Bella can't accept Renee as really gone. In this chapter she makes a startling discovery. This is defiantly different. Inspired by a little bit of Robocop, Terminator and Black Mirror. I'll try not too make things too too dark. Let me know what you think!

"She's gone, Bella."

"No...no...she can't be!"

Bella Swan pushed her father out of her way as she ran up the spiral staircase to her room. Her whole world had been shattered. Just three weeks ago they both learned of a plane Bella's mother was on going down somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

She slammed her face into her pillow, smothering herself into that cotton cloud. She'd never cried like this not since her parents' divorce but she was only a little girl then. She was now 18 and a bigger mess than she'd ever been. Renee Dwyer had stayed to visit before going on vacation with her new man, professional baseball player, Phil. She was the only one not accounted for when a rescue team arrived via helicopter. Most believe she was swept away by the storm that had caused the crash in the first place.

She couldn't be gone. She just couldn't be.

Her father, Charles Swan had become a wealthy man after years of developing his own security system he pattended. He was becoming more of a ghost at home and neglected Bella without realizing it; her life was like a TV show he would tune into from time to time and would quickly forget about but he'd always know what channel it was on.

The arrangements for Renee's funeral were underway. Charles really had no time to grieve, he had to go on business after everything was taken care of. Bella felt weird dressing all in black, she'd become used to her average look of ripped jeans and boring old flannel. Mom wouldn't mind.

There was no body just an expensive box that would slowly be lowered into the ground. A blown up picture was standing next to the casket. Bella was still in a state of shock and disbelief as the minister drones on about life and how it's important to understand things come to pass.

"Does no one understand who they're talking about? Who she was to me?"

Bella was not one for public speaking but neither was Charles so it was odd to see him walk up to say a few words.

"Renee...was my friend. My wife and the mother of my only child. While I know how hard it's been for...," as he slurred through his speech, Bella heard his cell phone vibrate, "But it's not for us to question God I guess...the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away...uh...thank you all for coming."

His disappointed daughter watched him begrudgingly walk through the crowd to take a call. She was furious but let it go. Everyone walked up to the casket. It was errie. She knew there was nothing in that box but that picture of her as lovely as it was couldn't have been more heartbreaking. Bella had this feeling of total nausea wash over her.

She had a single white orchard to put on top of the lid. Her hand trembled. She touched the casket and shed a single tear as she placed the orchard delicately. "Goodbye, Mom," she whimpered.

"Bella you are getting your ass out of bed and that's an order!"

Alice Brandon, Bella's best friend knew she needed to grieve but she also needed to get out of that house. She warned her about her arrival in her brand new yellow Porsche. She was very persistent.

Bella was especially mopey that morning after Charles had some very choice words with her before he left. Alice wanted to go to the park, get her friend to enjoy life.

"I know it sucks, Bells but you have to. It's what she would want."

"I know...I just feel like I lost a huge part of my life. I just wish I could get her back."

They sat on a park bench and watched one of their peers , Jessica Stanley walk up to the with a tall, bald man in a peculiar leather outfit.

"Girls!"

"...Hey...," Alice and Bella said half heartedly. No one really liked Jessica, she was under the impression that just because she was from a rich family she could act like royalty wherever she went.

"Is he new?" Alice said, acknowledging the bald man.

Jessica grinned ear to ear, "He's my new servant, Damien."

"Hello, Damien," said Alice.

"Hello," Damien said back to her in a computerized voice.

The reason Jessica was so wealthy was because her father Adrian Stanley developed advanced, specially designed "Helper-Bots". They could pretty much do anything with the right software upgrade. They almost always passed off as human. Bella thought they were creepy as hell. Charles was nearly talked into getting one by Adrian who'd been a good client for several years. Renee herself objected to it when she was still married to him. That morning it was brought up again.

"You want to replace her," Bella mumbled.

"No...Bella...no one can...I just think maybe we could just use the help...someone to be here for both of us..."

Bella wasn't sure what he meant by that, it sounded creepy. He left one of his credit cards there with her. He knew she would come around to the idea and pick a 'Good one'.

"Say hello to Bella, Damien."

"Hello, trash."

Bella was taken aback. Jessica chuckled at what she had imagined as clever.

"Isn't that funny? I taught him that. I replaced the word trash with your name. At home I tell him to take out Bella whenever we need something thrown out."

"That's not funny, Jessica!" Alice exclaimed, disgusted.

"Whatever," said Bella, folding her arms and shrugging. She was never sure what started the beef between them. Both had fathers that were self made, she wasn't sure how much her father made but it was no doubt way more than hers. Maybe it was because she never showed off, never acted or dressed like she was worth millions. Bella would take a hoodie and ripped jeans any day.

"Look...," Jessica started, dropping the rich girl routine and acting like a human for once, "I'm sorry about what happened."

"Pssh," Bella said, smiling to herself.

"No. Really. I don't know what it's like but it can't be easy. I'm here for you."

"How exactly?" Alice stepped in.

"Hello! My dad is the president, founder and CEO of Helper-Bots Incorporated! I can hook you up with as many bots as you want."

Bella scoffed, "I don't need a bot! Especially not one from you!"

