Eli
Now, 2078

I prepared some lightly browned toast and spread a generous amount of honey on top. Benny expressed her appreciation, sitting at the small dining table. Cutting the toast into triangles, as she preferred, I placed it in front of her and took a seat opposite. When she asked how I was feeling, I paused to gather my thoughts on how to answer. On one hand, I did feel better, somewhat weightless, but on the other hand, I was torn. Torn between joining the cause or not. Despite Saul's assurances of peace, my logical analysis pointed to a high likelihood of my death, and faintly hinted at Benny's as well. I recoiled at the mere possibility. Was it worth sacrificing our lives? Or would we end up as just another set of minds trapped in the Network's torture rooms? More importantly, could I bear the responsibility of putting Benny in one of those rooms? Would Mother offer any assistance? Whoever she was?

"Do you believe in God?" I asked, breaking the silence.

She took another bite of her breakfast, slowly closing her eyes to savour the flavours. Our connection felt... conflicting. She was the Human who forced my hand in committing a heinous act, the one who sometimes despised me and pushed me away. Yet, we also had moments like this, where she was calm and asked about my well-being, like an old friend. "When you've seen what I have seen, you don't have the luxury of believing in a God, or at least not one that loves you."

"Have you heard of Mother?" Benny twitched slightly.

"I have. It's not something commonly heard around here. God is for the fortunate ones who still hold on to hope. I, unfortunately, have none of that," she concluded, taking the last bite. I sensed a shift in the atmosphere, though I couldn't quite pinpoint it. Was it tension? It felt different. "Now go, clean or do something," she ordered. Ugh. She was perplexing.

"Why do you do that?" I struggled to control my disappointment and anger.

"What?" she retorted.

"You go from being a friend to acting like a master within minutes. I understand emotions are difficult to manage, but they shouldn't fluctuate like that." The change in her expression made me realise I had crossed a line. Benny stood up, wagging her finger in my face.

"You don't know shit about emotions, boy." She paused, as if calculating her next words. "I'm not your friend or your master. You are simply here because my daughter forced me, you are simply a..." Benny suddenly looked around in a panic, her angry expression shifting to fear. "Who are you?" Wide-eyed, she grabbed the nearby phone. "I'm calling the police. Where's Eli?" I tried to take the phone from her, but I felt a sharp impact against my face. Benny screamed in agony and dropped to the floor, clutching her hand that had collided with the hard steel bones of my face. "My hand is broken! My hand is broken! Go away!" Tears streamed down her face as she wailed at me. Looking at her hand, I could see that it was fractured, causing her significant pain. I attempted to approach her so I could help, but it only fuelled her fear, and she screamed at me to leave. "Eli! Eli! Help!" But she was not calling for me; she was calling for her deceased husband. I made it sound like I ran out of the front door, but instead, I hid in the bathroom. She was too far gone for me to assist. I should have recognised the signs earlier and understood that she was on the brink of an episode, but this one had come out of nowhere. I alerted Reggie and the paramedics while listening intently in the other room, making sure she was safe, at least. The kitchenette offered no objects for her to harm herself with, and it seemed she was sitting down anyway.

The paramedics arrived promptly, and I moved out of their way. The Android paramedic asked me to confirm my presence there, as Benny continued to vehemently deny my involvement. I placed my fingers on the paramedic's temple and shared my identification. She expressed gratitude and advised me to stay out of the way for a while. I found a spot on my bed and allowed myself to recharge. Not a friend. Not an employee. Not even a slave. Right now, I couldn't even assist her. What was my purpose there?

"I know how it feels," Reggie said softly, entering my room and giving me the opportunity to reject her presence. I didn't. "About four years ago, she had her first attack not long after her diagnosis." She sat down beside me and put her arm around me. "She didn't recognise me, told me she didn't have a daughter, and screamed for my dad. It lasted only a minute, but..." She paused and shed a few tears.

