Princess of AMBER ("A living THING" sequel)

.... previously ....

(in a story "A living THING")

After a virus infected robot attack, Kyra's Elkwood's father buys for her a most advanced robot - a bodyguard to protect her from other infected robot encounters. Kyra has a strong fear of human machines, because of her mothers death, who was killed by one. She tries her hardest to find her inner piece, while living with one very handsome, but threateningly looking android.

Everybody falls in love with him, as soon as they set eyes on this new machine called Bryce. Slowly Kyra notices strange behaviors in him. Something that not suppose to be characteristic to a robot, more to a human, but everybody else fails to notice it.

Meanwhile more infected robots appear in Amber city, their violent behavior leading to innocent human deaths. Somehow Kyra has a feeling, that her own robot is infected too. More time passes and more weirder her android gets.

After a night out with her dear friends Sharlene and Laura, Kyra gets in dangerous situation with a local gang. Luckily she is saved from near death by her bodyguard, but Bryce is not the same, does not look the same nor behaves the same. He kills the attackers with no struggle and proceeds to get his hands on his owner too. Her bodyguard gets hold of her and does not let go, while Kyra is panicking for her life. He knocks her out.

Hearing the story from their friends perspective, it appeared, that Bryce did not want to harm her or make her scared, but he did kill people. A new flare of fear takes over her. Kyra has to start everything all over, to make herself trust him again.

In a moment of fear and no escape they share their feelings to each other, after Bryce have been sent for SEB virus testing. The results are negative and her robot says her the same, that he is not infected, but at this point Kyra knows, that he is. She keeps her suspicions to herself. Both of them slowly starts to trust each other again. Aware of his state, Kyra notices that Bryce can feel - feel the touch, the pain, emotions. All because of the SEB virus, which gives robot a chance to feel and have consciousness - separate from their programmed one.

Bryce have had special feelings for his owner for a long time and now he starts to express them towards her.

Kyra' s heart feels the same way, but her mind does not want to accept the fact that Bryce is capable of feeling love for her. A huge argument breaks up and unintentionally, he attacks Kyra. Desperate and fearing for her life, she calls for help and sends him back to the company, that made him, to remove him from service due to an infection. No one is fully aware of the state he is in and how far the infection has progressed. Bryce puts back on his normal behavior and does not receive the harsh treatment from the capturing team, as the infected should get. They are oblivious of the danger everybody is in.

The discovery of the SEB virus in him, makes another innocent human loose his life. And now Bryce have to face the consequences. But nothing will stop him from going back to his owner and nothing will change his feelings for Kyra.

***

CyRo - Head Of SEB Containing Program, POV

Today I am gonna receive SEB infected robot. Some time ago, we got the call from somebody about the attack. Our rescuing team should be back with it soon. I just wonder, what it's gonna be? Probably nothing new to me. Some infected robot and I hardly doubt, it is even CyRo origins. I have received some specimens before, but they all looked.... just normal, there was nothing visually indicating their state of infection. There must be something, something visible to it. I have that feeling, I know, but we have not seen it yet. They all come partly destroyed and I don't have a time to scramble through their jumbled parts to find infected one. Mostly virus is located in their main microchip, but who knows, one day we might find it somewhere else in their bodies.

The door behind me opens and I see a one of rescuing teem members, with a robot - big one. Is it CyRo model? I wait for them to come closer, as they are 30 meters away from me at this point.

This place is spacious, like a separate warehouse. I have few rows of robotic parts here, but not so many as in warehouse floors bellow. A desk is located near a wall with computer systems. Wide space is separating the rows of mechanical parts and a station, were I do my examinations. The room is very bright, in white colors, contrasting with dark metallic robot parts hanging in rows.

I notice, this robot is not constricted with any kind of equipment. Are they really dumb? If he is infected, they should take extreme precocious steps capturing them. And why there is only one member is escorting it?

"Hey, what is a meaning of this!" I shout to a man. "Why is he not bound in any way and why are you alone?"

"He... He seems OK. The young lady was the one who called, but when we arrived, he was just chilling there. And he came willingly with us. No protesting and objecting. I don't see a need to restrict him."

"Dumb ass! Still you have to do, what protocol says." Idiots, total idiots.

As they have almost reached me, I take a notice of this robot. Seems like I have seen him somewhere before. Few more steps and finally I see his face clearly. Now I remember. Model SCS-6.

"Oh. This one. I understand you now, why you did not constrict him. He is fucking harmless. He have been here so many times before. I am tired of this. That stupid woman doesn't know when to stop. Just wasting our time."

