Trifecta

by Pam Richter

  Considering the strength necessary to break shin bones, and the angle of the attack, which appeared from the X-rays to have been from below, it did look like powerful kicks from a karate expert. But a burglar? Even though two huge men had been rendered incapable of protecting the property, nothing had been stolen.

  The nurses caring for the two lawyers also considered the injuries quite extraordinary, but their gossip mainly concerned the men's obnoxious behavior. The overworked staff had been ordered about like servants. There had been complaints about the hospital's horrible food, lack of privacy, (what did they expect, it was a hospital) their terrible, unremitting pain, and the lack of skill evident in all hospital personnel.

  The nurses nodded among themselves. What could they expect anyway; the men were lawyers. Everyone knew lawyers were obnoxious and thought themselves second only to God because they had the powers of law and litigation. Lawyers, in the nurses' experience, were even worse patients than doctors, who merely considered themselves Gods.

  The two brothers, who had been X-rayed, inspected, injected, stitched and splinted, and were finally ensconced in the private room that they had insisted on, were angry. Irate the computer clone had escaped. Angry that their plan to eliminate the original body had been foiled. Furious that their legs were broken and that they had to anticipate months of hobbling around on crutches. They were totally frustrated, furious, and still in considerable pain. Of course, under the circumstances, they wanted revenge.

  "Obviously Dad didn't give the woman adequate gas to keep her unconscious long enough," Stephan said, when they were finally alone in the bare hospital room. He was the one with two broken legs. "For a genius, our father can really be stupid."

  "The nerve of that idiot bitch. Who did she think she was, taking a valuable experiment like that? " Alexander said.

  "She knew we were planning to kill her."

  "When I get my hands on her, I'm going to do a lot more than that. Did you get a look at that computer? Some babe."

  Alexander tried to scratch his cast, which was already itching. "It's too bad Dad saw the gun and guessed what we had it for. But now I have better plans for the broad. Before we get an agreement with Hashimoto."

  Stephan smiled for the first time in hours. "And we will find them. I'll put our best investigators on it. The girl and computer are together. With their looks, they'll attract attention."

  Stephan used the bedside phone to wake up one of the Steinbrenner firm's investigators. It was just after one o'clock in the morning.

  "Lets see if I got this right," the investigator said after listening for a while. "They're about six feet in height. Blond hair. Blue eyes. Very thin. Early twenties.

  "You got it." Stephan slammed down the phone.

  "I'm hungry," Alexander complained in a whiny tone. He used the bell to call the night nurse and ordered her to call out and get them some pastrami sandwiches. She told them that the deli would not deliver to the hospital. Stephan cursed the stupidity of all hospital personnel audibly enough for the nurse to overhear as she walked from the men's hospital room down the long hallway.

  "Obnoxious creeps," the nurse said as she went back to her lonely vigil at the nursing station.

  * * * * *

  Dr. Ferdinand Steinbrenner, in the intensive care ward, was adored by the hospital staff. He was hooked up to machines which monitored his heart and respiration. He examined the machinery with delight and told the nurses they were beautiful. His white halo of hair was shining, his cheeks were pink; he resembled an old fairy-tale gnome.

  When he slept he dreamed of the beautiful young girl that was used to complete the body of his computer. The only sub-conscious thought that disturbed him concerned the duration of the copying process. It might not have come to a conclusion at the correct time to complete the computer's brain. It was scheduled to terminate exactly when the woman, Sabrina, awakened. He had attached electrodes to her scalp so that he could monitor her brain wave rhythms, as they went from the delta waves of sleep, through the resting alpha waves, to the waking beta brain waves. Sabrina had gone through several sleep cycles and had awakened briefly a few times. He had not anticipated that she would come to full consciousness so quickly. Near the termination of the process he had had to take the electrodes off of Sabrina's head. Then his sons had interrupted him.

