Auto Lucy

Corrigan

(CW – injury, violent crime mention, slight implication of suicidal thoughts)

“Here at Metanoia, we value your wellbeing and comfort. Our modifications are made of the finest cyberware available and tested rigorously to provide you with durable and safe enhancements. Remember: change is necessary for a bright future.”

Veda blinked furiously, attempting to clear her blurry vision. Her apertures were faulty, she would have to get them checked out when she got a chance, but they were acceptable for the moment. The various neons in this room weren’t helping, the oscillating gleam of the lights was wearing out her lenses causing cautionary messages to ping across her sight.

She huffed, crossing her arms tighter across her chest as she stared at the door in apprehension. The guard glanced at her occasionally before turning his attention back to the ground. Whenever Veda shifted in her seat, the guard would tense, and his eyes would flash orange before quickly flickering back to brown. The woman resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his actions and instead focused on the sliding door, bordered with vines and dahlias that stretched onto the mirrored ceiling, casting an array of colours, courtesy of the luminous vascular system.

“Here at Metanoia-”

The hologram was cut off as the door slid open to reveal an imposing figure dressed in a sharp black business suit contrasted with white neon lining. Veda craned her neck to gaze up at them as they leered down at her, yellow eyes flashing from dark circles and circuits.

“Salutations BL #105-377, my designation is Metanoia Employee_ #34.” The clarion call of their voice broke the tense silence, and a smile strained across their face, causing the corners of their eyes to wrinkle and the yellow irises to flare dangerously. “I apologise for the delay there was an unexpected workplace incident, you know how it is.” The chrome lines on their face bristled. “Now, let this interview commence.”

More like interrogation. Veda thought, eyes following the employee as they walked around to the desk in the centre of the room.

She was transfixed by how their sharp footsteps lacerated the tense silence between them. When ME_ #34 reached the desk, they gracefully sat down on the chair and smiled at the woman. She tentatively smiled up at them, those marauding eyes scorching her.

Suddenly, door slammed shut behind them and Veda flinched. She swivelled her head around to note that the guard had left them. She was isolated with the cyborg.

“Don’t be scared, BL #105-377, I don’t bite.” ME_ #34 purred, flexing the mandible plating that split their wicked smirk. Veda sat up in her chair, placing her hands on her lap and pushing her shoulders back. The employee observed her actions briefly and then placed their hands on the desk. Their eyes faded into a faint green and a projection was emitted on the desk. Veda noticed it was her portfolio of evidence about the correlation between criminal offences and Metanoia’s brain implants.

“So, is this why you wanted to ‘interview’ me?” Veda questioned, nails digging into her leather trousers. “I’ve got dirt on you, and your higher-ups are scared and now you’ve got to shut me up somehow?”

ME_ #34 remained stoic.

“Y’know it was pretty obvious you guys were up to something.” Veda continued. “With the whole ‘violence only happened against members of rival companies or politicians that criticised Metanoia’ shit. For a commercial empire that has manufactured all these enhancements and is so intelligent, you guys are quite stupid-”

“September 9th, 2169.” ME_ #34 silenced her. “You investigated a homicide, recording what you found at the scene and what you heard from the Enforcers on the premises.”

“What?” Veda’s face dropped and she felt for the recording chip insert under her jaw.

“The chips are not required.” They stated, their eyes flashing. They switched off the projection, their eyes darkened and then reignited with those blazing irises. Veda sunk back into her seat, mind and heart racing in apprehension as the employee rose from their chair and rounded the desk to station themself before her.

“You are very perceptive BL #105-377.”

“It’s Veda.”

“You could prove a valuable asset to Metanoia.”

Veda frowned and met ME_ #34’s scrutinising, yellow gaze. They stared back, unblinking; their pupils constricting and dilating frequently, subtly darting around Veda’s face.

“I know what being an ‘asset’ for your company entails.” Veda hissed, curling her lip in an ugly sneer.

ME_ #34 remained unfazed.

“You could prove a valuable asset to Metanoia.” They reinstated. Veda opened her mouth to retort but ME_ #34 held up a hand.

“Working for Metanoia would greatly improve your current living condition, and you would gain recognition for your journalism with the association. You could shed light on many aspects of society, maybe even convince the higher ups to change their ways, although, that would take some time, but you know what they say, ‘work hard, play hard’.”

Veda scrunched up her nose and chewed her lip. ME_ #34 remained motionless.

Metanoia was a corrupt organisation; they wouldn’t change unless there was significant commercial benefit. Succeeding in influencing their policies was a utopian delusion. But Veda couldn’t ignore that utopia, the human mind couldn’t stop wishing for what it couldn’t have. She envisioned a society where people were not categorised by ‘Base’, ‘Mid’ and ‘High’. It may be possible, through persistent endeavours, that she could make the administrators revise their outlooks, if only a minute extent.

Veda puffed her cheeks out before exhaling abruptly. ME_ #34 titled their head slightly, observing Veda with their large, unblinking eyes.

