The first thing that Beatrice noticed when she came to was the God awful smell. Something along the lines of sewage or something that was left out to rot and die. Perhaps both even.  She sat up rubbing her head as a slight headache became noticeable. She looked around the dimly lit room before noticing Jay next to her sitting cross-legged with his head resting in his left hand. His eyes were closed as audible snores escaped him.

   ‘How can anyone sleep like that,’ she thought to herself as she cracked her aching back. She reached a hand out toward him stopping briefly inches away from his shoulder before deciding to nudge him awake. Jay’s eyes darted open as he shot upright and looked around the room, getting a bearing on his surroundings before his singular eye landed on Beatrice.

   “Hey, you’re finally awake,” he said with a yawn.

   “Where are we,” she asked the man.

   “Still in the undergrounds kid,” Jay responded stretching himself. “Got good news though. Those AD’s are letting us go.”

   “Thank God,” Beatrice sighed in relief. “Don’t know how much I could take being down here. How long was I out for?”

   “Hard to say, maybe an hour or two. Felt like an eternity to me,” Jay responded with a slight chuckle.

   “Will need to get in contact with the Chief, see if he can send a squad down here to help handle these droids,” Beatrice said as she grabbed her hoodie from the ground nearby.

   “Actually, there’s a small caveat to that,” Jay began as he sheepishly ran his hand over his bald head.

   “What did you do,” Beatrice sighed as she put her hoodie back on.

   “We came to an agreement, they’ll let us out if we leave em be,” he responded.

  “Are you kidding me Jay,” she said with exasperation. “The whole point of us traveling to this shit whole was to figure out what they’re up to and bring them in to be wiped or disposed of.”

   “I know but,” Jay started before Beatrice cut him off.

   “Not to mention one of the AD’s we’re looking for is a killer.”

   “They’re going to hand him over. Look Beatrice, as unnerving as some of their behavior is they mean no harm to anyone. They just want to be left in peace,” he responded.

   “They’re machines Jay,” she stated.

   “Is it no to far outside of the realm of possibility to think that there could be more to them then meets the eye,” he shot back at her.

   Beatrice brought her right hand to her forehead as she sighed. “They’re a bunch of A.I.’s in plastic and metal bodies. They’re defective. And not human.

   “Didn’t know having emotions made you defective,” Jay responded. “Though it makes sense with how most people act where emotions are involved.”

   “Real smart Jones,” she shot back.

   “Hey, just pointing out an obvious connection,” he shrugged back at her.

   “You know you’re too nice for your own good. One day it’ll get you killed,” Beatrice said glancing over towards the man.

   “Perhaps, but today my niceness is getting you out of this trash bin in the ground and back to the comfort of your own home,” he smiled snidely as a thought came to his mind. “I’m sure a certain someone is waiting there worried sick about you.”

   “Yeah, I bet Spike is,” Beatrice responded as she stood up. “Hopefully Mr. Larson is taking good care of him.”

   Jay resisted the desire to slap his forehead at her response. ‘Not who I was referring to,’ he thought as he to stood up.

   Beatrice stared down at her feet as a somber expression adorned her face. “About earlier, on our way over here. I apologize. I shouldn’t have said those things. I understand being here brought back a lot of uncomfortable memories and it was inconsiderate of me to disregard that.”

   Jay stood there in surprise by what she said. He’s never known Beatrice to be that apologetic before now. “If anything, I feel like I should be the one apologizing,” he responded.

   A sad smile crept on Beatrice’s face. “Guess we’re to peas in a pod huh?”

   Jay stared at her for a moment thinking back on all they’ve been through together. “You know what I could go for right about now,” he began suddenly causing Beatrice to look up at him in confusion. “Some ice cream. We should grab some once we’re out of here, my treat. What do ya say, partner,” he asked with a wide smile.

   Beatrice stared at him, her mouth slightly a gap as memories of him cheering her up with their favorite frozen treat when she was little flashed through her mind. Her eyes twinkled a bit as a genuine smile illuminated beautifully on her tired face.

“I’d like that.”