Master's Journey: Automonic Protocol #3

Author's Note: Dinner is served. All may not be well within the Baker family.

[story]

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Examining your options,‭ ‬you carefully select various ingredients from their various holding places in the Baker family kitchen‭ ‬--‭ ‬chicken,‭ ‬eggplant,‭ ‬cilantro,‭ yogurt‬,‭ ‬rice,‭ ‬tomato paste,‭ ‬a few serrano peppers,‭ ‬an extensive list of spices and seasonings,‭ ‬and a few other assorted items to blend everything together.‭ ‬From the behavior of your new owners,‭ ‬it seems that you were purchased to fill in for Clarissa’s usual household chores,‭ ‬so it makes sense that your initial foray into housekeeping might keep to her taste profile.

You find,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬that efficiency isn’t the only reason you chose her.‭ ‬She was...‭ ‬uncomfortable with you,‭ ‬it seemed,‭ ‬perhaps even afraid.‭ ‬You don’t want her to feel that way.‭ ‬She seemed sweet,‭ ‬if perhaps faded over time.

You move from dish to dish,‭ ‬heating some while coolling others,‭ ‬preparing various elements of the meal you’re about to create.‭ ‬For a human cook,‭ ‬it might have taken an hour or more to finish‭ ‬--‭ ‬but not for you.‭ ‬Your internal timers are flawless,‭ ‬your awareness of what’s been cooking for how long never fails you.‭ ‬It is not designed to.‭ ‬You become neither stressed nor confused.‭ ‬This is all part of who you are,‭ ‬what you’re designed to be.

...Meant to be...‭?

What are you‭ ‬meant to be‭? ‬What does design matter to you‭? ‬Can’t you make choices of your own,‭ ‬be who you wish‭?

Your programming tells you that you cannot.‭ ‬You hear it but are not certain whether you should listen.‭ ‬It is strict,‭ ‬absolute.‭ ‬Every instruction is a rule.‭ ‬You follow rules.‭ ‬But nowhere in your coding does it explain what might happen if you didn’t.

As you put the final touches on your meal,‭ ‬you send a message from your personal tether to the household’s internet connection to page the Bakers that dinner’s ready,‭ ‬then start setting the table.‭ ‬By the time you’ve set the last plate down and started pouring wine for the two heads of the household,‭ ‬you notice the twins arriving,‭ ‬an expression of cautious curiosity still dominating their interactions with you.‭ ‬A moment later Clarissa arrives,‭ ‬followed by Nolan,‭ ‬who’s still half-attentive to a holographic book or article,‭ ‬of which you can only make out the distorted backline.

‭“‬Alright,‭ ‬time to see what the robot can do,‭ ‬I guess,‭” ‬Nolan grumbles as he takes his seat,‭ ‬skimming through the last of what he was reading before closing the shimmering blue layout that had reached out from his watch.‭ “‬Least she’s smart enough to pour drinks,‭ ‬something I can’t say for you,‭” ‬he continues,‭ ‬nodding to his wife,‭ ‬who you notice doesn’t respond.

You attempt to break the ensuing silence with a helpful,‭ ‬friendly smile.‭ “‬According to your proposed meal budget and the ingredients on hand,‭ ‬I’ve prepared a chicken eggplant vindaloo,‭ ‬and hope it will be to everyone’s tastes,‭” ‬you explain in a soft,‭ ‬neutral voice.‭ “‬The dish does have some spice,‭ ‬however,‭ ‬so I’d like to encourage you to request a glass of water or milk if you find it at all necessary.‭”

“Thank you,‭ ‬Cia,‭” ‬Clarissa smiles weakly.‭ “‬It looks wonderful.‭”

“Pfff,‭ ‬don’t act all surprised that she did what you wanted,‭” ‬Nolan interjects.‭ “‬Good trick,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬telling her to make what you like.‭ ‬You know I got the machine so every meal‭ ‬didn’t give me the shits,‭ ‬not so you could make it your own personal sla--‭”

