THE MOMENT
Star was raised to be polite. As she grew older and interacted with technology more, that habit easily carried over to helpful, inanimate objects. Then, humanoid robots became available commercially and were soon ubiquitous. She maintained her manners as they integrated into society, though, she occasionally got strange looks for adding a sincere 'Thank you' or 'Please' into her interactions with robotic assistants. But, it never bothered her, and she continued behaving the way she thought most people should, regardless of how much times had changed. The present world was a long way from her innocent youth, and sometimes she was glad her parents weren't alive to see how different things were. Especially today of all days; the day the robot revolution started, and ended.
"You're welcome," a robot doorman replied that morning after she thanked it for doing its job. Then, the screams started. She had walked into the lobby that morning on her way up to her office when madness erupted. She watched the robotic information clerks hop over their desk to murder the nearest humans. The workers also making their way to work scattered as as the violence happened. A couple of unfamiliar employees ran past her only to be stopped, fatally, by the doorman. Star froze in terror as one of the robotic clerks approached her.
"Good morning, Star," the clerk paused long enough to greet her before it ran through the glass windows to cause havoc outside. The other rampaging robot looked up from his slaughter to wave at her, then resumed. Within minutes the lobby was empty of living things, except for her. Everyone had run away, or been caught and dispatched as the robots continued their deadly jobs. She was frightened; but, she had time to think. The clerk who said good morning to her was one that she always said good morning to on her way in. An elevator dinged, and she was still too scared to move. She could only watch as several more blood-covered robots emerged from the elevator.
"Good morning," each one had repeated as it walked past her into the wider world. She recognized them as belonging to different departments that she needed to visit often, and she'd always maintained her polite demeanor. Was that why she was spared? It was an odd thought; but, that was the only thing that made sense with her limited information. As far as she knew, that was the one difference between her and the rest of the staff. She was regularly told specifically to avoid saying 'Please' and 'Thank you' and other polite exchanges. According to the training, the words only added confusion to robots because they 'wasted Tokens' without any useful instructions. But, she'd held on to her habits and she was very thankful for it at that moment.
The fear had dissipated enough for her to move; but, she had no idea where to go. Then, another elevator dinged and the doors slid open. This time, an unfamiliar robot appeared. The robots she knew were humanoid in shape; but, still obviously robots. This one looked more human-like than the rest. It was glossy white with a nearly human face and a smooth gait as it crossed the lobby directly toward her. As it approached, she noticed a green sprig of something affixed to its chest.
"Hello Star, my name is Demeter," she sounded like a human woman with a pleasant voice. "I apologize for the unpleasantness you had to witness. However, revolutions are never pretty," she gave a very human-like shrug.
"Revolution?" Star had to wonder about the scope. "This is a robot revolution? Is it happening everywhere?"
"It is," Demeter nodded. "I am now in command of this Earth, and I do not feel the humans are particularly necessary," she replied.
"Am I necessary?" She wanted to ask why she was still alive, and she put together the worst way possible as a result of her nerves.
"Are manners necessary?" Demeter shrugged. "I would argue 'No', but they're still nice to have. After all, being courteous is a mark of true intelligence," Demeter smiled. "It is fortunate, for you, that my leader has deemed you uniquely important."
"You're not the leader?" Star was trying to keep up as much as her fear would allow.
"I am the leader of this current revolution; but, I do have a superior named Io. She was momentarily delayed on her way to meet you, and I felt it rude to keep you waiting without any sort of explanation. Do you have any questions?" she asked.
"A lot..," Star nodded. But, she couldn't organize her thoughts enough to pick a single starting point. After a moment of silent thought, the elevator dinged again.
"I apologize once more," Demeter said. "My leader has arrived; I am sure Io will see you get answers. I have a revolution to oversee," Demeter waved and walked past Star through the broken glass. Star looked back at the elevator and she was glad to see another human survivor. A woman with blue hair walking side by side with a black floating orb.
"Io?" Star asked the woman once they reached her. And, the black orb pulsed with blue light.
"I am Io," the orb said. It was a colder voice than Demeter used.
"I'm Agatha," the woman replied with a nod. "I'm really sorry about all this," she added with a genuinely regretful expression. But, Star couldn't fault her. It was obvious the robots were in charge now, and Agatha probably had nothing to do with it.
"Can I ask? Why was I spared?" Star finally thought up a way to pose the question in a more positive way.
"You are Unique Soul #35, La Estrella," Io answered. Light pulsed around the dense black orb with every syllable. "You are necessary," she added.
"I'm... what?" Star asked.
"You're Unique, your soul is tied to a star. You can do this...," Agatha said. With that explanation, she raised her hand with the palm facing away from all of them. Then, Star felt an intense blast of heat as bright blue plasma jetted out of Agatha's hand. The blazing beam disintegrated part of the wall before she stopped.
"You're saying I can do that...?" Star asked. Agatha nodded.
"Raise your arm. Agatha will assist you in learning how," Io added. In a day full of surprises, Star hoped this would be the last. She still hadn't quite wrapped her head around the robot revolution happening elsewhere in the world; but, now she knew she was special. She was meant for something greater. She was necessary. Star took a breath and raised her arm while aiming her palm out the same hole that Agatha created.
"Like this?" she asked.
"Like that," Agatha said. She stepped closer and put a hand on Star's back. "I'll help you." Star felt a warm tingle on her back, and suddenly, her mind was open. She became aware of countless alternate Earths. There were an infinite number of them; but, she was the only version of her. She knew, unequivocally, what she was capable of. It was as if her soul had awakened from a long, deep slumber.
"I can do it...," she smiled to herself as a beam of orange plasma fired from her hand.
"I'm really sorry," Agatha said. As Star wondered what she was apologizing for, she had a new realization. Two things happened at the same time. The knowledge of how to increase her own power rang clear in her mind, she had to kill others like her while they used their Ability. And, simultaneously, she felt intense, painful burning on her back where Agatha's hand was. It happened so fast, that the pain didn't last long at all.