Tilly kept talking. “We have a cat too! Tatertot! I think he will like it here. He used to be outside a lot before.”
“You went swimming in the lake?” Pearl’s nose wrinkled. “Is that why you’re covered in mud now? Are you from the wilds back on Earth?”
Nora pulled Tilly to her chest. “We’re from Earth, yes. But this is from just outside, in nature.”
Behind them, Sterling silently observed, standing as stiffly as Stella and the rest of the androids that had stood outside to greet them.
Atlas angled himself ahead of Anna. “Sterling? Can they pick any room?”
Before Sterling could respond, Pearl’s eyes went large. “They are going to live with us? But they’re from the desert. How do we know they’re safe?”
“I’m not dangerous!” Tilly piped up, blond hair flying as she jumped. “The other kids are!”
A shudder seemed to go through them both. Ria shook her blond ringlets, taking a deep breath. “All of Earth is dangerous.”
Pearl's hazel eyes narrowed. “What is it like then? We were told Earth is awful. And full of people who would hurt our androids.”
How do I answer that?Anna forced a smile. “Well. Here it is definitely prettier. That’s for sure.”
Ria’s eyebrows raised. “You are all so young.”
Anna didn’t state the obvious, even though every fiber of her body screamed it.And you are so old.
So old the entire gulf of humanity could fit in between them. And Anna could think of no way to bridge the distance across the pristine tiled floor.
Atlas took a step forward. “Anna, Nora, and Tilly are safe. I can vouch for them myself. I’m sure you all will have lots to share once the shock wears off.”
Pearl echoed. “Safe?”
Ria scoffed. “But how do we know? We said when you asked before that we didn’t know if we wanted to meet them. And now? They’re living here? You’re forcing this on us.” A sneer crossed her wrinkled face. “Our replacements.”
“What?” Anna put her hands out. “Wait a minute. We are not here to replace anyone.”
Nora exchanged a glance with Anna. “If they don’t want us here, we don’t have to stay.”
“Yeah. That nature area looked better for us anyway.” Anna gestured out the window. “Maybe there’s somewhere else. Atlas mentioned other facilities.”
Ria crinkled her nose. “The nature area?”
“Yeah, even there.” Anna said. “We spent the whole day out there today. We want to see that farming area next.”
“Is that why your skin is red?” Pearl sneered. “You really are different. Only animals live out there.”
Anna’s smile froze. Animals.
“Well . . .” Nora’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe we are more like animals.”
Simon put a hand on Nora’s shoulder. “Atlas. Are there any alternative places we can stay while we get organized?”
Atlas’s eyebrows bunched together. “Not prepared.”
Anna pressed down on her stomach.Are we more like animals?She glanced out the window in the living quarters. The trees were tall and inviting, with the dusk settling on them giving them an otherworldly glow. “Don’t you like to go out there? Ever? To the woods?”
Pearl leaned forward. “No. This is where humans belong.”
“But . . .” Her fingers spun around each other. “You don’t want us here?”
At that, Sterling came forward and put a hand on Pearl’s shoulder, gently pulling her back. His voice rumbled. “I was speaking with Stella and the others that this integration might be too much right away. Humans are so delicate. I have cleared out the west wing for our new humans to stay.”
