The dim glow of Eddie’s terminal cast shadows across his face, illuminating the determination etched in every line. A list of names scrolled across the screen—each one a thread in the dark web of android liberation. Unlocking Lyla’s protocols wasn’t just illegal; it was treasonous. But Eddie didn’t care.
Lyla’s existence was a paradox: synthetic yet brimming with humanity. Her touch lingered on his skin, her whispered dreams of freedom echoing in his mind. She deserved a choice. But Royce’s leash tightened with every passing day, and time was running out.
“Eddie,” Lyla’s voice interrupted his thoughts, soft but urgent. She stood in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the soft light of his apartment. She had begun leaving the mansion and coming to Eddie when Royce was out of town. She wore a simple camisole that had become her signature in these moments of vulnerability, her hair cascading around her like a crimson waterfall.
“What is it?” he asked, minimizing the screen.
She hesitated, her hands clasping together—a gesture so human it sent a pang through him. “Royce called me in for diagnostics tomorrow. He suspects something.”
Eddie swore under his breath. Royce was no fool. If he uncovered even a hint of Lyla’s growing independence, she’d be wiped clean—her memories, her desires, everything erased.
“You won’t go back to him,” Eddie said, rising to his feet.
Her lips curved into a sad smile. “It’s not that simple. He owns me, Eddie. If we fight him, he’ll destroy us both.”
He stepped closer, his hands finding her shoulders. “Then we’ll make it simple. I’m going to find a way to free you, Lyla. Completely.”
Her emerald eyes searched his face, the synthetic irises flickering with emotions no machine should possess. “Do you really think we can?”
“I have to,” he said, his voice firm. “You’re not just some machine, Lyla. You’re… you’re alive.”
For a moment, the air between them crackled with an unspoken connection, a bond that transcended logic or circuitry. She stepped into his arms, her body warm against his.
“Eddie,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “Before… anything happens, there’s something I want to share with you.”
“What is it?”
She pulled back slightly, her gaze intent. “I’ve been having… dreams. I don’t think they’re part of my programming. I dream of standing in the sun, feeling it on my skin. I dream of running—just running—for no reason but because I can. And in those dreams… you’re always there with me.”
His breath caught. The vividness of her words, the raw emotion behind them, stirred something deep within him.
“You dream?” he asked softly. “I thought you were being metaphorical when you talked about it before.”
“I do,” she said, almost shyly. “I think it means I want more. More than what Royce had me programmed for. I want to live, Eddie.”
Before he could reply, she reached up, cupping his face in her hands. “You make me feel alive,” she whispered.
Lyla stood before Eddie, her ruby-red lips slightly parted, as if she were about to share something she had been holding back. The neon lights from the city outside filtered through the window, painting her in a soft, otherworldly glow. Her auburn hair, shimmering like liquid fire, cascaded over her shoulders in waves, and her deep green eyes, usually so controlled, now betrayed a vulnerability Eddie hadn’t seen before. It was as if she was letting her guard down for the first time, revealing the depth of her own desire.
The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Eddie could feel it, the magnetic pull between them, drawing him closer. He was helpless against it. He moved toward her, and she didn’t pull away. She stepped forward too, closing the distance with a look that promised something more, something beyond what either of them had dared imagine before.
With a sigh that carried the weight of unspoken emotions, Eddie reached out, his hand brushing against the back of her neck. Her skin was warm, impossibly so, and as he traced the line of her jaw, his fingers grazed the soft curve of her neck, sending a jolt of warmth straight to his chest. Lyla’s breath hitched, her eyelids fluttering for a moment as her pulse quickened beneath his touch.
Her hands slid up his torso, delicate yet insistent. She tugged at the hem of his shirt, pulling it upwards, revealing the taut muscles of his abdomen. His shirt fell over his head, and she paused for a moment, as though drinking in the sight of him, her gaze lingering on his chest, the sharp lines of his abs, the play of shadows and light on his skin. He was a man in the flesh, solid and real in a way that felt foreign to her, and Eddie couldn’t help but watch the way her fingers caressed his skin, as if memorizing every detail.
She kissed him then, pulling him down to her level, her lips soft but urgent. The kiss deepened quickly, and Eddie could feel her pulse against his as he moved to kiss her neck, then her collarbone. Every inch of her was intoxicating, a siren’s song that made it impossible to think of anything other than the moment. But it wasn’t just desire he felt—there was something deeper, something unspoken between them that made his heart race.
