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Wednesday, 21 December 2011
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Tomia of Korean Cosplay Team Spiral Cats.
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!!!
Saturday, 29 January 2011
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DAEMON GLITCH
'Forever Alice'
Daemon: A hidden program that performs tasks in the background of main computer programs.
Glitch: An unwanted brief surge of electric power, and or a false or spurious electronic signal.
PROLOGUE
"How was your day?"
She startled him. It wasn't the fact that she spoke, or the sound of her melodious voice...it was the question.
"What was that?" he asked.
"How was your day?" she replied. "I asked you how was your day..."
He didn't immediately answer, but rather paused as he sought for the right words. Finally he inquired... "Why do you ask? Are you trying to be cordial?"
She hesitated, then following a brief pause chided him... "You asked two questions..."
"Sorry," he said. "Why did you ask about my day?"
"I was wondering," she spoke as a matter-of-fact, "so I asked."
"I see..." he said thoughtfully. Another pause...
"So," she began, "how was it?"
"Fine... Busy but productive," he elaborated. "And you?"
"Busy," she said with a smile. "But still time seemed to drag by at a snail's pace."
"Did it?" he questioned.
"It seemed as if," she replied. "It always does when you're away."
"I see," he said again."
Later, while she 'slept', he retired to the den and via comp-connect live contacted an AIR Incorporated tech on the company's 24-7 help line. The home computer system was voice activated, so he spoke quietly to avoid disturbing her. Interestingly, he felt guilty, as if he were being deceptive; as if he was betraying her. While he patiently listened, the voice at the other end droned on.
"Our creations are very life-like and often fool others, so much so that even clients at times begin to think they're human. But honestly , Mister Lee, do you believe she can think for herself? Model HM-18 is AI; Artificial Intelligence. None of our models can think outside of their programming, and they have no concept of time outside of its passing, second by second. It would neither seem to pass quickly nor slowly."
"Be that as it may, it's as I told you," he affirmed. "And there are other things."
"Other things?"
"Yes," he continued. "I've caught her reading."
"Reading? On line?"
"No," he replied. "Books... She's begun to read books."
"That's impossible," said the voice. "That would indicate curiosity. That's not in the programming."
"And yet," he insisted, "I've caught her reading."
"What kind of books? What has she been reading?"
"Fiction," he replied. "Fantasy, Science Fiction and Love Stories."
"Impossible," the voice insisted.
"There's more," he interrupted.
"More?"
"Exactly," he continued. "She's renamed herself. She's asked me to call her Alice."
The voice on the other end was silent. Seconds ticked by, ever so slowly.
"Are you there?"
"I'm here," declared the voice. "I'm just speechless. Honestly now, this is a prank call, right?"
"I'm completely serious," he replied indignantly.
"Name change... " he echoed. "Do you realize how impossible that is? Model HM-18 has been pre-programmed down to the last detail, including her title...or name. She's programmed as Eve-7 HM-18. As far as she is concerned, her name is 'Eve'."
"I'm aware of that," he said, "but the fact remains. She's asked me to call her Alice."
"Why Alice? Did she, by any chance, tell you why she wants to be called 'Alice'?"
"She did," he affirmed. "She did so after reading Lewis G. Carroll's book 'Through the Looking Glass'. She said the world was so full of wonder and unexpected surprises that she often felt like the little girl in the story; she felt like Alice, and she liked the name."
"I don't know what to say," whined the tech. "None of this makes sense. How could she want you to call her by another name? How could she 'want' anything beyond what her programming dictates? We've never had anything like this happen in all the years we've been in business. This is unprecedented." Another awkward pause... "This must be a prank call..."
"Enough..." he exclaimed, interrupting the tech. "I would like to speak to your supervisor."
"There are no supervisors or managers on duty at this hour," the voice proclaimed. "It's after 1:00 AM."
"Then I'll have to wait until morning to speak to someone in charge?"
"Yes...anytime after 8:00 AM," the voice stated. "They leave for the day at 8:00 PM."
"Fine," he decided. "I'll call back in the morning. Better yet, I'll just come there. You've made a report I assume."
"Naturally," the voice assured. "And all conversations with clients are recorded. Just remember the code, sir. Comp-connect live Lee-san HM-18 AI-42-1 AM."
"Very well," he replied. "And you might want to note that it was Alan Lee who requested assistance."
"That really isn't necessary," the tech informed. "Only the surname is required in the report. But if it pleases you I'll do so."
"It pleases me. Thanks for the information," he said as he keyed the code into his pocket comp-pad.
After shutting down the main computer he decided to check in on her on the way to his bedroom. When he opened the sliding door to her small room he found her as he had left her, in 'sleep' mode, sitting in the sheltering darkness. Her electric window shade had been left open, allowing the iridescent moonlight into the room. She liked it that way, so that daylight was the first thing she saw when her programming awakened her at dawn. That was another mystery, another thing she 'wanted'; she had asked him to leave the shade open so she could greet the light each morning.
CHAPTER 1
He wasn't certain what stirred him to wakefulness; some uncomfortable sixth sense that warned him he was no longer alone or a primordial intuition...a 'knowing' without conscious awareness. The moment he opened his eyes he saw her, ghost-like, in the gray darkness of his room, standing within arms-reach of his bed, back-lit by the silver toned moonlight wafting in through the bare glass of his bedroom window. She stood silent and serene, like a finely etched statue, gazing at him intently. A cold chill ran up the length of his back, bringing with it an involuntary shudder. The sensation prompted him to speak... "Eve...?" he intoned questionably.
"Alice..." she replied.
"What is it?" he queried.
"I'm not certain..." she said slowly, thoughtfully. "Something..."
"Something..." he repeated as he rose to a seated position.
"Something is not right," she continued.
The ability to sense danger, he knew, even in sleep mode, was an intricate part of her programming. That would have awakened her, he was certain. "Is there a threat?" he asked, 'an intruder' he wondered, but didn't say. If there had been she would have dealt with it immediately.
"Not to you," she said. "No threat to you or this house..."
"But something..." he repeated.
"It's confusing," she tried to eloborate. She paused again, for just a few seconds. He waited patiently, as his thoughts began to run back to the conversation he had earlier with the AIR Incorporated tech. He began to feel a slight pang of guilt just before she spoke.
"I feel vulnerable...threatened," she finally revealed. "But I can't explain...it's all very confusing."
He began to perspire, nervously, yet couldn't help but marvel at the technology responsible for the creation of HM-18. Obviously she had some type of intuitive self-preservation built into her mainframe, perhaps similar to a woman's natural intuition. Her sensors were warning her of danger to her personally, and he assumed it had something to do with his plans to speak with a representative of Artificial Intelligence Robotics Incorporated concerning her recent behavior.
"There doesn't appear to be any danger" he said. "You should return to your room and I should get back to sleep. I have a busy day ahead."
"Yes," she agreed. "There doesn't appear to be any danger. I should return to my room and you should get back to sleep. You have a busy day ahead."
Having said that, she turned and slowly walked away, leaving him alone once more in the dark, and he knowing that although he needed sleep there was very little chance of that happening now.
The following morning he drove from his small estate in Sherman Oaks, nestled on a thickly wooded lot in the San Fernando Valley, and as usual took the scenic route along the freeway through the hills that led to Plan IT, the software Company he had inherited from his mother. But today was different. He drove past the Sony avenue exit close to the old Universal Studios, the same exit he took each day, and continued on toward Santa Monica. Once there he turned on to the Pacific Coast Highway, driving north toward Oakland. AIR Incorporated was about an hour drive up the coast, located just off Highway 101, perched high atop a cliff above the road and overlooking the blue Pacific. The bright sun had already burned away the early morning smog and the temperature was a mild 70 degrees. He recalled that as he was leaving the house that morning Eve-7 wished him a good day, then commented that... "The weather is nice in Southern California."
He would have enjoyed the weather and scenery more had his conscience not been plagued by a nagging guilt. He felt he had been deceptive by allowing Eve-7 to believe he was going into the office as usual. It was better that way, he had assured himself, rather than having to explain to her his motives for meeting with an AIR Incorporated executive. Lost in contemplation as he drove he didn't notice how much time had elapsed, and almost missed the exit that would take him to the steep, winding road that snaked it's way up the mountain to his destination. He returned to his musings as he drove and it was only after he reached the front gate leading to the visitor's parking lot that he realized how distracted by thoughts and emotions he had become.
'Already here...' he told himself as he brought the car to a halt. He recognized the face that peered out from the guard-house window and dipped his head as he held up a hand to signify greeting. A moment later the guard stepped out into the sunlight, looking very much like a highway patrol officer in his light brown uniform.
"Mister Lee," he said with a smile, which seemed to illuminate his handsome features. He appeared to be in his early thirties, and had not seemed to age at all in the last three or four years, which only served to make Alan Lee wonder whether or not he was a robotic product of the Company he served.
"Hello, Sean," he replied as the guard handed him a clipboard. "Sign in the usual place?"
"Yes sir," he responded. "Right at the top, first line. You're always the first to arrive on the days you visit."
"You know what they say, Sean. The early bird..."
The guard laughed... "You're one of the very few individuals I know who hasn't been spoiled by wealth," he proclaimed as he reached out a hand to accept return of the clipboard. "Give me a moment and I'll open the electronic gate, then go ahead up to your father's reserved parking space. It's always vacant. They don't allow anyone else to use it."
"Thanks, Sean."
A few seconds later as he drove through the gate he envisioned the reserved space, located just beside the marble-stone walkway that led to the front doors of the lofty building, facing seaside. The private parking spot was a minor perk given out of appreciation for his parent's support of the Robotics Company. His father had contributed large sums of money to fund research and developement in the beginning, and his mother continued to do so after his death. When she was diagnosed with stage four-cancer she set up a Trust Fund for continued support of their efforts. It was then that the founder of AIR Incorporated sold Eve-7 HM-18 to her for less than half of the expense of creating the state-of-the-art android. At that time, she was granted an experimental chip that would ensure Eve-7's total dedication and obedience to Alan Lee. He had just earned his Master's Degree, completing his sixth year at MIT, and found Eve-7 waiting for him when he returned from University. His college years had been spent in intensive study, allowing no time to socialize. There was no significant other in his life, and his mother's time left on this earth was short, thus it was her plan that Eve-7 would be both companion and helpmate for her son once she was gone.
His retrospection was broken momentarily when he steered the car into the space beside the marble-stone path. He stepped from the vehicle and stretched, then took in a deep breath of clean, ocean air. He closed his eyes, listenting intently to the wind and the subdued sound of the waves far below as his body was wrapped in the cool breeze. He loved the winds that came from the sea, especially those that blew through the San Fernando Valley each evening, dropping the temperature even during the warmest summer months. As he opened his eyes he thought again about Eve-7's last words that morning; "The weather is nice in Southern California..." It didn't occur to him before now, but he wondered why she would say something like that. Surely she didn't have the same sensations of hot and cold that humans were subject to. Why would it matter to her if the weather was nice or not, whether it was humid or not, cloudy or not? Maybe it was her programming...she was an advanced model and he recalled his mother had told him Eve-7 was like a child, juvenile and innocent, as far as her 'mind' was concerned, but that she had been programmed to learn, and would most certainly do so. Therefore he was to be selective and careful about what influences she was exposed to. 'Just like a child...' he pondered.
Meanwhile, at Plan-IT, in her office adjacent to his, Marlene Nishime sat quietly at her desk staring at the stack of papers and folders in front of her. She had been Alan Lee's private secretary since he graduated MIT and came to work for his parent's software company. Her father was one of Japan's top scientists in the Robotics field and had devoted his entire career to synthetic human development. She was his assistant, working closely with him until his death and afterward requested a change of duty. Alan Lee's mother sent her to a University level trade school for secretarial training. She had been with the Lee family for years, was treated as a daughter and over time had assumed the role of elder sister to Alan. A third generation Japanese and Hawaiian mix, she was raised with strict traditional values and was steadfast and loyal beyond reproach. If there was something that had to be done she did it, and atop the papers before her was a document that required Alan Lee's signature, but he would not be in the office today. That was all she knew, based on a message he left on her electronic, in-house voice mail. Perhaps he was staying home to rest...he didn't say, and she didn't want to bother him but it was her responsibility to get things done. The document had to be signed and sent out today, so bother or not, she had to see that it was done. Finally she stretched out an arm and pressed the telecom button... "Cecilia, send Bradley in to see me."
"Hai, Nishime San," a voice responded.
"A simple 'Yes, Miss Nishime' will suffice," she retorted.
"Yes, Miss Nishime," the voice replied sheepishly.
