The spot next to him on the bed was cold.

It had been cold for weeks, but Ty was used to rolling over and not being able to hold his wife. She often stayed out nights, but he could count on a morning cuddle, at the very least. He grabbed his phone and dialed Jennifer's number. Though he had wanted her gone, he also wanted to know she was okay. She was the mother of his child, and he would always care for her.

The line rang, and rang, until a recorded voice informed Ty the phone number was no longer available.

Throat raw and eyes wet, he hugged Jennifer's pillow tight.

~*~

It was the day after Halloween when Pen tacked up the new schedule. Post-Halloween schedules was his way of firing the new hires, his own version of a call-back list.

Good Time was a professional environment, or it should have been. Passively firing associates by allowing them to see their names removed from the schedule was the least professional approach to take, in Ty's opinion. Each new employee would approach the posted schedule with fear. Their finger would follow along the paper, searching for their name. When it became clear their name had been purposefully left off, they sighed a watery sigh, letting Ty know it had been a pleasure to work together.

The entire affair was always awkward.

Ty dreaded post-Halloween nearly as much as the new hires did.

What he dreaded seeing most of all was Antoinella's reaction. She was a sweet girl, and he was afraid she might cry once she knew she was fired. However, Ty was spared from witnessing her possible tears when Wallace called him up to the front.

Two technicians were packing up tools, ready to leave. Their visit to Good Time was apparent after Ty noticed the third kiosk they had installed. It was like the others, a mere stationary interface, but knowing that didn't make it any better for Ty.

"Guess that's why corporate got rid of so many employees, huh?" He nudged Wallace.

For once, Wallace's face was serious. "Those tech guys, they also upgraded the middle kiosk."

Ty huffed and puffed. "Upgraded?" What else can they do to these damn machines?"

Wallace tipped his head upward, an indication for Ty to look behind him.

An inch from him as the middle kiosk, and it was anything but stationary. It's clear screen lit up a pale blue before it addressed Ty in a surprisingly human voice.

"There's no need for hostility. I wish only to serve the customer, much like you. I look forward to working together."

At that, the machine swiveled around to return to its spot between the aisles.

"What the hell was that? Why did it sound like a, like a--person?" Ty waited until the machine was out of ear shot to speak.

"That's the A-I upgrade." Wallace said. "We're one of the first private companies in the state to get it."

Good Time was a large company, but Ty hadn't thought it an important or ambitious one. Lately, he was comprehending the deep roots Prominents had settled into his little store.

"Why this store?" He had to know.

"Good sales record." Wallace shrugged. "Who knows? I heard Pen say we're a test market. We'll see how this new upgrade works out."

The two men watched Antoinella walk to the front door, tears and brave smile decorating her face. She waved goodbye and was out their lives.

Wallace shook his head. "You were right. These machines aren't here to help us, they're here to replace us. I thought you were makin' stuff up, but it's only you, me, and Martine left. Give it a couple years, and corporate will have Pen as their only human employee at this location."

Ty considered telling Wallace to stop publicly speaking out against the machines, but he was distracted by the road the words had taken him down. It was a dark, empty road to the future:

The arrival of more upgraded kiosks would come with the elimination of more employees. Pen would suggest Martine and Sam be the first to go, both of them being girls and all. Then, it'd be Wallace's turn, because Ty was the favorite, and he would be left for last.

Everyone would try to find new work, but all the other stores and offices would be fully automated as well. There would be few jobs to be had. Short of being Prominent or tech agent, no one would have the qualifications necessary to perform the functions being fulfilled by kiosks, not for no pay at least.

It might take a couple of years to get to such a point in the road, but everyone was bound to be unemployed in the near future. It didn't really matter if Wallace spoke out and was fired.

"Have you seen the new bots?"

Ty was still weighted down by his thoughts. He managed to mumble a half-audible, "No."

Wallace was excited to have so much inside information in a single day. "They've been poppin' up. How could you not notice 'em?"

"What new bots? Where?"

"In front of the bank, dude, and other government buildings. They're military bots, with guns and shit."

Guns and shit? How had the new bots escaped Ty's attention? On the bike ride home, he made sure to glide past the bank. He saw a shiny piece of tech by the doors, but he couldn't see any guns. The thing just looked like another kiosk. While Ty trusted Wallace, he wanted to see for himself. He parked his bike.

Halfway to the kiosk, he heard it speaking to someone.

"You are not authorized for physical contact. Step back, or in twenty seconds, I will fire."

It had a different voice than the upgraded Good Time kiosk. The military bot sounded like it was uncomfortable with speaking, as if it had just learned the words.

A teenage boy was next to it, examining the front and backside of the machine. The warning didn't seem to register with him, as he did not step back.

"One, two, three." The bot was counting down.

It got to ten, and lifted a robotic arm. Affixed to the arm was a barrel rifle unline any Ty had ever seen.

"Hey, kid! Step back." He called out.

He was too far away. He wasn't going to get there in time. Shoot, but he was gonna try.

Again, the kid ignored the warning. The bot was still counting, and the boy had yet to move. Ty forced his body to sprint harder. If he really pushed it, he would get there in time to shove the kid out of harm's way.

"Nineteen, twenty."

On the last number, the kid dove out of the range of fire. A red streak of heat left the bot's weapon barrel, following the boy but missing him narrowly. The beam heat the pavement instead, leaving a scorch mark at least two feet deep.

Ty checked to see if the kid was hurt, but he was fine. There were two other punks picking him up. They were brushing dirt off of him, and more importantly, they were laughing at him.

"Stupid tech," the kid bragged to his friends. "Told ya it wouldn't get me."

Ty regretted trying to be helpful in any way.

****

A/N: Ya try to help, and it blows up in your face. Well, for Ty anyway!

Vote it you're likin' things, or leave me a comment on what's not working. Or tell me about your favorite song!

Thanks to a new follower, Kimiko450, who's written a great mystery/thriller, Gone:

https://www.wattpad.com/story/24204921-gone