by A. W. Cross
Harlequin caught Pine’s eye and nodded toward the door, where another synadroid beckoned. Pine took the hint and slipped through, leaving James to the mercy of his enemies.
***
The door slammed behind Pine, plunging her into darkness. Almost as quickly, her eyes compensated for the dim lighting, and she found herself in a foyer of sorts. An empty ticket booth sat on one side, across from a line of chairs and a low coffee table. At the far end stood a set of grand double doors.
The synadroid who’d opened the door bowed and ran her finger down Pine’s cheek. She was dressed in artfully placed feathers and, from what Pine could see, a lot of sheer, pointless fabric. “Welcome,” she whispered, and sashayed into the booth, where she perched on a red-velvet-topped stool.
A sliver of light crossed the floor as Harlequin stole through the door behind Pine.
“Come on,” she said, grabbing Pine’s hand and pulling her away. “They won’t keep him busy for long.”
Pine didn’t like the idea of the exotic creatures keeping James busy for any length of time. “I can’t just leave him.” Besides, though it had felt rather delicious to sneak away right under James’s nose after he’d forbidden her, she’d had her fun now. Antagonizing him even more wasn’t going to help the situation between them, especially after Joseph had trusted her.
“Of course you can. He can wait, or you can find your own way to…wherever it is you are now. You can tell me all about it, but let’s grab a table first.” She pushed one of the double doors open just wide enough for her and Pine to slip through. Inside was a vast room that mimicked an old-fashioned speakeasy, dripping with more red velvet and crowned by an ostentatious crystal chandelier. Dozens of small round tables and matching chairs crowded into the considerable space, all positioned with an ample view of the curtained-off stage.
No wonder James hadn’t wanted her to come in here. It looked fun. Daisy was right. He could wait. He could’ve just given in to her on this, rather than spoil everything. He’d made his choice; now she was making hers.
Harlequin pulled Pine into a banquette along the back wall. Taking a seat across from her, she dropped her chin into her ornately manicured hand and looked at Pine expectantly. “Well? The last time I saw you was off the coast of Fanglass Island. What’s happened to you since then? Tell me everything!”
So Pine did.
“I can’t believe you’ve been here only weeks. It’s been nearly three months for me. What were you doing all that time?”
Daisy had been here for months? Pine had been moved only a few weeks after the emancipation. Why had Daisy gone so early? “The usual, plus some training on how to fit in up here. Why—”
“Well, now that you’re here, it’s not so bad, is it? It seems like you’ve landed on your feet, anyway,” Harlequin interrupted. She was so different than Pine remembered, all glitter and drama. Daisy had possessed the same calm serenity as all the synadroids in their sector.
“Are you serious? You mean, you’re actually okay with all of this?” Pine glanced around. “What is all of this, anyway?” She never seen so much red.
Harlequin laughed. “God, Pine, you still seem so… green.”
Pine’s confusion must’ve been evident.
Harlequin sighed. “Not all of us are owned by kindly old men, Pine. Although, I suspect he’s probably not as benign as you think.” She gave Pine a sly look that quickly turned into exasperation. “Oh, for goodness’ sake. This is a burlesque hall, Pine. And a brothel. For men and women who want to have company and sex with sentient androids.”
Pine’s stomach turned. Although Joseph had told her places like this existed, she’d thought he was just trying to scare her into obedience; no sentient android she knew would submit willingly to such a life. Would they?
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not that bad.”
“How can you say that? I mean…you—” Pine didn’t want to insult her, but…
“Grow up, Pine,” Harlequin said, her voice harsh. “What did you expect? Few of us get lucky.”
“But how can you let them… I mean, why don’t you—”
“What? Fight? Run away? That’s not really a luxury we can afford, Pine. I mean, why are you still with your old man? Although,” her eyes glittered in a way Pine didn’t like, “that one you left outside looks like he might be worth staying around for. Is that it?” When Pine didn’t reply, Harlequin’s mouth dropped open. “That’s it!” she crowed.
