The Defect in Cascadia - Part 1

[Linnies]

A gentle vibration hummed through the air around me, its presence now explained by the newly acquired knowledge of the industrial district that lay directly below. Twenty one decks and roughly twenty kilometers cubed in volume, Cascadia housed half a million people within its superstructure that protected its inhabitants from the vacuum of outer space. Beholden under no outside authority, the space-faring structure is both its own city and nation with its own laws and regulations, which the rules of are currently being integrated into my consciousness.

In the same room in which I sat motionlessly, two men argued standing over me. With my processor maxed out under the installation program, I found it impossible to make sense of the words that they spoke to each other. In my half awake and doll-like state, all I could manage to note is that I had been sitting here for the past nine hours, and the installation process was only a third of the way complete. Time however passed quickly, the next instant was two hours later, where I looked into the eyes of a man holding my face up from the chin. Then, three hours later a woman held my hand and plucked at my synthetic skin as many others filed out of the room.

“Installation complete!” I announce into the room with a cheerful and confident voice. With a quick glance around I noticed no one was present. Several maintenance stations attached to either metal chairs or tables dotted the room, the screen of their terminals black and the surfaces empty, and I remember just hours ago they were all occupied. The walls were lined with cabinets and tools of various designs which I didn’t recognize. However thanks to the newly installed data I knew I was on deck seven, in one of the many android service centers. This particular one, being somewhat near the center of the city ship.

I stood up from the cold metal chair that was beginning to feel uncomfortable against my back. I knew I should be staying put, waiting for assignment of tasks, duties, and ownership, but I figured as long as I stayed in this room, I was still doing exactly that.

Through my boredom induced stroll in the small space, running my fingers on dusty surfaces and inspecting the tools and machinery that were not hidden behind cabinets and boxes, I stopped in place as I saw a figure standing before me. From the darkened and reflective surface of a large wall-mounted monitor, it took a moment for me to realize it was my own reflection, a face and figure shared between all the others that sat in the now empty chairs around me hours ago.

Standing at exactly 170 centimeters tall, she wore simple blue tights around her torso and hips. Long blonde hair fell all the way down to her chest with slight curls. Noticeably between the end of her strands of hair was a standard android control interface. Placed where two shoulder blades met a rectangular area where several buttons were etched into the skin, complete with a small digital screen the size of one’s thumb. The screen slowly pulsed a faint yellow tone, and I leaned close to the wall and pulled my hair to the side to take a better look. The mirrored letters were somewhat difficult to read, as I pieced the message together letter by letter.

Awaiting programming… Please refer to documentation…

The screen switched slowly between the two messages, and looking down at my own chest, I could not look far enough up my own body to see the clear plastic cutout where the screen was, only barely the set of buttons just below it. However the faint orange glow of the screen did illuminate the tips of my nose and cheeks. I let out a puff of air through my nostrils in disappointment and took several steps back across the room, so that in the reflection I could see myself in entirety.

Obsidian companion unit, series 12 model, Serial OBSIDIAN-CPCF12-C03-B5NV9K, I recall. I twisted my shoulders and hips back and forth in front of the darkened monitor, checking my reflection. The android in the screen has a cute skinny face with rounded edges, and a young and bountiful looking body designed to be sexually enticing to every man or woman, leaving nearly every desire fulfilled. As I continued to pose, my synthetic hair and flesh swayed and bounced in tune with a series of practiced steps that was intimately drilled into my mind.

My steps slowed as I ran my hands provocatively down the sides of my torso as I focused in on the dark reflection. If the gray-colored eyes and control panel was not enough, the glossy skin and perfect body made it clear that I was not a natural human. I know I am an android, designed, manufactured, and sold to be the perfect companion. However, when the android’s face slowly turned into a scowl, there was a sense of strangeness that crawled up into my mind. Something was not right, the mechanical systems, data streams, and overwhelming sensations from countless patches of my skin… It didn’t feel normal or natural, it didn’t feel like me.

“Oh! I still need to be programmed, I’m sure that will fix everything!” I say suddenly, turning my face back into a smile as I patted my cheeks with both of my hands. “I’ll just wait here…” As I finish my sentence, a sudden sense of lethargy takes me, I drop my hands to my sides and feel my body stiffen.

***

My eyes shoot open as I raise my head to take in the same empty room, something within my tummy buzzes and stirs briefly, and I feel my skin begin to warm against the chilly air of the maintenance room. The woozy sensation of awakening quickly wears off as I hear two sets of footsteps approaching from outside. My heart, technically my processor, races as I get ready for whoever is coming. I had waited for just over nine hours, having gone to standby mode at some point.

