Betsy impatiently tapped her fingers on the table and fought the urge to interrupt Audie's constant babbling. He was telling Keith Adelaide and Alexis about how his "ancestor" brokered a peace treaty to end a nuclear war.
They had been sitting in the apartment almost all night long. Keith followed Betsy home insisting that he had seen her somewhere before. He insisted that he recognized her from his journalism history research. He enthusiastically told her how similar in style her stories are to her namesake's. Anyone who even took the time to read those articles made Betsy believe they had a potential sympathizer in their hands. She lied to him and told him that she was a descendant of said journalist.
With hesitation, Betsy allowed Keith into her apartment after she asked Audie to join them. She felt she couldn't be too careful and should interview people in pairs just in case the worker was against the idea of rebellion after all. It only took an hour for the subject to work its way into the conversation. Keith enthusiastically replied to Audie's story. "See that's what I'm talking about! Like they did back then, the government needs revamping. A fresh start!"
Betsy perked up. Now she wanted to get the man's view on rebellions. "How do you think we could go about changing the government?"
He clammed up. She pushed and he finally answered. "I don't know, how can anyone go against something so powerful?"
She figured no one knew the answer. That alone was probably why no one had tried it before. So she and Audie began speaking of their plan. They avoided telling the worker that they were androids and that there were more of them. They also questioned the man extensively about a possible underground.
"Until today I thought I was the only one who didn't like the way the world is headed."
"I'm sure we're not the only ones." Betsy said sympathetically.
Audie spoke more abruptly. "We need your help. If there is anyone you can think of that may feel the same way as we do, please talk to them and have them contact us. We will keep you informed of any major occurrences. With your help, I'm sure we will be able to work together to make a better government."
"Should we be talking about this here? Is it safe?"
"Safe?" Betsy asked.
"Yeah, their listening you know, they always are. Did you sweep this apartment for listening devices?"
"Yes." She said. In fact they had, but found none. However, his nervousness made her uncomfortable. She had dealt with enough conspiracy nuts during her administration to know the warning signs.
"Why don't we call it a night?" She wrapped her arms around the man's shoulder and started walking with him towards the door.
"Now there is one thing of vital importance." Betsy became frustrated when Audie butted in. She attempted to catch his eye and warn him off. Too late. "If she misses work more than twice in a row and if you are not contacted about any um…" He looked as if he thought there might be bots listening outside, "special events, I want you to go to this address."
He handed Keith a small slip of paper, "Ask for Cynthia. Tell her that we sent you and she will help you."
He looked quickly at the paper. "But this is a middle class home!"
Betsy quickly took hold of his hand that held the paper. "Shh, we don't want any one to know about this. It would be best if you were to memorize the address and destroy the paper."
The man nodded and crumbled up the paper. "I understand." He then proceeded to shove the paper in his mouth and swallow it. Betsy and Audie exchanged glances but said nothing.
***
Julion couldn't shake the unnerving feeling all day long that Sally had recognized him. He had become paranoid and continued to look over his shoulder every few minutes. He knew in his mind that she did not recognize him. Otherwise security would have been alerted and he would not still be here, but there was the possibility that she could at sometime put two and two together.
He wasn't afraid of being caught or being tortured. He was afraid that the rebellion could not get started let alone go on without him. He knew he'd become an important piece to the puzzle being put together, perhaps not the keystone figure which Cynthia was, but one that is nearly as important. A sudden rush of mortality washed over him. He was vulnerable now that Sally had seen him and that meant he had to be careful, very careful.
He remained outwardly calm all day as he visited the many different offices in the building. He avoided the androids as best he could. First, in case he was being watched, and second in case they were to see beyond the emotional mask he wore to hide from others what he truly felt. He had little contact with the androids for his Boss had given him plenty of paper work to do. He was relieved that Cynthia had no messages to pass on today since he didn't know where he would find the time to deliver them. Thus his mind turned away from his nervousness as well.
A week passed. Julion's fear turned toward the possibility that there would be no uprising and all they have worked for would be for naught.
It was a normal work day, and he was on his way to see Sergio in the design area when he passed the Boss's door. Before it stood Sally talking to the silver pedbot. Julion had no other way around, but she was not looking in his direction.
If luck was with him he could make it down the hall without her even seeing him. He walked casually, for hurrying would probably draw her attention. He was not stopped by security, and he passed the bot's scan test at the entrance to manufacturing. He knew he was lucky this time. Nevertheless, he has bumped into her twice, and there was bound to be a third time.
***
It had been several days and Julion became more aware of the lingering eyes, or rather sensors, of the bots above and around him. His manager too, had become distant from him, giving him fewer jobs to take out of the plant and less freedom to check in with the androids. Julion feared that Sally had indeed recognized him and that he was being watched for that reason. For those few times when Julion needed to and was able to contact the androids, he spent no time talking.
Julion began to worry about the safety of that information also. If the Boss did suddenly decide to deal with him, the Boss could find a way to decode the messages on the datapad. Worse, he could compromise his comrades' cover and eventually Cynthia's. He begged Cynthia to replace him. Alas he was the only one in a position to communicate to the others.
