Chapter One: Attack
“Good morning, Lanea,” a gentle male voice said. “What would you like for breakfast? I have your coffee brewing now. Do you want me to heat your shower water?”
A soft groan came before the woman buried in the bed managed to speak. “Yes, please, Teddy. A little warmer this morning. Can I have fried green tomatoes and grilled chicken, please,” she asked, her voice muffled.
“Of course, Lanea. I’m happy to help,” the voice responded. “I’m going to start your breakfast now. You have eleven minutes.”
With a heavy sigh, she threw the covers off herself before sitting up. Her short, golden hair was sticking out everywhere from sleep, not looking any better when she ran a hand through it. Her eyes were a strange mix of gold and green with a thick ring of blue on the outsider edge. She blinked to clear the sleep from her eyes before she pushed to her feet and padded toward the washroom, where her shower awaited.
Teddy was a specialty AI home care assistant for people with certain types of medical conditions. A hundred years ago, she would have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Now, she was diagnosed with Social Deficiency Neuro Type C. It referred to a specific set of behavior and thought patterns, which were treated with therapy and medication to lessen the symptoms. Teddy’s job was to not only keep her company, but handle things she had a difficult time with, such as cooking, as well as to provide her some added conveniences. Everything from setting her water temperature, monitoring her state of mind, reminding her of bedtime, giving her her medication, and that sort of thing. A regular schedule was necessary to keep her functioning at her best, and order helped her anxiety levels lower.
After a brief shower and completing the rest of her morning routine, she entered the closet and got dressed in suitable work attire – much like what was fashionable a century ago, but with the modern colors, patterns, and cuts. A shirt patterned with the various planets in the solar system, pants that matched the north pole blue of Neptune, with dark ankle boots the color of the void of space. The shirt had what was called a sloped front, where the upper part of the shirt rests just barely down the sides of her shoulder, then the material curves slowly downward, with a valley that reached down just at the tops of her breasts. When she was finally ready, she wandered into the seating area where her breakfast was to be served, seeing a cup of coffee waiting for her with steam rolling out of the inky liquid. The entire kitchen was set up for an automated system to work and not for humans to use, limiting the amount of space that was needed for food prep and storage. That allowed her apartment to be smaller without limiting the more important features the apartment had to have for any inhabitants.
Lanea was pleased when the plate was placed in front of her with some of her favorite food. Being that Lanea was unable to cook had once meant she had to deal with what her caretaker made, but this system allowed her to get a wider variety of foods cooked in different ways. While she had grown used to Teddy himself, being able to pick out whatever she wanted was still a new thing that excited her every time the tantalizing food was presented to her. She was picky, but Teddy didn’t mind at all.
“Here is your medicine,” Teddy said once she’d finished and was done wiping off her mouth with a soft cloth.
Lanea pulled one of the loose sleeves up and out of the way, It didn’t really matter, but direct skin contact was best for injections. One of Teddy’s robot ‘arms’ pressed the device against her upper arm. She felt the sudden pressure, then it was over and the arm retracted. Four pills were dispensed from a metal bowl that came up through the counter near where she sat.
“Thank you, Teddy,” she said, gathering the pills to swallow them with her juice.
She understood that Teddy wasn’t a person, but he was an advanced AI that responded like a human being. She treated him like he was a human being, which seemed to make him happy, as he was always very warm with her. Like a favorite uncle or a beloved brother – without the awkward physical contact and scenes because of her inability to catch on to many social cues. With Teddy, none of that was an issue. They communicated clearly.
“You’re welcome, Lanea. Did you need me to help you with anything else before you leave,” he asked in an affectionate tone. One that wasn’t really necessary for her, but he was still programmed with a kindly ‘personality’. “I can make you a coffee to go, if you wish.”
“No, thank you. I just need my portable and I’m good,” she told him with a slight, unconscious smile. “I’ll see you this evening!”
“Have a good day, Lanea. Good luck with your meeting later.” Teddy said, sounding like a pleased father. “I hope all goes well.”
“Thank you, Teddy,” she said, then paused. “Do you think you can get some plants in here,” she asked hesitantly. “Little ones, big ones… whatever is appropriate for the place? Maybe some light-scented flowers, too,” she added as an afterthought, slipping on her identity band before clipping her security chip onto her blouse.
“Of course, Lenea. Do you have any preferences on types or locations?”
“Just… around. You decide what would look best. I’m sure you have plenty examples you could use for inspiration,” she suggested as she neared the door. “But, I do want a couple of bushy things in the bathroom and at least couple in the corners of the lounge.
