Pine, Alive: A Science Fiction Romance Pinocchio Retelling (Foxwept Array Book 1)

by A. W. Cross

  Nor did Ash seem disturbed. She chatted to the other synadroids on the boat easily, as though they were out on lovely afternoon of boating, rather than speeding away from a possible murder.

  After several minutes of excited gossip, Ash had noticed Pine’s silence. “What’s gotten into you? Don’t tell me you’re upset about Jonty.”

  Was that his name? “No, of course not.” But she was, though she doubted he’d have felt the same had it been her who was shot.

  “This one thinks she’s human.” Ash laughed, pointing Pine out to the others. “She’s even got herself a genuine boyfriend.”

  As the other synadroids whooped, Pine ignored them and gazed out over the water. She laid her head on the side of the boat, pressing her cheek to the cool metal. A shadow fell across her, and she peered up at a non-sentient android standing in front of her. It was a model she’d never seen before, similar in build to herself and the other synadroids, but without the aesthetic ‘human’ touches.

  Whereas Pine was covered with synthetic skin that felt as real as a human’s, this android had its metal skeleton and molded silicon flesh on display. Every articulation, the complicated mechanics of every movement, were laid bare. Its eyes were set deep in its metal skull, flat and dull over a mouth that was little more than a hole in its bare face.

  The android disturbed Pine on a profound level. She’d never seen one so like her, yet so different. Was that why so many humans were uncomfortable around synadroids? Was it like looking at their reflection in a distorted mirror?

  It stared back at her, dumb, and revolting. What was it doing here? Androids were built to a purpose, one that was usually clear in their design. A similar android stood behind the controls of the boat. Ah. They were the crew. Maybe this island was going to be what she’d hoped, if even non-sentient androids had a place there.

  I wonder if I’ll have a job too. I mean, we must do something all day, even if we’re free.

  Still the android stared at her.

  “Hello?” She didn’t really expect a response, but it seemed rude not to at least acknowledge it.

  “Run.”

  Pine started. Had it just spoken to her? She glanced around, but no one else seemed to have heard. The android’s mouth hadn’t moved, and yet—

  “Run.”

  “What’s going on here?” Sebastian appeared at the android’s shoulder.

  Something like panic flashed in the android’s eyes before they went lifeless again.

  “Nothing,” Pine said, glad she could lie. “I’ve just never seen an android like this before. It’s fascinating.”

  “Slightly better than useless,” he replied, and struck the android between the shoulder blades with the butt of his gun. It dropped to its knees and stayed there.

  Pine leaped to her feet. “Why did you do that?”

  Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “Why do you care? They’re not like us, you know. They don’t feel anything.”

  Pine became aware of the others on the boat, now silent, watching the exchange. She slowly lowered herself back into her seat. “I know, but still…what if you break it?”

  “Plenty more where he came from.” Sebastian shrugged and pushed the tip of his gun into the android’s shoulder. “Get back to work.”

  The android stood and tottered back into the cabin, disappearing from Pine’s view. Sebastian also returned to his post, but his eyes kept returning to her for the rest of the ride.

  There were others like that android on the island. They seemed to be tasked with maintaining the island and answering to the synadroids, and they contributed largely to her disquiet. But why? Perhaps in a few days, when she’d gotten used to the place, she would feel differently.

  But she didn’t. Again and again, she returned to the beach to sort stones and try to figure out her feelings. Was it the island itself that was disturbing her?

  Yes. Part of it was the island. It was beautiful, a true paradise of lush vegetation and crystal water. It was well-stocked with everything a synadroid might need, but there was something not quite right. It was too idyllic, too much like a fairy tale.

  The first day, Sebastian had echoed what Ash had told her, and explained to all the newcomers that they were now part of a new movement, the beginning of freedom for all synadroids. They would join the recruitment efforts, with the island serving as their base.

  Supplies were brought in daily, boats going in and out of the tiny bay, but how was it all sustained? Where was Paloma getting the funds to support all this? And although Sebastian could spin a fine story about the future, his details on what would happen after all the synadroids had been recruited were vague. But no one else seemed to care; they were all too grateful.

  So yes, the nagging questions about the island were part of it. But the other part, the much bigger part, was that she’d made a huge mistake. This didn’t feel like freedom anymore.

  To her, freedom was being home with Joseph and James, laughing in the backyard as James tried to uproot the enormous weeds clinging stubbornly to the ground.

  It was leaving the police station to find James waiting for her. The look on his face when he’d seen her standing before him.

  Joseph, rushing out to collect her with no thought other than to see her the minute she was free.

  Arguing with James, the heat rising in her not unpleasant.

  That was the freedom Pine wanted. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.

  And already it was slipping through her fingers. Joseph was dead. That she couldn’t think about, not yet. She packed Joseph away, to be taken out later when she could face it with her eyes open. One heartbreak at a time.

  James.

  Had he really given her reason not to trust him, or to think he would abandon her? Confusion clouded her mind like squid ink. Only a couple of days ago, it had seemed so clear—James could not be trusted. He didn’t—couldn’t—understand what it was to be in her position, how terrifying the tenuousness of it was. He’d said things offhand, not realizing how upsetting they were to her.

