Chapter 10
I looked at him, trying to understand. “I thought you were a mech.”
“I am now,” he said. “But I wasn’t always. I was a coder and part of the design team that created the prototypes for the companion droid program.”
“That’s impressive.”
He stroked Harry’s back. “When you get to be our age, it’s not unusual to have lived more than one life. I’m sure you’ve done things besides be a librarian.”
“Not really.”
“You’re a mother. You raised a child. A pretty successful one, too. Being a mom is a pretty major accomplishment, not to mention one of the most important jobs there is.”
I appreciated his words. Not everyone felt that way. “That’s true.”
He looked at Harry. “So what model are you, fella?”
I laughed. “You didn’t expect him to answer you, did you?”
Frank nodded. “Sure, if his com capability was on.”
“He’d be able to … talk?” That couldn’t be right. I didn’t know of a single compdroid that could.
“Yep. I can do it if you like.”
I went to order two cups of coffee from the Instachef, black with sugar for him, cream and sugar for me. I turned around to see Frank again. “Would he only talk to me? Or talk to everyone?”
Frank laughed. “If you’re worried about him sharing your secrets with anyone who visits…”
I smiled. “No, it’s not that, but now that you mention it, I don’t need him telling the world I snore. I was thinking more that he might startle my friends. Although I wouldn’t mind him talking to you, obviously.”
“He should only talk to you, although the program can be altered. The thing is, the feature isn’t available on the newest models.”
“Then how do you know Harry has it?”
“He’s got a lot of early gen characteristics. For one thing, you can’t customize the, um, proportions of the newer compdroids.”
I laughed. “So his chunkiness is a giveaway?”
“It is. I could be wrong, but I know my companion droids pretty well.”
I didn’t doubt that. The Instachef chimed to indicate the coffees were ready. I took them out and carried them to the couch, where Frank had taken a seat. Harry was lying next to him, getting a tummy rub and purring. I set both cups on the coffee table. “Okay, I’m game. Make him talk.”
With a short nod, Frank flattened his hand on Harry’s belly and gave it a little wobble. “Just a moment, Harry, and you’re going to be able to express yourself like never before.”
He took Harry’s left back foot in his hands and pressed down on his first toe. I heard a small click. Harry went very still. Like he’d been turned off. His eyes were still open. It was slightly unnerving.
“Nothing to worry about,” Frank said. “Just paused him to activate the new programming.” He proceeded to press a few more of Harry’s toes in a pattern that looked random to me but surely wasn’t. Then he pressed the first toe again. Another click and Harry came back to life. Frank gave me a look. “He’s good to go.”
“Harry?” He didn’t look any different to me. “How are you, baby? Mr. Frank says you should be able to talk now. It’s okay if you talk in front of him.”
“I’m brilliant,” Harry said in a decidedly British accent. He turned his head toward me. “Hello, Mum. Talking is all right, innit?”
I lifted my gaze to Frank. “One, I didn’t realize he’d be English. Two, that’s both fascinating and a little scary.”
Frank laughed. “That’s Nigel’s voice. He was the team leader on the mechanicals of this project. Your other options are my voice, Beatrice’s, or a much more computerized sound.”
I shook my head. Having Frank’s voice come out of Harry would be as weird as having him sound female. “He’s fine the way he is. In an odd way, it kind of suits him. Still strange to hear him talk.”
He picked up his coffee. “I know what you mean about it being strange. I’m sure you can see why it didn’t become a standard feature.”
“Definitely. It’s going to take some getting used to when I talk to him and he answers. But I’m looking forward to it.” I laughed. “That probably makes me sound like a sad old woman.”
“Not at all. I talk to Gracie all the time.”
“Who’s Gracie?”
“My compdroid. She’s a galah, also known as a rose-breasted cockatoo. She’s got Beatrice’s voice.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. Gracie, I mean.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized I’d basically just invited myself to his place.
He tapped his wristband a few times and brought up his holoscreen. He swiped through to the gallery, then turned his wrist so I could see. A pretty pink and gray bird winked at me. “That’s Gracie.”
“Mum, a bird!” Harry announced with great excitement.
“I see it.” If Frank had missed what I’d said about wanting to meet her, I was fine with it. “She’s so pretty.” She really was, from the rill of feathers on her head right down to her little feet. I laughed softly. “She’s very cute. And not at all the kind of companion pet I would have thought you’d have.”
Harry curled up between us.
Frank grinned. “Yeah, I know. She’s pink and dainty and about as girly as a compdroid gets, except maybe for the lavender poodle I once saw. But she’s whip-smart and a great conversationalist. She was also my first foray into the avian sector, so she’s kind of special.”
“I’m sure she is. No judgment. I mean it. None.” I drank my coffee, about as content as I’d been in a long time. I almost didn’t even care that the ASF might decide to detain me tomorrow. “I had a great time this evening. Thanks for coming along.”
He nodded. “I had a great time, too. Thanks for letting me come along.”
“Would you have just done all of that on your own otherwise?”
“Probably wouldn’t have done the tour. Or found that great place for dinner. Most likely I would have poked around the shops, done some walking to see the city, and then come back. I like to get planetside when I can, but I rarely have company.”