  If Sabrina did wake up too soon, it might mean that the nervous system for the computer was incomplete. It could also mean that the brain would be more primitive than he had anticipated. The process of chemically hooking the computer to the brain's neurons had finished, so that part of the system would be fine. But the brain stem, the primitive part of the brain and the first to evolve, might take precedence over the evolutionary newer parts of the brain, like the frontal lobes. When the computer did get emotions, he dreamed that the computer was a primitive throwback to early man, with more violent tendencies.

  Even in his dreams Dr. Steinbrenner was a genius. His mind argued logically that the function of the computer was to promote more reason into mankind and encourage less violence toward others. That was the justification for the whole experiment.

  Ferd awoke in the middle of the night and spent the rest of it wide awake, wondering how he had been such an errant father to produce two men who would even think of killing that beautiful girl, Sabrina. He had given his sons everything to make them happy, bright and responsible young men. They had never lacked for anything tangible. They both received the best education. When they had decided to become lawyers and had passed through college and then law school without any difficulties he had been very proud. Maybe it was because he had doted on them so after their mother, his beautiful Angela, had died. He did not have anything but his sons, and he guessed he had spoiled them. Ferd nodded and sighed. He had spoiled them rotten.

  Ferd thought he should have recognized the deficit in his sons long ago, before they had forced him do the experiment.

  As Ferd drifted back to sleep in the early hours of the morning he had pleasant dreams about his hope for the improved human race through his robotic-biological breakthrough. He saw a peaceful world with happy people who would make improvements that would save the planet and the environment; a world without war and hunger. A marvelous new future for mankind.

  * * * * *

  You'd make a smashing redhead," Mark said. He had stopped at an garishly neon-lit drugstore on Sunset Boulevard.

  "Right," Sabrina said.

  "You need a disguise. Those goons might be in the hospital, but they could put out the word to their thug-friends to be on the lookout for tall blond twins. Have someone else do their dirty work."

  Sabrina didn't like it.

  "They know what you look like, now," Mark said. "They want to kill you."

  When they arrived back at Sabrina's apartment, Eve was watching television and reading a book. She moved the pages so rapidly Sabrina couldn't believe she was really reading; merely glancing at the pages.

  "The range of human behavior is amazing, isn't it?"

  She was actually reading.

  "Do you mind stopping for a while?" Sabrina asked. "We need to change our hair color."

  "Trimmings?" Eve asked.

  Mark shook his head, "A disguise. So the thugs won't find you."

  "We got you lots of syrup," Sabrina said. "Your very own supply. Would you like to taste it?"

  They went into the kitchen and Sabrina cleared off one shelf for Eve's provisions. Then they watched as Eve tried each of the different sweets. She liked them all, but her favorite was Marmalade. She ate half of the jar. Sabrina told her that after she opened something it had to go into the refrigerator.

  "Microbes. Bacteria. Virus. Mold. Dirt. Parasites. Disease," Eve said rapidly, nodding and spooning up another glob of the preserves.

  While Eve was eating, Mark explained very seriously that it was imperative for her to remember to blink. All the hair color in the world would not disguise her if she forgot.

  The hair dy
e was very messy and they ruined a couple of towels, but the results were quite striking.

  Sabrina didn't think she would have a chance at that toothpaste commercial tomorrow with bright red hair. Her agent said they were looking for blonds. Oh well, she would try for it anyway. She thought that maybe Eve could watch the store while she was away, and then reconsidered. Sabrina did not trust Bea, who would be working there tomorrow. Bea was an adorable air-head and Sabrina's best friend, who could not keep a secret for a minute if her life depended on it. And Bea's life wouldn't depend on secrecy, but Sabrina's would.

  As Sabrina blew Eve's hair dry, she explained that she was going to Mark's apartment to stay with him. She cut bangs for Eve and thought they didn't look very much alike anymore. "You look like Cleopatra, Eve, with your hair black."

  "Egyptian Queen," Eve said. "She tattooed her body so that no man would feel he had seen her naked, and had possessed her."

  "Really?"

