Page 8 of Atticus
My attention strays to the new bionic assistant. His eyes haven’t left me. His gaze is inquisitive, yet endearing. Like a puppy, almost, but not quite as enamored or worshipful. He remains quiet for the moment.
“What would you like to name him?” the BioNex rep asks me. “All androids come with a default name, usually something campy or corny, related to their model or serial number.”
That makes me curious. “What’s his default name?”
“Well, he’s a limited edition,” she replies. “So, Leo.”
“Leo the Limited Edition.” We share a laugh. “Of course. How could I not have guessed? Well, I think we can do better than that. Can you leave his name blank for now?” In truth, the more I think about it, the odder it feels to be responsible for naming someone who seems so thoroughly human.
“Sure!” Her fingers move quickly over her digital tablet. She’s probably done hundreds of deliveries like this before and seems comfortable and experienced in her role. “Tell you what. I’ll let you complete registration online. All you have to do is go to the website I’m sending to your email, complete the final step, and he’s yours. Well. So to speak.” She chuckles sheepishly. “Potato, potahto.”
“Thank you.” I wait patiently as she packs up her equipment and bid her a friendly farewell when she leaves.
The android and I are now in the ninth grade school room alone. Now that I’m not under Carlisle’s scrutiny or distracted by Renee’s gabbing, it hits me just how strangely nervous this makes me. It’s like I’m standing in an elevator with a sexy movie star. Seriously, why in the world does BioNex make their androids so ridiculously gorgeous? I’m sure woman-kind is grateful for the eye candy and all, but goddamn.
Okay, Lucy. Get it together, here.I’m a professional. I can’t really be ogling my teaching assistant in front of students, even if he is as delicious-looking as an all-you-can-eat-buffet.
He seems so real. Is every part of him really artificial?I want to touch his skin and find out for myself.No, stop. He’s not a dog you can pet whenever you like. Down, girl. Focus.
Except I don’t know what to do now. I open my mouth to say something, and a strangled sound comes out, causing me to cough.
Wonderful. A great start.
NEW CARNEGIE TIMES
SEPTEMBER 2, 2067
HUMANITY FIRST: RESISTANT TO CHANGE, OR FIGHTING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS?
As bionic assistants slowly become a staple of the American household across the United States, not everyone is happy about these state-of-the-art computers that look, talk, and behave like real human beings.
At the forefront of the resistance to the dawn of this new digital age is the newly formed anti-technology group that has become the primary platform against owning androids. Humanity First, founded by local engineer and scientist Dr. Robert Carson, spreads their message of independent, android-free living across multiple social media platforms, urging caution when purchasing these astounding inventions.
“The bells and whistles can be overwhelming,” says Humanity First organizer and podcast host Kara Bexley, a communications and journalism major at Carnegie University. “You walk into a store, and everything’s meant to draw you in, to make you want to take out that credit card, but it’s a trap. You sign the dotted line, and you’re essentially signing away your rights as a human being. Your right to privacy, your right to work, your right to live life as you know it.”
The demographic for this growing movement is difficult to pin down, as it’s spread across generations. But a majority of people who profess their support for Humanity First seem to be predominately lower and middle working-class American citizens. Job security is the group’s primary concern, followed by privacy and the reach of artificial intelligence.
“I don’t like to see myself or Humanity First as anti-technology,” Carson says in a statement taken shortly after BioNex’s Education Assistants Program registration went live. “I prefer to see us as pro-human. We don’t hate androids, and we don’t hate the people who make or even own androids. We simply have serious concerns about the ethical and moral repercussions of allowing artificial intelligence in our homes and schools.”
When asked if he would ever own an android, Carson says, “No. I’m a big boy, I can wash my own dishes and fold my own clothes without having a robot do it for me. Although, I can’t cook. My wife can attest to that.”
He continues, “We need to be very careful about where we progress from here. I understand the want for convenience in a busy modern world, but there has to be a line we can’t cross, and once we put it down, it has to stay there. We have computers and tablets being issued to children, and it already seems like too much technology and not enough human interaction. It stifles learning, not helps it. The line keeps moving, and if you keep moving it and making exceptions, where will it end?”
2
Bionic Assistant 087-LE-09132
There is something odd about the teacher I have been assigned to.
From the moment I emerged from my packaging, I could sense it. A diagnostic scan over her person revealed an increase in her temperature when I greeted her—a greeting I have yet to receive a response to—and she appears flustered. Her heart rate is above what it should be for her age and health.
Caffeination could certainly be to blame, judging by the cooling cup of coffee on her desk. From the research I have done while in standby after my preliminary activation—which was completed at a BioNex facility before I was transported—coffee is a crucial component of a teacher’s diet. I will determine her favorite roast and brand to ensure she is properly and happily alert for her classes every morning.
My processor is now fully engaged as I commit her information to my memory banks. I am ready to fulfill my duty as a bionic assistant.
I have three primary directives, although no one directive outweighs the other. The first is education. I connect to the school’s Wi-Fi and secure VPN and within minutes, I finish a complete scan of Vautrin Upper Middle School’s faculty, administration, and all registered students beginning either eighth or ninth grade this year.
The second is emotional support. The children attending this school are between twelve and fifteen, a sensitive and tumultuous age for human beings. The changes teenagers experience often frighten or confuse them. It is my duty, should I be approached for information or comfort, to assist them through anger, aggression, anxiety, and any other issues that may arise.
