Rebirth 

by M J Molloy

The red headed female was crouched behind the dumpster, her green eyes wide with terror as the guards' boots pounded the pavement as they ran past her. She had never done anything like this before and didn't know how to proceed. She glanced down at the sleeping newborn that she was clutching tightly to her breast; his tear stained face looking calm as he slumbered; blissfully unaware of the dangers around them.  Hopefully he would stay asleep as if not his powerful lungs would not just alert the entire neighbourhood that they were there but their pursuers as well. 

Holding her breath, she peered around the dumpster, relieved to see that the alley was empty. Without hesitation she was off, heels click clacking against the old cobble stoned floor as she picked up pace, entered the main street and blended in with the rest of the pedestrians…

“What do you mean she got away? How the hell did she get out of a top security hospital?” Stephen said incredulously. Not pausing to give the CEO a chance to reply. “You promised us that Victoria would be happy to hand the kid over and now she's decided to kidnap him. This is outrageous!”

Archie Hammond ran his fingers through his black hair that had begun to grey at his temples. Thick brows knitted together on a once boyish and handsome looking face that had aged beyond his years due to the stress of the previous interstellar war as well as running a multinational company. All made worse by what had just occured. Nothing like this had ever happened before. If this got out it would be the end of everything that he and his family had worked so hard for.  And Stephan was an important man and not one that he could likely buy off. Damn! He had to diffuse this situation quickly.

“Please accept my apologies Mr Steel and believe me when I say that the people who are responsible for this will be severely..”

“I don't want to hear your excuses. Just find my son, otherwise your damn company is finished. Do I make myself clear?”

Not giving him a chance to reply as he turned on his heel and exited the office.

Oh he'd made himself perfectly clear alright. He was finished if he didn't act fast. Well there was only one thing for it. He had to contact Marsden, his old friend whom he had served with in the war between Earth and Mars. He was an ex marine turned mercenary and someone that was known to deliver fast results. However it wasn't going to be an easy path as their relationship had become strained over the last two years when Archie had discovered his wife was leaving him for his best friend. There was no love lost between them though; their marriage had been long over but it was the principle of the matter. But if there was anyone who could find Victoria and the kid it was him. He wasn't particularly keen on swallowing his pride to ask him for help but left with no other options he voice activated the interface. 

Moments later Marsden's map-like face that was as mean as sin appeared on the screen.

“Well this is a surprise. What do I owe you for the pleasure?” his old friend said.

He was straight to the point. “I have a problem and I need you to take care of it.”

“Pffft. You've made my life hell over the past two years bad mouthing me and all. Lost count of the amount of contracts I lost because of you.  So why the hell should I help you?”

“Because you owe me one old friend after what you did..”

“Change the record. Your marriage was long over. We both know that. It's about time you stop harping on about the past and get on with your life. Anyway whatever it is you need me to do, I am sorry but I can't help you.”

Archie's mouth tightened. He wouldn't let himself be drawn into that old argument that never got him anywhere. And he had to change his mind and fast. “I will pay you 10 million.”

A flicker of surprise crossed the other man's normally stoic face. He leaned forward. “Ok, maybe I was wrong and I can help you. Tell me more.”

Victoria stepped out of the self driving lorry that she had hitched a lift in. No sooner had the door closed it kicked up dust as it tore down the worn out road. Her sweeping gaze took in the surrounding countryside. It felt good to get out of the city. She glanced down at the infant who was beginning to stir. It would be feeding time soon and then she'd know about it. His lungs were almost as powerful as his fathers. Her face fell as she thought back to the man that she'd had an affair with. It was something that she had never done before because it was against company rules but it was one of those things; it just happened.  