  "Yes. Are you going to copulate with Mark tonight?"

  Sabrina looked at Eve, but her expression was bland. "Maybe."

  "I would like to watch."

  "It's something most people consider very private."

  "Would Mark copulate with me, too?"

  "You'll have to ask him," Sabrina said smiling. She could hardly wait to go into the living room and tell Mark that Eve had a question for him.

  Mark nodded and smiled when they went into the living room. "You still look exactly alike, except for the hair. Turn around, Sabrina."

  Eve, watching Sabrina's pirouette, turned around too.

  "Mark, I think Eve has a question she wants to ask you," Sabrina said, trying to keep her face neutral.

  "Sure. What is it Eve?"

  "I asked Sabrina if you would copulate with me. She said I would have to ask you."

  "What!"

  Eve recited the sentence again. Much louder.

  "She took you literally. Thought you didn't hear." Sabrina was biting her lip to keep from laughing.

  "I would be too heavy in the superior position," Eve said. "To prevent injury, I would stay below. Ferd said I should learn all of the human behaviors, and that's evidently an important one. Every time I read a book they mention it."

  Sabrina had watched Mark's coloring turn almost white and then an interesting brick color. He was evidently very embarrassed and Sabrina was a little surprised. Eve was just like a curious child and didn’t have any idea of the emotions involved. She watched as Mark's eyebrows bunched.

  "Eve, when people um...copulate, it's usually because there is strong feeling between them. Sabrina is like my best friend, and I care about her very much. You are very attractive, but I can't have sex with you because I don't feel that way about you. I hardly know you."

  Sabrina felt relieved. She wouldn't have to be in such a rush to have Mark's baby.

  "I am Sabrina. With some additions. And I am a little confused, Mark. In books it seemed like people desired to go to bed with the opposite gender quite frequently. Evidently they were overwhelmed with a strange desire."

  "Sounds like Ferd had an extensive library," Sabrina muttered.

  "He has shelves of books in his living room," Eve said. "Very necessary stimulation for the computer. I absorbed all his medical texts, the books on quantum physics, mathematics, biology, chemistry, lasers, geology and physiology. Those were easy, because they are logical. But the psychology texts are not logical. Or sensible. Their theories seem totally irrational. As do the novels."

  "It sounds like you've read some trashy stories," Mark said. "People make emotional bonds and want committed relationships, most of the time. But sometimes they want variety, or are unsure of their feelings, and they sleep with other people. It's a very complicated subject."

  "It's perplexing because I don't have emotions yet."

  "I don't understand," Mark said slowly, eyebrows bunching again. "Are you going to get emotions?"

  "In all probability, very soon. Sabrina's hormones are in my system now. It will be very helpful in understanding human behavior."

  "Do you think you could have a baby?" Sabrina asked.

  "Yes. I have your eggs, so the baby would be yours, Sabrina."

  * * * * *

  On the way to Mark's apartment they discussed what to do with Eve. She did not belong to them. She belonged to Ferd, who was evidently very sick and might not be able to protect her from the thugs. Eve could not take care of herself yet. She would have to be trained to behave like other people.

  The alternative would be to go to the police. There were some very good reasons to do so. First, they might be able to get protection for Sabrina. Secondly, the police would put Eve into some kind of protective custody and they would not have her as a responsibility. The police would regard them as lunatics at first, but all Eve would have to do to prove she was not exactly human would be to give a demonstration of her accelerated healing. Or get on a scale. Or recite the dictionary.

  Sabrina was against going to the police on moral grounds. Eve was a person and should be able to choose what she wanted for herself. Mark said that Eve was a very special Biologically Animated Computer. She was the property of Ferd, just as would be any computer he had made.

  Sabrina argued that Eve was a living being that could have babies and would have human emotions in the future. Mark said she was a machine.

  Sabrina was against going to the police because they might display Eve and experiment with her. Eve also had a tendency to obey people and might comply with commands from people who did not have her best interests at heart. Mark countered that there were two thugs planning to kill Sabrina and then use Eve for some special and probably illegal operation.

