[2] Cup and a Half Cafe

Cup and a Half Café

DATE

JANUARY 27, 2039

TIME

PM 01:31:06

            Inside the comfort of a small, specialty coffee shop, a young, fair-skinned woman dressed in all black bustled about.

          “Haley,” A tall CS600 android approached the petite girl behind the L-shaped counter at the back of the coffee shop. “Two latte specials: one with non-fat milk and the other regular. And two croissants.”

          “You got it, David.” Haley brushed a stray piece of dark, red hair behind her ear that had fallen from the mess she liked to call a bun. She measured coffee beans into the grinder and set it to “Auto” while she pulled out two large mugs. After pouring the fresh grounds in the brewer, she began heating two types of milk. The girl moved with efficiency and precision, crafting each beverage with care. Within a couple minutes, the order was ready, on a tray, and off to the designated table.

          “Hales! I’m going on break!” Called a young male voice from the dish pit in the very back.

          “Alright, Jake, see you in thirty!” Haley grabbed a dampened cloth and ran it gently over the lacquered wood. She paused about half way down the counter and looked out the front windows of the café at the city.

          Snow lined the busy streets of Detroit, but sunshine took the edge off the winter chill. It had been only a couple of months since the androids had marched for freedom and won over the opinion of the public with their peaceful efforts. President Warren and the senate were still in constant meetings, ironing out the details to determine equal and peaceful co-existence with androids and humans.

          Still, among all the rebuilding in the city, some things had returned to normal. Her attention returned to the customers occupying the café. Nothing more than a specialty coffee shop with a nice homey-feel, she was proud to own and run a place where both humans and androids could feel at ease.

          The androids didn’t eat or drink, of course, but she always welcomed them. David was happy to have some of his own kind to talk to as well.

          She watched David chat with the last customers as they walked out the door.

                   “You don’t have to keep working here just because that’s what my father got you for.”

                   “Do you not want me around anymore? Is my work unsatisfactory?”

                   “It’s not that, David.”

                   “Do I not make you happy…?”

                   “David, I love having you around. But it’s because I care for you that I want you to do what you want. You should have your own life.”

                   “Haley, being with you and helping with the café makes me happy. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

          Haley smiled before returning to cleaning the countertop.

          “Excuse me, miss. May I get a large house-blend coffee to go?” A shiver ran up Haley’s spine at the sound of the customer’s voice.

          Haley looked over to a dark-haired man standing by the register. “Of course. “

She dried her hands before preparing his order. She could feel his eyes watching her every move.

Only small sounds filled the café now. Quiet piano notes danced through the air from the speakers. David clanged mugs and small plates as he cleared a small table by the fireplace.

          “Here you are.” The red head set down a large paper cup filled with the house blend and topped it with a plastic lid in front of the customer.

A dark, ratty section of hair fell across his face, and when he went to toss it back out of the way, a few strands stuck to his glistening skin.

Haley ignored the goosebumps she felt underneath her sleeves. “That’ll be $4.63.”

The man reached into his back pocket, but kept staring at her. “You are very beautiful.”

She did her best to keep a kind expression, giving him only a considerate smile.

The man handed her a wrinkly five-dollar bill, and she quickly counted the change.

Haley slid the money towards him on the counter, but the man suddenly slapped his grimy hand over hers.

Her heart rate jumped. She stared back at him.

“I like red hair.” The man’s voice graveled low, and had a tone that nauseated Haley.

Behind him, she saw David approaching. Haley made eye contact with him and shifted her gaze between David and the customer.

She saw the android’s LED change to yellow and he glanced at the man’s hand on hers.

David’s LED flashed red for a moment and his expression hardened. “Sir, is there anything else you need before you go?” He spoke without warmth in his voice.

The man’s eyes turned wild as he faced the android, taking his hand off Haley’s.

David crossed his arms. “If there’s nothing else you need, I think you should take your coffee and leave.”

The man produced a folding knife from his jacket pocket and pointed it at David. “And I think you should leave us alone, you plastic trash.”

David stepped back, keeping his gaze on the man’s weapon. His LED flickered; he had likely alerted the police. He looked to Haley, then back to the man who moved toward David.

The criminal toppled chairs out of his path as he made his way across the café.

“David!” Haley tossed a near-empty syrup bottle over the attacker’s head.

The android caught it easily and quickly broke it on a table near him, giving himself a weapon. Glass clattered on the wood floor and sticky syrup dripped from the jagged edges.

