Chapter One -- Part Three

"I'm home," I called into the darkness, and the lights flickered on as little Missy came trotting towards me, purring like the orange purr machine she was. 

"Welcome back, Aurora," Friday, my newest A.I. greeted. Music started floating through the apartment -- my Ed Sheeran Pandora radio -- and I set Martin's file and my bag of chalk on the side table by the couch as I leaned down to scratch Missy behind the ears. 

"Miss me?" I murmured, and Missy rubbed against my leg in reply. "Hungry too, I bet," I said with a chuckle.

"I'm confused," Friday said. "I cannot eat, nor can I feel emotion. How can I miss you, much less --" She paused. "Oh. You were speaking with the cat." 

I walked up the steps to the kitchen so I could fish out some wet cat food. "Right again, Friday."

"I cannot comprehend why you keep the rodent around, Aurora... It chews at my wiring while you are gone."

I turned to Missy with my hands on my hips. "Is that so? Missy, you know that's wrong." She just mewed up at me in reply. 

"If you just gave me a shocking system..."

"Friday, we've talked about this." 

"I keep hoping you will eventually see the logic." 

I shook my head and put out some food for Missy. "How's little Charlie doing?" I asked and turned to walk down the hallway leading to my room. The lights flickered on as I entered, the windows instantly tinting themselves black. I peeled off my clothes and replaced them with pajamas, and I stretched. Normally, I'd read, but...

"He's coming along quite quickly in my opinion," Friday replied, and I smiled slightly. She sounded almost prideful. "I think you'll find him to your liking."

"I mean, I did make him." I exited my room and entered my "office." Really, it was more a playroom for my mind to do whatever it wanted. "I'm kind of obligated." 

"How so?"

I shook my head. "It's a mother thing. You wouldn't get it."

"But I'd like to."

I ran my finger along the glass table, and it flared to life. The miniature projectors created screens I could work with, all showing various statistics about the city and about the world... As well as my own projects. As Friday had said, Charlie indeed was coming along nicely. I'd given Friday the base code for his structure this morning, and already, Charlie was 48% done. 

"Remind me sometime later, and I'll try to explain it, alright?" I frowned. "Who sent me a message?"

"Your sister." 

I froze. "What? How'd she find me?" How'd she even get through my network?...

"I do not know, but you should probably look at it." The red exclamation mark on top of the envelop blinked a little faster now. "I believe you will find the enclosed matters...pressing." 

I closed my eyes and forced myself not to think about how I'd left things before coming here... But I couldn't stop my fingers from shaking as I flicked open the notification. 

Mom's dead. 

Attached were the details for the funeral.

I just stared.

"Aurora?"

"Cancel everything."