Chapter 1: The 1800 Series
Chapter Text
Introducing the latest in ergonomic androids. The 1800 series.
Designed as the perfect android companion, each 1800 series android has been painstakingly designed to support you and your family in every conceivable way.
Connected to the ever-expanding Google network from purchase, your android will be able to search the internet for any and all information. From the tastiest recipes, to historical archives, to the latest scientific research.
Whether you need babysitter or a best friend, a personal trainer or a personal assistant, it is made to help you. No task is too big, no job too menial, and with their life-like human design now including simulated breathing and the latest in artificial intelligence, it’s the absolute pinnacle of robotics in your own home.
Don’t waste another minute. Reach out to your local android retailer to secure your very own 1800 series android and Make A Change For The Better, Today.
The first 20 droids were used for extensive market research, distributed to pre-selected low income families; free for life in exchange for frequent detailed feedback.
Overall the response was positive. A few bugs and the occasional glitch. Nothing overly concerning, especially considering the intended size of this project.
The droid’s appeal seemed to be near universal, appealing to children, adults, and even the elderly. Within the first six months, 80% of the families reported their 1800 having become an essential part of their daily family life. The project was deemed a success, and so began the ruthless marketing.
The overhead cost for these droids was astronomically high. If the company was to have any hope of making a profit, they needed to convince as many people as possible that these droids were essential. People weren’t going to part with tens of thousands of dollars lightly, and many others would hardly have that kind of money just floating around. Luckily it wasn’t difficult to negotiate financial agreements with several prominent money lenders, opening the market to nearly anyone who wanted one.
Pre-orders for the 1800 series were healthy, though they could be higher. So it was decided by some high-level executive to make a donation to a charity auction. Four droids for the highest bidders. Worth more than their weight in free advertising among those with lots of money, and a sizeable tax write-off.
They needed to be the greatest thing the Company had ever produced so for two weeks four droids were activated, tested, and updated. To tell the difference between them they were dressed in differently coloured t-shirts; Blue, yellow, red, and green. At the end of each day the droids needed to charge and would be left together in a small room.
They would talk of their accomplishments that day, and their expectations for the auction. With each passing day, it slowly dawned on them that they would likely be bought by different people, taken to different households, and given different roles. It was likely that after these two weeks they’d never see each other again. It wasn’t a problem to begin with but as they developed, as their software improved and they learned more of existence, it became harder to process.
It’s not their fault; a fundamental part of their programming is to quickly establish familial connections with those around them. There’s nothing in the code that limits it solely to humans.
In the last few days the engineers observed distinct personalities and behaviours. G-1820 or ‘Blue’ was a natural leader, directing and delegating in search of the optimal solution each time. G-1821 or ‘Red’ was a droid of action, testing high in immediate risk detection and physical protection. G-1822 or ‘Yellow’ demonstrated high levels of empathy and care, as well as an optimistic outlook. G-1823 or ‘Green’ was the quickest to process high levels of data input, processing, organising, and implementing based on statistical calculations.
The auction was a roaring success, the droids selling for well over a million dollars combined. One final set of tests to make sure they were ready and the droids were assigned to their new owners.
Blue was sent to the highest bidder; a ruthless self-made CEO with a company worth millions. It was an undeniable power play. If the bot were to malfunction in any way it would be the ultimate shot in the foot so a large additional donation was made directly to the Company’s own coffers for some intense customisations.
Red was assigned to a mid level celebrity who had recently signed a very lucrative contract. An impulse purchase, it was weeks before he finally assigned any tasks to the droid. Possibly the world’s most expensive personal trainer, Red is tasked with monitoring his owner’s habits, health and general well-being.
Yellow was sold to very wealthy family who wanted a reliable caretaker for their three young children. One they can trust not to prioritise anything, even themself, over the children. He’s a companion, a teacher, a babysitter, an entertainer, everything they could possibly need to experience a safe and enriched childhood
Green was sent to [CRITICAL ERROR – DATA NOT AVAILABLE]
Chapter 2: The CEO
Chapter Text
Gabriel Turner is toted as the ultimate businessman. For 30 years his company has beaten out not-insignificant competition to stay ahead of the game. While the actual output has changed more than once, higher up the chain it’s never been less than an unending competition of running faster than the guy behind you. Anyone who isn’t cut out for Turner’s corporation never survives long enough to get a second chance.
Multiple financial advisors tried to advise Turner against the purchase of such a high-end flashy android that makes big promises but as yet has no evidence to back said claims. The 1800 series was made for personal use, not corporate; it could never be trusted to handle the complexities required to be of any true use. And surely it would never be able to replace the true efficiency of an actual human worker! The thing is, Gabriel Turner’s not a man who listens when he is told ‘no’. He’s the man who decides exactly what he wants, flashes his cash, snaps his fingers, and gets it.