The man came near.

David circled around a table and took a swing.

The man dodged.

David had put a gaping gash in his shoulder.

The man growled and brought up the knife to stab the android in the chest, but David used his free hand to block.

The blade went right through his palm.

Haley gasped as she watched blue blood spurt and drip down his wrist.

But David didn’t so much as flinch. In one quick, effortless motion, he closed his fingers around the top of the folding hilt, planted his foot on the attacker’s chest and shoved.

The man stumbled back and hit a table edge which caused him to roll over the top and fall to the floor in a heap.

He lay motionless.

Haley hesitated only a second before she dashed out from behind the counter.

David set the broken bottle on a table, removed the knife from his hand, and came to meet her.

Haley rushed in to hug him and the android staggered. He put one arm around her, trying to keep his damaged hand off her to avoid getting thirium on her clothes. He placed his undamaged hand on the top of her head. “Are you all right?”

Haley stepped back and looked up at him. “Of course, I’m fine. But what about you?” Her gaze fixed on his hand, exposed wires and blue blood leaking from the hole. Her eyes filled with tears. “You’re hurt…”

David smiled warmly. “Easy fix.”

The android’s eyes suddenly flicked up and to the side. Then he placed his hand on the outside of her arm and shoved her away to the side.

Haley stumbled, lost her balance, and fell, breaking her own fall with her hands.

There was a loud thud and a harsh grinding sound.

When she looked up, the attacker had David pinned to the glass front of the shop, his forearm across the android’s throat.

David spat out some blue blood.

Haley’s gaze fell on the position of the criminal’s other hand. He had stabbed David right in the center of his torso.

She had been sure he was knocked out…and David had taken his weapon. It was still on the table…he had another? She had been too quick to let down her guard.

She watched the wild man twist the blade and blue blood quickly soaked David’s front and ran down to the floor.

Haley could hear the rush of blood in her ears as she stared in horror. “David!”

The man dropped his arm from the android’s throat and pulled out the knife, letting him slide down the glass to the floor.

With wild, hungry eyes the man glanced over his shoulder at Haley on the floor. His lips pulled back into a grin.

Her breathing quickened, and her mind went blank. His eyes pierced her through the thick tangle of his hair. The café walls appeared closer around her. Her legs were heavy. Her stomach turned over and the room grew dim.

She shivered, unable to tear away from his stare.

A wail of sirens filled the air, and the grin on the man’s face dropped.

“Shit.” Anger rose into his eyes like flames on gas. He lingered a moment then dashed for the rear of the café. He jumped and slid over the top of the back counter and disappeared into the dish pit area.

Haley’s heart continued to pound and she finally exhaled as a rush of emotions came over her. Her muscles still weighed her down, and her fingers tingled with numbness.

And…David…

Haley crawled across the wood floor to the android. The LED on his temple flickered red, off and on. Her vision blurred as she came to his side. She whimpered his name and gathered him into her arms, laying him half on her lap. Tears streamed down her face as her gaze was drawn to his chest, blue sparks flickering from the wound. Blue blood continued to leak, and her tears fell onto his forehead.

The android looked up at her with a soft expression. His eyelids fluttered as a small smile spread on his face.

The sirens blared loudly just outside the café.

David barely managed to lift a thirium-soaked hand and mouthed a few words to her. Then his hand dropped to the floor, and his head lulled to the side.

“David? David no! What did you say?” Haley put a hand on his cheek, turning his face back to her. “I couldn’t hear you! Please tell me…” Her voice broke. “Please. Tell me.”

The android’s eyes went still. And to Haley he appeared truly…lifeless.

She broke down in sobs as three police officers rushed into the café with pistols drawn.

One officer knelt down by Haley. “Ma’am, are you all right? Are you hurt?”

The other two officers scoured the café.

Haley spoke between sobs. “There was a man… he had a knife… David…”

“Who? Is the man still here?” The officer pressed.

Haley shook her head.

“Check the rear exit!” The officer called.

The two officers quickly rounded the counter and made their way to the back.

“What did he look like? Can you tell me what happened?” The officer’s voice sounded urgent, yet kind. Then it drifted into the distance.

An invisible weight crushed Haley’s chest. She drew a shallow breath as the world began to blur and fade.

She closed her eyes.

Still holding the lifeless android against her, her sobs turned to quiet tears.