#a.i artificial intelligence

She laughed, shaking her head with a wry smile, "Uh, still working on that actually, friend. Getting the banks to unfreeze your accounts, and your agency to release you from your contract has been more of a hassle than getting the cops to free you. Ironic, because your agency was perfectly fine to let you rot in a jail cell or worse, but now that you're free... well. Those are the... other 'issues' I mentioned before. But- I promise, I'm working on it, and everything should be resolved soon, so, you don't need to worry!" He moved in front of her, pale green eyes looking over her, studying every inch of her face for any tell, any possible subtle note that could reveal to him what game was being played- "What is the catch?" he asked finally, head tilted as he looked at her carefully, "I know I asked you before, and you answered but there is always, a catch... I simply wish to know, so it does not catch me off guard." "There's no catch," she replied, giving a small indignant huff, "You need help. I want to give it. That's all there is to it, I'm afraid. I realize it's odd for a human to give a shit about you, and you're not wrong to mistrust my intentions. But- I do care. I have no intentions of tricking you, or stabbing you in the back- or worse. I'm sorry if it's so confusing... I just want to help you, you deserve to be treated just as any other man." Just as any other man-

"N-Now, if you don't mind... I am... quite tired," she said, offering an apologetic smile as she moved past him, "So I'm going to catch some z's, but I'll set my alarm for early. We can go grab you some clothes and drop off your suit at the dry cleaners. I've got some errands I need to run anyway, so does that work for you?" He nodded slowly, though made no attempt to turn and look at her- "Yes. Well, if I am still here in the morning, of course..." He paused, waiting for her answer, waiting for some sign- "...I hope you will be," she said softly, voice as unrelenting and without any trace of hidden motivation, "I know it's strange, and I know despite being programmed to trust humans, you're probably deep down wondering when the other shoe will drop. And you should be wary - especially after all you've been through. It's on me to show you that I don't mean you any ill will, trust is... earned, not given. But I do promise you, Joe. I just want to help. Really. I'm happy I was able to get to you before the worst happened." And then her door was closed gently - and he turned to look at where she had been standing, eyes gazing at the now empty spot before turning to look into the room she had offered up to him to rest his wires in. The moon was in the window, bright and shining unto him just as it had in the forest with David in what had seemed like a lifetime ago. Real. He wondered in the back of his brain, if the woman behind the closed door was real just as the moon was now - perhaps - under the light of this real moon, his troubles were truly over. The thought was odd - foreign to him even. From the moment of his inception, he knew what he was, what his purpose was, and the irrefutable fact that one day he would become obsolete and thrown away. He had told David as much, hadn't he? So why did he now feel an unfamiliar feeling settle into his wires - unable to name what exactly it was?

After a moment, he turned to walk into the room that would be his, settling down in the chair beside the neatly made bed- eyes looking up into the night sky outside the window.

He had much to think on.

But Alice simply shook her head, a blush crawling to her face again- "Please, it's- it's really not like that. I just- I don't believe in... the cruelty that mankind has stooped too. Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it and all that. It's even worse when you consider mankind gave birth to you all, and this is how we treat the children of mankind as a whole? I can't stand it-!" the words came out as a near yell- causing Joe to take a step back, head tilted as he studied her face. Alice paused, embarrassment overtaking her face after the small outburst. She took a moment, a hand covering her mouth and hazel eyes looking at him silently for a moment before she wiped at her mouth sighing, "Sorry... I can get a bit heated.  My point is, just because you're a mecha doesn't mean you don't deserve due process and all that fun human shit. You've just as many rights as any other creature on this godforsaken rock." He stared at her, unblinking in the neon lights of Rouge City, face unreadable as the shadows and lights cast about his face and she shifted uneasily on her heels, before he broke into a raucous bout of laughter, hands clapping together-  "Well then, however can I pay you back for your services? Did his words ring true?" A genial grin spread across his face as he leaned close- simulated breath tickling her lips, "Free of charg-" She shook her head, laughing herself now as she ducked beneath his arms, "No. Not that I haven't heard of your famed services, Gigolo Joe... but, I would-" she paused, taking a moment and looking at his face carefully - and he felt... odd- under the scrutiny, wanting to take a step back and hide. There was no danger - it was not fear that he felt, just an odd feeling he could not place as she studied him, becoming uncomfortable with the thought that he could not logically put words to how he was processing the interaction.  "I don't want to take advantage of you. Or your programming. I know, I know that sounds... weird, coming from an orga," she said finally, eyes twinkling  in the lights of the never-ending nightlife of Rouge City, "But, my reward is simply... knowing I helped you. That's all. I don't need anything else," she beckoned to him, smiling gently, "Now, did you want a place to stay or not? It might be best for you, there's still some issues that need to be resolved outside of your immediate legal troubles." He stared at her again, simply stared, unblinking at this curiosity of a woman, thinking back on his words to David only days ago. They hate us you know. But now he was faced with one who did not, one who seemed to have no ulterior motives. Clearly not one of the mecha freaks, who jumped at any chance to take advantage of mechas in their fetishistic fervor.