  At an impasse, they decided to sleep on it.

  CHAPTER 6

  Sabrina woke up with her head resting on Mark's shoulder. The realization that she had a double with a genius brain back at her apartment was enough to jolt her totally awake, but she wanted a little more time to relax with Mark. She was careful breathing so she wouldn't wake him.

  "We can probably find out Ferd's last name if we check the local hospitals." Mark yawned hugely.

  "You fake. How long have you been awake?"

  "A while."

  They lay in silence. Sabrina smiled, thinking about Mark's reaction when Eve had asked him to copulate with her.

  "What's so funny?" Mark asked.

  "Your reaction when Eve asked you to have sex."

  She could feel his laughter vibrating against her ear.

  "She isn't a clone, though," Sabrina said. "A clone is a copy of the DNA structure of an organism. Made from only one cell. Eve was alive and could think before she looked like me."

  "Actually, the thought of sex with her makes my blood run cold."

  “That's a little extreme."

  "The way Eve stared at me when we were driving. Gave me the creeps."

  Sabrina could understand that. She had experienced the unblinking stare. "I think you are curious."

  "In an intellectual way."

  "Uh huh." Sabrina threw off the covers. "I want the first shower."

  "I'll check the hospitals around here,” Mark said, pulling his laptop from the table beside the bed. “See if I can find out about Ferd. And the guys who intend to kill you."

  Mark could track them if anyone could, Sabrina thought. He was a newspaper reporter, on staff with the L.A. Times; a professional in obtaining information.

  Sabrina took a very long shower, hopping out when it got cold. What Mark needed was a good cold shower, if, after last night, he could still be curious about Eve.

  She would have to tell Eve though, that if she did desire to experience sex, she would have to be careful. Eve might inadvertently place herself in a dangerous situation. The way her social skills were now, Sabrina could picture Eve walking into a singles bar, approaching the first man she saw and asking him to perform sex with her because she needed to learn about that particular human interaction. She could imagine Eve
staring at the man, unblinking and totally honest. Definitely a bad scene.

  Mark was looking smug, lying back on the pillows, when Sabrina reentered the bedroom. "I contacted admitting at Cedars Sinai Hospital and got the information. Ferd is the father of the thugs. All three are Steinbrenners."

  Sabrina started pulling on black jeans, leather boots and one of her own designer shirts. Mark went into the bathroom.

  "Ouch," he yelled. "It's freezing. You used up all the hot water again, Sabrina."

  Sabrina smiled and finished dressing. She sat down on the bed and called her own apartment. After the phone rang once, she hung up and re-dialed.

  "Hello, Sabrina," Eve said.

  "Hi. How are you?"

  "I'm eating."

  Sabrina smiled.

  "I want to tell you about last night,” Eve said. ”Something happened."

  "What?" She had warned Eve not to open the door for anyone or even to answer the telephone without their prearranged signal.

  "I went to sleep and dreamed," Eve said. "I was small and my family told me to go away. I think I experienced sadness. I was crying when I woke up. Now it's even clearer. But I'm not dreaming."

  Sabrina sat very still and felt an electrical shiver go through her, like the one she experienced when she had first seen Eve. She had wondered then if Eve could read her mind.

  "I think I'm getting your memories, Sabrina. Things I don't understand keep appearing in my mind. Not things that I have studied or read. I believe I have a fashion design shop. I understand how you feel about Mark, because I do too. I didn't think I would receive emotions so soon, but they accompany the memories. It's a revelation and it's strongly uncomfortable. I want Mark. I want his baby. I want my fashion line to be a success. I know, intellectually, it is not me. Not from my computer. It's your brain. But how can I obey, when I have overwhelming wants and needs?"

  Oh good grief, Sabrina thought, how do you counsel someone experiencing emotions for the first time? And not even their own, but someone else's that have accumulated over a lifetime.