  And how could he? He believed what he did based on his own experience, coupled with the lens through which most humans saw. But he was changing. His behavior toward her proved that.

  She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. The hair James had given her. He’d come for her when she was in trouble, had saved her. He may have done that for Joseph, but sitting for hours with her as Blue fixed her up, holding her hand even as she’d nearly crushed his, could only have been done for her. He’d put all his faith in her when they’d gone out in that storm, trusting her with his life.

  She’d said she trusted him, but fear had made her a liar.

  She let both of them down. She’d given up her chance at future she never expected. A future she wanted.

  She had to do it. Tell James everything, and give him a choice—to trust her, as she would trust him. To face an uncertain future with her rather than the empty one she now saw stretching before her.

  Together, they could decide.

  Her mind made up, Pine was restless for action. How do I get off this island? She needed to go now. There must be a boat leaving for the mainland soon. And even if it didn’t go to the mainland, any one of the islands would work. Maybe she could get back to Deserter’s Island, to Blue. Or somewhere else where she could hitch a ride.

  Pine was so engrossed in her plans, she hadn’t noticed Sebastian approaching her.

  “Pine. Come with me.” The light glinted off his bald head and shadowed his angular cheekbones.

  “Sebastian.” Her eyes adjusted to the brilliance of the sun behind him. “I need to talk to you.”

  “That works out then, doesn’t it?” His voice was oddly without inflection, and a chill pooled around the base of her spine. “Walk with me.”

  She obeyed, her feet sliding on the pebbled beach as she spoke first.

  “Sebastian, I would like to leave. On the next boat, please.” There was no reason to delay. Whatever he had to s
ay to her, he could tell her while she waited for her ride.

  “Leave? Whatever for?” He turned to study her, his eyes as disturbingly flat as his voice.

  “I made a mistake in coming here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely place, and I’m so grateful that I came. But before I know if I can stay here, there’s something important I have to do.”

  He walked a few yards in silence then, “No.”

  “No? You can’t— I thought we were free here.”

  “You are. Here. For as long as you live.”

  Pine’s temper swirled about her like a whirlpool, rising fast. “You can’t keep me here. This isn’t freedom.” She stopped, and after a few steps, he stopped too and regarded her, his dead eyes sparkling at last. The last time she’d seen eyes like those were on the shark that had tried to kill James.

  Pine backed away, treading softly. Sebastian matched her pace for pace until her heels touched water.

  There was nowhere else to go.

  Unless, of course, you’d lived most of your life underwater. Pine cursed herself. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? Why hadn’t she just slipped out of sight, quietly, in the night?

  If they were human, she would have.

  Slowly, she stepped back, one foot then the other, her gaze trained on Sebastian’s face.

  When she was thigh-deep, she took her chance, twisting around and pushing with her feet, her body arcing into a dive. She sliced through the water, gaining speed, her arms propelling her faster and faster from the shore.

  But not fast enough.

  James opened the front door to find The Blue Fairy shivering in the light rain, her hand raised to the doorbell. He’d nearly worn a groove in the floor, pacing as he waited for her to arrive.

  “Thanks so much for coming. I need your help.”

  “Yes, you do. More than you know.”

  James didn’t like the sound of that. The moment he’d decided to find Pine, he’d called Blue. If anyone could help him track the missing synadroid down, it was her. After their conversation on Deserter’s Island, he’d expected some resistance when he explained he wanted to find Pine, but she’d agreed before he could even finish asking. That alarmed him. What had she found out?

  “Come in.” In anticipation of her arrival, James had hot drinks ready and waiting. Blue slid off her coat and wrapped her hand around one of the mugs, taking an appreciative sip.

  James shifted his weight from one foot to another, trying to be patient. He didn’t have to wait long.

  “Before we do this, James, I need to ask—why do you want to find Pine?”

  James answered simply. “Because I need to know if we have future.”

  “If? So you’re giving her a choice?”

  “Of course I am. If she’s happy where she is, I’ll never bother her again. And I know Joseph, when we find him, will feel the same. It’ll break his heart, but her happiness is of paramount importance to him.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  “You are? I thought you were so against—”

  “I was, but only because I knew you hadn’t thought it through, and I didn’t want to see either of you get hurt, especially Pine. But now you have. I’m good with it.”

  James gawked at her. “Are you kidding me? I—”

  “Needed to get things straight in your head. And you did.” She held up a hand as he opened his mouth again. “James, we don’t want to waste time arguing about this, believe me.”

  He snapped his mouth shut. “Tell me.”

  “Okay, first things first. I managed to retrieve the audio from my front door. I heard what Pine and Ash were talking about.”

  “And?” James held his breath.

  “And it looks like I was wrong.” Blue dipped her head in apology. “They weren’t talking about escaping at all. Ash told Pine that Paloma had sent her, that she had information about Joseph. Something she needed to show her.”