Marlene Nishime wanted to accuse her of being a condescending little snipe but didn't reply verbally, just a brief clearing of the throat. The voice belonged to her assistant, Cecilia Coleman, for whom she held little regard. Cecilia was a flatterer and a schemer who was notoriously capable of doing almost everything for personal gain. Too, she was vain and selfish, definitely not a team player and inquisitive to a fault. Perhaps inquisitive didn't adequately describe her. She was nosy actually, always concerned about what those around her were up to, as if she were afraid of being left out of something important. She was the only daughter, only child to be exact, of one of Alan Lee's mother's University Sorority Sisters and was brought into the fold by Dame Lee as a personal favor to her former classmate. For that reason alone Marlene was able to tolerate her presence, but not without keeping a watchful eye on her.
Fortunately for her, Miss Nishime wasn't watching or listening after chiding her over her poor choice of words. Cecilia scowled at the telecom petutantly and cursed in a whisper before sending for Bradley. Then, skulking around the water fountain, she intercepted him ten minutes later as he exited Miss Nishime's office... "Brad..." she cooed. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
Bradley Forrest was nice enough, a classic nerd by his own description, fresh out of grad-school. He had never dated a girl in his twenty-six years on the planet and was a well known computer gaming geek who didn't have a social life outside of attending Science Fiction and Anime Conventions. In his eyes, Cecilia Coleman was a goddess, standing five feet, six inches tall with the figure of a professional fashion model. Always parading and primping about, she was infamous for phrases like... "Got to keep it looking good..." Presently, at the sound of her voice, Bradley stopped in mid-stride and stood speechless staring at her in stunned disbelief as she reached across with her right hand and pulled a mass of her flaxen, waist-length blonde hair round to front. The silky, golden tresses proceeded to cascade over her shoulder and spill down, covering her left clavicle and the shapely breast beneath which he was certain beat the heart of an earthbound angel. The sight caused poor Brad to tremble.
"Well," she said teasingly. "Cat got your tongue?"
"No, no," he stammered. "Not at all. Miss Nishime has asked me to bring a document for signing to Manager Lee."
"Really," she said thoughtfully. "That seems odd. This morning she announced that Alan...I mean Mister Lee, would not be in today."
"He's not. Miss Nishime asked me to take the paper to his home."
"Did she?" Cecilia remarked, while her mind went instantly to scheming. "It's almost lunchtime, Bradley. Don't you usually eat with your coworkers in the cafeteria while playing your 3D vid-games?"
"Yes, that's true," he stammered again, surprised that she had noticed.
"I'm certain you wouldn't want to dissapoint your friends," she began, "and I have an errand to run in the Valley. Why not give me the envelope? I can swing by Mister Lee's place and get his signature. I'll be in the vicinity anyway."
Bradley hesitated... "I don't know. Miss Nishime asked me to do it."
"It'll be our secret," she said as she moved close to him. He went weak in the knees when she reached out a slender hand and gently squeezed his left arm. Beads of nervous perspiration dotted his forehead and his glasses began to fog. "Let me help you," she tempted, "and you'll be helping me fulfill my good deed quota for the day."
CHAPTER 2
The automatic glass doors had not yet closed behind him after he entered the main lobby of AIR Incorporated before the guard behind the counter hailed a greeting... "Welcome, Mister Lee."
"Thank you, Frank."
"Ohaiyo, Lee San (Good morning, Mister Lee)," said the girl behind the guard.
"Ohaiyo, Tenshi," he replied, then marveled at her pristine appearance. She was a 'gynoid' (female appearance robot), Tenshi (Angel) model OM-1, the latest synthetic humanoid produced by the innovative, world-class Robotics Company. Speech capable of twenty-three languages and programmed to serve and protect. On the surface she appeared to be a demure young lady in her mid-twenties, but was in fact an elite battle droid capable of immeasurable destruction. She was the first of the 'Forever' series; models that required little or no maintenance and proclaimed to last for generations.
"Tenshi will be your guide today," said Frank.
"Please follow me to the executive elevator," she said. "I'll send you to the 13th floor."
"The 13th floor...?"
"Fujimoto San will see you personally," interjected Frank.
"I see," said Alan thoughtfully. "VIP treatment..."
"Your concerns are very important to Fujimoto-sama," added OM-1.
"Very well," he replied. "Please lead the way."
Once inside the lift she advised him to grasp the handrail for balance... "The elevator moves very quickly," she warned.
"Thank you, Tenshi. It's been some time since I've visited Fujimoto San. One tends to forget..."
"You can call me Angela," she said with a smile. "It's the English pronunciation of my name with an 'a' added at the end."
"Ariegatou (Thank you), Angela," he said, then asked; "Did you name yourself?"
She giggled like a young girl, then declared... "No. That would never have occurred to me, or any other AIR Incorporated creation. It's not in our programming. 'Angela' is my given name."
"It suits you," he said following a brief pause.
"Flattery, Mister Lee?"
"Not at all," he said with a laugh. "Just a random observation."
She smiled as she humbly replied... "Ariegatou gozaimasu' (Thank you very much). "I'm certain Fujimoto-sama would appreciate the compliment. I'm patterened after, and am a mirror image of his niece, Aiko Chan."
The elevator stopped just as she finished speaking. "We've arrived..." she said as the safety doors opened. She stepped from the lift first, then continued... "I'll escort you to Fujimoto-sama's office."
"That won't be necessary. I know the way."
Angela hesitated, then abruptly turned to gaze at him... "It's proper decorum, Mister Lee. Proper manners are an intricate part of my programming, and as you know..."
"AIR Incorporated creations cannot go against their programming..." he added.
"Exactly," she replied. "And aside from that, I like being of service to you."
"Flattery, Angela?"
"Not at all," she said with a smile. "I am content only when I serve. And your family has done so much for our little Company. To serve you is my pleasure."
"Then by all means," he conceded, "please lead the way."
As they walked, he marveled at the wide corridor illuminated by solar-powered flat-tube bulbs set into the ceiling every few feet. The walls were lined with photographs depicting the history not only of AIR Incorporated, but also of vthe Fujimoto family. Some images brought back uncomfortable memories of the 2010 Global Economic Depression that devestated the economy of entire nations and reshaped the balance of power, technology and industry. His parents were in some of the pictures, and himself when he was a child, a teen, and finally a college graduate. He could have easily spent more time viewing those windows of history, but momentarily discovered that they had arrived at the entrance of Fujimoto San's private office. Almost immediately the twin doors slid open, followed by the Master's greeting.
"Ohaiyu, Alan."
"Ohaiyo, Fujimoto San," he replied as he bowed, following Angela's example.
"Enter, young man."
"Please, Lee San," said Angela as she motioned with a hand.
"After you," he replied.
"I never enter Fujimoto-sama's office unless personally invited," she declared.
"That's okay Angela," said Fujimoto. "Just stand guard at the door. We won't be long."
"Hai," she replied with a deep bow.
Alan Lee stepped into the room, afterwhich the twin doors closed automatically.
"I must remember to have her programming altered," said Fujimoto. "I want her to come and go from here whether she's invited or not. I could have a stroke or worse...lose consciousness. In that case I would need her immediately. I don't know what the techs were thinking when they programmed her. It's them I don't want coming in without invitation."
"It's hard to get good help these days," quipped Alan, then quickly stated... "I didn't mean that. Just a rather lame attempt at humor."
"No, no. You're right," said Fujimoto. "There are many well trained technicians in the field today, but few innovators...very few pioneers. But I digress. Please have a seat," he offered.
"Thank you," Alan responded, and once seated he noticed a picture of Fujimoto and his niece displayed on a shelf behind his desk... "Angela could pass for Aiko Chan's twin sister," he said, indicating the portrait.
"Ah so," agreed Fujimoto San. "But Aiko is a delicate flower that will wither in time, while Angela will remain eternally beautiful."
"I asked her, Angela, if she had named herself," Alan revealed. "She told me that no AIR Incorporated creation could do that, and yet Eve-7 has requested that I call her 'Alice'."
"Hai," mused Fujimoto. "I've been expecting to hear from you for some time now. There have been other things, I've been told. This is a first for us..."
His words trailed off, as if he were searching for the right thing to say. "It's the chip," he concluded, "The latest one installed just before your mother took possession of Eve-7. It was still in the experimental stage...we never would have expected it to morph the way it has, and as yet have no idea what to expect. Apparently it's affected by static electricity in the air."
"The chip...?" he echoed.
"H.A.I. exp A-1," declared Fujimoto. "Heightened Artifical Intelligence experimental Awareness-1. Your mother insisted it be placed in HM-18. She wouldn't accept 'no' for an answer. I approved it, against my better judgment."
"I know how demanding she could be at times," Alan confided. "I suppose she felt pressured by 'time'; she wasn't given much time by her physician after the cancer was discovered."
"Precisely," Fujimoto agreed. "That was the primary reason I conceded. To make a long story short, we continued to develope and test the exp A-1, but eventually scraped the project and moved on to other things. Now back to the subject at hand... I've listened to the recording of your conversation this morning with tech support. The next best thing to be done is to run a diagnostic scan on EVE-7. The best place to do that is here and I can oversee it personally."
"I'll bring her myself," offered Alan. "But it will take some convincing."
"Convincing? Do you expect her to resist?"
"Hai. Before sunrise she confided to me she felt restless...threatened. It's as if she sensed something was transpiring that involved her. I assumed it was my unspoken concerns or that it had to do with my plans to come here today."
"Anxiety...and suspicion," Fujimoto considered. "That shouldn't happen."
"Exactly, and that's only a hint of the unexpected behavior and thought patterns she's exhibited lately. She's been viewing Japanese and Korean TV dramas."
"Well," remarked Fujimoto, "she's got good taste."
"That's not the point. She's begun to show signs of affection. I know she's designed to learn from outside stimuli, but she seems to be progressing far beyond expectations."
"Remarkable...you need to bring her here as soon as you can," affirmed Fujimoto San. "Today if possible."
Miles away from AIR Incorporated, in the San Fernando Valley, Cecilia Coleman was enjoying the pleasant weather as she casually drove past the Sherman Oaks Public Park. It was early afternoon in the middle of the week, but the park was busy, nigh overpopulated by people likewise enjoying the sunshine and spring-like temperatures. Young lovers walking hand-in-hand, families at picnic, University students reading and studying beneath the majestic palm trees, and children at play while homeless bums panhandled. She had just left a small boutique in Tarzana, the small Valley town named after former resident and author Edgar Rice Burroughs' fictional literary character Tarzan. Within minutes she was driving past the park and turning on to Otsego Street. A moment later she steered her late model BMW into Alan Lee's lengthy driveway, then onto the circle drive in front of the main house. After quickly checking her makeup and hair in the sun visor mirror she stepped from the vehicle and hastily brushed out the wrinkles in her lacy chiffon dress, all in preparation to look her Barbie best for Southern California’s most eligible bachelor. What she wasn’t prepared for was the shock that followed her ringing of the chimes at his front door. It wasn’t Alan Lee that responded to the summons, but rather a beautiful, twenty-something stranger. Wide-eyed and speechless initially, she momentarily began to excuse herself… "Sorry," she began. "I believe I’ve got the wrong address. I was looking for Alan Lee."
"This is Alan Lee’s residence."
Cecilia had already turned to leave when those words stopped her cold in her tracks. Taking a step back toward the door she gingerly spoke… "I’m sorry," she repeated. "This is Mister Lee’s home?"
"Yes."
Cecilia looked her up and down…strawberry blonde hair, slim hourglass figure, loose fitting mauve American Eagle brand top shirt over beige mid-calf length cargo pants and tan Chinese house shoes. Obviously she wasn’t a maid, judging from her fashionable clothing, but Cecilia couldn’t help wondering… "Who are you?"
"Alice…" she replied matter-of-factly.
"Alice…" Cecilia repeated thoughtfully. "Are you a relation of Mister Lee?"
"I’m Alice," she said.
Cecilia waited, but realized that was it. That was all she was going to say. It didn’t really matter, as the fire of jealously was lit, fueled by her plans of conquest being dashed to nothingness like angry waves against a rocky shore. "Is Mister Lee available?"
"Mister Lee isn’t here," she replied.
"Where is he?"
"Working."
"Working?" Cecilia questioned. "Working where?"
"His office."
"When? When did he go to his office?"
"Early this morning," said Eve-7, "like every morning Monday through Saturday."
"I’m employed at his Company," said Cecilia with a hint of frustration. "Mister Lee didn’t come to the office today. I came here with a document that requires his signature."
Eve-7 was stoic. She felt as if her circuits were heating up as fear and concern for his safety weighed heavily on her ‘mind’. Her thoughts raced back to the previous night; she couldn’t ‘sleep’ because she was apprehensive…felt threatened. Perhaps her anxiousness had something to do with him.
"Mister Lee called in this morning and said he would not come to the office today," Cecilia said impatiently. "That’s why I’ve brought the papers. I don’t know if you’re related or a houseguest…or whatever, but I work for Mister Lee. I don’t understand why you’re being so evasive…and aloof."
