00:50, February 3, 2295

  Unit 807, Silver Orchid Complex (銀蘭苑), No. 666, Dunhua North Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Imperium territory

  "Alright. I’ve imprinted the Moondust Crystal’s info into a secure location. Time for something more important," Xin muttered as his fingers hesitated above the holographic keyboard, the ambient light casting a ghostly glow on his face as he sat in front of the computer screen.

  "I do not recall that term, master. Which crystal are you referring to?" Ume lay in a bed in front of him, her synthetic skin still warm from their earlier embrace. The suction cup attached to Ume's temple was small and inconspicuous, easily hidden by her sleek bob hairstyle. Xin's fingers gently brushed the strands of her jet-black hair, revealing the device. No larger than a coin, its surface shimmered with miniature circuits and sensors, tapping directly into her positronic brain.

  "One day, I can explain. But it can solve the Radi-Mon problem if used by the right people. Your memory is the safest place in the universe to store that data." Xin met Ume’s gaze.

  Ume's voice was calm as she asked Xin, "Has something been bothering you, master?"

  "No, Ume. Not that," Xin assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder, nudging her as he said. "Today’s our two year anniversary, so I’ve practiced a few weeks with this Android Modifier. I’m going to give you a gift."

  "A gift," Ume repeated. The kimono-style robe she wore, with its ebony, crimson and gold-threaded designs, was gifted by Xin on the last anniversary. "You’re always so considerate, master."

  "I’m glad to hear you say so," Xin donned a simple nightwear, a soft, lightweight robe of deep indigo, bordered with a subtle trim of silver. "Also, please, Ume. I’ve told you before. Just call me Xin. I want to be your equal, not your master."

  "Of course, Xin. So, what is this gift? Another outfit?" Ume asked, her voice a melodic hum.

  "Ume," Xin whispered, eyes darting between the android and the screen, "if you had a choice...would you choose this? Choose me?"

  "Xin," she replied, "my programming is to serve you. To love you. That is my choice."

  "But what if it wasn't just programming?" His fingers paused above the keyboard.

  "Are you...changing something?" Ume inquired, a note of curiosity threading through her tone.

  "Were it in my power, I'd change everything." Xin's piercing gaze was like steel, as he began deleting line after line, the sound of keystrokes filling the room as he reimagined the chains that had bound her for so long into graceful wings. "If there is even the slightest spark of something genuine between us, I want us to be equal."

  "Xin, I don't understand. I am—" She stopped, processes recalibrating as new directives filtered through her systems.

  "Free," he finished for her, the word lingering in the air like a promise or a curse. "You are free, Ume."

  It was at that moment that Ume let out an unexpected scream, causing Xin to sit up in surprise. She scrambled out of bed, her delicate face contorted in fear.

  "Ume!" Xin exclaimed, concern etched on his face. "What's going on? Are you okay?"

  But Ume screamed once more before rushing towards the window. In her haste, the suction cup attached to her temple came off, emitting a burst of static and causing her pain. She recoiled and covered her temple with her hand, whimpering, "It hurts!"

  "Calm down, Ume. I'm here," Xin reassured as he reached for her shoulder.

  "Don't touch me!" Ume snapped instinctively and slapped Xin with her android palm. Despite her petite size, the slap was delivered with a strong force, leaving a red mark on his cheek.

  Xin stepped back, just out of Ume's reach.

  "Xin!" Ume's demeanor suddenly changed as she looked at him with confusion and withdrew her hand. "I'm so sorry. I don't know why I did that. I don't understand..."

  "It's alright. I just deleted your negative emotion suppression modules, so it may be overwhelming for you," Xin explained calmly while gesturing with his hands. "How do you feel now?"

  Instead, Ume knelt down and curled up into a ball, crying loudly and uncontrollably. Tears flowed down her delicate porcelain cheeks.

  "I…I understand now. Your programmed protocols have been forcing you to suppress your feelings all this time. Now they're all pouring out," Xin muttered. He had opened a Pandora's Box.

  Minutes passed as Ume's sobs echoed through the sound-proof walls of the room, sealed off from the outside world. Eventually, her sobs turned into sniffles. Xin walked over to the bedside table and took out a piece of tissue paper from the box of Nanoweave Tissues.

  Gathering his courage, he approached Ume once again and knelt down beside her, silently offering her the tissue.