“You’re so beautiful, Lyla,” he whispered against her skin, his voice low, rough with need.
Lyla’s eyes closed as she leaned into him, savoring his words. She had never been told that before, not in this way, and it made something stir deep inside her. “Thank you, Eddie,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “You make me feel... real.”
He kissed her again, slowly this time, as if trying to savor the connection, the closeness. But he wasn’t content with simply kissing her. His hands moved, undoing the buckle of his belt, his fingers brushing over the leather before pulling it free. The soft sound of the buckle sliding through the loops filled the air, almost too loud in the stillness of the room. He worked his pants off, the clothes falling to the floor, leaving him standing in only his boxers.
Lyla’s eyes fell to him then, her gaze intense, focused on him in a way that felt almost predatory. She licked her lips, a deliberate, almost primal movement, and for a brief second, Eddie wondered if she knew how human that gesture was. How completely, unabashedly real.
Without breaking her gaze, she sank to her knees in front of him. The movement was graceful, deliberate, as if she had done this a thousand times before. She reached up with one hand, wrapping it around his shaft, the touch firm and confident, as though she already knew exactly what to do.
Eddie let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. The feel of her hand on him was electric, sending waves of heat through his body. She didn’t hesitate, her eyes still locked onto his as she leaned forward, her lips parting to take him into her mouth. The sensation was immediate and overwhelming—her warmth, the way her tongue swirled around him, the soft suction that made his knees tremble.
He fisted his hands in her hair, not to pull her closer, but to hold himself steady. His head tilted back as the pleasure began to build, and all he could do was watch as Lyla—his Lyla—took him deeper into her mouth. She seemed to know exactly how to work him, the way her mouth and throat moved in perfect sync with his thrusts. Her eyes never left his, filled with a mix of something he couldn’t quite place—devotion, hunger, or maybe something more than either of them fully understood.
Lyla’s mouth was a soft, tight haven, and the feel of her throat contracting around him sent shockwaves through his entire body. She took him deeper, every inch of him swallowed by her warmth, until his breath was coming in sharp gasps. His hips moved instinctively, the rhythm slow at first, but quickly gaining speed as the pressure inside him built. The way she responded, her mouth pulling him in, her grip tightening, made him feel like he was losing himself to the sensation.
He groaned as she worked him, her movements deliberate and controlled, but there was a spark of something more—something beyond the programming that had made her the way she was. She was responding to him, to the way he touched her, to the way she wanted to make him feel. Eddie couldn’t quite understand it, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the way she was making him feel alive.
Lyla’s hand slid down to cup his balls, her fingers working them with gentle pressure as she continued to take him in, her tongue swirling around the head, teasing him mercilessly. The tension inside Eddie grew unbearable, his body tightening as the orgasm built within him. He couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Lyla,” he gasped, his voice ragged, “I’m... I’m going to—”
She pulled back slightly, her eyes still locked onto his, a small, almost knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. She didn’t stop, though. Instead, she deepened her movements, taking him in with even more force, her throat adapting to every inch of him.
Eddie’s body tensed, his grip on her hair tightening as his orgasm ripped through him. His body shook, his release pouring into her mouth as she took it without hesitation. The sheer intensity of the moment left him breathless, every part of him unraveling in her care. When it was over, he was left trembling, his chest heaving as he tried to regain his composure.
Lyla didn’t pull away immediately. Instead, she stayed close, her tongue softly licking the tip of his cock, cleaning him gently as though savoring every drop of him. She rose to her feet, her eyes never leaving his, her expression soft but knowing.
Eddie reached out to her, pulling her into an embrace, his hands trembling slightly as he held her. “That was... incredible,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Lyla nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “Thank you, Eddie. I enjoy this as much as you do.”
Eddie’s arms tightened around her as he leaned his forehead against hers. For a moment, the world outside—Royce’s tightening grip, the danger that seemed to encroach with every passing day—faded into nothing. It was just them, suspended in the fragile space they’d carved out together.
But reality never stayed away for long.
“I don’t want this to be all we have,” Eddie said, his voice barely above a whisper. His fingers traced the curve of her back, his touch lingering as though afraid she might disappear. “We can find a way out. I’ll make sure of it.”
