Simple Machines

CHAPTER ONE -2

Charlotte turned away from him and buttered some toast. She looked through the kitchen window at the lit-up city skyline. It was still dark outside. The moon ensconced in the top-right part of the window.

Xander wiped the back of his hand on his face and made his way through the landing, toward the kitchen.

The apartment complex was a beautiful piece of art, to be sure. If you were to visit Chrome Valley‘s east side, you’d be greeted with serious wealth. Such extravagant buildings loomed over the west’s social housing ‘project’.

What an utter disaster that area of the projects were.

A few months ago, one of the buildings was devastated by a fire. Scores of people were killed. No-one with any intelligence ever ventured to the west side. Hell, to be seen cavorting with that side of Chrome Valley, or be seen with any of its residents, was a big no-no this side of town. Xander knew how fortunate he was not to have ended up on the west side. He took his success very seriously, but always wondered if Charlotte knew how hard it had been for him to achieve his goals.

Xander reached the table and slipped off his running shoes. "Charlie? Are you okay?"

Charlotte didn’t answer. He watched his wife bend her body over the counter. A sound occurred from the kitchen a few seconds later, followed by some munching.

She had crunched a piece of toast toast and chose not to turn around and acknowledge his presence.

"Have I done something wrong?" Xander tried for a response. Charlotte chewed her food, keeping a steady gaze on her husband’s concerned eyes.

It looked as if she’d been crying. A peculiar reaction to have given her husband. The toast was dry, and if she had been sniveling, then swallowing would be hard to pull off.

Xander knew something was wrong. He’d sort of been expecting a reaction like this over the past few months. He hadn’t banked on it being this morning for all hell to break loose.

Charlotte swallowed what she was chewing and let it settle into her stomach. She had been crying for sure. She inhaled sharply and thought for a few seconds before delivering her news.

"I want a divorce."

Thirty-Five Minutes Later

Xander drove his wife to Chrome Junction Station so she could catch the 7:53 am train to Waterloo. He did this every weekday morning.

Xander and Charlotte married eight years ago, just after Manning Inc. floated onto the stock markets. The two events at first seemed unconnected. A few of Xander’s closest friends routinely quizzed him on the matter of Charlotte’s agenda. He insisted that the following facts had informed his decision to ask her to marry him.

1: They were the same age at the time, thirty-five.

2: They’d been dating for seven years, back when Xander was a humble businessman trying to make a success out of his company.

3: The above points meant that a prenuptial agreement wasn’t necessary. Charlotte had demonstrated long-term commitment based on love and friendship alone.

4: Even if she had been after him for his money, which was unlikely, was probably deserved, anyway. Any financial gains from the company would have been the result of her continued support for him and his efforts.

The conclusions struck Xander as somewhat forensic. Rehearsed, some may have said. It was just the way he was.

Xander focused on the road ahead. The sun was up now, doing its best to blast away the ice from the windscreen on his black BMW X3.

The car’s air conditioning hadn’t quite hit its peak. Lukewarm air blasted Xander and Charlotte’s chest as he stepped on the gas.

If this had been your common-or-garden couple, you’d expect them to be in a full-blown argument about now. Strangely, both sat in total silence, aimlessly peering out of their respective windows.

The A road and surrounding trees shot past. There wasn’t much to look at.

The past half hour raced through Xander’s mind. He took a quick shower, towelled off, and changed into his suit in twenty minutes flat. Charlotte brushed her teeth and climbed into her casual outfit.

Both of them met by the front door. Xander even asked if she was ready to leave as he opened the door. His question was met by a nonchalant ‘yup’.

As Xander turned the car off the main road, he felt he had to ask why his wife wanted a divorce. He was owed that much, at least. Her silence wasn’t cutting it.

"Can I ask why?" The question fell from his mouth much to his amazement. He may as well have asked what the time was.

It wasn’t the best time to ask the question, either. The fountain outside of the Kaleidoscope Shopping Mall flew past the driver’s window. The journey would be over in two minutes.

Charlotte chewed the nail on her little finger, lost in her thoughts. "Do we have to do this now?" She spat the piece of nail to the floor.

"Did you have to tell me you want a divorce now?" Xander could barely contain his anger. He was seething with venom but did an admirable job of promoting the fact to sarcasm.

Charlotte grabbed at her handbag, "We’re nearly at the station. We’ll talk about this later—"

"—Later?" Xander slammed the horn in anger. A couple of cars in the queue at the traffic lights flashed their full beam at him. "You tell me this now? Are you f*****g mental?"

"Bad timing, I know," Charlotte coughed and tried not to show her face. "I wanted to say something at the weekend, but I just couldn’t not do it, if you know what I mean."

Xander hit the gas on the green light. "No. I don’t know what you mean."

"Oh, it doesn’t matter."

"Today of all days." Xander thumped the steering wheel. The lights from the station streaked across the windscreen as he pulled the car up at the drop-off point.

A bunch of commuters funneled in through the exit. Today was a busy day.

