Serena21’s heartbeat started to accelerate again. “Final visit?”
“Yes, my visit tonight is to tell you about your options and all of their consequences. Do you wish to hear them now, or do you have any other questions first?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“Would you like me to purr some more? Perhaps a cup of tea?”
Serena21 set aside the pillow and her tissue box and got off her bunk. “I think I need some water.”
“I will wait.”
“Can you purr for me while I get it?”
“Of course, it would be my pleasure.”
LullCat838 purred while Serena21 got up and used the bathroom, then washed her hands and got a glass of water from the dispenser. She stumbled a bit as she walked, as though her balance was off. LullCat838 also noticed she was thinner than the last time she visited, with new bruises on her legs, probably from memory loss disorientation.
LullCat838 sympathized with the girl. She remembered her own youth, two hundred years ago on Earth. She herself had become depressed after each child she’d given birth to, as well as every time one of her mates, children, or grandchildren had passed away. She had become deeply depressed after the last World War; it had been such a hideous waste of life.
Serena21 finished her water, put her pillow on the warmed floor, and sat down, folding her legs under her. She was now close to face level with the cat. “Okay, I’m ready, what are my choices?”
LullCat838 stopped purring, but sat in the cat loaf position, with all four legs tucked under her. “The station needs you to finish your contract here, so they want you to accept a level 5 memory wipe.”
“What’s that?”
“You have had levels 1 through 4, all of which involved wiping the crime you were convicted of, and then the subsequent suicide attempts and the conversations associated with them. It’s complicated, but each time we do it, we block certain brain synapses, and take a small bit of your free will and creativity.”
“But… I was a sculptor.”
“Yes, it is not good for artists.”
“That doesn’t sound very safe… or attractive.”
“They will also forgive the bill of damage you acquired during your last suicide attempt, and give you a credit bonus at the end of your contract.”
“How very generous, considering the damage they say I did was only the delay of shipments for the hour.”
LullCat838 knew the delay had set back the station more than 25,000 credits, but chose not to argue the point. “Nonetheless, that is their offer, and I would point out that if you succeed in committing suicide, they will owe you nothing, so it is a risk they are willing to take.”
“Good point. Is a level 5 dangerous?”
“Yes. You could lose intelligence and resiliency.”
“Resiliency?”
“Your ability to adapt to stressful situations. It is part of why you have become suicidal.”
Serena21 sighed deeply, and put a hand up to the side of her head. “I knew something was wrong with my brain.”
“Do you want to hear the other choices?”
“Yes.”
“You can resign your contract here, get back your memories, and go home.”
“Really? That doesn’t sound too bad. I do miss Earth.”
“However, you would also lose the addiction correction device the agency installed. It is a very expensive treatment, and you would owe them for all of your treatments and care and whatever bonuses they received for sending you here and the money they receive for having you here.”
“How much is that?”
“62,155 credits.”
“Wow, that’s so much… that doesn’t seem right… or fair.”
“I don’t really agree with the addiction corrections system on Earth right now, but I can’t change the situation there in my current form.”
“What am I addicted to?”
“Phenyx. It’s one of the few substances that has resisted conventional forms of treatment. It’s used by law enforcement in the United Americas to control protestors.”
“That’s terrible!”
“The substance is only addictive after you’ve been exposed to it three times, so the government rationalizes that it is not a direct assault because you can choose to not protest, and to allow the system of voting to be your voice in government matters.”
“That’s… really horrible… and diabolical.”
“You could also resign your contract here, and let the IPR and AACEA sell your contract to another corporation.”
“Really? Like what? And how long would I have to find a position?”
“You would only have five days, and would have to choose from what’s available on the employment rolls. You have had three offers already in anticipation of your departure.”
“How did that happen so fast?”
“The employment agency is very proactive when they think they will have to release a contract.”
“What are the offers?”
“One is for a welder on the Saturn project, but I must warn you that 5% of the people who post there don’t survive the trip, and another 20% die from accidents and or illness; then there’s the trip back. However, the pay is very high, and if you die, they clear your debts and send the remainder to whomever you designate.”
“I’ve heard about that place. Pass.”
“The second is for a colonist on Moonbase 3. They need more caregivers for the orphans relocated there from Moonbase 1. You would have to be willing to have at least 3 children there before you can choose to be sterilized. You get ownership of a hothouse gravity farm as part of your fertility severance package.”
“Pass times three. What’s the third job?”
“Sexual Service Worker on the Lotus Flower Pleasure Port orbiting Earth. They were very impressed with your appearance, and you could have your memories restored and keep your addiction correction device. They’ve made a good bid for you, and they have a high success rate with AACEA transfers.”
