“I don’t know. Ten percent decent person does not make him a suitable man, if that’s what you’re thinking. He made you cry, remember?” Lessa’s tone is enough to convey their disapproval, even without their forthright words.
K8 groans. “I know. But I think acting so protective of me is what ultimately made them ask to take him. Maybe it wasn’t my fault?”
“It wasn’t,” Lessa says definitively. “What’d you say when they asked?”
“I said, ‘Of course,’ then prayed to Zorg that James didn’t do anything stupid. He didn’t, though. He cheerfully played along. Les, I was freaking out. When he followed them to the door, the creepy inspectormade up this stupid thing about how a good manupartner would kiss me before he left.”
“And?” Lessa prods.
“And . . . It’s kind of a blur. He seemed like he didn’t want to, which made me think he was still being protective. Like he didn’t want to kiss me without asking if I was okay with it, because he whispered, ‘I’m sorry.’ But now that I’ve had time to think about it, he kissed my neck before the inspectors got there, without asking.”
“Sounds like he was trying to save his own skin,” Lessa observes.
“I know. But I was so caught up in the moment, I promised him I’d find a way to save him.” K8 sits there for a moment, contemplating her options, as a numb sensation crawls up from her fingers and toes to take root in her chest. Finally, she says, “Then he kissed me.”
“Yes, that was the ruse,” Lessa agrees.
“No, Les. He really kissed me. It wasn’t performative or quick or cold. It was . . . well, I don’t really know what it was, but it wasn’t nothing. And now he’s gone. And I don’t know how to keep my promise to save him.”
“Wait, I know you want to help him survive from an ethical standpoint, but it doesn’t sound as if you actually like him.”
K8’s stiff forehead is trying its hardest to wrinkle. “I don’t.” And she doesn’t. She decided that two days ago. But the thing is, she’s attracted to him. Now that he’s kissed her andher hearther mind is fabricating its own ideas abouthow she feelswhat she thinks about him. Despite her brain telling her she doesn’t like him. It’s highly illogical—what a conundrum for a scientist. “I know he only kissed me because the situation forced him. But I still have to help him. What do I do?”
In her receiver she hears Lessa click, click, clicking. “Hold on,” they say.
As she holds on, she paces, trying to work out the frozen feeling in her limbs. “Lessa?” she prompts. “I’m still holding on.”
“I sent you something.” The gravity in their voice makes her stomach clench.
She rushes over to the living room table, collecting the VR headset. Once it’s on, she thinks the command: Open message. It’s a Flash News article. The headline reads:
BREAKING: GROW SEARCHES FOR MISSING MANUPARTNER.
K8’s throat clenches tight. This can’t be good.
Missing manupartner reported at 15:30.
K8 thinks the command: Time check. The system speaks into her ear: 15:47. How much time has elapsed since James left? When did the inspectors arrive? They were late, she remembers, but James was watching the time so intently for both of them that she didn’t bother. She reads on.
The unit is considered unstable and may be dangerous. Do not approach suspicious persons claiming to be from the past under any circumstances. Report any unusual encounters to the authorities immediately.
This report comes after GROW issued a Recall Notice claiming that some manupartners may retain embedded memories from their DNA origin vectors. NHOS citizens should report any unusual activity to authorities immediately.
GROW spokesperson states, “Leadership at GROW is working around the clock to swiftly resolve this minor incident. Citizens have no reason to fear their manupartner. If you have not received a notice, your unit is not at risk. This recall only impacts a minuscule batch of units, and inspectors are already in the field assessing units affected. Please cooperate with authorities if your unit is assessed to be faulty. GROW places the best interests of NHOS citizens at the forefront of every decision we make.We will continue to provide you with the most realistic manupartner experience for years to come.”
We reached out to several other manupartner producers for comment, and only CHOICElover owner Res6 provided a statement: “To my knowledge, this serious problem is isolated to GROW as a result of the release of their Realer Than Real production line. Often, a business may look to gain an edge over their competition with a product advancement, but it seems the leadership at GROW put this line out before they properly tested it. If consumers are concerned about the safety of selecting a GROW manupartner, CHOICElover will be here to provide the most premium original manupartner experience their unicoin can buy.”
Clearly, Res6 saw an opportunity to gain market share. James isn’t dangerous. Is he?Did he kill the inspectors to escape?She figures he could. And does that mean she’s on the run now too? She watches too many thrillers. No, surely, he isn’t that reckless. They’d be caught by nightfall. She isn’t built for a life of crime, for Zorg’s sake!
“Did you read it?” Lessa asks. When she doesn’t say a word, they press, “K8?” Then, “I’m coming over.”
Lessa and K8 rush to the elevator, which opens to reveal Jett. They must have called him on their way over.
“Negative-K8!” he says, consolingly, and she can’t help but chuckle at his clever yet poorly timed nickname. “Lessa told me what happened. Where do you think he went?”
“I have no idea. But we need to search for him. If they find him before we do, they’ll . . .” K8 can’t say it.
“They wouldn’t,” Jett says.
