Samuel

"An... Android," Xavier said, his voice trembling with disbelief, his gaze locked on the figure behind the glass.

'Why in the world is something like this in the basement of our house? Mom, just what are you?' Xavier thought.

'But, I honestly expected that inserting the vial would open the box and not just make it transparent. Not that I want that after learning there is an Android inside. Who knows what it might do if that happens.' Xavier shuddered as he thought.

'So, does that mean there is another Android inside the second box?' Xavier wondered.

'No, no. I need to get out of here immediately. Afterwards, I'll have to ask mom about this.' Xavier shook his head and decided.

Clink Clink Clink

"Huh?" Xavier looked down.

"...!" His eyes widened.

The blood-filled vial he had inserted into the box was now rolling on the ground.. However, there was a problem.

'W-why is the vial empty? D-don't tell me.' Xavier thought his heart filling with trepidation.

Bzz

"Huh?"

Xavier looked up and was horrified. His worst fear came true.

The Android had turned on. It's ocean blue eyes glowed as it stared at Xavier from behind the glass as if scanning him.

Xavier froze, rooted in place, his breath shallow as his heart hammered in his chest. He didn't dare make a move, afraid of what the Android might do to him. Beads of sweat formed over his forehead.

'Keep it calm Xavier.' Xavier thought trying to extinguish the feelings of fear, panic and nervousness from his heart.

The Android just kept staring at him in silence. It was only after a minute that something happened.

Scan complete," the Android said, its voice surprisingly human, resonating with a calm precision that sent chills down Xavier's spine.

'S-scan complete? What does that mean?' Xavier thought.

"Name: Xavier Cromwell, age: 14 years old, birthday: 30th of October in the G.E Calendar, Siblings: Sarah Cromwell, Father: Michael Cross, Mother: Anna Cromwell, hobbies: Reading, Writing, Airboarding, watching h-"

"Stop!" Xavier blurted, his voice cracking. The Android fell silent, leaving Xavier frozen in disbelief. His embarrassment was quickly overshadowed by a single thought: Did it just obey me?

He looked at the Android and saw that it was silent.

"Um... why did you stop?" He asked.

"Because you ordered." The Android replied in a monotonous voice.

'Ordered? I just said, not ordered. Even if I did, why would it listen to me?' He thought.

"And why did you listen to my uh... order?" He asked.

"Because you are my Master."

Xavier's jaw dropped. "Master? What are you talking about?"

"That's correct." The Android affirmed.

Xavier was shocked to say the least. This out of the world Android called him Master.

'Th-this is crazy! I'm the Master of this Android? The Master!? Hell Yeah!! Hahaha!' Xavier gleefully thought.

'It's just like in those novels and cartoons I read! I have an Android! Woohoo! What should I let it call me? My Master? My Liege? Sir? The possibilities are endless!'

'Haah... calm down Xavier. Hold your horses.' He thought his heart brimming with excitement.

'However...'

Xavier took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Once he was done, he looked at the Android with a calm expression.

"So, um... what should I call you?" He asked.

"You can call me whatever you like." The Android answered.

"Hmm how about Samuel?" Xavier asked.

"If that is what you wish, Name: Samuel has been registered." The Android now Samuel, answered.

"Good." Xavier nodded.

"So, Samuel." He continued.

"Yes?" Samuel uttered.

"What brings you here in my basement?" He asked.

"I was put here by your mother." Samuel answered.

"Mom, huh? Not a surprise considering all of the secrets she keeps."

"Okay, next question. How did Mom acquire you?" Xavier asked.

"From your father, Michael Cross." Samuel replied.

"My father?"

"That's right. Your father." Samuel nodded.

'But wasn't Dad a writer according to Mom? How could he have acquired an Android like Samuel?' Xavier thought.

'Ugh! This is too confusing!' Xavier massaged his forehead.

"Care to elaborate what you mean by that?" Xavier asked.

"As you command." Samuel nodded.

"Your father, the Commander of all forces of the Duchy of Comilla, acquired me for Duke Cranbell. The deal was made with representatives from Graxas, a neighboring planet of Xenon, where we currently reside." Samuel answered.

"The deal was conducted under strict secrecy," Samuel continued. "The Duke believed acquiring advanced Graxan technology would give him an edge over the other Dukes."

However, these answers only gave rise to even more questions in Xavier's mind.

Xavier was silent. His entire worldview crumbled from what he heard. He had never seen his father, his father died before he was born, his om was the one who raised him all by herself. He always wanted to know more about his father and bugged his mom to tell him more about ghis father. However, most of the times, his mother avoided the question or just outright refused to answer. The only thing his mother had told him was that his late father was a writer from a common background. She didn't even tell him the name of his dad.

Xavier's mind was a chaotic mess.

'No way. My Dad... was the Commander of all of the forces of one of the eight Dukes of our planet, Xenon? Unbelievable. My mom, why did she hide all of this from me? Why did she lie? What she said about Dad, that he died of an incurable heart disease also a lie? Is anything she ever said to me was true?' Xavier thought with a sullen expression.

"...!"

His eyes widened is shock as he remembered something.

'Wait, that name... Michael Cross. I've heard it before, not just heard but read also in books.'

'No... it can't be. My dad is actually...'

Xavier looked at Samuel with a solemn face.

"Michael Cross... the former Commander of Duke Cranbell's forces?" He asked.

"That is correct." Samuel nodded.

Xavier closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his taut nerves. A moment later, he opened them and said.

"Michael Cross, the Blazing Terror—wasn't he declared a traitor? for going against the Duke?" Xavier asked.

He thought Samuel would answer this question quickly just like the others he asked. That is why, he was a bit surprised seeing Samuel close his eyes as if remembering something from the past.

'So that's what they call him now, huh? A traitor.' Samuel thought with melancholy.

As an Android, Samuel could not only process and replicate emotions but also experience an uncanny semblance of 'feeling' them, blurring the line between machine and sentience.

"Hmm? Samuel, what's wrong?" Xavier asked seeing Samuel not answering.

***

A/N: Sorry for the delay.