The BMW rolled up to the curb. Xander hit the brakes just a little too hard, knowing it would cause Charlotte to fall forward. Just after she’d unclipped her seatbelt.

"I’ll talk to you later, okay?"

"No, it’d not okay," Xander spat. His abrasive physicality caught the attention of a black teenager wearing a hoodie who walked past the driver’s window.

"What choice do I have?"

Xander squinted at the youth in the hood. He couldn’t see his face but acted as if he could. The hoodie’s friend, a teenage girl, flipped her middle finger at him and licked her lips. "You fuckin’ posh asshole."

"Lena, allow it, man," the hoodie said as he thumped her on the shoulder. "Let’s go."

Charlotte stepped out of the car and went to close the door. "I’ll be back this afternoon. I won’t be long."

"Whatever. Just shut the door."

The door slammed shut as Xander watched his soon-to-be ex-wife join the hoodie and his friend making their way in the station.

Xander angled the rear view mirror and took a look at his face. He had expected to see him register of emotion, but didn’t. A silently hostile force of evil stared back at him. Of course, it didn’t look that way. But Xander knew how the image of the man in the mirror was feeling inside.

His temporary lapse of engagement in reality was punched away by the sound of an angry car horn. The car behind needed to slip into Xander’s spot.

He turned around and held up his middle finger to the driver. "Get fucked."

The drive held up his arms and tooted his horn again. "Move, cretin."

"Fine."

Xander threw the gear into first, slammed down on the gas and spun the s**t out of his tires. Black dust kicked up behind his wheels. The fragments of dirt hit the bonnet of the car behind and Xander sped away.

Presently

Xander looked at MAVIS from the side of the stage. He held his earpiece against his head with his finger as the crowd continued to applaud.

Eventually, Xander stepped forward and applauded along with the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for MAVIS." Xander smiled and held out his hand to his creation.

MAVIS bowed her head. She had gone to sleep standing on her feet. The life wafted out of her body and encapsulated the adoring crowd.

Xander’s face arrived on the giant screen as he approached the centre of the stage.

"Thank you, everyone. It’s a real pleasure to bring you Manning’s latest creation…"

Images of several MAVIS androids appeared on the screen, each dressed in different attire. One appeared in jeans and a white top. The next in a silk negligee. Another in a bathroom gown with wet hair.

Xander’s face displayed in a small inset on the top-left corner as he spoke. "I’m sure you’ll all agree, that she is truly one of a kind." His voice shot around the auditorium via his microphone. The audience took their seats as the applause died down.

"The next generation of companionship is finally here. MAVIS of course can fulfil your ultimate desires. But more than that, the focus here goes beyond s*x and intimacy. MAVIS is fully-formed to provide the user with a true GFE."

The phrase Girlfriend Experience faded up on the screen.

Xander turned to MAVIS and clicked his fingers. She woke up and blinked a few times.

"Oh, Xander, honey. I’m sorry," MAVIS said in her sultry feminine voice. "I must have drifted off."

Xander moved around her. "That’s okay. MAVIS, tell me, what star sign am I?"

‘Oh, you silly-billy. You’re a Libra.’

‘Correct.’ Xander winked at the audience and continued with his questions. "Do you think my star sign suits my personality? Is it accurate?"

MAVIS turned her head to Xander and walked forward three steps. Her swift, graceful movement was astonishing. The great unwashed could be forgiven for thinking that the android was an actor in very convincing make-up.

The stage darkened as a soft spotlight illuminated the pair. She held up her hands and adjusted Xander’s collar. She spoke with conviction, much to the audience’s astonishment.

"Xander, my love. You are a confident man, full of vigour and a natural leader. I’ve seen you in action."

Xander concentrated on MAVIS’s lips as she spoke. The screen behind them closed in on a two-shot of the pair as they spoke. He lips seemed to shimmy in ways that a non-human being wouldn’t be able to pull off.

"So I would say, yes, my adoring Xander. It is accurate."

Xander swallowed, still unable to process just how lifelike MAVIS actually was. "Kiss me."

"I love to kiss you."

The members of the audience held their breath as they watched the stage and screen. The effect was tantalizing.

MAVIS’s mouth met Xander’s. It was a genuine connection of love and over-emotion. The fibers of their lips seeped together. A close up on the screen got right into the action.

MAVIS run her hands up Xander’s sides, causing his jacket to flap over her wrist. He returned the sentiment, tracing his palms over her curves.

If you were far enough away, you’d swear blind that this was a human woman making out with her partner. Only the most beady-eyed among the crowd would have settled for cynicism.

Xander finished kissing her. The moment had been fully absorbed. He moved his head a few inches from her face and stared into her blue eyes.

"It’s like I’m staring into an ocean."

MAVIS stared back at Xander. A few seconds later, what he had said registered, which made her smile. She blinked slowly and suggestively.

"And you, Xander, your eyes are the sweet chocolate that fills my soul."

The majority of the audience swooned with favor for the pair. Of course, there were a few miscellaneous groans from certain sections of the floor. For them, a cheesy line didn’t befit the situation.