She turned on the faucet, watching the water flow on and off at her command.
In the bakery, they had spotty electricity, and sometimes had to run the ovens with a generator and syntho-gas. But easy flowing water like this? Never. They had to buy water by the tankful from the lake. To her right, a large window showed the forest. She wished they could walk around more. Maybe tomorrow. She frowned at the window.Guess I’m not a proper human for wanting to be outside.
But other than selecting the room, there was nothing more to do. Anna had no personal belongings to add, and Atlas had indicated that the small things Nora had from home would be brought by later, after the ship had been cleaned and reorganized.
Anna scratched her head.I’m tired. I bet I’ll still not be able to sleep here though.She picked herself off the bed.Where would the baby sleep here? I’ll need to ask for a crib or something.
Out in the lonely common room, Nora sank on the sofa next to Tilly, who had the rectangle in her hands and the screen turned on. They were both turned to the television, which had moving drawings of foreign animals on the screen.
Anna shuffled her feet, watching. The room was gigantic, making her feel even smaller sitting on the couch in the middle. She turned away. “I’m gonna walk around some more.”
Nora didn’t look away from the screen. “Sounds good.”
Anna walked farther down the hallway they’d claimed the rooms in, trying to see different vantage points out of the window.Atlas had said there was a farming sector, but it must be farther out.The only thing surrounding the facility was the densely packed forest they’d walked through earlier.Her feet kept walking, down rows and rows of ghost photos and empty bedrooms. Sweat broke out as she waddled, one hand on her belly. The past humans’ pictures were almost never-ending.
Finally the photos stopped where the hallway made a T at the end. Where to go? How many rooms were in this place? More lights were on to the left, so she walked in that direction. The windows still flanked the forest as she walked past, but just ahead was a glass room.
Android heads poked up over the half-wall barrier that had windows on the top side, opening to a room inside. The room was larger than her entire bakery back home.
Anna sniffed. The smell of antiseptic made her recoil.
She crept up slowly, goosebumps racing across her skin in the quiet until her stomach pressed up against the half wall of the large glass room. She squinted, trying to look inside, and saw three humans. Her eyes widened. “There are more?”
All three lay in different beds, unconscious and linked up to machines that seemed to breathe for them.Is it a medical room?It smelled like one. Back home there was a designated hospital, but it was a place you avoided. Besides, it cost so much to go there that Anna only stepped inside when she was doing a bakery run.
Anna’s breath caught. Inside the room, a beautiful female android with dark brown skin and braided hair walked up to the aged human and gently rubbed a wet sponge down her arm.They are sick? Is she giving her a bath?
Next to the row of beds, Sterling stood, sponge in hand, and then he too carefully wiped down the human’s other arm.
Sterling eventually noticed Anna standing there and gave a small smile. Then he stood, handing the sponge over to the first android with braids on her head.
That one studied Anna through the glass, her lips tight as she took the sponge. Sterling’s voice was distorted by the distance. “Thank you, Alice. I’ll be a minute. Then we can do the rotations.”
Anna waited until he exited the room to stand next to her. “Hi, I didn’t mean to wander if this is off limits.”
“No worries. You have found our other residents. Here. Please be quiet, but we can look closer.”
Anna hesitated. She didn’t really know if she wanted to go closer, but he motioned her ahead anyway. They walked along the glass-lined hallway, closer to where the humans rested. Now there were more androids besides Alice sitting at each bedside with cleaning supplies, while soft music played.
Only one of the humans seemed aware enough to track their movements as they walked past. And even then it was only their eyes that watched, an ancient sunken blue in an impossibly aged face. Above the humans were photos, like those that lined the walls. A chubby baby photo was prominent next to photos of various stages of growing up, all of which bore a resemblance to the woman confined to the bed. They were tacked to a wall next to the bright and cheery label“Sage.”
Sterling smiled at Alice, who gave a small smile back.
Anna took a step back, putting some distance between herself and the ill humans.Maybe this is just what happens when people naturally get old.She openly stared.Maybe I never saw someone get so old that they didn’t pass away.Back home, if you couldn’t work, you either starved or died if you had enough injuries.
The minute they exited, Anna turned to him. “How long do they stay like that? Before they die? Because they are dying, right?”
Sterling tilted his head. A gesture she didn’t usually see on Atlas. “Yes, they are at the end of their lives. We extend their lifespans however we can through good care.”
“However you can?” Anna whispered. “But are you forcing them to stay alive?”
“As long as their bodies will allow, yes.” He took a step forward.
“As long as their bodies allow? So, is it forcing?”
“No, no, no. Anna.” Sterling quickly waved his hands. “Don’t misunderstand. It is all proper medical care. We love our humans here. We’ve been with them since they were born. I provide medical care for them, like I will for you as well. Just like I will for your baby.”
Anna took a step back.Like I will for you as well?An Atlas clone providing forever medical care while she lived in a glass box?