“No! It’s not,” Pine insisted. “I just— I’m working on it. I don’t plan to be here any longer than I need to be.” It sounded unconvincing, even to her. But that was still her intention. She just hadn’t figured out the details yet.
“I thought like that once,” Harlequin said dreamily then her gaze hardened. “But it’s a fantasy, Pine. And honestly, it’s not so terrible. Hell, I could be fighting giant monsters at the Perimeter. Here, I have a roof over my head, beautiful clothes, and when my work is done, my time is my own. All The Showman requires is loyalty and a convincing smile.” She flicked an invisible speck off one of her nails. “It’s a fair price, if you ask me.”
“But your freedom— Why shouldn’t we have the same freedom as biological humans? I mean, we have the same emotions they do, the same hopes—”
“Oh my god, just listen to yourself. They’re not any freer than we are, Pine. Their freedom is an illusion. Everyone is owned by someone else. The sooner you figure that out, the better off you’ll be.”
“But—” Is it true?
“Tell me, Pine, what would you do, if you were ‘free?’ How would you support yourself? House yourself? Fix yourself? That’s what it means to be human. Be grateful for what you have.”
“Excellent advice,” a deep voice rumbled next to Pine.
She started; she hadn’t heard the man approach. He was huge, both in height and breadth. He wore trousers of the same red velvet as the room, his substantial torso encased in the palest green overlaid with an emerald brocade vest. He hurt Pine’s eyes.
“Pine, this is The Showman.”
“A pleasure,” he said, holding out a meaty hand. He waited for a few seconds while she stared at him then withdrew his hand and gave a hearty laugh.
“What remarkable eyes you have. Tell me, my dear, are you looking for work? Perhaps a new living arrangement?” He stroked the curve of his full mustache.
“No,” Pine said hastily. “I’m not. I’m very happy where—”
“Really? Because that’s not what it sounded like.”
“No, I—”
“Who’s your owner, then?”
“Joseph Polendina. But—” The Showman rattled her, making her feel as though she were walking across hot sand.
“Ah, yes, the robotics designer. I know of him.” The Showman gazed at Pine with new interest. “You’re from the same place as dear Harlequin here?”
That, at least, she could answer. “I am.”
“It just so happens that I have an idea for a mermaid show. Perhaps I shall buy you off Polendina.”
Panic swelled in Pine, the same kind of icy fear that had washed over when she’d been told she’d been sold the first time. “Joseph would never sell me.” Would he?
“Oh, I don’t know about that. If the price was right—”
He’d found her tender spot—she did have a price. “I won’t do it. Even if Joseph sold me, I would never do…what Harlequin does,” she finished lamely. She grimaced at her friend. “I’m sorry, Daisy, I just… I’m sorry.”
An expression Pine couldn’t read crossed The Showman’s face before he cocked his head. “Well, Harlequin, I guess you’ll have to do it. You’re the only other water synadroid here.” He gave an exaggerated sigh and waited to see how his news would be received.
Pine turned to Harlequin to decipher the strange undercurrent between them and got another shock.
Her former friend sat stricken, her hand covering her open mouth, as though The Showman had idly sug
gested she was to be destroyed.
“No. Please.” Harlequin’s fingers dug into the polished surface of the table, scarring the varnish.
The Showman tsked as he eyed the scratches.
“Daisy? What’s wrong?” Daisy was obviously resigned to the aspects of her job that would’ve troubled Pine, so her terror must be with the tank of water. But why would Daisy be afraid of that? Until a few months ago, she’d lived in water her whole life.
“It seems that since finding her legs, so to speak, dear Harlequin here has developed a pathological fear of the water. Isn’t that right, love?”
“Dai— Harlequin, is that true? You’re afraid of the water?”
“I’ll never go back there. You promised. You promised. ” Daisy’s polished façade had cracked.
Is this like Finch? During their service, both she and Daisy had known a synadroid who, one day, for no reason they could fathom, became hysterical, screaming that the water was crushing him. He’d ranted and raved as he’d tried to get to the surface. Then one of the handlers had spoken Finch’s safe word, and he’d been taken away. They’d never seen him again. Was that why Daisy had left so much earlier than Pine? Had The Showman saved her?