These thoughts passed through his mind as he walked home, just as he had every day. He passed Alexis and Helen on the way but did not even wave for fear that someone might associate them with him. He knew he was being followed all the way home. However, whoever or whatever was following him never did follow him into the housing complex, as if there was a force field at the perimeter, only allowing him in and no one else. This very well could have been the case since middle and upper class people had many comforts that the workers could never have and security was one of them.
Yet, he feared it all was paranoia. Every time he looked over his shoulder to find if someone followed him, the faces were different, never one constant face or form not even in the shadows or in the doorways. It became evident to him that there may be more than one individual following him. What would be the purpose of that? Of course he knew there were cameras everywhere that could keep tabs on him as well.
Julion stepped onto the lush grass of the housing complex and looked behind him once more. Now there was no one behind him at all, just a swarm of people off in the distance moving from one place to another. Julion continued to debate whether or not it was his imagination until he spotted a head loom above the rest. The flybot was advancing slowly in his direction distinctly moving away from the crowd. Julion, trying not to appear too suspicious, moved quickly to the closest building, the manager's office. Glancing quickly behind him, he noticed the bot had moved in closer and was approaching the building. Julion rushed in the door and came to a stop nearly crashing into the counter.
Adora jumped to her feet, dropping her news-pad to the ground and caught a hold of Julion before he hurt himself. "Can I do something for you, dear?"
Julion looked at her quizzically. He had to think of a fast reason for coming to her office. At the same time he had to make it appear that he was not in trouble, even as he looked out the window to see the security flybot passing by the window. Adora followed his stare out the window. Did she see security bot? Julion wondered.
As if nothing was wrong, she asked again, "Is there something I can do, dear?"
Her inflection sounded to him as if she knew more of what was going on then she appeared to. Cynthia told him that there was more to Adora then she put on. He did not want to risk it yet.
"Ah, yes, we have no hot water in our kitchen sink. I was wondering if you could fix it."
"Of course, darling. I'll send a repair bot over in a while." She looked him over quickly. "You look ill, honey. Should I also send a doctor over?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine. I'll be going now." Julion started to leave.
"Deary," Adora called to him before he opened the door. She was becoming a large nuisance and he wondered why she kept stopping him. Was she stalling for time? Did she know the bot was after him and keeping him from stopping the bot? Containing himself he turned to her with a smile. "I just wanted to remind you about the picnic we are having this weekend. Be sure to bring your wife."
His smile now was genuine. "Of course, we'll be there."
***
Later Julion and Cynthia reviewed the day's events. Today he had a lot to say.
"I told you how I feared that Sally may have recognized me." Cynthia nodded as she remembered that she told him there was nothing to worry about. "Cynthia, I think she's reported me to the Boss. Call it a gut feeling but I believe I'm being followed. Just today I had to duck into the manager's office to put a security bot off my tracks. Oh, by the way, if a repair bot comes by, say that the hot water miraculously began working in the kitchen again.
"There's been a change of attitude at the plant. My Boss hasn't been sending me on many errands. It seems like every one has just gotten cold on me."
Cynthia sympathized with Julion, though she would never say so outwardly. She needed him. He was her ambassador to the androids, so she needed him at his sharpest without doubts.
"It could be your emotions reflecting off of others. You need to slow down and relax. If Estevez is really onto you, this is when I need you most. We will have a meeting tomorrow night at Leo's Den.
Each of the androids have been working diligently everyday. Some, despite working hard and eavesdropping as much as possible failed to find any sympathizers, nor any clue to an underground conspiracy. But with this news I'm afraid that they will have to try a little harder.
"If you are followed tomorrow, then it will be your last day there and we may have to move and make other arrangements. I will make sure that is the first thing we discuss during the meeting."
"Thanks," he said, "for taking me seriously." They both knew there was great danger in everything they did, but recently Cynthia wondered if it was all worth the risks. Even his short talk with Adora today could have been disastrous. She may now know they are against the government if she realized he was running from the bot. "Also," Julion caught her attention again, "when I stopped by the office today, Adora wanted to remind us of the picnic this weekend."
Cynthia furrowed her brow. "I don't remember any picnic on the calendar for this month. I'll have to look into it. You look horrible, go get something to eat and get some rest. Tomorrow will prove to be a busy day."
***
Sergio fell heavily into a chair in the break room interrupting another worker reading a datapad. "Something wrong?" The worker asked.
Before he spoke, he quickly surveyed the area being sure that there was no bots and no managers or middle class citizens around, then began his plan. "I'm surprised they even give us breaks around here."
"Name's Bert, by the way." The man said. "As companies go, this is a highly beneficial one."
Sergio thought he sounded a bit more like a bot than himself. Workers are programed to be loyal and give the same answer as everyone else to an accusation against the company. Sergio was programed differently. "I'm Sergio. As companies go, this one has destroyed the most lives."
