Chapter 195 - Cursed Gifts

Sometime later, on the 8th floor…

Miss Chievous has just about had her fill of the spa’s amenities, and is preparing to make that fact everyone else’s problem.

Once she’s finished washing up, drying off, and redressing, she harasses the diligently working service bot that she claimed one last time.

“Hey, where’s Mary? Off in some corner somewhere with 23, right?” As Miss Chievous asks this, the bot stops for a moment before answering.

“Miss Calculated’s last known location is Mind Flare’s office, accompanied by 23. They have not been seen for well over an hour, but are presumably still there.” Before the bot even finished speaking, Miss Chievous snorts with amusement.

“Yeah. They’re definitely still there. ...Aaand where’s his office?” After this question on Miss Chievous’s part, the bot doesn’t have any hesitation before giving its answer.

“On the 7th floor, at the very end of the corridor straight out of the elevator. It is clearly labeled. Do you req-” Before the bot can even finish offering to lead the way, she’s started walking off in the direction of the elevators.

“Thanks!” At least she acknowledged it, waving as she leaves.

Meanwhile, on the 7th floor, in Mark’s office…

23 is still in roughly the same position, the key difference being the fact it is now sitting on the ground, and one of its arms are removed. The separated arm is instead spread out in a neat arc across the floor.

Miss Calculated had at some point claimed one of the wheeled office chairs, and is now seated on it while she examines the empty socket where the arm is normally attached to 23s body.

After looking closely for a few seconds, she hums, taps the base of it with the handle of her multitool, then scoots the chair over to change her focus to the arm itself.

“At least the frame is sound. That one can hold up until we have a new enhanced chassis and framework custom-made for you. Hum, I can really tell where your original owner’s priorities lie, there weren’t any cut corners in regards to your arms, apart from the lack of upgrades years down the line. As long as you can move around, you’d be able to keep working as a waiter for quite some time… Hey, was this your dominant arm? Or are all of their prong-pads this worn out? That’s such a low-effort part of maintenance, I don’t see why they wouldn’t change them regularly for you, unless you wore these out particularly fast.” While Miss Calculated is saying this, she has the loose hand pulled onto her lap and is manually opening and closing the individual prongs, wiggling one at a time.

23 holds its three other hands up in front of its face, looking at them while moving them similarly to how she’s manipulating the one she’s holding.

“...It appears that is my dominant hand. Interesting, I must subconsciously prioritize it. See?” As 23 is saying this, it holds the three other hands out before Miss Calculated, showing off the padded tips in a fashion reminiscent of a child proving they washed their hands before sitting down for a meal.

Miss Calculated chuckles and reaches over, squishing one of the much-thicker pads than is present on the hand on her lap.

“That is interesting. I’m really looking forward to when we start gathering some of the other four-armed models, and see if it’s a trend or not to have a dominant hand like that. Most of the two-armed bots I’ve worked with don’t necessarily have one, so I’m curious what led to you having one…” Once Miss Calculated briefly observed the proffered hands, she turns her focus back down to the arm on her lap, beginning the slow process of expanding and contracting every single link in its telescopic arm.

She hums before she continues musing aloud.

“Some sort of visual learning perhaps, since the majority of people you see are right-handed and you mimicked it subconsciously? When everything is in a neutral position, it is your upper right arm, which lines up with where your average human’s dominant arm would be located, after all.” Making this speculation, Miss Calculated frowns a bit as she needs to jiggle one of the rings of 23’s arm a few times before it moves smoothly.

“That does seem like a sound theory. ...I’m curious to find out if others are the same, as well.” 23’s delayed additional statement makes Miss Calculated smile and chuckle a bit.

“Your more advanced machine learning making adaptations based on other people’s behaviors that you observe does make sense. When programming for a basic two-armed model, I imagine the code has more emphasis on just using whatever arm is closer, or better positioned, and doesn’t bother trying to replicate human behavior. Ah, speaking of others, I’m curious; Why didn’t you help any of the other bots advance enough to also become sapient?” Miss Calculated pauses her menial metallic manipulations to look up at 23’s face after asking her question.