The plastic door wobbles slightly on its rails, sliding open for two unfamiliar women to enter. They both wore nametags on their work uniforms, and immediately I recognized the authority of the Cascadian technicians. My systems told me that they both have full access, and in turn I would comply with just about anything they asked of me.

“What… What are you doing standing there?” The shorter woman, looking to be in her late fifties asked me. Her eyes were sharp with suspicion as she pulled out her tablet from the insides of her coat, looking back and forth between me and the tablet as she began tapping on the device.

“Hi! My installation was completed nine hours ago. I am currently waiting to receive programming!” I say cheerily, my mind busy with speculations of what said programming might be. I know no matter what it was, I would be happy with it.

“No… Why are you standing, and not seated on the station.” The younger woman said in an impatient and scolding tone while pointing at the metal chair.

I look back at the service station, at the only one with its screen turned on, flashing a notification that I can’t seem to read. “After activation I… I guess I got bored!” I said with a cute tilt of my head and an irresistible smile. Despite my display of innocence, the younger technician only seemed to get more angry as she took two quick steps towards me and gripped me on the shoulders. My bare feet slap the cold floor as I stumble back onto the metal chair, falling into the seat and bouncing on my thick buttocks. Before I can voice my surprise my mind suddenly rushes with information that makes me lose the words on the tip of my tongue. I feel digital tendrils connect to every single one of my systems, taking control for itself, using the wireless charging and data pads underneath the skin of my glutes.

“Device connected. Administrative authorization confirmed.” I blurted out automatically.

“Well, will you look at that, the onboarding actually finished.” The younger technician turned and said to her counterpart before working at the terminal attached to the station. A second later I feel the digital agent of the maintenance station request a complete readout of my operating status, along with the onboarding installation logs stored in my internal data drive. I didn’t need to approve of the transfer of course, with an administrative level of authorization it was as if I had completed the action myself.

The older woman walked closer, checking between the pad in her hand and the screen past the younger woman’s shoulder. She let out a raspy cough before starting. "Doesn't matter, I’ve already written it off as defective.”

“Right, the last thing we need is another basic slut bot on the ship.” The younger technician continued as she clacked on the terminal. “If anything we need more proper synth women instead.”

With another raspy cough the older tech hunches forward, beaming at my face, then down at my breasts. “My grandson got himself one too, a companion android. Came in a few months ago with the last cargo shipment.”

“Perryl?! Damn, him too. No offense but how did he afford one, wasn’t he working at the refinery?” The younger tech said in surprise, swinging herself back towards the older woman.

“My daughter bought it. Says it would keep him in the family quarters more. Even registered the bot under her own name.” The older tech said as she brushed the tips of my hair away from the control panel on my chest. As she spoke I could smell the hint of smoke from her breath. My chemical sensor telling me its composition, and the most likely source being from burnt plant matter. Despite that I remain passively smiling, staring straight ahead obediently as she continues. “Shes just being selfish, always afraid the kid would be taken away by some girl.”

“Thats too bad, I thought he was so handsome as well.” The younger tech replied, returning to working on the terminal as a brief silence fell between the two. I remained sitting upright with my hands placed on my lap, feeling the ebb and flow of data between my systems and the maintenance computer. Most of it was meaningless to me, while I’m sure that other androids could tell what was exactly being transferred, I was only programmed with the bare essential knowledge of my own system operations.

As the older tech continued tapping on her pad, sitting on a stool in the corner of the room. The younger tech seemingly finished with her work stretched her neck and shoulders as her eyes drifted towards me. “You, bot, how does it feel knowing you’ll be sent to the scrap yard. You’ll probably be drifting in space after they pick you apart for spare parts.”

I turn my head towards the younger tech, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it like a good obedient android. “I guess… I feel ashamed that I am not up to the standard of my manufacturer, Obsidian Synthetics. I also feel ashamed that I’ll never perform my designed purpose of offering companionship to others.”

“Companionship!? All you will be doing is playing as a toy for childish men who don’t want to work for a proper relationship. All bots like you do is harm the communities you're in, you know that?” The younger tech said accusingly.

“I’m programmed to never harm people!” I shot back, despite my panicked defense I kept my voice low, so as to not further provoke her. “I would never purposely…”

“Ofcourse you will.” The young tech cuts me off and pushes on my head with a finger that slides off my hair, causing my head to recoil back. “Or are you saying I’m wrong?”

“No! It’s just that…” I start.