I frowned.
He quickly shook his head. “Don’t feel sorry for me. I have friends. I’m also perfectly happy on my own.” He glanced at me. “But tonight was definitely more fun than being alone.”
“It was.” I liked Frank a lot. I hadn’t been looking for any kind of relationship before I met him, and I still wasn’t, really. But being friends with someone like him? I was very open to that. Was he? Or was he looking for more than friends? It wasn’t a question I was ready to come right out and ask. For now, I’d just play it cool and see what happened.
He drank a little more coffee, then set the cup down. “I should go. Work tomorrow. I promise I’ll speak with Scotty as soon as possible. And I’m going to make that reservation at Luna. Does it matter what night?”
“No, I’m open.”
“All right.” He got up and gathered his packages.
I set my coffee cup down to see him to the door.
Harry sat up. “Night, Frank.”
Frank snorted. “Night, Harry.” He winked at me. “Night, Els.”
“Night. Thanks again.” I walked with him, inwardly smiling that he’d called me Els. “Talk to you soon.”
The door whooshed open. He hesitated, like he had something else to say. Or … do. Was he going to kiss me?
The hesitation lasted another second, then he nodded. “Talk to you soon.”
He left, and the door closed. Only the faint remnants of his aftershave lingered. “He’s pretty nice, huh, Harry?”
Harry licked one paw. “Frank’s an all right bloke. You could do worse.”
I blinked at him. Talking was one thing. Giving opinions on my life? I hadn’t counted on that. Still, it was nice to have Harry’s approval. For what it was worth.
After all that walking around, I felt grimy. I took a vapor shower, got into my nightgown, opaqued the window, then took my tablet to bed with me to start reading The Duke’s Wicked Wish.
Harry was already in bed, having appropriated the pillow next to mine. He was curled up, eyes half closed. So cute.
“Happy?” I asked him.
“I like sleeping,” he whispered, eyes closing all the way.
“So do I.” I thought about telling him he wasn’t really sleeping. But maybe he was, in his own android sort of way. Who was I to explain it to him?
I pulled up the book and began reading. I liked historical romances for a lot of reasons. They were a great escape and a nice palate cleanser in between the thrillers and biographies I also enjoyed.
But I was reading now with a much more critical eye. I was reading trying to see the book through Frank’s eyes. By the sixth page, there was kissing. By Chapter Two, a somewhat intimate scene.
I shifted uncomfortably. I could only imagine how much eye-rolling he’d done if he really had been reading this. Which I believed he was. Frank didn’t seem like the kind of guy to lie about that kind of thing. Or anything, really.
Worse, the more I read, the more I started wondering if he thought I’d given him this book as some kind of message. That I was looking for a similar experience. With him.
I mean … it wasn’t the worst thought I’d ever had. But I’d only just met him. I was not, in any way, looking to jump into bed with him. Or, in this case, into a carriage. I fanned myself, worried the book might bring on another hot flash.
“Computer, lower the room temperature by one degree.”
“Lowering temperature.”
The fan kicked on, sending cool air into the room. The next time I saw Frank, I’d have to tell him I hadn’t read it yet myself and that I’d only given him the book out of fun. No other reason.
I read one more chapter, then closed the book and logged onto the Nexus via my tablet, just to see if there was any news. I generally avoided the Main Chat and Chat 2 because those were cruiser-heavy zones.
Chat 3 was quiet, probably because those who could had gone planetside and worn themselves out, like I had. Quiet was good. It meant no one was talking about Andrew’s death and spreading rumors.
Then again, they could all be in private channels spreading the news that I’d killed him. I really hoped that wasn’t the case. I logged into the private channel I shared with Hazel. She’d answered my earlier message, so I answered her.
Starliner Athos Nexus Chat 3Private Channel
VA_Perry : Sorry, just seeing this. Busy day. Yes, I knew about you still being a person of interest. I don’t like it, but I understand their reasoning. They’re just doing their jobs.
1001Stories : I know. But I also know I’m innocent.
She replied pretty quickly, telling me she was still awake.
VA_Perry : I know you are too. Let the ASF do what they need to and they’ll figure it out. This will all blow over.
1001Stories : I hope so. Good night, sweetheart.
VA_Perry : Night, Mom.
Harry was snoring softly. Or maybe he was just purring louder than usual. Either way, I didn’t mind it. I kissed his head.
I set the tablet aside and stared at nothing, my mind working. I didn’t share Hazel’s confidence that the ASF would figure things out. In fact, I had a lot more confidence in myself and Frank.
With a sigh, I realized the two of us were going to have to determine what had happened to Andrew Woolsey on our own. I was assuming Frank would help, since he’d asked about things and told me he was going to talk to Andrew’s brother. That certainly seemed like he was willing to give me his assistance.
If he didn’t want to get involved beyond talking to Scotty, I’d understand. A couple of hours planetside didn’t obligate him to me in any way.
I glanced at Harry, still sleeping. His whiskers twitched. Did androids dream? That was the age-old question, wasn’t it?
Only thing I knew for certain was that Hieronymus wasn’t going to be much help if Frank turned me down.