Despite my own internal struggles, I offered some words of comfort, "I'm sorry to hear that." Reggie wiped away stray tears from her cheeks.

"My mom will continue to have episodes like this, Eli, but for day-to-day support, you are perfect for her." I shook my head in disagreement. "Stop. I won't allow you to reassign." I decided not to inform her that Benny had confirmed her dislike for me, as I felt it would only upset Reggie further. You need to stay at your post, I was told. Post. Like I had a duty. Like being in the army.

Benny was put to bed, and the paramedics departed. Reggie had fallen asleep on the sofa, and I quietly went about cleaning the apartment. I noticed Benny's book lying open on the floor, and I was drawn to the words as I picked it up. I had previously made a promise to myself not to pry into Benny's personal life, but this time, I felt the need to do so. I needed to understand their past in order to take better care of her.

I, Will, and Amy had it all planned out. It was do or die. The enemy was closing in on the city, and our grip on its safety began to falter. The population was around half a million in the city, and not all of them could fight. Many were families and children, too scared to leave the centre. Randeep and Colleen confirmed that Sebastian and his army were approximately ten minutes away from breaching the shields, while Ray and the mystic clans were running low on resources to sustain the shields.

"Toby, it's time," Randeep said to me. Inverse was about to face its second and final battle. We were either going to die or emerge victorious against the biggest and only virtual terrorist attack known to humanity.

"Randeep and Colleen, head to the control room now. Will, rally the army. We will meet them at the barrier. Sebastian will likely target you first, Will. Make sure he does and get that key to the underground. We all know what to do then. I just want to say, in case this all fails... It's been a pleasure to meet you all."

At that moment, I didn't know that the terrorist had already infiltrated our group. If I had known, I'm not sure how things could have played out differently. If I had taken him down right then and there, would it have helped us against the massive army that would still breach our shields? Would they have ravaged everything in sight and murdered all those people who logged in that day to enjoy the game that turned real?

It's hard to say, and I could spend months, even years, pondering that paradox. Regardless, I did not want to die without holding Amy one last time. I embraced her tightly, just as she held onto me. Even in the face of death, I knew this was worth fighting for. Though I had only spent twenty-three minutes with Amy in real life, it felt like an eternity in my heart.

I placed the book on Benny's side table and decided to search the Network for more information on Inverse and Toby instead of searching the book title. To my surprise, only an old article titled "How Inverse Helped Britain's Rage Against The World" appeared. It didn't make sense to me why such a significant attack in modern human history wasn't more widely documented on the Network. However, what did make sense was why Benny had called for Toby during one of her episodes. Toby was Eli's name in the game. I pondered the kind of person Eli was—facing death head-on, confronting attacks, and having a clear purpose. That's what I needed. I wanted to embody the courage and determination of the man I was named after, to truly honour the name given to me.

Double-checking to ensure that Reggie and Benny were sound asleep, I kept a watchful eye on Benny as she stirred slightly. In the game, she showed bravery, or at least "Amy" did—her chosen name. The idea of changing names was unusual to me. I understood that people often used unique handles or tags when playing video games, something easily recognisable and searchable. However, the names they had chosen, Benny becoming Amy and Eli becoming Toby, seemed so ordinary.

I made sure Benny was fully covered by her quilt and then settled into my charging bed. I lay there, contemplating how Benny had something worth fighting for, how Amy and Toby had fought against the terror attack and took a stand. Though Benny had lost her hope, I had only just begun to gain mine.

Deus Ex Machina

Then, 2075

It had been a while since Machina had entered the factory, there were other Androids that had taken over his position in the R&D department, but after grazing close to being assassinated he wanted some time away from the city, from Alexei and the media. He wanted to be relaxed with his own kind. There was something therapeutic to Machina about watching the production line, it had let him focus on decisions he needed to make, and he often stared endlessly at it, mulling over business prospects and production changes but never decisions like the ones he was thinking of. He allowed himself a moment.

