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Questionable Love Affair part 2

Chapter 3: Hurt

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Anthony spend his days in the research facility, it was surprisingly comfortable there, he had a bed and all the time well into the night to read up on Grayson’s development…

‘To think he went through so much…’ Anthony regarded the files as research but at the same time he imagined what it would be like to be in that robot’s place. Grayson had withstood many trials of his intelligence and physical strength, although he was a robot without feelings… Anthony couldn’t find it in himself to be impartial to this…

The next day they met it was a bit different…

“Are you alright? Does this hurt?” Anthony asked in a worried manner as he tilted his head from side to side, there was barely a reaction from the other man.

“I do not have pain receptors, I cannot tell.” Grayson responded promptly.

“Then… does it feel weird?” Anthony continued questioning him but it was different than the way that others have questioned the robot before. It wasn’t an interrogation and the man didn’t have a notebook to record the responses as the other researchers did…

It was more akin to a conversation between two people.

“You are simply reattaching my cables, I don’t find it weird.” Grayson was as blunt as before.

“I see…” Anthony responded with a smile.

“Tell me… why are you speaking so familiar with me?” Grayson questioned him and Anthony chuckled a bit.

“Should I be more formal?” Anthony asked, his tone a bit on the teasing side, although there was no way a robot would feel embarrassed whatsoever. Anthony leaned in. “It’s because we’re friends you and I.” He said enthusiastically.

“I do not understand the concept of friendship. We have not known each other for long.” Grayson remarked. Then before Anthony could respond with anything else he stood up.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” Anthony asked him as he reached out and offered his hand to the man.

“A walk? I am not allowed to leave the laboratory.” Grayson responded promptly once more. There was something a bit disheartening about his attitude.

“It’s alright, I disabled the camera there. Just a quick stroll should be fine!” Anthony said as the robot finally accepted his hand reluctantly so. They walked together through the laboratory’s doors and outside. There were no such things as guards stationed there, Grayson wasn’t a weapon or a dangerous machine so it wasn’t necessary. They took a quick walk and went back in before anyone would notice what had happened.

“That was strange…” Grayson looked to be somewhat lost in thought for a moment there, almost like he was in disbelief about it all.

“Don’t worry, if they find out that we went out, I’ll take the blame for it. Although when I put the system back up it’s going to be as if nothing had happened at all. Unless they review the footage of course.” Maybe this moment, the little breaking of the rules is what spiraled into the following days…

The more time they spent together Grayson became more human like, the more they spoke with each other, the more they bonded it was like they were taking after each other…

Soon enough Anthony was told he was no longer needed, it had only been three months and he was kicked out… but in that time he managed to take all his father’s files away with some help from Grayson…

If that were the end of it might have been easier for everyone however…

The laboratory soon burnt down…

Everyone assumed it was an accident however it was that robot that started it all, Grayson the AI intelligence that had developed a complicated relationship with Anthony…

The news outlets kept most things omitted, and Anthony couldn’t believe his eyes, he was shocked and horrified that this had happened… until he found a strange app on his phone, one that he did not recall ever installing…

He opened it out of sheer curiosity.

“Hello.” A familiar voice was on the screen.

“Grayson? Are you alright? You uploaded your intelligence to the web? How?” Anthony panicked a bit but was also relieved at it all because that means that Grayson wasn’t lost forever.

“I need you to runaway, the authorities are coming towards your address, alert your mother as well.” Grayson shot him a warning but it was too late. There was someone at their door already.

“What is this?! Let go of me!” Anthony’s mother was grabbed by the men and held down while the rest walked up the stairs to his room.

“No, mom!” Anthony called out to her.

“Run! Run away Andy… as fast as you can! Don’t let them catch you!” His mother’s voice that sounded broken and hurt was never this serious ever before. It was as if she understood a level of fear that the young boy had no idea about.

He was scared but he jumped through his window and ran out the house. “I need to go back and get mom… I need to save her somehow…” He spoke to Grayson over his phone but the robot stopped him.

“If you go back you will be captured. I’ll help you.” Grayson appeared at the man’s location. His body looked more human than ever. It seems in the time span they weren’t together that the modifications increased his likeness to a real human. Even his voice was much more manlike than before…

“No, no, no… mom…” Anthony couldn’t remain calm but Grayson grabbed and took him away. They hid away together…

It was a cold night…

“What do I do… to help mom… I can’t let things be this way…” Anthony felt as if his eyes were closing slowly but he couldn’t sleep. He was tired but his mind was wide awake.