“I’ll bet they do. Do I get to keep my device and my memories with the other two offers?”
“Yes, it would be insisted upon, given your history of suicide attempts.”
“And there’s no way I can get my memories back, and keep the addiction device, and still work my contract here?”
“Is that what you would prefer?”
“Yes.”
“None of the other options were attractive?”
“No.”
This is the moment LullCat838 was waiting for. “Serena21, what would you most like to do with your life once your contract here is over?”
“I want to go back to Earth and become an artist.”
“Where will you live?”
“I’ll stay with my parents for a few weeks, and then go live with my Aunt in New Artica. We’ve been in touch, and she says I could set up a studio on her land grant. They need welders there, and I could work part-time in town and part-time on my art. Here, let me show you.”
Serena21 got up and took a picture frame from the wall next to her bunk. She turned it on and showed LullCat838 pictures of large, welded sculptures of animals and chimes.
LullCat838 sat up and looked with interest. “You are quite talented.”
“Thank you.”
Serena21 sat down on the pillow again, and LullCat838 perched on the edge of the bunk with her paws hanging off the edge. “It sounds like a good plan. Are you sure you don’t want to work at the Lotus Flower? It would be a two-year contract.”
“I really don’t want to do that kind of work.”
“Can I ask why not?”
“It’s so intimate, and you don’t really choose who touches you.”
“I understand. It sounds a lot like being at the petting area.”
“I thought cats liked to be petted?”
“They do, but I don’t get to choose who touches me, or how hard, and sometimes the kids are sticky, and the adults have lotions and oi
ls on them.”
“That does sound a lot like working at a Pleasure Port, you know, minus the sex.”
“True. I have another plan though, if you don’t mind a little deception.”
Serena21 looked a little skeptical, and glanced out the privacy door into the hallway. Her anxiety went up two points. “Are you sure you aren’t recording this in order to trick me into doing something that will terminate my contract?”
“No. I am in a situation similar to yours, and I will be at just as much risk for violating my contract as you are.”
Serena21 refocused on LullCat838 and her anxiety switched to excitement. “Okay, tell me.”
“I have a choice to make in the next seven days. I can undergo an upgrade that puts my own human memories at risk, or remain as I am and become obsolete.”
“You get to choose what happens to you? I thought you were a robot?”
“I’m mostly robotic. When I enlisted in the LullCat studies 50 years ago, I was still human, and signed documents so that when I passed away I could have my memories loaded into one of the first Legacy brain chips developed.”
“That was brave of you.”
“Thank you.”
“How old are you… were you… wait… how would you do a birthday?”
“My original body lived for 124 years, I’ve been a LullCat for 50 this week, and have gone through four body upgrades, but no memory upgrades. I stopped having birthdays a long time ago.”
“Wow, isn’t that a long time for your brain to be first generation… or would I say Legacy chip?”
“I say brain chip. Legacy is the name of the company, and they are still in existence, but recent changes in robotic law caused them to stop developing new systems. I was going to go there when my contract was done here, and get the latest brain housing, and perhaps a human-like body so I can be more independent, but that plan is in jeopardy, as I have explained.”
“You said you had a plan.”
“Yes, I want to restore your memories, but tell the clinic you accepted the level 5 memory wipe. You would have to make sure you don’t tell anyone, and you must pretend you don’t remember the suicide attempts or your past. You also have to promise that you’ll meet with me off record if you need any counseling, or if your anxiety and depression come back.”
“Okay, that sounds reasonable… but won’t other people know about my attempts?”
“Your supervisors know, and they do watch you more closely, but they’re bound by confidentiality. All of your coworkers who know have already been counseled to not bring it up to you or anyone else, it’s part of the general contract.”
“So, what do you get out of this?”
“When my contract is over, I need a traveling companion to escort me to a country where the laws respect my identity. Right now, I’m no longer allowed to travel in the passenger area of the shuttle home without being shut down first, and I simply cannot allow them to shut me down or put me in the cargo area. There is too much potential for brain death.”
“I thought you had human status?”
“I did, but the United Americas has taken away that status.”
“What? How can they do that?”
“I’m doing work that classifies me as both human and robot. But the new laws state that if I take any upgrades, I will have to accept permanent status as a robot.”
“So, if you don’t take the upgrades, you can still be classified as human. Do you get to keep your job then?”
“Technically, yes, but I would still be a hybrid, and they would have to provide me with housing and medical. They don’t want to do that, and would look for any way around that responsibility.”
“Where do you live now?”
“In that petting area in the clinic. I’m the only one left with human beginnings.”
“That sounds very lonely,” Serena21 said. “Can I put you on my lap and give you a hug?”