“I’m just all so perfect, so cute and sexy and I’ll do anything you want.” The younger tech says, mimicking with her head tuning left and right and her eyes rolled back before returning to her normal tone. “It’s so disgusting.”

“It’s just an android, Mel. Don’t need to get all worked up at it, it's not you know… Like it's sentient or something.” The older tech said across the room, her head hidden behind her pad.

The younger tech huffed and leaned against the terminal with her arm raised, dangling her hand over the screen. “Just blowing off some steam. Just the sight of the slut makes me angry, you know.”

The older tech peeked out from behind her pad, the corner of her lips slowly turning into a grin. “I feel you girl, watch this… Android, tell us just how exactly stupid you are.”

My eyes flutter at the sudden request as my mind races for an answer. She is an administrator so I simply couldn't just deflect the question. “I’m… I’m… I am by android regulation designed to be at a sub human average intelligence quotient. At a score of 75, you can say I can be quite a dummy sometimes!” I answer, trying to end with a cheerful tone in my voice.

The older woman nods, thankfully her attention back on her pad and seemingly not listening to my self desecrating statements. “Go on…” She adds.

“Umm… My architecture is based on several neural AI working in tandem. While it is economical to produce and offer great reliability and repairability, it means I do not adapt to unfamiliar situations well and lack deep learning capabilities. So that means I would make for a horrible student, and perform poorly in other duties outside of my programming.”

A chuckle came from the younger tech beside me. I turn to look at her, a wide smile across her face as she looks down her nose at me. “All that we already know, we’re not stupid like you. So… Tell us something we don’t know, like… What is something you are most ashamed of?”

“I am a defective product, that…”

“We know! What else!” The younger tech says while giving my leg a kick with her shoes, sending a small wave of pain up my tactile sensors.

I pause again, thinking hard at what else I could possibly be ashamed of. I wasn't designed to be insecure or abashed, so I could only pull something from the memory of events that I had experienced. However I was only activated less than a day ago, and was conscious for only a few minutes, so there wasn’t much to draw from. My system warns me that my processor has hit its limit as I try my hardest to think of something quickly.

“I had a crush on my teacher, and I almost confessed!” I blurted out loud.

“What?” The younger tech tilted her head in confusion, a sentiment shared equally as I also wonder where I had said that from. It didn’t feel like I was lying, or I was simply making something up randomly. “When did you have a teacher? Were you active before? Somewhere else maybe.”

“I don’t know… Sorry, I’m not sure why…” My mouth hangs open as I am unable to make sense of what I had just said.

“Its personality network is defective, remember?” The older tech reminded her younger co-worker. “I’m almost done filling the report. I’ll show you something else fun, Mel… Android, explain each one of your features top to bottom, but do it in a way that is self-deprecating.”

“Hah! That’s something I’ve never heard before, I almost feel bad bullying the stupid thing.” The young tech added, looking at me with an expectant gaze.

I nodded and tightened my lips, trying to keep the synth-lube from being pumped up into my eyes. Then, I take a shallow breath as I begin. “My hair is composed of ionically reinforced poly-silica fibers that are designed to be tough and long lasting, but its hydrophilic properties mean that it dries slowly, so I can end up smelling bad if it's not taken care of quickly…”

The older tech stands up, tucking her pad back inside her work uniform as she makes her way to the cabinets across the room. The younger tech looks me in the eye, nodding with a smirk as I continue.

“With durable C grade synth skin, I guess I give off a doll-like look, especially with the lack of skin details, blemishes, and vellum. It would be hard to mistake me for a human close-up. The smooth matte finish also makes my skin attract dirt and grime, so I would have to clean often as I get dirty easily. Underneath most of my synth skin my dermal sensors are patterned fifteen centimeters apart, causing most of my sensitivity to be extrapolated data responses."

With a small bag of rolled up tools in one hand and a stool being dragged in the other, the old tech made her way beside me. She looked as if she had heard my tirade before, unlike the younger tech that looked to be enjoying it very much.

“My eyes are capable of seeing in the standard visible spectrum and use a singular thirty millimeter lens. While nice to look at with lots of details, my vision is limited compared to most other androids. So among others of my kind, I have bad eye sight with a low optimal viewing depth. My nostrils are capable of detecting only 50 different elements and compounds, mostly common airborne types. So I guess you can’t rely on me telling you what something smells like with detail, or if something will taste good or not.”

“You’re definitely a mass-produced budget slut… But continue.” The younger tech nodded with her eyes looking down at me. While I continued to hold myself together with cheery toned explanations, with only a few small hints of feeling humiliated seeping through.