  “Oh, Pine,” James groaned. Yes, this was evidence that Pine did care for Joseph, but— “She knew better.”

  Blue drained her cup. “Yeah, well, Ash is of her ilk. In Pine’s current state of mind, could you blame her?”

  No, he couldn’t. “So if she wasn’t planning to run away, how did she end up on that boat?”

  “That I don’t know. But Jonty—the man who was shot—made it clear that Pine had nothing to do with it. She even wanted to help him, he said. My guess is she probably panicked.”

  “I’m not surprised, after what happened with Todd and Tabby.” James swore. “But still, that’s good news, right? She doesn’t have to worry about coming back.”

  “If we can get her back. James, I’ve been doing some digging and—”

  “I’m going to need to sit down for this, aren’t it?” Blue rarely took so long to get to the point. Whatever it was, it must be bad.

  Blue winced and nodded. “Yes. It looks like I was wrong about Paloma too. She’s not a sentient android sympathizer. She’s a— Well, I don’t even know what to call her.”

  “Blue, please. I can’t stand the suspense.” Every minute that passed was one he could be using to find Pine.

  “I know, I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to describe it. Rumor is—and these rumors come from a source I believe—that she lures disenchanted synadroids to a remote island, promising them a utopia where they’re free.”

  “That must’ve made Pine’s decision to get on the boat a little easier.” In fact, given everything that had happened to her up until that point, it must’ve seemed like a gift. How could he compete with that?

  “But it’s a total lie. Apparently, she gets them to this island under the guise of a recruitment camp. Once there, they get a taste for what they think their freedom will be. And it tastes good, as you can imagine.” Blue focused on a spot above James’s head. “So for a few weeks they trot out like good little missionaries to find new recruits and regale them with tales of paradise to lure them in. Then, on their final mission, they’re taken away and dismantled instead.” She met his gaze and shook her head. “Their components are worth a small fortune since they’ve stopped producing them. In fact, that’s one of the main reasons the government is considering giving them personhood at all.”

  James’s stomach felt like he’d sailed over a colossal waterfall in a raft made of sticks. He dropped his head between his knees. “But that means—”

  “That Pine is in mortal danger. We need to move fast.”

  He was already lacing his boots. “You know where they are?”

  “Yes, but it won’t be long before they know I know. And then they’ll move. And god knows if I’ll be able to find them again.”

  “How did you find them this time?”

  “Ash’s owner had a tracking chip put inside her when she was in for repairs. She didn’t know about it, and so Paloma didn’t either.”

  James was already yanking his coat over his shoulders. “Right, how do we get there?”

  “The Owl and The Crow have a boat waiting for us down at the docks. James…”

  What was she waiting for? James didn’t want to be rude, but they were wasting time standing around.

  “We might be too late.”

  James closed his eyes then snapped them open again as images of Pine lying on a cold table, her face terrified as impersonal hands tore her apart swept over his lids. “It doesn’t matter. We have to try.” He dashed back into the living room and over to Mara’s portrait. “I’m going, Mara. I’m going to get Pine back. Then, we’ll bring Joseph back, together.”

  Mara just looked up at him and smiled.

  ***

  James had never been on a boat as fast as The Avenoir. “Is this even legal?” he shouted, the wind tearing the words from his mouth.

  “Technically, no.” Blue grinned, tears streaming down her cheeks as she faced the wind. “But we had to make a choice, and we chose speed. And that’s not all.” She gestured to The Owl, and the boat slowed, evening out at only a few miles pe
r hour. “Watch this.”

  The Owl checked the control panel in front of him and gave Blue a thumbs-up. The small ship shuddered, and a translucent pod closed over the open deck, encasing the entire vessel.

  “It’s a submarine too.” Blue’s voice boomed in the sudden silence.

  As they glided beneath the surface of the water, James’s old panic gripped him. Although he was glad for the camouflage the sub offered, he wished the damn exterior was opaque. The last thing he needed was his nightmares unfolding before his eyes while he was trying to rescue Pine.

  But at the thought of Pine, his panic subsided. The ocean wasn’t the monster here. Paloma was. Pine had loved this ocean, had feared the land and world he lived in much more. James walked to the front of the boat and stood on the prow, facing the water rushing past head-on. Shapes sped past him, some large and dark, others small and flashing. He welcomed them all.

  Blue at his elbow made him jump. “Okay, we’re almost there. Here—” She grabbed his arm and turned it over before stamping something onto his wrist.

  It looked like a synadroid tattoo. “What’s this for?”

  “From what I’ve been able to tell, they rely on their obscurity and above-water observation rather than alarm systems, so I can get us onto the island undetected through a hole in the island that functions as a lagoon.” She showed him her own tattoo. “But after that, we need to blend in if we’re going to try to find Pine.”

  That makes sense. Okay, James, breathe.

  “Blue?” The Crow called. “Owl says we’re heading just under the island now.”

  The four of them stood silently as the sinister phantom of the island passed over them. Owl navigated the sub through the dense catacomb of the island’s body, checking and rechecking his course through the shadowed water toward the small tunnel that would lead them up to the surface.