Stephen Steel had thought that having a child would bring out his wife's maternal instincts and that it would turn her from a woman that was married to her job to a stay at home mum. Or at least be there more often for him and their future kids which was ironic considering that he too worked a lot. She agreed to the latter.  But there was one problem; Felicity had discovered that she could not have children. That's where Victoria had come in. They'd chosen her to be their surrogate and after the artificial insemination procedure had been successful had invited her into their home to stay until their child was born. Sexual relations was not part of the deal. But with his wife away for most of the time it wasn't long before she was occupying his bed.  However their affair had been a brief one; he'd developed a conscience and was not willing to risk losing her if she should find out about his infidelity. Victoria, who had been raised to be compliant had not made a fuss about it and had got on with the assigned job. 

The contract stated that when Junior was born she would leave and never contact them again.  It seemed easy enough, after all she had done this many times before. But she hadn't expected to form an attachment with the child who was growing inside of her. Didn't even know that she was capable of feeling so much love until she had brought him into this world. His startling blue eyes that were so like Stephens melted her heart instantly.  It was at that moment that she knew that she couldn't part with him and had escaped with him from the facilities hospital.

Leaving the road she headed into the woodland, sat down on a moss covered stump and stared fondly at the infant whose eyes were now gazing up at her. Unbuttoning the blouse that she had stolen off the woman security guard, she guided him to her breast. However the sound of twigs snapping in the undergrowth alerted her that something or someone was nearby and she was up in a flash. There was no time to react as moments later an armed figure stepped slowly into view.

“No sudden movements Victoria. Just put the kid down and step away. No need for anyone to get hurt.”

She glanced around her as more armed figures emerged from behind the trees. There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. With a heavy heart she brushed her lips against his forehead then laid the child gently onto the forest floor and stepped back. 

Marsden scooped him up in his arms then once he was a good distance from her, he barked orders at one of his men to frisk her then take her to the van. Before he'd even taken a step Victoria panicked and ran.

The sounds of gunshots scattered the few remaining birds.

Victoria was just supposed to be an ordinary synth that had been designed by Zait Tech, the leading company in robotics. Her role was to act as a surrogate for rich families who could not conceive or carry full-term.  She had not been designed to become sentient but against all odds she had and as her circuits exploded, she felt the excruciating pain that was no different to what a human would feel.  Not just pain from the wounds but one that reached deep into her heart. A tear trickling down her cheek at the thought of never seeing Junior grow up.

One day my kind will have AI rights and murdering our kind in cold blood will be illegal, she thought. One day my kind will not be exploited for profits and will have laws that protect us. One day synths will be allowed to fall in love, get married and raise families of their own. One day… Not finishing that thought as the last spark of life fizzled out of her.  Unseeing green eyes staring up at one of the men who had ended her short and tragic life.

“What should we do with her, sir?” asked Martin, an ex-commando turned mercenary.

Marsden turned his head to look at the youngest recruit who had a patch over his eye. “Our orders were to return her to Zait Tech alive, but that's not gonna happen now thanks to you trigger happy idiots. They ain't gonna be happy. Any deductions and it will be coming out of your pockets.”

Martin continued as if he hadn't spoken. “Wonder what they will do with her or what's left of her?”

“Rebirth her I guess.”

“Rebirth her sir?” he replied as he scooped her up in his arms.

“It is a term that they use when they erase her data and use her old parts to make another synthetic. Hopefully there will be some parts of her that are salvageable as that's damn expensive tech in there.  By the looks of the amount of bullets that you morons all put in her I doubt it,” he said, knowing that his neck was on the line.  “Come on, let's get out of here.”

Two years later

Lenny Harper stood at the window next to the blond haired pretty surrogate whose pregnant belly was beginning to show. His wife Sharner stood in front of her, her hands pressed firmly against the synths bump. Her green eyes widening in wonder as she felt their child move beneath her fingers. “She's so lively.”

“Just like her mommy then huh? Only four more months to go love and then we'll get to meet our beautiful daughter. I'm guessing her lively ways will keep us both on our toes.” He came to stand behind her and put his arms around her tiny waist. “Have you decided on a name yet?”

She turned to face him. “I was thinking about Jarna.”

