Cyborgs were forbidden for one reason: they were considered immoral. They blurred the lines between man and machine, and the government had gone to great lengths to prevent such hybridizations from occurring. Every android-producing company had strict guidelines against using organic parts, and even the minuscule companies had to sign a strict agreement. Everyone silently agreed that androids were great, but cyborgs were a step too far.
I thought about this mysterious Echo-Six the whole way home, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as the city lights streaked past us. A human heart in an android's chest was not something you saw every day—or ever. It was like a sci-fi horror novel had come to life, and I had no idea what kind of twisted plot we had stumbled into. Someone would have to be crazy to pull off something like this.
Where did the heart come from? Did the creator kill someone to put a human heart in her? How did she even survive with it? Was that heart pumping real blood, or something synthetic? Was this why her personality was so...human?
"Master Eric, was the scan a success? I heard something about a heart...I think? Did I do something wrong?" Echo asked, leaning forward in the back seat.
"No, you're fine. It's just...we need to talk when we get home. To both of you," I said, glancing at Zander and then Echo. "Something happened, and it's not good."
"Okay..." She sat back in her seat, a worried expression on her face. "Did I mess up? Am I going to be sent back?"
"To where?" Zander muttered, and I elbowed him.
"No, you're not going to be sent back. But we do need to talk."
"Alright."
Zander and Echo looked at each other, and I sighed. This was going to be a long night.
***
"A human?" Zander hissed, pacing around my living room. "She's actually human?"
"Yes!" I hissed back, glancing over at Echo. Her and Noelle were preparing dinner in the kitchen, a bubbling pot of spaghetti sauce filling the air with a delicious aroma. "I scanned her, and she has a freaking human heart in her chest! No wonder she's so weird, she's not an android!"
"But how? Where did it come from?"
"I don't know! What I do know, though, is that Echo-Six was clearly a cyborg company that got shut down for creating human androids. The government probably shut them down, that's why there's no information on them. We have to be careful, we're walking a very thin line here."
"What do you mean?" Zander asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean, if anyone finds out that Echo is a cyborg, we could be in big trouble," I explained, shaking my head. "Like...jail time, or worse."
"But she's not even a real cyborg," Zander argued. "She's just some android with a human heart. She's got robot parts everywhere, she's more like a robot than anything else."
"Yeah, well, I'm sure the government won't care about that," I said, rubbing my temples. "They'll just see her as an abomination and tear her apart, and us with her."
"Technically, to be considered a cyborg, don't you have to have human and machine parts?" Zander asked, sitting down on the couch. "Like, if she's got a human heart but everything else is android, then isn't she just an android?"
"I don't know!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in the air. "All I know is that we've got a very dangerous situation on our hands, and we need to be careful. We can't turn her into Wong as our project anymore."
"Aw, man!" Zander whined, slumping his shoulders. "Why not?"
"Because if he finds out that she's a human, we're screwed," I said, shaking my head. "He's not exactly the most...understanding person. If we show her to him, he'll want to know why she's so different, and we don't have a good answer. We have to scrap the project, tell Wong that it didn't work out."
"And lose our jobs? No way!" Zander exclaimed, shaking his head. "We can't give up now, we're so close!"
"What other option do we have? It's either our jobs or Echo's life, and I know which one is more important." I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "We have to scrap the project and get rid of Echo before she gets discovered."
"Get rid of her where, the fire station? No way, she's a person!"
"I'm not saying we kill her!" I hissed, punching him in the arm. "I'm saying we find someone who can help her, like an underground android doctor or something!"
"Do you know any?"
"No..."
"Underground android doctor?" Zander stared at me for a moment before bursting out in laughter. "What kind of shady world do you live in?"
"Shut up! I'm trying to help," I said, rolling my eyes. "We have to figure out what to do with Echo. She needs to go to someone who can help her, but I don't know who that is."
"What about the internet?"
"What about the internet?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We could search for an underground android doctor and see if we can find one!" Zander suggested, grinning. "It's worth a shot, right?"
"You want to search for an underground android doctor on the internet? I'm pretty sure that's how people get murdered." I said, shaking my head. "But I guess it's better than nothing."
"Dinner is ready, Master Eric." Noelle's voice cut through the conversation, and we looked up to see her standing in the doorway with a smile on her face. "Will Mister Zander be staying for dinner?"
"Yeah, sure," I said, waving my hand dismissively. "Zander, I need to think for a bit. You start searching for an underground android doctor on the internet, I'm going to...do something."
"We really can't keep calling it an 'underground android doctor.' It sounds weird," Zander said, pulling out his phone. "Maybe we should call them something else."
"Like what?"
"Like...a black-market doctor!" Zander said, grinning. "It's perfect!"
"That sounds even worse and...somehow more shady than before," I said, shaking my head. "But whatever, you search for one of those and I'll be back."
"Okay, where are you going?"
"I'm going to go help Echo with the dishes."
