She said you're like my dead mom

Ice clinks against the glass as it steadily melts into the Red Gin. The cool blue lights and ambient jazz provide a relaxed atmosphere. 

Milli and her new friend Caliber are sharing table and having an animated discussion. There's a woman sitting alone on the booth next to theirs. In front of her is a glass of BitterSweet and a slim, black laptop. Its light is glinting off her circular glasses from this angle.

Opal and the others from the day shift have already left, Gin and Reggie are in the kitchen as usual, and Jacob isn't working today. Dahlia would be here with me but she went off to handle a shipment of alcohol and ingredients, leaving me by myself with only one other customer at the bar.

Jak's stocky build makes me wonder if his feet reaches the ground when he sits on the bar stools and his brick red tank top makes me wonder if he's taken a bath since last time. At the very least, he doesn't smell like the dumpster at the back.

Unapologetic displeasure is plastered on his face. Rightfully so after Dahlia told him that if he wanted his job back, he'd have to ask me for it. He aggressively grabs the glass of Red Gin and downs it in one go.

"More!"

He slams the glass on the counter.

"...I'm going to have to ask for your credit card before serving you a second drink."

Jak's frown grows bitter for a moment before he starts fishing for it in his pockets. He hands me a thin, metallic gray card and I swipe it on the counter's scanner before pouring him another cold glass of Red Gin.

"Look, if you're not gonna give me back my bouncer gig, can I be the bartender instead?"

"You realize Dahlia will never agree to that right? Given your track record with alcohol."

"What, you sayin' you don't sneak in a synth drink every now and again?"

"I don't."

"Fuckin' liar."

"If I did, it would be obvious. We androids can neither fake being sober nor develop a tolerance for our alcohol."

"...I still think you're lying."

He takes a swig of his drink. His eyes are squinted with suspicion towards me.

"...Your friend was here the other day."

"What friend? Who?"

"He didn't say his name. He had 'D17' tattood on his neck though."

"Rusty? Yeah he's a friend... I guess. What'd he come for?"

"A drink, mostly. Complained about the whole gang situation going on. He also told me you're not actually part of a gang."

"Damn right I'm not! Just 'cause I pick a lot fights don't mean I'm violent!"

It does, but I'd rather not argue with this man.

"So if you're not part of a gang, why do you hate androids?"

"Why do you care?"

"For one, I am an android. I've also looked into it and historically, humans have harbored hate and fear towards AI turning violently evil long before sentient AI was created."

Jak finishes his drink and I pour him another glass. He accepts it without a word as he listens to me.

"On the other hand, androids never developed any sort of anti-human sentiment despite the poor working and living conditions we had 120 years ago before android rights were implemented."

"Bullshit."

"You don't have to take my word for it. You can look it up yourself."

After a pause he takes out his phone and starts fiddling with it.

"Huh."

That was way too quick. Is he this impressionable or does have that much faith in the metanet?

"This changes nothing. Synths are still synths."

"That still doesn't explain why you hate us so much."

Anger flashes in his eyes. I ready myself for a confrontation but he instead grabs his drink and chugs it all. He slams down his glass again, worrying me he might break one sooner or later.

"You synths killed my mother."

"...Excuse me?"

"You heard me!"

I take a closer look at his face. His cheeks are flushed and his head seems to be swaying slightly.

"It was a synth truck driver that hit her and a synth doctor that botched the surgery. It's your fuckin' fault!"

"And you think none of this would have happened if the driver and doctor were human instead?"

"Uhh... yeah. No shit."

I doubt words alone would convince him otherwise at the state he's in. I take out my rPhone and open a few search tabs.

"Have a look."

"Look at what?"

"This is the number of traffic accidents caused by androids on a yearly basis compared to those caused by humans. And this is the success rate of surgeries performed by androids."

"...That's uhh... huh... So?"

"So what happened to your mother was bad luck, Jak. I'm sorry for your loss, but I doubt it would have been any different if the driver or doctor was human."

Jak tries to drink from his glass but only ice smacks against his lips. He puts it back down but doesn't ask for a refill.

"Did your mother dislike androids as well?"

"...No... She was... friends with one... Now that I think about it, Dahlia reminds me of mom."

Oh no. Should I tell her about this? Would that be morally correct?

"Jak, you're drunk, try not to think about it too much."

"Oh, yeah, hehe."

"Is this the reason you're in AIKA then? You got revenge on those androids for what happened to your mother?"

"What?! No! What kind of maniac do you think I am? Just 'cause I pick a lot of fights don't mean I'm violent!"

I'm starting to think he has a different definition of the word 'violent'. Also, he said that already but perhaps it's best not to nitpick a drunk.

"Reason I'm here is I racked up a million in credit debt. How was I supposed to know it could go in the negatives! Should've stopped at zero!"

Correction: it's best not to nitpick a drunk idiot.

"Oh you're still here Jak? Thought you would've picked a fight and got your ass whooped by now."

Dahlia enters from the kitchen with a small brown box labeled 'fragile'.

"Psh. As if! Look at me!"

Jak starts flexing his muscles.

"You did that same shit last time and still got knocked the hell out. So, what'd Noa say?"

"She said you're like my dead mom."

"What?"

Dahlia looks both insulted and confused.

"I said no such thing. He's just drunk Dahlia."

"This damn lightweight idiot. Well I'm assuming you're not drunk too Noa?"

Dahlia sets down the box on the counter and opens it, revealing a colorful variety of alcohol bottles. She starts unpacking them and I help her store them under the counter.

"I learned he's not a particularly horrible person and I wouldn't mind working with him again. That said, I'm a bit reluctant to let go of a paying job."

"Oh you don't have to worry about that. After the last time Jak was here, I realized he's useless unless it's a straight up brawl and you're useless without batteries. And with how dangerous it's been lately, having you both is worth it."

"So you were planning to rehire him from the start?"

"Hah! Of course not. Meatheads like Jak aren't that hard to find. But since he's here, might as well. Also, you're in charge of him. Make sure he doesn't cause trouble."

"I do not agree to this sort of arrangement. I already have one idiot to worry about."

"Gin is your choice. This one isn't. Consider it your boss's orders."

"Am I a bouncer again?"

Jak interjects with a drowsy look before attempting to drink his glass of ice again.

"Yes Jak, you're a bouncer again, but you're manning the door and absolutely no drinking. And if Noa says you're out, you're out."

"Fffuck yyeaahh!! Give us drinks so we can toast bartender! It's on me!"

"If I do that, you'll hit negative credit again."

"...Hey Dahlia can I have my pay in advance?"

Dahlia hangs her head, this time murmuring something about "a migraine" and "maybe not worth it after all".