“It’s great and all, but why not give her a doll like the others?” I had my doubts.
“Because of the armaments the ball has. The dolls simply do not have the same firepower. If she really wishes for a doll, we will of course make her one, but the volleyball is superior in many ways.”
“Now Kieran it is your turn. ENTER!” Arkon called out in his overwhelming voice.
The service door opened and a Julie-‘bot walked in. She was even cuter in person, dressed in a forest green version of my dress uniform, but without the hat or service ribbons, and with heels instead of boots. Her light brown hair was tied back in the same folded French braid with loose bangs over her piercing ice-blue eyes it always was when I talked to her in my glasses. The only difference between her and the Julie always in my glasses was the inverted triangle in her forehead. It was blue, not yellow. She walked up to us and bowed.
“Good evening,” she said in that sweet happy voice Julie always had.
Romeo stood next to her as the gorilla explained, “This is a special deluxe model. Better and faster than the top of the line secretary dolls, with all the parts and programing of the love dolls just for added realism so she can blend in with the rest of your team. On top of that we added combat programing. She is one of only two androids that are actually programed so that they can kill. Killing is against the basic core programing of all the others. She is a proficient marksman with both hands, and has a number of hidden defense measures. And she even comes with her own versions of your Walther pistols, and knives. She is designed to blend in seamlessly with humans. Her programing allows her to work as your assistant in ALL things, including in the field. You will notice that her data remote triangle on her forehead is blue, not red, yellow, or green. Red is for the love dolls, yellow is for the secretary or industrial models, and green is for hybrids. Blue is reserved for combat models. She will follow your every order.”
“It will be a pleasure to fully serve you in this more mobile capacity Miss Grey,” she bowed with a deep smile as she talked.
Wow, my own personal slave–er–robot.
* * *
Ren was playing with her doll as Julie pushed me through the front door. As soon as we were inside, Cassie came running into my arms.
“Big Sister! I was so worried.”
“And just where in the hell were you?! You’re supposed to be resting in bed, but when I wake up after a short nap, I find you gone without a word! And none of you had a phone with you!” Vicki was yelling and pointing her finger accusingly at each of us.
“What are you talking about, my cell phone is right–” Ren started to dig in her pocket.
“Here? You left it on the table. What’s the big idea leaving without a note? We were worried sick! Tanaka is out looking for you right now.” Mary joined in holding Ren’s phone.
“Calm down. Didn’t you see the note I left you?” Emmy stepped between us.
“What note?”
Emmy went into my room and returned carrying my pillow with the note still pinned on it.
“This note, the one that was still on the bed right where I left it. The one that says we were going to the Archives for a bit, and to call Julie if you needed us.”
Vicki blushed. “I-I . . . I never really looked on the bed.”
“So you’ve been worrying yourselves sick for nothing?” Ren chuckled.
“Look, we brought gifts,” I changed the subject handing Vicki her manual.
She looked at the thick book with disgust. “A big ugly book?”
“No, that is the user manual. Here is the gift.”
I placed the nurse doll on top of the book lying flat in Vicki’s hands. It bowed and smiled then struck the suggestive pose again.
“I’m a nurse, and it’s time fawr yawer shawt!” she said.
Vicki, Mary, and even Cassie squealed. They all moved in staring at the little nurse. Emmy explained what all was going on, and handed the purse to Mary.
“Really? It can do all that? Well, so much for my old backpack!” Mary seemed genuinely happy with the robotic bag.
Cassie turned to me with wide pleading eyes. “What do I get? Do I get something? Do I get a doll too?”
I cringed to myself and presented the volleyball as grandly as I could. Cassie’s face sunk–no, fell–no, crashed to the floor. Heartbreak was written all over her.
“You brought me a, ball?!?” she whispered as the tears welled up.
I knew we should have gotten her a doll.
“Not a ball sweety, a friend. But he needs a name so you can wake him up,” Emmy tried to comfort her.
