The Machine Rules

5

A soft yet hard surface under me made my eyes open with some struggle as they were glued together. My room was dark, with only the light of the messy city coming from my window. My arms went over my head to stretch, making popping noises from my joints. I stopped my movements when I remembered I was in my bathroom, under the shower, not my bed.

I grabbed my thin blanket and pulled it up to under my eyes as I looked around my room for an intruder. I don't recall getting out of the shower and going to my bed. My body was fully clothed with my pajamas, which I did not change into myself.

My eyes moved to the panel next to my bed that had a red button on it. I wanted to press it; a person entered my room and changed my clothes. I might be watched when I'm showering, but it's not a person, and that makes me very uncomfortable.

My arm stretched on its own toward the red button when what sounded like a machine restarting came from the opposite side of me in my room. Small dots of lights turned on, followed by the sound of something heavy made of metal moving.

"There is no need for that, Ms. Xander," The robot said in assurance.

"Were you the one that took me out of my shower?" I asked in doubt and hope. I much rather have a robot do that than one of the sneaky humans that live here.

"Yes, it was. I received a notification that you had fallen asleep in your shower. So I came and took care of you as ordered," It explained as it stood still on its spot.

"Thank you," I whispered, but it heard me just right. "Sorry if this seems inappropriate, but I've never heard of a Golem being assigned to look after a human," The maximum I have seen were Sonas walking around someone deemed important, never a Golem.

"I was ordered, Ms. I think you understand," I nodded and sat on my bed, not feeling as scared as before.

"Can I call you something? Like, do you have a name?" I couldn't keep calling him Golem; it's weird for me.

"I have no name, only number. You can call me whatever you like. But I'll be substituted soon, so I don't see the need for naming," I looked at it in a quizzical look.

"What do you mean? Is there going to be another robot?" I want nothing more than an explanation for all of this.

"I'm sorry, but I can't speak of it any further. Please do sleep as I will take you to the school for your trip to the zoo tomorrow. If you can't, I can give you some sleeping medicine or serum," I shook my head and covered my body with my blanket.

"I'm okay, thanks," I turned my back to it and faced the wall next to my bed. "Can I ask you something?" I spoke after a minute of silence.

"Yes," Its answer was short.

"Can you think for yourself? I've heard you are your own AI, but it controls you itself if needed. Is it true?" I shifted on my bed to look at it.

"Yes," It answered with some hesitance. "I have my own thoughts and ideas, like humans. But I feel no pain, sadness, guilt, happiness, or anger. I just follow orders as they should be followed," It spoke in a monotonous but personified voice as if he had his own tone. "The only feeling I'm allowed to have is loyalty. Complete loyalty to the one that made me what I am."

I was grateful for what all that it has done. Even if it said it couldn't feel anything but loyalty, I could hear gratefulness behind the robotic voice.

"Does it have feelings? Can it feel?" This was what I was most curious about. A program, a machine, built hundreds of years ago, evolving on its own. I wouldn't be too surprised if it did.

"I'm not in the place to answer your question. Forgive me," I bit my lip and turned around once more. Soon enough, my eyes closed, and I fell asleep.

The sunlight coming through the window reached my eyes and woke me up from my slumber. A groan left my lips as I rolled on my bed for a better position that didn't have the sun hitting my eyelids.

"Ms. Xander, you must wake up," I waved my hand dismissively at the source of the voice.

"Five more minutes," I said groggily as I snuggled closer to my thin pillow.

"You have to be at the school entrance at eight sharp. It's already seven-thirty," I jumped out of bed and ran to my bathroom, tripping on air and almost falling. After washing my and brushing my teeth, I went to my closet, which was next to my bed. I searched through my comfortable yet pretty clothes so I could wear them to the zoo.

Because it was in Gaia, everyone that went there was rich, they wore nice clothes. So I didn't want to be stared at for wearing dirty clothes. I ended up choosing a yellow shoulderless shirt with sleeves and holes over my arm and black shorts.

"Alright, let's go," I grabbed my phone, my purse and opened the front door. The Golem was standing on the same corner as last night, seemed to turn on, and followed me. I closed the door behind it and followed it to where I suppose my ride is.

After walking through rooms and between buildings, the same black car from yesterday came into view as it was parked on the street. People gathered around the vehicle before scurrying away as the Golem approached.

The black door opened as I came close to it, closing behind me once I sat on the comfortable seat. The Golem sat on his previous seat, and soon enough, we lift off to Gaia.

-------

Thank you for reading my story. Make sure to follow me! :)