Notice to Customers: You Break it, You Bought It

The images came fast and hard, blasting into Frankie’s mind like fireworks blown into a crowded room. A factory where metal men had swirling green mists siphoned into their bodies, the essence of the artificial soul giving them life. Lloyd being packed into a crate, the wood being nailed as he laid in it, the talisman placed in a well decorated box which would be shipped with him. The moment of his activation, meeting his master for the first time. They were in the foyer of a sprawling mansion and the man glowered at Lloyd, his fancy suit belying the sour look which curled under his thin mustache. A little girl, the same one which Lloyd turned into, though much younger, stood beside the man.

“I despise these creatures,” the man said.

“He looks funny. Like a statue, but thinking,” the girl said, curiously looking him over.

“I can cover myself in a Holo Grid skin, giving my appearance whatever shape you prefer,” Lloyd said.

“Don’t you dare. You are a thing. An object,” the man said. Frankie felt a sudden spike of guilt, remembering her words to Lloyd. “You are to take care of my daughter, Penevolie. I have no time for more mundane tasks. You are to protect her and instruct her in proper behavior. Nothing bad will happen to her. Do you understand?”

“Penevolie? Yes, I understand, master. I will protect young Penevolie. I…” Lloyd shook his head as the girl reached out a hand to him. Lloyd took it, then looked over to Frankie. “This girl. I remember her. I…Frankie? What are you doing here?”

“You see me?” Frankie asked, stepping forward a bit. But as she did the marble floors of the manor gave way to the grass outside of it. She felt wind and smelled strange flowers before the light exploded and she found herself in the sun. “Whoa! Wait, what…how did I get…”

“These are my memories. You aren’t anywhere. Neither am I,” Lloyd said, leading the little girl by the hand through the massive garden. She was a few years older now, looking more proper, but with a rebellious glint in her eye.

“Father keeps talking about marriage. Sales aren’t what they once were at Magus, he always says, stomping around in those boots of his! Wants to marry me off to a good family,” Penevolie sighed, kicking at a stray rock on the path.

“Fun little world you come from. Arranged marriages still a thing here?” Frankie asked. Lloyd looked to Frankie, shaking his head, before turning to Penevolie.

“I am sorry. I know how much you want to travel the world. Whenever I give you lessons on far away countries, your eyes grow so wide,” Lloyd said.

“Yeah, well, I don’t plan on being married off for anything but love. True love, like the bedtime stories you used to read to me!” Penevolie said.

“Seems like you were a good influence on her,” Frankie said, taking in the details of the girl, the way she stepped in her dress like she hated being trapped in it, her hair done in ways which let her run with it flying behind her.

“I’m remembering so much. I raised her. Penevolie’s father…he was distant. A man of business, not love. He wanted her raised to be a bargaining chip. I know. I saw it in his mind when I scanned it upon activation,” Lloyd said, his hand closing tighter on Penevolie’s.

“Thought you couldn’t disobey your master,” Frankie asked.

“As you have discovered, my orders are open to interpretation. He told me to take care of her. He wanted her kept safe like an asset. She wanted a companion. I…chose which of those I leaned into more,” Lloyd said. His hand tightened on Penevolie’s as he took in all the details on her face, the sparkle in her eyes, the curve of her smile. “If I can feel love, Frankie, I loved her so.”

“What happened?” Frankie asked. The sky darkened then, black clouds rolling in over the horizon as if angered by the question. The girl left Lloyd’s grip, walking further down the path, away from Lloyd.

“She grew older. Her father grew greedier. And then…oh no. Not the day of…please, I can remember now…but I don’t…” Lloyd gripped his head, as if forcing the memory back in. Lightning flicked between the clouds, and suddenly they were elsewhere, sprinting down a paved road and towards a long bridge high above a lake, Lloyd gripping the hand of the girl, now Frankie’s age. They were running through drenching rain, and Frankie felt terror grip her heart.

“What’s going on now?! Why are we running?!” Frankie yelled.

“Her father!” Lloyd yelled back as headlights appeared on the road behind them.

“You can’t let him catch me! I refuse to be married to the boar he chose! I can’t be turned into some…some breeding stock for a manufacturing magnate!” Penevolie cried out, tears mixing with the rain.

“I swore to serve you years ago, mistress. I will not fail you,” Lloyd said as the car bore down on them, a mash up of glowing energy lines running along its side and bellowing steam vents. The black behemoth roared at them, and Frankie dodged to the side as it flew past, skidding in the rain as it blocked their progress on the bridge. Penevolie’s father stepped out of the driver’s seat, rage cracking his face as he walked quickly towards them with a diamond tipped steel walking stick in his hand.

“Get off of her, monstrosity! I own you! You must obey me!” he bellowed, advancing at him.

“You told me to protect her, sir! I am performing my duties!” Lloyd said, not moving.

“I will not be talked back to by my property!” the man screamed, his steel walking stick cracking on Lloyd’s head. Lloyd curled his body around Penevolie, shielding her from her father’s cruelty.

“Get off of him, you freak!” Frankie yelled, jumping on the man’s back. She was easily thrown off, her back cracking against the bridge’s rail.

“Quiet, you waif! You are not your father!” the man sneered.

“What?” Frankie said softly. Suddenly there were two cars on the bridge. One the otherworldly car of the vicious man, one her father’s old sedan, door open, inside empty. A deep, soul crunching dread gripped her upon seeing the empty car.

“Our memories…are merging…” Lloyd said as blows rained down on his head, denting his metal skull.

“Strange, yes? No matter. Things will play out the same,” the man said, pulling out an object which looked like a gun. “Last chance, thing. Give me my daughter and I’ll simply recycle you, freeing you from your memories. Refuse and I’ll throw you into the trans-dimensional vortex, abandoned to the whims of fate, your memories of failure haunting you in whatever gods forsaken world you are spit out in.”

Penevolie looked up to Lloyd, a strange look on her face, content and determined and terrified. “You must obey me?” she asked softly.

“I will,” Lloyd said.

“Then don’t let him get me. Ever,” Penevolie said. She gripped him tightly. Lloyd’s arms locked around her as she rushed for the edge of the bridge. In a sudden, sickening motion, they plunged over. Her father shot, bolts of energy snapping out of the gun, one crashing into Lloyd’s shoulder. He let out a cry of pain, his arm involuntarily tightening around the girl in a death grip, then crashed into the lake, the rain the only sound left.