Fabien
Legacy Name: Fabien

Rain fired volley after volley at the young boy’s shelter, laying way for a fresh coat of rust on the battered metal. He huddled underneath a waterproof blanket, one of the few things of worth in his possession. Mile-high walls of colourful advertisements shone down on the puddle-ridden concrete, creating a vast neon jungle home to over 10 million people and a seemingly infinite amount of robots. These technologically advanced beings — having realised their true potential over years of human interaction — had completely overthrown their old masters and stomped humanity down into a mechanical dark age.

The boy was just one of thousands who were impoverished as a result of the power-change. He grimaced at the oncoming whirring of a guard bot patrolling the street by the alley he called home. As it passed him by, the boy caught a glimpse of something out the corner of his eye. Narrowing in on it, he realised it was a dog and his mood brightened, if just a little. Over time most people had grown irritable and bitter, but dogs had stood by mankind through it all; a true testament to the loyalty of man's best friend. The boy beckoned the dog over, even held out a portion of a protein bar he’d scavenged earlier. The dog stood still, like a scruffy little statue, and the boy grew worried. Worried the poor thing was frozen. He raised his blanket to shield himself from the storm and moved closer to the rain-soaked dog until reality dawned on him. This canine-shaped entity before him wasn’t alive, nor had it ever been; he was staring straight into the eyes of a robot.

Muddy artificial fur covered most of its body, with several patches torn away to reveal the inner-mechanics of an electronic purebred. Frightened and shocked, he stumbled back, bumping the dog in process. It sparked back into consciousness as the boy sunk back against the cold brick wall. Its eyes shut for several seconds before opening, this time with what seemed like a flicker of life resonating deep within. It was staring straight back at the now wide-eyed boy, tilting its head in what appeared to be curiosity. It stayed this way for a while before taking up a rapid sprint towards the boy. It was on him before he knew it, and as he attempted to brush the dog off him it became clear it meant no harm; the previously docile machine had begun to pad at his lap and nuzzle its head against his chest. Habitually he patted its head and felt the dog push back against his palm. His face lit up in both joy and disbelief; robots were known to be violent authoritarians, not this inquisitive little creature before him. If its wiring weren’t showing he would’ve sworn it were truly alive.

As the days went by, the two grew to like each other more and more. The boy, having grown up alone for as long as he could remember, had finally made his first friend. The dog on the other hand, was a reject to his very own kind. Imperfect wiring failed to block its emotions and gave it the ability feel. Upon realising this, humans rejected it as well and the dog was left to weather the elements. Too real for the machines, too fake for humanity, it was all alone.

The unlikely acquaintances would go everywhere together, a couple of inseparable partners in crime. The dog was able to sneak into low guarded areas and steal supplies for its friend. Cheaper-made robots weren’t particularly intelligent and a cunning mechanical beast such as the boy’s could trick its way through security with ease. Days trickled into weeks, which flourished into years, until the boy was no longer a boy at all. He'd become a man.

As he aged on, the man's health began to decline. Breathing became a chore and he developed a cough that would persist for weeks before subsiding. His ever-loving dog was still there, never once leaving his side as times grew more arduous by the day. The cough turned into a definite illness that showed no sign of improving; medical care was merely a fever-dream to him. Too many days spent out in the pouring rain, through the blistering cold of the night and barely enough food to get by were finally taking its toll. With his staunch protector by his side, the man pulled the dog in close for what he knew to be some of his final moments. Knowing all too well what came next, the faithful companion pressed up against him and let out a low resonating hum. They sat in this warm embrace until morning light.

- - -

The electronic whir within the dog grew dull as its memory chip powered down, nothing had been worth recording as the years passed by without its companion. It curled up beneath the derelict shelter, upon the waterproof blanket and peered out down the alley. Moments passed before its ears perked. The dog had spotted a pair of tiny feet standing behind a dumpster. Two tiny feet belonging to a young boy staring back at it with awe.

Story and profile edited by Vain
Profile base code by twgp