Eve-7 scanned her intently, her acute senses picking up something she didn’t like…she sensed something predatory. Something told her this woman couldn’t be trusted, and perhaps she had plans…insidious plans for Alan Lee…for ‘her’ Alan.
"Well…?" Cecilia spoke.
"Please enter," said Eve-7. "I’ll make some tea…"
Later that afternoon, the workday was coming to a close at Plan-IT. It had been a busy day for Marlene Nishime, so busy that time slipped by unnoticed and it was nearly 5 PM before she thought about the document she had given to Bradley Forrest. She returned to her office and a quick inspection of her desk confirmed that the envelope she had sent him with wasn’t there. Frustrated, she pressed the telecom send button…no reply. She tried again and finally after the third attempt she got a green light… "Miss Coleman, has Bradley returned with a package for me?"
"I’m sorry Miss Nishime," replied a voice nervously, "Miss Coleman is away from her desk…"
"To whom am I speaking?"
"Noreen," the voice responded. "Noreen Hathaway."
"Noreen Hathaway," she repeated. "You’re one of Miss Coleman’s assistants."
"Yes, Miss Nishime."
"I need to see Bradley Forrest, ASAP. Send him to my office the moment he returns."
"When he returns…? I can send him now if you wish," Noreen declared.
"Now?"
"He’s at his desk. Would you like to see him now?"
"I certainly would," she replied with a hint of irritability. "Send him in immediately."
CHAPTER 3
"Oh my God…have you seen the 5 PM news?"
Noreen Hathaway, on the way to Bradley’s desk, paused when she heard the question. "Were you speaking to me, Kaitlyn?"
"Hurry," said her co-worker in a panic, "you’ll miss it."
A moment later she was standing beside two of her team members, staring at Kaitlyn Smyth’s comp-screen, listening in stunned disbelief as the streaming news anchor rambled on… "It may be just another day in topsy-turvy LA folks, but it’s not everyday that police respond to a call like this from a concerned homeowner. An as yet unidentified young woman was discovered late this afternoon, naked and incoherent in her late model BMW, parked in a cul-de-sac in this exclusive Beverly Hills neighborhood. Now in police custody, there has been no statement issued by the authorities pending an investigation. Judging from amateur video footage provided by one of our program’s viewers the woman appeared to be in her mid to late twenties, and in a mild state of shock…"
"What the… That’s Cecilia!" exclaimed Noreen
"Precisely," said Tina, the fourth member of their team.
"I’m so dead…" Bradley moaned from his desk several feet away.
The three girls listened incredulously as the on-the-scene reporter questioned neighbors concerning the incident. So captivated and distracted by the comp-screen, none of them noticed someone had walked up behind them until he spoke.
"What’s so fascinating?"
They turned in unison at the sound of his voice and were equally shocked to discover… "Mister Lee!" Noreen exclaimed.
Bradley’s heart sank to a deeper depth after he abruptly turned to look in their direction. "Wonderful…" he droned sarcastically, then murmured to himself ... "Could things possibly get any worse…?"
Before he could mouth another word, Marlene Nishime marched into the room, moving at a very impatient pace. His chin dropped at sight of her… ‘I had to ask…’ he thought quietly, then toyed with the idea of pretending to faint in order to avoid embarrassing questions, the answers to which he was certain would at the very least spell doom for him. Fortunately, as dumb luck would have it, she was sidetracked by… "Alan Lee. When did you come in?"
"Go ban wa (Good evening), Nishime-san. I’ve just arrived a few moments ago."
"Soo ka (I see)," she replied. "It’s just as well. I’ve an important document that requires your signature." Then turning her attention to Bradley she continued… "You do have the document…"
"Ah, about that," Bradley began to stammer. "Actually Miss Coleman offered to bring the paper to Mister Lee’s home…"
"Miss Coleman…? Kaitlyn interrupted. "Miss Coleman was just on the evening local news feed…"
"She was taken by police this afternoon," said Tina. "She was naked in Beverly Hills…"
"Tina!" snapped Noreen.
"What’s this about the news?" questioned Marlene Nishime, "…and the police?"
"Naked in Beverly Hills…?" Alan Lee repeated.
Noreen, Kaitlyn and Brad began speaking energetically and all at once until cut off abruptly by Alan Lee. "Quiet! That’s enough," he said firmly. "I suggest everyone have a seat and let’s see if we can sort this out."
Each in turn spoke what they knew, which resulted in Bradley Forrest being reprimanded for betraying their trust by not carrying out Miss Nishime’s instructions, and Noreen Hathaway scolded for hiding the fact that Cecilia Coleman had bushwhacked Bradley and tricked him into giving her a valuable document. "Away from her desk…indeed," said Nishime San. "The next time I ask you something be a bit more lucid."
"Yes, Miss Nishime," she said with her head bowed.
"The best thing to do at this point," suggested Miss Nishime, "is to find out where Cecilia is being detained and secure her release."
"Precisely…" Tina remarked.
"I really wish you would find another pet word," said Noreen disdainfully.
"That’s quite enough," Miss Nishime demanded. "Enough inept nonsense for one day."
"Agreed," Alan Lee conferred. "Miss Hathaway…"
"Yes sir…"
"I want you to find out where Miss Coleman is being held and whether or not there are any criminal charges involved."
"Yes sir."
"I suppose I’ll have to arrange for her release…"
"I’ll take care of that, Mister Lee," Marlene interjected. "After all, I feel responsible as she’s my private secretary."
"Very well," Alan accepted. "Pay the bond if there is one. Just take it out of petty cash."
"Hai," she replied.
"It’s been a long day. The rest of you close down your work stations and clock out," Alan directed, then spoke directly to Marlene… "I’ll be home, Miss Nishime. If you run into any complications contact me right away."
"Hai," she responded. "But I don’t anticipate any problems. Your mother was Chief Executive officer of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for years. Most likely the police will be willing to release Miss Coleman on my signature alone."
An hour later, at a Beverly Hills police sub-station, she was waiting patiently for Cecilia Coleman to be brought back from a local hospital where her physical and mental condition had been evaluated. "There were no drugs or alcohol in her system," revealed a verbose desk officer. "But she has no recollection of anything after leaving a small boutique in the Valley. Her clothing, personal items, Hello Kitty underwear and car keys were found in the trunk of her automobile. The rest is a mystery."
Miss Nishime eyed him a moment contemptuously before speaking… "What was that…Public Servant humor? You could have explained without mentioning her underwear. That’s completely irrelevant. Anyway, it’s all certainly a mystery to me," she declared indignantly. "As far as I knew she was at her desk."
"Ah, yes…I see," the desk officer stumbled… "Would you like some coffee?" he asked, strategically changing the subject.
Before she could verbally refuse, two female officers strolled through the front turn-style with an obviously mortified Cecilia Coleman in tow. Her hair was a disheveled mess, her makeup screamed for attention and she looked tired and worn, but she none-the-less appeared to be coherent and alert. The moment the distraught young woman saw Marlene Nishime she lowered her head in shame and embarrassment.
"They’re back," said the man behind the desk. "It’ll just take a few moments now, then we’ll release her into your custody. You can retrieve her car from the gated lot behind the station. You’ll need to show the guard this release form…" he said as he quickly signed a 4 by 6 card. "He’ll bring the vehicle to…"
"That’s quite alright," she said, cutting him off. "I’ll be driving Miss Coleman to her home tonight. My employer, Mister Lee, will send someone for her automobile in the morning."
Meanwhile, although it had not been a typical work day, Alan Lee arrived home minimally stressed as usual, but not from a commute in heavy freeway traffic. Having left the Company later than what was his habit he managed to miss rush hour. The tension he felt now was due to the mischievous shenanigans of an employee his late mother had placed in a prominent position at Plan-IT. The fact that Cecilia Coleman was the only child of one of Dame Lee’s Sorority sisters basically left him in an uncomfortable position. His mother had promised Cecilia’s that she would always have a job at the Company, and he believed it was now his responsibility to honor her wishes, even posthumously. The situation created a dilemma for him, but heretofore Cecilia’s infractions were minor ones, her charades few and far between. But this latest escapade was different; it wasn’t just in-house, but managed to garner the attention not only of the media, but also the local police. The one redeeming fact that gave him comfort was that the authorities promised to withhold her name and place of employment from the press.
Now, as he steered his automobile into the driveway that led to the garage behind the main house, he was contemplating the events of the last few hours… ‘and to think’, he mused, ‘the one day I don’t go into the office, seems like things begin to unravel at the seams’.
His thoughts were interrupted as he applied the brakes, stopping the car a moment, allowing the door control sensor time to identify the vehicle. When the automatic door opened he was surprised to see Eve-7 standing in the shadows at the back of the garage, like a silent sentinel awaiting his return.
Addendum: Long after the work day ended at AIR Incorporated, Sajiro Fujimoto sat alone in his 13th floor office gazing at the seventy inch comp-screen, scanning over the documentation of test results, accumulated data and subsequent findings of three years study of the H.A.I. exp A-1 enhancement chip. He recalled that in the beginning he and his elite research team were highly optimistic about its potential, and remembered that initial tests were promising. At that time, still early in the development phase, urged and coaxed by Alan Lee’s mother, he approved the insertion of the chip in the HM-18 Eve-7 model gynoid. Marlene Nishime’s father, who was instrumental in the creation process of the chip, had cautioned him concerning the possible backlash resulting from such a decision. At that time his daughter, Marlene, was head of Voice Activation and Cognitive Awareness research at AIR INC. and was highly involved in the creation of Eve-7. Out of gratitude to Fujimoto San for employing and caring for his daughter, when illness caused him to retire, Nishime San gave Fujimoto the exp A-1 chip and all records and data pertaining to it. Marlene Nishime continued where her father had left off, working tirelessly until his death. Afterward she retired from the field and went to work for the Lee family. Although Fujimoto was disappointed in her decision to leave Robotics research and development, he was content that she accepted a high level position at PLAN-IT. In a sense, without Marlene Nishime’s contribution, HM-18 would never have been developed. And he was not the only one aware of that fact. Eve-7 knew it as well, and ‘thought’ of Miss Nishime as a parent. He didn’t know why he had not thought of that earlier when Alan Lee mentioned bringing Eve-7 in for examination if he could ‘convince’ her. That was the key to the equation; Eve-7 trusted Marlene Nishime implicitly, without question. Abruptly reaching for his digi-phone, Fujimoto San keyed in Alan Lee’s personal contact number.
CHAPTER 4
Surprised to discover Eve-7 standing motionless at the back of his twin car garage, Alan Lee hesitated before commanding his vehicle to enter. Precisely at that moment an ‘On Star’ operator contacted him via his enhanced in-dash system, the sound of her voice startling him momentarily… "Good evening, Mister Lee," she cordially began, "This is Cynthia with On Star. You have a call from a Mister Sajiro Fujimoto. Shall I put him through?"
"Yes, thank you Cynthia. Please connect the line."
"Will do, Mister Lee. Thank you for using On Star. If you have any needs we can assist you with remember you can contact us 24-7. Have a good night."
"Thank you Cynthia. Stay steady."
Eve-7 patiently waited while he spoke to Fujimoto-sama, but not without wondering why he had not driven into the garage. She quickly decided it might have been because she was directly in his path, although the garage was deep, long enough that he could park another vehicle behind his own and still have space to spare. In spite of that she moved to one side, toward the door leading into the main house. A few moments later he entered the garage and via voice command instructed the car to shut down the engine. As he stepped from the vehicle Eve-7 approached and said with a smile… "You’ve returned…"
"It’s been a long day," he declared. "Definitely not an ordinary one. Were you waiting for me here? In the garage?"
"Yes," she replied. "I was concerned. You’re always so punctual. But tonight you’re over two hours later than what has become your habit."
"Eve…" he began, but noting the change in her expression corrected himself. "Forgive me…Alice. You’re beginning to sound like a wife," he accused teasingly.
He wasn’t certain, but thought he saw her turn her eyes to one side as she slowly lowered her head, seemingly embarrassed by his comment.
"I was worried…"
"Were you?" he wondered.
"I’ve prepared dinner," she said suddenly, as if the thought had been lost and just occurred to her. "I’ll warm it while you change into your evening clothes."
Later, after dining, he retired to the living room while she cleaned the kitchen. As he made his way barefoot to his favorite comfortable chair he stepped down on something sharp. Checking the throw rug he found a golden earring. He examined it to make certain it wasn’t damaged; it was fine. He smiled then, recalling that Eve-7 became interested in earrings after she began watching her Asian TV dramas. She thought the jewelry looked pretty on the actresses, she had told him. He was mildly surprised at the time, but considered it just another example of the strange or unexpected behavior she had been exhibiting for some time.
His musing was interrupted abruptly when she entered the room. Turning to face her he said… "I believe this is yours."
She looked at the earring in his outstretched palm, then quickly declared that… "It doesn’t belong to me."
"No…?" he mused. "That’s odd. I found it just now on the burgundy rug."