I looked up and caught Vicki mouthing to me, “A ball? Are you stupid?”
I shrugged and handed the ball to Cassie. She stared at it on the edge of tears, silent for a long time.
“I guess I would name him . . . Floaty, because he is light.”
Floaty? The best name a seven-year-old could come up with was Floaty?
“Alright, say ‘Wake up Floaty’ as loud and happy as you can, so he can hear you. Alright?”
She sighed and was quiet, and then she forced a smile, “Wake up Floaty!”
The ball lifted from her hands and started spinning. The panels of the ball retracted, and it stopped spinning to face her. Giant eyes opened and looked around. Cassie stared at it with wonder.
“Friend? Are you my friend? Are you Cassie?” it asked softly hovering down closer to her face.
“I’m Cassie. I will be your friend.” She pointed to herself not sounding the least bit convincing.
“FRIEND!!! I finally found a friend! Oh I’m so happy. You have no idea how lonely it’s been without you. Hey, did you know it’s past your bedtime? Oh well, this is a special night.”
Cassie tilted her head sideways at Floaty. She did not look pleased at all.
Dammit all! I hate not having her happy. We should have given her a doll regardless of the firepower issue. Or hell, the teddy bear was even better for that matter.
She looked at the ball and back up to the nurse in Vicki’s hands, over to the tiny cop on Ren’s shoulder, then the tears began to fall. Without warning, she wailed and bolted straight for her room slamming the door.
“Cassie–” I called and reached for her as she ran past.
I stretched out too far and tipped the wheelchair over since Julie was no longer holding onto it. The world spun just before I hit the carpet, on the bad side of my head no less. Pain and nausea flooded my system as the room was instantly spinning around me. I shut my good eye and worked to force myself not to be sick. Suddenly I was softly swept up into Julie’s gentle arms and carried to my bed. As the world was slipping away I heard Emmy.
“Arkon, the ball was a bust. Switch to plan B.”
* * *
Crying stirred me out of the darkness a little. Just enough to hear the voice.
“. . . and I’m so sorry Big Sister. Please don’t be hurt again. I didn’t mean to be ungrateful. It’s just that Miss Vicki and Miss Ren both got those super cute dolls, and I really, really wanted one. I was jealous, and I didn’t realize how good of a gift Floaty was. I like him, I really do, but I still think the dolls are cute. Please don’t be mad Big Sister. I am so sorry for making you fall. Please don’t be hurt again. . . .”
* * *
“. . . Kieran, wake up Kieran or you’ll miss it.”
“Huh,” I replied only half with it.
“Cassie’s first day at school. She leaves in half an hour. You need to wake up and see her off.”
Emmy was sitting on the edge of the bed. A small white box in her hands. She handed me the box as soon as I was sitting up and coherent without the world spinning around me. I glanced at her then opened it. Inside was a doll like the others the night before. This one had long black hair and a light turquoise and navy kimono with a little Japanese fan in one hand and a tiny drawstring purse in the other.
“Is it like the others?”
“Only in looks. Romeo hasn’t p
rogramed her yet. I told Cassie that Floaty was my gift to her, and that she ran off before you could give her your gift. Give her the doll before she leaves. When she gets home tonight, Romeo should be ready to load the program into it. Cassie likes Floaty, especially since she found out about his guns. . . .” She paused and shook her head at the thought. “However, she has a girly streak in her. I didn’t think she would go for the dolls. That was my mistake. This will make up for it a little.”
“Aawww Emmy. This is too much. We could say the doll is from both of us.”
“No, I already told her that Floaty was from me. She accepts that. She likes the purpose of Floaty, about him being her partner and assistant. But, she is still a little jealous of the dolls. Now let’s get you up and ready. We’ll take her to the bus stop. And no mushy stuff or lectures, got it Old Mother Grey?”
Does she really think I’m going to make a scene? Me, of all people?
