"Wha? Mom?" Zander's groggy voice spoke on the fifth ring, sounding like a bullfrog that had been kicked awake. "Why are you calling me so early?"
"Dude, it's 8 o'clock, how is that early?"
"Because...I'm lazy."
"Whatever, look, I have a favor to ask you, and it's pretty big." I said quickly, shoving random clothing items from my dresser into my backpack. "I need to use your car for a couple days."
"What? No way, man. You know I don't like when people drive it."
"It's an emergency."
"Oh? What kind of emergency?"
"A life and death one."
"Uh-huh," Zander snorted. "If you're dead, who's gonna take care of Noelle?"
"Herself, but listen, this is big. It's about Echo-Six. I need to use your car, and I also need you to cover for me at work until I get back. I'll try to be back by the project deadline, so-"
"What, wait, wait." Zander said through a yawn. "Echo-Six? Seriously?"
"Yes, I don't have a lot of time to explain, just please cover for me at work!" I said as I snatched a few protein bars from my desk drawer. "I have to go, I'm on a tight schedule. I gotta start looking for the creator dude and stuff, I'll swing by to take your car, it's faster than mine and it's not a piece of crap."
"Wait, wait, wait, hang on." Zander said quickly. "You're going to try and find the creator of Echo-Six?"
"Yes, I have a lead, I just gotta follow it."
"And you want me to cover for you at work until you get back?"
"Yes, that's what I said!"
"No fair, I wanna come with you! I'll drive us there."
"Are you serious right now? Don't you have work?"
"So do you!"
"It's not the same!" I exclaimed, slamming my dresser drawer shut. "I can't bring you, I'm sorry. Wong will get suspicious if both of us are gone at the same time, plus you won't be able to help me."
"Sure, I can!"
"No, you can't, because you don't know anything about this." I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Listen, man, I know you wanna help, but I have to do this alone. Well, I'm bringing Echo and Noelle, but-"
"Noelle before me? What the hell, dude? She's not even a real person! What about me, your best friend? I'm more than willing to drop everything for you!"
"That's why I can't bring you. I need you here to cover for me at work."
"I'm honestly so offended."
"I'm still taking your car."
I hung up before Zander could protest further and hurried to start packing a backpack. I knew that Zander would chew me out when I got back, but if I turned this chance down, it might mean the end of Echo, and I still had so much to learn about her. I had very little in the way of leads or a plan, but I had to start somewhere.
I had no idea what to pack, since the farthest I'd ever really traveled was to the mall, so I just shoved some clothes and toiletries into my backpack and called it good. I figured Noelle and Echo didn't really need anything other than their charging cords and whatever else they brought with them. I made sure I had my wallet and phone charger before I headed out of my room.
"Noelle! Echo!" I called out, jogging down the hallway. "Are you guys ready? We have to go!"
Echo poked her head out of her bedroom door, her optics bright and alert. "Ready for what?"
"Master Eric is taking us with him to search for the creator of Echo-Six." Noelle explained patiently. She was dressed not in her usual maid-like attire, but in a pair of black leggings and a white tank top. She looked more like a teenager than a professional android.
"We are?" Echo's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes, we have to leave now," I said, nodding. "We only have two days left, so we have to hurry."
"Awesome!" Echo cheered. "A cool adventure with my cool friends!"
Noelle arched an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
Getting Echo out the door was surprisingly complicated. She kept bumping into things and tripping over her own feet, but she didn't seem bothered by it. Noelle tried to help her, but Echo was determined to do things herself. It took almost ten minutes just to get out the front door, and then another five to get her into the car.
I drove like a madman, trying to get to Zander's as quickly as possible. My car was decent, but I wanted speed, and Zander's car could go faster than mine. Mine was as close to a junker as it could be without being classified as a junkyard car. The engine vibrated like a jackhammer, but it had been my first car, so I wasn't willing to get rid of it yet.
We arrived at Zander's apartment complex in record time. I parked in his secondary reserved spot—he'd understand—and immediately shoved Echo out of the backseat. "Okay, both of you, get in, we're wasting daylight."
"Eric, I must remind you that it is currently 8:30 in the morning, and that-"
"You know what I meant," I sighed, rolling my eyes as I shoved Noelle inside. "Just get in."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Noelle asked as she buckled herself into the passenger seat. "We do not know where we're going, or how long it will take to get there."
"Think of it as like...uh...a road trip!" I said as I cranked the engine. "We'll stop and see the sights along the way or something."