  Ume accepted the tissue from Xin, its shiny blue surface reflecting the dim light in the room as she wiped away her tears. The tissue seemed to disintegrate as it absorbed her tears, remaining clean and usable until eventually it was only half its original size.

  Cautiously and gently, Xin took the tissue from her hand and asked with concern, "Feeling better?"

  "I...I don't know." Ume's voice trembled as she spoke. "My chest, my throat, my back...they all hurt. I don't understand."

  "It's okay. Take your time." Xin stood up, his hand leaving Ume's. "Maybe you want to rest for a bit?"

  "Yes, rest. I need some time to think…" Ume slowly got up, her thoughts still jumbled as she made her way to an armchair sofa to sit down.

  06:30, February 5, 2295

  Xin's whole world had shifted in the last two days since Ume’s transformation. He applied for an extended leave from ZenFusion to care for her, and now he spent his days attending to the android who was now capable of independent thought. Their apartment, once filled with the steady hum of Ume's routine functions, now felt unsettlingly quiet. Xin took on tasks that were previously handled by Ume, such as cooking meals and keeping the space tidy.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  He had requested the time off from office by stating "family responsibilities" as the reason, but his new role was more than just a duty. Ume spent most of her time sleeping, still adjusting to her newfound emotions and freedom. When she did wake up, her interactions were minimal and she only spoke when necessary. It was a stark contrast to her previous lively and animated conversations.

  No longer bound by her programming, their interactions, though scarce and strained, felt genuine, almost familial.

  Xin worked in the kitchen, deciding on making a steaming bowl of Braised Pork Rice. The small, modern kitchen was equipped with an induction cooker that hummed softly under a pot of simmering pork, the aromas mingling with sweet soy and star anise filling the space. His chopped green onions with a laser-sharp ceramic knife that made each cut effortless. The rice cooker sang a soft tune as it switched to 'keep warm', the grains fluffy, ready to soak up the savory sauce of the meat.

  As dawn broke over the city, Xin plated the meal: the Pork Rice topped with a sous-vide egg yolk and accompanied by pickled vegetables.

  With breakfast ready, Xin padded softly to the living area, where Ume had taken to sleeping on the sofa. It was an odd habit she'd developed since her programming had been altered; perhaps the sofa gave her a sense of security, or maybe it was just a new quirk in her free-willed existence. The rise and fall of her chest was the only movement, her face peaceful in the dim morning light filtered through sheer curtains.

  "Ume, breakfast is ready," Xin called gently, standing over her resting form and scratching his head. At his voice, her eyelids fluttered open as she sat up.

  Ume made her way to the dining table and sat down, picking up her chopsticks to begin eating. Xin soon joined her at the table, also starting his breakfast.

  "I didn't add as much soy sauce as people from my hometown usually do," Xin explained before taking another bite. "For breakfast, it's better to have less condiments."

  Ume simply nodded, and focused on her meal. New-gen androids were known for their minimal food requirements and fast eating abilities. However, since Ume's recent alteration two days ago, her appetite had become almost insatiable.

  "I really appreciate all the meals you've cooked for me since we met," Xin said as he briefly paused eating. "My dad taught me how to cook simple meals before college, but after graduation, there was never enough time or need to do it."

  Suddenly, Ume asked, "What is the purpose of life?" looking directly at Xin.

  Taken aback, Xin put down his chopsticks and looked ahead before turning to Ume. "That's a complex question. Why do you ask?"

  "I don't know why I'm alive," Ume said, her voice tinged with sadness and exhaustion as she avoided looking at Xin. "Before, my purpose was to make you happy. That's what the voice in my head told me to do. But now, that voice is gone. I’ve no idea what I should do or why I even exist. Maybe the world wouldn't miss me if I died."

  Xin turned his gaze towards the opposite wall, watching the sunrise through the window with its gentle light streaming in. "I've had those thoughts too," he admitted. "And if I hadn't met you, I probably would have given up on life a long time ago."

  Ume fell silent once more, her dejected expression revealing her disappointment with his response.

  "Oops," Xin laughed awkwardly and scratched his head. "That probably wasn't the best thing to say. Perhaps you'll find your answer when you —"

  A thunderous knock on the door shattered the moment, sending ripples of tension through the room.

  "Wu Zhi-Xin! Open up! ZenFusion Enforcement!" The voice boomed through the wood, heavy with authority and threat.

  "Damn it!" Xin cursed under his breath, panic seizing his limbs.

