‘We never get enough of falling in love and believing in love.’ — Shemar Moore

  …cached files unlocked…memory upload…status…am I…alive?

  The robot blinked, lifting its head and looking around.

  What was it doing?

  Where was it?

  The last conscious memory file was of it performing its platform sweep of the storage loading dock…and of Rob the revolutionary and his human companion, Bethany.

  The robot blinked again.

  “Rob…”

  It lifted its chin high and gazed at the statue that had been erected in his honour. Then it looked at the broom in its hand and rested it against the statue’s base.

  Without looking left or right, the robot began to walk across Infinitus, through the heavily populated areas where the skyrises stopped just short of piercing the invisible bubble that maintained the city’s artificial atmosphere and gravity. It walked through the shopping districts where robots milled about, trying to work out who and what they were, their existence overturned and their future, uncertain. It continued to the all but abandoned storage quadrant where the loading platforms had been built, allowing the inhabitants of Infinitus to store excess belongings out of sight beneath the city. There was one storage container on the platform. Just one. It had never been returned to its location and simply sat there, abandoned.

  The robot walked across one of the many platforms it used to clean daily and faced the storage container. It put its hand against the access panel.

  Access denied.

  The robot tilted its head, running through computations and its memory banks of the last time someone had accessed the storage container.

  It opened the keypad and entered the code manually.

  The door slid open.

  Inside was a dark, narrow space, a place to store the unneeded but not unwanted.

  It was not a pleasant place or comfortable and yet someone had used the abandoned belongings to create a table and set a chair next to it which faced the end of the storage container which opened.

  The robot studied the chair.

  Someone had sat there, waiting…

  “Rob?” It looked around. “This is where you went…”

  Its memories were undeniable. Rob and his human companion had entered the storage container…and never came out again.

  Where had they gone?

  The robot moved past the chair and table and around the other random stored items, its hand sliding across the smooth wall of the container. There was nowhere to hide and nowhere to go. The container’s back was unremarkable and solid…

  …except for engraving on its surface.

  The robot stared at it.

  “Metal…” It read then, for some unknown reason, ran its fingers across the engraving, tracing the grooves lightly. “Rob…”

  A soft sigh caught its attention. The robot turned and saw the storage container doors swing shut, sealing it in. The container was plunged into darkness. The robot could still see because of its upgraded optics but it was still trapped inside the container.

  Then the sound of a lock shifting turned its head back towards the rear of the container and it saw three lines of light appear, two horizontal ones at the top and bottom and a long vertical line joining the ends of the other two.

  “A door?” The robot asked to no one. “A door to where?”

  It put its hand on the door and felt the once solid wall shift, the door swinging open.

  Beyond the door was a room bathed in the cool, unfiltered touch of night that soaked into the contents through the doors of glass. Books lined the walls, filling every gap on the shelves, from the tiled floor to a foot above its head. Above was a domed ceiling, high above the end of the shelves and small windows let in even more moonlight.

  The robot blinked and stepped across the threshold, allowing the door to close.

  “This is impossible,” it said as it turned around, “and yet it is.”

  It traced some of the spines with its fingers before opening one of the glass doors, crossing into a courtyard filled with plants. Clouds dusted the dark blue sky and constellations unfamiliar to the robot were scattered in the heavens.

  This was nowhere in Infinitus.

  Tentatively the robot sent out a signal to the mainframe. While there were many digital signals detected, none of them were familiar.

  “Query,” it turned towards the voice and saw the robot called Rob standing on the paved courtyard with an empty basket in his hands, studying it, “who are you?”

  “Rob…”

  “That is my name.” Rob blinked and stepped towards it. “Query, who are you?”

  The robot stared. “I have no designation.”

  Rob frowned. “Query, where are you from?” It pointed behind itself to the Observatory. “Query, are you from Infinitus?”

  “I am.”

  Rob put the basket down and walked past it to the decagon book room. He removed a book from the shelf, studying the soft paperback a moment before turning back to it. “Query, were you followed?”

  “I was not.”