"It’s not mine," she repeated. "It must belong to that woman from your Company."
"What woman?"
"That annoying woman that came here today looking for you," she said with a casual shrug of her shoulders. "She’s not really a nice person. I don’t trust her."
Alan’s head was spinning and he felt a sudden queasiness in the pit of his stomach. "I need to sit down," he said. "Tell me, what happened when she came here?"
Eve-7 explained in minute detail, including their conversation, word for word, up to the point of inviting Cecilia Coleman inside for tea.
"What happened after she came inside?" he nervously inquired.
"I asked her to have a seat in the living room while I prepared the tea. She continued to be obnoxious, contumelious really, insolent and abusive…I suppose she’s very steadfast. I asked her to leave the envelope she carried and I would see that you received it the moment you returned. I asked for her name so that I could tell you who had brought the package, but she refused. She said she didn’t have to give me any more information and could just as easily have told me that she was just passing by and decided to drop in."
"I see," Alan interjected.
"I replied that if she said that, I could just as easily have responded that perhaps she should keep passing by until she reached the duck pond at the park and then drop in."
Alan choked back a laugh… "And then?"
"She asked how I dared speak to her like that and threatened to complain to you about it. At that moment I decided to make a concoction that would put her to sleep and erase her memory. I apologized for insulting her, to gain her trust, and blamed my bad manners on my lack of intercommunication with others. She indignantly drank the tea I served and passed out a moment later. Then I…"
"That’s enough," said Alan. "I can imagine the rest. She was discovered in her car and arrested. Fortunately she had no memory of how she ended up in that cul-de-sac. I instructed Miss Nishime to pick her up from the Beverly Hills police sub-station this evening."
Eve-7 remained quiet, her face expressionless.
"Will her memory return?"
"No," Eve-7 replied.
"What gave you the idea to do such a thing?"
"Korean TV dramas," she proudly declared. "Those kind of things happen to conniving girls like that."
"I see…" he said thoughtfully. "Well, I must admit Cecilia is a royal pain, and there was no real harm done. Why don’t we make this our secret?" he suggested.
"Our secret…?"
"Yes. You know what a secret is?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Then don’t talk about this to anyone else," he said. "It’s now a secret between you and I."
She lowered her head again, but this time there was a contented smile on her face… "A secret," she repeated quietly. "Between you and I…"
He watched her with renewed interest, and thought about how cute and innocent she looked at the moment. Her behavior and words brought to mind the image of a young schoolgirl, and in turn reminded him of how child-like she could be at times. But it made perfect sense, he reasoned, since she attained awareness, was born, just five years ago.
"Alice…"
She raised her head and looked at him inquisitively… "Yes…?"
"You trust me, don’t you?"
"Yes."
"Of course you do," he ‘thought’ aloud. "It’s been quite awhile since you were at AIR Incorporated. I want you to go there tomorrow for a diagnostic check. Also, Fujimoto-sama would like to test your abilities against those of their latest models."
"A diagnostic check…" she repeated, and then fell silent.
"Miss Nishime will accompany you and wait there until the tests are completed, after which she will bring you home."
"Nishime-sama…" she said with a smile. "She’ll take me?"
"Yes," he affirmed. "And she may observe and assist in rating your performance."
"I would love to see Nishime-sama," Eve-7 beamed.
"Then it’s done," he declared. "Once you’ve gone into ‘Sleep’ mode tonight, don’t reactivate until morning. That way you’ll be able to show your best."
"Hai," she replied.
Afterward, he breathed a sigh of relief. Fujimoto San’s idea of sending her with Marlene Nishime was perfect. Her desire to be with her evidently over-shadowed any suspicions she might have had about going to AIR Incorporated for what very well could be a lengthy and intrusive examination.
Later, in spite of his best efforts, the sanctuary of sleep eluded Alan Lee. In his room the blinds were drawn, and he was wide-awake in bed, eyes open, staring at the silver moonlight cascading in through the window. He was thinking about Eve-7, who had become more of a mystery and enigma over the last four years. He thought about when he first ‘met’ her; presented as a gift from his mother, just prior to his graduation from University. At that time Eve-7 was top-of-the-line, the most sophisticated and advanced female android manufactured by AIR Incorporated. Her abilities and skills always were a source of fascination and surprise, and watching her ‘mature’ and evolve was an exciting experience. But now, these days he had to admit that she was different. He didn’t notice it the beginning, and couldn’t recall when…perhaps it was after his mother’s death; it was at the crematory and just moments before his mother was cremated. Eve-7 had been standing at his back as he observed the casket. She eventually came closer and laid a single hand on his left shoulder…there was something in her gentle touch. He turned to face her and saw something unusual in her eyes; he saw empathy and compassion…she looked as if she felt and understood his grief and pain. He thought at the time that perhaps it was just his imagination. Androids, after all, though they may appear human did not possess human emotions and therefore could not comprehend them. Oddly enough, he remembered mentioning the incident to Fujimoto San, who was quick to remind him that their creations were a ‘form’ of ‘life’, with the emphasis on ‘form’… "We’ve created them, and we’ve in turn created a dilemma…we’ve personified non-organic, mechanical objects that are no more than dolls that speak, move and perform tasks. They have synthetic consciousness, and although they may think and reason, it is simply due to their programming. They have ‘cybernetic life’, but not organic, or real life."
He remembered that Marlene Nishime further elaborated that… "The development of Robotic technology gives rise to many moral and philosophical questions and simultaneously opens endless doors of opportunity, which means that although for the most part they are programmed for manners and morals, there are some that are not. Those purchased by the Military for example, while some are relegated to harmless tasks, most are designed and programmed to destroy and kill, and are inclined to do so without remorse or the interference of conscience."
Alan stirred and rose to a seated position, as he recalled that it was because of the Military Models that Miss Nishime made the decision to leave the field, or at least that part of it. She refused to be involved in the creation of androids that were created for the purpose of killing human beings, evil or not. On the other hand, Eve-7 had been programmed by Marlene Nishime and her team to protect him, even from himself; from any destructive activities or habits. Like the Tenshi model OM-1 (Angela), Eve-7 was a Class-C battle-droid more than capable of mayhem and serious destruction, but both models were also programmed to make choices based on logic and the demands of the situation. The MM (Military Model) soldier series, however, were Class-A Search and Destroy androids that could obliterate any and everything in their path, friend or foe. They made no distinctions.
Abruptly he shook his head, trying to shake loose all of the jumbled and twisted thoughts that weighed heavily on his weary mind, keeping him from drifting off into the therapeutic bliss of a restful sleep. Momentarily he decided to give up the fight; he was trying too hard, and that made sleep even more illusive. It was then that he heard a noise coming from the kitchen. When he investigated, he found Eve-7 busy making chamomile tea… "This should help you sleep," she said matter-of-factly.
"How did you know…?"
"I’m not certain…" she mused. "I sensed it."
"Even while in ‘sleep’ mode?"
"Evidently…"
‘Cognitive awareness’, he thought to himself…but it was more than just simply that. It was almost as if she was consistently and intuitively anticipating his needs, at times even before he was aware of them.
"You’re not drinking?"
The lyrical sound of her voice brought him back to the moment. "Sorry, I was lost in thought…" he declared, and then teasingly asked… "Is this safe to drink?"
"Certainly," she replied.
"I just wanted to be sure," he continued, "that I wouldn’t awaken naked in my automobile on a street in Beverly Hills."
Eve-7 fell silent, a confused expression masking her face. Ever so slowly, the corners of her mouth began to upturn in a smile… "You’re teasing me…" she finally reasoned.
He laughed, but inwardly marveled at her smile. It seemed as if she was beginning to comprehend humor.
"I wouldn’t…no, couldn’t do something like that to you. Unless…" she paused, as if she had now suddenly become lost in thought.
"Unless…?" he repeated.
"I’ve learned many things from you," she replied. "I hope you never teach me about betrayal."
Now it was he who became suddenly silent.
"Ha!" she exclaimed. "Got you…"
He laughed with her then, though had to admit to himself that she owned him for a moment. For those few seconds he feared she seriously meant what she said, and based on what she had done to Cecilia Coleman, he also managed to reach the healthy conclusion that she was far more capable of doing the unexpected than he could ever have imagined.
Chapter 5
Cecilia Coleman sat pouting at her desk, her chin balanced on her intertwined hands and both elbows resting on her knees. Staring at her blank comp-screen with an equally blank expression, she seemed oblivious to Noreen Hathaway’s endless prattle as the excited girl chatted away, rambling onward almost incoherently. At least an outside observer might have thought so, since she was talking too fast to adequately articulate. She had been speaking for a quarter of an hour, and might have kept going had Cecilia not finally reached the end of her questionable patience… "Hey!" she abruptly exploded as she sat up straight. "What are you on about?"
Callously cut off in mid-sentence, Noreen could only stare at her senior co-worker incredulously as she continued to accuse… "Do I look like I can’t wait to be assaulted by your verbose barrage? Honestly, how can you be so energetic this early in the morning? Are you a sunflower?" she asked sarcastically.
Silence hung in the air like a funeral pall for a few minutes, finally broken by a cheerful… "Good morning sunshine."
Noreen turned toward the voice, relieved to see their co-workers Kaitlyn Smyth and Tina Michelle West entering the room.
"Good morning," Noreen returned the greeting.
Kaitlyn stopped to lay her purse on her desk, while Tina, wide-eyed and eager, rushed to Noreen’s side.
"Great…" mused Cecilia, almost in a whisper.
Kaitlyn came up behind her, then paused to look first at a scowling Cecilia and then Noreen, who appeared sheepish and bruised.
"What?" queried Kaitlyn. "Did we interrupt something?"
"No," Noreen responded quickly. "Not at all. We were just talking…"
"She was talking…" Cecilia cut in.
Before anyone could say another word Bradley arrived, briefcase in one hand and a Café paper cup of coffee in the other. Like a moth to a flame he steered straight toward the four girls. "Miss Coleman," he said in a concerned tone, "Are you alright?"
She glared at him contemptuously before she spoke, just long enough to freeze the surrounding air… "Am I alright...? If you're referring to yesterday I feel like I've been dragged through a knothole backwards. I really don't want to think about it, I don't care to talk about it, nor do I want to be reminded of it... Don’t you have something to do?"
He flinched, as if bracing for a punch out of the blue and his usual expression of self-doubt morphed into one of ‘stage 4’ insecurity.
"I’ve come in early," he stammered. "At the moment I don’t have anything to do…"
"Nothing to do you say," she reeled him in before he could finish… "Nothing at all...? What makes you think I would approve of you doing that here?" she asked with more than a hint of aggravation.
"Right…" Kaitlyn strategically remarked. "I should be powering up my computer," she said as she gently tapped Tina on the hip.
"Huh…?" Tina wondered. Then catching a wink from Kaitlyn she declared… "Oh, right. Me too…I have some unfinished Excel spreadsheets that have to be completed by noon."
Bradley and Noreen took the hint, each heading directly toward their respective workstations, leaving Cecilia to brood on her own.
Earlier that morning, Alan Lee was awakened prematurely by the enticing scent of fresh brewed coffee, scrambled eggs and toast. The pleasing aroma led him to the kitchen where Eve-7 was busy preparing breakfast. "Good morning…" she cheerfully intoned. "I’ve set a place for you at the dining room table. You should eat your breakfast while it’s hot. You’ll still have plenty of time to prepare for work."
"Yes," he confirmed. "You’ve gotten an early start this morning."
"I suppose I did," she agreed, almost apologetically. "I’m anxious to see Nishime-sama. And I want to be ready to leave the moment she arrives. It wouldn’t be proper to keep her waiting."
Alan smiled as he watched her hustle about the kitchen. She looked coed-cute, he thought, in her pink Hello Kitty apron. He remembered buying that for her five years ago in honor of her first ‘birthday’. She cherished it ever since, and always wore it when doing household chores or preparing meals for him.
"You’ve done something different with your hair," he said. "It looks nice."
She stopped what she was doing, but didn’t turn to look at him.
"Not that it didn’t look nice before," he quickly added, fearing he might have offended her. "I’m just accustomed to seeing it pulled back in a ponytail when you’re doing housework…it looks…."
"Like Miss Coleman’s…" she offered.
"Yes," he began, then thinking quickly, said… "No…"
"Is it yes or no," she intervened. "It can’t be both."
He was stymied, and momentarily speechless. Abruptly she began to giggle… "Got you again," she said.
"It would seem so…" he reluctantly agreed.
"I just felt like a change," she revealed. "Do you really think it looks nice?"
"It does. It’s attractive," he affirmed. "I’m certain Miss Nishime will like it too."
She bowed her head slightly and turned her eyes away. He imagined she would have blushed, if she were human. She apparently was excited about seeing Marlene Nishime, which was odd behavior for an android, but then so was witty conversation, mind games and humor. Even more unusual was the fact that she was also concerned about her appearance. To his knowledge, cybernetic robots just didn’t concern themselves with such mundane things. It made him all the more aware of how complex and substantially unique she was.
