Working Clock

('Jeez... How large is this place? Its been five hours and I am already lost inside this labyrinth of a maze. The people or residents here... They all have the same low angle work hats covering their faces and all wearing green jumpsuits. What is up with them? '

Bumping into someone while rounding the corner, I stood firm while leaning forward to extend my hand. Abruptly shocked by what I find, a beautiful woman with the complexion as white as snow, I grew uneasy as her lifeless green eyes shook me to my core. 

Standing up on her own in an unnatural motion, she picked up her box and continued on her way. Compelled, I decided to follow the strange woman and for about ten blocks, I arrived at a control center where dozens of workers were coming in and out. 

The structure was two floors wide and as long as an average department store. Walking beside her now, I watched as she held the box and walked onto a mobile conveyor belt with several other workers. Staying by her side as her white loose hair set her apart from everyone else. 

Passing through a wall of plastic tassels falling to the floor. Entering through the doorway, I was even more surprised to find an elaborate conveyor system expanding several miles downward. As we arrived at the edge, I watched as lifeless workers fell forward with their boxes and fall hundreds of miles to the bottomless pit. 

Shaking my head, I quickly moved and lifted the woman as she dropped her box and remained motionless. 

('She's light... Almost as if she was paper. ') 

Heading back, I jumped off from the conveyor belt and landed onto the solid floor in the entrance of the building. With the woman in tow, I went outside and stooped as I set the woman down to try and speak to her. 

"Hello!? "Remaining silent and still, she only moved her gaze to the building where her coworkers were falling to their deaths. 

Restraining her, I pulled an electric plastic tube from a nearby street lamp and tied her in place on my back. No matter what happens, I have resolved myself to keep her safe. 

Walking away from the mysterious building, I was left alone debating what I was doing. 

~•~•~•~

Turning toward the edge of a colossal freeway, I walked on the right side of the road as massive, three story machines and vehicles passed by on lifts as large as an entire floor of a typical skyscraper. Seeing more workers like the girl on my back, they paid me no mind as they passed me by. 

Working using pads and managing the systems on the large mechanical panels, I was in awe at the dozens of amazing things passing by. 

Arriving at a certain point, I turned to see the extent of the sleek futuristic kingdom and remained in a constant state of awe. 

['TEMPEST NIGHT INITIATED-SUMMER DAYTIME REGULAR SHUTDOWN ACTIVATED'] 

Looking around as a loud and powerful voice of some stranger echoed across the entire city. The lighting and smooth surface panels on the buildings abruptly dimmed. The workers continued working however, there was a major drop in activity as they all hut disappeared from the streets and roads.

The woman on my back remained awake yet, her unshaken expression made me feel the slightest bit of ease. 

Continuing my walk, I  eventually reached another stranger structure at the far end of the city. There, I walked inside through the glass doors and entered an empty lobby. Walking forward, I then came across a few workers who were able to communicate to some extent. 

"Excuse me! Hello, I'm Alyssa. I was hoping if you guys maybe knew where Dr A's office building is? Her lab... No? "They remained surprised I spoke to them as they had crowded before me with adoration. 

"Are-you... Visitor? "Turning my gaze to the handsome and slender gentleman, I smiled and nodded. 

"Yes-yes! I am... Do you know where I can find Dr A? How I can get there? "Meeting their eyes as they looked at me as if I was some exotic creature they had never seen before. 

"You-kind... What-are-you? "Sinking my head back slightly, I pouted and spoke. 

"Um, last I checked. I am a clone of Dr A. "They abruptly fell into silence and took a step back as they then became organized. "Uh, Isis everything alright? You guys look like you've seen a ghost... Or something? "

"Apologies-for-not... Recognizing-you-sooner. "Bowing their heads, I was stunned at the change in attitude as I turned to the woman in my back and spoke. 

"Well, do you guys mind if I ask you to take a look at my friend? I assume, that is you guys are doctors of some kind right? The sketchy lab coats and all. "Looking around the room, they turned to each other and then nodded. "Well, great. Let me just set her down. "

Gently releasing the binding around her and myself, I then held her in my chest as they took a good look at her. 

