Charles looked around him, taking it all in. He shook his head, looked down at his feet, and snorted disapproval. Tendrils of smoke and fumes danced around them and carried the stink of burning earth.
"If I wanted your approval, churl, I'd have asked you for it." Mr. Reeve scoffed. "Just be thankful that your woman is safe. As I told you, her inclusion was necessary." Reeve looked around and let out a satisfying sigh. "It is too bad about your family, though, churl. I would offer my condolences, but we both already knew the outcome before-hand, didn't we? I wouldn't want to patronize you." Reeve barely contained the smirk on his face. Charles looked up and burned holes into Reeve's face with his eyes. "I have been your servant my entire life and have served you faithfully, Mr. Reeve. You owe me, at the least, the courtesy of acting human." he said. "No, churl, I do not. I am not. The sooner you accept your station, the better. That goes for all of you. This city was just the first. I will give you your first real choice, churl. You may continue our work or you can simply...move on. Is this human enough for you?" Reeve said. "Then I choose to move on. I would like to live my life as I see fit." said Charles, proudly. Reeve placed a hand on Charles' shoulder. "My dear churl, if that is your wish, I'm afraid I have to consider it granted." said Reeve. He reached into his stiff jacket with his free hand and removed a small, rectangular device. It was a hand sized, brushed silver stick with two large buttons.. It was like a simplified remote. Mr. Reeve gazed over the remote and sighed again, though this time sounding fatigued. He looked up at Charles and said "Churl, do you know that this is the sixth time this has happened? Six times I have had to request a replacement in your line. I must say I really think we should reconsider your designation." Charles opened his mouth to ask a question but, before he could say anything, Mr. Reeve pressed the blue button on his remote. Charles' eyes rolled up to the top of his head and he crumpled to the scorched ground. Mr. Reeve sighed then pressed the green button on his remote, then raised it to his mouth. "Anna, this is Reeve. Would you kindly request a replacement for Delta-015.6? Oh, and please issue a troubleshooting order to Headquarters." Reeve paused. "Wait. Strike that, please. Submit a request to decommission the 015 series instead. I'm at my wits end with this line. They develop sincere feelings more easily than the older models--and send my regards to Ikthys and Martin. I know they've worked hard to satisfy my requirements but they are simply doing too well." Reeve looked down at Charles' melting body and shook his head with disappointment, then placed the remote back in his jacket. |
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