Broken and Corrupted

Memory.log.2/Return to Normalcy

I return to my room to grab my flower, but instead I see the one variable I have not seen in weeks. It is X. They sit, their back against the bed frame, clutching something in their hands. The note is gone.

They finally notice me as the door creaks, announcing my arrival. "Oh," they mumble, curling up their legs to hug them tightly. "I thought you were gone already."

"I thought you were out running errands for the doctor. I was unaware of your presence."

"I mean, I kinda have to stay here. It's dark, and easy on my eyes." They mention their eyes, even though it was an unimportant detail before. It makes me want to run a diagnostic on their health.

Running diagnostic: {subject: X}.

Physical: 100% X is healthy.

Mental: 89% X is currently running around 4 trillion commands per second, well within the average for organic matter.

Optics: 67% X has two genetic conditions that make the maximum value lower to {MV: 67}; myopia and complete achromatopsia.

Most is well with {subject: X}.

"You can come with me, if you would like." I hold out an invite to them, a metaphorical olive branch to grab onto, to bring them with me on my journey. I do not know why I invite them. Perhaps it is the need to make conversation with something that can speak back.

"I doubt you'd be able to make me well enough to be able to travel with you." They go back to burying themselves into their own arms, hiding their face from where I can see it. "I can't even be out for more than a few hours, I don't even know why you'd bother with me."

"You are the only other person I would know to come with me. Besides, I am an automaton. Your conditions would be no match for my circuits to find a solution." I do not know how or why, but I smile at them. Perhaps it is to make them feel better, because it is certainly not for my own sake.

They look up at me for only a moment, before snickering. "Smiles don't suit you very well, 4. Maybe that's just me, because I know you're just a really good simulation of a number." They pitch a warm grin up at me, before getting up off the ground. "Alright, I'll go with you, but only because your stupid little smile convinced me."

My electric heart seems to pump a little faster with their grin, even though it should be at a steady rate always. There must be something wrong with it, but I will find the exact thing afflicting it when we find a place to be. For now, their hand reaches for mine, and I do not keep them waiting. Grabbing my flower, I decide that it is finally time to leave. Hopefully, X will be fine.

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Opening "M-0101.mp4".

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"4."

"Yes, X?"

"I've been asking for the past ten minutes, can we take a break? My eyes hurt from the sun."

I look back at them, and their eyes were squinted shut, even under their sunglasses. "Apologies, X. I must have switched into an autopilot mode of sorts. I did not mean to ignore you."

"It's fine, 4," they exasperate, panting a little from exhaustion. "There's no need to be sorry about it. It's only part of your programming."

"Still, I must accommodate. I promised." X finds a tree and sits down under its shady leaves as I speak. It is a long way to the nearest part of town, or at least, that is what they tell me. I have never been this far out from the lab before, so X is really the expert here.