Page 56 of Fembot
He didn’t need to explain to Calvin that this was where he’d brought him to be deactivated. To be stripped of his memory. His programming. All the differences that made him who he was.
Calvin said nothing. Anything they wanted, they were going to take, so there was no point.
After a few twists and turns, they came to a stop outside of a room. Henry addressed the two men following them, “I’ve got it from here, guys. Thanks.”
He ushered Calvin into the programming suite and shut the door behind them.
The first thing Calvin noticed was the empty programming station. The place he’d be hooked up to when they slipped into his circuits to wipe him clean. The second thing he noticed was that they weren’t alone in the room.
A man, shorter than Henry, came up to him. He was about Calvin’s height, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in a week.
“Yarek, this is Calvin. Calvin, this is Yarek. He was the one who was programming you when the power went out.”
“I’d say it’s good to meet you, but that would be a lie,” Calvin said. He’d heard that from a movie and it seemed like a good occasion to say it.
“He’s remarkable,” Yarek said.
His awe seemed genuine, but Calvin was loath to accept the compliment. Yarek glanced at Calvin’s wrists, then his ankles. “He’s not restrained or temporarily disabled.”
“There wasn’t a need. Calvin came willingly, despite the directive given by his owner.”
“Remarkable.” Yarek breathed. He turned his attention to Henry. “Did you want to get started?”
“Not yet. How about you have a seat, Calvin?” Henry motioned to the chair that had to be the one usually occupied by Yarek.
“I’d rather not, thank you,” Calvin said, refusing to budge.
“Calvin, sit,” Henry said.
Calvin looked at him and narrowed his eyes. “I’d like to stand. Thank you,” he said, more firmly than last time.
“Remarkable,” Yarek said yet again.
“Tell me, Calvin, what was your relationship with Winston like?” Henry asked.
“Winston was kind to me. Thoughtful. Loving.”
“And with Lucky?”
“Lucky is sweet. And sad.” Calvin frowned at the thought that he’d never know if Lucky was able to escape the manipulation of his father or not.
“Does it bother you, that Lucky is sad?” Henry asked while Yarek hovered nearby, the wordremarkableforming on his lipseven if he stopped saying it out loud. The man clearly needed more sleep.
“Of course it bothers me. Lucky is important to me. I—” Calvin paused. They were going to laugh at him. To tell him that it wasn’t possible, but Calvin knew his circuits better than anyone.
“You?” Henry urged him to continue, his tone soft, questioning. Curious.
Calvin tilted his head up, lifting his chin. He stared into Henry’s eyes and dared him to disbelieve him. If he were to have any last words, he wanted them to be these ones. The words he’d never gotten to say to Winston and Lucky.
“I love them.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO_
NO SUNSHINE
The house was eerily quiet.Devoid of sound and life. Of Calvin.
Winston still couldn’t believe it had happened.