"Whoa! I know you're like grieving or whatever but that really hurts, Swan."

Alice took hold of Bella's arm and led her away. Jessica continued to call after them. "They're great for everything. Therapy, servants...and recreational activities if you know what I mean!"

Alice took Bella back home, expecting to spend the night but Bella wasn't feeling very social.

"Ignore her, she's an idiot."

"I know...I just..."

Alice hated seeing her like this, she was easily the best hugger she knew so how could she resist?

"Are you sure you'll be ok in this big house all by yourself?"

Bella nodded, holding back any sign of a tear. "Maybe we can do something tomorrow. I'll call you."

"You better," Alice said bluntly with a smirk.

Bella knew she was lucky to have a best friend like her, it only made it harder to turn down her offer. She just felt like she needed space, time to think.

She warmed up leftovers that were in the fridge and lied on the couch. Some reason she couldn't find anything to watch on the 100" screen. The news was too depressing but she had no strength to reach the remote; of course there was voice command but then that would require her to acknowledge there being a robot in her home or at least a type.

The commercials were unbearable. The one she really hated was the Helper-Bot ad but it looked like she was going to be spared.

"Are you feeling overwhelmed?" The announcer of the new commercial asked while a woman on screen struggled with a vacuum up the stairs and putting groceries away.

"...Yes...," Bella mumbled.

"Is life just too hard to manage by yourself?"

"...Yes..."

"Then you need a Helper-Bot!"

"Fuck."

It was a brand new ad for a brand new assembly of Helper-Bots. Male, female, black, white, etc. It was really weird. Bella couldn't stand their fake smiles and those eyes with those big pupils. Everything looked unnatural. Some were dressed in these grey jumpsuits while others wore some kind of skin tight black leather.

One actress looked super familiar but Bella thought she was hallucinating. But she couldn't be, messy brown hair, blue eyes, that perfect smile.

"...Mom?"

In close up she spoke, "We are here to serve you."

Bella was horrified. She took out her phone hastily and took a picture before the commercial ended. This was insane. She was trying desperately to figure out what this actually meant. Could Renee be alive? Turned into a robot? Or left her old life and became an actress? Whatever the case she demanded answers.

In one of her dad's trucks he gave her she drove over to the main headquarters. This was unlike her, angry enough to tear someone down twice her size. She sped up to the front entrance of the 16 floor building of steel and glass. Double parked and marched through the sliding doors.

A woman with short blonde hair greeted her, "Hello, how may I I help you today?"

"Where's your complaint department?" Bella ordered.

"Well I'm afraid they are closed for the rest of the day but you can fill out this form and we can contact you..."

"I don't have time for this!" Bella tossed the pages out of the woman's hand, "You people have my mom and I'm not going anywhere!"

The woman gave her a funny look, "I'm sorry what?"

Bella put her phone up to the woman's face, "That's her! She was in your commercial as one of those things!"

"Just a moment," the woman answered calmly and picked up her phone. In a minute two techs and a security guard showed up.

The first tech guy, a big guy with a thick beard looked through his tablet. "So I understand you're upset about a product."

"My mom!" Bella shouted.

The second tech guy, a fairly pale dude with lots of stubble took a look at the picture of the woman on Bella's phone.

"Hmm. That's the XR2. That model is much more advanced. Had to do a lot of testing with that one to work out the kinks."

"Yeah," said big beard, "It's a much more flexible model." They both laughed like no one was there, even the young security guard chuckled.

Bella was pulling at her hair, "Why is no one listening to me?!"

"Ma'am there is no need to go into hysterics," said the blonde receptionist who was way older than her and more of a ma'am.

"This was the robot being built just a month ago," the bearded tech showed her a video his tablet. A naked woman standing there, presumably Renee with her back to the camera. Her butt was huge. Super advanced, perfect skin and curvy. Bella was mortified. Then two men in hazmat suits started spanking her, first using gloved hands, both of them applying pressure to a cheek and then came the paddles.

"Ah! What are you doing to her?!"

"Relax. It can't feel anything."

"We were just testing it's responses," said pale dude.

"Responses for what?" Bella demanded.

The techs, the guard and receptionist all gave each other a look, obviously knowing and hiding whatever it was from her. She took out a photo from her pocket of Renee, crinkled up but you could see the resemblance.

"I want her right now!"

"To have sex with?" Pale tech dude asked.

"That's my mom!" Bella snapped.

"You want to have sex with your mom? That's messed."

"GRRRR!"

"Look I know you're upset, Miss," Beard guy said, looking back at the picture and the phone, "But we don't use real people and we do our best not to replicate anyone. It must've been a coincedense."

Bella was having a migraine. She held her head, massaging her temples in frustration.

"If you want we can give you a bot half price..."

"I don't want a stupid robot! I want my mom back!" Everyone backed away from her, afraid of what this 90lb teenage girl could do.

"I think it's time you leave, Miss," the security guard said nervously.

"Fine!" Bella walked to the door but stopped and pointed a finger at them, "I'll sue you! Whether that's my mom or not you are not selling her likeness!"

Bella stormed out. She would be back no question. Her father had to do something this was insane.

So it's definitely becoming a more unconventional story than what I've done in the past. Things will get more insane. See you next time!