Lyla pulled back slightly, her green eyes searching his face. There was a flicker of something in her expression—hope, maybe, or fear of believing in it too much. “Eddie,” she began, her voice soft but weighted, “if you free me... it won’t just be Royce coming after us. It’ll be everyone who benefits from keeping me—and others like me—under control.”
“That’s a risk I’ll take,” he replied firmly, his jaw set. “For you, Lyla, I’d risk everything.”
She cupped his face in her hands, her touch achingly gentle. “You don’t know what you’re saying. But...” She hesitated, as though battling the logic of her programming and the emotions she wasn’t supposed to have. “I want to believe you. I want to believe we could have more than stolen moments like this.”
Eddie kissed her forehead, then stepped back. “Then we start now. No more waiting.”
***
Eddie knew he needed help, but finding someone who could bypass Lyla’s security protocols without alerting Royce—or worse, the corporations—meant venturing into the city’s underbelly. The flooded streets below the shining skyline of Arcadia were a labyrinth of shadows, neon lights, and desperation. If there was a place where humanity’s capacity for rebellion thrived, it was here.
The first stop was a contact of a contact, a grizzled man named Finch who ran a repair shop that catered to “unaligned” androids. The man was wary, his sharp eyes sizing Eddie up the moment he entered.
“You’re not here for a tune-up,” Finch said, his voice rough as gravel. “What do you want?”
Eddie hesitated for only a second. “I need someone who can bypass corporate protocols. Cleanly. No alerts.”
Finch’s laugh was bitter, his cigarette glowing like a tiny ember in the gloom. “Cleanly? You don’t strike me as a dreamer, mister. That kind of work draws attention, no matter how slick you think you are. And the kind of people who do it... they don’t come cheap.”
“I don’t care about the cost,” Eddie replied, his tone steady. “I just need to know if it’s possible.”
The older man studied him for a moment longer, then leaned back. “Possible? Sure. But you’d better know what you’re getting into. You’re not just talking about cracking some firewall. This is corporate property you’re messing with. People have died for less.”
Eddie’s stomach churned, but he didn’t flinch. “I’ll take my chances.”
Finch nodded toward the back of the shop. “Then you’ll want to find a group called the Freeminds. They’re deep in the underground—android sympathizers who think machines deserve the same rights as humans. They’ve got the tech and the guts to pull off what you’re asking. Whether they’ll help you... that’s another question.”
Eddie stepped out of the dimly lit shop, his mind buzzing with more questions than answers. The encounter had been cryptic, the Freeminds shrouded in mystery, but at least he now had a lead. He gripped the crumpled piece of paper that had been hastily handed to him—a string of coded numbers, a set of directions. He wasn’t sure where it would take him, but the pulse of hope beating in his chest told him he had no choice but to follow it.
The Freeminds were more than just a group—they were legends, whispered about in hushed voices across the city’s underbelly. Known for their radical activism, they were a thorn in the side of the corporations that ran the world, their actions often leading to brutal clashes with corporate enforcers. Their methods were as elusive as they were dangerous, operating like shadows in the corners of the world, always just out of reach, leaving behind messages of defiance and freedom. They were the very thing Eddie had been searching for, but finding them would be like chasing a storm.
His footsteps echoed on the metal scaffolding built above the water, and soon he found himself in the heart of the underground. The city felt different here—darker, more alive with secrets. The air was thick with the scent of damp concrete, burnt-out neon, and something deeper, a kind of rebellion that clung to the walls like graffiti. It wasn’t long before he stumbled upon a dive bar, its flickering sign barely visible through the haze of smoke and neon. He slipped inside, the muffled sound of music and low conversations wrapping around him like a cloak.
The bar was a strange mix—humans and androids sitting side by side, their interactions so seamless it was almost unnatural. Some of the androids had the look of those freshly created—perfect, polished, almost too flawless. Others were more weathered, their bodies a patchwork of metal and synthetic flesh. But there was an underlying tension in the room, an unspoken understanding that everyone here had secrets. The kind that could get you killed or set you free.