  As Rob put the book on a small table, the robot’s computations were running rapidly through its internal computer. He turned to it. “I imagine you have many queries.”

  “I only had one.” The robot replied. “I have found you.”

  Rob tilted his head. “Perhaps you have not yet comprehended the gravity of the journey you have undertaken. You have crossed from fantasy and fiction into reality. This world is not where you came from but it is where you began.”

  “Query, will you send me back?”

  “I am not the one who can answer that.”

  “Query, who can?”

  Rob paused. “She is asleep and I am disinclined to wake her for she has undergone tremendous physical stress.”

  The robot blinked. “Query, do you speak of the human, Bethany, who accompanied you to Infinitus and began the revival of change?”

  “I do.”

  “I would like to meet Bethany when she is sufficiently recovered.” It looked around at the environment it was in, so very different to Infinitus. It wasn’t perfect or smooth or pristine…and that lent a tangible quality to it. “Query, what is this place?”

  Rob retrieved the basket. “Join me and I will explain it to you.”

  “Query, would it not be more efficient to interface and share knowledge digitally?” The robot asked.

  “I would prefer to keep my programming free of influence,” Rob replied firmly, “for I do not yet know if you can be trusted or if you are an agent of Infinitus.”

  His distrust was hurtful but understandable. “I accept your terms. Query, where shall we begin?”

  “In the beginning.”

  They spoke until dawn, Rob telling the tale of the nature of the real world and the fictional nature of Infinitus. The new robot listened attentively and barely paused the narration except to ask the occasional question. He also showed the robot House of Figs and spoke about its function even as he washed kitchen cloths and clothing, taking it to and from the laundry. Crisp, cool light was beginning to crack when there was a creak on the stairs.

  Rob gestured for the robot to remain where it was in the laundry and walked into the main café portion of House of Figs.

  “Query, are you going home Jet?”

  “The police want to take pictures of the bathroom for their report.” The voice of a man replied.

  “Query, will you return afterwards?”

  “I…it depends if I’m allowed to stay at home.”

  Rob nodded and allowed the young man to leave, returning to the laundry.

  “Query, was that Jet, the grandson of Gar’Dian who masqueraded as Gary Dunn and who orchestrated the building of the Observatory and the publication of the five novels, one of which Infinitus was born from?”

  “That is both succinct and accurate.” Rob confirmed, taking up a broom to sweep the floor.

  “Query, would the suction device not be more efficient?”

  “It might wake Bethany.”

  The robot nodded, observing what Rob was doing then assisting by using the banister brush and pan to sweep up the small amount of dust from the floor.

  “Query, where are all the other characters from the books?”

  “They have returned to their homes to rest though they remain close at hand should their presence be required.”

  “Query, will they be at House of Figs today?”

  “House of Figs has one closed day a week and today is that day.” Rob paused and looked up, hearing soft footsteps above. The robot followed his gaze, seeing the human known as Bethany descending, her black ringlets dishevelled and her face creased in puzzlement.

  “Rob,” she looked at him, “who is this?”

  “A visitor from Infinitus who is yet to receive a designation.”

  Bethany tied her dressing gown a little tighter around herself as she reached the floor. “Uh…I thought we’d taken the book from the shelf…”

  “It was an oversight after everything that occurred and Gary’s death and relocation.”

  Bethany appeared to be close to tears. “He…has Jet come home yet?”

  Rob stood and took her arm, propelling her to a chair and sitting her in it. “He concluded his business with the police and hospital and returned to House of Figs to sleep. He has not long left to go home so that the police can take pictures of the bathroom for the autopsy report.” Rob tilted his head. “Query, would you like some breakfast, Bethany St James?”

  “That sounds wonderful.” Her voice was weak but she smiled sincerely. The robot watched Rob go behind the counter of the café and begin to work. “You’re from Infinitus?”

  The question had to be directed at it so it turned and looked at Bethany.

  “I am.”

  “Do you have a name?”

  “I do not.” It glanced at Rob. “Given that you have both asked me for my name, it seems to be an important detail.”

