Caprico: Fleeting Time/Memory

## Chapter 1: Mechanic Weirdo

An abandoned factory in Rosset. The distinct smell of hyper-fiber material lingers in the air.
It's dark. All information is converted to data through my robotic arm and sent to my brain.
Caprico
...Insufficient explosive power. Transformer No. 238 requires adjustment.
The number of explosives required for this order is twice the usual number for top-class products in Rosset's black market.
It's a challenge indeed... though the aforementioned top-class products are my handiwork as well.
Isn't that weapon illegal?
Player
Aren't those forbidden weapons? Are you sure you're allowed to do that?
What's going to happen if the bad guys get it?
Player
What if criminals get hold of these dangerous weapons?
Narration
Doesn't matter. I sell machinery and people pay me money. That's all there is.
Knives with special hidden mechanisms, androids, explosives... whoever you are, whatever you want, I can make it for you.
There's a set of electronic communications equipment at the factory door. My clients can pick up their orders there.
They wouldn't want to interact with me anyway. I'm the one they call a "lifeless cyborg" after all.
However, on this particular day, someone is pounding on the factory door.
Caprico
...Irritating.
Narration
I press a button and the AI customer service system repeats its usual spiel, asking the visitor to leave a message.
The knocks stop briefly but begin again, anxiously, expectantly, interrupting my stream of thoughts.
Who in the world is it? Tiresome reporters? An enemy of one of my clients? Cops seeking trouble?
In a fit of annoyance, I put down my work and open the door.

## Chapter 2: Test Subject

I pick her up with one hand and toss her out, expressionless.
Girl
Please... Please help me!
Narration
Her face is twisted in excruciating pain. Her lower limbs are practically gone, yet she still clings onto me desperately.
Even the electric currents from my prosthetic arm can't get her to let go.
She whines and whines, the sound grating on my poor ears.
Still... perhaps this is the opportunity I've been waiting for.
I've performed tons of modifications on myself, but it's been a while since I've had another living body to experiment on.
I pick her up and carry her into the factory. She hesitates, then thanks me in a feeble voice, eyes full of gratitude.
Girl
Thank you...
Caprico
No, you really shouldn't be.
Narration
I shove her onto the cold glinting operation table and switch on the surgical lamp. She immediately squeezes her eyes shut.
I connect dozens ow wires to a pair of the newest, mechanical prototype legs with ease, then chain her in place on the table.
Girl
Is this... for me? You're giving me new legs?
Caprico
It's an experiment.
Narration
I don't bother to elaborate and simply press the button to turn the electricity on.
Girl
Aaaaaaahhh!
Narration
She screams, but I'm too focused to care. The thrilling moment when machine and human nerves connect... It's epic.
You couldn't even apply anesthetics properly?!
Player
You're heartless! You didn't even use anesthetics on her!
Narration
It's just an experiment. Why waste my meds?
Hope you're doing it for her.
Player
I hope you're doing this for her sake.
Narration
I don't take her feelings into consideration. My machines are all I care about.
With the final wire connected, my test subject falls unconscious. Her vital signs tell me that my operation was successful.
I nod, satisfied, and move her from the table to where my past robotic inventions are stacked by the wall.
The operation has taken a huge toll on me. I decide it's time to take a rest.
On the monitor screen, the phantom-like, dark figures surrounding the factory silently slip away.
I awaken the next day to the sound of intermittent whirring as if someone's testing out machines for fun.
Caprico
...Ugh, what...
Narration
I get up to find my test subject already up and hopping about, exploring the factory and even arguing with my roomba.
Girl
You're not doing your job correctly! Look! There's dust here... Here... Here too.
Cleaning Robot
Warning! Warning! Obstacle in the way!
Girl
I'm not an obstacle! I'm Phyllis.
Narrations
She keeps glancing at her brand-new prosthetic legs. She seems to have gotten used to them in no time.
And then she spots me.
Girl
Oh, you're up!
Narration
She comes sprinting towards me, legs clacking. She's grinning like a blooming flower.
Girl
Thank you so much! I love my new legs. It's like magic! How did you manage to do it?
Narration
She doesn't seem scared of me at all, as if she's already put the memories of the painful operation yesterday behind her.
Caprico
Is it working alright? Feeling pain or awkward anywhere?
Girl
It feets great! Like I've just sprouted new ones. I can walk freely... even dance. I'll show you!
Narration
Her body doesn't seem to be rejecting the new appendages. It moves in accordance with each leg.
Her body is taking quite well to the new alloys. Perhaps I should stick a robotic arm on her too...
I watch as she scampers around, exploring while I make plans in my head. Suddenly, she pops up in front of me.
Girl
Thank you for helping me, kind sir. This is for you.
Narration
In her dirty little hand is a shiny golden coin.
It's got a thorny rose pattern engraved on it. Exquisite, and... familiar.
I frown.
Caprico