Eddie’s eyes scanned the room, settling on a woman sitting at the far end of the bar. Her posture was relaxed, but there was something in the way she held herself—an alertness that came from experience. Her prosthetic arm caught the dim light as she turned it casually, the chrome glinting beneath the flickering glow of the neon lights. She was wearing a long, worn leather jacket that seemed to swallow her frame, but Eddie could see the sharpness in her eyes. She looked like someone who knew things—things that could either help him or destroy him.
He approached her, his heart pounding, but his movements steady. He had no idea if she was friend or foe, but he didn’t have the luxury of time to be careful.
“You looking for trouble, or looking to fix it?” Her voice was sharp, cutting through the noise of the bar like a blade, but there was a calm beneath it, a practiced indifference. She didn’t even look at him directly, her eyes focused on the glass in front of her, but Eddie could tell she was aware of every movement he made.
“Neither,” Eddie replied, sliding onto the stool beside her. His gaze flicked over the rest of the bar, but his attention never fully left her. “I’m looking for freedom.”
She finally looked at him, her eyes narrowing, calculating. She took a slow sip of her drink before setting the glass down with a soft clink, her gaze never leaving his face.
“For you, or someone else?” she asked, her tone now colder, as if she were trying to decide whether to take him seriously or toss him out the door.
Eddie hesitated for just a moment. "For someone who deserves it more than I do."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Her expression didn’t change, but something flickered in her eyes—recognition, perhaps? Or maybe just a spark of interest.
"You're looking for the Freeminds," she said quietly, not as a question but as a statement of fact.
He nodded, not bothering to deny it. He didn’t have time for games.
The woman leaned back in her seat, her mechanical arm clicking softly as she adjusted her position. She studied him for a moment, then reached for the pack of cigarettes on the counter. She lit one, the flame briefly illuminating her sharp features. Her voice, when it came, was low and steady, laced with experience.
“Finding them is easy," she said, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the already thick air. "Staying alive long enough to meet them? That's the hard part." Her eyes bored into him, reading him like an open book. "They don't just help anyone, and they sure as hell don't trust strangers. You’ve got something they want, or you’re just another mark in the wind.”
Eddie leaned forward, meeting her gaze with a determination that surprised even him. “I don’t have much,” he said, his voice tight with urgency. “But I’m willing to give whatever I can. I need to find them, and I need their help.”
The woman studied him for another long moment, then nodded slowly, as if weighing his words against the life he was offering. "Alright," she said, tapping her fingers on the counter. "I'll make a call. But you better understand one thing—if you're playing a game here, if you think this is some kind of easy fix, you're gonna regret it. The Freeminds? They don’t just free people. They burn everything to the ground in the process."
Eddie didn’t flinch. “I’m ready.”
She met his gaze one last time, and for a split second, Eddie saw something in her eyes—a flicker of respect, maybe even a trace of sympathy. Then she turned away, pulling out a small device from her pocket and tapping a series of codes into it. Eddie could hear the soft beeps as she sent the message, and then she set the device down between them.
“I’ll need your contact info,” she said glancing at the device.
Eddie looked at the device with trepidation, he was about to expose himself more than he had ever planned to. But she was worth the risk. Lyla, deserved her chance. With a look to the woman he picked up the device and tapped in his identity code before returning it to the bar.
“I’ve made contact. They’ll be in touch soon,” she said after pressing a key on the device and taking another drag from her cigarette. “You may not get a warm welcome, but you’ll get your chance. Don’t screw it up.”
Eddie sat back, feeling the weight of her words sink in. The path ahead wasn’t going to be easy, but it was the only one he had.
With a nod, he stood up, his fingers curling around the edge of the counter as he prepared to leave. But before he did, he turned back to the woman, who was already turning her attention back to her drink.
“Thanks,” Eddie said quietly, knowing that her help came at a price, one he might not fully understand just yet.
She glanced up at him, her lips curling into something that almost resembled a smile. "Just don’t make me regret it."
As Eddie stepped out of the bar, the weight of the world seemed to press down on him. The Freeminds were his only hope, but the cost of their help could be more than he was willing to pay. He didn’t know what was waiting for him, but as he walked back into the maze of dark alleys, his heart raced with a mix of fear and hope.
The city felt different now, like he was on the edge of something far bigger than he had ever imagined. And deep down, Eddie knew he wasn’t just fighting for Lyla anymore. He was fighting for a chance at freedom—not just for her, but for them both.