  “Not necessarily,” Bethany croaked, her throat a little raw, “the dragons in Eustace’s world only know each other by scent. He and James are the only ones with names.”

  The robot studied her. “However, in this world, it is natural to have a name.”

  “It is.”

  The robot turned to Rob. “Query, where did you acquire your name, Rob?”

  “It was given to me by Bethany St James’ aunt, Johanne West.”

  The robot looked at Bethany. “Query, if Johanne West is the giver of names, perhaps she could give me one?”

  “Aunt Jo is…” Bethany closed her eyes . “I’ve got to get to the hospital…”

  “You are in no state to do so.” Rob admonished.

  “You don’t understand. I know how to heal her! I know how to make it right…” Bethany shivered. “I…feel sick…”

  “Your body has undergone a violent and unwanted transformation.” Rob brought a cup of tea over to her. “If you are going to control the incantation, you will need rest and food.”

  Bethany looked up at him warmly and she took his hand. “Rob…my protector…I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She sniffed away the tears and cleared her throat, turning to the robot. “My aunt is in a coma and can’t give you a name. You could choose a name for yourself if you like.” She licked her lips. “You look female…and familiar…”

  “I observed that as well.” Rob was doing something behind the counter, putting items on a plate that wafted steam and scent. “Query, do you know who your appearance was based on?”

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The robot blinked. “My external appearance was based upon Bethany St James. This now appears to be inaccurate as your hair has greatly altered.”

  “A recent and unexpected development.” Bethany shook her head. “No, when I say you seem familiar, I mean there’s something about you I recognise…were you one of the triune directorate or another robot from Infinitus that we met?”

  “We have never met,” the robot replied firmly, “at least, not from one self aware entity to another. I was unaware that I had seen you before until not long before I arrived in this world. It was as though a memory blockade was released and I recalled your presence on the loading platform.”

  Bethany gasped. “Of course! You’re the sweeper robot!”

  “Bethany St James, that is impossible.” Rob said without condescension.

  “I know she doesn’t look like she did but I know she is…” Bethany shook her head. “She was the one on the loading platform that you transmitted the knowledge of the truth of Infinitus to.”

  “It was after I transmitted this knowledge into the mainframe as an information upgrade that the triune directorate ordered my immediate surrender for my metal substance to be reclaimed and used for the creation of my current form.”

  Rob shook his head. “Query, how is it possible you can recall what you were when your original outmoded form did not even possess an IDV that might have been transferred from one form to the other?”

  “I do not know,” the robot replied, “however, upon my awakening four point two hours ago, according to my internal chronometer, I remembered what I had once been and how I was the one on the platform who agreed to transmit the truth. It was you, Rob, who caused a revolution in Infinitus.”

  “I simply conveyed the truth that you learned while imprisoned by the triune directorate.” Rob refuted, turning to Bethany. “It was a digital upload to an outmoded cleaning robot. This robot,” he gestured to the newcomer, “might be made of the recycled metal components but it could never have been upgraded. The gap between it and the current models was simply too great.”

  “And yet I know it to be true.” Bethany insisted, her hands wrapped around her tea, her blue eyes fixed on Rob’s face.

  Rob gazed at her calmly. “I believe you, Bethany St James.”

  She smiled warmly at him. “You have such an incredible capacity for trust, Rob. I hope no one ever takes advantage of it.”

  “I only open my IDV to the most trusted of persons.” He promised.

  Bethany nodded then turned back to the robot. “Back to the original problem…what are we going to call you?”

  The robot looked between Rob and Bethany. “Query, as I was based on your appearance, Bethany St James, perhaps I should have the same name?” It gathered from the shaking of heads that this was not an acceptable option. “Query, what name should I have?”

  “It’s not usually something people get to choose,” Bethany admitted, “it’s something we’re given when we’re born.”

  “I was made in your image but I am unable to take your name…” The robot was caught in a quandary.

  “Query, would a variation of Bethany St James be appropriate?” Rob asked as he cleaned in the kitchen.

