• Staring at the white glowing screen f the computer, the black letters that were suppose to form letters on a map looked like black fuzzy dots dancing across the screen. Chrysel was given her command.

    “From what you see of this map layout, enter the best strategy for infiltrating this building.” A young man’s voice ordered over the intercom. “You have twenty seconds. Begin!”

    Chrysel focused in on the screen and scanned over the layout of the building she was kept in. With twelve seconds left, Chrysel formed her plan and entered it into the computer’s memory system. She sat back and looked up at the two-way mirror. She stared at her reflection until the man’s voice came over the intercom.

    “Well done C4-5. And to have four seconds to spare, I’m impressed.” The young man praised. He caught himself and said in a now emotionless voice, “Wait at the door and I’ll escort you back to your cell.” Chrysel nodded and walked to stand in front of the door.

    When the light flashed from red to green, Chrysel pushed open the door. Shandon, the young man who spoke over the intercom, held up his arm. Chrysel laid her hand lightly on Shandon’s arm as she was taught and let him lead the way.

    “How are you feeling today, Chrysel?” Shandon inquired. He only said the name he had given her when no one was around to hear.

    Chrysel blinked at him. “I do not know what you mean sir.” Chrysel replied mechanically Shandon grimaced then looked at her.

    “You know what I mean. You’re acting more and more… strange… everyday. You’re not feeling any emotion we did not program into you, are you?” He probed. “If you do not act correctly soon, you’ll be considered a failure and disassembled.” He warned peering into Chrysel’s eyes. Chrysel nodded. She had hoped he would leave the question alone if she played confused, but she knew the reality of it. Shandon wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted.

    “I feel fine,” she lied. She couldn’t tell anyone that she was ‘remembering’ something she knew held something of importance. Something that would change her life. Change who she was. But her mind also kept her from knowing what that ‘it’ was that it wants her to remember.

    She could tell that although he bought her lie, Shandon was not utterly convinced. Chrysel smiled up at him. “Honestly. I don’t feel the same anymore. Whatever it was that I felt is just but a memory.”

    Shandon seemed convinced now. But even with the smartest brain, better heightened senses, and the unnatural abilities humans could only wish they could do, Chrysel could never be sure of what Shandon thought or felt like she could sense with other people. She couldn’t help but think that he was hiding something from himself. Chrysel pushed that towards the back of her mind, but she was thinking it over to herself.

    Chrysel was thankful for that ability that humans lacked. Being able to do this, she can concentrate on multiple things without being distracted in the least by them from what was going on around her. They walked the halls in silence.

    As they approached Chrysel's room, Shandon punched in the code to open the cell door. Shandon turned towards Chrysel and swept one toward the cell's room. "Rest and recharge, C4-5,"Shando said in a voice detached of any emotion he had showed a few seconds ago. Chrysel nodded then moved to sit on one of the two narrow beds that were fused a little off the ground on either wall.

    There was another android there, lying on the bed on the right side of thecell. "C4-6, be ready to be called later for testing." Shandon announced to the girl sitting up on the bed. The girl nodded and Shandon left. Chrysel could hear the code Shandon was pressing to lock the cell door.

    "Cindy? How are you feeling?" Chrysel asked when no ne was in hearing distance. Cindy turned to look at her cellmate as well as best friend and partner. She stared for several seconds before memory of the present settled back into her static-glowing, green eyes.

    "I'm fine,"she answered with a small smile. "Iwas just having these odd...thoughts...in my mind again. As if my mind is trying to tell me Ineed to remeber something, but then it tries to keep me from remembering it as well."Cindy whispered in her soft melodious oice, pursing her bottom lip out.

    Chryselnodded. "Soit's not just me?Do you think they are trying something new tous?"Chryselasked thoughtfully. "It must be,"she answered herself, "for we may not be theonly ones experiencing...this."

    Cindynodded as Chrysel worked out the many possible solutions. She watched Chrysel in awe. She didn't know any other android that was programmed better than her. No wonder Chrysel was their favorite. Chrysel's red shoulder legnth swayed slightlyas she shookher head soflty,nodding every once in awhile.Her violet eye, a pretty contrast to her tanned skin, narrowed in deep concentrated thoughts. Chrysel held a fisted hand to her forehead. She seemed troubled by something.

    "What's wrong?" Cidy asked, getting off her bed to sit next to Chrysel on her's. "What thoughts are ailing you?" Chrysel looked up at Cindy. Her normally vibrant tan looked a little pale. She looked very tired to Cindy. Though technically androids can't get tired, but they can run out of battery life, which was equivlant to being tired in an odd way,

    "I don't know. Ijust can't figure this out. What is it? Unwanted memory or programming? Is our memory bank acting up or is it their doing? Idon't know what to think." Chrysel answered wryly, slumping a little. Cindy wrapped an arm around Chrysel and pulled her close to herself. This was something Chrysel had done for herb when she wasn't feeling at herbest.

    "You'll solve it. I'm 99.99 percent sure. For their is one percent chance of you failing. We are not perfect, but we're sure damn close."Cindy comforted. Chysel looked up and smiled.

    "Yes. We are not perfect for humans did make us. Since huans are not perfect, they can never make anything perfect. Meaning us." Chrysel laughed, though without feeling. They had no feelings. What they felt was artificial. What was programmed into them. Feelings get in the way when humans need things done. Like when eliminating whoever needs eliminating. Feelings clouded the mind and made people do things they would never do, but androids were built without feelings. They suffered no compunction when they lie, destroy, kill, or when they lose a comrad. They had no true feelings even when they are programmed in for missions. They're false feelings, therefore, they are not suceptible to distraction and they are not handicapped. Well, that's how it was supposed to be.

    Feelings were useless and a nuisance. Chrysel knew this and yet she wished for just once she cold have true emotions. To truely feel what humans feel. To be human. Yes, Chrysel would have given anything to be human. Their imperfections were what Chrysel liked. Sure, she knew she wasn't perfect, but to humans, she was. She wanted to be 'imperfect,' to be like a human. To be human. She knew and hated the fact that human's were just her reality's mirage. She knew that she would forever be caged in this lonely, emotionless body, being nothing but a mere weapon.

    "Chrysel, what are you thinking?" Cindy asked.

    "Nothing that needs concern you, Cindy."Chrysel slid out from under Cindy's arm. "Don't worry Cindy. I'm sure these...thoughts...will leave us be soon. Have you charged completly? You will need to, for they will be testing your strenght, agility, speed, and intellectual ability to calculate and evaluate the situtation of your surroundings, while battling with another android. I'll be doing that next. So I need to charge as well."

    CIndy nodded and wrapped her arms over her shoulder to pull out the cord that was plugged in at the nape of her neck. As soon as the cord was out, the static look in her eyes dissipated. Chrysel nodded nad sat up on her bed, facing the wall. The small opening in the wall opened up to push out her cord. Chrysel grabbed it and plugged it in at the nape of her neck.

    A strong current of electricity coursed through her body and her eyes fuzzed for an instant as the charging began. From the outside view, Chrysel would look to have static looking violet eyes, but to Chrysel, her eyes felt normal. Her vision was not effected from te electricity running throught her entire body recharging all the cells of her motor system. Acutally, ectasy coursed through her with the energy she felt. She loved this feeling because she was truly feeling it for herself. It wasn't another mirage fo reality to her. This was her reality. Something she felt that truly belonged to her. Chrysel smiled to herself, letting the exhilaration of energy flood through her.