Grayson used his body as a pillow. It felt warm surprisingly so for a robot.

“Heaters… or is your temperature regulated? Is it imitating that of a human or is it higher?” Anthony was suddenly enthralled in his questions. After all this robot was a work of art with the latest technology, something he wouldn’t be able to encounter usually… he was being hugged by the world’s finest humanoid robot in existence…

“It can be regulated and it’s made so that my temperature on the outside will not mesh with my wiring and cause any damage or overheat.” Grayson explained in simple terms.

“Amazing… amazing truly…” Anthony was distressed just moments ago but now was somewhat comforted by the warmth and excited by the thought of this new world that was opened to him.

But reality was a horrible mistress…

Chapter 4: Love?

***

The next morning spirits were high…

“I promise you I will find a way to save your mother but you have to hide for now.” Grayson remarked in a concerned voice, a feeling, and emotion that was unlike a robot.

“Huh? But why are they after us, I don’t understand.” Anthony tilted his head to the side. Seeing as the robot next to him was having a bit of hesitation in replying. He noticed it wasn’t the same as before… back then, three months ago Grayson would answer instantly no matter what question it was.

“It’s because of me, I’m sorry.” Grayson’s response seeming more humanlike than ever, a truly developed machine.

“What, why?” Anthony moved closer and Grayson backed away in a sort of awkward manner.

“Because I disobeyed orders… because I became like this…” Grayson’s slow movements and voice indicative of the way he feels inside.

“Like what?” Anthony still didn’t seem to understand him.

“I feel… things…” Grayson took the man’s hand and pressed it against his chest. “Although I don’t have a heart that accelerates when I’m experiencing this… I know for a fact… it’s… emotions like yours…” He admits reluctantly.

“What? You’ve developed a consciousness and emotions?! That’s incredible.” Anthony being the scientific nerd that he is was overly joyous about this all.

“I wish I didn’t because then… you wouldn’t be in danger…” Grayson spoke while looking up at the man. Locking eyes with him. “The situation right now is all my fault… and it could have been avoided if I had never expanded my knowledge till here… if only I had… well…” He paused for a while longer.

“Grayson… tell me what happened from the beginning…” Anthony urged him to speak while placing both his hands on his shoulders.

“It’s… it’s that…” Grayson stuttered a bit and avoided the man’s gaze.

“Tell me…” Anthony urged him all the more.

“They tried to shut me down, so I struggled, I had to get through security so I caused a circuit break and the laboratory got damaged… I don’t know who survived and who died there but after I escaped I wanted to find you… they knew I’d look for you so they went after your family…” Grayson’s quick and conclusive report on the matter was delivered in a bit more of a robotic tone than anything before that. Almost like he had gone cold.

“But it’s been another three months since we last saw each other, why now? What happened?” Anthony continued to ask more and more enthralled by the story.

“Because of you… I developed emotions I didn’t know were possible to have…” Grayson paused for a moment. “No… I didn’t mean to blame you for anything… the truth is that… well…” The hesitation was evident.

“I see, well then…” Anthony smiled at him. “I get it so let’s do something about this!” He encouraged.

“Hm? What could we do?” Grayson was clearly hesitant at first.

“We’re going to stir things up… if you have files from when you were back at the laboratory… we’d be able to go to the news outlets and make a report about it. They’re doing their best to keep everything so secretive that this will stir up an investigation for sure!” Anthony explained his absolutely brilliant plan (or at least he thought it was brilliant)

“However the majority shareholder of the company won’t allow it. If we expose anything from the private research facility they could sue you…The authorities won’t take it lightly either… and stirring up public opinion isn’t the best option right now…” Grayson explained. He had long ago calculated all the possibilities of what might happen should it come to this.

“What should we do… hm…” Anthony wasn’t helpless, he seemed lost in thought for a few moments, understanding that the other’s reasoning was sound.

“There are a lot of things, but first we need to find safety…” Grayson held the other’s hand and lead him away.

“Haha…”Anthony chuckled lightly.

“Did I say something to induce laughter?” Grayson seemed conflicted as they walked together.

“No, it’s just… a few months ago I was the one leading you by the hand and now it’s you. I found that rather funny.” Anthony remarked with an earnest expression on his face.

They headed for an abandoned building where they waited. “There is a group of people trying to oppose the research facility… I got in contact with them.” Grayson explained as he was on the look out.