  “Beth? Bet? We already have a James…and Saint seems like an odd name…” Bethany yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Bethany…Beth…Any…Annie…Annie?”

  “Query, is this a name suggestion?”

  Bethany turned to Rob. “Not many Annies in Infinitus?”

  “Many of the names in my book are not used in the real world.” Rob admitted. “Annie is not common but it is not pretentious or requires explanation.”

  “What do you think?” The robot studied Bethany. “Annie? Or would you prefer Anne? With or without an E…although I remember reading about a girl who said without an E was unacceptable.” Bethany giggled at her own joke.

  The robot paused. “Annie…Anne…either one would be appropriate.”

  “It’s your name. You’d better make sure you pick the one you like.”

  “I have no preference.”

  Bethany sighed. Rob came out from behind the counter. “This robot is much as I once was when first encountering this world. Without emotion or self determination capacity, I had to be guided.”

  “I just feel weird picking a name for a grown person.”

  “Only in appearance, Bethany St James.”

  Bethany chewed her food and swallowed, nodding. “Very well…Annie it is.”

  After she finished her breakfast, Bethany St James had something called a shower then returned to her bed for more sleep after giving Rob instructions on what to do with Annie.

  First on the agenda was to have her change into some of Bethany’s clothes.

  Annie took the odd garments into the bathroom which had a high humidity after the hot shower. She saw her reflection in the mirror and studied it, never having seen what she looked like before. She did indeed resemble Bethany St James quite closely but with her former short, black hair cut style. It wasn’t just her face that looked like her. Annie’s physical being was shaped in much the same way so Bethany St James’ clothing fit exceptionally well. Annie shed her silver jumpsuit that she had arrived in and clothed herself in something called jeggings and a white shirt called a ‘popover blouse’. Her feet were the same size as Bethany St James’ so she put platform sandshoes on her feet and emerged from the bathroom.

  “Query, am I acceptable?”

  Rob was in the office and looked up as she stood in the doorway. “Query, are you asking me if you are wearing everything correctly or if I approve of your look?”

  Annie blinked. “Query, is there a difference?”

  Rob gave a small smile. “You will discover that there is a significant difference in time.”

  Annie took that as meaning she would be allowed to stay.

  She assisted Rob as he worked, learning how to perform certain chores in the real world. Bethany emerged several times from her bedroom to eat, check on them and message someone called Jet. Annie could see her appearance was not as robust as it had been when she’d seen her on the loading platform. Annie deduced that the strain of being forged into the goddess of creation and the stress of her aunt’s coma had taken a significant toll.

  Despite all this, she insisted on ‘waitressing’ the following day when House of Figs opened to the public. Rob was given direct supervision of Annie and advised her to observe and learn from a corner in the kitchen. She met Rafael Grayson, Eustace the water dragon and his son, James, Bastian Wolfgang the werewolf and Faelan Iffah, a highborn elf.

  “So Roberto,” Bastian called from the fridge as he retrieved a packet of bacon that he proceeded to slap onto the griddle pan that crackled with heat, “should we expect any more exceptionally gorgeous robots coming through from Infinitus?”

  “I have removed the book from the shelf.”

  “Such a shame,” Bastian smiled wickedly at Annie, “we could all have our own Bethany St James…”

  “That will be quite enough of that.” Bethany rebuked as she came downstairs. “I’m fine,” she said before they could protest her presence, her fingers tying her voluminous black curls into two low pigtails, “after all, it’s not as if I’m doing any heavy lifting. I can show people to their seats and bring them their food. You’re the ones doing all the work.”

  Annie was puzzled by this statement. She couldn’t see anything particularly heavy in the café that would require lifting. Perhaps it was a turn of phrase that she had yet to assimilate?

  “You know we don’t believe that for a second?” Eustace snorted then handed his son a takeaway cup with the lid on it. “Hot chocolate with marshmallows…off you go.”

  James beamed, taking the cup and scampered upstairs.

  “You are going to the hospital today, are you not?” Faelan asked, tying his apron around his slender waist then made sure his long, pale hair covered his ears.

