I arrived at the Nightingale just after it opened. Saturday at noon was not their most popular time, and so I sat, alone, eating, and then drinking, and then drinking some more, for the better part of the afternoon. I had decided to sit at the bar instead of my usual spot close to the stage, because there are no live performances until six on a Saturday. The Nightingale wasn't known for it's food, but after two full days of hospital food, it was succulent by comparison. During the mere seven minutes it took me to finish, the withdrawal symptoms completely vanished. When they returned, alcohol managed to sate them.

Just as the dinner crowd started to arrive, so too did a familiar man.

``You look horrible Zero.''

I turned to see Veidtberg, standing over me, he had his hands clasped behind his back in a manner that only old rich and those pretending to be old rich ever do. He sat down on the barstool next to me.

``I could say the same thing to you, but you'd get tired of hearing it day after day.''

``Very funny for a man who just got out of the hospital.''

In spite all I knew about Veldtberg, the fact that he knew about me being in the hospital came as a shock. Truly only the information that never leave the mind are out of his reach.

``How did you find that out?''

He put his index finger in front of my mouth. A magician never reveals his secrets, I guess.

``How I know is unimportant. What is important is what I know, and how much my friends are willing to pay to know for it.''

``You know something pertinent to my case don't you.''

``I do. I happen to know where one Johnathan Walker Flynt is hiding. Or at least, where he was hiding two days ago.''

``How much is that going to cost me?''

``More than the usual.''

I gave him double to help prevent him from leaving any important details out. Veldtberg usually doesn't come on weekends, which could only mean that this was valuable information he planned on selling. He leaned in to talk to me.

``Thanks. I heard a story from one of my sources. Word is that they saw Flynt at the recycling plant on the border of the desert. Apparently one of his dummy companies recently bought a majority share of Laputa Waste Disposal and Recycling. The LWDR likely fronts a lot of his activities. Missing persons and incriminating evidence probably get incinerated or atomized with everyone at the facility either being out of the loop or turning a blind eye to it all. I wouldn't be suprised if they also mule drugs through the city in garbage trucks. At any rate, be prepared for a fight if you decide to go take a visit. They'll be expecting you.''

``Thanks for the advice.''

``No problem. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't want to interrupt your plans for this evening so I'll be taking my leave.''

``Wait, hold up. What do you mean plans? I didn't have anything planned for later.''

``Please don't lie to me Zero. You never sit at the bar. Deep down you must know why you're there. If it makes you feel any better I fully support your lifestyle.''

Veldtberg left before I could ask him any more about what he meant. I spent the better part of the next hour thinking about exactly what he meant. During that time I carefully administered my alcohol so that I straddled the thin line between feeling my withdrawal symptoms and being completely wasted. Eventually, as I sat there, buzzed and angry about what Veldtberg had said, someone took the seat beside me. The young lady ordered a soda, and spent the next few minutes sipping the drink.

Don't say anything, I told myself. Nothing good can come from this. But I couldn't. Perhaps it was the alcohol. Perhaps it was some lasting side effect of the pain medication, but slowly I began to shift in my seat and inhale to say the words that would break the ice.

``You said your name was Zero right?''

The fiend had beaten me. She wouldn't even allow me the dignity to open the conversation. I turned fully towards her. The instant I looked at her face, I was hooked. This was better than the painkillers and the alcohol. If it could keep the voice in my head quiet it might actually be worth it.

``That's right.''

``You have the same name as that television character. Do you know The Big Zero?''

``You probably won't believe this, but that show is loosely, and I mean very loosely, based on my life.''

``Really? You're the real Big Zero?''

``There's no real Big Zero. The real Zero is small and not at all like the Big Zero.''

``You know I always loved that show when I was younger. You were my hero.''

``Big Zero was your hero. I'm just a slob with a gun and a badge.''

``But you're the best detective in the city. You catch criminals and villains all the time don't you?''

``I don't exactly like to gloat about my job, but yes, by most metrics I am the best in the city.''

``I have some time before my gig. Could you tell me all about your job? And can I get an autograph? Actually, can I bring my box set sometime and have you sign that.''

``Listen, Avanna, I'm really flattered, but I'm nothing special. If anything it's probably best that I don't tell you about my job. They heavily filter my stories for the kids. Real life is much more morally grey and vile then the flashy shows you find on Saturday morning. It's not something someone like you should be hearing about.''

``Why, do you think I'm a precious little angel that needs to be mollycoddled and protected from the harsh reality of the world? I might sing fluffy romance songs, but I'm hardly innocent. I can handle a little harsh reality.''