## Chapter 3: Illusions and Reality

I'm from a Wasteland tribe that worships the Mountain God. I never knew what the rest of the world was like...
Until one day when I was ten, a really cool lady with her army entered our territory like a blaze.
Her name was Zoey. Commander of the Justiciars, an independent, powerful being who fears no one, :not even the Mountain God.
I want to be just like her when I grow up! Since then, I...
Narration
What a chatterbox.
Simply put, Phyllis saw the powerful Zoey as her idol and came to the Apple Federation in hopes of joining the Justiciars.
I toss the coin into the air. I know it's an exclusive item belonging to the Justiciars.
All Rosset citizens know only those who have it can join the Justiciars. Many would fight to own one.
I give Phyllis a once-over. Scrawny, fragile, bruised, broken legs — having this coin in her possession is asking for trouble.
Caprico
Where did you get this anyway?
Girl
I found it in Dad's nest. Maybe he brought it back because he knew I liked coins? Oh, Dada is a blue eagle, a friend of mine.
Narration
I remember the shadows surrounding the factory the night she appeared.
Caprico
...You know this coin is why people want you dead, right?
Girl
Yeah. Yesterday, they killed Dada. It's all my fault. I'm so powerless...
Narration
She wipes away her tears and tugs at my hand, forcing my fingers to clasp tight around the coin.
Girl
This is yours now. You're powerful and righteous. You should be its rightful owner.
Caprico
Righteous? Justice means nothing to me.
Girl
But you helped me.
Caprico
I had my reasons.
...Anyway, I propose a trade. I'll take the coin, and you'll come back in a few days to receive your payment.
Narration
I take the coin and build a holographic headset for her. She comes to pick it up a couple of days later.
She puts it on, curious, and twists the knob. A blue eagle soars like it's truly flying towards us, wild and free.
Girl
Dada! It's Dada!
Narration
She grabs me in excitement. I don't shake her off, but I still have to be blunt.
Caprico
It's just a hologram. It's fake.
Girl
But it's Dada! You're back, Dada!
Narration
she cries, laughing through tears. As she can't hug the holographic bird, she hugs my arm and swings it back and forth instead.
You have a different demeanor...
Player
Are those actual emotions on your face? I've never seen this expression before.
Narration
This is the first time someone showed so much excitement for an invention of mine.
Didn't think you'd help her.
Player
I'm really surprised that you did this for her.
Narration
It's fair trade. Still, this is the first time someone showed so much excitement for an invention of mine.
I'm surprised too.
Girl
Dada, look! I have new legs now!
Caprico
They're robotic legs I made. They don't belong to you.
Narration
I point out, feeling a bit petty for some reason, but this doesn't dampen her spirits one bit.
Girl
But I can run and jump with it now, so it might as well count as mine, right?
Narration
She throws her arms around me. The mechanical legs make a loud clinking sound as it hits my metallic body.
Girl
Thank you, kind sir! I'm so grateful to have met you!
Narration
She screeches in joy, nearly ripping apart my eardrums. I feel like kicking her out, but I stop myself.
Apparently, to this silly girl, machines and electronics are no different from plants or humans.

