2

The silence beat down on AnSIL, sitting on his bed with his head in his hands; ordered to leave the only home he’d known. There would be no mercy for a rogue synthetic and he wouldn’t have any help from Bert or his “siblings.” Blood or not, they would be as loyal to Bert as AnSIL was to Calista.
AnSIL took a flat panel “dial” from his pocket and opened it to stare at the brass rings inside. One half was a watch and the other was a compass.
Good old Calista, she must have known his fate from the start. Her interests were always culture beyond the gates of Lake Lietinhas. She never shared Bert’s desire for affluence but she attended dinner parties and city events to represent the family.
AnSIL was bought as a present, something to keep the slightly younger woman busy. A synthetic boyfriend, but she had to teach him nearly everything.
Calista taught him to read, she taught him to drive, sent him on errands that forced him to think for himself and all the while, he thought that she was making him a better incubus. She wasn’t really doing it for herself; she was terminal. She was making sure that he would live after she was gone.
Opening the lid of his inheritance tin and unfolded a map, he looked at the surrounding world grimly. There were gates and checkpoints and cameras and police on seemingly every corner. AnSIL couldn’t use the cell she’d given because they all had trackers. When he had folded the map and put it back in the tin, he screwed it closed and turned around to face his sister.
“Can I sleep in here?” She asked for the first time, “It’s scary now, without her.” AnSIL nodded in agreement, “It is.”

**


AnSIL awakened with a start to find Bert at the foot of his bed admiring the group silently. Bert put a finger to his lips, “Shh, you want to look your best at the funeral.”
AnSIL looked across the bed, SILvia snored beside him and SILer slept beyond, all in matching royal blue bedclothes with the family seal.
Bert whispered, “I have business,” And left the room.

**

The siblings made breakfast quietly, their usual childlike behavior replaced by solemnity until finally, they began to less and less subtly compete for efficiency and speed of preparation. Eventually, this ended with SILvia getting cut and two very sheepish young men following her to the first aid kit.
“Come here, my boy,” Bert beckoned to AnSIL as he passed in the hall and turned to walk into the living room. AnSIL glanced worriedly at the others and followed obediently.
“By now, you’re probably wondering what I have planned for you,” Bert said, “As you know, a good percentage of my customers are female and I need someone who knows what’s going on in their brains.”
Bert tapped his forehead, “You’re it. In the meantime, get everything together and get ready to move. She wouldn’t want us to sit around and sulk. She was vibrant,” Bert said energetically and then his mood turned pensive, “That’s what I loved about her. She’d want us to live.”
AnSIL and SILer exchanged quick, knowing glances.
“Now, go get dressed, you two. I need to talk business with SILer,” Bert stood and waved AnSIL and SILvia to their rooms.

Opening his closet with one hand, AnSIL turned on the intercom, pressed ‘Security mode,’ and coded in before selecting the living room.
“Do you think he believed it?” Bert asked impatiently. SILer’s voice sounded cold, “He was made to read people, so- no.”
Bert sighed, “Alright, make him fall off a bridge or something but do it tonight.”