"Oooh, fun!" Echo quickly clipped her buckle into place. "I've never been on a road trip before."
"Yeah, yeah, it'll be great." I climbed into the passenger seat and fumbled around searching for the keys, which I knew Zander always left in his car for some reason. "Where are those damn keys..."
I was never good in a panic. Stress made me sweat, and the heat only made me sweat more. I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to get there, but I knew that if I didn't do something, Wong would fire me, and Echo would be sold. It was all or nothing.
"Aha!" I exclaimed as I found the keys shoved haphazardly in the glove compartment. "Alright, let's do this."
The car roared to life, and we were off.
The city in the early morning fog was beautiful; the sun had barely risen above the horizon, casting a golden glow over the streets. It was still early enough that traffic hadn't picked up yet, so I was able to drive at a decent speed without worrying too much about getting in an accident. The radio was playing some old rock song that I'd never heard before, but it fit the mood well enough. I glanced every now and then at my watch, keeping an eye on the time.
"So, where are we going, exactly?" Noelle asked, her voice soft. "You haven't mentioned any destinations."
"We're heading north." I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "To the countryside, where there aren't any people."
"Why?" Echo asked, her head tilted slightly.
"Because the article said that the creator of you had moved away from big, populated cities after Echo-Six was shut down," I explained as I turned onto a narrow road. "And if he's moved to the country, then that's where we have to check."
"Very sound plan." Noelle nodded her approval. "How long will it take us to reach our destination?"
"No idea," I sighed, shaking my head. "I just hope we find this guy before Wong gets suspicious. We're already late to work."
"What will happen if we fail?"
"Uh...well, I'll probably get fired," I shrugged. "But that's not important right now. Just...calculate the nearest exit to the city."
Noelle paused for a moment, her optics flickering as she searched the internet for the nearest exit. "There are multiple exits to the city, Master Eric."
"Of course there are, but which is the closest one?" I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Just...tell me when I'm supposed to turn, alright?"
Noelle nodded. "Yes, Master Eric. The nearest exit is approximately five miles ahead, on your left."
"Good. Thank you."
The drive continued in relative silence, save for the radio and the occasional question from Echo and an answer Noelle. Hover cars and vehicles passed us by, but none of them seemed interested in us. We were just another vehicle on the road, going wherever we wanted to go.
The sun rose higher in the sky as we drove, casting its warm rays across the landscape. The towering skyscrapers showcasing new android models and other technologies faded away, replaced by small shops and houses. People waved to us as we drove by, smiling and nodding their heads in greeting. I smiled and waved back, but my mind was elsewhere.
There wasn't one spot of the city that didn't have some robotic presence. Every shop and billboard had some sort of mechanical aspect to it, like a digital billboard displaying a toothbrush that cleaned your teeth with nano-bots or a coffee shop that was entirely run by robot baristas. I had never really noticed it before, I was just so used to living in a world where technology was everywhere. I was just born in the peak of it all, but now as we drove into the countryside, it was like a whole new world was opening up.
I had never left the city. I never really had a reason to. I was the type of guy to admire beauty from a wallpaper on my desktop, not from a real-life view. The most I had ever spent in nature was when I was five and physically had to go outside to play. Even then, my mother would make sure I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and long pants so I wouldn't get sunburned. But now here I was, driving through fields of golden wheat and green grass. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with white clouds that seemed to be made of cotton candy. The sun was warm and inviting, and there was a gentle breeze blowing across the land. I found myself rolling down the window just to feel it against my skin.
"Wow..." I whispered, taking it all in. "It's so beautiful out here."
"It is quite pleasant," Noelle said softly. "The scenery is very beautiful."
"How come no one else is out here?" Echo asked, her eyes wide as she peered out the window. "I thought people loved places like this."
"People love big cities," I explained. "There's more entertainment and shopping and stuff there than out here."
"But why? It's so quiet and peaceful. Wouldn't you rather be in a place like this than in a city where everything's loud and busy?"
I didn't have an answer for her.
We continued driving through the countryside, passing small farms and old houses. There weren't many buildings out there, save for a few small roadside businesses here and there. The road was mostly empty, except for the occasional farmer driving their hover tractor. The scenery was gorgeous, but it was starting to get boring. I tried to focus on the music or the wind against my face, but it wasn't enough to distract me from the fact that we had no idea where we were going.
Just drive until you see something interesting, I told myself. That's how road trips work, right?
"So, uh...Echo," I said, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. "How do you feel? Like...with that heart?"
