Page 27 of Ezra
“Nothing, just—didn’t expect you to inquire.”
I mimic a sigh, a simple enough gesture of annoyance with or without lungs, and remind myself to be patient. She doesn’t know me, and I certainly don’t know her. “Human health is still a primary part of my programming, Miss Carson. I’m designed to care.”
Katrina seems to weigh whether or not she wants to respond. “Zoey’ll be fine.” She leans back in her seat. “She’s home now. Others weren’t so lucky.”
I nod, focusing on the road, and place my hands on the wheel. I activate manual driving to stay alert, ensuring I take longer routes and odd turns to get to our destination in case we’re being tailed.
Katrina shifts. “About the nurse.”
“Hmm?”
“She called you master.”
I shake my head. “TerraPura believes in full android superiority. Since mankind is ruining the earth, we’re the ones who should be stewards of it. Fix humanity’s mistakes.”
“That’s a little absurd, don’t you think?”
“Is it?” I glance at her. Does she value my opinion, or is this just a turn of phrase?
“She just accepted you as some kind of robot overlord. I mean, she didn’t even protest when you ordered her around.”
“Smart woman,” I reply evenly.
“Oh, very funny,” she says, folding her arms with a soft chuckle. “I suppose you probably loved every minute of it.”
“I did,” I say, quite unapologetic. “Makes my job easier.”
Katrina shakes her head in disapproval.
Her reaction amuses me. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“I’m revered by a delusional cult that turns androids into bombs out of a sense of self-righteousness,” I reply. “Not exactly a compliment. You, on the other hand, don’t need to worship machines to have a sea of angry men fighting to eat out of your hand.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Katrina wrinkles her brows.
“Exactly what it sounds like,” I say. “You’ve got Humanity First at your feet. Snap your fingers, ask them to jump, and I wager half your organization asks you how high. And I’d be willing to bet most of them are young males. Aren’t they?”
Katrina squints at me, a smile tugging at one corner of her mouth. “I can’t decide if you’re complimenting me or accusing me of using my looks to sell an ideology.”
“A compliment. I wouldn’t accuse you of anything.”
“So you’re trying to tell me you think I’m pretty?” Katrina doesn’t skip a beat.
“Aesthetically pleasing, to use proper bionic terminology,” I correct. Machines know perfection when they see it, but I keep that to myself. She’s certainly more than pretty, especially when she’s flustered. I don’t anticipate that happens very often.
“Well—thank you, I suppose?” She ruffles her hair. “I’ve never been complimented by an android. That’s definitely a new one.”
“You’ve complimented me before.”
“So this was what, exactly? A way of saying we’re even?”
“In a way.” I’m admittedly winding her up on purpose, seeing how she reacts to me. A little test of her patience and personality. I’m amused, but also surprised at how she takes my words in stride, without disgust.
Is she really as anti-android as everyone thinks she is?
Algrove Schroeder owns several structures in New Carnegie, thanks to his overflowing wealth from his business. The two largest and primary buildings are BioNex headquarters, where his factory and laboratory are for the creation of androids, and more recently, BioNex Tower.