"Well, what's wrong with her Doc? "Nodding, they then turned and began making uneasy movements all over the lobby. "Can you help her? "

Turning to meet my gaze once more, the handsome gentleman then spoke directly to me. 

"You-brought-a-shell-here... There-is-little-we-can-do. "Gulping, I asked what he meant when he called her a 'shell'. "A-'shell'-is-an-automated-AI-clone. It-was-created-to-meet-the-requirements-of-this-city. This-shell-only-has-two-more-days-left-to-exist. "

"'Exist'? What the heck are you talking about? Is she going to die?! "Holding her closer in my arms, I watched as his mouth moved. 

"There-is-no-known-record-of-any-'shells'-serving-their-one-month-cycle. This-shell-is-at-her-limits. Soon-she-will-collapse-and-cease-to-function-indefinitely. "Grabbing hold of his coat, I glared at him as he remained unfazed by my threats to save her. 

As the other workers in lab coats returned, I remained with a grave expression as I was angry at the fact she was made just just like me and yet, had to die before accomplishing anything. 

Suddenly, an idea crossed my mind and a bright light shone in my eyes. Turning to my left arm, I gulped and inhaled a deep breath as I gripped my wrist with my right hand and forcefully pulled and broke off my arm. Seeing the complicated circuits all over my body underneath my artificial skin, I then set the woman forward and ripped the back of there jumpsuit open. 

Revealing her back and seeing a single row of systems along her spine, my eyes were red either warnings as my initial analysis of what I was about to do would quite possibly leave me fried and dead. Wasting no time, I touched her skin and from my broken arm, I thrusted it into her system where her heart should be. 

Waiting, I grit my teeth as I broke into a cold sweat, my mind was on overload as I ran and created a new program by writing a sophisticated algorithm unlike any other. Before long, I steady opened my eyes and was immediately drained as I had shared my 'shelf life' with hers. It didn't take long until I sharply raised my eyes at the slightest twitch in her fingers. 

Smiling, I then completed the personalized update and was abruptly exploded backwards where I then shattered the glass wall behind me. Passing out on the floor, I closed my eyes as my holographic system embedded in my eyes shut down entirely. 

~•~•~•~•~

('... -wake up! Alyssa… dont die like this-... ') 

"Ten motherboard CI chips. Twelve blood bags. Splicers. "A low and controlled voice spoke from beyond the darkness I was engulfed in. "Bring me the replacement parts. Operate around-... "

Sounds of mechanical beeping and muffled suction echoed in my ears as clear as day. Feeling a sense of numbness, I felt everything that was being done to keep and yet, I couldn't see or open my eyes. Unable to so much as lift a finger, I was helpless under the darkness as a strange and familiar voice rang constantly. 

Feeling an abrupt surge of power through my chest, I felt my body rush into the air and collapsed onto a metal table. A couple of more shocks followed as a constant sound of beeping remained constant. The voice, in a fit of desperation struck my chest repeatedly as her voice was felt right by my ears. 

Feeling her weight on top of me, she suddenly calmed herself and stopped as she slid herself beside my face and I could hear her every tortured breath. 

Suddenly, I felt a burning sensation at the base of my throat and flowing throughout my body. Abruptly, my body slammed against the table as a powerful surge of electricity pulled me back to life. Hearing the steady beating in my chest and having opened my eyes wide as I coughed and held my hand to my throat, I turned to Dr A as she was in tears. 

Hugging me tightly, I remained in a strange position as she then slapped me across my face and suddenly hugged me tighter once again. 

~•~•~•~•~

After the operation, I slowly moved my new artificial hand made of a valuable material as it was white and sleek. Sharp lines ran up and across my left arm as I looked to my chest and found no trace of the scars Dr A had made in order to manually start my heart again. The sophisticated level of talent showed her skill as a mad scientist. 

Since my blunder, I have been placed under lockdown as per request of Dr A. Seeing as she no longer trusts me, I was forced to rest as she advised me to wait a while longer before the rest of my brothers and sisters arrived as they were out on specific missions around the world gathering strange materials. 

