“I want that one.”

The lithe figure had been escorted into a spacious room by an equally slender woman. Once standing near the center of the room, they had taken one turn and glanced at all of the simply clothed forms that stood in the room. The one in the far corner that was partially obscured from view somehow held Sojourn’s discerning gaze first. Somewhat taller and broader it seemed, with a decidedly warmer skin tone than the others. 

“Interesting choice, Mx. Vanguard.” The woman nodded approvingly. She advanced fluidly between the stone-still forms and continued with a measured tone, “I’ll admit that I had hand picked all of these selections for your diverse palette, however that particular specimen is my newest acquisition and has not been fully prepped. I had half a mind to keep it from you but I was curious to see... if you’d notice.”

They turned their head, tilting it slightly, while keeping an eye on the true trophy. 

“Oh don’t get me wrong, Evenida. I came here to choose something for a recent vacancy and I have yet to make up my mind—for that position.” Their voice was lilting with a different cadence than the woman’s. The fashionable Vanguard took measured steps towards the corner. They studied the muscular figure as they closed in on it. “I am however, interested in learning about this unit to get some additional ideas in the meantime.”

The woman watched the gaze of her client as they studied the unit before them as she began to list some features. She noticed the subtle smirk develop as Vanguard stared intently into the gold flecked brown eyes of her most unique offering.

“We haven’t fully tested the limits of the heavily nuanced programming but all of the preliminary safety protocols are iron clad, as they say.”

“Show me.”

She flanked the unit closely and reached a hand around to where a navel would be located on a human and pressed firmly with two fingers. After three seconds controls shimmered at various locations from under the flawless earth toned skin. With her other hand she tapped one of the symbols on the back of the neck just under the hairline.

“Access root.” Spoke into an ear. 

The symbols flashed three times quickly and then the word “passcode” was emitted from somewhere indistinguishable. It was a flat tenor with no depth to at all. She then cupped a hand to the ear and whispered something to the unit quietly. 

Suddenly the unit seemed to sigh without moving noticeably and transitioned from stone still to simply at ease. The difference was almost imperceptible even under Vanguard’s scrutiny. The most noticeable indicator was shallow motions of breathing. 

“Root access granted.” The unit spoke the words quite casually staring straight ahead without blinking. The sound from behind the plump and pliable lips was a surprisingly warm baritone. 

“Oh, I like the voice.” Vanguard noted, pleased. They stepped back to take in the unit fully and shifted a few paces to get a different angle. 

“I want a full system boot.”

“Now Vanguard,” she cautioned with a raised hand. “That is not recommended at this—“

“It will be mine. Charge me if you must, but comply.” 

By the tone of voice, she knew that they weren’t simply demanding it, they were claiming the unit. Dark brown eyes were studying the unit closely, picking up every small detail and intricacy. She could almost hear Sojourn’s ocular implant zooming and scanning. 

“Of course.” She acquiesced. 

She tapped the controls lightly which prompted them to illuminate. A swipe and another tap, then the unit inclined its head a fraction. 

“Initiate all parameters?” The baritone shifted upwards a note. 

“Initiate,” she confirmed. 

All motion seemed to freeze momentarily and then the dark eyes closed shut for a full second. When they opened it was fully animated. 

Evenida’s client watched intently as the being in front of them appeared startled and glanced around searching. It continued at take in its surroundings and spied the other figures in the room. It’s gaze settled back to the two nearest.

“Where are we? Who are you?” Oddly enough, the second question was directed to her client. There must have been some sort of user recognition in place. 

“My customer,” the woman motioned with a small gesture, “wishes to view you functioning fully.”

“General query: Designation?” Vanguard probed immediately. They stepped up towards the unit and faced it squarely. The automaton leaned backwards reactively a few degrees without altering its footing. 

“DN prototype version 0.”

“What does DN mean?” The question was asked in a distracted manner, glancing a Evenida.

“I’m...” Her voice stalled. 

“You don’t know?” They posed quizzically. She made a pensive grimace and then shrugged in response. 

“Ah, you never asked.”

Vanguard turned back to the unit and peered into the dark and inquisitive eyes in front of him. They studied the face too, and saw a thin mask of perplexity on the strong masculine features. 

“What does DN signify?”

“Doppelgänger Nexus.” 

“Doppelgänger Nexus version zero?” Vanguard mused. They reached up and placed a hand on the powerful shoulder. But it couldn’t land—the unit deftly shifted into a defensive stance and blocked Vanguard. The motion was so quick but the contact was gentle.

“DN-0, please allow Mx. Vanguard to freely inspect your shell.”

After a moment of what seems like hesitation, the unit relinquished its posture for a more open and neutral one. Curiously, it watched Vanguard as they lightly placed a hand on the prominent deltoid. He then applied pressure there massaging and testing before he moved up the trapezius where their fingers probed delicately for pressure points. Vanguard placed his other hand on a pectoral muscle. 

“Raise your arms.” Vanguard instructed. When the unit did not comply immediately, their eyes locked with those of the slightly taller figure. The unit held his gaze for a breath before directing his attention straight ahead and swinging his arms upward. As the limbs moved, Vanguard shifted the points of contacts and felt the muscle groups propel that motion. 

“Truly impressive!” Vanguard breathed. Their fingers traced the enticing relief of the abdominal muscles and the external obliques. The serrated anterior were finely detailed as well. 

“Down,” and the unit obliged. 

With their hands at either side of the bare torso, he leaned forward and placed an ear against the chest. As he listened his eyes found Evenida.

“Yes, the mechanism that you detect is located where a heart would be—and effectively behaves like one.”

“Inspiring!” Vanguard was absolutely taken. They stepped back and regarded the marvel fully. 

“I can expedite the preparations if you’d like.”

“I’m due to leave this station in fourteen hours. Make sure you’re finished before then.”

Evenida promptly tapped and swiped her wrist and spoke a commend under her breath. A door sliced open and clinically dressed person approached swiftly followed by a small drone. With a few curt motions she then quickly restored the unit to its prior inanimate mode. 

Vanguard had noticed that the unit had seen this all transpire and looked alarmed before being restored to its dormant state. The new figure in the room was controlling the drone which hovered close to the unit and morphed into a crescent shape. It then settle onto the neck of the unit and extended itself and clasp either end together and formed a collar. 

At that point the drone operator began to control the unit and as lifeless as it was, the unit walked away and out of the room. 

“I know we did not specify an amount, but can assure you that I’ll be most reasonable.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will.” Vanguard chuckled wryly. “Now, let’s see about a new  service model.”