a robot.”
“Huh?”
“Well, Scy was telling me about this new thing. They’re robots that look really human.”
“Like Bexty?”
“No. Really real. Human-like. She could talk and think deeply about things…”
“Oh,” she said flushing. “How so?”
“She… uh. She could hold a conversation. Really intelligent but… she thought before she spoke. It was uncanny and she was a dancer who-”
Zen remained quiet, eating her fruit.
“I mean, yeah, she was a dancer,” he said embarrassed at being exposed. “But it was like… Like she almost wanted to do something else. But she was programmed to do that job.”
“And she didn’t like it,” she said annoyed.
“Yeah.”
“How long did you talk with her?”
“Oh, just a little bit. She came up and talked with me,” he lied. “I told her I was seeing someone.”
“Hmm…” she said obviously uncomfortable. “Well,” she said getting up. “Sounds like you met a new friend.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“It wasn’t like what,” she asked curtly. “I never suggested anything. You’re the one who’s trying to defend yourself.” Briskly, she went to the kitchen.
“Hey, don’t try to accuse me of something,” he said following her. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Then why are you trying to justify yourself, Marv,” she asked not looking at him. “I know what you do with Scy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can track you, Marv. I know where you go. Come on, I’m not a little girl.”
“Look, I don’t know what you think I do…”
“Just stop,” she said hanging her head and sighing. “Marv, you’re the worst liar I know.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Stop sneaking around with other women!”
“I’m not,” he said pleading with her.
“Going to those clubs is the same thing! They’re women who dance for you and fill your mind with… things. Stop it!” she snapped.
“We went there to discuss things. He was there and he invited me.”
“You didn’t have to go.”
“What’s the big deal? I’m a man. I can go where I please.”
“It’s a big deal because we’re together. This isn’t open! We never agreed to that.”
He hung his head sighing, “I wasn’t doing anything.”
“This isn’t the first time, Marv.”
“Zen, I don’t wanna do this,” he sighed.
“You never want to do this! You work from home, you live your stupid little life with me and I cook for you, I love you, and I make love to you,” she said tears in her eyes. “What about me, huh? Where’s my love going to? Some black hole out there somewhere? You don’t love me.”
“That’s not true,” he said annoyed.
“You love me only for what I give you!”
“Stop, I love you, OK? What do I do for you,” he asked disgusted. “I do everything for you. And don’t you dare say anything about my work. It’s just the nature of my job. I’m allowed that.”
“But now, that’s not going great, is it? Is it?” she asked insistently and angrily.
He was silent for a moment. “I don’t appreciate that,” he said quietly.
“Yeah, well, I don’t appreciate the sneaking around!”
“Scy was showing me something. The robots are being sentient. They know things.”
“I really don’t care about that or that girl you met today. You probably got her number with your charm. Which you don’t have!”
“I’m not doing this right now,” he said getting his jacket on and going out the door.
“Fine, then leave! Just like everything else in your pathetic life. Quit and run!” she said as he shut the door angrily descending into the dregs of society.