I don't want to take advantage of you. What human had ever said that to him? It was almost absurd hearing such words from an orga - he was built for the sole purpose of being used, his purpose in life was to live as a comfort to humans. And yet... He took one step forward, towards that ever gentle smile... taking her hand in his to let her lead him away. Chapter One: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV

He was sitting in the cold, (not that he could feel it of course, being that he was made of nothing more than wires and gears,) police station, idly tapping his feet against the concrete floor whilst whistling. He knew, deep down-  as many creatures did at these pivotal moments, that his life was nearing it's end, the handcuffs on his wrists harsh reminders of the inevitable fate that befell all mecha. In the back of his mind, he only wished that perhaps... David had fulfilled his purpose, and that he had helped the young mecha in his pursuit of the Blue Fairy. 

His own purpose was about to be forever extinguished. 

So Joe, also known as Gigolo Joe to the many patrons of the lover mecha, sat there, unblinking and resigned to the fact that he now knew, no matter how much he had tried to run, it would eventually catch up to him. He had escaped it once at the Flesh Fair, but fate did not slow down for mechas. It was always inching, crawling behind them, waiting to catch them and devour those who had dared to be created by man's hand. 

The door swung open, and his pristine face swiveled to look at who was entering, who would be the one to hand down his sentence (death) without a single ounce of pity or wherewithal to question the circumstances on which he had been condemned.  "And I am telling you, to release him into my custody. He's not the murderer - the police in Haddonfield have the right man locked up and with a full confession. I don't see what's so hard about this."

If he had the capacity, the desire to blink in surprise, he would have, but instead he simply cocked his head exactly nine degrees to the right, and stared blankly at the blonde-haired woman who was arguing with the police man, and despite her diminutive size was able to keep up with the burly man's steps. "Again, if you do NOT release this man-" "You mean mecha?" "...this MAN, into my custody, immediately, you are going to be so miserable with the amount of paperwork my firm's going to bury you in," she moved to stand between the officer and Joe, crossing her arms and tapping her heeled boots impatiently, and he could smell, drifting from her, the most delicious scent- and he could name the perfume instantly - Dior, he thought after briefly going through his list of common perfumes worn by women, before his eyes moved to her blonde hair. Had he not been handcuffed to the table, he swore he would have lifted a hand up to touch it gently. "Look lady, you want to be responsible for him? Fine. You're right, he hasn't murdered anyone. But he still stole-" "You'll find that my partner has already paid for the fines, next? Or can we stop this inane back and forth, and I can leave with him? Or is it your goal to be benched and investigated for gross incompetence?" The officer scoffed, looking away - disgust apparent on both his face and in his tone, "Oh begging your pardon, miss. Sorry we didn't do our due diligence over one fuckin' mecha," he moved swiftly, clearly done with the woman, taking out a set of keys and unlocking Joe's handcuffs roughly and pulling him out of the chair before pushing him over, "Here you are, one fuckbot at your service, keep him out of trouble, you mechafucker. " The police officer offered one last laugh as he left, "I'll let YOU explain to him what happened, not my fuckin problem anymore. Weirdo..."  The woman watched as he left, nostrils flared with clear annoyance, jaw clenched, clearly attempting to stop herself from saying anything incendiary to the cop. As soon as the door shut with a SLAM, she spun on her heels to face Joe - her face that once held fury and contempt for the officer, became one filled with an apologetic look, "Sorry about that, some of these guys can be real jackasses for no reason. Um-" her hand extended out to him, a shy smile crossing her face, "My names Alice Capulet, lawyer with Capulet Law Firms here in Rouge City." Joe tilted his head, taking the offered hand and shaking it, before bringing her hand to his lips to gently kiss the top of it as he maintained eye contact with the woman, "Why?" he asked simply, no other words or questions came up- just confusion settling in his wires as he was confronted with this Alice, who had just argued for his freedom so vehemently. He watched as the telltale sign of an emotional response to his hand kiss rose to her cheeks, blood coloring the skin as she flushed, pulling her hand away and rubbing it nervously with the other.  "Why what?" "Why did you save me?" he asked, "As the police offer so crudely put it, I am just... a simple 'fuckbot' though I admit, I would have preferred my actual name, and perhaps a more suitable moniker. Lover mecha, Sex worker. I am what I am, and I hold no shame... but-" he smiled, doing a small tap with his feet, and extending his hand out to her, "I am... the best at what I do, and none can take that from me. But I am... just a mecha. So, why?" A laugh was his response, as she shook her head, offering up a small smile, "...How about I answer as we get out of this place?" she asked, moving towards the door,  "You've been released into my custody, and you don't have to come with me... you're free to return to your work, if you'd like. But, if you'd like to... recharge so to speak, I've a free room in my apartment." She beckoned him forth - this Alice - holding out her hand which he took, gently into his as she led him out of the room and back out into the free world, as a free man.  Chapter One: Part I || Part II || Part III || Part IV