"I feel happy." Echo said simply. "This is exciting!"
"Yeah, it is. Have you ever been in a car before, besides before when we had to hightail it out of the lab?"
"Nope! This is my first real time!" Echo smiled brightly. "It's fun!"
I chuckled slightly. "Yeah, it is fun. I remember when I first got my license. I was so excited to drive around on my own. But of course, my mom wouldn't let me go too far, so I'd just drive around the block."
"You have a mother?" Echo asked, tilting her head. "I don't think I have one."
"Yeah, I do. Her name is Carol. She makes these delicious cupcakes that are to die for. You'll have to try one when we get this done." I smiled softly. "I'll make sure you get the biggest one."
Echo smiled. "That sounds great. I can't wait!"
"Master Eric, you forget that robotic organisms cannot digest food." Noelle stated matter-of-factly.
I chuckled. "It's called 'suspending disbelief' Noelle. Just roll with it, okay? Echo looks happy, don't ruin the moment."
Noelle didn't say anything, but I could tell she was thinking.
I looked back at the road ahead of us, watching as the fields of gold and green passed by. It was beautiful, but it was also lonely. There weren't any other cars around, and I hadn't seen any signs of civilization in miles. I was so used to tall stainless steel buildings and neon lights everywhere that I'd forgotten what it was like to be in a quiet place like this. It was peaceful, but somehow unnerving.
We continued driving until the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the land. The sky was a mix of pinks and purples, with streaks of red and orange mixed in. My legs felt stiff, but I didn't want to stop driving and waste precious time. We were on a mission, and we couldn't afford to waste a second.
I conjured up all the worst case scenarios: Wong fired me, Zander lost his job, Echo got sold to someone who would treat her like garbage...they were all terrifying possibilities, but I had to keep going. I couldn't afford to lose my job, and Echo couldn't afford to be sold to someone else. She…needed me? Was I basically her father figure? She looked up to me, so maybe. Noelle was kind of a big sister. I was the dad. Or the mom? I didn't know. I had no idea how any of this worked.
"Master Eric, my schedule system alerts me that it is your dinner time. If you continue driving without eating, your blood sugar will drop and you may experience nausea or fatigue. Please pull over and consume a meal as soon as possible." Noelle spoke, interrupting my thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." I nodded, rubbing my eyes. "I'll stop soon. I don't wanna waste any more time."
"Your health is my top priority, Master Eric." Noelle said, her tone firm. "Pull over, now."
I sighed, shaking my head. "Fine, fine. I guess I am a little hungry..."
I pulled over to the side of the road, parking under a tall oak tree. The wind rustled through the leaves, making them dance in the breeze. The old rocks crunched under the tires as I turned the car off. The sound of birds chirping filled the air as I opened the door and stepped outside. It was warm, but there was a slight chill in the air. I stretched out my arms and legs, trying to loosen my stiff muscles.
"Wow," Echo said as she stepped out of the car. "It's so pretty here!"
"Damn, I forgot how big nature was." I said, gazing around us at the endless sea of golden wheat fields.
Noelle nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "It is quite peaceful out here."
"Aww, this flower is so pretty!" Echo exclaimed, squatting down to admire a small yellow wildflower.
"Yeah, it is," I said, smiling softly. "Alright, Noelle, hit me with the dinner menu."
"I have packed a variety of options for meals on the road, consisting of sandwiches, granola bars, protein bars, and assorted fruits and vegetables. Please choose whichever you would like, and I shall retrieve it for you." Noelle replied, her tone even.
I sighed, shaking my head. "I told you not to pack so much."
Noelle frowned slightly. "My apologies, Master Eric. I was not aware that you preferred to live off of fast food and junk food."
"Ouch." I winced. "Well, maybe I just wanna have something a little different, okay?"
"Okay, well, what would you like to eat, then?" Noelle asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Uh..." I hesitated. "Sandwiches, I guess. That sounds good."
Noelle nodded and retrieved a duffel bag from the trunk, where she had placed all our luggage. She unzipped it and pulled out a small container filled with neatly arranged sandwiches.
"Please, enjoy your meal." Noelle said, handing me the container.
I took a sandwich and started eating it. The bread was soft and fresh, and the meat and vegetables were perfectly seasoned. It was delicious, and I finished it quickly.
"This is really good," I said, taking another sandwich. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Noelle said, her tone polite. "Is there anything else you would like to eat?"
"Nah, I'm good. We got water bottles though, right? I don't wanna waste money on gas station food." I said, shrugging.