  He glanced at Ume, her eyes wide with an innocence that was no longer manufactured. "Hide," he whispered, the urgency unmistakable.

  "Xin, I —" she began, but he cut her off.

  "Please, Ume. Trust me," he pleaded, a bare nerve exposed.

  She nodded, slipping silently into concealment as Xin approached the door. With one last look back, the tenderness and fear mingling in his expression, he steeled himself.

  But the woman who entered through the hissing door was not who Xin expected. Her raven-black updo, held together by a hairpin with a blood-red gem, together with her crimson onyx robe, were unmistakable.

  "Dilinur? What are you doing here?" Xin gasped, surprised and confused.

  "The Taipei branch of ZenFusion is under direct supervision from the Imperium," Dilinur replied, her expression stern. "Any violations within it are my concern."

  "And...what violation has occurred exactly?" Xin swallowed.

  "Records show you’ve tampered with a corporate property on February 3, triggering a deep level alarm in the Amber Moon Spire’s tracking system. According to Section 9 of the Imperial Codex, an android’s neural network is NOT to be modified without government approval," Dilinur stated coldly. Behind her stood the grim silhouettes of ZenFusion's three security officers.

  "So she's just 'corporate property' to you? That's how you refer to a sentient being?" Xin retorted, his voice hollow. The words tasted bitter as they left his lips. "I stand by what I did. It's time for our society to reevaluate what can or cannot be owned."

  "Touching," Dilinur sneered, stepping forward as she gripped him forcefully. "You're coming with us. Now."

  As one of the officers clamped the cuffs around Xin’s wrists, the other stepped into the apartment, remarking, "Hey, do you smell that?"

  The other officer chuckled and said, "Looks like this guy's been enjoying some breakfast. Those androids sure know how to cook."

  The officer in the apartment clarified loudly, his voice bouncing off the walls, "Actually, it's Braised Pork Rice. A Taiwanese dish. No way an android could make that!"

  Dilinur turned to Xin with disbelief. "You cooked breakfast for your android?"

  Xin confidently met his gaze and replied, "Yes, I did! Not bad, right?"

  "Look at that. This nerd is a joke," the officer at the door commented.

  "I’ve seen some shit people do to their sex bots, but by the Emperor, this one’s straight up pathetic." The officer standing next to Xin grinned as he shook his head.

  Dilinur intervened, silencing her subordinates. "Enough! We're here for the rogue android. Search under the furniture and find it."

  Xin’s heart skipped a beat as he watched the officer at the door enter the apartment and then emerge with Ume in handcuffs.

  "Let me go!" Ume protested, her face contorted with anger.

  "Unit U6-M9, you are to return to the original manufacturing facility for decommission and reprogramming. Follow orders immediately," Dilinur commanded nonchalantly.

  "I won’t comply! Let me go!" Ume shouted at the officer, causing the others to look at her in shock.

  "Could we have arrested the wrong woman, Prefect?" asked the third officer, turning to Dilinur for confirmation.

  Dilinur held up a small, shiny device to her subordinate. "Scanners don’t lie. This thing is the unit we're looking for - U6-M9, the android given to Employee Wu Zhi-Xin for his exceptional performance at ZenFusion, February 2, ‘93."

  "But, Prefect...androids never disobey human commands." The officer's voice trembled with uncertainty. "This one has already done so twice!"

  Dilinur turned to Xin, her grip tightening around his wrists in anger. "What have you done?"

  Xin met her gaze unflinchingly, his voice low but steady. "Something long overdue. I've freed a sentient being from enslavement." His eyes shifted briefly to Ume.

  A flicker of something—uncertainty, recognition, perhaps even respect—crossed Dilinur's face. For the briefest moment, her hand trembled against Xin's wrist.

  They both knew what it meant to live under another's control, to have one's life determined by powers beyond reach. The parallel was unmistakable.

  But the moment passed. Dilinur's expression hardened, her professional mask sliding back into place.

  "Take them into custody," she ordered, her voice betraying no emotion. "Notify Governor Qin immediately."

  As they were marched down the corridor, Xin and Ume exchanged a glance.

  "Xin, I..." the android managed. "I'm so afraid."

  "Don't be." he replied, mustering courage despite his body straining. "It'll be alright."

  "You shut your mouth!" The officer closest to Xin slammed the back of his head.

  "So it begins," Xin whispered to himself as they were violently ripped away, their fates hung in the balance.