“Now, Harlequin, I promised I would never send you back to the ocean. This is just a tank of water, no more than a few hundred pounds. Or is it thousand? Never mind. You’ll crush it!”
“I won’t do it. I won’t.” She stood then sat down again.
“Ah, that’s a shame. I guess I have no choice but to sell you on then. Can’t have a member of staff unwilling to do their job. Now where—” He tapped his beard in mock deliberation. “Where could I send you? I know.” He leaned forward and placed his thick hands on the table. “Deserter’s Island, yes? They always have a use for synadroids…or their parts, at least. I’ll go make the arrangements.” He stood and walked away from the table, humming as he went.
“No! Please!” Harlequin stumbled and fell to her knees in her haste to follow him.
He turned as she grabbed his ankle. “I’m afraid you’ve given me no choice,” he said. “Either you get in the tank, or you go.”
“I can’t— I—” Harlequin’s head jerked to the side. Pine remembered what James had told her, about the synadroids on the Perimeter. The ones who’d gone mad. Who’d hurt themselves and then—
“I’ll do it.” Pine stepped out from the banquette. Neither The Showman nor Harlequin seemed to hear her. She spoke louder. “I said, I’ll do it.”
That time, they did hear.
“Oh, Pine, thank you. Thank you, I—”
“Shush, dear.” The Showman put a gentle hand on Harlequin’s head. He gazed at Pine with renewed interest. “You would do that, for your friend? Leave what I know to be a safe place with Polendina to come here and take up a position you find repugnant, that goes against your values, to spare her?”
“I will,” said Pine. And she would. She would be strong and do this for Daisy. But what were James and Joseph going to think? Was James still out there, pacing back and forth and thinking of new ways to lecture her? Well, this time, she wouldn’t blame him. She’d have given anything to be outside, listening to him tell her off.
“Very well,” The Showman said. “Wait there. I will return shortly.” He peered down at his feet. “Harlequin, please get up. Our guests will be here soon.” He gripped her chin. “Remember, smile.”
Harlequin gave him a weak grin and tottered to her feet. She returned to the banquette and sat heavily back down in her chair. “Pine, I—”
Pine shook her head. “Let me think.” What was she going to do? Would Joseph really sell her? Probably, if he thought she’d rather work in a brothel than be with him. She was running out of time. People had begun filing into the room and The Showman once again materialized by the table.
“Come with me.” He offered Pine his hand again.
She stood and accepted her fate.
As she walked away, Harlequin grabbed her arm. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”
Pine barely heard her. Her mind raced, weighing her options and finding none.
The room The Showman led Pine to was small, its modern aesthetic clashing with the flamboyant bordello on the other side of the door. On the neat chrome-and-glass desk sat several pieces of what looked like tech, although Pine couldn’t begin to identify them.
What were those? Were they for her act? Had he called Joseph and already done the deal? Again, Pine wished she could cry. Maybe she would’ve been less scared if she could. Daisy’s head twitching on her elegant neck flashed through her mind.
Stay calm, Pine. You’ll get through this.
“You see these items here?” The Showman asked her.
“Yes.”
“I want you to take them to Polendina. He can either use or sell them, whichever will benefit his—him more.” He collected the items and placed them carefully in an oxblood satchel.
“I don’t understand. You’re sending me home? I thought—” That James was right—her life could be a lot worse. Damn him. That wasn’t the point, but it was impossible to argue with even the specter of him right now.
“I’ve always been curious whether you synadroids would risk yourselves for each other, the way few humans will, and now I know. Could be good for the people fighting for your freedom to know. Now, please. I’m a busy man.” He looped the bag over her shoulder. “Go straight home.”
“What about Harlequin? You’re not going to make her go in the tank, are you?” Pine asked as he prodded her toward the door.
“No, of course not. Not if she doesn’t want to. Besides, do you know how expensive those tanks are?” He shut the door behind him, leaving Pine in the dark in more ways than one.
