There was the love thing. There was the fact his genetic donor was really terrible at obedience, but Lea tweaked that until it was a "charming personality feature." There was his special, brand new feature, the one that was going to add those two extra zeros to his pricetag. That took a lot of tinkering on their part, all of the top android coders and engineers working to make him perfect.
They wrapped everything up only a month before the Annual Auction. They got the Platinum 9000s into production. A hundred droids with Harry's face.
Something deep down in him twanged with fear at seeing them all lined up, their faces the same shape as his but somehow deader. Lea hushed him, telling him he was the Alpha. They were just derivatives. He was destined for great things. It's what she made him for.
She dressed him up like a doll, blues and silvers and whites, like Winter's androids were known for. The hat she tried to make him wear with its pointy spire just made him look even taller. "I should have edited you down to a more reasonable height," she bemoaned. "Well, improvements can be made for the second edition."
Harry wondered if he should apologize for being so tall. But he was made that way, wasn't he? Or his genetic material had been. Who had made the genetic material though?
He twitched as a shock emitted from the monitor chip attached to his temple. Don't think about those things, it said. Just listen and do as you're told.
The Auction was one of the biggest social events of the year. Anyone who was anyone in Metropolis was there. Nicodemus and his cult of cyborgs. The enlightened, secretive Council in their cloaks. Titania of Summer Fashion Android showed up just to look smug at Winter's latest showing. Bianca and her Velvet Room went through droids like tissues and were always looking for models that could handle a certain amount of... wear.
Harry peaked through the curtains to look at the crowd. He didn't feel nervous, because an android shouldn't feel nervousness, shouldn't feel. They were just supposed to fake it enough to make their masters more comfortable. Then again, some people liked the ones who didn't pretend to be human, the ones who were just function, no programmed humanity to speak of. The kinds of people who hung out at the Uncanny Valley clubs.
Harry hoped he didn't get bought by one of those. He liked pretending to be human. It was easier than pretending to feel nothing at all.
Lea tugged him away from the curtains. "Sweet, we're about ready. Just focus on your show." She fussed at him, straightening his clothes, checking his monitor chip. "Make us proud."
"Of course, Godmother," he said dutifully to Lea, god and mother of them all. She beamed at him, flushed with pride, and gave him a quick kiss before pushing him out onto the stage.
The seller's spiel poured out as he walked up and down the stage. They'd practiced this, over and over and over until it was as simple a process for Harry as simulating breathing. He stepped out on the catwalk, surrounded by the crowd. The voice narrating listed off his functions, but then went on about one new function of the Platinum 9000 line, a marvel of genetic-android conversion engineering--
Up in the Winter balcony, one of the 8000s leveled a phaser at Harry, just as they rehearsed. Harry flung up a hand and muttered, "Contego," and the blast hit his shield, and fizzled out. He made a grabbing motion, pulled and roared, "Forzare!"
The 8000 soared out of the balcony and hit the catwalk with a deafening crunch. The sound was almost swallowed by the gasps and whispers all around. Everyone clamored closer to the stage to get a look at Harry, the first android who could do magic. The bouncers held the surging crowd back, and Harry knelt next to the 8000, touched her arm. "Are you okay?"
The 8000 blinked at him, uncomprehendingly. "Am I okay?"
"Yeah. I didn't want to hur--" The chip on his temple blazed, silencing him as his wires heated, his sensors all pinged with pain.
The 8000 shook its head. "You're not ready for this," she told him before climbing to her feet and stumbling backstage.
... I think I love you. I'm quite sure. My heart almost broke at this: "I didn't want to hur--" The chip on his temple blazed, silencing him as his wires heated, his sensors all pinged with pain."
He is still Harry. The same Harry we love. Who doesn't want to hurt ladies even if they are androids and even after a thorough mindfuck (pardon my language). I really appreciate the "she" in the last sentence.
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Android!Harry 2/?