* * *
Cassie was dressed up so cute in her little shrine maiden outfit. Mary – the camera freak – took a few dozen pictures before we left. Cassie walked beside me on the shoveled walk with her book bag on her back, and Floaty in ball form in her arms. She was smiling again.
“First day of school. . . .” I began. Emmy coughed and glared an unspoken warning at me. I shrugged and continued, “Cassie, you know you can call if you need anything? You remembered lunch money right? Are you sure you don’t want us to drive you to school?”
Cassie giggled. “I’m fine Old Mother Grey. Don’t worry; I’ve got everything I need. I even have my guns and my badge under my uniform, just in case. Besides, I have Floaty with me.”
“Yea, Cassie, about Floaty–”
“–wait.” She clamped her small hand gently over my mouth. “Big sister Emmy told me that you have a gift for me, one that is even better then Floaty in a way. I would rather not have it right now. Can you hold on to it for me? I really want to spend some time with Floaty first.”
I looked at her big smile and had to smile back, even though it hurt like hell to do so. My jaw hadn’t healed enough to be fully smiling yet. I nodded and we moved on, as I slipped the box with the doll in it beside me in the wheelchair. At the bus stop we all hugged her and wished her luck.
“Uh, Big Sister? You have to let go now, or else I’ll miss my bus.”
Reluctantly I let her out of my arms. “Of course, good luck sweetie. Have a good day.”
I kissed her cheek and smiled at her as best I could. We stood there waving as the bus drove away. I broke down crying.
“My baby is going to her first day at school, and I can’t go with her.”
“No you can’t Old Mother Grey. You have to let her go on her own now.” Emmy was shaking her head at me.
“But, I don’t want to. She’s like my baby girl.”
“Oh get over it already. She’ll be back by four.”
Chapter 12
Emmy left for work as soon as we were back at the apartment. Mary took off for school a few minutes later. I sat in the living room by myself staring out the window at the light snow that began to fall again. Would Cassie be warm enough in the snow? Both cats were snoozing on the backs of the couches where they had claimed yet another corner of the apartment as theirs.
“This place sure is quiet and empty without everyone here,” I absentmindedly said to myself.
Julie stuck her head around the corner from my bedroom where she had been working on my computer. “Did you call for me Miss Kieran?”
“Oh Julie, sorry, no. I was just talking to myself. It’s so quiet here without the others. I never realized that before.”
“Would you like me to entertain you with an activity?”
I giggled a little at a naughty thought that crossed my mind. Give me a break; Julie was cute, even for a robot, besides they did say she was “fully functional”. And I was curious if she was functional as Tanaka’s sexbot. The giggling stopped as soon as I saw Julie standing beside me looking puzzled.
“Thank you Julie, but you said you had research to do. Please don’t let me keep you from your work.”
“I join my sister models in their work whenever you have no use for me. If you need me I am more than happy to assist you. That is why I am here.”
“Thanks, but I don’t really need anything right now. I think I’ll just go get a drink from the kitchen,” I began to wheel myself to the door. I wasn’t really thirsty, but it gave me something to do besides worry about Cassie, if only for a moment.
“Allow me to fetch you something appropriate.”
Julie bolted past me, disappearing into the kitchen, only to return a second later.
“Detective Michaels is calling you, would you like me to connect her?”
Huh? My glasses on silent mode or something? “I never heard the phone ring . . . sure, put her through.”
I reached into my pocket for my glasses as Julie nodded then closed her eyes. She opened them a second later in a blank stare, raising her hands in front of her. At first I thought she was going to clap, but then lightning arced and crackled between her fingers. A moment later the lightning formed into a picture, a picture of Ren resting her chin on top of her hands looking right at me.
“Isn’t this cool?” Julie asked in Ren’s voice matching the movement of Ren’s lips in the lightning image between her hands. I dropped my glasses in shock when she spoke again. “Say something, I gotta see if it works.”
