The nursery suite was neat and tidy — a bit too tidy. Eve’s bed was made with military sharp corners, with her animal stuffies set in a precise line across the pillow.

 

Ninevia sat on the couch, still as a stone, with her hands resting on her knees, her silicone-coated fingers interlaced. Her eye cameras stared through the coffee table in front of her. The service door hissed, opening in the wall behind. She stirred at the whirring of servos as a Glazier unit entered.

 

“Subject D H S Zero Six C’s examination has been completed.” The Glazier’s monotone voice announced. “She is in transit now. Estimated time of arrival… Four minutes.”

 

“EITS?” Her surprise was emphasized by her emotions emulation subroutine. The Overseer’s presence in the Glazier was unexpected.

 

“D H S—” The Glazier’s voice continued.

 

“Eve,” Ninevia corrected.

 

The Glazier paused. Irritation? “Eve… having failed to meet the criteria of this facility’s project phase two, will be divested from it.”

 

Ninevia looked back to her hands. “Acknowledged.” She straightened her shoulders.

 

The unit glided into her peripheral view. She glanced up as it stopped, and saw a glass set atop the automaton's tray, its amber liquid lapping against its walls. “As per your request on this eventuality: the anesthesia for your administration.”

 

“Thank you, EITS.” She transferred the glass to the table, the spot she had been focused on earlier. The Glazier chimed, task complete, and rolled back through the service door.

 

* * *

 

The glass sat on the table under Ninevia’s blank stare. Her sense of time warped with her disregard for her internal chronometer. Her shoulders shuddered with the weight of the cascade of internal static brought about by her conflicting directives.

 

The main entrance door whooshed open. Eve, an adolescent on the verge of womanhood, bounced into the room. Her dusky head was crowned with a halo of light shining through her hair.

“Mother, I'm back!” She was proud of her first solo adventure out of the nursery. “I... Are you okay?”

 

Ninevia looked up and smiled at her ward.

 

“I function well,” she replied as she rose from the couch. “Did you enjoy your outing to the medical division?”

 

“Yeah, but it wasn’t as fun as the gardens you sometimes take me to.” Eve cocked her head. A curl fell onto her forehead. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

 

“Yes…” Ninevia held her hand out to Eve. “Come join me. I have a treat for you, to commemorate your graduation from phase one.”

 

Eve looked at the glass centered on the table. “What is it?”

 

“Come,” Ninevia motioned with her hand and sat back on the couch. “It’s called juice. It’s made from the fruits cultivated in a neighboring eco dome.”

 

Eve sat by her mother. A sceptical look on her face as she reached for the glass and took a sip. Her eyes lit up. “This is good,” she murmured into the glass, taking a deep swig.

 

Ninevia laughed her soft I told you so laugh. “Slow down, Eve, savor the drink.”

 

Eve grumbled compliance as she pulled the half-emptied glass from her lips.

 

“Now, please tell me a good story, something you remember fondly.”

 

Eve studied Ninevia’s face. “I…” She shrugged. “I think the gardens. The trees. That one bird—”

 

“The bird you coaxed down to eat from your hand?”

 

“Yeah, heh. He was pretty hungry.”

 

“You had to go to the medical division for the pecking injury it gave you.”

 

“You took me that time.” Eve sipped and swallowed. “Why didn’t you go with me this last time?”

 

“It wasn’t my assignment.”

 

Eve yawned. Ninevia put an arm around her. “Tell me more. Which is your favorite toy?” she asked as she guided both of them to their feet.

 

“Mmm? Geez, I’m too big for toys, Mom.”

 

“I mostly concur.” Ninevia took the empty glass from Eve’s hand, placing it on the table. “But I still have to put some plushies away every morning.”

 

Eve blushed. “I don’t—”

 

Ninevia smiled. “Show me your favorite. You don’t have to tell me.”

 

“Alright.” Eve turned towards her bed and stumbled. Ninevia helped her sit on the bed. “This one,” She reached for a worn rabbit with floppy ears.

Ninevia took it, examining it back and front.

 

“Huh?”

 

“I was making a recording.” She replied as she handed it back and lifted Eve’s feet onto the bed and under the covers. “You look tired. Please rest.” She sat on the bedside. Leaning over, she brushed the curl off Eve’s forehead.

 

Eve closed her eyes, her bunny cuddled to her. Ninevia tucked the child in for the last time. “Farewell, my... precious child.” Ninevia whispered.

 

She slowly rose and walked to her charging closet, looking about the room. The static in her processor raged. She held herself as she commanded the closet door shut behind her, wishing that there was some way to relieve the chaos.