Programmed, changed, acted, turned off, reprogrammed, rechanged, turned on.... Repeat.

He was made to act fast, to reach out, to kill in a battle, to defend the weak and never show any emotions despite the curiosity he held against his program. Everyday, he was told an order to do and obey. If he does something wrong. He is turned off immediately.

His programmer, his creator, the one that made him who he is. An object to use for the army. Against any war, he was there to kill the enemy on commands. With no way to speak his own opinions out. Stuck to only do what is told. He had done this for years...

Until recent years. He had been less used to doing this war crime. Instead he was reprogrammed to simply act like a security guard for his creator at home.

Am I a toy to you, my love?

A change had happened in his programming. He was being tested on his feelings. He can actually use a voice to speak. He can finally do what he always wanted to say.

Yet, he was still turned off when he dared to say something else than what his creator wanted to hear.

He was being messed up, twisted, manipulated again to act as only a companion needed when it was needed.

Just a thing to play...

They had been doing some mind games to improve his way of thinking and how to act around any humans he met. He was given a chip that would improve any of the emotions he has input in his program.

And then throw away~ 

But eventually...

He was left behind like any used object when you get just bored to play with it.

When he awoke from a very long slumber. He first saw he was in a room. Not too big... Not too small... Adjusted by his size.

It's like he was imprisoned in a cube.

I never asked for this..

He moved around, confused about what just happened. The room was empty. Despite the only chair with a table at the center. Everything else was... Pure white.

I always did my best.

His hands hit the walls as he couldn't find a way out of this closed room.

Without your love I am a broken mess.

He felt on his knees, desperate to know why he was locked up? What did he do to deserve such punishment?

Now I'm never enough...

He had followed the orders, played like a puppet and this is what he got for his services?

Not a thank you or any positive answers to his actions?

It's almost too much...

He remember the way his creator would give a compliment or an appreciation in the old times. At that time he was unable to speak.

For me to work I need a human's touch!

He felt lonely in that room. No one to speak to or to listen.
Nothing. He had become a broken toy.

*I'm just a toy to you, my love*

This was another test he thought. Like the other one, he was tested on how long he could stay in that cube. Then why his creator didn't say anything yet. It's been a month since he was in there.

*Just a thing to play and*

His battery was getting low... He couldn't stand up like he used to...

*Then throw away*

His last sight was this white wall he had been hitting with his fists. His most dangerous weapons had been removed from his body. The few he has couldn't destroy any walls from this room.

I need a human's touch!

He shut down. Unable to do anything but wait. 

But...

He waited until he had no more battery left in his system.

You don't need me

Before he had completely shut down. Memories his program had saved would play.

I need a human's touch, but...

Like a broken record, the voices of the people and of his creator would echo...

I'm obsolete.

It goes on repeat... Till silence came.

Another year has passed... This time he was turned back on. His optics would catch sight of some light. Sunlight. He was able to gain some energy with the rays. His posture on the floor shifted. He cannot believe what he was seeing.

It was hope. He held a hand over his covered chest.


We were still going strong.

His creator came to him. Put him in a different room. This one is better. It has furniture, decorations, colors and sound all around. He felt at peace. But not for long.

I never did you wrong.

Then came other robots that were created for other purposes. He felt an emotion curse through his circuits. Jealousy.

Until the new me came along.

Why does he need a robot that can do the cleaning in the house or serve dinner?

Why need another one that can sing and entertain?

He can do that too if he was programmed.

It was just you and me.

With the additions of two new robots, he felt uncomfortable.

We were such a good team!

His creator acted like it was normal. He was in disbelief at such a discovery.

But now I'm alone on the boulevard of broken screens.

His optics have been left behind to deal with this. He was programmed to kill after all. But why when he goes to investigate and talk with those two. He cannot raise any weapon?

He gets to meet their personality and the way they are not acting like robots. They are sentient and have their own opinions.

Compared to him it was... Unfair.

Just a thing to play and

He wandered in the house with no goals in his program.

Day or night...

He was still awake and not on a rest mode like the other two.

Then throw away

His creator did a check up on him, but that's all. No glitch, no virus, there is nothing to worry about.

I need a human's touch, but

A desperate glance to understand why.

You don't need me

But not a glance back or any care toward him.

I need a human's touch, but

Tears trail down his optics... Made out of pure oil.

I'm obsolete

To his surprise and curiosity. He looked down and wondered why he was crying?

I need a human's touch, but

The trail was left on his face for a while. It had worried the two other robots but not him.

You don't need me

The man he had admired... He was starting to hate him.

I need a human's touch, but

His rage turned into agony he could not do as he pleased.

I'm obsoletе

He can actually wander outside the house. But to go where?
He had never had a chance from meeting bad luck if he ever did find a way out.

He had preferred to never have a voice to speak.

He wishes the sunlight hadn't somehow passed through the isolated room he had been outpowered in.

I need a human's touch...

He goes to the room that seems to be made and assigns him his bedroom.
He curled his body around once he was on the bed. Contemplating his choices. He could live a life different from the one he had been programmed onto.

I need a human's touch....

He felt like he should act more human to be accepted one day.
So he put on some clothes that would suit him. He had gone to his creator room to get those.

He felt more comfortable wearing clothes. And it seems to have touched one of the two robots that would follow his move. But she seemed to have begged the creator to have some made.

While the other male bot simply uses an apron to look more clean as he was made to be.

I need a human's touch.....

He grew attached to the girl bot. He had learned by connecting to the internet about relationships. The two acted like brother and sister. She even got herself a name that would suit her. Stella. He was happy for her as he too wanted a name that would suit his personality.

But he was having trouble with founding one. Stella helped him out and they got the name Phony.

The other bot decided to keep his number as a name. One.

I need a human's touch......

His chip had developed well. He can act more human and was able to actually have some chat with random people that would pass by the house. It felt like he could finally have some attention and affection he missed.

He thought, even though he hated him and barely went to speak with him. He wanted to simply ask and know if he wasn't needed there. To finally be let go and do a life that was better than being a simple object. At first he received approval from his creator.

A smile.


An actual one.


He was delighted at the sight of it. Blinded by thinking he could finally go out to the world.


He hadn't spotted the remote in one hand that was aimed at his head.


One press of a button...

And then...

He fell down.