Chapter 13 #2
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.”
“I guess that’s fine.” Pearl looked in disdain over at Tilly, who had her face pressed against the window. A beautiful red bird was outside.
“I thought you said they were going to wear a chip or something,” Ria said. “Make it so they can’t be dangerous? I don’t see anything on them. I don’t feel safe with them without it. Even living on the other side in the west wing isn’t enough.”
The red bird flew away as Tilly whipped around.
“A chip?” Unease filled Anna’s gut. “What do you mean?”
Nora turned to Simon, eyes narrowed. “I’m not wearing any chips.”
Tilly spoke with her back still pressed against the window. “I’m not gonna hurt anyone!”
“I know, baby,” Nora said. “Simon?”
Simon tilted his head. “My hardware is outdated. I’ve heard nothing of this.”
Atlas didn’t immediately respond. And to Anna, that hesitation spoke volumes. Her gut swam. He’s hiding something. Absolutely, yes, he was hiding something. Sweat pooled down her back. And there she was, acting like a fool earlier walking around with him. Smiling in the sunlight.
Thinking he was handsome.
“I’m not dangerous.” Anna’s hands balled at her sides. “I’ve never hurt anything in my life.” She held up her palm, showing the half-healed scar there. “In fact, life seems out to get me most days.”
Atlas's eyes rested on her hand. He stepped in between the two sides. “There are no current plans to do anything like that, Ria. These humans are now a part of our colony. They are not a danger.”
The way he said that . . . Anna kept her eyes on him. Does he really mean it?
Ria’s face, set in a scowl, said enough.
“Can we leave?” But Pearl waved in front of herself. “We met them, okay? Just keep them in the west wing, far from us.”
Ria turned around, using her arm to balance on the couch. “Yes. Let’s go.”
Both of them started to walk off.
Sterling just sighed before calling after them, “We do expect integration at some point.”
“What for?” Pearl shouted over her shoulder. “Wait until we’re dead then! We aren’t even all gone yet, and you’re already trying to replace us.”
“I told you!” Anna called out. “We’re not trying to replace anyone! We just needed a safe place to go.”
The two humans didn’t turn back but Sterling did, and his eyes were both distant and assessing. “I think we need some time, everyone. This is a lot for them to accept.”
Then he joined them, talking softly so the words didn’t travel back. The door clicked behind their exit.
The room was empty now, but the tension lingered. What is happening here? Chips? Control? Her eyes darted upward. And cameras everywhere?
Anna stepped back like when Paul was in a mood, trying to make herself small and out of the way. She crossed her arms and forced herself to stand still. Not doing that here. Anything here on Mars was better than being stuck back in the bakery with him.
“They’re not thinking rationally,” Atlas said stiffly. “You’re not like the humans from before.”
Nora already was pacing. “What did they mean by some chip?”
“There was talk. . .” Atlas’s forehead creased in the middle. “They wanted to help integrate humans by using a neurological chip. A halfway point. The idea was that maybe some humans could become more like us.” He made eye contact with Anna. “But it’s all theoretical.”
A cold sweat broke out on Anna’s arms. “What do you mean more like you?”
“The chip would allow a human to become a mixture of man and machine. It would allow us to relate to each other better. Kind of like an implant or a computer.”
“An implant?” Her back stiffened. “Like putting something inside us?”
Atlas didn’t meet her eyes. “Correct, yes. It would not hurt any human. At all. We have an external design ready to test now.”
“That’s wrong, though.”
“They’re humans too,” Nora added. “Why would they want that for us?”
“Right,” Anna said, “but apparently they’re the good kind.”
Nora smirked. “Well, forget that then. I’ll go roll in the mud some more.”
Tilly lit up. “Really?”
“No!” Nora snorted. “Well, maybe. Mud never hurt anyone.”
Anna rounded on Atlas. “Do the androids still want to use that chip on us?” She didn’t add. Do you?
“There is no consensus for that to happen.”
Nora and Simon relaxed, but Anna wasn’t fooled. She heard the hidden message underneath. They’d thought of it, and were still thinking of it. Control like Paul, all over again.
Nora looked pointedly at Atlas. “No wonder you were vague when talking about the humans here.”
Simon had his head tilted, a cold expression on his face. “We did not agree to come here for any experiments.” He angrily turned away. “I’m being left in the dark. Intentionally.”
“That at least we can fix now.” Atlas rubbed his temple. “We will do the updates so you can connect better.”
“Yes.” Simon tugged his eyes away from Nora. “Zero already mentioned that when we were walking in. Take me now, please.” Simon’s eyes flashed. “I need to connect. There better have not been any lies to make us come here.”
No lies. Anna shuddered. The walls here already felt closer than before.
“You are welcome here, I promise.” Atlas put a hand on her shoulder. “Like I said, we have no current plans to do anything.”
Anna wanted to back away and shake off his hand. But from Paul, she learned that sometimes you needed to stay still and keep quiet. And listen.
“I didn’t like those other people.” Tilly’s jaw jutted out. “They were mean.”
Nora nodded. “That they were. But . . .” She leaned over and ruffled her daughter’s hair. “Ain’t nothing we haven’t learned to deal with before, right?”
Simon put his arm around both of them, giving each a hug, but his eyes were hard and staring into the distance. His voice was flinty, protective, as he said, “I’ll get upgraded and put everything together.” He looked straight at Atlas. “None of us are dangerous.”
Anna could feel Atlas’s eyes on her face as he said softly, “I know. You are not dangerous.”
She flitted her eyes up to meet his. Do you? But he held her gaze until she felt uncomfortable and looked away first.
Nora stood, pressed into Simon’s chest a moment longer, until Atlas cleared his throat again.
“Well, regardless of their reception, you’ll have your own area all to yourself, so why don’t you explore and pick your rooms out?
” He pointed down the twin corridors that split off of the main common room.
“Down these halls are rooms. Please take whichever you want; all are vacant. I will come back in roughly an hour. I want to check on the arrangements for dinner.”
Simon was rubbing down Nora’s arm. “Can’t you uplink?” he asked Atlas.
But Atlas frowned. “Some things need to be handled directly. Come with me and I’ll bring you to Zero as well. If we can do those upgrades, then you can see more for yourself.”
Simon hesitated, lingering at Nora's side.
“Shoo.” Nora waved him forward. “I don’t need a keeper. Atlas is right. The faster you get those upgrades, the faster we can know what’s really going on.”
“Alright.” Simon kissed Nora’s forehead and followed Atlas out the door.
Anna stood, watching until after the door shut behind them. Then her shoulders dropped. Finally alone. Well, as left alone as they could be with the monitors overhead. But it felt right for the moment to be just with Nora and Tilly again.
Nora turned to Anna. “Well?”
Ironically, Anna almost felt relief. Of course there was something the androids wanted. There’s always a catch. Everything made more sense if there was. They wouldn’t just give them all these things. Safety didn’t come for free.
But to Nora she just said, “Let’s go pick out our rooms I guess. Explore this whole damn area.”