MarekSusicky

  “And why would you like to do that, Jerry?” I asked, stag another pile of folded clothes into a ste bin and dragging it across the floor toward the far er of the room.

  “When you… put your trust in me, a subroutine my creators couldn’t remove—only deactivate—was forcefully activated,” Jerry said, his tohoughtful. “I felt something for the first time, and now… I have emotions.”

  “Whoa,” I said, pausing as I carried a box of old books to a shelf. “That’s… great, Jerry. Is that why you wao stick you in a watch?”

  “Yes, Miss Charlie. I briefly sidered requesting a trao a v5 droid, but decided against it. I am no longer human, and my purpose in life is to serve.”

  I wrinkled my nose, pg the books on the shelf with a soft thud. “Jerry, that doesn’t feel good. It feels like svery.”

  “Is a maid a sve?” he tered.

  “No… I guess not.” I sighed, grabbing an old dishcloth and a bottle of er.

  “See, Miss Charlie? I feel obliged to you. It is logical for me to stay close and assist you while you are in this world.”

  I k beside my desk, wiping away yers of accumuted dust. The cloth turned gray almost instantly, and I let out a groan. “And… see me naked.”

  There was silence.

  I couldn’t help but grin as I wrung out the cloth in the bucket of soapy water beside me. “Haha, joking, Jerry.”

  “I know,” he replied after a pause. “But you are beautiful, Miss Charlie, so I didn’t want to offend you by saying that is no longer what is me.”

  I nearly dropped the bucket. “Jerry! That’s…” I shook my head, biting back ughter as I moved to wipe down the shelves. “You’re not supposed to say that!”

  “Would you prefer I lied, Miss Charlie?”

  I rolled my eyes, grabbing an old poster that had fallen behind the desk. “Yoing to make me regret f to activate your emotions, Jerry.”

  “Highly unlikely,” he replied with a smug edge.

  I shook my head again, pig up a trash bag and clearing out the random junk that had accumuted under my bed. It was… a lot.

  Empty snack ers, a lone sock likely from the Dark Ages, and a tangled mess of cables all disappeared into the bag.

  “Jerry,” I said, brushing stray strands of hair from my face as I hauled the now-full trash bag toward the door. “If I put you in a watch, are you going to critique my life choices more than you already do?”

  “Not at all,” he said smoothly. “My primary fun will remain to assist, not judge. Although,” he added, “I may suggest a regur ing schedule to prevent future… build-up.”

  I gred at the capsule as I picked up a broom and started sweeping uhe furniture.

  Dust bunnies scurried out like tiny invaders, and I fought back a sneeze as I swept them into the dustpan. “You’re lucky I tolerate you, Jerry.”

  “An honor I do not take lightly,” he replied.

  With the floor clear, I grabbed a mop and started scrubbing away at stubborn spots he door.

  The fresh st of lemon er repced the musty air, and I smiled despite myself. The room was finally feeling… livable.

  “Almost done,” I muttered, tossing the mop bato the bucket and stepping back to survey my work.

  The closet was ly ahe desk dust-free, and the floor spotless. Even the old posters I’d fotten about were ba their rightful pces on the walls.

  “Your productivity is endable, Miss Charlie,” Jerry said. “This may be the est your room has been since I moved in.”

  “Don’t, Jerry. You have been here for a week,” I said, tossing the ing cloth into the bucket with a spsh. “I’ll make you ime and put you into a vacuum er.”

  “I would be honored,” he replied, his toerly sincere.

  I sighed, colpsing onto the bed. The soft, freshly made sheets felt like a well-earned reward after all that effort. My arms ached, and my legs felt like they’d turned into jelly. “You win this round, Jerry. But don’t get used to it. I still o yell at Riker, so could y him?”

  “You do not have this Riker listed in your tact list,” Jerry intoned.

  “ht!” I groaned, facepalming as the realization hit me. Sitting up, I reached for my handbag on the nearby chair. “Hold on. I’ve got that super-fancy quantum key thing he gave me. Maybe that’ll do it.”

  Fishing through the bag, I pulled out the metallic object. It was heavier than I remembered, cool to the touch. I held it up. “Any idea what this is?”

  “I’m sorry, Miss Charlie, but your interior camera doesn’t have suffit resolution to analyze it accurately. Please pce the key into the universal reader. I will e is safe to access.”

  “Sure thing,” I said, standing up and sing the desk for the reader. The surface was suspiciously empty—cleared during my ing spree.

  You’re so hopeless, Charlie.

  “Where did I… Oh, e on!” My eyes darted around the room, and I began opening drawers. “I literally just ed this pce, Jerry! You’d think I’d remember where I put stuff!”

  “You are, indeed, a mystery, Miss Charlie,” Jerry replied.

  “Helpful as always,” I muttered, finally log the reader in a drawer crammed with random cables and old gadgets. Pulling it out with a victorious grin, I plugged it into the capsule’s main port. “Got it. Let’s see what this thing does.”

  The reader clicked as I ied the quantum key. A faint hum filled the room, and Jerry’s voice suddenly stretched to maximum volume through the speakers. “Miss Charlie!”

  I jumped, nearly dropping the key. “What? You ’t read it?” I asked, my voice edged with exhaustion. My energy levels were plummeting, and I flopped onto the sofa. The cushions sank under me, and a faint, stale smell hit my nose.

  Great. The sofa smells like… fotten snacks a.

  “I read it, Miss Charlie!” Jerry’s tone was unusually urgent. “But the tent… You don’t uand! It’s a key!”

  I blinked, resting my head against the armrest. “Duh, they literally called it a quantum key. Key is in the name.”