"Can I leave him here?"

"Yeah, go ahead! I don't need you."

A man leaves this room and I am left alone with this harmless machine. His face is still, like allways, nothing abnormal.

"So, we see each other again. What's the problem? Does your owner got delusional again? Stupid woman, right? Why didn't you not tell her to drop this nonsense? Wasting our precious time with false calls."

The huge robot did not answer me, just looked straight in my eyes.

"Let me take a camera. I will check up on you, just in case. Sit there, while I prepare myself! And remove your clothing!"

He shifts his body to the table and sits down. I am still totally annoyed. It is the third time, he have been here, with the same problem - SEB infection. We tested him the first time for many hours and there was nothing that indicated even a slightest possibility of the virus. Second time she came to us with some imaginary symptoms and now - he attacked her. Ridiculous. I turned on my camera and started to document this case.

"Tuesday, 9 pm. Received call from one of our clients, robot attack." I walked around the android. "No visible indications of infection. His appearance - calm, complying. No resistance of any kind. Previously been through special SEB testing. Been brought for check ups, nothing abnormal discovered. Seems to be a false call or a prank. Going to check his inner system."

Standing behind the android I pushed a sensory button on his naked upper back. I saw a small twitch go through his body, but I paid no attention to it. Two panels came open.

"Holly shit! What the hell is this?"

I couldn't believe my eyes. I saw.... I saw his back full of blood vessels, cris-crossing the metal parts inside of him. I could see a blood flowing inside of them. How is that even posible? How did he get these? On some parts I noticed a newly formed muscle tissue and barely visible tendon fragments. My mind couldn't comprehend this. Is it SEB virus or what? I backed off from him as he was still siting on a examining table.

"They have to see this!" I said quietly to myself.

In seconds his body was turned towards me and his huge hand came straight to my neck. His face completely different from his previous appearance, twisted in anger. I feel his fingers cut deeper into my neck and the air is completely denied for my lungs. I try to pry his hands off and free myself, throwing punches in his way. But there is no point to my week ones, as his strong grip tightens stronger around my neck. A barely audible word escapes my throat: "Why!"

"You saw, what you did not need to see!" was the robot's growling answer.

I felt my legs loose the touch of the ground beneath me, as he lifted me up in the air. I felt my neck vertebrae crack and sudden blackness consumed me.

Bryce's POV.

I felt a satisfying crack of his neck and dropped him on the ground next to my feet. He was done. That arrogant prick. It angered me so much, the way he talked about Kyra. She is not stupid and dumb. She is even smarter than this piece of meat on the floor. She was the only person, who partly new, what was happening to me, not even professionals could detect my infection. It took me my whole strength to keep my raging emotions inside of me and not to make them visible on my face as I was sitting on this table before.

For this, I will definitely get in trouble. There is no way, I can get through this unnoticed and unpunished. Kyra... I need her... I have to get back to her, before I am really captured and disposed off. Just one last time.

A subtle sound of footsteps echo behind me somewhere deeper in a warehouse. I turn around and see a woman in a white lab coat with dark red flowing hair. With glasses and a tiny box in her hands. Another one of these annoying humans. My rage flares with a new power and I walk towards her. She just looks at me, no fear visible in her face. Her eyes shining with a slight excitement. What is she excited about? Dying? Well, that is what she will get. A few steps is separating us, as she shouts to me quietly.

"Stop! I mean no harm to you. Please, don't hurt me!"

"Why would I consider such option? You are still one of them. You have to die!"

"No, no! I am not. I am not one of CyRo." I stop in my tracks, but don't take my eyes away from her. "Are you a robot? Infected one?"

"What if I am?"

"I... I can help you. Help you to get away from here, somewhere safe."

"Why would I trust you?"

"Trust me. I promise, there is a reason. Just come with me."

I eyed her for a minute. Is she really telling the truth. I don't see anything in her that would indicate, she is lying.

I close a panel on my back, reaching with my hand to touch the sensory button. I did not bother to close it straight away after I killed that man.

"Give me a minute."

I turn back to a dead body on the floor. His camera is still running. If I leave this place safely, I have to leave a message for my Kyra. I bend down, so the camera is facing me, which is still attached to dead man's head. It pains me, that I cannot go straight to her, but soon, soon I will take her with me.

"I am coming for you, Kyra!"

I still feel the anger inside of me as I say these words - towards everybody right now and towards myself in regards of Kyra. I am mad at myself, because I did horrible things to her.

I turn back to face this mysterious woman.