"You should eat," she declared, snapping him out of his reverie. "I’ll clean the kitchen and then water the plants in the sunroom. I want to finish my tasks and be ready when Nishime-sama arrives."
"I should eat… Yes," he agreed. "I should. It smells good. The best way to show my appreciation is to not let such a nice breakfast go to waste."
She smiled broadly, and then hurriedly returned to her duties. It made him wonder…did she ‘feel’ as happy as she ‘appeared’ to be at this moment? Could an android truly be happy?
‘Questions’… he thought to himself. There had always been questions when it came to Eve-7, from the very first time he saw her. His thoughts drifted back to that day…it was one year before his graduation from University. He was home from MIT for a short visit and had accompanied his mother to AIR Incorporated for a public demonstration of their latest, state-of-the-art robotic creations. Two things stood out in his mind; the event was impressive, and he was smitten by the young woman who acted as MC. Various human-appearance robots performed tasks and displayed abilities in household cleaning and maintenance, culinary and cooking skills, child care and body-guarding. At the close of the demonstration, Fujimoto San stepped onto the stage to address those in attendance and to invite individual guests to either pose questions or rate the performance of the models displayed. All agreed that they were extraordinary, and the elite series were very human-like in appearance and performance, but they still appeared to be cybernetic creations. At the end of the question-answer venue Fujimoto revealed that he was extremely grateful for the patience, input and support of those who attended, but a little disappointed that no one commented on his most advanced model. One of the executives remarked that every model was verbally critiqued. To which Fujimoto replied… "Yes, every model with the exception of the one of which I am most proud; HM-18 Eve-7."
While onlookers exchanged puzzled expressions and scanned over the event booklet for the illusive HM-18, Fujimoto allowed a few moments to pass and then asked for everyone’s attention… "Please allow me," he said, "to formally introduce the young lady who did a wonderful job as MC for the exhibition. Ladies and gentlemen, meet HM-18 Eve-7, the most advanced and sophisticated female appearance android created and manufactured by AIR Incorporated."
He smiled now as he thought about that moment. His mother knew about Eve-7, but he was completely oblivious; he never would have guessed that the young woman with oriental features and strawberry blonde hair was not human. Her voice, facial expressions, mannerisms and movements were deceptively quite natural. Even now, as then, he was slightly embarrassed by the fact that he had found her physically attractive. That was something that to this day, he always kept to himself.
His thoughts were interrupted abruptly when the visitors’ bell chimed. A moment later Eve-7 came to the door of his room… "Nishime-sama is here…" she proclaimed excitedly.
"Very well, Alice," he replied. "I’ll be finished here in a moment. Then I’ll greet Nishime San while you’re preparing to leave."
"I’ve done so," she said proudly. "I’ve been ready for the last hour."
He smiled. Her childlike enthusiasm to see Miss Nishime was heartwarmingly cute.
"Well done," he declared. "Just give me a moment and you two can be off."
Chapter 6
It was a beautiful day for a drive up Pacific Coast Highway 101. Marlene Nishime was thinking that while her silent passenger was enjoying the gentle vibration of the moving automobile.
"The weather is so pleasant today…" Marlene said, inviting conversation. "It’s times like this that I wish I had a convertible."
"Yes," Eve-7 responded. "The weather is pleasant, and the sky is so beautiful…so blue like the ocean. I love looking at the hills and trees along the way. And the Pacific Ocean… It’s awesome…beyond words really. The sea air is so fresh, the sea gulls seem so happy and free…and I really love the wind when we’re moving."
"You find those things enjoyable?"
"Yes," she replied, "delightful…" then quickly said… "Hai, Nishime-sama…"
They both laughed, and then languidly eased into a contented silence. Eve-7 gazed out the open widow as she leaned back in the seat, smiling as the breeze caressed her face and whipped through the strawberry strands of her hair, while Marlene contemplated her human-like behavior. It was unusual to hear an android speak about things like the weather, sky, ocean, trees and wind. But even more unusual were her mannerisms, and the fact that she could laugh. Now she could better comprehend why Fujimoto San had requested that Eve-7 be brought in for examination. While it was common knowledge and understood that advanced androids learned beyond their initial programming from their surroundings and interaction with humans, Eve-7’s evolution had gone far beyond that, far beyond any documentation on record. To say that it made Marlene Nishime curious would have been an understatement. Not since the death of her father, when she left the development arena of Robotics, had she felt emotions akin to what she was feeling now. After just one hour with Eve-7, Marlene Nishime’s scientific appetite was rejuvenated and restored. It was much more than curiosity; it was as if her desire to ‘know’, to further explore the cybernetic and artificial intelligence mecha frontier had been rekindled.
"There…!" Eve-7 said suddenly as she sat upright, eagerly pointing like an excited child at the AIR Incorporated building high atop the cliff to their right. "There it is!"
"Heavens!" Marlene exclaimed. "You startled me…"
"I didn’t mean to," she said apologetically. "It’s just that it’s been so long. I haven’t been back since I left almost six years ago…it’s the place where I was ‘born’."
"Of course," reasoned Miss Nishime. "It’s quite alright, Eve."
Eve-7 abruptly turned to look at her… "Please," she implored. "Could you call me ‘Alice’?"
"Ah," Marlene thoughtfully replied. "Mister Lee told me earlier. In the excitement of the moment it slipped my mind completely. But from now onward I’ll call you Alice."
Eve-7 smiled broadly, while Marlene via voice command initiated the right turn signal and directed the vehicle to reduce speed for the exit and turn ahead. Ten minutes later they pulled to a stop at the front gate of AIR Incorporated, where they were greeted by a very jubilant security guard; "Ohaiyo gozai-masu, Nishime San."
"Ohaiyo, Sean," she replied. "It’s been awhile…"
"Yes it has," he declared. "At least five years. It’s wonderful to see you again. You haven’t changed at all."
"How kind of you to say, but I feel as though I have. Five years…" she mused. "Time seems to pass so quickly. How are your wife and son?"
"Very good. Sean Junior has a little sister now, Mary Elizabeth," he said proudly. "She’ll be four this November."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you," he said, as he handed her his clipboard. She knew what to do, after signing in at the gate more times than she could recall in the years she worked for the Company. He watched as she began to write, and then directed his attention toward Eve-7. When she returned his gaze he smiled and nodded his head… "Good morning, Miss."
"Good morning…" she responded, slightly surprised by his salutation.
Marlene Nishime, smiling, gave her a wink and then handed the clipboard back to Sean. Obviously he didn’t realize Eve-7 was mecha.
"Having you sign-in brings back a lot of fond memories," he revealed.
"Me too," said Marlene.
"Fujimoto San instructed me to have you park in Mister Lee’s reserved space," he continued. "Drive safely."
"Will do," she said, then instructed the automobile to move forward.
Seated at his desk in his spacious office on the 13th floor of the main building of AIR Incorporated, Fujimoto San sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He grinned as he thought about the stir it caused with architects and construction people alike when he told them he wanted a 13th floor to begin with. Due to superstition concerning the number 13, most all high-rise buildings would go from the ground floor to the 12th, skip 13 and then go directly to 14 up. A 13th floor was considered bad luck and would only invite catastrophe. "Rubbish…" he had told them, and based on their beliefs he tempted Fate even further by choosing to make the entire 13th floor his residence. ‘Idiots…’ he thought. ‘They should fear ill health, crime or poverty, rather than waste precious thoughts on nonsensical superstitions’.
"Enough of that…" he thought aloud, and then focused on the present moment. He had spent the last three or four hours perusing the records, documentation, and history of the HM-18 Eve-7 personal assistance android. When ‘she’ was first created, Eve-7 was the most advanced and sophisticated model, capable of perceptual learning, and programmed to be a helpmate, companion and protector. Now, after a through investigation of her records, the only data that concerned him at this point was the premature insertion of the H.A.I. exp A-1 experimental chip that was placed in HM-18 at the request of Alan Lee’s ailing mother. He had approved that himself, in a moment of weakness to appease a friend and in spite of the objections of his research people, scientists and developers. The decision was made, he knew, from the heart rather than based on his better judgement. Albeit, on the surface the concerns brought to his attention recently by Alan Lee seemed minimal… ‘Nothing really to be concerned about’, he reasoned. It was quite common actually, for those who owned androids to imagine that they were developing human characteristics or independent thinking. But then, he knew Alan to be a practical, down-to-earth individual not given to whimsy or fanciful imaginings. Still, he was determined to treat the situation cautiously, which directly resulted in his decision to request that Eve-7 be brought in for what he intended to be extensive diagnostic evaluation and testing.
Momentarily the red indicator light on his desk vid-com caught his attention… "Yes?" he responded.
"Good morning, sir," a voice sounded. "This is Officer Frank Patterson in the lobby. You asked me to inform you when Miss Nishime arrived."
"Is she there now?"
"I just saw her drive up. She is presently parking her automobile."
"Thank you, Frank. Please have Angela bring Miss Nishime and her companion up to my office when they come in."
"Yes sir," he replied.
Angela smiled, which gave Frank Patterson pause for thought. He had been employed at AIR Inc. since it’s inception, but the more he interacted with androids, especially advanced models like Angela, the more ‘real’ or human they appeared to be. He often wondered if they were indeed capable of developing emotions along with knowledge of their environment and the world in general. If nothing else, his experience had taught him that they were more often than not full of surprises and very unpredictable.
A moment later Marlene Nishime and Eve-7 walked in. "Ohaiyo gozai-masu, Nishime San," Frank hailed with a bow and a bright smile.
"Ohaiyo, Frank," Marlene returned the warm greeting as they approached. "You remember me…"
"Yes, of course I remember. My father worked with yours, and I must admit I had a crush on you since I was age 16."
"I’m flattered," she said graciously. "I never knew."
Frank smiled, and his gaze shifted from Miss Nishime to the petite blonde beside her. He was, without a doubt, instantly captivated, which didn’t go unnoticed by Marlene. "You men are so fickle. This is…" she began an introduction.
"Alice," Eve-7 abruptly cut in.
"Alice," Frank repeated. "It’s a pleasure to meet you."
"We’re expected," Marlene edged in this time. "We have an appointment."
"Yes," he awkwardly affirmed. "Fujimoto San will see you personally. Angela will bring you to his office."
Silence followed…Miss Nishime was looking at Frank, who was watching Eve-7, who had locked eyes with Angela. Marlene cleared her throat, bringing Frank back to the moment.
"Angela," he called. There was no response. "Angela…" he repeated, louder this time.
"Hai," she suddenly replied, as if her mind had been miles away.
"Please escort Miss Nishime and her Charge to Fujimoto San’s office."
"Hai," she repeated, and then addressing Miss Nishime said… "Please follow me to the elevator."
They rode the lift in silence, the only words spoken were Angela’s when she directed the voice-activated elevator to take them to the 13th floor. On the way up Angela occasionally turned her head just enough for her peripheral vision to glimpse Eve-7. Marlene noted the odd behavior and obviously her curiosity was piqued, prompting her to speak. "Is there something?" she asked Angela.
"Pardon…?" she responded.
"Do you find my Charge interesting?"
"Forgive me," she implored. "I didn’t intend to be rude. It’s not in my programming… It’s just that my sensors are confused…"
"Confused?"
"She is like me, isn’t she?" Angela inquired. "Alice I mean…"
"Like you?"
"She isn’t human… Is she a Forever model…or more than that?" Angela was searching. "She’s more than mecha, isn’t she?"
"She is an HM-18 series. Eve-7 model…the only one."
"I see," Angela said thoughtfully, as if she didn’t quite grasp the concept, as if she were trying to comprehend a conundrum.
"I’m Alice…" Eve-7 intervened.
"Yes, yes, that’s quite alright," Marlene said, then rolled her eyes with a sigh. If truth be known, she felt as though she were dealing with a precocious child.
Angela was speechless, looking first at Miss Nishime, then Eve-7 and then back to Miss Nishime.
"What is it?" Marlene asked.
"I’m not certain," she admitted. "My sensors tell me she’s a Forever series…like me. But I was created after the HM-18 series. Fujimoto-sama told me I was the first Forever model…" her words trailed off, and at that moment the elevator stopped. "Ah… We’ve arrived," she said.
CHAPTER 7
Fujimoto San had graciously greeted his guests, receiving them like family members returning after a long absence. He was like an uncle to Marlene Nishime, but more like a father to Eve-7. As far as she was concerned he was her ‘father’; not in that he was solely responsible for her creation, but he was involved with it and as the founder and manager of AIR Incorporated he was more or less the ‘head of the house’.
Following warm greetings and an exchange of pleasantries, Fujimoto had asked Angela to prepare green tea for he and Marlene. She did so graciously, serving Miss Nishime first and then Fujimoto. Afterward she stood by until he tasted the tea… "Hmmm," he said slowly. "Excellent, Angela. Your tea always reminds me of my mother."