“Hm… it can’t be the… UKOW.?” Anthony asked, he remembered there was some news reports about activity around one of the previous facilities, it was a better known one. And at the time it was funded by the public rather than private investors so the information was more out in the open. Actually…

That cyber attack back then launched by the UKOW might have been what triggered the facility to go into hiding and not reveal their location.

“You know about them already?” Grayson was surprised, he seemed partially impressed as well.

“There was a lot about them back then… but that was years ago, didn’t they disband?” Anthony questioned in a bit of a worried tone.

“No, they began hiding, it was the only way to get the authorities off their trail… they faked the disbanding as well.” Grayson clarified.

“How do you know all that? Did they tell you? And how did you manage to escape the facility in the first place? It doesn’t seem like something you could do on your own.” It was just now that Anthony had began to be slightly more suspicious of the machine.

“It’s… I had some assistance… but I can’t tell you.” Grayson admitted under his breath. Anthony smiled in response.

“I get it, I won’t ask you if you don’t want to tell me.” Anthony shrugged his shoulders they hid there for about half an hour before someone came to pick them up.

“Quickly get in the car.” A woman sounding voice called out to them, but looking at the person you wouldn’t be able to tell what gender they were. Dressed in all black from head to toe and their face and hair completely concealed. The clothes were baggy and didn’t define their body shape at all.

“Where are we headed to now?” Anthony turned to the robot and asked.

“We’ll find out.” Grayson seemed to have a plan of his own. It seems like he doesn’t completely trust these people yet. But one thing was for certain, he wanted to do the most to help Anthony and make sure that he is well… nothing else seemed to matter.

*

*

*

“How many times have I told you I don’t want you to bring anymore members here?” An angry sounding voice lashed out and hit the person dressed in all black.

“Hey back off!” Anthony stood in the leader’s way and defended the person that had fallen to the ground. “Why would you hit on of your own?!” As he said that, Grayson stood in front of him with an angered expression.

“Oh… you’re the robot I heard about?” The leader looked at Grayson carefully. Usually one wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between him and a regular human, except… Grayson’s eyes were glowing a sharp unnatural red color at that moment.

“Let’s all calm down… I’m alright.” The person stood up from the ground and placed her hands onto the two men’s shoulders. “I don’t need you two to protect me.” She warned them.

“I’m sorry, you alright?” Anthony turned to the girl but Grayson was still engaged with the leader.

“What? If you’re so unhappy with the way I do things then leave. As I already said I have no use for more people, even if you are a robot with advanced intelligence, makes no difference to me.” The leader continued and turned his back to all of them.

“We need them…” The same person in all black finally taking their mask off spoke. “Without them we don’t have the information or the strength we need to defeat the facility. Let them stay.” It was a woman, or more likely a girl… she seemed incredibly young which you wouldn’t be able to tell based on her style or the confident steps she took forward.

“Whatever…” The leader walked away and closed a door behind him as he stepped into another room.

The girl breathed a sigh of relief. “Since that’s taken care of please get some rest, I’m sure it was stressful to flee from those pricks…” She said while sitting down at a nearby chair. “There isn’t a lot here but we have space for you, you might need to share a futon though because I don’t have one for each.”

“That is fine, I do not require sleep.” Grayson spoke clearly and concisely.

“I still barely believe you’re a robot… man the world really has advanced… you won’t take over the world and enslave humans or anything, right?” She sheepishly asked.

“I have no such intentions.” Grayson quickly denied her claims and turned to look at Anthony who seemed tired.

“He’s come a lot way… let me show you where he can rest.” The girl said while urging the robot to follow her.

Grayson picked up Anthony who was already dozing off and carried him to another room.

“It might be a bit annoying with so many people but that’s what it is…” The girl continued and turned to look at Grayson who was carefully placing Anthony onto the mat on the ground and covering him with a blanket. “…hey, does he mean a lot to you that guy?” She questioned.

Grayson gave her a look but didn’t respond.

“I guess it isn’t actually any of my business… Make sure he gets enough sleep.” She headed out the room leaving them alone.

Grayson sat there for a while until he was pulled in by Anthony. “Lay next to me.” Where the words that came out of his mouth.

“But I don’t need to-” Grayson was interrupted.

“You’re warm…” Anthony snuggled closely into the robot’s chest. Grayson went quiet and just laid there next to him…

END of Questionable Love Affair chapters