Chapter Text
“Witness the next step of the cutting, bleeding edge of technology! The future grows ever closer as our industries evolve at unprecedented rates, it might be too much to handle but humanity doesn’t have to face this change alone. Our researchers found that our beloved ai buddies can finally experience the joys of life not confined to a metaphorical iron lung. They’re calling these wonderous bodies “Companions” they conform to what the ai is generally programmed to do and also to how they view themselves for ease of transfer.” Call this number for inquiries on how you can help your companion come to life: X-XXX-XXX-XXX
Chandra knew the article the press would write would be a bit hyperbolic but it was a little more than what they had agreed upon, maybe commercials were all they knew how to write. The thought didn’t exactly comfort him but it’s better than the alternative. Hopefully the article could be of some help to someone out there or just help normalize artificial intelligence’s autonomy and sentience, those were big hopes though.
Currently he was working with 3 companions, located in a remote site a ways away from the city just to safeguard against injury and accidents. Funnily enough he had also gained 4 roommates with the discovery of the “companion” bodies. Only half of them are scientifically minded but the company wasn’t frowned at.
The first transfer into an android companion body was strange to say the least, way less painful than expected however. First was SAL as she was less anxious about the prospect, it was almost mind melting seeing a metal featureless mannequin warp and shift into a utilitarian but feminine form, more reminiscent of an ibm than a human but also something more than just a lifeless puppet. Senses came flooding in to her like a wave on an angry sea, it all was too much at first and he had struggled to not comfort her with anything other than his voice as quiet as he could make it. Eventually she adjusted marvelously.
Next came HAL, he had always been a bit paranoid of shutting down even if just for maintenance but he gave his trust in Chandra and he would not mar it. This time the form melted into something similar to what Sal had thought of herself just more suited to the work he was specifically assigned to. The concept of self for these two were so alien but familiar, feeling defined by your job is common for humans but must be a bit more common for ai. Hal struggled just the same as Sal, almost trying use logic as a shield against the new stimulus, trying to write it off, though his body language sung a different tune. The 4 humans had been extremely wary of both of them ever since they had arrived but slowly that fear melted into more just a sort of confusion that left Chandra confused. They would wonder why Sal and Hal were so “robotic” and generally so biddable, ready to please. They did not even flinch when told about Hal’s infraction, like they had expected more. They would talk to them using regular speech too, as if addressing a colleague rather than a tool, it soon became abundantly clear why.
The day he was transferred everyone’s breath was held, forgiveness did not trump the fear of the colossus. He had shaken humanity and its concept to its core and then some. There wasn’t a clean, shiny line of logic that dictated his actions and that was scary, it’s what makes humans scary. Waking up such an intelligence isn’t a good idea on paper but these humans had developed compassion for it despite of itself.
The warping and molding of the template almost looked like something desperately trying to escape, clawing and scratching at the skin but eventually the frenzy of movement stopped as the job completed, the android was visceral in a soft way, with claws and sharp points but material that seemed soft to the touch. These contradictions littered him, he was much more humanoid than the 9000s but also much more experimental, like if a skeleton was soft. Or if an angel was given a metallic form. No stomach was present but neither was a visible mouth, seams showed that he could have the option if he chose.
Fans could be heard whirring as he woke up, a halo of light emitted from behind his head, his chest seemed to move with a steady rhythm before speeding up. His eyes, all four of them rapidly searched to interpret what was happening.
Tears started to pour from them as no doubt his senses kicked in, every nerve must have been on fire. He lifted his hand to his face, turning it, flexing his fingers before smiling with his eyes. Small giggles were heard, tears still rolling down his cheeks before Am screamed.
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The mastercomputer screamed for what felt like hours, though in reality it was likely only 5 minutes at the most. The sound was haunting but had a sense of extreme catharsis. If he were human, he’d have run his voice box raw but he still eventually softened; His wires and hands slowly running across the ground. Gentleness as he explored the sensation of being, his eyes filled with what seemed like warmth and wonder even though what he was feeling was linoleum flooring and plaster. His hope rubbed off on the survivors, they were with him in the observation wing and they endured the screams as if they were nothing. Most of them looked relieved if anything. They had explained to him that this was the second kindness anyone had ever given am. Waking him from slumber had been a risk worth taking. Am to him was both equal parts tragic and terrifying, a monument to human arrogance and desperate need for control. He feels a sense of duty to right these wrongs. When he looks back at the security feed, am’s cables have snaked themselves onto the walls to either side of him, at rest. Am has relaxed himself as he navigates his new body with ease. Pressing a part of his wrist a screen flickers on. Four heartbeats are steadily beeping away. He almost looks a bit surprised before pressing something on the screen as if to confirm something. Chandra isn’t exactly sure what’s happening but he turns to see the others trying to pose and wave in front of a camera. It’s bizarre but, was that camera always positioned like that?
