The Replenish

I rode up the street on my motorcycle and parked it near a dirty, dripping, trash filled sewer grate. I cut the engine and didn’t budge for a few seconds while I strained to see clearly.

Everything was dimmer and harder to see from up here. Our section of town was poorer than 47th Street, so electricity was available only sparsely, creating a darkened canvas only occasionally brightened by low amber light.

My difficulty seeing clearly wasn’t only because of the dim light, though. These new human eyes had just begun to solidify and I was having spells with my vision fogging up. Maybe I was getting too tired. I’d need to rest soon, but Quint told me she may be coming.

I’d stay up for her.

It was then that I heard a piercing shriek. Damn it! I thought I’d evaded the relentless, desperate Xenons, but still they followed me. They were getting faster lately, and I wasn’t sure how.

Staying hidden from them had been difficult but so far, in a decade they hadn’t found me. They couldn’t tell from mere sight that I was a Misted now that my human body was almost fully-formed, but if they touched me, I’d be recognized instantly.

The pheromone we Misted gave off was synthesized for recognition by Xenons and they used their neon yellow dog-like creatures to find me.

I swung my leg off my bike and raced toward my apartment building across the street. In my haste, I stepped into one of now-numerous and treacherous potholes filled with dirty rainwater that dotted the streets, soaking me thoroughly. I had myself to blame for the potholes, though. It was my fault the place was so flooded.

Frantically, I pulled off my right glove and pressed it to the bio-lock of my apartment door. I tried once and then a second time but there was no relieving click. It was probably because my fingerprints had gone flat again. Sometimes in the gloves, they got rubbed off.

“What now?” I whispered.

There wasn’t anywhere for me to go. In a panic, I dashed to my bike and hurriedly launched onto the seat.

I had barely settled my dripping self onto the motorcycle when the Xenons floated up the street in their black ink-colored cloaked jackets. Underneath their attire I could see their dusty-blue and matte-purple glowing bodies. Sure enough, their Mutts were in tow.

I tried starting my bike, but it wouldn’t catch. The junky thing was stalling lately because of the rain. I’d need to get the bike to the shop soon. My heart sank as I felt the droplets begin to fall. I tried to start it again, anxious and desperate.

Finally, I managed to get the bike running, revved the motor, and dropped the clutch in first gear, speeding away down the dark street toward the outskirts of town.

It was already hard to see with the visor and developing eyes, but now the rain was picking up. It was a good thing I knew these roads as well as I did.

Along the way I found an electric zone. Plenty of shops, streetlights, and homes with lamps on. I wondered what it was like to live like that. I’d hoped I could have made some money by now, but I wasn’t fully human.

I’d been holding back my development for Quint.

The lights guided me and I kept going until the screaming faded into the distance. I rolled to a full stop, in the middle of the road with the engine still running, waiting; listening. It was pouring now making it hard to hear, but the screaming was gone.

I glanced down at the fuel gauge. It was nearly empty. Whether the Xenons were still back there or not, I had to get home. I turned the bike around and made my way back to my apartment.

On the way, I worried whether the gloves had flattened my prints again. Would I be able to get back in? I parked and raced to the door, avoiding the potholes, this time.

For whatever reason, when I held my hand up this time, it read my prints and opened for me with a satisfying beep and click. I nearly fell into the apartment lobby, I was so scared. When I heard their screams I slammed the outer door shut.

Outside the apartment, disinfectant doused the stairs and doors. I’d set it up after the Mutts had gotten too close for comfort a few years back and it was still working even in the rain.

Watching through the barred glass, I could see their onyx-colored cloaks dragging along the wet pavement. I shivered and turned around, unlocking my apartment. It was number six, though I wasn’t sure why; It was the only one on this floor.

From up above I heard the familiar shouts of my neighbors. The older Dredger couple was boisterously celebrating while the younger humans were arguing. When I got inside, I sank into my dirty, yet comfortable couch. I wasn’t complaining.

At least I had a place to live.

As much as I tried, I couldn’t help but stare out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the distant neon lights and images of dancing women. It was hard to ignore Quint’s sleek robotic likeness dancing seductively. I couldn’t believe she was still working in that job.

It was so beneath her.

Suddenly, I heard a knock. Was it her? I hopped up and rushed to the door.

Peeking out the peephole didn’t help to see who was there. It was fogged up from all the moisture in the air. Coupled with my eyes being blurry, it was probably a lost cause.

But then there it was. A spark of pink.

After unlocking the door, I opened it quietly. I watched as she entered gracefully.

“Fume,” she began, “I’m worried they’re looking for us.”

“The Xenons?” I asked and continued, “What would they want with you?” I was plainly confused.

“Not the Xenons, the cops.”

“I’m not afraid of them. I’ve already been sentenced to this planet. What exactly are you worried about?” I paused after I noticed her cheek. “Oh, your face. It’s getting worse.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Are you finally going to tell me what happened?” I asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She looked away, avoiding my gaze.

“It was at work wasn’t it?” I pressed.

Quint bowed her head which was all the confirmation I needed. She worked at a reputable establishment but that didn’t mean they could keep her safe all the time.

“Can you help?” she asked in a whimper.

I reached up to her smooth, shiny alabaster chin and turned her cheek. I sucked in a breath. Her circuits were glowing fiery pink and exposed.

“Why don’t you get to Sevlen? He said he’d patch you up.”

“Please try,” she pleaded in a desperate voice. “For me.”

I stared at her for a second. She was asking something of me that I knew I couldn’t help with but I couldn’t tell her no. I nodded.

She smiled and that was enough for me. Her shimmering bubble-gum pink lips parted to reveal her gleaming titanium teeth. Her cheek sparked and the tiny flickers flew onto the dirty carpet. We both stamped them out and then I sat her down on the couch.

I removed my gloves.

It only took a second for me to concentrate and let go. Then, my hands misted. My swirling, wet essence circled in search of what needed healing. It spun around her several times, but nothing happened. In defeat, I pulled my gloves back on.

“What happened?” Quint asked.

“The same thing I warned you about the last two times. The parts of you that need help aren’t improvable by me anymore. They have to be organic. When it was just the tissue in your face--”

Her pink irises lit up as she said, “Enough.”

Then she stood up, her sleek, white robotic body moving smoothly, yet speedily. Her kobi-pink joints flickered, reflecting her intense anger.

Without a goodbye or even a stolen glance over her shoulder, she was gone. I told myself not to follow, but then I found myself dashing to the window, watching. The rain had picked up but even with my foggy eyes, I could see her sprinting. The sparks trailing from her cheek were visible from yards away.

Once she was out of sight, I resumed my position on the dirty couch again. Maybe I could clean it the next day.

As I held my head in my hand, I made a promise to myself to stop doing this for her or anyone else. It was only holding me back but I couldn’t help it. I loved her.

“Damn it, Quint.”