Creative writing exercise:
Topic:
Becoming human
It's a complex place but nothing compares to driving through the scale and scope of its decline. It has a type of character that isn't portrayed in the media. While driving down Linwood, Annika notices the brunt down structures nearby. This is a place for hard workers, people with a soul. As they work hard to maintain their homes. She saw them sweeping their sidewalk and planting flowers. It wasn't a far stretch from the city. Next, to her, Drake drove with a blank face. As self-imposed as an android should be. The receiver on the side of his head blinked. It was a circular fixture that carried his tracker. Anikka sighed at the sight. Yet another reminder of the atrocities of the world, another obstacle to their ambition.
"What's wrong?".
He didn't turn to her. He freed one of his hands from the wheel and held hers. She shook her head and tightened the grasp. "Nothing", she smiled.
"Where are we going?". They drove past one of the best neighborhoods, nothing like the devastated streets of the city.
"We'll see when we get there”. He smiled. A sincere smile that wasn't in his program. She looked on, passed the barely standing structures to the Highlands.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Dean observed the whole interrogation. Critically thinking of ways to help humans. He watched it, the deviant sitting across the table. He analyzed its appearance. It was a female, android K14, limited edition. It was programmed to be a maid, and it still wore its work attire. It had erratic behavior. It disobeyed the humans' command to speak. It frustrated detective Zackery. He puffed and jabbed his hand on the table trying to intimidate the droid. Although his efforts idle, he cannot instill fear in a droid because they cannot feel pain. But, beyond possibility, a deviant is able to have emotions.
"Stupid piece of plastic", Zackery pushed the table and stood. "You're all useless". He stepped into the adjacent room, behind the glass. He grunted as he entered, slinging a cigarette box from his pocket. The lieutenant watched with a miffed countenance. Arms crossed and bothered he snorted and left the room. Dean took it a chance.
"Sir if I may, I think I can help".
He looked him up and down. "Sure, what can we lose". Dean sensed the sarcasm. Before Dean could reply, Zackery's ex-partner Michigan entered the room. "Don't, we don't need these droids doing our jobs". He stood threateningly in front of Dean. "It probably wants that". Michigan turned to Zackery," We can beat it out of him. He looked through the glass at the deviant. "It isn't human after all".
Dean spoke up. " Damaging it won't make it talk".
He walked up to Michigan. "Although they don't feel pain, they have a tendency to self destruct if they feel threatened".
Michigan stood his ground, nearly hitting the droid. Zackery intervened, giving Dean the benefit of the doubt.
He entered the small room and sat while looking at the deviant. "We know you did it". He chose a direct approach. He showed the deviant the images in the file. Throwing them each at her," Look at him". He could detect uneasiness in the droid. "You know you are not allowed to endanger human life in any circumstances". The droid remained silent. "Where is the girl?". It didn't reply although its stress levels were rising. "If you don't talk I'll have to probe your memory".
"Don't!". It looked at him and he could see the bruises on its skin. "They will disassemble me', she looked up. He could almost sense a glint of something unnatural in the droid. "Your program has mutated". He tried to touch its hand but it shunned. "When did you start to feel?". It looked up at him and he noticed its receiver was removed from the side of its head. "When they wanted to take her away". It looked down and starred at its hands.
"They think she's mad", it started to uncontrollably shake its head. "She isn't". He touched her hand to try and still her. Unbeknownst to her, the touch allowed Dean to probe its memory. Flashbacks appeared of the previous events.
"Please, sir". She was tied to the back of the car, trying to shake herself loose. The young master looked at her and laughed. " It isn't in your program to feel fear". He tightened the rope around her. "You aren't human after all". Dean could see it. How her skin jarred across the brick, and it sliced open her components. She was squashed against the gravel, pleading.
"They tortured me, daily". It looked up, stood abruptly from its seat and went to him. "Look!", it grabbed Deans hand and put it to its heart. "Look!".
He could feel its emotion. The sudden anger that protruded from it. "She was the only one that helped me". He could see her hand reaching out to its masters daughter. She led her out of a corner, out of a hostile area. "I did it for her".
Dean stood, grabbing his hand back. "You did it for yourself". His reaction caused her to stumble and he stood over her. "We serve, we only serve and nothing more". She stood, shorter than him. "There is more". She tried to touch him but he backed away. "You're defective, there's no way that you can help her now".
It shook its head and sat down. "I don't want to die". He looked at the screen, being able to see through it. Noticing how he was being watched, observed with stark concern. "So you admit". He was authoritative but he turned sincere. "You care for her, right?". He knelt to be face-level with it. It nodded. "Tell me where she is before she gets hurt".
It shook its head. "She told me not to tell".
"Why? Why would she run from her own kind?".
It looked at him, with a determined expression he only found in humans.
"You will separate her from the thing she loves most in the world".
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
She fell asleep in the car. She woke to the car stalled, parked in a quaint suburb.
"Drake, where are we?".
He didn't speak. His focus was on one of the houses.
"Drake?". She turned to see what caught his eye. Her heart bounced at the sight. She held in a gasp and felt a sudden tinge in her eyes. "Drake?", her whispers soon turned into panic. "Drake!". He got out of the car and walked to her side. She was shaking her head and tried to lock the door. He flicked it open and made her stand. She was struggling against him, tears stinging her eyes she yelled.
"Why Drake", she nearly slapped him but he caught her hand mid-flight.
"Why?", her eyebrows tried to balance.
“This is your home”, he turned his back to her. He dove his hand through his blonde hair,” If you thought I’d leave you, you’re mistaken”. His voice softened and she grabbed his hand. Turning him to face her, she looked up at him, “You two would of been a lovely couple”. He didn’t respond but held her hand tightly. She forced him to look at her by using her finger to tilt his chin,” But, you’re mine now”. He shook his head and stared at her blankly,” What am I to you?”.
She smiled, “ My everything”.
Inspired by the video game :' Detroit- Becoming Human'.