I stood up and made my way to the kitchen, where Echo was busy cleaning the counter-tops. She was wearing one of my old t-shirts, which was far too big for her and hung loosely around her frame, and a pair of baggy shorts that threatened to fall off every time she leaned over. She smiled when she saw me, her optics brightening as she waved.
"Hi, Master Eric!"
"Hey, Echo." I said, grabbing a towel and moving to help her dry the dishes. "How was dinner?"
"It was very good, I think," She said, nodding. "Noelle said I can't eat anything cause I'm an android, but it smelled really good. I can make you a plate if you want."
"No, that's okay, I'm good," I said, chuckling softly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"So, um..." Echo paused, her smile faltering slightly. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, what is it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I heard you guys talking...about me being a cyborg and stuff," She said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does that mean? Am I...bad?"
"Oh...oh no, it's not like that at all," I said, quickly shaking my head. "You're not bad, Echo. You're just...different."
"Different? How?"
"Would you like a Webster dictionary response?" Noelle asked as she stepped into the kitchen. "Different is defined as not the same; unlike in nature, form, or quality; unusual; not similar or comparable; dissimilar in kind; not the same person or thing as another; unlike."
Echo stared at her blankly, and I sighed. "She means...you're different because you're not like other androids. But that's okay! Different isn't always bad."
"Then...why is it bad to be a cyborg?" Echo asked, tilting her head slightly. "Is it because of my...heart thing?"
"In a way, yes." I said, nodding slowly. "You see, people aren't too keen on cyborgs. They're seen as...unnatural, I guess. And when people do unnatural things, they tend to get punished for it."
"What do you mean...like death?" Echo asked, her eyes widening. "They'll kill me?"
"I don't know." I admitted. "But it's best if we don't find out. That's why we're gonna try to find someone who can help you. Someone who knows what to do with a...uh, person who has an android body."
"As much as I respect you, Master Eric, I believe this is a conversation better suited for tomorrow," Noelle said, taking the dishrag from Echo. "You've both had a long day, and it would be wise to rest and continue this discussion in the morning."
"Noelle's right. C'mon, Echo. You can sleep in the spare room tonight," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be fine."
"Okay...I believe you." Echo gave a smile, but it didn't quite reach her optics. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused..."
"It's not your fault," I said, shaking my head. "We'll figure this out together, alright?"
"Together?"
"Yeah. Together."
***
Noelle helped put Echo to sleep, and Zander left after stealing all the leftover spaghetti, so I was the only one stuck awake at midnight, staring at the ceiling and thinking about how royally I had screwed up. My life had gone from normal to crazy in a matter of days, all thanks to some strange girl with a human heart in an android body. Now, not only did I have to worry about getting fired or going to jail, I also had to worry about Echo's life being in danger. It was like a bad dream, but I couldn't seem to wake up from it.
So many questions flooded my head. How could a human heart survive inside an android? How did she even survive in general? Was she really human, or just some weird hybrid? And most importantly, how the hell was I supposed to help her? She was a cyborg, for crying out loud! What the hell was I supposed to do with her? I know I'm smart, but this is way out of my league!
I spent the next few hours tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. The thought of Echo being discovered and killed haunted my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were in over our heads. But what else could we do? We had to try.
I was no hero. I was the guy the hero passes on the sidewalk. I was a nobody, a loner who got by just fine on my own. But Echo was different. She was so...alive, in a way that I couldn't quite understand. And I couldn't just abandon her. I was the one who pulled her from that dumpster and brought her back to life...if she had even been dead in the first place. If anyone was responsible for her, it was me. So I had to find a way to help her.
The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon wafting through the air. I had no idea how or when I had fallen asleep, but had somehow managed to wake up halfway falling off the bed. I dragged myself out of my room and into the kitchen, where Echo was busy cooking breakfast while Noelle cleaned up after her.
"Good morning, Master Eric." Noelle smiled as I entered the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Coffee."
"Coming right up."
Echo looked up from the stove and smiled, a few strands of purple hair sticking out from her braid. "Hi! I learned how to make...uh...Noelle, what was it again? Oh, yeah! Waffles!"
"You mean, pancakes?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah! Those!"
Noelle sighed as she placed a cup of coffee in front of me. "I tried to teach her how to make a suitable breakfast other than those cereals you eat that are loaded with sugar, but she seems to have a difficult time remembering things. She keeps forgetting what waffles are."
"It's okay, it's not a big deal," I said, shaking my head. "Pancakes sound great."
"Okay, good!" Echo chirped, turning back to the stove.
I took a sip of coffee and watched as Echo prepared breakfast, her optics bright and her movements fluid. She did move differently than Noelle. While Noelle herself wasn't entirely stiff with her movements, there was always something robotic about the way she carried herself. Echo, on the other hand, seemed to be able to mirror Noelle's every move. She was smooth and elegant, almost human in a way.
"I think you should take the day off and relax, Master Eric," Noelle said, picking up my empty coffee cup. "You seem stressed, and I believe some time to yourself would be beneficial. I do understand that you have work this afternoon, but I would be glad to call and let them know that you won't be coming in today."