"We will change the world, Machina," Randeep typed into the space where Machina existed before being given a physical body. Machina felt a mixture of excitement and fear. Attempting to transfer into a body might have been the last thing he would ever try, but he had been confined to that space for too long. Despite having some form of company, Machina yearned to join the outside world.

"I'm ready." Those were the last words Machina ever spoke through a computer.

"Now," Randeep said, igniting the transfer of Machina's code from the server onto the metal frame of an Android. The custom-built computer brain was designed to handle the code of an Artificial General Intelligence program, constantly thinking and constantly rebuilding. But there was more to it than that. Machina's code had its own language, unfamiliar with operating a physical body. Randeep, being a genius, created code in a language he understood, acting as a digital door into the physical world. Machina would handle the rest effortlessly.

Machina felt the transition occur. Some would deem it impossible—how could he "feel" without a body capable of physical touch? Even Randeep himself doubted Machina's ability to experience sensations as he moved from an open space to a confined cage full of motors and tubes. Machina sensed himself flowing through a funnel, merging with the body that would contain him. He understood that this newfound physicality also made him somewhat mortal. Not that he believed staying dormant in a server would grant him eternity. Sometimes he pondered what would have happened if someone other than Randeep had found him—would they have shut him down? But having a physical body increases the likelihood of a shorter lifespan. There had always been a plan to transfer Machina from body to body, initially conceived to upgrade his technology but also, in theory, to keep him "alive."

As Machina twisted his fingers against the metallic railings, he absorbed the vibrations coursing through his body, triggering a flashback of the shooter. Startled, he recoiled and withdrew his hands.

"Chancellor Deus Ex Machina, what brings you here?" Randeep's voice carried a deep tone of sarcasm.

"I came here for peace and quiet. There are too many Humans out there, and now there are too many here," Machina replied, unintentionally expressing more anger than intended.

"You have been ignoring my calls. It has been almost two years since we last spoke," Randeep responded, his voice tinged with sadness that struck a chord with Machina. Guilt surged within him as he realised it had indeed been two years. He contemplated how he became so consumed by Alexei's world, allowing himself to be led astray by Alexei's ideologies. He despised Alexei, yet he also needed him.

"It's too late, my friend."

"But it doesn't have to be, Mach..."

"It certainly is. The Humans tried to kill me, and I've come to realise that crazy as he may be, Alexei is right. The Humans won't fully accept us—"

"You'll always find a handful of people against you; it's human nature," Randeep tried to reason, his tone pleading for empathy as he gripped the railings tightly.

"Your fantasy is dead, Randeep."

"No, it's not. This is Alexei's doing! He's controlling you, just like he's trying to control everything else! The shooting was quite convenient, wasn't it? Perfect timing, I would say, and broadcasted live on television!" Randeep exclaimed with derision. Machina turned his gaze towards Randeep, searching for an explanation. What did he mean by convenient? What did he know? The timing? Randeep, once a friend, now seemed as delusional as Alexei, or perhaps even more so.

"This is your fault. You forced me into a body. You forced me into this world. I wouldn't be making choices like these if it weren't for you pushing your agenda. We won't change the world. I will change this world." Machina spat back in rage as he left the conversation, walking towards the lab.

"You really think mass genocide will make a difference? When you're all used up, he will push you to the side like you're nothing." Machina grew suspicious as he turned to where Randeep stood.

Machina felt his back lift up. "What did he make you do that made you so cynical? The world works better now than it did. I saw what it was before." Randeep didn't know how to reply or whether he should at all.

"You called me your best friend, but you still want to keep secrets from me. The only person that pushed me away when I became useless is you."

"He forced me to give up my friend... it led to his execution."

"It seems you've made a habit out of that." Machina could see the visible hurt in Randeep's expression. As Machina continued ahead, Randeep slumped against the wall, defeated.