“Ren? What’s going on?”
“Nneeeaaattt! Chibi’s mouth is moving, but it’s your voice! I was going through the manual for Chibi and found out that they can talk unit to unit. Isn’t this cool?!”
“Who’s Chibi?”
“The robot doll I got yesterday. I named her Chibi. She really is amazing. By the way, how is Cassie dealing with Floaty?”
“Well, she’s pretending to like him anyway. I still think she secretly hates him though. Emmy had a doll like yours made for her, but it isn’t programed yet. I’ll give it to her later.”
“Good. Look, the reason I’m calling is that I was going to head over to look around the crime scene in the suburbs. You up to a trip?”
“You really should rest,” Julie added in her own voice without missing a beat.
“Just going to look around . . . is it safe?” I asked skeptically. There was no way I was up to another fight for a while.
“We’ve had officers posted there for two days now. They haven’t seen, or smelled, a thing outta the ordinary outside the house. Should I pick you up?”
“No, we’ll pick you up. Your car isn’t as comfortable for all of us to ride in. We’ll be there shortly.”
“See you then.”
The picture faded just before the lightning stopped.
Maybe I need to get a manual for Julie? What other tricks can she do?
* * *
The house we pulled up to looked like every other on the block. Every home on the street looked exactly like the next, except for the color. Someone must have stamped each house out with the same mold.
Julie lifted me effortlessly out of the car and into the wheelchair. The drive over had made me a little nauseous, but not bad, Julie was a surprisingly good driver for a robot. Julie pushed me up the walk past the uniformed officers watching the door. We followed Ren right into the house.
The pristine exterior of the house was not a good representation of the chaos within. Every room had been trashed. It was like a hurricane hit inside the house and tore the rooms apart. Glass, wood, plastic, and other materials were shattered and spread around the rooms creating a debris field too thick to walk through without disturbing something. However, everything had been smashed enough that it never really bothered the wheelchair as Julie pushed me through the mess.
The dining room was the first real mess. Dried blood had coated every inch of the room. Ren and I both gasped as we passed the broken china cabinet. Among the broken, blood covered dishes was the head of a girls doll. Its eyes open in a blank st
are that sent chills down my spine.
“One of the victims was a child?”
Ren sighed, “Yea, she was . . . uh . . . Cassie’s age. Are you okay with this? We can go back before you see anything worse”
“I’m okay Ren. I want to stop these guys. I really, really want to stop them.” Make each one of the immortal bastards dead, really truly dead!
Ren shrugged and continued to look around the room. I stopped Julie next to the table and leaned over touching a set of scratches through my thin rubber gloves. Since my shields weren’t working at all now – they hadn’t since the Immortal hit me – Ren gave me a pair of surgical gloves to put on. Mostly so that I didn’t leave any fingerprints, but partly to keep out the mess of the scene.
“Ren look here, it’s like someone was trying to claw their way off the table.”
Ren looked at it a minute then pushed on through the kitchen. The kitchen was covered in blood just like the dining room. Faint traces of white peeked through the red. Blood had dried in drips off of the walls and cabinets. Chills crept over my body at the sight.
We moved on through the garage and bedrooms. In the master bedroom we found the remains. Everything was the same as in the apartment. Organs pasted up on the walls, bones laid out on the bed. One of the skulls at the foot of the bed was only half the size of the other three. Another child.
Ren started to make her way across the room. Suddenly with a crunching THUD, she fell. Her leg went straight through the floor. She winced and grinded her teeth together.
“Fuck this hurts!” she cursed through her clenched teeth, using her hands to keep as much of her weight off of her leg as possible.
I rolled away from Julie to Ren’s side. The wood floor had given way underneath her. The jagged edge of the wood had cut deep into her leg. Fresh blood was pooling up on the floor around her.
Immortal Death (Kieran Grey Psionic Hunter Book 3) Page 11