## Chapter 4: Reunion

She seems completely accustomed to her new legs now, and her injuries are healing.
So I open the gate of the factory and ask her to leave.
Caprico
You've been resting for long enough. It's time for you to go.
Girl
Huh? But didn't you say you need to do more experiments? Give me a new robotic arm! It looks so cool!
Narration
I glare at her, but she simply makes a funny face at me.
Caprico
These legs are yours now. Just leave, Phyllis.
Narration
She stares at me for a while before lowering her head, kicking some pebbles with her robotic leg and smiling faintly.
Girl
Yeah... I still gotta join the Justiciars. I haven't given up yet!
Narration
I don't care where she's off to. It doesn't matter. Now that she's not holding the coin, she won't be an easy target anymore.
Girl
Thank you, kind sir!
Narration
She keeps turning around to wave at me until her silhouette disappears in the distance.
Finally, peace and quiet.
I close the factory gate and take out my halfway-done design blueprint. Feels like it's been a while since I last worked on it.
I return to my work, to the life I'm used to.
We meet again a mere few days later. She's not banging on the door this time.
I see her face on my electronic comms screen. She's injured even worse than before. Several bandits have her in their clutches.
??
Hey, robot freak! We have your sweetheart. If you value her life, hand over the Justiciars' coin this instant!
Caprico
Huh?
Narration
It takes me a while to figure out who they mean by "sweetheart". What a tasteless joke.
I simply turn off the comms and continue with my work. The coin is useless to me, but I don't want them to have it.
You really aren't going to save her?
Player
Are you sure you're not going to save her?
Narration
She no longer lives in my factory and doesn't matter to me anymore. I don't meddle in other people's affairs.
Still... she sure is as loud as always.
You're heartless!
Player
That's so cold-blooded of you!
Narration
Machines are the only things I care about. She no longer lives in my factory and doesn't matter to me anymore.
Still... she sure is as loud as always.
Girl
Bastards! Cowards! Midgets! Maggots! I curse you all to rot away in the Red Valley!
Wusses! Shameless swindlers! How dare you try to dupe the kind robot man!
Narration
She rants on in streams of garbled dialects. If even I find it loud, the bandits will probably be driven crazy soon.
Hooligan
Have you gone insane? Kind robot man? Kind? Really? Who do you think killed your bird and smashed your legs?
Girl
My bird died and I lost my legs because of YOUR bombs, jerkwads! And now you're after the kind man too? I'll bite your ankles!
Hooligan
HE made the bombs! HE sold them to us! Shut it, pea-brained lass!
Narration
The bandit speaks the truth. The girl falls silent for a few seconds before shouting again.
Girl
Yes, he made the bombs, but the bombs aren't guilty! You warthogs are the ones who used them! You're the ones at fault!
Caprico
... Irritating.
Narration
I can't work like this. I need to make sure she leaves. I open the door and toss the coin out.
Girl
No!
Narration
The leader of the bandits comes rushing over eagerly, arm extended.
Hooligan
Aha! You fools! Now that I have the coin, you're both useless to me. I'll...
Narration
The second his fingers touch the coin, the miniature bomb I installed on the engraved thorny rose explodes.
I calculated the range of the explosion perfectly.
The girl is unscathed, while the bandits who lost their leader run off screaming.
Some blood splashes into her eyes, but she doesn't even blink. She simply stares blankly at me.
Caprico
I'm not a good person, nor do I want to be one.
From now on, stay away from me.
Narration
I close the factory gate once more. I can hear her banging on it, crying, like back when we first met.
The roomba hears her and moves towards the door, but I kick it aside.
Cleaning Robot
Phyllis... It's Phyllis.
Caprico
...
Go do your job.
Narration
I'm not sure how much time has passed, but the banging ceases gradually. Finally silence falls once more.
I never saw her again after that. Sometimes, though, I get letters from all over the world, addressed to the factory.
Postman
Hey... hey! You've got mail!
Narration
My AI camera aims itself at the courier. He seems shocked by the sudden movement and runs off, dropping the letter at the door.
Narration
My roomba beeps and heads out, while I continue working at my desk, too focused to even blink.
Who sent this?
Player
Who sent the letter?
Narration
Who knows. Ask the roomba.
Cleaning Robot