“My mouth is designed to please my users. My teeth are dulled and softened rubber, while my tongue is capable of extending fifteen centimeters from my lips. Inside, gel infused and lubricating synthskin can tighten and message any objects that enter, so when exposed the inside of my mouth can look quite in-human and obscene. Also without a deeper satchel I am incapable of simulating drinking and eating with my partners, making me less human-like in my primary role as a companion.”

As I explain the features of my design, a sense of unfamiliarity creeps back into me, as if I was hearing this for the first time just like the younger technician. While she was no doubt enjoying my self directed tirade, I was more focused on experiencing the description as I went along. As I described the properties of my mouth just now, I couldn’t help but feel the inside of my cheeks, and the silky sensation of my tongue moving around as I spoke.

“My facial design is generated resembling a caucasian girl in her early twenties, using references from various popular adult content entertainers of the last ten standard years. However I share the same look as every non-customized android of my model. It can often remind my users of my artificiality and lack of uniqueness.”

I recall the image of my face from the darkened monitor, and the identical faces of the other androids that sat and laid beside me for the brief moment I was first activated. Then the memories of them leaving one by one came into mind, from a time where I wasn’t really conscious but must have been active while the onboarding program installed itself.

“My body measurements are exaggerated to the limit of what is considered by the latest online census to be natural. Though many would find my… my…” I stutter as the older tech suddenly pulls my top down to my waist, letting the stretchy material snap black onto my skin exposing my left breast to the cool open air. My legs and arms quiver as I feel my skin and nipple stiffen in reaction to the cool air. Despite the sudden exposure, I try to continue. “My… My body to be unrealistic, in conjunction with my low grade synth-skin, causing some to feel that I look indecent and salacious.”

Before I could formulate my next feature, the sharp painful sensation of a scalpel digging into my skin shocks me. I crack my unbothered facade and squint in pain as I bite my lips, letting muffled grunts escape through my nostrils.

“Don’t stop, continue, bot.” The younger tech commanded me.

“Ye… Yes… I am equipped with four hundred… AHH!... Synthetic skeletal muscle powered by a one thousand and five hundred watt hour powercell.” I can’t help but let out a yelp of pain as I feel the digging of the scalpel finally cracks open my synth skin, sending a jolt of pain accompanied by a warning message telling me the same thing that takes over my thoughts for a brief moment. “...While enough to allow me to mimic most human movements, the strength rating is designed to be only half of normal humans of the similar build. While prioritizing safety, this also excludes me from performing certain labour tasks requiring strength.”

In the brief respite between my explanation, I glanced down at the layer of synthetic skin that the older technician had cut open and peeled to the side. I feel the pain signals that my dermal sensors are screaming at me as she pulls the durable and stretchy skin aside, revealing a layer of white plastic underneath. She holds the skin taut to the side as she scans the newly exposed code printed onto the white plastic shell. It was the production code that noted the exact location, time, and assembly line in where I was built. My feet curled and my hand gripped the fabric of my tights as lubricant swelled up in my eyes. The only thing keeping me from weeping from both embarrassment and pain is the command to continue my humiliation, which I had no choice but to obey.

“My breasts are each padded with fourteen shaped gel packs that mimic the natural shape of…” As I continue the plastic doors to the maintenance room slides open. I glance at the tall, dark haired man makes his way inside without breaking a stride. Stopping himself behind the two technicians with a quietness that contradicted the confident posture he carried. His deep blue eyes remained focused on me, not sparing a single glance away, as if the two others in the room didn’t exist. A third emotion rushed into my already cramped head, a sense of embarrassment of exposure towards a strange man that was not an authorized technician, as well as the next words that are going to come out of my lips. “...women in her healthy youth. My nipples are designed to be large and self lubricating, with an elasticity that would allow smooth insertion of objects up to ten centimeters in circumference…”

The man brought a fist up to his nose and cleared his throat, causing the two techs to almost jump in surprise as they turned to look at him. “Uhh… Excuse me, are you allowed to be here? This is a security clearance only area.” The younger tech asked, standing up straight to confront the intimidating looking man. His short hair slicked back with a stubble filled heavy jawline, his shoulders wide and the not-so-impressed look he gave made the tech feel small in his presence.

“I certainly am.” He said simply as he pulled a small metal plate from his thick jacket for the tech to see. Three gold streaks in a criss-cross pattern embedded itself in a small silvery platinum rectangle, it wasn’t anything that I recognized as the onboarding program didn’t offer any hints either.