“Why thank you. I appreciate your trusting me with this. I shall do my best,” Teddy told her, sounding very pleased.
“Thank you!” Lenea then gave him a little wave before she stepped out into the hallway, hearing the faint sound that came with her door closing.
The walk to the stairs wasn’t long and she made her way down them quickly. Most used the tubes for going up or down, but stairs may never cease to exist and they provided good exercise for her. Everyone needed to get their blood pumping daily. When she reached the first floor, she looked out to see there weren’t many about before exiting the stairwell. Soon, she stepped outside into the warm spring air.
She walked down the sidewalk, paying little attention to the other pedestrians other than to note their proximity, direction, and speed, if moving. Their voices carried, mixing together to create an indistinguishable overlap of voices and words. Automated electric cars drove down the streets, making a light whooshing sound from the air they disturbed as they passed, some moving so slow you could almost walk faster than they were. She continued on until she had to enter the train depot, scanning the silver identity wristband to be allowed through the gate. With the high speed the train traveled, she would make it halfway across the city in only a few minutes.
Lanea took her seat, glancing at the window. Holographic ads played on the wall, and the soft female voice was talking about the benefits of some type of procedure and how great the results were. She paid only half attention while watching the others who were gathering within the car. Boarding took only two minutes, then they were off with only a slight hint of motion felt by the passengers. It was the newest ad for companion bots that caught her eye just after they began moving. While she wasn’t interested, she found it rather interesting.
Tang Enterprises announces the latest in our companion robots! Meet the new Love Bot line! Order a robot to fit your preferences. No matter what your tastes are, we will customize a bot just for you. They are fully functional for companionship, socialization, sex, protection, and labor. Every care has been taken to make them as human as possible, so no one will know that your partner is a bot! With the most advanced AI available, we can even custom program your bot for whatever needs you may have. A specialized bodyguard? We have a massive library of combat techniques that can be downloaded into your bot so that you are always protected. Prefer a certain type of sexual activity? We can also customize your bot with any fetish you can dream of. Numerous specializations are possible, all you have to do is request them or view our full menu. Prices start at $40,000 for a basic model and reach higher for more specializations. Check out our selection at any station, portable, or visit our store. Press 8417928 for directions to the nearest location!
Lanea sighed. In a city with over fifty million, one would think finding a romantic partner shouldn’t be that difficult. The ad was appealing, though. A series of robots of a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and skin tones had been shown, both nude and dressed to show off all their attributes. She really couldn’t tell they weren’t human, which was a bit disconcerting. Some showed body art, a few had a variety of piercings, and the sexual areas appeared equally as varied. One of the male specimens had been extremely well endowed, enough to make her cringe at the pain that would cause. Not that she had much experience in that area to know much about that sort of thing. Her condition could make it a bit hard to get that adventurous with anyone, though she was not innocent.
When it reached her stop, she slid out last and quickly made her way back out to the street. The warm air heated her skin, her senses refreshing in the softly scented air. Being in enclosed spaces besides her own place seemed to have an unpleasant feeling of being pressed in on. It was only a couple of buildings down to the tall structure she worked in. It was covered with vertical gardens, draping greenery to cover the structure between the many UV filtering windows. The greenery was not uncommon in cities, as humans had learned long ago the dangers in highly populated areas, thus vegetation was everywhere. Once inside the large, open reception area, she took a quick glance around. There were a few people loitering, so she hurriedly entered the first tube available in order to reach her office on the eighty-second floor. That was too many stairs to climb. As she rose, she turned her portable on and began to busy herself with opening up the necessary files. By the time the lift reached her floor, she had it all set up to transfer them to the primary system. The door slid open, and she stepped out of the tube. She barely paused at the reception area there as she made her way to the door that opened into the editing offices of the hundred year old publishing house she worked for.
Due to her off-hour schedule, she rarely encountered many waiting to use the tube, which helped with her anxiety. Deviations, waiting, or being forced into social situations could lead to an attack. The anxiety could be managed to a degree, but a trigger could also cause an unpredictable reaction. Once inside her office she relaxed, taking comfort in the quiet, neatly organized space where she spent much of her time. At her desk, she pulled out the tiny card that would connect her device to the internal system. Since they dealt with protected files, all the internal systems were only able to be accessed with a direct connection.
She observed that the systems connected and the files from her device were transferring to the internal system, going through the security and decryption process. While she waited, she went to her drink dispenser unit and tapped a button for her preferred coffee choice. As soon as she had it in her hands, Lenea went back to her desk and pulled her keyboard out of her pack and clipped it to her internal computer system so she could get to work. They were very uncommon, but there was always a need for those who could not or disliked being vocal.
