Fugitive + Android

Fugitive+Android

Fort, sector 2.

Shopping mall.

409 AF

A woman stood in a large mall glaring at a worker there. However things weren't the way they seemed. The mall was large, but mostly quiet. There were other customers, but they were few and far between.

The walls were white, and the floor was covered in green tiles. There was also air-conditioning, making the air cool and fresh.

The angry lady wore a trench coat and carried a brown leather handbag. She had glasses on, and she also had her hair dyed pink.

"How many times do I have to tell you? It's 13 silver and 56 bronze. I could go across the street and buy it for less."

"Madam, the prices on the tags are final. If you don't have enough money for a purchase, please leave now."

These annoying words appeared to be spoken with so much kindness and sweetness that she almost believed it. Almost.

'Stupid androids.' Mabel mused, having a frustrated look on her face.

"I heard that." A female voice spoke up from behind her.

'You can read my mind. Some kind of esper ability?'

Mabel turned around to look at her.

The 'esper' in question was particularly tall- she looked like some kind of giant at around 8ft tall. She had a white jumpsuit on, which had the symbol of a skull with a gun over it.

"You seem to be confused. I'll appreciate it if you follow me, lady. We have some things to discuss."

Mabel froze in fright for a second, stepping backwards and hitting the counter by accident.

"Oww."

"Mabel Clarence. It would be wise to follow me."

'Who the heck is she? A mind-reading secret agent esper? What does she want with me?'

Nonetheless, Mabel nodded her head and picked herself up.

'It's probably nothing.'

The tall lady in white turned around and headed for the exit. Mabel followed closely behind her. When the girl reached the door, she had to bend down to get through it. She did it with so much grace, it was clear that she was used to it.

"My voice is a bit too loud. We should talk privately."

"Umm...I have a camera hidden somewhere in my body. If you try any funny business, I have it recorded. It's also rigged to upload itself straight to a secure cloud- so deleting the file and/or destroying the camera is a bad idea. And murder..."

"It's enough. You talk too much."

Mabel was sure half the people on the street heard every word the mystery woman said. It made sense that she wanted a discreet place to talk.

Soon enough, they arrived at district 3.

"We've gone a long way.."

'This feels a lot like kidnapping, except I'm an adult. Somehow, that rubs me the wrong way.'

The lady kept silent.

The houses in the area were very numerous. So much so that you could count more then 60 residential houses in a single block. There weren't much corporate or government houses anywhere. It was a place, known otherwise as the slums of the fort. The place with hardly any rules. The only place the poor, the scorned and the outcast were welcome. The bottom of the barrel, with the reputation of being the worst Sector in the Fort. It was dirty, filthy and smelly. And to some people it was home.

Mabel wasn't one of those people.

"It's been almost an hour, big strong lady. My legs are dying."

"Take off the heels, you'll feel better." She tried to whisper, but she was still too loud.

'And step on mud and actual shit lying around? Nope. Not for me.'

Soon, the two of them arrived at a farm, somewhere at the border between Sector 3 and 4.

It was a large expanse of land with nothing but crops and farm androids slaving away at the fields. The farm androids look exactly like humans – just like all androids do. However, it was clear to Mabel that their software was outdated. Their behaviour gave it away. For every action they made, there was a small glitch in their movement. They shook and jerked strangely. Also, humans who are out in the sun for hours and hours, slaving away on a field aren't usually happy about it. However, every single one of them had a smile pasted on their faces.

"So...We trekked for nearly two hours."

"Yes."

'Yes. Just yes?'

"What the heck is so important?" There was a bit too much emotion in that voice. She believed that showing emotion was good- a sign that she was still stable- but too much was a bit difficult. Within him, she couldn't know exactly how much was good enough. Though she had had years of practice, it would take a lot more time to figure out how to act like a proper, normal human being.

"You are Mabel. You are also Michelle, Sara and Jasmine. Are you not? Though your real name is Miranda."

"..."

Mabel's weak eyes suddenly got a spark of life. Emotion yet again. This one wasn't Mabel's. It fully belonged to the personality that was Miranda.

"I... You... How do you know about that?"

"You're a criminal, Mabel. An international criminal. No haven is safe for you... Don't be afraid.."

'I'm not afraid, bitch. I'm figuring out a way to get rid of you.'

"I can help you."

Those words felt like a proper slap across her face. Or cold water being suddenly poured on her.

It felt like an insult to her. But rather than anger, she felt expectation. She wanted those words to be true. But they didn't make any sense.

"How?" The emotion behind her voice was so pronounced that even she was surprised herself. Now she was certain of it. Something was wrong with her. But what was it?

"I could give you a home outside the havens. All you need to do, is help me as well. Your skills and talents are unbelievable, and it would be a waste for you to spend your days here anyways. And you risk being snuffed out by the local authorities."

"So I have to do what you say? How's that different from going to prison?"

Mabel frowned. Her contacts here weren't much, but they were formidable. With a single phone call she could...

"I knew that wouldn't be enough. This is the deal-breaker. I know where she is."

"Who?"

"Tara."

Mabel's eyes widened.

"How? Where is she?"

"Currently, she's outside the Fort. She's not alone though. A shady looking young man is with her. A shifty adult is also on his way."

Mabel took a deep breath.

"If she's still alive. That's enough for me."

"Really? The young man she's with is Ivan Theodore Damocles. The greatest man-whore in the Fort. And the other man is..."

'I am not leaving my baby with a man-whore.'

"Take me there."

"Great choice. Now, for the thing you have to do for me..."

Mabel gave her the once-over.

"Wait a moment, fashion disaster. What are you doing dressed like an outcast?"

"The skull and gun is the mark of our organisation."

"I don't know any legal organisation under that name.."

The woman stared back.

"Ohhh..."

"My name is Brenda by the way, and I'm not an esper."

"Then what are you?"

"An android."

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