Unit 001 has been lost. I don't know how to take this. The report only just came in, and security is calling me. Thomas was a good guy. We had an arrangement, a system. Thomas and I had the beginnings of trust. Now, he was dead and the only one to suspect is 001. I pick up my phone and flip the green button.
"Hello?"
"Mister Darrin sir, we've confirmed 001's location. How soon do you want us to send someone to get him?"
Location? I know I've instructed them several times not to use the back hacks they see us use in testing. The crippled heel of the black market is in hiring. Society benefits from the idea that most people will work for what seems fair. The ugly underbelly leaves us hired rejects. For a moment, I lose my cool and stop it with a deep breath. I've forgotten this isn't head of security that I'm talking to.
"How did you locate 001?" I ask.
There's a long silence which confirms my suspicions.
"Uhh, we used the tracer hack thing. Our boss said that way was possible."
"Don't tell me what John told you. Did he say that you could do that?"
"No sir, uhh, we were just responding to urgent - "
"Let me explain to you why." I say, my voice growing tight.
"Ok sir."
"The trick you saw requires a reboot. The machines housed in the unit's eyes
prevent them from seeing their own body. They are sex dolls, right?"
The silence grows louder even more so, deafening to the soul. The hired gun on the other end of the line has a trickle of cowardice for a voice, but the courage to speak.
"Yes sir."
"Do we want them asking our clientele why it can't say no?"
"No sir."
"So now you see why you fucked up?"
Before he can speak, I end the conversation for him.
"See to it that John is informed of your progress and have him meet me at my location before anyone does anything else."
"Yes sir. I can get on the phone with John right now."
"I expect a written report later."
"Yes sir."
I hang up the line and hold my head in my hands, sighing as I sit on the edge of my bed. It's been so long since I've had any issues with the units that I know how to feel. These units have given me an empire, and now I feel it chipping away. I can only hope that 001 was unconscious or in the dark somewhere.
I make my way to the shower, stripping as I start up the water. A female unit picks up behind me, inspecting my mess for cleaning. The other one at my bed is refitting my sheets and getting some of my things in order, like my keys and my phone if she can find it.
I pass the mirror, and stare at the naked man in it. A premonition hits me, and I sense darkness ahead. I look at my dark skin in the mirror. I cover my face and I sigh as I pull my hands down. Opening my eyes, I examine my jaw line. Dark stubble was jutting needles under my chin. My beard is too short to have curls, and so is my hair. The muscles on my body are tense, but soft from my comfortable diet. One of the female units starts the shower for me and then waits around to see if I need anything else.
"No. Go."
She leaves without question, a brilliant smile on her face. I remember release night for the female units. Sales went up. I thought they'd eclipse the male to male market. Turned out, a chunk of my top buyers bought several units and used them for home labor among other things. I've merely copied human ingenuity.
We deal underground here, and my reputation among the white collar is paramount. I sell the best quality units, and my data security matches. We have not simply been sitting idly by while we break the law. I have kept my hobby in circuitry strong, and plan to embark on a different experience for my units. To evolve them.