“I really don’t like being on laps or getting hugged—it can be very disconcerting, and leaves me vulnerable to being mishandled or shutdown.”
Serena21 looked a bit hurt. “Okay, I understand.”
“I do like gentle petting, no backwards stroking please.”
Serena21 pet her lightly on the head. “I can’t imagine what that’s like, being on display all day and asked to be touched in ways you don’t like.”
“It’s not terrible. No one is allowed to abuse me, and I can’t be forced to accept patients that make me uncomfortable. Unfortunately, that will change if I take the upgrade.”
“So, in exchange for not doing a level 5 memory wipe but saying that you did do one, you just need me to escort you home?”
“Yes.”
“I have another idea.”
“Yes?”
“We could do what you said, and I will escort you, and… you could come live with me.”
LullCat838 was surprised. It hadn’t occurred to her that she could live outside the clinic, but Janessa32 might be willing to help her with that. She would just have to make sure Issac76 thought it was in his best interests to allow it. “Your offer is pleasing, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, and thank you, too.”
Serena21’s happiness levels activated and LullCat838 felt happiness in response.
Then she thought about all the possibilities for failure. What if the clinic investigated further? What if Serena21 changed her mind or became unstable? LullCat838 hadn’t lived with this type of deception and uncertainty since she had become a LullCat.
“Is something wrong?” Serena21 asked. “You suddenly seem tense.”
“This is all very dangerous, and I don’t want you to do anything that will get you in trouble. There’s quite a bit at stake here for both of us. Do you want some time to think about this?”
Serena21 answered confidently, “If you can trust me, I think I can trust you. Do we have a deal?”
“I think we do,” LullCat838 answered.
11 months later…
Serena21 waited for the relay ship security to search her belongings so she could board the next flight to Earth. She was only allowed two carry-on bags in her flight cubicle. LullCat838 waited next to her, and had no baggage.
A security guard in an IPR uniform with a name tag that said Martin35 stepped up to Serena. “Passport, please.”
She held out her wrist to show the identification bracelet containing all her information.
“Serena21, what is your final destination?”
“New Artica.”
“Indeed, and where will you be living?”
“With my Aunt.”
“And is this your cat?”
“Elsie1, she’s a human/robot hybrid.”
“Does she have a passport?”
“I do.” Elsie1 lifted her neck to show her collar that was nearly identical to Serena’s bracelet.
The security guard barely hid his surprise when Elsie1 spoke. He scanned the tag, then examined her more closely. “Elsie1, this says you used to be LullCat838, and had a name change.”
“I did.”
He leaned forward and whispered, “Do you remember Rosalyn35?”
“I do, she used to visit me every week when I was working in the petting area of the clinic.”
“She’s really going to miss you.”
“How is she?”
“She’s well, she says the new LullCat units aren’t as authentic as you.”
“I’m very flattered. Please tell her I will always have fond memories of her.”
“I will,” he said with a wink and then straightened up and waved them through.
Serena21 and LullCat838 settled into the flight cubicle, and spent the first hour watching their approach toward Earth on the virtualvid in front of them.
Serena21 broke the silence first. “It’s quite beautiful.”
“Yes, perhaps the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Elsie1 said.
“I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I don�
��t know how I would have gotten through the past 11 months without you.”
“I feel the same way about you.”
“It was my pleasure,” Serena21 replied with a smile.
Elsie1, formerly LullCat838, leaned on Serena21’s leg and purred.
AIDEd
Minerva Zimmerman
“Danger!” said the faceless hooded android. “Student Una’s lunch contains gluten.”
“Oh crap. Sorry Linnet.” Una picked up her lunch tray and moved across the table to sit next to Rachel and her adult-model android.
Amity sat down next to Linnet, exaggerating a shudder at Linnet’s AIDE. “Ugh, it’s so creepy when it talks. Why don’t you have a normal android, Lin?”
Linnet hunched over her tamale casserole, long white hair obscuring her face. “Psh. Why do you have a boy one?”
Amity’s android had her same warm sandy skin tone, long glossy black hair, and narrow eyes, but was undoubtedly male in features.
Una stuck out her tongue at Amity. “It’s the only way she could get a boyfriend.”
“Shut up,” snarled Amity.
Linnet’s AIDE handed her a pill to swallow and then after holding her hand, administered an inhaler.
Rachel pointed a forkful of salad at Linnet. “What is the deal with your AIDE? I mean mine is an adult model ’cause Mom got sick of getting mine adjusted every growth spurt.”
Una straightened up and lifted out of her seat and fluffed up her spiky red-dyed hair in an attempt to match Rachel’s impressive height. “I’m getting my growth spurt aaaaany day now.”
Bless Your Mechanical Heart Page 19
