Laughter erupted throughout the house as two siblings started to run around, lost in the emotion of fun. The boy ran after his much older sibling. He grabbed on to her dress, yelling happily.

“Tag, you’re it!” He let go of the dress, turning around the other way. The girl smiled brightly as her red curly hair bounced with her every move. 

“You little monster! Come back here! I’ll get you soon enough!” She chided playfully. She was ready to go after him when the doorbell rang, stopping her movement abruptly. Her smile faltered into a frown but quickly switched back to a smile.

“Saved by the bell.” She glanced over at her little brother, who was knowingly hiding behind the curtains. His feet were a dead giveaway. The girl walked over to the door and opened it slowly, peeking through the crack. There stood a man in dark colored clothing. She took a deep breath out of relief and opened the door a little wider.

“Hello, Dr. Ackell. It’s good to see you again.” She smiled up at him. 

“It’s good to see you too Sarah. Is your father in at the moment?” 

“He’ll be back soon.” She let him in, as he rested a hand on her head. Sarah got a little angered and embraced at the same time. “I’m not a little child anymore!” Dr. Ackell laughed. 

“Sorry, old habits die hard.” He looked around, spotting two shoes behind the curtain. “My? Where is your little brother?”

The little boy burst through the curtains, running to his sister. He got in front of her, in a protective stance. Dr. Ackell gave another laugh at the action. Sarah was less than bemused with her younger brother’s antics.

“Don’t you remember Dr. Ackell?” Sarah’s brother frowned even more, just glaring up at the older man. He turned his head to look back at his sister. Then the little redheaded boy stomped off into his room. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think he remembers you.”

Dr. Ackell nodded. “It’s understandable, it has been awhile. But I think he’s just jealous.” Sarah looked at him. 

“Jealous?” Dr. Ackell took a seat in the living room. 

“Well, the saying goes, a boy’s first love is his mother. And since his mother died when he was young, you took that role of mother for him.” Sarah blushed. 

“Are you sure?” Dr. Ackell nodded. 

“Yes, but don’t worry. He’ll get over it when he gets older.” Sarah looked away. Dr. Ackell smiled. “You’ll make a good mother one day.” Sarah smiled, more confident in that situation. The sound of a car pulling into the driveway broke their conversation. 

“Father’s home!” The little boy looked down from his room, his gray eyes never leaving the man.

Error 03

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“This burning. What is it?”

“Again, you talk. Are you me?”

“Why is it that I can’t hold?”

"Why won't you answer?"

***********************************************************************************

88’s eyes opened from his sleep. He was there once again. In a small room only meant for one thing. A place to put him in. His door soon opened. It was a gray room, with double numbers all around. His head snapped up towards a voice coming from the intercom.

“All 80’s modules. Report to Section A. All 80’s modules. Report to Section A. Maintenance Check. Maintenance Check.”

An even more unemotional voice then his. 

88 walked forward and turned, facing the exit door. There, standing in a perfect line, were other Models. Numbers on their wrist ranged from 80-87. 89 no doubtfully behind 88. Once the numbers were in line, 80 started walking, as well as 81 and so on. They walked in uniform as they are programmed to do. The only difference in the programs ranged from 80-83, the commutation-information department and able to easily blend in with real people. 80 being the head command. 84-87, Manual labor, heavy lifting, other occupations. Be it for entertainment or experiment. Work only inside the factory, rarely did 84-87 leave the factory unless programmed to. 88 and 89, Assassin modules. Their only purpose is to kill when commanded by any of the Modules whose number end with 0-1-2or3 after the orders are given to them by their human creator or owner.

That was what the programs were nothing more than a mindless robot, given little to work with. All the numbers split off into their area, leaving 88 and 89 to walk alone. Both of the machines stopped at a door and waited for it to open. As it did, 88’s eyes looked for someone in the room and headed directly to him. Will stood there waiting for 88’s check up, a sad smile on his face.

“Good afternoon 88. Is everything running okay?” 88 looked at Will, his gray eyes seemingly processing Will’s words. 

“88 has kept its own maintenance. System Check is running smoothly.” His voice steady. Not as cold as it once was. Will’s shocked face quickly faded away. 

“88, please permit me to have a look still.” Will rolled his eyes, he was doing it again, acting polite to a robot. One he was sure would kill him one day if he messed up with the higher ups. Will sighed heavily. 88 glanced down at him. 

“Is something the matter?” Will felt his heart rate beat faster. He had no idea what promted that question.

“88, are you concerned about me?” 

“Concerned? What is Concerned?” Will crossed his arms, trying to word the word concerned. 

“It’s like, let’s see, when I’m worried about your parts, your maintenance.” 88 looked at his arm. 

“Worried about my parts?” The black numbers contrasted with his pale skin. “I think I understand.”

Will looked even more troubled. “88, do you remember anything from your past?” 88’s gray eyes moved to his right. Will smiled. “You are remembering something. You are looking to the right. Trying to recall something once lost.”

88 looked at Will. “ My past? Once lost?”

Will wanted to explore more on 88’s knowledge of his past but he knew that if he pressed on further he would be executed.

