Girlfriend model Gra74-C23, affectionately known as ‘Gracie’, touched her metal fingertips against her flesh covered thigh. The pneumatics’ were silent within. Like a classic pianist, composing a melody, one note for each touch, the five tips one after another fell. Her brain, a computer control center encased in synapse and tissue, did not notice the glitch movement. But Joey, her boyfriend, had noticed. And that just wouldn’t do.

“It’s not like you show it much, sweetness?” his tone cheerful. “I’ve seen some really glitch robo’s. Remember Dads old garage aide ‘Major’? He kept that old boy way past his end date. Major used to shrug. An actual shrug. But after Dad fell, I sent Major for a service at the factory and he came back better than new. Maybe you just need service, my love?”

She replayed the conversation stored at 24m2s mark of flash memory. With a simple blink, Grace executed permanent erase.