A Contradiction of Life - Part 6

[The Liar]

A Contradiction of Life - Part 6

“We could run away together.” David suggested.

Alyssa stared at him.

“No.” she said rather definitely. She sighed then took a sip of her coffee. They were sitting in the lobby café before work. “I know this is coming from a place of love, but David, please… never suggest something like that again.”

Alyssa got up, and moved next to David. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and whispered in his ear.

“Look,” she said, “I know you’re worried. Maybe you could work something out with the testing department, or at the very least you’re entitled to know how long my testing period is…I’d kind of like to know that to. Try things like that and not, you know, something that could get you 15 years for industrial espionage.”

Alyssa kissed him on the cheek.

“Got to go now,” She cooed, “I’ll see you after work.”

Alyssa left, and David went off to his job.

The work load was still fairly light, and his mind was consumed with worry about Alyssa. He decided he’d have to try to talk with Morris at lunch, unappealing as any further contact with the man was. It was no wonder Alyssa seemed to hate her job.

As if he had spoken his name (and was the Devil). Dr. Morris walked into his department, accompanied by a man who looked like he was from legal.

David was filled with a sudden sense of dread.

He may not have thought about it that way at the time, but he had suggested what amounted to theft of an experimental prototype. They must have come across that conversation when analyzing Alyssa.

The man from legal walked up to him.

“Can you please follow me for a moment?” The man asked, “We wish to have a discussion with you in private.”

A feeling of hopelessness was building; he was going to be fired, and Alyssa was going to be taken away. Even if she passed now, it didn’t matter. They’d probably reset her and sell her as second hand.

David followed the man and Morris into an empty room, and they all sat down.

“You have a 2 year contract with Anima Corp, to be renegotiated at the end of that period.” The man stated, “But it has come to our attention however that you have certain characteristics that we think make you not entirely suitable as an employee of Anima Corp, and we wish to terminate your employment early.”

“You’re firing me.” David stated dejectedly.

“Oh, no, no, no, no, no!” Dr. Morris interjected, earning him a glare from the man from legal. “We don’t have remotely enough precedence for that! A poorly thought out comment, in a private conversation, while under emotional stress? You could sue our asses off!”

“If you’re quite done undermining our bargaining position,” asked the man, “May I continue?”

The man from legal pushed a paper over to him.

“Give this a thorough look over.” The man said, “I’m sure you’ll find, our terms quite generous.”

David perusal was less then thorough. He just glanced at the first article.

“You’re giving me Alyssa?” David asked shocked.

“Well, her testing period is almost over.” Morris stated, “We insist on a final data analysis in a week, and no selling her for at least a year. But beyond that, she’s all yours! A happy ending! Isn’t that nice!”

Something seemed suspect about the situation, but that may have just been Morris. From a corporate stand point, David could see a logic to it all. The easiest way to get someone to go away is to give them exactly what they want. David signed the paper.

“You’re pretty quick on that data analysis.” David commented, it had only been a couple of hours since he’d had that conversation with Alyssa, and legal had to have had some time to do their thing.

“Oh, not that fast really.” Dr. Morris said with his most sociopathic smile, “She volunteered the information herself.”

***

Authors notes: I've been dreading doing this part for forever. Now I must follow it up quickly or I suspect people might get...displeased. Hopefully tomorrow. I know I said this was going to be part 5.75, but it became long enough for a part 6. Still parts 7,8, and 9 to come. So much for my numbering scheme. I should make part 5.5 non-canon? I'm not sure if it really contributes anything to the narrative.

[TheSpotConlon]

Reading this makes me nervous. I love it, but at the same time I'm keenly aware of the sense of dread behind every moment.

So please, a happy ending when it's all said and done? Because I've got a weak heart as it is...

[linzhang77]

I really love your stories, keep up the good work!