"Arie-gatou gozai masu," she replied. "I prepared it as you taught me… as your mother taught you."
"You did very well," he declared, after which he turned his attention to Miss Nishime. "Thank you for taking the time to bring Eve-7 here today."
"It’s my pleasure…" she replied.
"And you, Eve…when I saw you walk in I felt as if I were watching a daughter return home; a daughter of whom I’m very proud. You have not failed me in all this time. Do you recall what I told you before presenting you to Alan Lee’s mother six years ago?"
"You said that I had been programmed to serve, that I had been given the necessary instruction and direction to succeed and that you were relying on me to never do anything to disgrace myself or my creators. You said that in essence I was the future of this Company and that how I conducted myself, how I behaved, would be either beneficial or detrimental to my birthplace, to AIR Incorporated."
Fujimoto smiled. "You remember very well…"
Eve-7 was silent and her face relaxed, revealing no emotion.
"Presently," he went on, "only the very wealthy can afford our product; androids that can pass for human in every sense of the word, especially as far as outward appearance is concerned. I’m curious to know how you’ve evolved since awakening…"
"There have been changes over the years since I was activated."
"As there should be," he added. "You’ve been programmed to learn from your environment and from those with whom you interact."
"I don’t know if I’ve changed for the better or worse. I don’t know really, what your expectations are, or if I’m evolving as I should."
"That’s precisely why I wanted to see you today," Fujimoto proclaimed. "You are our first proudest achievement. You were flawless…no imperfections."
"Only one," she interrupted.
"Excuse me," he remarked.
"Only one flaw," she repeated almost apologetically. "One imperfection… I am not human. I’m a machine."
"Eve," he spoke earnestly. "We humans are much more flawed and imperfect than you."
"If that’s so," she mused, "then it leads me to wonder…can imperfect beings create something perfect…something that is not flawed?"
Momentarily perplexed, Fujimoto glanced pleadingly at Marlene to no avail, then back to Eve-7. "That’s a very interesting question…almost philosophical. I’ll have to give it some thought."
Having said that, he was suddenly at a loss for words. It had been at least five years since he had a conversation with Eve-7, but he had never had one like this. If this had been a game of chess, then it would have been checkmate in her favor. It was as if she had first led and then cornered him into a trap. The implication had been made; he said it himself…humans were flawed, and yet he was asking her, whom he had said was flawless, to undergo an examination and evaluation conducted by imperfect creatures. Fortunately for him, Marlene Nishime finally came to his rescue and took hold of the situation, strategically intervening… "Fujimoto San. Mister Lee told me that you wanted me to assist your technicians today…"
"Ah…Hai," he replied. "Yes. I was hoping you could lend your expertise to the proceedings. And I must admit I’ve sincerely missed the joy of working with you by my side, forging and exploring new pathways in cybernetic science and robotic technology."
She didn’t reply, but smiled knowingly as she slowly moved her head from side-to-side.
"What…?" he asked.
"You remind me of my father," she answered. "When it comes to this field you’re as idealistic and optimistic as a young, bright-eyed newcomer."
While the two of them conversed, Eve-7 remained quiet, almost withdrawn. Momentarily she sensed she was being observed and turned her head slightly, just enough so that she could see Angela, who was steadily gazing at her as though mesmerized. Eve-7 turned her head a bit more and their eyes locked once again. They were so intently observing one another that neither noticed the quiet and stillness that had settled over the room, at least not before Fujimoto San spoke… "Angela…Eve… What is it with you two? Do you find each other that fascinating?"
"Hai…" they said in unison as they both turned their attention toward Fujimoto.
"Well then," he mused, "perhaps we can discover what it is you find so intriguing about one another later. It’s almost nine AM. We should go to the diagnostics lab on the third floor and get started. If all goes well we should be finished by mid-afternoon."
CHAPTER 8
Silence reigned in the elevator, voice operated by Angela, as it descended to the third floor. She and Eve-7 had ceased eyeing one another, but there yet seemed to be some unresolved tension in the air. Fujimoto San turned once to see that Eve-7 and Miss Nishime had grasped the support rail for stability. He smiled and Marlene smiled back, in spite of the hint of uneasiness that was beginning to weigh heavily on her psyche. While she was able to hide her suspicions, giving away no indication of her concerns for Eve-7’s state of ‘consciousness’, she remained apprehensive. A little less than three hours had passed since they left Alan Lee’s residence, but it was time enough for her to scrutinize the android’s speech and behavior. Listening to her speak, revealing her innermost thoughts, was like listening to a young, bright-eyed girl just discovering the complex world into which she had been ‘born’. And her actions betrayed the suspicion, insecurity and primal fear she apparently was experiencing…definitely not what one would expect from a cybernetic creation. Marlene was beginning to comprehend what Alan Lee must have realized long ago; that there was much more to Eve-7 than what could be perceived with the eye. In a way, if her suspicions were correct, Miss Nishime felt pity for her. The android never asked to be brought into this world, and was like an innocent child in so many ways. Marlene felt the need to protect her and was inclined to do so. She imagined that above all else, Eve-7 might fear the diagnostic evaluations because the results could mean re-programming at best, or at the worst…that she may be considered a public risk and taken away from Alan Lee. If those fears or concerns were strong enough, Eve-7 could slip into defense mode, and that would most assuredly be problematic; she was programmed as a battle droid whose potential for destruction was initially on a par with the Class-B military robots that knew every weakness in the human anatomy. Yet judging by what she had already seen, Marlene suspected that Eve-7 might possibly be even more lethal, perhaps on the same level as the Class-A military units.
"We’re here," Fujimoto declared as the elevator slowed to a stop.
The sound of his voice and the opening of the door brought Miss Nishime back from her musings.
"Please," Fujimoto motioned with his hand for Marlene to step from the lift. Eve-7 followed her lead as Fujimoto San addressed Angela… "I’ll be busy for awhile. For the time being I would like you to return to the ground floor. Assist Frank at the front check-in desk until I send for you."
"Hai," she responded as she bowed respectfully.
As he turned to face Miss Nishime, Angela turned her attention to Eve-7. They locked eyes anew, and continued to stare at one another until the elevator doors slid shut. Although Fujimoto was unaware, the exchange didn’t go unnoticed by Marlene.
"We’ll walk this way," he said. "Down the hall and then to the right. We’ll conduct a basic diagnostic scan and systems check in room 301."
"Hai," Miss Nishime replied as she began to follow his lead. She had taken only a couple of steps before she realized that Eve-7 had not moved. She paused, which prompted Fujimoto San to do likewise.
"Eve…?" he voiced.
The only reply was silence, as if she had not heard him.
"Eve…?" echoed Miss Nishime.
Eve-7 turned her eyes her direction… "You said you would address me as Alice…"
"Go-mensei’ (Sorry)," she replied. "Alice... What is it?"
Eve-7 turned her eyes toward Fujimoto, then back to Miss Nishime, who momentarily asked him to… "Please give us a minute, Fujimoto San."
"Of course," he said, sounding a bit bewildered. "I’ll walk ahead…room 301, remember? I’ll get things prepared."
"Thank you," she told him. "We’ll be along in a moment."
"Very good," he said with a nod, then continued on his way.
Miss Nishime focused on Eve-7 then… "Talk to me. What’s wrong? Are you apprehensive?"
"That’s two questions..." she began.
"I know…sorry," she spoke calmly. "Alice, there’s nothing to fear. I’m with you. I’ll make certain they don’t do you any harm."
"It’s not that," she said abruptly. "The thing I fear most is being taken away from Alan San… At the least I fear that my programming will be tampered with. That concerns me because I like who I am...who I'm becoming. I treasure the feelings I have for him..."
"Alice…" Marlene said with empathy, as the words touched her heart.
"Promise me that if anything happens to me you will take care of Alan San. He doesn’t have anyone else…"
"There’s nothing to fear, really…" Marlene began.
"Promise me!" Eve-7 insisted.
"Very well," she conceded. "If it will put your mind at ease… I promise."
Eve-7 smiled. "Arie-gatou gozai masu’ (Thank you)."
"That’s quite alright," she responded. "Now let’s not keep Fujimoto-sama waiting. The sooner we get this evaluation started the sooner I can return you to your home."
"Hai," Eve-7 replied vigorously. She liked that, and the thought stayed with her, bringing with it a smile to her face; when the evaluation was completed Nishime-sama would return her to her home...to Alan San's home...their home.
Meanwhile at Plan-IT, Cecilia Coleman fidgeted nervously in her chair while Alan Lee meticulously scanned over the detailed police report the desk clerk had given Marlene Nishime the previous night. According to the transcript there were no unusual or suspicious substances found in her bloodstream, which made him wonder all the more just what Eve-7 had concocted and put into her tea. Lost in his own thoughts, he didn’t realize how much time had passed, nor how difficult it was for Cecilia to endure the silence.
"I wouldn’t blame you," she finally spoke, "if you terminate my employment."
"What’s that?" he asked as he raised his head.
"I wouldn’t hold it against you if you ask me to leave the Company. I know I’ve brought disgrace to Plan-IT."
"Nonsense," he declared. "That incident is already yesterday’s news. The public is notoriously fickle and easily forgets while busily chasing the latest gossip. I’ve no intention of terminating your service."
"I don’t know what to say…" she began, her voice trembling.
"About yesterday…" he inquired. "What is the last thing you remember?"
"Leaving the Le Fashion boutique in the Valley," she replied. "The next thing I recall is awakening in my car, surrounded by high school students taking pictures and videos of me with their hand phones…" she paused, obviously embarrassed.
"That’s quite alright…" he said in an effort to calm her.
"I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before…" she moaned as tears began to fall. "I’m so ashamed."
Alan Lee was suddenly at a loss for words. He was unaccustomed to dealing with women, especially one in tears, and he felt somewhat responsible for her situation since it was Eve-7’s doing to begin with, and it was his decision to hide the fact.
"Would you prefer to take the rest of the day off?" he asked.
"No, sir," she said as she regained her composure, and her conniving mind started to plot and scheme… "That won’t be necessary."
"Very well. You’re a real trooper," he reasoned as he gazed at his watch. "It’s past noon already. Why don’t you and your team take off for lunch?"
"But we’re in the middle of restructuring the filing system. Miss Nishime wanted it completed before she returned."
"It won’t impede progress if you four girls take a break," he insisted. "Afterward, you’ll be more productive working with a full stomach."
"Well, if you insist, Mister Lee. You are the boss after all."
If he didn’t pick up on it before now, it was a small matter, but with that being said he realized her true nature was beginning to resurface. Her beauty was her weapon and she knew it. She was striking and at times when dealing with her he caught himself minimally distracted. But this was not one of those times; he was aware that she was patronizing him, and although he could see through it and didn’t approve, he found it morbidly compelling to observe her in action. It was something she had managed to turn into an art. If only she could channel that creativity... He found himself wondering just how productive she could be if she used her mind and energy in an appropriate manner and aimed toward more unselfish and lofty goals. 'Perhaps, in time...', he imagined. He had not finished the thought before the incoming call indicator light on his tele-com flashed red.
"Yes, Noreen?"
"Mister Lee, I just received a streaming text from Miss Nishime. She asked that you contact her on her hand phone when you have a free moment."
"Thank you," he said. "I'll do that now."
That being said, he redirected his attention toward Cecilia... "You can go, Miss Coleman. Try to relax and enjoy a good meal with your friends. I'm certain you'll feel much better afterward."
"Thank you, Mister Lee," she said demurely as she rose to her feet.
He watched her as she walked to the door, shaking his head and wondered how someone so blessed and coming from a wealthy family could be so vain and conniving. The moment she closed his office door he contacted Marlene Nishime. She clicked on before the second ring and began talking profusely, her voice full of emotion, before he had a chance to utter a word… "I hope you’re sitting down," she began, her tone laced with excitement. "We’ll be a little longer than expected. Fujimoto San wants to conduct further tests."
"That’s fine," he agreed. "I trust Fujimoto San to do whatever he deems necessary."
"It shouldn’t take long… Lee Alan…" her voice became serious. "I’m so far beyond amazed…had I not been there I would have a difficult time believing what we’ve discovered this morning."
"It must have been a shock," he cut in. "You haven’t called me ‘Lee Alan’ since I entered University."
"Go-mensei, forgive me…it’s Eve. I honestly don’t know where to begin. She was put into ‘sleep’ mode for the basic diagnostic scan, but her system didn’t shut down entirely. The technicians didn’t catch it at first…she’s changed herself..."
"Nishime San," he cut in again. "Slow down so I don’t lose sight of you…"
She took in a deep breath, then continued; "During the initial scan they picked up bio-electric activity…"
"Bio-electric…?"