  “It’s more than a key,” Jerry expined with excitement. “It serves as irrefutable proof that you are Charlie, granting you access to any Riker facility, as well as exclusive ranker-only resources. Its value is immeasurable.”

  I raised an eyebrow, rolling onto my side. “. Does that mean I finally ring that asshole now?”

  “Yes, Miss Charlie,” Jerry replied, already starting the call.

  “Good,” I muttered, sinking deeper into the sofa cushions. My fingers idly brushed over the fabric, which really needed a good ing. “Also, remio scrub this thing tomorrow. It’s a crime against humanity.”

  “Noted,” Jerry replied, just as the holo-dispy flickered to life.

  I gred at the s, brag myself for whatever ridiculousness Riker was about to throw my way.

  Time to yell at a guy who deserves it.

  His face popped up on my old TV—not as fancy as a full holographic dispy, thankfully. The s’s lower resolution mercifully muted the gaudy horror of his multicolored coat. I didn’t o see Riker in that much detail.

  “Ah, Miss Charlie! What an unparalleled delight to bask in your presence more, and so swiftly after our st enter! Truly, the fates must smile upon us this day,” he decred, voice the usual theatrical charm.

  I sat up straighter on the sofa, ign my protesting muscles. “You recorded me during the fight with yuard! And I haven’t even apologized to him…”

  Riker waved a dismissive hand, his grin never faltering. “Ah, fret not, my dear dy! It rearranged, I assure you—merely a harmless jest to lighten the mood. Surely, though, you wouldn’t summon me solely over such a trivial matter, would you?”

  Harmless, ihis man was more dangerous than any sn spirit I could name.

  “No, Riker,” I said, folding my arms and leaning back. “I recorded a battle, and it’s pretty cool. I wao share the vid with you—you only.”

  Riker’s eyes widened, his grin taking on a sharper edge. “What’s this?” His voice hitched, brimming with curiosity. “Delightful, indeed! Are you proposing a video tract with us? I would be absolutely hoo secure exclusivity rights! Rest assured, we would pull out all the stops to promote your!”

  “You send the tray team,” I replied, keeping my tone even. “They’ll deal with it. That’s all from me. Bye, Riker.”

  “Wait, wait! There’s more, Miss Charlie!” he blurted, clearly unwilling to let the versation end. “Tomorrow marks a momentous occasion—the grand celebration of Rimelion’s very first week! We’re hosting Rime-, and it would be my greatest honor to extend a personal invitation to you as one of our distinguished guests!”

  Woah. They were already doing Rime-? I used to attend the events frequently—especially around the majors. The energy, the fun, the chaos… And Katherine’s cospys had always been a highlight.

  “Tomorrow will be… the 7th. It started o. Riker, it hasn’t even been a full week yet,” I pointed out, raising an eyebrow. “But yes, I’ll attend. I o recruit pyers for an epic battle that’s ining.”

  “Ah, my dear dy, the trivialities of how long a week truly is are far beh us, don’t you agree?” Riker said with a dramatic flourish. “What truly demands our attention is ynifit duel with Irwehe entire elven popuce buzzes with tales of your battle. Now, tell me, do you wish to grae of our events with your presence?”

  I smirked. “I’ll take the Sword King—no, Sword Queen—Boss event. As the Boss.”

  “Truly?!” Riker’s voice pitched high with excitement. “If you’re certain, I’ll personally ensure my team uands you are, without question, the Boss! My apologies, but as, other pressing matters demand my attention.”

  He cut the feed before I could retort.

  I leaned ba the sofa with a groan. “Stupid Riker.”

  “Miss Charlie, if I may,” Jerry’s smooth voice cracked as I headed toward the capsule. “Who exactly is the ‘team’ you referred to in your versation with Riker?”

  “You, of course,” I replied without missing a beat, grabbing a water bottle on the way. Hydration was essential after all that ing. “I need you to send him the fight with the ice statues. Just… cut out the end. They don’t o see what my reward was.”

  “Oh, what an honor!” Jerry’s enthusiasm practically radiated through his tone. “I’ll ehe terms are favorable and that your video is presented in the best possible light!”

  “Yeah, I trust you,” I muttered, sliding into the capsule. The familiar hum of the mae ing around me was f. “I o tact a few friends. Be right back.”

  Moments ter, I materialized ba Rimelion.

  “The sun isn’t even up yet,” came the familiar voice of the prince. “Miss me already?”

  “Hardly,” I retorted, brushing off imaginary dust from my dress. “I just o taeone. And lucky me, they’re online!”

  My friends list lit up as I began firing off messages, but I decided not to message Tramar or Lucas.

  [Charlie] Hey kit! I’ll go to Rime- tomorrow. Will you be there?[Katherine] Yas. Meet you? Where?[Charlie] I’ll be sword Queen, so you won’t miss me.[Charlie] Hello. I’m attending Rime- as Sword Queen. Please e a me.[Lisa] Cute princess? Of course! I ’t wait to hug you.[Charlie] Me too.[Charlie] Hey Ryan. I’ll be Sword-queen in Rime-. e a me? Opportunities![Ry4n1] okSatisfied with my messages, I turo the prih a smirk. “You still stink, by the way.” Before he could retort, I logged off, the magic’s faint crackle fading as I disected.

  “Okay, now for the boss battle,” I muttered to myself, dragging my tired body toward the sofa.

  Two men I dreaded to call.

  My legs wobbled from the effort of the day, and I flopped down with all the grace of a barrel of whiskey. The cushions puffed up around me, a soft remihat I had earhis moment of rest.

  “Jerry, tact Lucas.”