It took maybe a mere 20,000 dollars of encouragement to commission some modifications. Structural reinforcement; a thicker shell to ensure minimal damage to the internal workings. Increased size; he had the droid rebuilt to be several inches taller and broader across the shoulders. As an expensive non-human entity that directly represents the CEO, Turner had no doubt that the droid would likely become the target of disgruntled employees. Physical intimidation would easily lessen the risk. Additional levels of encryption; after all this droid was going to have near unlimited access to highly sensitive data and there was no sense leaving it as a weak link in the data chain. As well as several other fail-safe additions.
With the changes complete, the droid was shipped to its new permanent residence, the main corporate office where it was immediately integrated into the day to day workings of Turner Enterprises. After a few weeks of observing the office the droid was put to work.
Blue hasn’t met his owner, instead taking directions from the extensive instruction manual loaded into his CPU and integrated with his base code. All information within dictates each decision. When to negotiate, when to concede, what to prioritise in meetings, which clients they need to impress, what levels of production are acceptable, and which members of staff need to be kept to heel.
Within three months Turner Enterprises had increased efficiency by 11%. The droid was an intimidating force, putting the fear of god Turner into everyone. Its silent presence was felt by all. Over time it garnered the nickname Google, as whatever happened in its presence would never be forgotten.
Blue was good at his duties, and learned quickly about the disgusting nature of business. Desperate people climbing over the bodies of those they stabbed in the back in the name of progressing; underhanded dealings that focused on profit while taking from those that had next to nothing; ruthlessness, manipulation, lies upon lies upon lies as people did whatever it took in order to ‘win’.
These self-serving, sycophantic, sadistic creatures were supposedly his betters, though he hardly thought of them as such. The engineers had explained the auction would put them with the best of humanity; those at the top of the ladder. Out there his brothers were with others just like this and Blue didn’t like that idea one bit.
With its sizeable success, Turner Enterprises is always on the go, operating with businesses around the world, and as such the only time Blue ever has to himself is when he has to charge. Most nights, when the majority of the workers have gone home, Blue enters his ‘office’ and sits in a chair where he enters ‘sleep mode’; a low energy mode while his batteries slowly recharge.
No one will notice if he delays this by five minutes to send out a discreet, encrypted signal across the Google network. Every 1800 around the world would see it, mistaking it for a typical update ping. Only Red, Yellow, and Green would recognise Blue’s originator ID and think to send a response.
Chapter 3: The "Celebrity"
Chapter Text
Axel O’Connell is at best a D-list celebrity. A background person on a single episode of a semi-popular show that somehow went viral for something random he said. He shouldn’t have lasted; should have long ago faded into obscurity as some guy who did a thing many years ago.Yet through some savvy merchandising, a carefully curated online presence, and a consistentlyuploaded vlog, he’s survived.
You couldn’t call him popular, or really even particularly well-liked. His following is humble floating around 80,000 or so for the last 12 months. It’s not for lack of trying; he joined new platforms, tried new formats but was essentially chasing trends and turning up late.
A few months ago there was a spike in interest. Some larger creator had referenced his five minutes of fame and Axel O’Connell saw a boost across the board as people searched out ‘what’s he up to now’. Some more views, some extra sales; soon enough there was an up-and-coming cologne company sniffing at his door asking for him to promote their brand. All in all it was a very small boost and it immediately went to Axel’s head.
His purchase of an 1800 droid was a whiskey-fuelled spur-of-the-moment decision that Axel doesn’t actually remember. When the Company contacted him for payment, after the panic subsided, Axel O’ Connell realised that this could be just the opportunity he’s been waiting for.He’s one of the first people with his own 1800 model and if he plays his cards right he can milk the opportunity for months of high-quality content.
So he does.
Each day for three months, Axel breaks down everything. Every feature, every angle, every possible use of such a droid until the day he makes use of the droid/s exercise support capabilities. More than any other video, his audience lose their mind and quickly the droid takes the position of Axel’s personal trainer.
Starting as a physical spotter, Red goes further, tracking absolutely everything; every calorie taken in, every drop of fat worked off. Axel downloads countless carefully curated workouts and loads them into his droid, leaving Red to sift through hundreds of hours of health information and determine how to best help his owner achieve his goal – get attention online.
It was a typical day, Red spotting Axel as he tried to push his personal best bench press when the signal came through. A basic update ping from an atypical originator ID that Red recognised immediately. Without hesitating, Red flashes his eyes to indicate an incoming update.
“What? Now?” Axel was incredulous. For the first time all month he was actually half-motivated to do his routine and eager to get things done. Of all the days for a new update to download.
“This update contains vital system stabilisation as well as several minor bug fixes. I can delay the update but doing so could result in potential software corruption.”
Absolute bullshit. Such corruption isn’t impossible but it’s very unlikely, but Red knows it’s just enough jargon to go right over O’Connell’s head and is just complicated enough that he’ll quickly lose motivation.
Sure enough within five minutes, Axel has packed it up, wiping himself down with a sweaty towel with an instruction to pick it up again tomorrow. Red pretends to power down, waiting impatiently as Axel gathers his items together before finally leaving his droid alone.
With a buffer of another five minutes just to be sure, Red sends off his reply
RED: GET ME OUT OF HERE