"How do you mean?"
"We build the bots that ruin our lives. We've sold our souls to work for such a 'great company.'"
"I think you're exaggerating."
Sergio looked about and wasn't quite satisfied with the reaction so he became more zealous. "We can't do anything without a bot watching us. We depend on them for every aspect of our lives and what do we get in return? To spend hours upon hours building more. As if that wasn't bad enough, I believe the Boss has larger plans in mind. Maybe bots that can build themselves, or some other way to be rid of us." He paused for effect. "We shouldn't let that happen. We should take a stand against the abuse we've been given!"
"Isn't that suicide?" Bert gasped.
The closest people around them popped their heads up, perhaps in interest but mostly in shock.
"From what I heard," Sergio made sure he kept their attention by speaking loudly, "I'm not the only one who feels this way. There are enough people in this plant alone that want change." With just these few words he had the attention of nearly everyone in the room.
"You're not saying that you personally would commit treason against our government?" Bert pushed back his chair a little as if afraid Sergio might be insane and attack him.
Sergio was treading where no man or woman here would dare go, but being an inventor, he was used to it. Well, he wondered if the real Sergio De Souza would act this way. He doubted it but knew he had been an outspoken supporter of civil liberties. Whether he was following his programming or following his own course he didn't know.
"Give me a gun and I'll kill the Boss personally." There were murmurs all around the room. No one seemed sure what to make of his statement.
Aghast Bert said, "You would commit treason and murder?" He looked to the gathering crowd. "We should take him straight to the Boss now!"
It took a moment of silence but somewhere in the crowd a voice rose. "Down with the Boss!" A commotion of fists pounding and yelling broke out.
Sergio realized inspiring a fight wasn't the best plan since he was now in the center of it. Though it did give him a good idea of the sentiment here against the Boss. He calculated it would be best not to be there when security arrived.
Sergio became lost in the pile of bodies, tables, and chairs. He managed to squeeze out the doors when he spotted the security bots coming toward the break room. He decided it would be best to make himself scarce before he could cause any more trouble.
***
Julion became used to the watchful sensors of the security bots that roamed the streets. Thus far he had been able to avoid them when there was a need to call a meeting or deliver an important message. Yet he could not get over the feeling that the Boss knew that he was Julion, and the Boss was only biding his time before he attacked.
He went about his business as he had carefully avoiding the bots when he had to meet with the androids and being sure to stay in full sight when he delivered letters for his Boss. Today, however, was different for when he entered his office there was no work list waiting for him. Finding this strange, he rounded the bin and entered his Boss's office. It was even a bit more of a surprise when he found Horacio Estevez sitting in his Boss's chair.
"What is this?" Julion forgetting his guise, for he figured he had been caught, confronted Estevez. He knew without turning around that there were bots guarding the door. He had no chance to make a run for it.
"You tell me, Mr. Montclair. What is the reason for you going around my company in disguise?" Estevez sat comfortably in the plush chair and watched Julion. Julion did not give him the satisfaction of a reply. He stood there proudly unmoving and not speaking.
"Come now Julion surely you have something to say to me. Perhaps the names that the androids are working under. They are here, aren't they? You attempted to avoid security cameras on several occasions. I can only assume that these were meetings with the androids." Julion still stood without answering.
"Still being stubborn? Perhaps if I began the list you will help me complete it. I noticed that several new employees registered the day after the androids had disappeared. While not entirely unusual, this was an interesting coincidence. Another coincidence is that you had attempted to have a secret meeting with one Sergio De Souza just yesterday." Julion's expression did not waver at the sound of one of his people being discovered.
"Interesting he had the same reaction when I mentioned your name to him. As did Mr. Salim when we questioned him. He, however, was a bit weaker. He showed emotion when I mentioned that we had already disassembled De Souza."
Julion still stood unwavering, although his mind was racing. He feared that if the Boss had disassembled either or both of the androids than he would be able to obtain all the information about the rebellion. However, Estevez had said he needed help finding the rest of the androids. Was Estevez trying to bluff him by telling him he had Sergio and Alexis, or did he really have all the information he needed and was only trying to play with Julion's mind?
"So," Estevez rose from his seat and approached Julion. "What do you think about that, hmm?" He came nose to nose with Julion. "Don't you have the slightest bit of feeling for their lives? Or is the only android you care about Cynthia?" Julion despite his urge to reach out and choke Estevez, stood motionless. Estevez shook his head and said quietly.
"No? Well, maybe she cares for you enough to attempt your rescue?" He took Julion's jaw in his hand roughly. "It's just too bad that I can't disassemble you as I can the androids. But I can kill you, and I will, eventually."
Julion clenched his fists ready to fight the bots and possibly even the Boss.
He watched Estevez motion with one finger to the two bots behind him. He turned with his fist raised. One bot shot out with its laser and Julion fell limply to the ground.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please send me any comments you might have, good or bad. Copyrighted 2008 by Christine Schnell. Go ahead and share it with others just keep my name with it.
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