A drop of sticky oil fell on the floor from the discarded machines. The garbage in the huge trash can next to it was scattered in disorder. The warehouse where the garbage was piled up was filled with stench.
At the entrance of the warehouse, there was an Android with a cold heart melted by a broken head.
Android's model name was "Vessel" and its model number was "10". So, he was granted the name "Vessel Ten" by his master.
His main purpose was to work until he broke down as a mercenary who took the place of dangerous work for his master.
'I can't work as a mercenary if I'm broken.'
He didn't know how his head broke down. What was certain was that he had to get out of here.
He was sitting on the stairs to wait for someone. He spent a long time in one position as if the power had been turned off.
He looked forward with a drowsy look. He held his hand on his lap and stayed still for hours without moving.
It was a woman who put an end to his seemingly endless wait.
Roll-
She raised the wrinkle bar at the entrance of the stairs over her head. Vessel didn't look back. He could sense that she was the one he wanted without taking a look.
He could hear her footsteps ringing offbeat.
'Finally. Huh, you didn't even go far.'
She had to wander around for a while to find this one android.
'What a waste of time.'
She thought she wasted her time and stamina. It got on her nerves as soon as she saw him. So she immediately uttered the thought that came into her mind.
"If you're going to run away, go far. Is it really the next door? Is that all you got?"
Wearing a purple suit top and purple cotton pants, she leaned against the door frame. She only glanced at him.
She was called 'Lilac' by her colleagues and boss.
She waited for his answer without saying a word. As always, she could not get an answer from a machine that had never experienced or felt emotions before. She didn't even think she could get it in the first place.
If you've joked with people who only weigh logic and facts, you'll find out. It would be easier to understand if you've been in a situation where no one can laugh.
'This is annoying.'
Android didn't move at all as if he didn't even notice her even if she was right next to him. She thought he was ignoring her.
But it was always the same for him, so she couldn't find anything to say. In addition, she have known this attitude for a long time.
She was disgusted by the fact that she had adapted to this situation. She didn't hold back her sigh. She turned her head slightly and spoke bluntly with a look and tone full of irritation.
"So what are you gonna do?"
She asked a useless question. She had already organized all her thoughts and decided what to do.
"I'll file for disposal as soon as I get back."
Vessel's head trembled slightly at the word discard. Recognizing the tremor, Lilac turned to the other side and decided not to see it.
'Selfish bastard.'
Lilac tried to think no matter how much 'Vessel is a machine.' However, there were times when she forgot about it because he looked so much like a human being. It was happening again.
She gritted her teeth to suppress her feelings to be expressed outside. In a somewhat soothing mood, she hinted.
"I'm sick and tired of this hide and seek."
In the past, Vessel had only the idea of carrying out orders. This time, however, it was filled with many thoughts unlike usual.
Most of his thoughts were Lilac's reaction to his actions. Of course, he was worried about his own safety.
He was in such a chaotic situation because of the new experiences that were happening to him.
Still, the smooth texture of the paper inside the hand corrected the chaotic spirit. Enjoying the texture, he looked down at the end of the colorful paper that squeezed between his fingers.
'I have to go here. That's how I can survive.'
It was a paper promoting organizations that could most benefit their future and survival.
The paper was accidentally found on the bulletin board of a nearby town hall. Looking at the paper, he remembered the first time he saw this paper.
'I can't believe I'm going to this place.'
This was a place that could protect him. Vessel felt sad that there was no place he could belong except this group. But even that feeling confused him.
Vessel wanted to run away right now. However, he had never acted without permission. His obsession with permission and orders was a problem, but this fear that they might come and find him was also a problem. Such fear caught him off guard.
He lacked courage to ask the owner for permission. However, he thought it would be okay if it was a colleague. It was a useless idea, but he decided to pluck up his courage.
By the decision, he had waited for Lilac to ask permission. However, he tried to ask for a favor confidently, but he collapsed due to fear.
"Uh..."
He tried to be as confident as he could, but when he tried to talk, his mind seemed to be white. Numerous words were stuck at the end of his voice box and could not come out.
"That's...."
Thinking he had prepared it for sure, he was dumbly open-mouthed and unable to say anything.
'What's wrong with you?'
Lilac thought Vessel's crawling voice was strange. He used to speak in a calm voice that offended her, but now He's different.
When the irritation and question were mixed, Lilac crossed his arms. Her forehead was more wrinkled by his inability to say anything. Seeing the expression, Vessel spoke in a more crawling voice.
"Can you... give me permission to go here?"
Lilac had a blank look at Vessel's unusual behavior.
'He must be broken.'
She assumed that there was a significant error with this Android.
'I should have disposed of him last time.'
She thought it was a problem that she hadn't disposed of it yet. Thinking she should go back right now and report to the boss, she noticed that Vessel was holding something. The crumpled paper was lit small by the light bulb in the warehouse.
'What is it this time?'
It wasn't the first time that Vessel had picked something up. He had a strange habit of fixing broken machines. But what he picked up this time was a paper. This was also a different behavior than usual.
Vessel recognized that she looked at the paper in his hand. He reached out so that she could see the paper more closely.
'You've become so weird.'
Lilac determined that the machine in front of him had a clear error. Not knowing what kind of error he would show, Lilac was wary of him as he was of a serial killer.
No matter how gentle he looked, she didn't know when he would attack. She was educated by her boss that all possibilities were open. So she remained vigilant to overpower him at any time.
She took the paper out of his hand like a clever mouse took the cheese out of a mouse trap.
Vessel felt that the smooth texture remained blurry even after the paper was taken away.
'Mission accomplished in the first stage.'
He was delighted, thinking that he had succeeded just by delivering the flyer. Now the question was whether she would 'do the favor'.
"What is this?"
The first thing Lilac saw was a simple yet colorful painting on the paper. It was a clumsy painting that seemed to be drawn by an amateur illustrator, not an expert.
'This, this is.'
A picture that was not neat did not offend her. It was the contents of the flyer that scratched her nerves. It was about a company that supports the people of the lowest class.
The lowest class on this planet mean genetically modified organisms. They were produced and distributed by an experimental group called 'The Lab'. They are creatures created by humans and were given the rank of heaven and earth by the royal family.
After they were created, they began to work by doing chores such as housework. Later, thanks to their superior physical abilities, they were able to do very important things such as space exploration.
The company was a place to ensure safety by hiring bunch of people who had nowhere to go or were exposed to danger. And it was also a place that helped them to work.
It was a company that considered the people of low class who were free to discriminate equally with humans. Therefore, the company was criticized a lot from the beginning. On the other hand, many people claimed to be doing good things.
However, their voices gradually disappeared due to the behavior of the president. The president has exposed people with unique superpowers to the media to fill the company's insufficient budget. With their colorful clothes and unique looks, many humans thought of them as celebrities.
However, there was a royal institution that insisted that the people should remain the people of the people of heaven. Therefore, the company's activities have emerged as a program that should be banned from the media.
Still, thanks to those who like glamour and action, and those who still claim that this activity is done with good intentions, it has not yet gone bankrupt.