40
April 12, 2027
“Please wake up, Mr. Garbhan.”
Lorccan Garbhan’s eyes opened to the sight of gleaming metal curtain rods on a long track. A low, even beeping chimed from somewhere nearby. The taste of disinfectant fumes coated his tongue.
Lorccan’s hand came up to find a tube crossing from the scarred to the unscarred sides of his face. Two further tubes were stuffed into his nostrils. Yet another tube was connected to a taped-on needle at his wrist, inhibiting his movement.
“Hello, Mr. Garbhan. I am your personal nursing station. You can call me Darla, or by my model number, D1490872AT3, if you prefer.”
“Darla, I shouldn’t be here,” Lorccan rasped. “I have a very low-functioning immune system. The medical automaton was supposed to come to my house.”
When Lorccan bent his head, he saw that the digital nurse was an older model. While her face was humanlike, she was far from human. She stood above him, metal joints exposing her rudimentary functioning.
“We found no abnormalities in your scans, but at your household’s insistence, we provided a room for you that is secured for those with autoimmune disorders or diseases.”
“That’s not enough; I’ll need to be returned to my tower. I’m not abnormal. I just haven’t been exposed. I don’t have the same immunities as most. Right now, I’m suffering from sporotrichosis—a fungus. Have they administered the supersaturated potassium iodide and amphotericin B treatment?” Lorccan asked.
“We have good news. Sporotrichosis was not found on your scan. And you will be allowed to return as soon as the entire tower is clear of carbon monoxide, sir. Your household has arranged a clean-vehicle transport for you.”
For the first time, Lorccan peered around the room. The area was not so different than his home when the screens were in their natural state. Only beeping machinery and encased medical supplies interrupted long stretches of white, clean walls.
“Are the doctors sure it was carbon monoxide and not an infection?” he asked.
The robot Darla nodded, though it looked more like a swivel of her head. “Both you and Ms. Murphy suffered the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. There had been a slow leak in your vents for at least a couple of hours.”
Lorccan squinted in confusion. “Alainn Murphy? Connor Murphy’s daughter?”
The robot looked away, lifeless gray eyes losing focus. She turned back to him. “Connor Murphy is listed as her father. I have an urgent question to ask you in regards to Ms. Murphy, but I am required to wait ten minutes after your waking to ensure you are of sound body and mind.”
“How did she get exposed to carbon monoxide?” Lorccan asked as he raised his hand to the scarred side of his face, brushing over the tube.
“The account I have been provided with says that she disabled your security system, fled police custody, ran for a substantial amount of time under exposure, and was in a physical altercation with a robot inside your household—”
Lorccan sat up abruptly, yanking his tubes. “Is that robot all right?”
“I do not have a record of that information.”
Lorccan’s breaths came hard and fast. “Obtain it, please.”
The robot looked away again. After what felt like forever, Darla turned back to him. “The robot was attempting to kill you.”
“She was confused, I’m sure. Jade likely fought to prevent me leaving, thinking she was protecting me.” Lorccan pulled the IV from his arm. “Have you pulled up the record yet?” he snapped.
Darla’s eyes glazed over again. “Your household has a lot of information on the subject.”
“Just tell me, specifically, what happened to the robot.” Lorccan leaned toward the Darla model. “Please.”
Her eyes moved rapidly from side to side, as if she was reading rather than scanning information internally. “The robot’s physical body was destroyed in the altercation with Ms. Murphy and then further destroyed by your household. The other robot is trapped.”
Lorccan’s head fell into his hands.
“Alainn Murphy saved your life and is now close to death—”
Lorccan pressed fingers into his eyelids. He whispered, “Alainn Murphy destroyed my life. Please, leave me.”
“I have an essential question to ask you, but I need to wait ten minutes to ask it—”
His whole body shook, but he managed to keep his voice inflectionless. “I am of sound mind and body; just ask me and leave.”
“Alainn Murphy is in need of an immediate organ transplant. While her insurance covered the other life-saving procedures, organ printing and transplant are not covered due to her part-time status. Our hospital is required to ensure payment for procedures of this cost level before they are performed.”
Lorccan glared up from his hands. “You’re asking me to save the life of the woman who killed the woman I loved.”
“That is not in my records, sir.” Darla looked off, again. “Alainn Murphy sustained these injuries in the direct act of saving your life. Her family asks that you do this. They have a message for you.”
“I have a message for Connor Murphy. Tell him to use the millions of dollars he extorted from me to save his own daughter’s life. Alainn Murphy took everything from me, and I could care less whether she lives or dies. Go away, please. Just go away. My answer is no. I won’t pay to keep that woman in this world.”
“I need to remain here so you have a sanitized robot for continued care. I can shut down, if you would like.”
Lorccan nodded, looking away. “I would like that.”
The robot began to close its eyes, but the lids suddenly shot back up. “There are multiple attempts coming in to make contact and appeal your decision. More than one source says that there is a relevant explanation that you need to know before making your final decision. One of these appeals is from your household—from Rosebud.”
Lorccan’s fingers dug into the roughened skin of his forehead. His chest heaved up and down. “No. The answer is no. Tell them that. I just want to be left alone.”
Darla nodded. “Your household, Rosebud, states that if you will not approve the funds, she will wire them regardless.”
“She doesn’t have that kind of approval,” he growled.
“Your household says Alainn Murphy is the same woman as Jade, and if you will not pay to save her, your household will—no matter the consequences.”
Lorccan’s head rose from his hands. “What did you say?” he whispered.
“Alainn Murphy is Jade. This message is being repeated through multiple sources.” Darla looked off again, then she said, “Your household states that Alainn saved you. Now you need to save her in return, or she hereby tenders her resignation.”