"What is your name?"

"Natalie.... Natalie Leary."

?Ah!" I nodded in acknowledgement.

?You don't seem to be surprised. Have you heard about me before?"

?Some things. I suppose, you are responsible about SEB virus spreading, am I right?"

?Hmm!" she smiled. ?You have had reliable sources, for that information to be so accurate.

?What are you doing here?" I stepped closer, in attempt to intimidate her, but she did not move.

?Come, I will tell you, but not here."

I could faintly hear distant footsteps nearing our location. They must have seen, what I did, and now CyRo are coming to get me. I decide to follow this woman, wherever she is leading me to. We walk through rows of robot body parts to the very back of the huge room.

Once I looked the same, just a bundle of separate parts, hanging the same way as these. And what have I become now? Something far more advanced than anything else in this building, in this city and world together. I never dreamed of becoming this being, not quite robot, neither human, something between. I could not call myself a cyborg either, because I could still live without these additions that SEB virus gave me.

It's been not longer than half a year since I started my existence, or maybe I could call it a life. I feel alive, the progress I have gone through these month is enormous. First, when I just opened my eyes, I felt almost nothing, just that need to see Kyra's face again. I had no concept, what that feeling meant. Only after I got finally my full body, I started to feel things, emotions - what people call them. And now, even physical sensations. It feels like there is nothing else needed for me, but I still feel it spreading through my body, slowly, throughout. I don't know, what that annoying man saw inside of me, but I know, it was not pleasant sight for him, not what he expected. Things that not suppose to be in me. But I don't care. As long as I am something for Kyra, something she is comfortable with. And that is me - being a human–like. That is what she desires and I will keep every single thing that makes me the one, as close as possible.

We came to a small elevator, half the size of all the others in this building. Natalie opened it and we walked in. I wonder, how we are going to escape? She pushed a button and elevator descended few floors until she stopped it. I noticed, we haven't reached the next floor, but were somewhere in between them. She took a piece of the wall away, where under it was an elevator's manual panel. Natalie pushed some buttons and door opened, revealing a small tunnel leading into the darkness. The ceiling was so low, I had to duck, but for her it was a right size, as she walked through it with no problem. Everything was pitch black, the only light source was a small flashlight, that Natalie had. Even, if she wouldn't have it, I would have no problem to navigate my way with a night vision I have.

I believe this is an air ventilation system, which is not meant for walking. Different wiring and small pipes are under our feet, but they are tough enough to take our weight and not get damaged.

?Where are we going?" I said and my voice echoed through darkness.

She turned around slightly, and looked at me with a small smile.

?To a safe place."

?And if they find us?" I glanced back to a disappearing elevator wall.

?They won't. I have been here for many years and have not seen a single soul. People don't come here. They are scared."

?What is so scary down here?"

Natalie made a small chuckle: ? I don't know. Ask them!"

?Do you live here?"

?Little bit farther away. I wouldn't live so close to place I intend to destroy. That would be too suspicious. ?

?Destroy? Who do you want to destroy?"

Another chuckle left her red lips, with a hint of hatred in it: ?CyRo, Egor, all of them. Everybody who denied me to accomplish my dream."

?What dream?"

?You. You are the outcome of it."

I stopped in my tracks: ?What is that suppose to mean?"

Another chuckle came from her: ?I will tell you later. It is a long story."

There was a big hole in a ground. Metal spiral staircase lead into the darkness, deep, deep down. Her shoes made a constant rhythmic sound every time her feet touched the metal beneath us. The walls were made of polished concrete bricks, in some places little bit crumbled from age. Everything looked cleaner than I expected, no mud no dirt. I could tell, there was no life down here, so deep under the city called Amber.

Finally we stood on a horizontal ground. The tunnel was much bigger and I could hear a distant grumbling from both sides of the dark place. The low sound was constant and mechanic.

I eyed the woman in front of me, as we walked. She looked like over 30 years old. Her dark red hair went past her shoulders, straight and thick. She was not skinny, but fat neither - something between. Natalie's walk was filled with confidence. There was no single trace of fear in her, she seemed to be little arrogant about herself, I noticed. I had a feeling, I cannot trust her. But.... I have never been able to fully trust anyone. Except Kyra. I could almost be 100 percent myself around her. But not now. She is somewhere up in a city, so close, but so far at the same time.

Natalie - she was hiding something and until I know what, I will keep an eye on her.

As we continued to walk, we got closer to a source of sound. Two gigantic pipe like structures were going deeper in ground, vibrating slightly.