Lanea was an editor for the third largest publishing company on the entire planet. She was incredibly talented, having an amazing eye for detail and a need of precision. The fact she could read rather quickly, and her ability to visualize the stories was only a benefit to her career, which had moved her quickly up the ranks. Nothing passed by her scrutinizing eyes, and if it was not approved by her, it wasn’t published. Because of her skill, only those with the most potential were sent her way, regardless of how much editorial work would be needed. This allowed for a much-needed variety in styles of content that kept her from getting bored. Multiple styles helped her expand and challenge her abilities, for without this stimulation, her mind became restless and she got fidgety. Fidgety increased her anxiety, which could lead to an attack.
As she transferred the edited files onto the system, Lanea opened up the program that she used to input her reports and filled out on the necessary forms to submit to her superior. Then, she sorted through the new submissions, glancing through to select those she was most interested in and transferred them onto her device. While she worked, the hours passed and she remained focused solely on her task, making notes and corrections as necessary. When the alarm went off indicating she had a visitor, Lanea jerked in her seat, startled. The door slid open and the tall, middle-aged man who was her boss stepped into the doorway, keeping his distance so as to not make her uncomfortable. He flashed her a smile, but no words were needed.
Lanea began saving and closing her files. Her boss remained silent until he saw her tap the screen to shut off her device.
“I saw your report this morning. It sounds like the author impressed you quite a bit,” he stated casually, tucking a hand into his suit pants. He smoothed his graying mustache with the other as he watched her collect her things.
“It was very good. He has very few inconsistencies to repair. I think he could be ready in another month,” she confirmed.
He chuckled, watching as she all but marched up to him, holding her portable to her chest protectively. “Good to hear it. We can add him to the winter release list, then.”
Lanea nodded. “I would think it would be the best time.”
“Shall we,” her boss asked, motioning for her to exit as he stepped back out of her way. “I opted for that lamb dish you like so much. I thought I should try it, too, for a change.”
Lanea glanced up at the man who looked like an uncle, in her opinion, and nodded. “It is very good. Extremely tender.”
“How’s your home system?”
“Teddy? He is good. I like him very much,” she told him. “He is still learning, but I have no problem with him. He is very nice to me.”
Mr. Randall laughed quietly. “I’m glad you’re pleased with him. I had the feeling that you would enjoy that system very much. Much better than a caretaker, yes?”
Lanea nodded emphatically. “Yes. Teddy is very accurate and he knows exactly where I want everything to be and doesn’t forget where things are supposed to go when he cleans. I can also eat anything I want, anytime I want it.”
“That’s very good to hear. I recall you were frustrated with that. Have you considered getting one of those companion bots? I was thinking one might be an ideal addition to your life. Someone who you can interact with that doesn’t forget about your particular needs and knows how to handle you in case something bad happens,” he told her with a small smile. He glanced down at her. “Also, it wouldn’t take any more of your time than you wished to allow it.”
Lanea’s brow furrowed. “I had not, no. You make a good point, but I don’t know that I could afford it, or if it would even be worth the expense. They are not cheap.”
“Well, you know, if you’d like, I could pull some strings and get you one on a trial basis,” he offered. “I just worry about your always being alone,” he added after getting into the executive lift that lead to all the most secure offices. “I know you talk to your AAIHS, but having some human interaction could help you work on your anxiety.”
“It’s a computer, not a person,” she stated flatly. “Also, his name is Teddy. As far as one of those things,” she added, pausing a few moments, “I am not sure I would be comfortable with that. Some of them look so real you can’t tell.”
Mr. Randall laughed. “That’s the whole point. People want a fantasy. But, consider giving it a shot. I mean, if you don’t like it, you can try a different one, or just send it back. It’d just be reprogrammed and re-assigned, so, no harm done. Also, the input of someone such as yourself could be vital to their operations. After all, they might like to set up a line or a line of programming that caters to people with Neurotype B and C.”
That drew Lanea’s attention. “I should consider it, then. From the point of therapy, it could be a very useful item. I can just shut it off when I don’t need it, right?”
If she could have picked up on social cues, she would have noticed her boss’ eyes flashed guilt and his smile dropped a little. “Absolutely. I know for certain they have been sending many to people with different conditions to help design programs to better assist their needs. You are exceptionally communicative but your lack of social cues would be a really good study. I know you’d be doing others a service.”
This pushed away most of her doubts. “Okay. I’ll think about any particulars and let you know tomorrow or the next day. I want to talk to Teddy and find out what his opinion is of my needs to know before making a decision. I am allowed to pick some things about it, right?”
