First Draft

By Victoria Roberts

“You understand what needs to be done?”

I place my hands on the cold surface of the coffee bar and glance over my shoulder to where Brody sits, hunched over a menu. He looks like a normal human, but my proofreading glasses don’t lie. I saw them flash blue, and his admission afterward sealed the truth. He’s installed too much illegal tech.

Yet blood doesn’t lie either. A part of him remains, not quite turned into the robots we’ve been fighting. I brought him to the one place that had reminded me I was human when The Typo Alliance gave up.

I turn back to Kat. She adjusts her apron, fingers thrumming on the notepad between us. “There’s no going back. Erasing memories is permanent. Are you willing to give that up for him? He did choose the tech, after all.”

“He did.” I straighten on the barstool. “But the First Draft Café is about second chances, isn’t it? It’s the way of restoration. I know I can keep doing good in The Typo Alliance. But Brody is lost. He needs someone to keep believing in him.”

“You could do that.”

“You can do it better.”

Kat sighs, squeezing my fingers. “I’ll get the ingredients stirred.” She turns toward the double doors behind her.

I slip from the bar and breathe in the scent of centuries-old tobacco and freshly brewed coffee. The scent of home. Maybe these, at least, will remain when it’s all over. I join Brody at the booth.

“Ah. Finally.” He drops the menu on the tabletop. “Lattes for Lost Causes? What does that mean exactly?”

I smile. “It means that Kat has agreed to help us.”

Brody’s brow furrows. “How?”

“Kat used to be an editor for The Typo Alliance. She’s an expert at fixing stories others have given up on.”

“Okay. How does she plan to fix me without tipping off The Alliance?”

I bite my lip, measuring the cost of Kat’s solution. For a moment, I hope he’ll refuse and allow me to keep this part of myself.

I close my eyes. Push away that hope. He deserves a chance at a new life. That’s what I was given. It’s time I face the cost that was paid for me.

I open my eyes and forge forward. “Your restoration depends entirely on you. You see, Kat’s method is a bit unconventional. She uses science and coffee to create solutions that can neutralize and dissolve the tech.”

“Great!”

“But science isn’t perfect.” I continue as Brody frowns, “When you choose tech instead of having it installed by force, its connection is stronger. It takes longer to dissolve. While any residue remains, there’s a threat of The Alliance reading you as a robot. You can’t work for them until all the tech is gone.”

“I’ll use my vacation time. I’ve got at least a year saved up.”

“According to Kat, your tech could take at least five years to dissolve. Possibly more.”

“They won’t hold my job that long!”

“No, they won’t.”

There’s a moment of silence before his features harden and he balls his fists. “I’ll have to leave.” He shoves the menu across the table. “I’ll have to give up everything I’ve worked for.”

“For now. Once the tech is gone, you can join again.”

“Is this what you wanted all along? To push me out of the Alliance?”

“I want to help you.” I lean across the table. “Look, years ago I had to face this choice too. I’m not asking any more of you than what I’ve already done.”

Brody pushes away from the booth. “I’m not you.”

I follow him, stopping his retreat by placing a hand on his shoulder. “What’s the alternative? Turning yourself in? Joining the robots?”

“This is how I do good.” Brody’s fists clench at his side. “I’m nothing without The Alliance.”

I swallow, dropping my hand. “No one is nothing. That’s what separates us from robots. We’re more than the work we do.”

He turns then, opening his mouth to reply but Kat’s voice interrupts, “You still have a choice, Brody.” She sets two mugs on the table, motioning for us to sit.

Brody crosses his arms, pressing his lips together, keeping his distance from Kat.

With a nod to Kat, I settle in front of a bright yellow mug. A lump forms in my throat as my gaze catches the foamy heart shape at its center. I fist my hands in my lap. Waiting.

“The First Draft Café doesn’t force restoration on anyone.” Kat pauses, motioning again to the table.

Brody sits, eyes darting between us and the blue mug in front of him.

“I cannot erase your past,” Kat resumes. “But I can help you rewrite your future. Or you can continue down the path you’ve chosen and hope The Alliance doesn’t catch you.” She places a hand on Brody’s forearm. “One thing I can promise is that here, no matter how long it takes, you’ll never be powered down.”

Brody stiffens, eyes glued on Kat’s hand against his skin, right next to my white handkerchief bandaging his hand.

After a moment, I clear my throat. “So, what’s your choice?”

His shoulders slump. “Anything’s better than becoming a machine.”

With those words, he seals both our fates.

Kat nods, turning to me. “Then it seems your time with us is done, Meg.”

Brody’s head jerks up and his wide eyes meet mine. “What?”

I attempt a smile. “In order to keep your decision safe, I can’t come back to the café or have any memories connected to it. Including this one.”

My hands close around the yellow mug.

Understanding dawns on Brody’s face and he shakes his head. “But this is—”

“My past. I’ll gladly give it up to save your future.”

“I never meant to…”

“I know.” I smile fully this time. “Make it a good future, Brody.”

Then, I raise the latte to my lips.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Roberts has been making up stories in her head for as long as she can remember. She writes uplifting Sonflower Stories that encourage readers to stand for the light. When she’s not penning or devouring a new tale, she spends her time adventuring in the Sunshine State with her husband, spoiling their poodle Beast, or creating book-themed cross-stitch patterns.

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