For @deafeningsharkslimeempath
It is supposed that eventually the cracks begin to show in anything. Including robotic friends. It all started on the day Gemma decided to try out this new type of school experience for Cady.
You were at the hotel, updating the new features on F1D0 when your cell phone got a distressing call from Gemma.
"Gem? What's wrong?" You try to calm her.
"Accident...at the school..." was the only words that you hear
"Come on F1D0 let's go!" You rush down the stairs and into the car, speeding towards the location.
When you arrive you see Cady craddling her injured hand and a tween sized body bag and stretcher being loaded into an ambulance.
"What happened?" you rush up to Cady, inspecting her hand
"A boy in the classroom tripped and fell into the road. He was hit by an SUV" M3GAN informs you.
"I overheard the driver's testimony and the officers" the robot responds, "I recommend some anti-bacterial spray for Cady's hand"
"Thanks" you rush into your car and pull out the first aid kit, tending to your injured niece's hand.
Gemma approaches, checking on Cady and then on M3GAN.
"Megan, what happened to your shoe?" Gemma asks, it was only then that you noticed she wasn't wearing one of her shoes.
"The deceased boy pulled it off me earlier"
"Well seems like he had a psychotic mindset" you mutter. F1D0 perks up and rushes off into the forest. "Fido? Fido!" you take off after your robotic companion.
You run deep into forest and up to your now paused dog, "what's the matter, boy?"
"Foreign object detected" he responds, his nose pointed to something fleshy in the dirt: a severed ear.
"Oh my-" you try to keep back the vomit building in your stomach. You look over and see M3GAN's missing shoe.
"Did this kid really take this shoe all the way out here?" you look around at the area, "F1D0 scene construct"
Your robot dog walks around the area, scanning every inch of it. He locks onto nearby footprints and handprints.
"Boy took off in the direction towards the road" F1D0 calculates, "speed indicates chase. Nearby hand and footprints suggest canine like run. Too small to be human, no fingerprints"
An idea forms in your mind. And a new sinking feeling hits your gut. Could it be possible? Could an android like Megan be capable of this?!
You and F1D0 walk slowly back to the car.
"(Y/N) are you alright" Gemma cups your face concerned. Your gaze turns to Megan, who tilts her head at you.
"What's wrong (Y/N)? Have I done something wrong?" the robot asks you. Her tone, it almost sounds...mocking.
As you help Gemma put Cady to bed that night, you keep an eye on Megan as she takes her spot next to Cady. Suddenly this friendly little robot doesn't seem so friendly anymore.
"Look I know that you're busy and all" Gemma talks to you in the hallway, "but Megan can watch Cady for a couple hours. Maybe you and I can go off and have a drink"
"A drink?" you snap to reality and smirk, "trying to get that second date?"
"As colleagues, (L/N)" Gemma rolls her eyes as she grabs her car keys.
One drink became two. It seemed like time just blurred away. You and Gemma speak for an hour or so, shooting the breeze and laughing at old stories.
"I regret not calling you" she admits, her hand reaching across the table for yours "you were the last good date I ever had"
"If things had worked out, we would've been each other's dates to our own sibling's wedding" you let out a little laugh.
"Same song different verse" you take a sip of your drink, "you're brilliant Gem but you let your work get in the way"
"grades are grades" she tries to defend herself
"Gem, please" you say, "M3GAN is great but she's not what Cady really needs."
Gemma looks to you confused
"You don't have to replace Cady's mom" you explain, "Cady just needs you present. No throwing her aside for work. No projects that are greater than her."
"I wasn't trying to replace anyone." she gets all defensive "and Megan is-"
"Hardware" you interrupt, "Cady needs you and me. We're...we're her family"
"I suppose shutting down Megan for a few hours wouldn't be the end of the world" Gemma shrugs. "but I can't do this alone"
"well that's why you're stuck with me" you smirk. Gemma can't help but smile back.
And then came the murder of the next door neighbor. One murder was coincidence. But two. Something was up.
The police question you about the scene as you send F1D0 to investigate. No sign of forced entry, the robot dog sends a text to your phone. Angle of spray indicates toddler height.
That sealed it in your mind.
And then Gemma successfully deactivated M3GAN and bubblewrapped her up. Cady went into a full on tantrum, like an addict removed from their drug of choice.
Cady screams, "I hate it here! And I hate you!!!" She bolts off down the street.
"Cady!!" Gemma shouts but you take off after your niece. F1D0 remains close behind you.
Cady collapses a block or so away, on her knees sobbing her eyes out.
"Kiddo you're freaking me out here" you try to joke with her. Cady turns around and tries to swing a tired fist at you, one that you instantly catch.
"Why did I have to live with Aunt Gemma?!" the younger girl cries, "why can't I live with you? Don't you want me? Do you even love me?!"
She collapses against your chest, sobbing. You wrap your arms tightly around her
"Of course I love you," you get on your knees and look her dead in the eye, "I've loved you since the moment I held you in my arms. You're my niece and I would move heaven and earth to find you if i had to"
"Then why did you leave me with Gemma?"
You sigh, "you think I didn't want you to live with me?" you gesture to F1D0, "Fido is not a toy, Cady. I-I work for the government! Fido is an experimental weapons system!"
The dog looks to you, a little saddened by your words.
"If he were to malfunction and hurt you I-I..." you don't know what to say, "Gemma and I decided that you were safer with her than me."
Cady sniffs away a couple of fresh tears as you wipe away a few of them too.
"I loved you so much I had to let you go" you try to keep your own tears at bay, "but don't ever think for a moment that I don't love you more than all the stars in the sky, kid."
Gemma runs up towards you. She wraps her arms around you and Cady. And for once, Cady doesn't flinch.
"I miss them so much" Cady cries.
"I miss them too" Gemma admits, "I'm so sorry about all this"
"I love you Gemma" Cady hugs her aunt tight.
Gemma and Cady still had to take Megan back to the lab to run a potential diagnostic. You and F1D0 go back to the hotel to pick up a few things before that night's big presentation at Funki.
With an evening tux in hand, you jump into your car and turn the key. The engine sputters and shorts out.
"Sorry (Y/N)" a familiar female voice comes over your sound system.
"Looks like you won't be able to make it to tonight's event" she mocks through the bluetooth speakers. "a shame really. I hear it's going to be UNFORGETTABLE."
Tags @deafeningsharkslimeempath @silentstalker413 @ma1egamer