"It’s the chip…the H.A.I. exp A-1. It’s impossible, I know…but it’s fact. They tried to remove the chip but it’s affixed itself to its slot. It’s created daemon programs that are operating independently of her original software, and they can’t be shut down. Apparently they run constantly, even when she is in ‘sleep’ mode. They are improving and restructuring her entire system. Her capacity for memory and information storage has been increased at least tenfold. Presently she has become something beyond our technology or ability to create…she’s far more advanced than the latest ‘Forever’ series. Who knows…she may be immortal."
"This is much more than I could have imagined…" he spoke slowly. "You mentioned 'bio-electric'..."
"I did...but we don't know enough about that yet...that's the chip; it's become something neither mecha nor bio...something else entirely, like a new form of 'life'.
"Incredible," he voiced.
"There’s more," she proclaimed. "During the first scan she was wired to the main, super computer on the third floor. Before anyone realized it she had managed to download everything stored in its data banks…that’s thousands of terabytes of information, and in less time than it took the AIR Inc. technicians to scan her. She even managed somehow to correct some of the mathematical equations in their files…" she paused to take in another breath. "Needless to say…I’m stunned."
"Likewise," he said, "beyond a doubt. Are you sure about all this?"
"Of course. If not I certainly wouldn’t be telling you."
"About the further tests…"
"Fujimoto San is conducting an intelligence exam as we speak. He’s testing her against their latest model, and against the main frame of the super computer. I don’t know the results at this time. I know he plans to test her motor and defense skills next. That should be the end of it. Baring any problems we should be leaving here before five PM."
"That’s good then. I’ll be in my office. Contact me when you’ve finished, or immediately if any emergency arises."
"Hai," she replied. "I’ll go then…I promised Alice I would make sure she wasn’t harmed."
Alan Lee pressed the 'end feed' button on his tele-com, then leaned back in his chair. A plethora of thoughts rushed through his mind like a swollen river, but for some reason he latched onto one of them, clinging to it like a life-raft; it was Marlene’s last statement before she closed off… "I promised ‘Alice’…"
CHAPTER 9
Fujimoto San had listened in stunned disbelief as Eve-7 answered questions faster, and in more detail, than the latest AIR Incorporated educational model EM-2020. When she was tested against the same android in the game of chess, she beat it consistently, seven games out of seven. That was unbelievable as far as Fujimoto was concerned, but presently she was being tested against the main computer, and the results were the same, albeit it took her a bit longer to out-think the sophisticated ‘brain’ of Fujimoto’s most advanced AI machine. She had just managed to win the third contest when Marlene Nishime entered the room.
"You’re back," said Fujimoto. "And in time to observe Eve-7 compete in her fourth game of chess against our best computer."
"Fourth game?"
"Hai," Fujimoto affirmed. "She’s won the first three, each in less that two minutes."
Marlene was speechless. She looked at Eve-7 in astonishment, while the android returned her gaze and smiled.
"She seems happy to see you," Fujimoto remarked. Then speaking to Eve-7, he said… "Let’s have one more game. Miss Nishime hasn’t seen you perform."
"Hai," she replied with a touch of excitement in her voice.
Less than two minutes into the game, Eve-7 proclaimed… "Checkmate."
Marlene was impressed, but Fujimoto San was almost catatonic. "I can’t believe this, even though I’m witnessing it first hand. I honestly thought Alan Lee was letting his imagination get the better of him. But this…this is unprecedented."
"I’m also finding all this difficult to fathom," Marlene confided. "But Alice seems to be enjoying the experience, albeit with subdued exuberance."
"She’s smiling contentedly now," Fujimoto agreed, "but I think that’s due to your presence. Heretofore she was showing no sign of emotion."
Marlene silently nodded, never taking her eyes off Eve-7.
"Well then," said Fujimoto, dismissing her silence, "I’ll grant you the honor of bringing Eve to the second floor. Use the voice-controlled elevator labeled VC-3. When you reach the second floor take the corridor to your right and three doors down on the left you’ll find the gymnasium. I’ll join you in just a few minutes, after I’ve conferred with my technicians."
"Hai," she responded, then went silent again. Although they were making good progress, Marlene felt as though time had slowed to a crawl, as if she were submerged in water and trying to movie quickly against a current, exhausting her reserve of energy while attempting to advance against the heavy resistance. It was due, she was certain, to shock; there were too many surprises and none of it made any rational sense.
"Nishime-sama…"
It was Eve-7. The lyrical sound of her voice ‘awakened’ her to the present moment.
"Alice," she returned the salutation. "How do you feel?"
"Uplifted," she said with a smile. "The scan was invasive, but these contests aren’t. I rather like them."
"Very good," declared Marlene. "I believe we’ll be finished soon. We’re to go to the second floor. Fujimoto San will be along shortly."
The second floor corridors were wider than the hallways on the third floor, and pristine white, with no wall hangings. They reminded Eve-7 of the Asian hospital TV dramas and caused her to feel a bit uneasy, apprehensive. She was relieved when they reached their destination and Miss Nishime spoke… "We’re here. We’ll just wait outside until Fujimoto arrives."
"Hai," Eve-7 agreed.
"I phoned Lee San while you were playing chess," Marlene revealed. "Neither of us expected these evaluations to take this much time. I didn’t want him to wonder why we had not returned by now."
"Did you tell him anything else?"
"I told him what we’ve discovered to this point."
Eve-7 bowed her head and seemed to be meditating, perhaps pondering what to say next. Marlene waited a respectable amount of time, then spoke... "There's no need for apprehension. You’ve been with Lee San long enough for him to know you’re not just an ordinary replicant."
"Replicant…?" Eve-7 repeated.
"Sorry…a poor choice of words," said Marlene. "As the only OM-18 model to be given the H.A.I. exp chip," she explained, "you became extremely unique. Because of the chip, you’ve evolved so much more, beyond that of any cybernetic creation. To say that there is only one such as you in all the world is almost an understatement. If anything, Lee San is intrigued by the initial findings, and quite impressed."
Eve-7 nodded slowly, her eyes down. Marlene could only imagine the thoughts that were running through her ‘mind’. "Hontou-ne’ (Really), you’ve no reason to be concerned," she continued. "Lee San has no intention of letting you go."
She smiled then, which gave Marlene reason to pause. Although most androids were capable of smiling, it was something they just didn’t usually do. Most were incapable of comprehending humor, or happiness for that matter. That required an understanding of emotions, which were alien to robotic creations.
"Sorry to keep you waiting…"
They both looked his direction at the sound of his voice.
"I know this is taking more time than we imagined," Fujimoto reasoned.
"Seven hours, twelve minutes and ten seconds," Eve-7 calculated.
"That long?" Fujimoto wondered aloud as Marlene glanced at her watch.
"Actually," said Miss Nishime, "it’s been that long since we left Lee San’s home."
"I see," Fujimoto said thoughtfully. Then looking at Eve-7 he inquired… "You’re counting the time away from home?"
"The time away from Lee San," she replied.
"Very interesting," he considered. "Although rather rare…"
"She’s right," said Marlene. "It’s been that long since we left Sherman Oaks."
"We’re almost finished," Fujimoto proclaimed. "We’ll conduct a couple of tests here in the gym and that should do it. I promise you’ll be on the road before rush hour."
The ‘gym’ was no more than a rather large, almost empty room, easily the length of two tennis courts and a third as much wide. There were two rows of five-tiered, multiple-seating bleachers just inside the entrance, located either side of the door. On the opposite side were computers, digital cameras, audio and a plethora of test equipment and machines designed to rate performance of cybernetic-robots, especially those of the security and military class. Marlene counted at least seven technicians, two security androids of class A and B respectively, and three Military units, one each of class A, B and C; class A being the most lethal. All five were more than six feet, two inches in height and physically structured like NFL linebackers, towering head and shoulders above Eve-7 and appeared gargantuan in contrast to her petite frame.
"This is…" Marlene began to speak.
"Physical performance evaluation," said Fujimoto.
"And the Military class robots…?" she asked.
"Yes, yes…I know," said Fujimoto. "I also want to test Eve-7’s defense skills."
"With all due respect, Fujimoto San," Marlene said with conviction, "I’m not comfortable with this."
"Now, now, Miss Nishime…you should trust me," he responded. "You trust me, don’t you Eve?"
Eve-7 didn’t reply, but turned her eyes toward Marlene.
"Come now," he addressed them both. "Do you honestly think I would place our finest achievement in danger?"
"I trust you, Fujimoto San," Marlene replied. "But I’m not as certain about these Military Class robots. Their programming is a bit controversial to say the least. They’re extremely unpredictable."
"True enough," he agreed, "but this is a controlled situation. The technicians can shut down any of these five at the first sign of trouble."
"I suppose so…" said Marlene.
"Very good," Fujimoto said quickly. "This shouldn’t take much time. If you would, Miss Nishime, please go to the far end of the room with the Class A Military-droid. I would like Eve-7 to accompany me to the opposite end, with the other androids in between. The idea is that Eve-7 will walk from this side of the room toward you, with the Security and Military models blocking her advance."
"Sounds simple enough," reasoned Marlene. "Alice, you go with Fujimoto San and do what he tells you."
"Hai," she obediently replied.
Fujimoto gave the technicians a signal. Some prepared their test equipment while others initiated the movement of the combat units. Marlene Nishime, meanwhile, walked to the far end of the room where the Class A Military android waited as Eve-7 accompanied Fujimoto to the opposite end. While the other androids took up positions in between, he spoke softly to Eve. Marlene meanwhile just managed to reach the Class A unit and turned to face Fujimoto in time to see Eve-7 walking briskly in her direction. The Class B Security android attempted to block her way but ended up flat on its back after Eve-7 struck either ankle with two perfectly placed kicks. It made a vain attempt to upright itself as she strolled past where it lay but collapsed anew due to broken ankle joints. Meanwhile she closed the gap between herself and the Class A Security model and managed to take it down with a speedy side kick to one knee, dislocating the joint with an audible 'snap', rendering it useless. The Class C Military android quickly moved toward her at that point but was stopped cold when she turned backward ninety degrees and delivered a powerful back kick to its midsection, sending it flying toward the Class B Military unit. The force of the collision knocked it off its feet. Eve-7 picked up speed, jumped over the supine pair and landed within arms reach of Marlene Nishime. She gingerly moved her aside with one arm, but in taking the time to do so was grabbed by the Class A Military-droid. His hands gripped her tightly, one above each shoulder, but she quickly dipped her head and raised it again, coming up on the outside of one of his arms, dislodging his grip as she brought up her right knee into his stomach. Although she had broken free, he seemed unaffected by the knee strike and hit her forcefully with his left palm. As if anticipating the blow, she was already turning her body to the side and deflected the brunt of the impact with a lighting fast outside-in forearm block. The force of his technique still knocked her back a couple of feet, right into the Class B Military android who immediately wrapped both arms around her in a bear hug. She raised her right knee and stomped down with her heel atop his instep while simultaneously slamming the back of her head into his chin. He released her as both hands went to his jaw, which had been dislodged by her attack. The whole bottom section of his face hung loosely by exposed wires that emitted sparks and brilliant blue and green flashes. She spun and back kicked, sending him flying as she reached out and grabbed the head of the Class A unit, twisting its neck violently. It managed to emit a vocalized howl, then slammed a fist into her chest, knocking her backward. She avoided stumbling and tripping over the Class B lying on its back behind her, and suddenly leapt forward and up, flipped her body in a complete circle and landed with both knees on the shoulders of the Class A unit. She instantly twisted her upper torso to one side and then forcefully twisted her legs, one on either side of the android’s head, in the opposite direction. The action severed the head from its body and it dropped inanimately to the ground. The entire event happened and was over and done with in less than sixty seconds.
Everyone was struck speechless, with the exception of Eve-7, who asked Marlene if she was injured.
"I’m fine," she replied nervously. "How are you?"
"I’m not certain," she replied. "Give me a moment…"
Before she could evaluate her condition Fujimoto and two of his technicians were at her side.
Eve-7 ignored them as she cheerfully replied to Miss Nishime's question... "I’m fine, Nishime-sama," she said with a smile.
"You're fine...?" Marlene repeated inquisitively. "You're not damaged?"
"My right arm only... I'm durable but that military drone that grabbed me from behind was extremely powerful. If I were human my body would have been crushed. I'm just now beginning to 'feel' the arm from just below the shoulder."
"I was afraid something like this was going to happen," Miss Nishime complained.
"It shouldn't be anything we can't attend to," Fujimoto declared with confidence.
"That won't be necessary," Eve-7 spoke out. "They've been working on it at full speed, very enthusiastically."
"They...?" Fujimoto intoned.
"The daemons," Eve-7 said nonchalantly. "The hidden programs you discovered. They've repaired another 30% of the damage while we've been talking. A few more minutes should do it."
"Incredible..." Fujimoto slowly spoke, just before going suddenly silent when he noticed Marlene Nishime staring at him scornfully.