There was the love thing. There was the fact his genetic donor was really terrible at obedience, but Lea tweaked that until it was a "charming personality feature." There was his special, brand new feature, the one that was going to add those two extra zeros to his pricetag. That took a lot of tinkering on their part, all of the top android coders and engineers working to make him perfect.
They wrapped everything up only a month before the Annual Auction. They got the Platinum 9000s into production. A hundred droids with Harry's face.
Something deep down in him twanged with fear at seeing them all lined up, their faces the same shape as his but somehow deader. Lea hushed him, telling him he was the Alpha. They were just derivatives. He was destined for great things. It's what she made him for.
She dressed him up like a doll, blues and silvers and whites, like Winter's androids were known for. The hat she tried to make him wear with its pointy spire just made him look even taller. "I should have edited you down to a more reasonable height," she bemoaned. "Well, improvements can be made for the second edition."
Harry wondered if he should apologize for being so tall. But he was made that way, wasn't he? Or his genetic material had been. Who had made the genetic material though?
He twitched as a shock emitted from the monitor chip attached to his temple. Don't think about those things, it said. Just listen and do as you're told.
The Auction was one of the biggest social events of the year. Anyone who was anyone in Metropolis was there. Nicodemus and his cult of cyborgs. The enlightened, secretive Council in their cloaks. Titania of Summer Fashion Android showed up just to look smug at Winter's latest showing. Bianca and her Velvet Room went through droids like tissues and were always looking for models that could handle a certain amount of... wear.
Harry peaked through the curtains to look at the crowd. He didn't feel nervous, because an android shouldn't feel nervousness, shouldn't feel. They were just supposed to fake it enough to make their masters more comfortable. Then again, some people liked the ones who didn't pretend to be human, the ones who were just function, no programmed humanity to speak of. The kinds of people who hung out at the Uncanny Valley clubs.
Harry hoped he didn't get bought by one of those. He liked pretending to be human. It was easier than pretending to feel nothing at all.
Lea tugged him away from the curtains. "Sweet, we're about ready. Just focus on your show." She fussed at him, straightening his clothes, checking his monitor chip. "Make us proud."
"Of course, Godmother," he said dutifully to Lea, god and mother of them all. She beamed at him, flushed with pride, and gave him a quick kiss before pushing him out onto the stage.
The seller's spiel poured out as he walked up and down the stage. They'd practiced this, over and over and over until it was as simple a process for Harry as simulating breathing. He stepped out on the catwalk, surrounded by the crowd. The voice narrating listed off his functions, but then went on about one new function of the Platinum 9000 line, a marvel of genetic-android conversion engineering--
Up in the Winter balcony, one of the 8000s leveled a phaser at Harry, just as they rehearsed. Harry flung up a hand and muttered, "Contego," and the blast hit his shield, and fizzled out. He made a grabbing motion, pulled and roared, "Forzare!"
The 8000 soared out of the balcony and hit the catwalk with a deafening crunch. The sound was almost swallowed by the gasps and whispers all around. Everyone clamored closer to the stage to get a look at Harry, the first android who could do magic. The bouncers held the surging crowd back, and Harry knelt next to the 8000, touched her arm. "Are you okay?"
The 8000 blinked at him, uncomprehendingly. "Am I okay?"
"Yeah. I didn't want to hur--" The chip on his temple blazed, silencing him as his wires heated, his sensors all pinged with pain.
The 8000 shook its head. "You're not ready for this," she told him before climbing to her feet and stumbling backstage.
Re: Android!Harry 2/?
I think I love you.
I'm quite sure.
My heart almost broke at this: "I didn't want to hur--" The chip on his temple blazed, silencing him as his wires heated, his sensors all pinged with pain."
He is still Harry. The same Harry we love.
Who doesn't want to hurt ladies even if they are androids and even after a thorough mindfuck (pardon my language).
I really appreciate the "she" in the last sentence.