“For a while we were,” she said. “And then everything changed.”
“Yeah. It changed when we invented AI.”
“You know, sometimes I wish we hadn’t. I’m not sure how much good can come of it. There’s a very fine line between successful implementation of this technology, and disaster. You’ve seen the damage potential reports.”
“Those reports are nothing but science fiction, Shelly. There’s no such thing as a robot apocalypse. It’s all propaganda.”
Shelly sighed. “Do you remember what you used to be like before all this? You were so wonderful back then. You used to catch spiders and put them outside instead of killing them. I never imagined you could take pleasure in death, or tor—”
“That’s enough.” He stretched his neck back and stared up at the ceiling. “You make me sound like some kind of psychopath.”
“But you are—“
“I’m the same person I always was. You’re just too stubborn to see that.”
“No, Peter, you’re not.”
Dr. Hawthorne set his mug on the desk and stood up. He thought of the cot upstairs, longed for a good night’s rest.
“Look, Shelly. If it weren’t for you, there would be no AI program. Granted. But that doesn’t give you the right to abandon me because of some… inexplicable moral code. You left the work in my hands, and I’m doing with it what I see fit. You’d be proud of how much progress we’ve made. But it hasn’t been the same without you. The future of AI needs you.”
“Yes. It needs me to keep people like you away.”
“Shelly, you’re being absurd. How else are we supposed to test the limits of this technology? We have to be one-hundred-percent certain that—”
“I’m just saying you don’t have to be so sadistic about it.”
“My team is making significant breakthroughs week after week. We’re assisting the war effort. We’re furthering the advancement of mankind’s knowledge. And still there are people like you who think I’m the devil incarnate. Well, let me tell you this, Shelly. It’s a complicated world out there, and we’re taking every precaution necessary. You of all people should appreciate the importance of what we do.”
“Peter—”
He slammed his fist down on the table. “No. I’m not listening anymore. And by the way, why exactly did you call? Or did you simply wish to berate and abuse me?”
Shelly paused. “Actually, I wanted to tell you something. I’m going away for a while.”
Peter slowly let out a breath. He didn’t know why, but hearing that made him feel better. Lighter, somehow. “Good for you,” he said. “Does that mean I won’t have to worry about you showing up at my next press release?”
She didn’t laugh. “No, I’m getting too old for that. But my little stunt did catch the attention of some very interesting people. I’ve been offered a position at the Robotics Institute of Shanghai. I’m leaving tomorrow, Peter.”
He might have dropped his mug had he still been holding it.
“Shanghai? Good lord, are you out of your mind?”
“I’m not worried about politics, Peter. I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, that’s quite obvious,” he said. “What surprises me, however, is that you’re willing to betray your own country.”
This time she did laugh, derisively. “Come on, Peter. You know I’m no traitor. This is an international NGO, and they have no loyalty to China or any other country. What we do is purely for the advancement of science.”
“Which you could be doing here at home, instead. But I’ll bet that’s not the only reason you’re going. Daniel is going with you, isn’t he?”
She groaned. “Goodbye, Peter.”
He shook his head. Women: can’t live with them, can’t live… actually, he thought maybe he could live without them.
“It’s okay, Shelly,” he said. “I understand why you left me for him.”
“This isn’t about Daniel.”
Dr. Hawthorne looked through the glass into the experiment containment area. The lights of Andrew’s charging station flashed intermittently. Andrew would be lost in the Dreamscape. He envied the robot’s innocence, almost longed for it as he thought about the hell his life became sometimes.
“I know it’s not about him,” Dr. Hawthorne said. “Besides, I got over you a long time ago. Just promise me you’ll be safe over there.”
Shelly drew a breath, and Peter feared she was about to launch into it with him. But she simply said, “Thank you, Peter.”
He sensed the end was near. His bed waited for him upstairs.
“And please,” she said. “Think about what I said. About what you’re doing. Those robots deserve—”
“Nope, we’re done.” Peter held the phone away from his ear for a moment before he hung it up. It made a depressing click, piercing the fresh silence of the observation room.
The quiet suited him. He was through listening to Shelly’s moralizing speeches. She’d become soft, a bleeding heart. He couldn’t understand her anymore. Whatever spark used to exist between them had long since been extinguished, as if by a cold New England rain.
Peter glanced over at Andrew, wondering if he should pop into the Dreamscape and see what he was up to. But his eyes were drooping, and he needed sleep. He’d watch the replays in the morning, instead.
He wanted to be well rested, for tomorrow was going to be a big day for his little robot friend.
Some time later, after discovering that Angel did, in fact, have all her parts, Andrew heard a chime. Angel and the cabin evaporated from around him, and he was left staring at the white tiled floor of his habitation chamber. Dr. Hawthorne was waiting in the observation room.
“Hello, Andrew. Good to see you all charged up. I trust you had a pleasant night?”
Andrew moved to the center of the room. “Yes, I feel much better today, Doctor. But there is one issue I would like to discuss with you.”
“All in good time, Andrew,” Dr. Hawthorne said. “I want to introduce you to someone very special.”
“I’ve already—”
Andrew heard a grinding sound. He turned to see that the glass wall between his and Angel’s room was rising.
“Let’s wake her up, shall we?” Doctor Hawthorne moved over to a set of controls.
“Yes, but there’s something I’d like to ask before she wakes up.”
Hawthorne grinned. “Nonsense. There’s no time to waste, Andrew.”
“But Doctor, I insist.”
Angel’s charging station chimed, and her eyes glowed blue.
“Andrew!” She wheeled over to his side of the room, no longer impeded by the glass wall. “Long time no see.”
“Good morning, Angel,” Dr. Hawthorne said. “So nice to see you.”
“You too, Doctor.”
Dr. Hawthorne turned toward Andrew. “Now, Andrew, what was it you wanted to discuss with me?”
“It’s a rather delicate matter,” Andrew said. “I’d rather not discuss it in front of… the ladies.”
“Now when did you AIs become so bashful? You’re too human, sometimes, if you ask me. Go on, Andrew. No one is judging you.”
“I thought that’s exactly what you were doing,” Andrew replied.
The doctor nodded slightly. “Touché. Now spill the beans.”
“Well…” Andrew looked over at Angel, who was gazing around his spacious room.
“Actually,” Andrew finally said. “There is something. Angel and I want to go outside. We want to see the world with our own eyes.”
Doctor Hawthorne gave a hearty laugh. “That was your big question? Why didn’t you just say so? But honestly, you don’t want to go outside. There’s nothing but fog and drizzle out there today, I’m afraid. Perhaps another time.”
“Oh, Doctor,” Angel pleaded, wheeling up to the glass. “Can’t we just take a peek? I’ve never seen real rain before.”