 “88, don’t acknowledge your past. At least not here.” Will looked cautiously over at 89 and wondered if she too had suppressed memories of her former self. A theory he wanted to play with. 

“Understood.” 88’s voice was no longer the static cold voice it once was. This time a longing lingered within. Will called over to the other fixer. 

“88 is done and ready for a mission.” 88’s questioning features became that of a cold faced killer. His eyes became even grayer than before.

Will watched silently as 88 left his sight. He wondered how long it would be before 88 remembered everything or when 88 would forget everything. Will turned his head when he heard the fixer call out 89 and how she was also ready to go out on a mission. Will looked at the fixer with disgust, seeing the fat peak out through the man‘s clothing. His bald head and sweat stain clothing, told Will a telltale sign that he was stinky too. Then again, Will figured he only had true disgust with him because he did this for a living. Then again, Will was also one of them.

Will sighed in defeat. He knew he was fighting a losing battle but it didn’t hurt to try. He got up from his sitting position and started walking away. 

“Will, where are you going?” The other fixer called. Will winched and stopped, turning his head slightly. 

“Home.” The older man laughed. 

“Nice joke Will. You have to go to that meeting today.” 

Will eyes narrowed. “Damn it, I forgot that.” He didn’t forget, he just didn’t want to go. Will’s realization caught on. “And what of you Andre? I don’t hear you volunteering to go.” Andre gave a hearty laugh. 

“ Rod invited me to go with him to the Bahamas.” 

Will was filled with even more disgust but his face didn’t show it. “How’d you get to be so buddy-buddy with the boss man?” 

Andre laughed. “You never did read the history here, did you.” 

Will mumbled. “Yeah, about that, most of it was boring.” He lied, he read the whole thing. This was of course before he thought he had the “ideal” job.

Andre was full of himself. “Rod and I, we built this company from the ground up.”

 “Then why are you here fixing the Models?” Will knew bullshit when he smelt it. Andre laughed. 

“Because I like to create things with my own two hands.” 

Will laughed. “I’m sure you do, I heard you took number 85 with you.” 

Andre sighed grotesquely. “Yes, she is a nice Model. I picked her up while I saw her walking to school one day.” 

Will felt sick. Andre saw 85 while she was human, while she was still living. The poor girl was murdered for Andre’s sick need. 

“Ah, nice choice. How old?” 

“Sixteen. Neither too young nor too old.” Andre laughed playfully, slapping Will on the back. 

Will wanted to kill this man. “So, you taking 85 with you?” 

Andre smiled. “Yeah, I can’t have her be alone while I’m gone.” 

Will sighed, wanting to change the subject. “So what time is my meeting?” 

“In an hour or so.”

Will mentally screamed the word “Fuck”, knowing he’d might be stuck with the fat man for another hour. “So when are you leaving for the trip?” 

“Now! My young worker. Rod told me today! I’ll be seeing you later.” 

Will chuckled. “Yeah, see you later. Have a nice trip.” He said sarcastically. Andre didn’t hear it. 

“Thank you my boy, I’ll get you a souvenir.” 

“I’m sure you will.” Will waved, a snake smile played on his lips. Normally Will would have never seen anyone off like that, but he had a feeling Andre wasn’t coming back. Rod may have been a dick of a person but he didn’t believe in killing people who didn’t need to die for personal needs. Then again Rod wasn’t all that sane either. Will watched as Andre’s plumped body waddled out of sight. An uneasy thought passed his mind that one day, if things didn’t change, Will himself might become another Andre.

A metal tray clattered as it hit the floor, turning Will’s attention to the noise. After being scared to death, he relaxed and a small smile fell upon his face. It was the clumsy woman, frantically picking up the tray off the ground before standing up. “Clare, what brings you here today?” Clare walked up to him, grabbing his hand softly. 

“I came to get you for the meeting. I was requested to go too.” Will became confused. 

“What’s the meeting about?” Clare rested her head on his shoulder. 

“The company is planning on cutting the 06-29 modules.” 

Will became pale. “Cutting the modules?” 

“They have become obsolete.” Will pulled Clare away from him. Fear in his eyes. 

“But what about you. If those modules go, what will happen to you?” His mouth was turning dry.

“Then I will become obsolete too.” Clare cast her eyes away from Will. Will looked down, thinking for a plan. 

“Clare, give me some time. I don’t want you to worry till everything is talked out first.” Clare nodded as Will rested a palm on her cheek. 

“We better get going to that meeting soon.” Clare nodded, as her loose strands of hair danced softly across his hand. “Everything will be alright Clare. All you have to do is trust me.” 

“I do.”

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88 awaited in the darkness, his gray eyes fixated on Will and Clare. His mission was given and could be executed at the whim of his commander. 88’s breathed in slowly, as if he was catching a memory of a life long gone, almost human. Something in his chest felt heavy. It felt hot.

***********************************************************************************

“This burning. What is it?”

“Again, you talk. Are you me?”

“Why is it that I can’t hold?”

"Why won't you answer?

***********************************************************************************

“Because, we are not the same."

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