"Those are water pumps for a city. This is were everyone gets it. It is a source of life for Amber. There are more structures around here. Drills for minerals and other underground resources." Natalie said as she saw my attention averted to the structure.

It was weird. The pump had some mechanical features and I wondered, who comes to fix things, when they are damaged. She said, not a single soul comes here. Somebody has to, but who.

"And who is taking care of these? I gestured at the pipe.

"Robots. But not often. Drills and pumps are in quite good quality, so they rarely come here."

After half an hour walk we came to a illuminated concrete wall with a single door in it. From a far the scene looked surreal. A light in a end of a tunnel, literally. We stepped inside, what appeared to be a place, where she lived for many years. Room was not big, but enough for one person to feel comfortable. The walls were light grey, almost white and the light reflecting made it look much brighter. A small kitchen containing only a sink and one cupboard. A bed in a far end, a couch, small matted metal table near it. Behind a couch was a glass wall. On other side a small laboratory with all kinds of gadgets, medical equipment and such.

So that is where she is doing her work. I wanted to know desperately about her work, what is SEB virus and more importantly, what it does to me.

"Tell me, what is it? The virus?" I got strait to the point. I had no intention to get to know her or be friends with Natalie.

"Oh! So curious! I don't know a lot, just basic stuff. I will need you, in order to figure things out. I haven't got the hands on any infected robot so far, so I don't know full details about it's effect."

The way she talked irritated me. With that constant smile plastered on her face and subtle flirting attitude accompanying it. I just have to bear with it, until I have got every information out of her about myself and the virus.

She let out a yawn and stretched her arms in the air.

"So tired. Today was a busy one. I will go to sleep. You..." again that smile "do whatever you want, just don't go in the lab. That place is very precious and important."

Natalie changed her clothes, while not leaving her eyes from me. She was smiling constantly, looked like, she is in a very good mood. Probably because of me, as she finally have got herself a real infected robot to inspect later.

"Ah, totally forgot. What is your name?"

"Which one?"

"Hm! Your name given by your owner."

" ...... Bryce......"

"Oh! Interesting one. Then ..... goodnight, Bryce! Lights off." and everything got black.

I was standing still for a minute, watching her to sleep. She did not care, that I was here in the same room as her.

"Are you afraid?" I asked her curious of her answer.

"No. Why should I be?"

"Staying in the same room with a murderous robot. ..... You should be careful. You might not know what can happen." I gave her a hateful look, but of course, she did not see it in complete darkness.

She let out a barely audible chuckle and went silent. I went to sit on a couch. I felt quite sleepy myself and laid down my body.

The total darkness must be outside as well. I wonder what Kyra is doing right now. Is she in her own apartment or in her dad's place? She must feel scared and alone. I feel so empty without her near me. My emotions are raging inside of me trying to find their place in my mind. I have never been away from her for so long and it is hard for me to contain the feelings inside of me. I feel a need to let them out, to get rid of them. I don't enjoy being mad and angry, but I cannot help myself. I don't know how. If only I wouldn't have attacked Kyra, than we would be still together, in her apartment, and I would see her shy smile every time she looked at me. Her beautiful blue eyes looking in to mine and calming my emotional turmoil. Her beating heart in her small body, which I could hear from afar.

It was all my fault, only mine and now I have to pay for it, being away from her, for who knows how long. Kyra.... Kyra ... I need you! I could feel a strong pain inside of me, so foreign, so strange, never felt before. I slip into darkness, while thinking about her and a day I will see her again.

.... Kyra.....

Kyra's POV.

Darkness. Whispers - distant. I could not hear the words, but I could feel the person voicing them, coming closer. I see two hands coming out of darkness: "Kyra.... Kyra... I need you!"

I see them bloody and scratched. Oh no. It is going to get me. It is.... It is....

"Bryce!"

I wake up screaming. That dream again. I take deep intakes of air to calm myself. It was just a dream, just a dream, I repeat to myself. The darkness cloaks the Amber. My body is trembling in fear, I cannot cease the anxiety that is overwhelming me. My breathing does not help. It felt like Bryce was right next to me, saying those words, but they sounded filled with pain and regret. I glance out my bedroom's window and see police people in front of my father's house. A breath of relieve leaves me, seeing them still there. Right.... It was just a dream.