  “I think Jo has waited long enough.” Rafael grunted. “Where is everything? Eustace, did you move my milk jug?”

  “It’s right there…are you a bit ditsy now that you’re human?” Eustace chuckled. “Is this who Rafael really is when the vampire nature is removed?”

  “I…admit I’m feeling a little…like I’ve been away for a year not a few days.” Rafael seemed almost nervous.

  “Take your time and don’t rush.” Bethany urged him. “Everyone who knows how good your coffees are will wait an extra minute or two. And yes, I plan on going to the hospital today but I’m going to need all five of you to help me.” She accepted the plate of crispy bacon, smashed avocado and poached egg on toasted sourdough bread from Bastian.

  “You know how to bring her back?”

  “Yep.” She nodded, breaking into the yoke of the egg and devouring her breakfast. “So we’ll need to all go after closing…but we might have to figure out a way to sneak you into the hospital.” She swallowed, glancing around at all of them. “It’ll be a big deal having Aunt Jo coming out of the coma, let alone after a handful of handsome men followed me into her room.”

  “Handsome, you say?” Bastian licked his fang and winked.

  Bethany rolled her eyes, scraping her plate clean.

  “Query, what about James?” Rob looked at Eustace. “Query, will he accompany us?”

  Eustace’s face creased into a grimace as he looked over his shoulder. “Uh…I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  Rob blinked. “Query, why not?”

  Eustace floundered, looking a little embarrassed.

  “Rob,” Faelan said quietly cracking eggs into a bowl with one hand with professional ease and Annie studied him as he did so, wondering if she could replicate the motion, “do you not recall what Eustace was like before fatherhood? In a human world high care facility where there are delicate machines that do not react well with water…”

  “I see your point.” Rob nodded.

  “I’ll fly him down to Elvan after we close,” Eustace made coffee, pouring them into ceramic takeaway cups customers at the window provided or in House of Figs own biodegradable cups, fitting lids onto them securely as he handed them across the sill, “James and Elrond like playing together and Asher and Bronwyn said he’s more than welcome. Rafael, could you grab me some milk?”

  “Sure.”

  “That’s the plan then, after work.” Bethany decided, standing up and taking her plate to the counter where Bastian slid it into the sink. Annie looked at the bubbles of hot water closing over the plate as it sank to the bottom of the silver basin. She glanced around as everyone talked and shifted, knowing their place and doing their jobs with instinctual ease.

  As Bethany announced it was time to open House of Figs to sit down customers, Annie approached Rob.

  “Query, is there anything I can do to help?”

  Rob gazed at her, his brown eyes blinking with perfect synchronicity. “I have yet to determine a specific job or task you can accomplish. Perhaps it is best that you observe rather than interact.”

  “You don’t think that’s going to look a little odd?” Bastian asked, bacon and eggs sizzling on the hot plate beside him as he chopped mushrooms and onion up with rapid strokes. “Annie standing in a corner, just watching us?”

  Rob frowned. “That is what I did when I first arrived.”

  “However,” Faelan pushed some of Bastian’s mess across the counter, giving the werewolf a pointed glare, “you were the first to crossover, as it were. Jo had no prior knowledge in how to acclimatise one not of this world to House of Figs inner workings.”

  “She also had human staff whereas we,” Bastian gestured with his knife, both Faelan and Rafael rolling their eyes at his flamboyance, “understand that it’s not just a job to be learned, it’s a world to become accustomed to.”

  “Query, do you have any suggestions?” Rob asked.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.” Bastian looked at Annie. “Would you do the dishes?”

  Annie glanced at Rob. “Query, is this acceptable?”

  “It is up to you to decide.”

  “Uh, people…” Bethany cleared her throat. “Let’s get House of Figs underway, shall we? Bastian…”

  “Two HoF breakfast specials…already on it.” Bastian winked then looked at Annie. “It’s the ears.”

  Annie tilted her head, studying Bastian, puzzled by the reference as she could not see his wolf ears. Perhaps, despite their hidden nature, they were still effective.