“Y’know,” Veda sighed. “I’m honoured with your proposal, and I would be inclined to accept.” Veda tensed and frantically grasped her throat plating as she choked in glitch and varying pitches. She gaped at ME_ #34 with horri fi ed, glassy eyes, simultaneously, ME_ #34 smiled warmly down at Veda with those predatory optics.

“Wha- What did you do to me?” Veda gasped, voice glitching. ME_ #34 continued to glower at her causing her to spring out of her seat, seizing their suit collar and yanking them downwards. “What the hell did you do, anti-pattern?”

ME_ #34 smirked. “My, my, what foul language.” Their hands darted out and wrapped around her wrists, squeezing them. Veda growled at them. “And a bit of a temper that results in impulsivity.” Their crushing grip made Veda grit her teeth and tighten her grip on reflex. “Metanoia employees must remain composed in all situations; your disposition requires correcting.”

“You freaks have no emotions, you’re just a hive mind!” Veda spat through her teeth, wincing as ME_ #34 compressed her wrists.

“Emotions cause impulsivity, impulsivity leads to unfavourable consequences, and unfavourable consequences hinder Metanoia.” ME_ #34 hissed, their eyes blinding Veda’s constricting apertures. She tensed her lips and her pupils darted from ME_ #34’s burning eyes to her burning wrists and released their collar and ME_ #34 liberated her wrists immediately. Veda stepped back and delicately rubbed her abused skin, attempting to ignore the imposing cyborg towering over her.

“Was it your choice?” She murmured, glaring at the floor.

ME_ #34 tilted their head, the yellow irises flaring. “Elaborate.”

“To become this. Or did they force you?”

ME_ #34 remained impassive but their pupils became unfocused.

“So, it’s a cyclical structure. Figures.” Veda mused bitterly.

ME_ #34 straightened their head and rolled their shoulders back. They abruptly turned away from Veda and stalked towards the desk. Veda sighed dejectedly, she raised her eyes towards the window and furrowed her brow. She knew she wouldn’t be fast enough, ME_ #34 most likely had speed implants, they definitely had strength implants and their face was garnished with chrome. Besides, the window would be heavily reinforced.

ME_ #34’s slender hands glided over the holographic keyboard as they typed. Veda saw their eyes reflect on the window shade.

That damn yellow still managed to taunt her even when she tried to escape it.

“This room is the highest inhabitable location in the City.” ME_ #34 stated.

“Wow. Couldn’t have known that.” Veda muttered.

“As you know, the pollution caused by previous generations has resulted in the ‘darkness’ smothering the City for the last 147 years. The sun has not been visible for those 147 years.” They persisted, disregarding her comment. “This room is situated on level 451. From the ground level, you are unable to see past floor 54.”

Veda turned to face them, raising her brow.

“I admire your tenacity and dedication to your craft. The diligence you exhibit is rare for a Street Rat.” ME_ #34 retracted their hands and gestured to the window. “You deserve compensation.”

At their words, the room gradually became brighter and warmer. Veda spun around to see that the window shade had been deactivated and her breath caught in her throat.

The sun’s rays bathed the floor in a soft, golden glow. Veda inhaled shakily and placed her hand gingerly on the glass, gasping faintly as she felt the warmth of the sun against the panes. A smile crept onto her face, and she gazed out of the window at the blue sky and sun that had been obscured by the heavy clouds and artificiality that engulfed the sky of the City. As her eyes flickered towards the sun, her apertures constricted to accommodate the brightness as she continued her awed gaze at the star.

“It’s time.” ME_ #34’s voice violated the serenity.

Veda stiffened as she heard them approach, along with other footsteps of varying weight. In the reflection of the windowpane, she could see ME_#34 flanked by armed security guards and a doctor. She pressed her forehead against the glass and closed her eyes, soaking up the natural warmth in a vain attempt to prolong the experience.

“BL_#105-377.”

Veda ignored the authoritarian cadence of ME_#34. The woman envied the humans of centuries ago who could experience the authentic nature whenever they wanted. They were not forced to improvise with artificial substitutes of cybernetic nerves and coding which pulsed brightly throughout the structure of their imitation.

The sound of fabric rustling accompanied the impatient command of “Take her.”

Veda heard heavy footsteps nearing and opened her eyes to see the security guards begin to approach her through the reflection. She sighed dejectedly and let her hand fall away from the glass and straightened her back, composing herself, and turning around to face the guards. They held her biceps and led her away from the penthouse towards the elevator. When they passed ME_#34, Veda met their gaze with a defiant sneer which the employee raised an eyebrow at.

The guards gripped her arms tighter and forced her into the elevator and turned around to face the door. Veda kept her gaze on the grey metal floor of the elevator, flinching at the chime of a floor button being pressed. As the doors slid closed, she looked up, hopeful to catch a glimpse of the sun one last time. Her pupils flashed a dim red, voraciously archiving the soft blue of the sky and the light reflecting on the floor and various items in the room. A small, content smile graced Veda’s face as the converging metal restricted her vision.

However, through the incision of the elevator doors, she observed the windowpane shimmer with sequences of code. The doors sealed, overriding her widened optical sensors with fluorescent golden neons that incinerated her.