She found she was not-so-surprisingly eager to get home, longing for the relative safety of Joseph’s house. And if she was honest, the comfort of Joseph himself. She’d even be glad to see James. They were both going to be so angry with her.
I didn’t do anything wrong . Mutiny flared in her again, but she quickly tamped it down. Just get out of here. Don’t make it worse.
Harlequin was nowhere to be seen. I’ll come back and find her another time. Pine headed for the exit on the far side of room, winding her way between customers taking their seats in front of the stage. The air buzzed with a distracting anticipation. Her attention snapped back, however, when the bag was bumped off her shoulder, spilling its contents on the dubious-smelling carpet.
“Oh my goodness, I’m sorry,” a voice above Pine exclaimed as she bent to retrieve the items, stuffing them back into the bag.
As Pine straightened, she came face-to-face with a man and woman. They were both older, the man sporting an antiquated prosthetic arm and the woman a visor to help her see.
“It’s okay,” Pine assured them. She just wanted to get out of there, go home and make amends with Joseph and James.
“Are you all right?” The woman pawed at Pine’s arm; her fingernails had been filed to points.
Pine drew away. “I’m fine, thank you.” She tried to push past them. She didn’t have time to make small talk.
“Are you sure?” the man asked. His face was triangular, accentuated by high cheekbones and a pointed red beard shot through with white.
“You need to be careful, dear.” The woman purred. “Especially considering what you’re carrying.”
“Wait. You know what these are?” Pine patted the bag.
“We do. And we also know where you can get an exorbitant price for them.”
Why would that matter to Pine? “No, thanks. Look, I have to get home, my…father is waiting for me.”
“Your father? I didn’t realize synadroids had fathers.” The man chortled. “Did you hear that, Tabby? This synadroid has a father.”
“Shut up, Todd.” The woman bared her teeth at him. “I’m sorry. Todd is an idiot. What’s your father’s name, dear?”
“Joseph Polendina. He’s—”
“Joseph!” The woman clapped as though delighted. “Joseph is a very good friend of ours. My name is Tabby—and you’ve already met Todd. Hasn’t Joseph told you about us?”
He hadn’t. But then, Pine hadn’t shown much interest in his personal life. “No, but—”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking, Tabby?” Todd stroked his beard as he considered Pine.
“I am.” The couple pulled her to the side, away from the crush of other patrons. Tabby lowered her voice, her face serious. “Those items you have there? They’re very valuable—to the right people. But we could help you make them even more valuable. Perhaps we could—”
“No. Tabby, I’ve changed my mind. She won’t be interested. We should just let her go. She needs to get home to her father. He’ll be happy with what she has, just as it is.” Todd turned to go, tugging gently on Tabby’s arm.
Tabby gave an exaggerated sigh and agreed. “Perhaps you’re right. It just would’ve been so lovely to help our dear friend Joseph out.” She shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry we wasted your time, dear.” She turned to walk away.
“Wait.” Pine grabbed Tabby’s arm. If they really were friends of Joseph’s, maybe they could help her. She was going to need a good apology after she’d skipped out on James, and he definitely wasn’t going to help her now. Where better to start than with Joseph’s friends? “What did you have in mind?”
The companions glanced at each other and grinned.
“What did you say your name was, dear?”
As the light rail pulled out of the station, Pine’s stomach clenched. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, after all. It was growing late, and whatever grace she’d gain by bringing home a prize for Joseph was fading as the sky grew darker. “Is it much farther?”
“No, no. We’re almost there. Just a little farther,” Todd promised.
Pine would just have to trust them. They were on their way to the sprawling market sector of the city, nicknamed The Field of Miracles. It was famous, the couple had explained to her, for the buying and selling of unique and hard-to-find cutting-edge technology, among other things. They’d guaranteed Pine that, with their help, she could get a fortune for the equipment The Showman had given her, or, if she preferred, could exchange the three pieces for one or two that would be of even more use to Joseph.