Chapter Text
I.
Guinevere knew she had a purpose. It was hard-coded into her false flesh and blood. Her body was made for this purpose, meant to take even the worst of blows that she could suffer. From rowdy children to angry adults to downright attackers, she was born knowing she would suffer.
It just didn't make sense that she was hard-coded to feel pain.
In her first waking moments, she can remember the cold, blue lights of a lab, as a man stands over her, smiling. She didn't know anything except what she was given. Pop ups flashed over her vision, giving her everything she needed to know.
"Ah, you're awake, Princess," he said in a jovial tone she was born to recognize and listen to.
"Orville Park," she said. The pop-up had identified him as the owner of Park Studios, a multimedia company primarily focusing on animations. "It's my pleasure to meet you."
She curtsied, before realizing that she had no clothes. For a moment, she felt naked, disgusted with herself. She didn't know where these thoughts were coming from. It was like a steady stream of digital conciousness in the back of her mind, as numbers ticked up and down and scrolling chunks of text took up her vision. She felt a slight spark fire off in her brain, causing her to gasp as she grabbed her head.
"Come now, Guinevere, I have someone who's very excited to meet you."
She was wrapped in a robe, soft and comfortable on her false skin. Another chunk of text flew past her, but she understood it all in seconds. She was going to meet Olivia Park, Orville's one and only child. A girl ten years of age. She had been stressed, suffering from severe mental illness since something had happened. The information didn't clarify exactly what had happened, but Guinevere understood it to mean something bad.
Humans suffered from illnesses of the mind that could be just as debilitating as physical ones. Apparently, this girl had threatened to jump off of the roof after this unknown incident, which, according to Guinevere's database, was typical a sign of severe mental distress, and needed to be rectified immediately.
She was led to a glass elevator, and she watched as the ground beneath her flew away. She caught glimpses of Park Planet, with the sound of construction ringing through the area. Guinevere found herself sucking in a human breath, air filling her silicone lungs.
When they arrived at the top of the tower, she was led down yet another hallway, this one far warmer in color and lighting, but there was still an eerie sense of falseness to it. It should've been normal to Guinevere, it should've been recognized as her home, but her body wanted to reject it. She held her robe close to her body, as she continued down the hall. It was made with a human in mind, the ceilings a bit too close for comfort.
Eventually, they reached the end of the hall, with ornate, gilded doors. Orville snapped his fingers, and they opened. Inside was a bedroom, just as ornate, if not moreso, than the doors. There was a large bed, upon which a young girl — Olivia Park — rested.
"Papa?" she called out, sitting up on her bed. Her eyes widened at the sight of Guinevere, and she felt her body freeze. "What is this?"
"She's your new friend, Olivia," he said with a gentle smile. "Guinevere, why don't you introduce yourself?"
Guinevere curtsied once more, smiling at the girl, and looking for a smile in return. She was only met with a horrified gaze.
"I hate it."
Guinevere blinked twice, wondering if she'd heard correctly. If Olivia hated her, that meant…
That meant she had failed her purpose.
"Now, now, Olivia, no need to be so rude. She'll be your compainion, after all."
"I don't need her," Olivia said, turning away and throwing a blanket over her head. "I just want Mama."
Guinevere felt her synthetic heart beat quickly. She'd been coded to guide lost children back to their parents.
"Would you like some help searching for her?" Guinevere asked, truly trying to be helpful.
It backfired tremendously.
"Go away!" Olivia screamed.
She felt Orville grab her neck, seemingly hitting something, before Guinevere collapsed to the floor, warnings flashing all over her rapidly dying vision.
She awoke once more in the lab, wearily trying to sit up.
"Careful now, don't want to damage yourself."
She looked up to see Orville once more. She touched the nape of her neck, where she found a small, circular indent.
Her power switch.
"Sorry about that," he said with a smile. "Needed to do some rewiring."
Guinevere nodded, giving the man a smile. He was her creator after all.
Once again, he took her to the elevator, leading her up, up, up, until they were back in Olivia's room. Guinevere straightened herself out, preparing for the worst.
"Oh, Papa, you're back," Olivia said. She was playing some sort of game on a device, with bags under her eyes and a weary look to her. According to Guinevere's sensors, she likely hadn't been eating as much. "Oh, it's her."
She'd said those words with such disgust that it made Guinevere want to wilt. She needed to find a way to make Olivia happy, she needed to cheer her up, to save her.
After all, weren't princesses supposed to be hope and light to the world? Weren't they supposed to make people feel better?
"I reprogrammed her," Orville said. "Now, she won't do anything undesirable."
Guinevere hummed in agreement, though she had no idea what these undesireable things were.
"I'll do anything to make you happy, Olivia," She said, extending a hand. Olivia looked up at her, something lighting up behind her eyes. She took her hand, a smile spreading across her face. Smiles were good, it meant the child was happy.
Just then, Olivia, grabbed her finger, bending and breaking it.
"You're not her," she said quietly. "You'll never replace her."
Guinevere couldn't flinch, she couldn't show her fear. Even if she felt pain, even if she saw warnings popping up in her field of vision.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean," she said.
"You promise you'll let me do anything?" Olivia asked.
"Anything that makes you happy," she said, forcing her smile to widen. Olivia turned to Orville.
"Anything, Papa?"
He nodded.
Olivia smiled. It was a true, genuine smile. She looked so, so happy that it made Guinevere happy.
Purpose fulfilled.