And so a harsh reality was what she got. I started out telling her the least disgusting encounters I could, hoping to perhaps bore her away from the issue. When that failed I tried to scare her with some of the more disturbing encounters I've had over the years. I avoided discussing Lunatic for as long as I could, but eventually she asked about the greatest villain. While she was captivated by each story, to the point where if I stopped to medicate, she'd press me onward until I continued, it was clear that nothing else would suffice to satiate her desire. I carefully left out any mention of the voice in my head, but told her all the rest. She must have been disappointed to know that I had had only one personal encounter with Lunatic, when he was such a recurring figure on the show.

``That sounds like a story I've heard before, but I can't remember where. I know it wasn't an episode.''

I said nothing as she continued to think. I looked at my watch, then pointed to it for her to see. The gesture alone was sufficient. She stood up immediately and bowed apologetically.

``I have to go perform now. I guess I'll talk to you later?''

``Good luck, though I doubt you need any.''

``Thanks. I'll bring my box set next Monday, so be here, please.''

Before I could reiterate that my signature was worthless, she had already ran through the door that led back stage. Soon she appeared onstage and began her usual routine. This time, however, she spent a lot more time singing to acoustic versions of her songs. As such, many of the members of the band behind her found themselves with little to do. They sat and waited with their electronic keyboards and synthesizers as the pianist and trumpeter played their heart out. Because it was a Saturday, her performance was very short. As the rest of the patrons whistled and chanted for an encore, I finished my last drink, payed my bill, and left. It was already night fall, and the wind sent a chill down my spine. I entered my car, but just as I was about to turn it on, I heard the sound of my passenger door open. To both my delight and my dismay, it was Avanna.

``The taxi service androids are on strike. Would you mind taking me home?''

I should have said no, I should have told her I lived on the opposite side of town as her. I should have told her I was in a hurry to meet someone. Instead I played right into her hand.

``You haven't eaten yet have you?''

``Zero, I'm an android.''

``But you can eat can't you? Even if it is mostly just for show.''

``Do I look like a model made to emulate human behaviour?''

I recalled what Veldtberg had told me about the RDW model in the past. It contradicted what she said. I could feel myself blush at the thought.

``You were drinking just before your show tonight.''

``Water lubricates my voice box. Food just passes through undigested.''

``But you can eat it.''

``Yes.''

She finally admitted it.

``So then eat with me. I'll pay for you.''

She slouched in the seat and then agreed so long as I took her home immediately afterwords. We went to a small diner that was along the way to her house. She ordered a salad. I thought it was funny because most human girls would order it to avoid gaining weight, but for her it was merely because of the cost of food. For my own part, I ordered a veal sandwich. Some other patrons stared at us with a little bewilderment as we ate and talked some more.

``Hey Zero, what do you think of human android relationships?''

I choked on my food. I stammered at the question. Was she trying to seduce me, or was this part of her programming? Did it make a difference?

``Most people dislike it. It's not right. Humans have relationships so that we can have kids. If they go with androids, then they're genetic dead ends, which is against Darwinism. It's also bad for keeping Laputa's population stable.''

``I don't mean that kind of relationship. I mean in a social sense. Like jobs and such. Like the taxi driver strike.''

I could hear elated laughter from the voice in my head. Clearly he was enjoying my suffering.

``Oh. I don't really follow that sort of thing. Androids were originally made to serve humans, but you're essentially free. We don't get any special rights over you. Any difference between us socially is a result of intrinsic differences.''

``And those differences are a product of your design. Take me eating for example. I can't taste the food. If I could design androids they'd all have taste buds.''

``But you don't need those things. Your differences don't make you lower.''

``But there's more. Some of our parts are designed to fail after a certain amount of time. If we could design ourselves we could live much longer.''

I knew that part of the reason why models are designed to fail after a set period of time was to allow old models to be replaced by better models, and to avoid crowding, but I didn't have the heart to tell her.

``Isn't it against the law to purposely design us to fail? Substandard engineering and medical practice is banned by the Hippocratic Iron Ring law.''

``Malpractice isn't really the kind of crime I stop. You would probably want to start a court case.''

``We have. That is to say, androids have. It was never accepted in court.''

``I see.''

Avanna finished her salad in silence. She had put herself in a bad mood with our discussion.

``Hey Zero, is peace justice?''

``I'm sorry, what?''

``Is having and maintaining peace justice?''

``I guess so.''

``Is egalitarianism justice?''

``I guess so.''

``Will you always fight for justice?''

``I always have.''

Avanna looked up and stared at me. Her animated eyes twinkled in a way I had never seen them do before. She smiled slightly.

``Then maybe everything will be okay.''

She left for the car, and I payed for the meal, before joining her. I wanted to ask exactly what she meant by her last question, but I felt like prying might make her lose the silver lining expression that had illuminated her face. She said nothing all the way to her building. When we arrived, she leaned over to me and thanked me, her face only inches from mine. She said goodnight, and left. When she closed the door I turned the air conditioning to maximum and rested my head on the steering wheel until my sweat dried and my jitters subsided. Was I expecting her goodbye to go differently?