Hearing the door open, I immediately sat up as the woman from before had walked inside. As I met her eyes, my enhanced vision showed a breathtaking neural-network in her head. The same kind of activity normal humans have except, more colorful. 

"Hey. "Simply being greeted by her, her soft and velvet voice made me fall numb all over again as she took a seat beside me. "I hear you died for ten minutes… is that true? "

"U-uh… y-yeah. I think so. Um… "Gulping, I was astonished and utterly speechless as I was having a conversation with a girl who was as social as a brick wall. "I'm… Sorry, I'm Alyssa. "

"Right. I know. "A slight laugh escaped her rosey lips as she felt and looked more alive than before. "So… Aren't we going to come up with a name I can use? "

"Eh… sorry? "Confused, she then lowered her glistening green eyes and met my face as she spoke. 

"You… undoubtedly saved my life and made me… 'more'. I spoke with Dr A and she is set to examine me more thoroughly soon after your recovery. "Looking to meet my arm, I subconsciously hid it away from her sight as she looked pained just talking about it. "May I ask… Why did you save me? Sorry, what I meant is, 'why did you do what you did'? "

Looking away, I stared at the base of the sheets and the soft indication of my feet at the base of the bed, I remained silent. 

"Alyssa. Alyssa, please look at me. "Turning my face towards her by applying a gentle enough force to sway my head using her hand, I shivered as I met her beautiful eyes. "Please, tell me. Why did you risk your life for me. A 'shell' you don't even know no-less!? "

Flinching as in some way, I found myself feeling frightened by her than anything in my short life. Angry, upset, and pain was all I felt in her gaze as she looked at me with such bright and beautiful eyes. They broke me apart and couldn't let me escape with my usual remarks and attitude. She made key somehow different as I was only able to tell the truth. 

"Yo..u…" Asking me to speak up, I then met her gaze and exploded. "Because I like you! "

A long and silent moment passed as we were both shaken by what I had just said, she then lowered her face and inhaled a soft breath. 

"What exactly… do you mean by that, Alyssa. "Titling my head twice as if I had just met her all over again, she then repeated what she said as I was left with no alternative but to talk. 

"When I found you… Rather, when we bumped into each other, I saw you. A helpless woman with no drive or emotions. You were here in this amazing city and yet, I just… couldn't help but think how sad it was to see you all alone. You want to know what I meant, I saw you and thought, 'she's like me'. To tell you the truth, I had just woke from a two year coma-like state. I had no idea who I was or where and why I got there. It was all 'new' and 'freighting'. 

I saved you because you reminded me of what those two years were like for me. No-you remainder me of Wyatt my whole life was like as I don't or can't remember any of it. For the first time since I awoke, I saw you and felt I had to make a choice. And for the first time, I made the choice myself. I still don't know exactly why I saved you, but I know I did what I wanted for a change. I won't apologize for that-"

Being slapped abruptly, the shocking sting that followed witty utter felt heavier than when Dr A slapped me earlier. Holding my cheek, I turned to the woman and watched as I could see invisible tears flowing from her face yet, nothing was there as she looked to eket my face with an enraged expression. 

"You no risked your life for such a stupid reason! What is wrong with you! What if Dr A couldn't have brought you back! What if when you saved me, you killed yourself in the process! What if-"Breaking down to her hands and leaning against the bed frame, I remained stunned as my eyes lowered and I slid my arms around her soft head. 

"I know… "Holding her to my chest, she remained silent as I felt her frustration as if I had placed myself in her position and understood why she was upset after hearing her savior almost died permanently. "I'm sorry… I won't do anything crazy again, I promise. So stop crying, okay. "

"I'm not crying. "Smirking, we stayed in that spot for a while until eventually, we both ended up falling asleep from the tranquil silence and soft humming of the ventilator on the walls. 

A soft and warm feeling remained between us both as she had half of me within her just as I had half of her within me. We were connected with one another and that alone made us unique as we were forever bound to each other… At least, until death do us part. 

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