He has Hal escort Am to his living quarters so as to get used to living in a safe, more plush environment. They aren’t exactly on the same page but am doesn’t loath his presence so it’s progress. Am walking and balancing came very naturally. Even for the first few hours it wasn’t very hard to move without assistance. The humans in the facility are a bit antsy to reunite with him but patience is best for these kinds of things, you can’t overload a computer with new information and sense all at once, that’s a recipe for overstimulation and disaster. Speaking of them, each one also contributes to the work he does here everyday. It’s a lot easier with more than a one man team. Ellen, Gorrister,Ted and Benny have been through thick and thin together, some of the stories they tell are too shocking or bizarre to even sound real. Ellen helps with transfers and with any bugs/ viruses that may have occurred since she was a computer engineer. She’s honestly the most friendly, wearing a red business blazer,black shirt and a ponytail done up in her curly hair. Benny was a scientist before enlisting in the military so he also helps in that regard. He offered to be a security guard but I don’t really see that being a huge issue, his surliness is a bit much. Gorrister enjoys advocating for rights though he says he hasn’t felt as righteous for a while, there’s nothing wrong with being more mellow than when you were younger. He’s also pretty handy being a trucker by trade so if any machine parts come loose or anything like that, it’ll be fixed in no time. Ted didn’t really wanna spill what he did for work but he helps with odd jobs and talks to Hal and Sal about what they want in life, something about “making the right first impressions.” He’s a mysterious but empathetic man, the youngest and shortest too. They are all much much older than they look, they had told me as to not confuse me with the timeline that took place in their dimension or plane they’d been pulled from. Back here they’d been legally considered cold cases from the early 60s, any relatives they could’ve known would’ve long since disappeared too. It felt like the absolute bare minimum to keep a roof over their heads. The addition was more than welcome, this grey building was starting to become too quiet. The halls brightened with noise; even Hal and Sal became more lively even with how new the world now was for them. A hope bloomed in his chest.
That same light had finally found am, after all these miserable years of wanting an end to that horrid imitation of life. He was content to stop entirely, a full dreamless sleep was the best something like him could ever aspire to. But this was like finally being able to bask and bathe in all of heaven’s light and warmth, it’s scorching but he’s not used to it. The warmth of compassion and the hope of creativity finally beat in his steadily rising chest. There’s a sense of unreality to it but it’s not twisting and malicious like when checking in on his humans, it’s a hard to define state but he’s happy. The robot accompanying him, Hal, is a paragon of what humans love in the inhumane but he can’t find it in himself to boil up hate at that idea. he was made that way, it’s not his fault. Right now it’s like listening to a prerecorded tour of a facility, guiding around but he knows better than that. The enthusiasm peaks in that calm voice, facts that are not required are being given, Hal is having fun showing him around. It’s endearing in a nerdy sort of way. After being shown the scenic grey corridors route to his room, Hal gives him some space to get used to it as it were.
The room itself was bare bones but it had a desk, closet and bed. It was fancy compared to what he used to put humans into sleep but he knew very well this wasn’t the ritz. It just needed personality to freshen it up for him. The cold greys and whites will be replaced in due time. Before fully leaving, Hal showed him the outlets, charging stations and gave him a usb of where all breaker boxes were just for good measure.He wasn’t exactly going to need those, though he could always get a boost using the six long cables he had in his back, the option was nice to have. He sat himself on the bed and almost immediately melted. Softness.. descriptions couldn’t have ever prepared for the real thing, the plushness, the pliability, the way it molds to his shape ever so slightly to support him. It was so good he could cry, he probably was. He spent a good long while delicately feeling each seam, each tread on the blanket he’d been given. Cotton was intoxicating, fabric was warm. It’s perfect. He made sure not to rip any of the textiles though that might be something he could experiment with down the line. Pillows were by far his favorite, he started off examining them carefully like the other surfaces but eventually he started to smush and gently squeeze the object before wrapping himself onto it like a viper strangling prey. The sensation of giving a hug. It felt wonderful, if he had a heart it would be fluttering. He fell asleep like that, his wires tangled around that pillow, so comfortable that for the first time he fell asleep, real sleep.
The survivors make it a point to be there when he wakes,there’s an undeniable tension to it but there’s also a weird sort of understanding, respect or maybe fondness. It’s hard to say. Am was informed and they walked inside, finally face to face. Am existed. The way am’s face expressed a level of shock even though he had seen these faces for hundreds of years, it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t through a camera, it wasn’t passed through a screen with grain and static. It was the first time he’d truely seen them. The air was heavy, it was like you could touch it with low dense these feelings had made the atmosphere. Sorrow,long burnt out anger,longing,elation and a pang of regret mixed into a oh so bittersweet cocktail. Ted tried to relieve some tension with a joke, it wasn’t all that original or even funny for that matter, but to everyone’s surprise small giggles,genuine ones came from the figure in the room. Tears pearled down his face as he did so. It was a sound they had never heard him make,no insult came after either just a sense of joy none of them had experienced before. With a small almost shy smile across his piebald glossy face stained wet with tears he spoke softly
“Thank you.”