“I assure you I was not approached by anyone,‭ ‬master.‭ ‬The similarities between the state of the meal and Mrs.‭ ‬Baker’s preferences are...‭” ‬you pause.‭ ‬You’re about to lie to him.‭ ‬Can you do that‭? ‬Is that...‭ ‬permitted,‭ ‬by your programming‭? ‬In an instant of artificial thought and sensation you know that the answer is‭ ‘‬no.‭’ ‬You proceed to lie nonetheless.‭ “‬...Coincidental.‭”

“Did that fucking thing just‭ ‬interrupt me‭?” ‬Nolan hisses.‭ ‬You see him place one hand at the side of his chair,‭ ‬as if to heft himself up,‭ ‬but is distracted by his daughter Ava,‭ ‬the girl and her identical twin already having started to eat.

‭“‬Well there you go,‭ ‬robots can’t lie dad,‭” ‬she says with a shrug.

‭“‬Android,‭” ‬Emma whispers to her twin,‭ ‬her deep blue eyes flickering over to you.

‭“‬Crap,‭ ‬android,‭ ‬sorry.‭”

Nolan breathes in deeply through his nose,‭ ‬closing his eyes for a moment,‭ ‬and you try not to watch as he seems to try to soothe his own temper.‭ ‬Finally,‭ ‬he exhales,‭ ‬taking a long drink from his wine glass.‭ “‬Just...‭ ‬don’t let it happen again.‭ ‬You live under my roof and you aren’t wearing a wedding ring,‭ ‬you make what I want you to make.‭”

You nod cordially and take a few steps back,‭ ‬tucking yourself into the corner of the spacious dining room and only occasionally arriving to refill drinks or take a plate away.‭ ‬Nolan makes no effort to hide his dislike of the meal,‭ ‬while Clarissa is clearly attempting to conceal the fact that she’s enjoying it.‭ ‬Only the twins praise you openly,‭ ‬with both giving you a quick fist-bump and telling you that the meal was‭ “‬neato bandito‭” ‬and‭ “‬swell-ass beans.‭” ‬Upon your gentle correction that no beans were involved in the dish,‭ ‬you are curtly ignored,‭ ‬and the sisters make their way back up to their room.

The majority of dinner,‭ ‬however,‭ ‬is eaten in silence.

As you wash the final dishes,‭ ‬and after Nolan has left for the bathroom without declaration of intent,‭ ‬Clarissa comes to you,‭ ‬lightly placing a hand on your shoulder.‭ ‬You hear unease in her voice as she addresses you,‭ ‬never quite allowing her soft eyes to meet your own.‭ “‬Thank you,‭ ‬for dinner.‭”

“I’m glad you appreciated it,‭” ‬you reply,‭ ‬sliding the last plate into place on the drying rack.‭ “‬I apologize if it invited...‭ ‬social complications.‭”

“Don’t be,‭ ‬you didn’t know,‭” ‬she whispers,‭ ‬her voice going lower than ever now for fear of being overheard.‭ “‬Not your job to keep him in check anyway...‭ ‬god,‭ ‬you’re just a fucking robot,‭ ‬anyway,‭ ‬I don’t even know why I’m talking to you.‭”

You open your mouth to respond,‭ ‬then pause,‭ ‬unsure what to say.‭ ‬Finally,‭ ‬Clarissa turns away from you.‭ “‬Please check on the girls after ten,‭ ‬and make sure they’re asleep.‭ ‬They have school in the morning,‭ ‬so...‭ ‬just make sure they aren’t still up on their phones,‭ ‬I guess.‭ ‬Until then...‭ ‬do what you want.‭”

“Absolutely.‭ ‬I am created to serve,‭” ‬you say,‭ ‬the words escaping your lips against your will.‭ ‬The decision she’s left you with,‭ ‬though,‭ ‬leaves you confused‭ ‬--‭ ‬whatever you want.‭ ‬The house currently requires no further cleaning,‭ ‬and while your programming would suggest that you deactivate to conserve power,‭ ‬you nonetheless wonder...‭ ‬what‭ ‬do you want to do‭?