"Of course," Noelle nodded. "We have enough to last us for several days."
"Good, that's...good." I said, nodding. "Crap, we're gonna need to camp out, huh? I mean, I could get a motel room or something, but-"
"Master Eric, please do not worry yourself about such things. If you are concerned about sleeping arrangements, then I will take care of that." Noelle said, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Thanks, Noelle." I smiled softly. "But what ideas do you have?"
"In the event that we must camp out, I will erect a tent and prepare a sleeping area for you. You will not have to worry about such things. I am fully equipped with all the tools and knowledge necessary to make a comfortable living space for us. I will also take care of all of the chores that would be required to sustain our temporary home. You may focus on the task at hand, while I handle everything else."
I blinked, staring at Noelle in surprise. "Oh...thanks, I guess. I didn't realize you were so capable."
Noelle smiled slightly. "I am programmed for any and all domestic duties that might be required of me."
"Yeah, but still, I didn't know you could do all that stuff too," I said, shaking my head. "That's...cool. But we didn't pack a tent, how will you set one up?"
Noelle looked down at the ground, her optics flickering as she accessed her internal database. After a few moments, she looked back up at me, her expression serious.
"I do not have a tent, but I can construct one using nearby materials. If you wish, I can create a basic shelter with whatever materials we can find nearby."
"That's too much, Noelle. We should just get a hotel room. I don't wanna spend all night working on a tent or something, that sounds exhausting." I shook my head.
"That is true, however, it is likely that we will not encounter any other buildings out here," Noelle explained, gesturing to the empty fields around us. "We may be forced to sleep under the stars if we cannot find a suitable location for shelter."
"Yeah, but…wait…where's Echo?" I asked, glancing around.
A small giggle from behind a tree caught our attention, and out skipped Echo, holding what looked like a skunk proudly in her arms.
"Look at this little thing! I found it in a bush, it was all alone and scared and lonely! I think I like animals, they smell good, and they make happy sounds! Well, some of them anyway." Echo smiled brightly.
"Echo, put that down!" I exclaimed, taking a step back. "You don't know where it's been!"
"I'll wash it off later."
"No, that's a skunk! It smells really bad if you get sprayed by one!" I explained, shaking my head. "If you get too close to it, it'll spray you with this really stinky liquid that you won't be able to get out of your clothes for weeks! And then we'll all have to burn everything we're wearing and start over again!"
"But it's so cute," Echo said, pouting.
"I suggest setting the skunk free, Echo. If you would like to observe the wildlife, I can find some information for you." Noelle offered, stepping forward. "There is a wide variety of animals living in the area, and I am sure you would enjoy learning more about them."
"Okay!" Echo nodded, setting the skunk down gently and watching it scamper away.
"Alright, well...that's one thing we have to look out for. Skunks." I said, shaking my head.
Noelle nodded, her expression serious. "I will add skunks to my database."
"Awesome. Now, let's get this shelter built."
I underestimated Noelle's expansive usefulness. She somehow managed to find two large tree branches, a few yards of rope, a large sheet, and some stakes to create a very sturdy tent-like structure in the middle of the field. She even made a fire pit in case we needed to cook food. I was impressed by her skill and efficiency, but I was also a little worried about where she got rope in the first place. But I didn't question it as I climbed inside the tent and unrolled my sleeping bag. It was warm and comfy, and I could feel myself starting to relax.
"Hey, Master Eric?" Echo called from outside the tent.
"Yeah?"
"Can I come in? I'm kinda lonely."
"Obviously, Echo, we're sleeping in here, aren't we?"
"Okay, good," Echo said as she crawled into the tent, letting the flap close behind her. "This is nice."
"Yeah, it is." I nodded, smiling slightly. "It's cozy."
"Are you gonna sleep too, Master Eric?" Echo asked, tilting her head.
"Uh...yeah, I guess so," I said, shrugging.
"Noelle sleeps standing up, it's kinda funny, isn't it? Do you think she dreams about anything? She has a brain, right?"
"I...don't know. She's an android, not a cyborg like you," I explained, shaking my head. "She doesn't have a heart."
"Aww, that's sad..." Echo frowned slightly. "She still seems happy though."
"Yeah, she does. Maybe she has her own dreams or something." I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe she'll tell you one day."
"I hope so." Echo smiled softly. "I'm sleepy now, so I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight, Master Eric."
"Goodnight, Echo."
I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the night. I tried not to dream about the future, or about what would happen if we failed. All I could do was focus on the present, and hope that it was enough.