https://Voice.club - Leela was hurrying – it was never good to be outside once the brazen sun leered over the jagged horizon and safe, blanketing darkness began to slide away.
She was 12 years old, at least she thought she was, and it was a long time since she’d felt truly safe – as safe as this world allowed. And she was alone because that was how you survived in an environment like this.
Leela looked down at the bundle, half her size, lying inert on the sand. She approached it cautiously, but there was no movement, no hint that whatever was in the colourless rags had any danger or value.
She reached out a tentative hand to lift the hood. A face looked up at her, smooth, metallic and small, the eyes round neat holes, the mouth a narrow slit and the nose merely a bump between eye sockets and mouth.
An android.
Carrying the bundle, she hurried to the shelter of her cave, feeling like a thief.
Slowly she unwrapped the little metal body. ‘I shouldn’t keep you, but oh, I would so much like a friend again. Do you talk?’
The android said nothing.
She let out a quivering breath: ‘it doesn’t matter. I’ll look after you. I’m your friend.’
Many days later, when a LandGuard burst into her concrete cave, she screamed.
He snarled: ‘This is a spybot. It must be eliminated.’ He drew his weapon, pushing Leela to the ground.
‘No!’ she begged, painfully.
At the same time a flat, tinny voice sounded. ‘Stop,’ it said. ‘She is mine. You will go.’
The android, who had never spoken before, stood still, expressionless, implacable.
The Guard aimed, the android stretched out one arm and the man fell in a soundless flash of blue-white, mouth slack, eyes rolling back.
‘No,’ Leela whimpered, aghast.
‘Yes.’ The tinny voice scratched at the stale air. ‘You are mine. I will protect you. I am your friend. I am your friend.’
Leela shuddered as she fully realised her mistake. She thought she’d stolen the android, but she was wrong - it had stolen her.