Misty Defect 10

A few moments later a doctor came in to check on Sao, noticing that his machines were flipping out. After a lecture to not ever do that again, Sao was released from the hospital.

Quickly, Sao returned home carrying Letty on his back. Michael was waiting at his door.

“Oh hey Michael,” Sao said unenthusiastically as he unlocked his door.

“Hi… You feeling okay?” Michael asked slowly.

“Yeah,” Sao nodded, opening the door and carried Letty in. “What’s up?”

“There’s been a global recall for all Dream Machines to be taken in for complete diagnostics.”

“So?” Sao asked, laying Letty onto his sofa to check him over.

Michael came in, pulling his brother up by the arm to look at him. “So, what happened? Why isn’t Letty responding?”

“What?” Sao shouted, “You think the recall’s Letty’s fault?”

“It could very well be,” said a woman at the door. The two looked to her. “Excuse me for butting in. I’m Lena, head of the Dream Machine’s studies for A.I.E. and D.E.”

“Who?” Sao asked, yanking from Michael’s hold.

“Lena.” She repeated, walking in. “I’ve been studying your Dream Machine, 9-1-3.” She stopped by the edge of the sofa, looking down to him, then to the boys. “You can’t get him to respond, can you?”

“…No.” Sao answered slowly.

Michael waved his hand to her, “What’s going on with this recall?”

Lena smiled to him with a slight nod, “It’s to make sure that all Dream Machines - new and old - are staying within their programming.”

“Which means?” Sao asked, leaning down to beside Letty.

Michael nodded slowly, “They don’t want the machines getting minds of their own.”

“Exactly.” Lena nodded. “This machine is part of the first series and what happens with him could very well affect all of the machines.”

“Why?” Sao asked.

“Well,” Lena shrugged, “They have a sort of uplink between their Harddrives. No two machines can be the same, but they all have a wave pattern that directs them. The oldest of the machines sort of keep the newer ones in check.”

“Interesting,” Michael nodded, “And what led you to this?”

“Several studies of returned machines and brand new machines I’ve performed.”

Michael smiled a bit, “With the permission of your superior?”

“Yes.” Lena nodded, “But he doesn’t believe in this sort of uplink. But, he does believe that if it is possible than just one machine starting to-“

“Starting to act human could corrupt them all.” Sao finished, standing up. “Right?”

“Yes.” Lena nodded.

“What do you want?” Sao crossed his arms. “You’ve already shut him down, so get out of here.”

“If I may,” Lena bowed, “I’d like to run a quick diagnostic on 9-1-3.”

“Why?” Sao’s eyes thinned.

Lena shrugged, “Well any machine of ours starting to show the mote of a soul could very well fall under classification of a humanoid, and human laws.”

“Means they can’t just do what they want even though they made him, right?” Michael asked.

Lena nodded to him. Sao thought a moment then waved his arm, “Fine. But you gotta swear not to hurt him.”

“Sure.”

“And wake him up first.”

Lena nodded, “I’d love to, but I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” Sao stomped.

Lena jumped at the sudden movement. “Well I… See the machines are programmed to respond to one-of-three wake-up methods. Older machines do, at least. The newer machines have different protocol and laws, and-“

“Whatever,” Sao sat down. “So how do I wake him up?”

“Well have you tried an alarm clock?” Michael asked.

“Shut up.” Sao glared to him. Michael looked away snickering.

Lena shook her head, “It’s not that easy. One: lick his belly.”

“Not doing that.”

Lena glared at Sao, “Two: yank his ear.”

“…Isn’t that kinda mean?”

Lena’s glare hardened on him, “Three: kiss him.”

Michael looked to Sao’s paled face, then broke out laughing.

“My brother? Kiss anything? He doesn’t even air kiss bubbles!!” Michael hurried out of the apartment laughing before Sao could come to his senses and chase him down.

Lena sighed looking back to Sao, “Well, you won’t know which one’ll wake him from the procedure. Each one was given their setting randomly. I’m going to get a coffee…” She put a small slip of paper on the floor next to Sao. “Here’s my number. Call me when you have him awake.”

Without another word, the woman left, closing the door behind her.

It took Sao a few minutes to bring himself back to center. He thought a moment, then ran over and locked all the doors and windows. Then dragged Letty to his bedroom and dropped him on his bed, then sat by him on the edge.

“Lick belly… Yank ear… Or kiss,” he repeated like an idiot for a while. “Or kiss… Kiss… KISS?!?! C’mon why couldn’t it be something easy like slap!”

Sao glared to Letty, “This is all…” He sighed not even wanting to finish his sentence. He hung his head and thought for a long time.

Finally, Sao looked to Letty so sadly. Then he chuckled, “With my luck it’ll be kiss. Might as well try it first.”

He leaned over Letty and very slowly knelt to his face. “Wow… Even this close he looks real. Each strand of hair is so… real. And his skin, too…” He studied the face for a moment in awe, from eye lashes to the skin formation on the lips, and even down to pores.

“Please wake up, Letty.” Sao begged in a whisper.

Time froze for a second as Sao knelt down in the silence and gently pressed his lips to the machine’s.

Through the silence after a second a soft whir could barely be made out. Then a soft sound came from Letty’s throat.

Surprised, Sao backed up off of Letty, the machine gasping for air. Sao sat back up fully, watching Letty pant for air for a moment.

Then Letty blinked open his eyes, adjusting them to the lighting. Then his red eyes fell on Sao and his face grew a frown “Mister Hishi?” he asked. “Why do you look so sad?”

Sao hung his head as Letty sat up, so his forehead was against Letty’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry… It’s all my fault… It’s all my fault.”

“Mister Hishi…?” Letty asked concerned, and very confused.

“You got shut down and it’s because of me, isn’t it?” Sao asked through soft sobs.

“I don’t…” Letty said slowly, trying to shift Sao away.

Instead, Sao grabbed Letty into a tight hug. “Just let me hold you for a while.”

Letty blinked in shock, looking to Sao. All he could do was ask softly, “Mister Hishi…?”

“Hm?”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Me?”

“They shut you down.” Sao said, not moving.

Letty nodded, suddenly understanding his black out. “I was… Feeling emotions I shouldn’t.”

“What kind of emotions?”

Letty thought a moment, thinking how to term it so Sao could easily understand. “Hmm… Heart-ache?”

Sao’s grip tightened on him, but he didn’t say anything.