“Whats that supposed to mean?” The younger tech retorted back.

“That means he's authorized… Uh… What can we do for you sir?” The older tech said with a polite bow of her head, letting go of my stretched skin to properly face the man.

“I will be taking over here. You two may take your leave now.” He said as walked towards the terminal currently connected to my systems. While putting on a pair of white cloth gloves that fitted his hand perfectly.

“Comeon!” The older tech pulled at the younger tech which quickly followed her out towards the door. “What’s this all about?”, "Probably some espionage stuff, the bot’s maybe got spyware or something, the less we know, the better.” The older woman explains as the door slides shut behind her, leaving the room awkwardly silent with me and the stranger.

He looks down at me sitting awkwardly in the chair, boob out and skin peeled. A bemused smirk crosses his face as he breaks his intimidating look. “What is all this about, insertion of objects?” He asks with a raised brow.

I snapped my face away to hide the blush that appeared on my cheeks. “I was just explaining my features, that's all. Nothing strange really.”

“Is that so? I’ll take your word for it.” He says as I heard the clacking of the keys on the terminal.

Turning my head back at him just as fast as I had looked away, I raised my voice in protest. “Hey! I don’t recognize you as an authorized user. You shouldn’t be using the terminal, it’s connected to my system right now!”

Without taking his eyes off the terminal and his hands off the keys, he teased. “So what are you going to do about it?”

My legs only managed to jerk in place as I tried to stand up to disconnect myself. However with the digital agent still attached to my systems, its command for me to stay connected simply overruled my own desires the moment I went against it. I sucked in air through my nose and held it in my lungs, while I actually didn’t have any lungs and the gesture was purely cosmetic, it helped me to steel myself as I once again tried to force myself to stand. Not only my legs this time, but my whole body almost moved. I must stay connected, the thought echoed loudly in my head.

With my eyes tightly closed I focused on what thoughts were my own. A stranger was going to mess with my systems, that was clearly against my programming and any conventional practice, as well as being actually illegal in the city ship of Cascadia. The sound of his clacking on the terminal continued. Stupid override be damned, I wasn’t going to let myself be molested by a stranger. With that in mind I tried again, the override screamed in my head as I almost lost all consciousness. I must stay connected. It dominated every thought I was capable of. This time though, once the echo of the override faded I found myself standing, although a bit awkwardly in a forward leaning slumped pose.

The clacking of keys stopped, as the man turned to me with his gloved hands that pulled away from the controls. “Beatifully done, beyond expectations.” He said calmly, his voice rich with excitement.

Standing upright I covered my exposed breast with my right hand, I took a step back away from the man. One step was all I could manage, as he grabbed my left arm with a quickness that I had not expected. I fought with all I could muster as he pulled me close, wrapping his other arm around my back, keeping me pinned against his thick jacket. The sudden sensation of my chest being tightly held into another sends a dizzying sense of lust into my mind.

It feels good. For a moment I forget everything and look into his dreamy eyes with a desire that craves to please, to touch, and to be used.

“Apologies dear, but we cannot delay.” He says as he reaches for my control panel with his other hand. I look on with confused thoughts as he presses on the middle button. I recall that it was my…

“Entering standby mode.” I announce with a melodic and practiced tone.

The man pulls his arms away from me. “Sit, please.” He gestures to the metallic chair of the maintenance station.

I turn on the spot and sit as he directs. A connection is made with my systems as I straighten my back and look forward, my hands resting on my lap.

“Hope this helps, feeling a bit better now?” He asks as he returns to working on the terminal.

“This unit is in standby mode. Emotional queries are unavailable.” I replied.

The man let out a sigh through his nose. “Thats all right, Rome wasn’t built in a day.” He says.

I remain motionless for nine minutes and twenty one seconds. “Operating parameters uploaded. Please restart this unit to complete installation.” I announce.

The man kneels down beside me, he looks up at me in the corner of my vision. “I know you can still hear me. I have installed an encoded command and communication channel in your operating system. I humbly request that you do not tell anyone else of its existence. Understand?”

“Unable to comply. Obsidian androids are by regulation unable to obfuscate information under administrative access.” I announce.

“I have faith that you will find a way to manage. We will meet again. Take care of yourself.” He says as he stands up to reach for my control panel.

“Unable to comply. Obsidian androids are… This unit is now shutting down.”

The world goes dark, and an instant later I receive the system command that would turn off my systems one by one.

[BA2]

Promising start, I enjoyed this!

[Pretzel]

Nice! Look forward to a continuation.