He laughed. “You're kidding me.”

She nudged him with her elbow. “Hey what's wrong with Jarna. It's modern, has a great ring to it and it's unique just like our baby is going to be.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of a good old fashioned name, like Victoria.” He paused as his wife's non-amused face looked up at him. “What are you looking at me like that for? It's a beautiful name.”

“I'm not calling her after your mother. Forget it. Plus I hate that name.” 

He glanced over his shoulder at the synth. “What do you think of the name Victoria, Celia?”

The name surfaced something that shouldn't have been accessible to her. Something that had long ago been removed from her data banks. The synth looked from one to the other. Her twinkling blue eyes came to rest on his wife. “Lenny is right Sharna. Victoria is a beautiful name.”

Sharna laughed. “Hey, how about you two stop ganging up on me huh?”

Victoria suddenly yelped as the child pressed on a nerve sending jolts of pain up her spine.  The parents were back by her side. “Are you ok?” asked Sharna.

She nodded as the discomfort eased. 

“You've been overdoing things Celia. Take the day off. Lenny and I will make dinner tonight.”

“There's no need. I'm ok, honestly.”

“We insist,” they said in unison.

Celia reluctantly sat down and let Sharna put her feet up on the pouffe. “There's really no need to fuss over me.”

“Yes there is as you are carrying our precious gift and it's the least that we can do for the both of you. Plus enjoy being fussed over Celia. It won't last forever.”

The synth's face fell. “Can't I stay here after the baby is born Stephen? I really enjoy living here and it would be nice to see her grow up.”

The couple's brows knitted together. “I'm sorry Celia but Zait Tech won't allow that. You are only on loan, remember. And the last time that I checked I was called Lenny not Stephen. Where the hell did that come from?”

Celia frowned. Her mind felt muddled. She looked up at him. “I have no idea why I called you that. I'm sorry. I understand Lenny.”

He smiled. “It's ok. No harm done. Get some rest. And we'll bring you some food up.”

“Thank you Lenny.”

The couple moved onto the landing and closed the door quietly behind them. 

“Well that was a bit odd,” he said to his wife. “I've never heard of a synth asking to stay on so that she could see the child grow up.”

She nodded in agreement. “Yeah me neither. And calling you Stephen was even weirder. Do you think she's malfunctioning?”

“Who knows. Just to be on the safe side  I'll contact Zait Tech tomorrow and get a second opinion.”

“Good idea darling.”

He started down the landing but stopped in his tracks and turned to look at his wife. “I know it's a bit late to say this now but maybe we should have gone for a new model rather than a reconditioned one.  My friend said that there were rumours that the rebirths as they call them sometimes retain memories from their past assignments and one even tried to abduct a baby.” He noticed the worried look on his wife's face so he clasped her hand and squoze it reassuringly. “Hey it'll be ok. Probably it's nothing. But if it is, I'm sure Zait Tech will sort it out.”

Celia, who had heard everything, sat down on the bed. The last bits of information that they had supposingly erased from her memory banks came into her awareness once again. Now she remembered everything. She had once been Victoria, a surrogate that had been assigned to Stephen and his wife; a work-aholic couple who didn't know how to love each other, never mind a child. The only thing that the pair had going for them was their money and status. After Junior was born she couldn't bring herself to leave him in such a loveless household and had fled to the countryside.  However Zait Tech had tracked her down. She recalled how they had killed her in cold blood. Her fingers balling into fists at the injustice of it all. She thought back to what Stephen had said about her kind being called the rebirth models. The name was apt as she felt as if she had gone through a huge transformation. This time her spirit was stronger, she was smarter and twice as determined to make sure that they never found her or her child. She would be the only mother that she knew and she'd be a damn good one. For even though this couple were a lot nicer than the last one, they could never love this child as much as her.  

And maybe, there were others just like her out there. If so she would find them and join them.  And who knows, one day they may become a force to be reckoned with, she thought as she opened the window and climbed out of it.