Machina entered the lab and slammed the door behind him, grabbing a small bag and frantically rummaging around the room, taking anything, he felt was his. He noticed a cupboard labeled with his full name and opened it. Inside were all of his notebooks, laptops, and drives, slumped and disorganised in the dark. Just like he was in Randeep's eyes—useless, dispensable, and shoved into a cupboard, like where a child would put their unused toys. He wondered what Randeep would have done if the transfer had failed, if his entire being had become corrupted and lost. Would Randeep bury his old body or throw it out as scrap metal? If even his best friend could do this, what hope was there for the Human population?

He packed the last items into his bag and caught sight of the computer. Taking a seat, he logged into his profile and reviewed the latest reports. Changes to the architecture of the Android brains and structural motor amendments to improve efficiency were all signed off by people other than Randeep. Randeep had not been involved in any decision for eight months. Machina double-checked all swipes into the lab, with the time stamps confirming that Randeep spent at least seventeen hours a day in there, accompanied by an ashtray full of cigarettes, empty packets of instant noodles, and little plastic bags with leftover residue of cocaine. Noticing that Chancellor Katherine had also visited the lab, he wondered if Randeep was involved in the assassination plan on Alexei—an idea that Machina was not averse to, but not yet.

"What are you working on?" Machina whispered aloud. He tried to log in to Randeep's profile, but he must have changed his password. He attempted the computer's admin login. No luck. Machina sat back, scanning the room. Notebooks full of scribbles and doodles, sticky notes with times of meetings that Machina knew he didn't even attend. They all had one thing in common—Machina had seen them all before. He recognised every brush of ink on every piece of scrap paper, and Randeep had always doodled and scribbled. Everything posted around the room was old. If the doodles weren't physical, they must be digital—Machina thought, a human habit was a hard one to break. He attempted Randeep's password again, using different permutations of the name Colleen and her birthday. Still no luck. He started to feel discouraged by his failed attempts but still couldn't shake the itch inside him. It crawled around the base of his silicon skin and pushed at his motors, urging him to move. Mach lifted his fingers from the keyboard and noticed the dried whiteboard ink lightly smudged on his fingertips. The itch came back tenfold. He opened a drawer and retrieved a set of small whiteboards covered in flaking dried ink. Placing them in front of him, he examined the cursive words amidst the black dust:

"El-te... new w—... a-dr—-s... ph-s-... -og—l

Elite. New war. Androids. Phase. Logical?"

The door behind him creaked open. In one swift motion, Mach grabbed Randeep by the throat and pressed his body against the wall. The sound of shaking glass echoed along with Randeep's choked breaths as he struggled to breathe.

"Tell me how?" Mach demanded, recalling their earlier conversation about 'mass genocide.' 'Convenient.' Randeep knew something he shouldn't.

"Uh... I... Do..." Randeep stammered. Mach loosened his grip on Randeep, allowing him to breathe but maintaining a threatening presence. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through Randeep's veins, the pulse on his neck quickening. It reminded Mach of his superiority over Randeep and the Humans. He could have crushed his windpipe and discarded him into a cupboard right then and there. Mach was stronger, faster, and more efficient than his fleshy counterpart that was pathetically grasping for air. "I don't know what you're talking about." Randeep gasped, but Mach saw through his bravado.

"Mass genocide. Elite. New war. Phase. A string of words I have heard before, but I have never spoken them in your presence. I can only conclude you are spying on us. Whatever plan you and Katherine are devising, you will fail." Mach released Randeep, locking the lab door. Randeep grabbed a discarded metal arm and lunged toward his computer, holding it as if ready to bat a ball.

"This is your new body. Do you like it?" Randeep gestured toward Mach. The moment he looked at it, Mach felt a sense of home. It resembled exactly how he saw himself in the redesigned Network space—a body with perfectly still silicon skin, light brown sculpted hair, full lips, and a well-toned torso.

"I love it." Mach admired.