“Of course you can,” he said with a wide smile as they took seats opposite of each other at a round table set up in the garden area of the roof. All buildings had some form of garden area atop them, this one was mostly green, leafy plants and vines with some flowers. “I’ll call my connection over there after lunch, then turn over your preferences directly to them. My contact all but begged me to find him some people who need specialized assistance, and the first person I thought of was you.”
“Why do they call them ‘love bots’ in the ads,” she asked curiously. “Do people think they can romance a robot?”
Mr. Randall shifted slightly in his seat. After a pause, he had to ask a question before he answered that question.
“Lanea, you’ve been taught about… sex, correct?”
Lanea nodded once. “Yes, I know about it.”
“Well,” he began, relieved he didn’t have to explain that bit, “that is one of their functions. People often buy them for that use, but they are also able to serve all sorts of other functions.”
“Oh, love as in sex.” she said with realization. “There are plenty of other people to do such things with, but sex sells, I suppose,” Lanea stated plainly. “It’s used with everything in some way or another. I read a study on the usefulness of sex or the implications of on the appeal of various products or marketing campaigns.”
The elder man nodded, a mixture of relief and amusement on his face, but desperate to change the topic. To her, it was a simple function, but he wasn’t wholly comfortable talking about it with her. “I’ll tell you what; I’ll send the option catalog so you can look everything over. Decide what you would and wouldn’t like, then I’ll get it squared away. Just buzz me and let me know. Fair?”
Lanea nodded quietly. After eating, she looked up at him, though not meeting his eyes, something he was long used to. “It is very nice of you to make me the offer and I appreciate it. I also thought lunch was very nice. Thank you very much for inviting me.”
“It’s always a pleasure, Lanea,” he answered in response. “I thoroughly enjoy our lunches. I wish we could do them more often.”
Lanea smiled slightly, something that she didn’t do often with people. They discussed work for a few minutes, then dessert arrived, giving her a new thing to focus on. It was another thing she liked well – pound cake, not shortcake, with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream. Real whipped cream, not the fake stuff.
“Can I ask you something,” Lanea asked once she’d finished with dessert. After he nodded, Lanea continued. “Do you take a personal interest in my welfare for any particular reason?”
Mr. Randall smiled. “Besides being a valued employee, I’ve read your file. You have no family, no social structure, and you don’t have anyone to keep an eye out for you. As your boss, I consider it my responsibility to take on the mantle. Besides, it would require three people to replace you, so it behooves me to ensure that you are well taken care of. Besides, I care what happens to you. I’ve gotten rather attached.”
Lanea considered this a moment before nodding. “A financial benefit is understandable. That’s just good business. I just didn’t understand the cause,” she said, pausing again. “I like your company, too. You are very nice and I like talking to you.”
“I also think you’re a very special young woman and I would personally like to see you as happy as you can be,” he said. “You remind me of my niece. Vibrant, beautiful, but also very vulnerable and fragile. Unique and curious and a complete contradictions.”
Lanea frowned, immediately wanting to correct his English, but decided not to. “Am I the only atypical working for you?”
Mr. Randall chuckled. “Not in such high positions as yourself, but yes. However, they all also have family or close friends to watch out for them.”
“I see. Well, thank you for your efforts,” she said with a bit of a smile. “It’s very kind of you to do so.”
“My pleasure.”
After their lunch finished, Mr. Randall escorted her back to her office. The moment the door closed behind him, she returned to her work. At 6.40 pm, a chime sounded, alerting her it was the end of her day. She carefully saved and backed up all the files before putting updated copies on her personal device. After putting her cup in the slot to be cleaned and straightening everything up, she told the office to shut down. She took her things and left the room, heading directly toward the tube. In a matter of moments, Lanea was out of the building and the refreshing air filling her senses again.
She followed the same route home in reverse that she took on the way to work. She never deviated unless she had an errand. She was waiting for the next train going out when two men came out from nowhere and grabbed her by her arms and shirt, forcing her toward one of the smaller utility doors. She immediately began to go into a panic attack, screaming and struggling with them – whatever she could as she tried to get free. One of the men doubled up his fist and struck her in the side of the head, causing her vision to go gray just as screams and shouts broke out around her. Lanea felt herself being pulled away, though her vision was blurry and everything seemed to be in gray scale. For a period of time she could not discern, the muted screaming and yelling were accompanied by her being jerked around, and she felt a number of blows to her body, but she barely felt them. The sensation of falling was the last thing she was aware of before she hit the ground, her head cracking hard against the hard, tiled floor, rendering her completely unconscious.
