Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #18 September 2015 | Page 10

“Well… you do know that as a first class A.I,
you have some say in your position, right?”

“Most people don’t want to face the facts, but
we are all machines to some extent, Adam. A lot of
people hide their feelings and lose themselves in daily
chores or patterns. I even do it. It’s difficult to really
feel human. It’s kind of scary.”

“I do?” he asked, confused.
“Well, yeah…” she replied, folding her ivory
colored arms. “I guess my sister didn’t explain that
to you. Come here, Adam, let me explain something
to you.” Sitting on the couch, she tapped the cushion
next to her and said, “Consider me your teacher.”

“Yeah…” he replied in a hush. “But I can’t
seem to stop myself. I feel too much, and I don’t know
why.”
She smiled and took his hand. “That’s because
your soul is human. I had a feeling when Aryana told
me how you were, but having met you now, I really
believe you are.”

He sat down by her and said, “Alright, I am
listening.”
“You see,” she said, “none of us are completely human.”

“I’m human?” he asked. “I have a soul?”

“Huh?” he replied, baffled.
“Nor are we totally machine,” she continued.
“At this point, it’s hard to tell which is which. After
the last World War ended about fifty years ago, we integrated ourselves with nanotechnology. No one could
tell which of us were fully human and which were A.I.
I mean, my own father - a renowned A.I. creator - had
so much work done to his own system. Who’s to say
I’m not A.I. too?”
“I don’t understand,” replied Adam. “You
bleed and are able to feel pain.”

She grinned and said, “Yes, you may.”
Leaning forward, he felt his heart beat faster
until their lips gently touched. Suddenly, he was in
India again, and it was warm and good.
“What the hell are you doing?” came Asher’s
distraught voice. “Aunt Chelle?! He’s a bot for crying
out loud!”

“So do you, right?” she said with a gentle
smile. “I bet you even dream… at least that’s what
Aryana tells me.”

Turning to face him, she stood up and said,
“Asher, you really need to learn some respect.”

Embarrassed, he began to fear she was merely
playing a joke on him. “Look, I know I am different,
but—”
“No,” said Michelle, “you’re not. The truth is,
from what I’ve heard, you’re more human than a lot of
people.”
She looked similar to his mistress, and he felt
his heart thumping. Does she understand how I feel?
he asked himself. Could she maybe even love me?

She nodded and smiled. Looking into her deep
green eyes, he was instantly reminded of his dream
about the farm girl with the gold skin. “May I kiss
you?” he asked innocently.

“Whatever,” he replied with a snarling face,
“but that’s just gross. First mom, now you. What the
hell? The human race is gonna die out if every girl
keeps wanting to go with bots!”
She sighed and then went behind Asher’s back.
Just then, she did something Asher wasn’t
expecting in the slightest.
Ripping something metal looking out of her

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