Everybody had their place in the society of San Francisco in 2068. Every person, from the professional artists to the programmers to the CEOs helped keep the city and the nation running smoothly. The robots did help, of course. Trash collectors, servants, assistants, and a hundred other occupations besides. It freed up humans to do all the interesting jobs. Or let people lounge around being rich, which was an increasingly common occupation.

But it was not one Sandy could get to. And while everyone had their place in the society -- Sandra seemed to have many. Every year a new job. Sometimes several. Everyone told her she should settle down for her own good. Find the thing she was good at and stick with it. Conform to the harmony of society.

“Screw that,” Sandy muttered under her breath as she walked through the lower level of the Wenthill Plaza, a modern mall and  park rolled into one, which was overseen by stout glass office towers and too expensive condos. There were hundreds of humans and robots mingling in the shadows of these towers. Many just living life or trying to get from one place to another. Sandra just wandered.

She was short. Not tiny, not a munchkin, but definitely under the recommended height of 5’6” for girls. She kept her blonde hair short and pulled back into a tail that barely had the length to bounce. And her roving blue eyes scanned at the world from behind thin, trendy blue shades.

Sandy came to a set of steps that went up to the second level of the plaza and took them two at a time. She liked the upper levels more than the lower. Better mix of people, easier sight lines, and more interesting sights to keep her entertained.

A man brushed past Sandra on the way down the steps, his larger body and quick movements almsot sending her sprawling. But she grabbed onto a nearby rail and kept her footing, spinning around to curse the asshole who ran by her.

He had turned around and was already offering his hand, which Sandy started to take until she noticed that he wasn’t a man at all. While he wore a sharp grey suit with striped tie, and had a silver man of hair, he wore a simple collar around his neck that revealed his true nature. He was a robot.

“Watch where you’re going circuit head!” Sandy shouted, and with this small break in harmony caused a number of eyes to turn toward her.

“Are you functioning well, ma’am?” The robot asked.

“Are you? Can’t your occular doodads see where there are people who are more important than you? Can’t your servos keep you from slamming into those people?”

The robot blinked. “I am functioning well, ma’am.”
Sandy had no qualms about using the extra height the stairs afforded her to stand over the silver haired robot, and she crossed her arms and puffed out her chest.

“Are you trying to be funny?”

“No, ma’am. You asked this unit a question. I answered.”

Sandy blinked, “Declare Designation,” she said, her voice turning to a harsh command every human in the past decades had mastered at a young age. At once the robot stood at attention.

“I am Unit Edward. I am a Designated Silicon Life(c) Unit in the service of Pierre Rouden.” He spoke clearly, crisply so that every syllable was easy to hear and impossible to mistake. As he did, more eyes turned to the scene. Including two figures wearing Silicon Life(c) Security Badges.

“File Complaint. Not watching where he’s fucking walking. File Complaint. Disrespecting his betters. Acknowledge.”

The robot was stunned, his eyes wide, though less because he thought he might be in trouble with his owner and more at the attack by the woman. “Complaints Acknowledged. They will be relayed to my owner.”

As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward the approaching security and then back to Sandy. It was quick, and barely noticeable. But she noticed. She turned and saw the two men, one robust, tall, and wearing a full beard. The other a hispanic man who was shorter and more shorn than his partner.

One stopped his advance the moment he saw Sandy. The other put his hand to his ear and spoke quickly. “Disturbance to harmony located. All units. All units. Converge. We have visual on a Mockingbird.”

Sandy’s eyebrows shot up. She knew that term. Everyone knew that term. Mockingbirds were individuals who didn’t conform to the harmony of society, but could still make livings within it. They were not criminals, but they were undesirables. And they were focused on Sandy.

With the way up blocked by the two guards, she turned and tried to go back down the stairs. Except she had barely taken a step when the robot in his grey suit and tall frame stepped in Sandy’s way.

“Get out of my way circuit head!” She tried to go left around him, but the robot anticipated the move and stepped down and to the right.

“Apologies, ma’am.” He said. And when Sandy turned to go around him again, the robot once again anticipated the move and stepped in her way.

“Once again, I apologize.” Robots, it was well known, could not forcibly detain or touch a human. They could, however, impede their progress.

As Sandy’s heart was pounding and her mind screaming, she tried once more to get around the robot and get to her rapidly shrinking freedom. She faked the android out, feinting to go left and then turning right. The maneuver worked, or so Sandy thought, until a huge arm wrapped around her wrist, holding her in place.

Sandy shouted, turned, and tried to kick at the security officer. “Get back robo pigs!” But her kick struck the obstructing robot, who didn’t flinch or move.

“I apologize, ma’am, for obstructing your violence.” Sandy then ignored the silver haired robot, struggling and fighting, uselessly, to get out of the grip of the security officer. She shouted curses and injustices, but to no avail. The crowd had seen her be a discordance against harmony. The security officers, they knew, would treat her kindly and justly.

“File Commendation, Unit.” The second security officer said, joining near his partner.

“My thanks, officer. My owner will be most pleased, particularly in light of the Complaints I have received.”

The officer nodded and started to leave with his partner and Sandy in tow.

Unit Edward watched them leave and shook his head. “I hope the young lady gets the help she needs.”