“And why would you like to do that, Jerry?” I asked, stacking another pile of folded clothes into a storage bin and dragging it across the floor toward the far corner 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 tone thoughtful. “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 want me to stick you in a watch?”
“Yes, Miss Charlie. I briefly considered requesting a transfer to a v5 droid, but decided against it. I am no longer human, and my purpose in life is to serve.”
I wrinkled my nose, placing the books on the shelf with a soft thud. “Jerry, that doesn’t feel good. It feels like slavery.”
“Is a maid a slave?” he countered.
“No… I guess not.” I sighed, grabbing an old dishcloth and a bottle of cleaner.
“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 knelt beside my desk, wiping away layers of accumulated 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 interests me.”
I nearly dropped the bucket. “Jerry! That’s…” I shook my head, biting back laughter 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. “You’re going to make me regret forcing to activate your emotions, Jerry.”
“Highly unlikely,” he replied with a smug edge.
I shook my head again, picking up a trash bag and clearing out the random junk that had accumulated under my bed. It was… a lot.
Empty snack wrappers, 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 function will remain to assist, not judge. Although,” he added, “I may suggest a regular cleaning schedule to prevent future… build-up.”
I glared at the capsule as I picked up a broom and started sweeping under the 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 near the door.
The fresh scent of lemon cleaner replaced the musty air, and I smiled despite myself. The room was finally feeling… livable.
“Almost done,” I muttered, tossing the mop back into the bucket and stepping back to survey my work.
The closet was neatly organized, the desk dust-free, and the floor spotless. Even the old posters I’d forgotten about were back in their rightful places on the walls.
“Your productivity is commendable, Miss Charlie,” Jerry said. “This may be the cleanest your room has been since I moved in.”
“Don’t, Jerry. You have been here for a week,” I said, tossing the cleaning cloth into the bucket with a splash. “I’ll make you clean next time and put you into a vacuum cleaner.”
“I would be honored,” he replied, his tone utterly sincere.
I sighed, collapsing 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 need to yell at Riker, so could you ring him?”
“You do not have this Riker listed in your contact list,” Jerry intoned.
“Oh, right!” 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 sufficient resolution to analyze it accurately. Please place the key into the universal reader. I will ensure it is safe to access.”
“Sure thing,” I said, standing up and scanning the desk for the reader. The surface was suspiciously empty—cleared during my cleaning spree.
You’re so hopeless, Charlie.
“Where did I… Oh, come on!” My eyes darted around the room, and I began opening drawers. “I literally just cleaned this place, 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 locating 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.”This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The reader clicked as I inserted 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 can’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… forgotten snacks and regret.
“I can read it, Miss Charlie!” Jerry’s tone was unusually urgent. “But the content… You don’t understand! 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 explained 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. “Neat. Does that mean I can 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 cleaning. “Also, remind me to scrub this thing tomorrow. It’s a crime against humanity.”
“Noted,” Jerry replied, just as the holo-display flickered to life.
I glared at the screen, bracing 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 display, thankfully. The screen’s lower resolution mercifully muted the gaudy horror of his multicolored coat. I didn’t need to see Riker in that much detail.
“Ah, Miss Charlie! What an unparalleled delight to bask in your presence once more, and so swiftly after our last encounter! Truly, the fates must smile upon us this day,” he declared, voice the usual theatrical charm.
I sat up straighter on the sofa, ignoring my protesting muscles. “You recorded me during the fight with your guard! And I haven’t even apologized to him…”
Riker waved a dismissive hand, his grin never faltering. “Ah, fret not, my dear lady! It was all prearranged, 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, indeed. This man was more dangerous than any sovereign spirit I could name.
“No, Riker,” I said, folding my arms and leaning back. “I recorded a battle, and it’s pretty cool. I wanted to 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 contract with us? I would be absolutely honored to secure exclusivity rights! Rest assured, we would pull out all the stops to promote your!”
“You can send the contract to my 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 conversation end. “Tomorrow marks a momentous occasion—the grand celebration of Rimelion’s very first week! We’re hosting Rime-Con, 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-Con? I used to attend the events frequently—especially around the majors. The energy, the fun, the chaos… And Katherine’s cosplays had always been a highlight.
“Tomorrow will be… the 7th. It started on the 1st. Riker, it hasn’t even been a full week yet,” I pointed out, raising an eyebrow. “But yes, I’ll attend. I need to recruit players for an epic battle that’s incoming.”
“Ah, my dear lady, the trivialities of how long a week truly is are far beneath us, don’t you agree?” Riker said with a dramatic flourish. “What truly demands our attention is your magnificent duel with Irwen! Yes, the entire elven populace buzzes with tales of your battle. Now, tell me, do you wish to grace some 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 understands you are, without question, the Boss! My apologies, but alas, other pressing matters demand my attention.”
He cut the feed before I could retort.
I leaned back on 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 conversation with Riker?”
“You, of course,” I replied without missing a beat, grabbing a water bottle on the way. Hydration was essential after all that cleaning. “I need you to send him the fight with the ice statues. Just… cut out the end. They don’t need to see what my reward was.”
“Oh, what an honor!” Jerry’s enthusiasm practically radiated through his tone. “I’ll ensure the 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 machine wrapping around me was comforting. “I need to contact a few friends. Be right back.”
Moments later, I materialized back in 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 need to contact someone. 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.
<table style="background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(52, 52, 52, 1); margin: 10px auto; width: 90%; border: none; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 2px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(245, 245, 245, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Charlie] Hey kit! I’ll go to Rime-con tomorrow. Will you be there?
[Katherine] Yas. Meet you? Where?
[Charlie] I’ll be sword Queen, so you won’t miss me.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(52, 52, 52, 1); margin: 10px auto; width: 90%; border: none; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 2px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(245, 245, 245, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Charlie] Hello. I’m attending Rime-con as Sword Queen. Please come and meet me.
[Lisa] Cute princess? Of course! I can’t wait to hug you.
[Charlie] Me too.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(52, 52, 52, 1); margin: 10px auto; width: 90%; border: none; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 2px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(245, 245, 245, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Charlie] Hey Ryan. I’ll be Sword-queen in Rime-con. Come and meet me? Opportunities!
[Ry4n1] ok</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Satisfied with my messages, I turned to the prince with a smirk. “You still stink, by the way.” Before he could retort, I logged off, the magic’s faint crackle fading as I disconnected.
“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 reminder that I had earned this moment of rest.
“Jerry, contact Lucas.”