I sit in my bed for quite some time, holding my legs close to my body, as I am curled up in a ball. I feel so devastated. Silent tears start to fall on my cheeks. Bryce... Why did this need to happen? It is all my fault, only mine... If I wouldn't have tried to call to CyRo, if I wouldn't have picked up that stupid ring, nothing like this would have happened. He lost control of himself, because of me. My sobbing gets louder, as these thoughts swirl through my mind. I should have known better than to anger him. I knew, he is infected, but still I kept pushing the subject about his symptoms, made a big deal out of the changes in his body. The changes. I saw them clearly in a video. I still cannot grasp the idea of his infected state. How far it has gone, how far it has changed my android, his body and mind. Everything about him is .... he is not just a robot anymore, and not human either. His back was full of living tissue, organic tissue. And how far the virus will spread? Is it going to change him? For better or worse, I wonder. Oh my god. Bryce... I want to see him. I shouldn't, but I want to know, he is OK. Where is he? Is he alone? My chest hurts every time I think about him. My crying turns into load uncontrollable sobs, my face is all wet, the tears are making my sleeping wear dump. I do not bother to wipe my tears. There is no point, if they are just going to keep falling.

***

I feel a fabric brush against my skin and somebody talking very quietly. I open my eyes and see Laura with Sharlene in my room, as they cower my body with a warm blanket.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." Sharlene says in a whisper.

"Girls, so good to see you both." I can't hold in my emotions and burst into tears again.

They hug me, their warm bodies so close to mine. My hold on them is so tight, I am afraid, if I keep them in my embrace, I will hurt them.

"Kyra, don't cry. Everything is going to be OK. We are here with you." Laura comforts me, her voice more serious than usually.

"Girls..... Bryce... Bryce is gone... he is gone."I feel a ball of hurt sitting in my throat and can't voice the full sentences. "He... attacked me, I sent him to CyRo and .... and ... there he killed somebody... again."

"Oh my. So it is true, what they said in news. They said, he was infected. I kind of don't believe them. Bryce. He cannot be. He was so good and friendly all the time. But.... if... he really attacked you, than there must be something going on with him." Laura commented and I saw a tear leave her big eyes.

I know she really cared about him too, she was so close to him...

"He was infected, girls. And I knew it. I knew it for some time and did not tell it to anybody."

"You knew? But how? He was so normal. I never saw anything in him." Sharlene was shocked.

"Bryce pretended in front of everyone, he acted like a normal robot, except in front of me. He.... he was infected from the very beginning, he said, he was even before I bought him."

"But why? Why did he lied to us and not you too?"

"He trusted me and that's why he wanted to show me his true self. Because he has feelings for me. ...... He feels. Emotions... everything, he has blood in his body, nerves, muscles. Everything. SEB have spread trough all his body, not just to his mind."

"B..blood?" my friends said simultaneously.

I nodded with my head and couple of tears slide down my cheeks in process.

"Oh my god! And he wanted to kill you?" Laura's hand was in front of her mouth, hearing the shocking facts.

I shacked my head: "I don't know how to say it. It is so embarrassing.... He tried to rape me." And I burst in to tears, remembering that night. "I... was so scared, so scared. He looked so mad and scary. I had never seen him like that. And if I wouldn't have tried to call CyRo after I noticed his body temperature change, he would probably haven't done it in first place. I made him angry, very angry."

My friends only response was silence and pitiful look. I believe it was more shocking for them than me, as they have the first knowledge of his infection.

"You know, what they said in news about you?" Sharlene broke the silence.

I looked up at her with questioning look. These two days I spent mostly in my room. Nothing interested me and I did not bother to watch TV either.

"They said, your robot killed CyRo employee, that he was infected. And that you knew about his infection, but said nothing. You sent him to CyRo just for regular check up, not warning them about his state of sickness. That you endangered innocent people. And there was that woman, the victim's wife. She said, that you are probably behind the SEB infection. You let your robot in CyRo to infect others, as you could not get past their security yourself." told Sharlene.

"It is not true. I sent him, because he attacked me. And they were aware about his infection. They are lying. And that woman is lying too. Nothing of it is true, nothing." I shook my head frantically in denial.

"I am really worrying about you, Kyra. The most craziest reaction comes from regular people. You did not tell anybody, he is a robot. They all thought, he is a human bodyguard for you. Now the net is going crazy, because it looks like you lied them on purpose about his identity. For them, it looks like you were really plotting something, and.... maybe you are secretly trying to spread infection in other companies. And everybody is scared, because they know, he is free, roaming the streets of Amber. People are scared, that he will harm them too."

"It is not true. You have to believe me."

"Kyra, we believe you, but they don't. Hopefully they find the real person behind this. We need to prove you are innocent."