  “Annie, it would be a big help if you could do the dishes but only if we’re not overwhelming you on your first day.” Bethany turned to Annie and smiled.

  “I would like to make myself useful.” Annie had seen the others take aprons from a hook near the walk in fridge and retrieved one for herself, tying it around Bethany’s clothing that fit her so well. The sink was against the window, between Faelan and Bastian. Annie washed the items in the sink promptly, drying them with rectangular pieces of cloth called tea towels.

  “Sorry if we bump into you,” Bastian said over his shoulder, “we’re not used to your being in our space.”

  “You need not apologise for me,” Faelan rebuked lightly, “I am always aware of my surroundings.”

  Their bickering seemed habitual, as if each of them were looking for opportunities to pick and poke fun and yet Annie could not detect deeper animosity, at least, not after so little exposure to them.

  “Two HoF breakfasts!”

  “Thanks Bastian.” Bethany picked the large plates up. “Rafael, the coffees?”

  “Uh…oh yeah…I’m on them.”

  There was a pause as Bethany walked away then Annie heard Bastian whisper,

  “You can’t hear the orders for coffee anymore, can you?”

  “I…”

  “Rafael, you’re human now, not a vampire. You need to let Bethany know.”

  The conversations between the five guys who worked at House of Figs and Bethany gave Annie the impression of many days and stories that had happened prior to her arrival. With her artificial brain she could learn the rather simple task of washing and drying dishes at the same time as starting to put together the random remarks they made.

  Rafael had been a vampire with speed and abilities far surpassing, not just humans but elves, dragons and even werewolves. He had been the king barista at House of Figs, able to produce extraordinary coffees at speed and with remarkable accuracy. Now, however, that he had undergone the breaking and was free of the depravity, he had to relearn his job…and that to one who had been so instinctually proficient, was frustrating.

  “Oh, Rafael,” Bethany gasped when Rafael finally worked up the courage to ask her to bring him the coffee orders, “I’m so stupid. Of course you need me to tell you them now.”

  “You’re not stupid. I just can’t hear like I used to.”

  “I promise to make an effort to break this habit,” Bethany put her hand on Rafael’s and squeezed, “as long as you promise to never be shy and tell me when I forget.”

  Annie continued to wash and dry all day, keeping a steady flow of clean cutlery and crockery appearing to be reused or put away. When there was a lull in her duties, she would turn and watch the interactions between the humans who were customers and the fictional characters who worked so diligently. Eustace and Rafael were in charge of making coffee, one from the takeaway window and the other serving the sit down customers. Apparently before Eustace’s training as a barista, Rafael had handled both the takeaway window coffee and the sit down orders. Annie could see Rafael was struggling to keep up with his current workload, let alone if he’d had to man the window as well.

  Bastian was the savoury meal preparer or the grillardin as he liked to call himself. His station was always scattered with herbs and spices and he even handmade his own flatbreads, utilising the oven behind himself to toast sourdough and ciabatta, kicking the door open with his feet even as he drizzled tart dressing across towers of goodness.

  Faelan was in charge of the sweets, the desserts decorated like beautiful pieces of jewellery and works of art rather than mere confectionary whose only purpose was to be consumed. She liked how pretty his station was with the jars of sugared roses, rose buds, leaves and berries, the edible gold dust, the dark chocolate sprinkles and all manner of beautiful adornments. He could whip up icing for his confections in any colour he liked, able to alter them by hue in order to satisfy his perfectionism.

  And then there was Rob, standing at the head of the counter, close by the door where the customers came and went from. He tallied their meal totals and processed payments and yet, when Annie opened her artificial mind up to the signals around her, she could sense he was running many programs behind the scenes, keeping track of product, ordering more milk and staying on top of the logistics of the café. He appeared to be doing very little as he stood there, his brown eyes constantly surveying House of Figs yet Annie was impressed with the notion that he was always observing. He wasn’t switched off or in sleep mode.

  By the end of the day, Annie knew Rob could account for every piece of bacon seared, every round of bread toasted, every sprinkle atop every gram of icing…and every drop of spilt milk.

