Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #18 September 2015 | Page 5

Adam, First
Class

too soon for that, don’t you think, Adam?”
My name is Adam? he pondered. Oh, that’s
right. I almost forgot. I am artificial intelligence, first
class. I am only human… in my mind.
“I am sorry, Mrs…”
“My name is Aryana Valoré,” she replied as
she took his pulse with a small, magnetic reader, “but
you may call me Aryana. I am your keeper, but think
of me as your boss since you will be my new assistant.
Your duties will consist of organizing events, appointments and reservations, hosting; that sort of thing. Do
you understand?”

by
Lyra Shanti

“Yes,” said Adam, monotone. He still wasn’t
entirely sure where he was, though his processing
told him he was at Mrs. Valoré’s large estate, inside
her home office. She had given him a program that he
was still sorting through. She’s a widow, he thought,
and she has one daughter named Priscilla... and a son
named Asher. As he processed the program’s information, he instantly knew his place. He was their ‘bot,’
and nothing more.

1.
The