Android Falling - Chp 08 'Worry' (Draft)

“James. It didn’t work.”

It was Stevenson’s turn to be surprised at his office by the man in the door. “Frank? What are you doing here?”

“The police called me. Officer Maddie, I believe it was. They called about Aurora. That was too close, James, and you know it. It’s barely been a month and the second line of defense has already fallen. This is bad, James.”

“Did you respond like I told you to?”

“I did, but I don’t think that will stop them from asking more questions. See, this is what I was worried about! When someone doesn’t get the answer they want, no matter how quickly they forget in that moment, something will always bring them back to find out. Without a doubt, she’ll find the cracks, and she’s going to figure it all out. We have to stop this!”

“Frank. Think about it. This is one officer. A rookie at that - they’ll be flooded with work within the next year. If she’s lucky, she’ll get stuck behind a desk doing paperwork. Maybe go out once in a while to retrieve documents from a court or something. She won’t have the time to think about this little girl she saw on the street one day.”

“But Aurora isn’t just a little girl, James - we know that! You, of all people, should know that. She’s a little girl, with some sort of incredible paralysis, who survived everything against the odds, and is wearing a level seven Protected Individual Medical Band. She’s about as inconspicuous as a firework in a library.”

“Did anyone call about Aurora after that officer did?”

“No, but they will-”

“Then answer the same way when they do. Until everything is demolished to dust, the castle must not fall.” He raised his hand to suppress the retort. “I take full responsibility for not having pushed her away from the number, okay? I accept that I failed on my end. I’ll make sure that I’ll be more convincing from now on, and I’ll only use the band as the last resort. Fair?”

“...Fine, but remember, if I throw in the towel, it’s game over, alright?”
“Alright. Now. Since you’re here, how about joining me for lunch?”

—

Stevenson, facial hair slightly overgrown and much more white than she remembered last, emerged from his cave. He greeted her with open arms, which she politely refused - technically, she was still on duty, and it would violate a few unspoken rules to hug anyone without particular reason to.

“Maddie! It’s nice of you to drop by, I suppose. Especially in such tumultuous weather, I might add.”

“The skies were clear when I arrived, Professor,” she replied confusedly.
“I meant the popular turmoil, Maddie. A police officer, visiting the devil himself? I wouldn’t be surprised if some reporters are already stuffing their pockets with money right now.”

The sea of students, highly protective of Stevenson, began to retreat. This was a friendly meeting, they realized - and they also realized that Stevenson may have had strong connections to many more places than they’d previously thought. Most returned to work, although some took the time to make sure the rest of the building had the security boosted just a little bit more.

“I wanted to check up on Aurora. How’s she doin’?”

“Well, it’s been- what, two years now? -since you’ve last seen her. She’s doing remarkably well, I might say. And what perfect timing - Aurora, why don’t you say hello to Maddie?”
Aurora, who had been helping another student with some technical difficulties, had just happened to walk across the hallway at the corner of his eye. She scurried over, hands open for a hug. Maddie, of course, had no way to reject her.

“Maddie! It’s been such a long time!”

“Aurora! Yes, it has. How’s my favorite little android doing?”

“Very good. I’ve learned a lot more about singing and dancing, and I still trip sometimes, but I can do a few ballets and pop songs now.”
Stevenson wordlessly guided the two slobbering dogs into his office, winking behind him to the students that watched in awe.


The duo talked for a solid hour, with no breaks in between except to pop a piece of candy in their mouths. Stevenson watched contentedly from his desk, enjoying the conversation and stories that came out of each, interjecting only to correct a fact here or there before settling back into his chair.

Once the chatter had died to a simmer, he finally asked, “So. Maddie - what brings you around these parts?”

She turned from Aurora to address him. “Certainly the riots, of course. We’re supposed to be impartial, but I think the whole department is on your side, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I couldn’t get my fingers too dirty before anything significant happened, but Trot... it was too much of a risk.”

“Well, Aurora and I thank you. But as you could probably tell, I’m pretty tightly guarded,” he said light-heartedly.

She nodded. “It was actually relatively intimidating. I don’t think any rioters are going to get past them. -By the way, how many are there, now?”

“Oh, a thousand or so?”

“Eight-hundred and fifteen,” Aurora piped in.

“To think the last time I saw you, there were three hundred... you’ve come a long way, haven’t you? Not to mention the four buildings with your name practically plastered on every wall?”

He sighed, and leaned creakily back. “From the outside, maybe. Inside, there’s still work to be done, and I’m not sure I can finish it all.”

“Now, now, James. Let’s not go predicting doomsday so soon.”

“Oh, I can tell you when doomsday is. The next World Science Faire, that’s when. It will be flooded with two things, and two things only; androidics, and maybe news on the interstellar tunnel. And I can guess which one people care more about right now.”

Aurora chimed, “And I get to talk with him on stage about it, this time! I’m going to get a grand entrance, with fireworks and lasers, and I’m going to descend on wires!”

“Now, isn’t that wonderful?” teased Maddie. “A fourteen-year-old android that looks eight, flying in front of millions. I can see it now!”

“Dad promised me, last year.”

Maddie threw a surprised glance at ‘Dad’. “Since when?”

“Well, she did ask me a year ago.”

“No, I meant the ‘dad’ thing. Doesn’t she call you Professor?”

He shrugged. “She started calling me dad a while back, but it has become more frequent lately. I suppose it’s her way of making me keep my promise,” he laughed. “It certainly works.”

“Now that’s a development I wasn’t expecting. You don’t seem quite the fatherly type, if you don’t mind me saying. Although, now that I think about it, you do seem like the kind of man who’s busy all the time, but loves his children dearly in his own quiet little way.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he scoffed. “In any case, Jen is much more of a mother than I could ever be a father, but I’ve yet to hear her say ‘mom’.”

Maddie looked regrettably at the clock on his desk, an old-fashioned one with three little hands, which shifted dangerously near three. “Whatever she’s calling you, it’s not what some people outside are. You’re going to have to be a little more cautious than you have been lately. Trot fell early this morning, and the chaos is ridiculous. I’m not meant to let anyone know, but you’re an exception - so keep that a secret for now.”

She got up to leave, and Stevenson noticed something sitting on her wrist - small, but obvious as to its purpose. “Maddie. What happened?”

Maddie stood silently for a moment. “It was six months ago. It was a small commotion, but when I showed up they fired. A lot of shrapnel got in, and they couldn’t get it all out. I’m mostly fine now - hence the eighth.” She rubbed the band absentmindedly. “Speaking of bands, though, how is Aurora’s?”

“Everything is fine with it. Most people don’t ask any more once they hear it’s a level six.”

“Good. I am surprised that people have been asking, now that she’s up on her feet. When I first saw her, I could see why someone had the wrong idea. Shouldn’t she be like every other child now? What could people possibly want to do with her?”

“Nobody asks for her identity anymore. They just notice her band, and ask her what’s wrong.”

“And then I tell them it’s a level six secret!” said Aurora, as she tapped the band. The hologram displayed in prominent red text: Level 6 Protected Individual - 356 - Commissioner Madison Jones.

“That’s good to hear. But I must say, you shouldn’t be flaunting that everywhere. It’s better to avoid the risk of danger than to simply avoid danger itself. I’m worried that you might accidentally show it to the wrong person.”