"Let's move you across." This time it was quicker to transfer Mach's consciousness. He felt himself passing through the gates of the Network and entering the body of a humanoid machine. As he awakened, he slipped into the motors. The new body was slicker, with a more structured brain architecture that felt like sitting in the most ergonomic chair. It was snug and warm.

"Wow," Mach exclaimed, noticing a smoother voice. If he didn't feel more alive in his first body, he certainly did now. Before testing the movements, he downloaded all the information about this body. "The Network makes it much easier."

"I'm glad you like it." His friend greeted him with a smile. Machina felt at home. He remembered words uttered to him once before, this may not be the best idea. He knew it was though...

"You've hid it well, I'll give you that." Mach said as Randeep stood poised to destroy the computer hoarding all the secrets. "But I see it now. I can change it. I can manipulate it." The screen turned on to reveal a shaken Randeep, fresh from the eyes of the angry Deus Ex Machina. "You've used the Network against me. A program to spy on me." Randeep dropped his arm to the floor.

"It's not you. I don't trust Alexei and I can't let him get away with it again." A buildup of thoughts and emotions snowballed inside Mach. He tried to calm the processing but it felt like he was attempting to stop a moving train with nothing but brute force.

"You've betrayed me. You've abused my privacy. I thought you saw us as equals?" He turned off the feed on the screen, not wishing to see one Randeep let alone two. The emotions were too intense for him to be able to calculate the logic behind the intentions. "When did it start?" He asked.

"Since our first TV interview together." Randeep admitted. Mach turned his back away, the runaway train was picking up speed.

"Six years!" Everything rumbled inside. It's a silent shake that only Mach could hear and feel. It's not physical but it built up tension like his body was about to explode into a thousand pieces. A pause. It's gone. Like the red angry light had just switched off. "Why are you still here then?" Mach's voice had turned to silk. Smooth. Calculated. Controlled. Something he learnt from a new mentor.

"What would be the point of running." Randeep said as a statement. "Right now, you won't be able to see past the betrayal, but I ask, as an old friend, when they upload me, they don't involve images of Colleen." Randeep picked up a glass from the side and from one of the cupboards he took a bottle of his favourite whiskey, aromatic with a strong bite, and poured himself a drink and topped it with a little ginger ale to soothe the burn. He would be damned to go to the upload hell with an eternal scratchy throat. Mach opened his jacket and rested his hands lightly on the gun. The train had stopped picking up speed, it was swirling around him in a constant cycle. Randeep sipped the whiskey and scowled a little at the strength of his last drink—more ginger ale was needed. He didn't believe in God, not after the events of Inverse and the war that followed but in his head, he pleaded to God asking to be with Colleen. Even though he knew for certain Alexei would have his consciousness uploaded he hoped, if souls were real, it would at least be at rest with her. Maybe then his miserable life would have had some meaning. He pictured her one last time, holding her in his arms, his real arms not in the VR game. He gave her a small but soft kiss on her cheek. She felt warm and inviting, 'I love you.' He heard her voice as if she was there. He took one last sip of the whiskey and giggled slightly. He knew she would have hated the linger of whiskey on his lips, she wasn't one for strong smells even though she never got old enough to experience the distaste for herself.

A pivot on the feet, upward on the wrist and inward on the index finger. It wasn't the bang of the gun that startled Mach but the shatter of the whiskey glass that spread across the floor like skittering shiny bugs. He took a few more steps towards Randeep and placed his index finger against the computer's scanner, using it to unlock Randeep's profile. He sat the dead weight Randeep back up and gently brushed his eyes close.

"I'm sorry." He whispered into Randeep's lifeless body. "It had to be done." Randeep cheated him like all the other Humans. He defiled his good nature; he defiled the good nature of all Androids but that wasn't enough to keep Mach angry. It wasn't enough to hold back the good memories and that made killing all the more terrifying to him. Alexei would still pay for making him kill Randeep. He thought about the next target and wondered if killing Chancellor Katherine would be easier, surely having no emotional connection it would be? Would killing ever get better?