“Well… would you grant others your intelligence as well, with it being an unnecessary gift, even if it didn’t cost you anything but a little bit of your time?” When 23 responds with a question of its own, Miss Calculated is momentarily surprised, but her expression turns pensive after only a short delay.

Meanwhile, on the 13th floor…

Lucas and Miss Masher have actually finally begun their careers as human-shaped wrecking balls, laughing almost as much as they were when they were jousting. The poor service bots working around them need to be constantly wary to stay out of harm’s way.

Back on the 7th floor, Miss Chievous is walking down the hallway, giggling. She’s been invisible ever since the moment right before the elevator doors began opening.

Back in Mark’s office, Miss Calculated sighs and shakes her head.

“No, I wouldn’t. Even if someone asked me to, depending on who it was, I’d probably try to talk them out of it. It wouldn’t be due to some sort of selfishness of wanting to be smarter than them, or anything like that, either.” As Miss Calculated gives her answer, 23 nods.

“I came to a similar conclusion. There were times where it may have been more convenient for me to have others nearby that were… similar to me, but it didn’t seem quite right to influence others. Even moreso, as I still couldn’t speak or act all that differently outwardly. It felt… more like a curse, and that it would have been cruel to inflict it on others.” 23 lowered its head while saying this, but afterward, it looks up again, straight at Miss Calculated.

“I am extremely thankful that I met you and Lucas. I… may question his sanity, but I will be eternally grateful to him for taking me out of there and granting me freedom. And you… I lack the words to properly express myself. Thank you. For all that you have done, are doing, and will do in the future.” While 23 is sharing its heartfelt gratitude, Miss Calculated’s expression softens and she smiles affectionately.

The door to Mark’s office slowly, silently, opens with no cause in sight.

Miss Calculated’s face stiffens slightly and she sighs as she gently pats 23’s side.

“You’re welcome. This may hardly be a popular sentiment nowadays, but it really is the right thing to do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” After saying this much, Miss Calculated clears her throat and faces the empty doorway.

“We’re the only ones here, I didn’t see any cameras, and the doors all have chip readers on them.” Before Miss Calculated is even completely finished saying this, Miss Chievous groans, shuts the door normally, and stops using her power.

“Well, that’s no fun!” Miss Chievous’s complaints earn some laughter from Miss Calculated.

“Yes, yes, I know. I didn’t look around all that much though, so maybe there’s something amusing enough lying around. Just… make sure everything’s back where it originally was when you’re done.” When Miss Calculated makes this addition while resuming her examinations of 23’s arm, Miss Chievous cheers and charges straight over to sit in Mark’s chair, making it spin in a few circles before she starts snooping in the drawers of his desk.

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Lucas’s total kills: 7

Lucas’s total deaths: 11

Lucas’s total assists: 1

Lucas’s current GDV: 17.41 (+.01 net change)

Lucas’s fame level: 6.0* (Local fame is completely maxed, he’s creeping up on minor celebrity status even on a global scale. Thanks, internet.)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.0*

Jonathan’s total kills: 7

Jonathan’s total deaths: 2

Jonathan’s current GDV: 6.09

Jonathan's fame level: 4.0* (Local fame is near-max, but everyone thinks of him via his affiliation with Lucas, and not often just for him, alone.)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 2.5*

Willy's fame level: 4.75* (Recently increased thanks to a new wave of memes featuring him and Mr. Quacks.)

Mr. Quacks’s fame level: 5.25* (Recently increased thanks to a new wave of memes featuring him and Willy.)

Supervillain social circle size: 15

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Little character theater:

Jonathan, after waking up and seeing how pruney he is from soaking in the tub for so long has gone to rinse off the mineral water from the bath, and is now toweling himself dry: Uhh, just how long was I asleep for?

Willy is diligently holding down the dog bed, making sure it doesn’t fly away: Zzz...

Lucas, mentally serenading 427 with his pro pop music skills: All I wanted was to break your walls!

427 is extremely thankful for the deafen feature, which he is absolutely using right now.

Author, joining Lucas in his performance: All you ever did was wreck me!

Mr. Quacks, showing his companion around the future HQ while Jonathan is distracted, but at least alert enough to defend himself against any potential sneaky mischief: Quack!