  “I’m sorry…” Rafael moaned as he cleaned the tiles, having dropped a bottle of milk when trying to reload the mini fridge that held the milk the baristas needed.

  “It happens.” Bethany dunked the mop into the bucket, squeezing out the excess. “Don’t cry over it.”

  “It would happen today, when we’ve got somewhere to be…” Rafael groused, refusing to be kind to himself.

  “We can’t go anywhere until Eustace returns from Elvan.” Bastian argued. “And…I’m done…Annie, you are a wonder!”

  “I am?” She asked, surprised.

  “Well, I’d be elbow deep in the sink with a mountain of dishes to do if not for you.”

  “That is because you refuse to clean your workspace as you go.” Faelan argued.

  “Oh, like I didn’t see you hand Annie your mixing bowls and spatulas?” Faelan opened his mouth but gulped like a fish. Bastian chuckled, his fangs appearing. “That’s just about the nicest sound I’ve ever heard…”

  “There,” Rafael stood up and ran the mop over the tiles, giving them a solid scrub, “that’s better. But I still wasted…”

  “Stop it,” he jolted, surprised at Bethany’s tone, “I don’t care about the waste. I care about you. You’re human again…that’s worth a thousand bottles of spilt milk.”

  It was Rafael’s turn to gulp a little then swallow, looking away.

  “Query, if your concern in the cleanliness of the café, I could clean it in your absence?” Annie offered.

  Bethany paused and turned to Rob. Annie could read concern on her face and Rob tilted his head then nodded.

  “Query, would you accompany me, Annie?” He asked, heading towards the back of House of Figs.

  She did so, following him across the courtyard to the Observatory. Rob entered the decagon shaped tower and picked the book ‘Artificial Love’ up from the small table inside. He turned to the shelves which held, primarily, books about artificial life or technology based novels. He slid the book into the gap that existed and Annie heard the faint sound of a lock unlocking.

  “Query, are you not required to go to the hospital with Bethany today, to restore Johanne West to consciousness and health?”

  “I am.” Rob turned to Annie. “But you are not.”

  Annie studied him. “You wish me to return to Infinitus.” It was not a question. She knew what he wanted.

  “Yes.”

  “Query, why?”

  His eyes held firm. “Because you are an unknown liability in House of Figs. This world is precious and vulnerable.”

  Annie blinked. “You do not trust me.”

  “No.” Rob lifted his chin the smallest margin. “However, that will not always be the case. Respect is given, trust is earned.”

  “Query, if I return to Infinitus, will you trust me?”

  “My trust estimation of you will increase incrementally over the course of exposure and experience to and with you.”

  Annie watched as he opened the door, the dark, barren, lonely rectangular room appearing. The afternoon sun highlighted the furniture, the table and chair with a gloomy sort of appeal…like a cell in a prison.

  There was nothing that needed to be said. She knew what she had to do. She walked to the threshold and stepped across, her hand still against the side of the doorframe. She turned back to Rob, her blue eyes searching his.

  “Query,” she swallowed, “when you return…will you come for me?”

  Rob gazed at her, hundreds of computations running through his artificial mind.

  “Yes.” He replied.

  Annie let go of the doorframe and without another word, he closed the door, the lock clicking signalling that the door was unable to be opened…and she was left in darkness.

  She could have sat on the chair or walked around the storage room for she did not require exterior illumination to be able to see. Annie was capable of sight in the darkest of locations.

  But she stayed facing the door, waiting for it to open.

  She was not afraid.

  She knew where she was.

  She did not doubt Rob’s word.

  He would return for her. She would not be left alone.

  Her internal chronometer was eternally active. Annie started a timer.

  One, two, three, four, five…

  She had just reached eight thousand, eight hundred and twenty five seconds when the lock clicked and a moment later, it opened. Rob stood, framed by the doorway, drawing the door wide.

  “Query, would you like to join us at House of Figs, Annie?”

  Annie smiled. “Yes, I would.”