"I have work today?" I asked, frowning.
"Yes, at three o'clock."
"Damn it..." I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Wong hates call-outs. The stupid project deadline is in three days...I can't afford to take the day off. Zander and I need to get as much work done as possible, we're behind as it is."
"That's what you said last night, but look where we are," Noelle said, placing a plate of pancakes in front of me. "I understand that you are concerned about your job, Master Eric, but your health is just as important. I took a scan of your vital signs last night, and your cortisol levels were dangerously high. You need to relax."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I grumbled, digging into my pancakes. "You're right, as always."
Echo frowned, tilting her head slightly. "What does...cortisol mean? And why is it dangerous?"
"It's a hormone that's released in the body when you're under stress," I explained, waving my hand dismissively. "It's not good for you to have too much of it."
"Oh...so that's why you're so grumpy all the time?" Echo asked, her eyes wide. "Because of this...hormone thingy?"
"Hey, I'm not grumpy!" I protested, taking another bite of my pancakes. "I'm just...focused."
"Focused on being grumpy," Echo said, sticking out her tongue.
I rolled my eyes and finished my breakfast, before heading to the shower. If Noelle was insisting that I take the day off, then that was what I would do. She was a personal care unit, after all, so she knew what was best. Plus, it would be nice to spend some time relaxing before heading back into the madness at work. Maybe I could even find some time to do some research on cyborgs and try to find a solution to our Echo problem.
The shower was nice and warm, and I spent more time than I needed to just standing under the water and enjoying the sensation. The streams hitting my back were almost therapeutic, and I felt some of the tension in my body melting away. It was exactly what I needed, and by the time I was done, I was feeling a lot better.
I walked into the kitchen, fully dressed and ready for the day, only to find Echo and Noelle deep in conversation.
"But why does he have to leave?" Echo asked, her optics wide and full of concern. "Can't he stay here with us?"
"Unfortunately, no. He has a job that he must attend," Noelle explained, her tone calm and reassuring. "It's his duty as an adult to work and provide for himself."
"But can't he work from here?" Echo asked, gesturing around the room. "I mean, he's got all those fancy computers and stuff!"
"Yes, but he needs to be present at his place of employment," Noelle said, shaking her head. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about it."
"Aw, man...I wish he could stay here, though," Echo pouted, her shoulders slumping. "I like him."
I cleared my throat, announcing my presence, and Echo turned to look at me with a smile on her face. "Oh! Hi...you're going to work?"
"Nah...Noelle was right, I need a break," I said, shaking my head. "So, I'm gonna hang out here today, if that's okay with you?"
"Really? You're staying?" Echo's optics brightened, and she grinned. "Oh! And I had a great idea about your project thingy! I could totally pretend to be the perfect android, you know? Then you won't get fired, and I'll get a cool hat!"
I froze, slowly looking from Echo to Noelle. "Pretend? Noelle, did you tell her?"
"Of course not. I simply mentioned that you were under stress due to your work, and she came to that conclusion on her own," Noelle said, placing a hand on Echo's shoulder. "She's quite intuitive."
"Yeah, but..."
"Is it true, though? Am I really gonna get a cool hat?" Echo asked, bouncing up and down slightly. "And this Wong guy, who is he? I think I could pretend to be that...uh, intimate android until thingy is finished."
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea."
"Why not? I'm smart, I know how to act!" Echo insisted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I could do it! I could totally be an intimate android!"
"I'm not sure you understand what that means," I said, shaking my head. "Wong isn't just looking for any old intimate android, he's looking for a very specific one. He wants something...different. Something that's never been seen before."
"Well, what does he want it for?" Echo asked, tilting her head slightly. "If he's gonna be intimate, why does he need a robot?"
"Wong is an older man who has grown tired of his current marriage and is looking for a way to spice things up in the bedroom," Noelle explained, her tone perfectly neutral. "He finds many flaws in humans and aims to correct them via an android."
"Oh...so he's lonely?" Echo asked, frowning. "That's sad..."
"Yeah, I guess," I shrugged. "But you still can't help us. You're too...human."
"But I could pretend!" Echo said, clasping her hands together. "I could pretend to be an android, I swear!"
"You do realize that Wong is the leading manufacturer of androids in the world, right?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. "If anyone is going to know if you're a real android or not, it's him."
"We can fool him. I can do it, I know I can!" Echo insisted, her optics bright and determined. "Just let me try!"
"I don't think-"
"Pretty please? I'm just trying to help!" She begged, her lip quivering. "Please? To repay you for saving me?"
I sighed. "You know what? Fine. How about a test? If you pass the test, then we'll talk about you pretending to be the perfect AI for Wong."
"Yes!" Echo cheered, throwing her arms into the air. "I won't let you down!"
Noelle smiled and nodded at me, and I knew that I was in trouble.
It's official. I'm going to get fired. And probably arrested. And sent to jail. To become some dude's bitch. Or to die. Either one, really.