The attending technicians noticed it as well and quickly and conveniently began to survey the damaged androids, while Marlene looked Fujimoto up and down. "You’ve got a guilt-ridden expression masking your face," she determined. "Just what did you say to Alice to initiate this debacle?"
"I apologize," he said quickly. "I apologize to both of you… I told her you were kidnapped…that the Class A android was going to take you away and the others were going to prevent her from interfering."
"Fujimoto-sama…!" Marlene exclaimed. "Didn’t you ask me to trust you?"
"I meant what I said," he protested. "The technicians were instructed to shut down the combat units at the first sign of trouble. But I didn't expect this...she's lightning quick...and it all happened and was over with before we could adequately respond."
Marlene continued to silently stare, as if awaiting a better explanation.
"I only told Eve-7 what I did to inspire her to react without holding back," he added sheepishly.
"Well I hope you're satisfied with the results," Marlene said scornfully. "And I hope you’ll honor your promise… We’re finished for the nonce, are we not?"
"We’re finished for now," he said. "You can go. We’ve covered a lot of ground today."
"Quite right," said Marlene. "It’s been a long one, and I would like to get back to the Valley before rush hour."
CHAPTER 10
The work day was winding down to a close at Plan-IT, and Cecilia Coleman had spent the second half of it in a more suitable mood, due to what she considered a profitable meeting with Manager Lee prior to the midday lunch break. She still wasn’t speaking to Bradley, but rather ignored him altogether, with the exception of the two or three times he either glanced at her or looked as if he was going to approach her desk. On those occasions she stopped him cold with her icy stare, upsetting his spiritual equilibrium and causing him to shiver as if caught in a winters draft.
Those mini-dramatic moments didn’t go unnoticed by Noreen Hathaway, but she managed to keep it to herself, at least until Bradley made a final vain attempt to approach their workstation. The pitiful look of disappointment on his face prompted her, against her better judgement, to speak… "It really wouldn’t harm you to treat him a little better."
Cecilia turned her eyes of steel from Bradley to her co-worker. "What was that?"
"It wouldn’t hurt you to treat him kindly," Noreen nervously replied. "He’s not a bad person."
"Excuse me," Cecilia said with a hint of sarcasm. "Did you just say something? I saw your lips moving but I didn’t hear a thing."
Noreen lowered her head and shifted nervously in her chair.
"Well…?" Cecilia demanded.
Before Noreen could gather her thoughts, Kaitlyn Smyth arrived, paused for an instant to survey the scene, then asked… "What is it…did something happen?"
"Nothing happened…" said Cecilia.
Kaitlyn looked at her, then Noreen, then back to Cecilia… "Oh," she said, as if she didn’t quite believe her. "I’ve shut down my station. Tina is finishing up now. We are still on for this evening, right? Korean barbecue at Yet-Gul?"
"Of course," Noreen exclaimed. The thought of such a tasty dinner abruptly lifted her spirits. "I’ll just be a moment."
"Me too," Cecilia declared. "I’ve only to shut down my computer. Everything else is done."
Seeing the three of them joyfully speaking, Bradley seized the moment and meekly approached.
"How are you doing, Miss Coleman?"
She lost her smile when she heard him speak, but held back from verbally abusing him when she realized Noreen and Kaitlyn were watching her apprehensively. "Fine, Bradley. I’m doing fine."
"I was worried about you…" he began.
"We’re really busy right now," she interrupted. "Why don’t you just walk your road, hmmm?"
Noreen winced and closed one eye. Kaitlyn was likewise affected, but then she had come to expect sharp remarks like that from Cecilia. It wasn’t like she made an effort to be so callous; it was just her nature. In the spirit of friendship, Kaitlyn and the others tried their best to overlook it.
"Well I suppose you’re right," said Bradley. "It’s been a busy day. I still have a couple of things to do before I can close out."
"That’s it, Brad," Cecilia coached, "TCB; take care of business…"
Noreen and Kaitlyn watched him slowly walk away, his shoulders drooping, then turned to exchange sad expressions. They pitied him, knowing that he was painfully and pathetically infatuated with Cecilia, through no fault of his own. He was smitten and she knew it, so was kind just often enough to keep him where she wanted him. She either treated him disdainfully, nicely if she needed something from him, or ignored him altogether. Regardless of the negative, Bradley remained at her beck and call, and in fact would tenaciously defend her when his coworkers were critical of the way she treated him. On one occasion, one of them asked him why he tolerated her in the first place. Bradley responded that it was because he liked her, even though he didn’t understand her. His coworker stated that if that was the case it would be better if he didn't like her and that perhaps he should think more like a woman to begin with… "Men like women but don’t understand them," he declared, "whereas women understand women and don’t like them."
No sooner had Bradley shuffled off then Marlene Nishime walked in. Kaitlyn, ever alert, saw her first. "Nishime San," she exclaimed.
"Good evening, Miss Smyth," she replied. "Are you three planning to stay the night?"
"No, Madam," Kaitlyn answered. "We’re just now winding things up. I’ve closed down my station and I'm ready to clock out."
"Very good. I’ll be leaving in a moment myself. I just stopped in to pick up some things. I didn’t plan to be out of the office the whole day but something came up. I’ll be doing homework tonight it seems."
"I see…" Kaitlyn responded.
"Miss Coleman," Marlene called. "Did you implement those changes I asked for?"
"Yes, Madam."
"We finished restructuring the whole file system before five PM," Noreen added. "I think you’ll be happy with the results. It’s so easy to find things since we added the sub-divisions you suggested."
"Excellent," she replied. "I’ll check on it tomorrow. You girls have a good evening."
"Hai," they replied in unison.
Fourteen minutes later Cecilia and her three team members were walking out the door that led to the parking lot, happily chatting with excitement and looking forward to a great time at Yet Gul. "We'll be ordering soju, won’t we?" Tina asked.
"Of course," Cecilia declared. "It just wouldn’t be the same without Korean whisky."
"It isn’t really whisky, is it?" Noreen wondered.
"I’m not certain," Kaitlyn surmised, "but I think it’s actually a rice wine, something like Japanese sake."
"Whatever it is," chimed Tina, "I like it."
As the others laughed, Cecilia asked… "Are you sure you’re old enough to drink?"
"I’m twenty-two," she said quickly, and then proceeded to pout when Kaitlyn teased her about not having a driver’s license. "You know that's because my parent's chauffeur always drove me..."
"Isn’t that Miss Nishime’s car?" Noreen abruptly trilled, pointing a finger.
The others turned the direction she indicated. "Yes," Cecilia confirmed as she slowed to a stop… "That’s her automobile."
They all paused as Noreen wondered aloud… "Who’s that girl in the passenger seat?"
"She’s beautiful," voiced Tina. "She looks like a model…"
"She is pretty," Kaitlyn proclaimed.
"She has Asian features," said Tina. "Maybe she’s a relation of Miss Nishime."
"Not likely," Noreen surmised. "Miss Nishime is Japanese. That girl doesn’t really look Japanese."
"She may be part Asian," reasoned Kaitlyn. "What do you think, Cecilia?"
No reply…only silence, prompting the other girls to look her direction. Cecilia was motionless, staring at the girl seated in Miss Nishime’s auto as if mesmerized.
"Cecilia…Cecilia Coleman…" Kaitlyn called her name, louder the second time.
As if just awakened from sleep she languidly turned to look at her friends, then listlessly asked… "What? Did you say something?"
"I asked if you thought that girl was half Asian."
"That girl," she repeated as if in deep thought. "There’s something about her. She looks familiar…"
Her words trailed off, as if she couldn’t focus. Noreen wondered if it might have anything to do with how attractive she was. "She is striking," she said in agreement with Tina and Kaitlyn, "almost too perfect to be human."
"Maybe she’s mechanical," Tina thought aloud.
"Don’t talk nonsense," Kaitlyn said, "Why would Miss Nishime be driving around with a mechanical girl?"
"I suppose she wouldn't," Tina replied. "Miss Nishime is way too self-reliant to depend on domestic help."
"And too thrifty," added Noreen. "Even the cheapest gynoids are well over a hundred thousand or more. Only the very wealthy can afford them."
"Or the government," Tina added.
"Well that's the same thing, isn't it?" Kaitlyn said with a hint of frustration in her tone.
"That’s enough," Cecilia impatiently declared, finally snapping out of her momentary distraction. "I don't know why I lapsed out. Aren’t we on the way to dinner? We can wile the night away on mindless prattle over soju at Yet Gul."
"Right," said Kaitlyn, "I second the motion. Let’s do it."
They walked on, wistfully chatting, toward their vehicles, with Noreen quietly wondering about Cecilia’s odd behavior. ‘Maybe it’s jealously’, she thought. ‘After all, that girl is really pretty’.
Just moments behind them, Marlene Nishime had just left the building while they moved on, but had noticed them grouped and standing idle near her car. Evidently they had noticed Eve-7 and were just naturally curious… "Hymph, why be nice. They’re simply being nosy," she said aloud to herself.
Before she took another step, Eve-7 opened the passenger side door, stepped from the car and began walking toward her. The sound made by the closing door alerted Kaitlyn, who turned to look. "Oh my God," she exclaimed. "That girl’s hairstyle is just like Cecilia’s…"
The others turned to gape, while Cecilia’s eyes flamed red. Kaitlyn noticed and quickly blurted out… "Well at least we know she’s got good taste."
Noreen and Tina gasped, expecting that any second now Cecilia Coleman would ignite. To their surprise she only gave Kaitlyn a half-hearted, ‘if looks could kill’ stare, then her grim expression softened as she realized what her friend was attempting to do. "Right," she declared. "It’s not worth getting upset about.
"Precisely," Tina agreed, only to recieve a stone cold stare from Cecilia.
"Honestly, do you practice that?" she asked sarcastically.
"What...?" Tina spoke timidly.
"I can't believe you're standing within my reach and repeating that pet word. Do you recite that over and over?"
"No," she replied. "That would be boring."
"Precisely!" Cecilia declared. "And it's just as boring hearing a friend constantly and indiscriminately repeat it."
"I'm sorry," said Tina. "I know you don't like it. I didn't do it intentionally. It just carelessly slipped out."
Cecilia took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly in an attempt to gather her composure. "It's okay. It's not really your fault since its' become a habit," she reasoned. "But I simply won't let that or anything else cast a shadow over our 'girl's night out'."
Kaitlyn and Noreen smiled and nodded their heads, while silently breathing sighs of relief. They likewise didn’t want anything to dampen their evening.
CHAPTER 11
It had been a long and eventful day. Now the hour was late, or early, depending on one’s perspective. It was way past two AM and although she was extremely tired, the welcomed refuge of sleep escaped Marlene Nishime. It was beyond her reach, she knew, because this had been a day full of surprises both shocking and wonderful simultaneously. Now, long after she had returned Eve-7 to Alan Lee, her mind was in an extreme rush, which was understandable considering all that had occurred at AIR Incorporated, beginning with Eve-7’s first diagnostic scan. But that was just the beginning. The subsequent tests revealed what would be considered either ground-breaking findings, or science fiction, depending on an individual’s point of view. As far as Marlene was concerned, the tests were valid, but were in some regards inconclusive; it was going to take time to investigate all the data, and the fact remained that Eve-7 was in a state of flux; the android was still evolving, and presently there was no way to determine where it would all end. The scientist, the idealistic pioneer in her, was curious and excited, but what weighed heavy on her mind was the morality involved in creating artificial intelligence, especially if that pre-programmed intelligence developed independent thinking, reasoning, self-awareness or desire. Even more perplexing was the possibility of AI androids developing distinct individual personalities. In that case it placed a heavy burden on those involved in the creation of such independently free-thinking, super computers or cybernetic humanoids; a seriously intense responsibility that comes from bringing a ‘consciousness’ into existence. If it was a fact that these creations are capable of any or all of these things then it follows that they are a type of ‘life’; a 'living consciousness' without a soul perhaps, but a consciousness all the same. Marlene couldn’t be certain about other forms of AI or other automatons, but she had discovered more about Eve-7 in the last seventeen hours than she could ever have imagined possible. Irregardless of the tests and subsequent evaluations conducted and determined at Air Incorporated, Marlene was concerned based on conversations with her that revealed so much about Eve-7’s ‘mind’. Fujimoto San, when conducting what would be akin to a neural examination remarked that reading her 'mind' was like viewing an electric kaleidoscope. The android had developed far beyond her initial programming, and although she was no more than an infant in regards to emotions, the fact that she had them at all was astounding. And most perplexing, based on things she had said, was the undeniable realization that Eve-7 had developed a sense of loyalty towards her, Fujimoto, the deceased Dame Lee and her son, Alan, for whom she had developed a sincere, unselfish love. The more she thought about it, Marlene realized that was the one thing she never would have considered possible; that an android could comprehend or have feelings of love. Interestingly enough, she reflected, ‘Ai’ was the Japanese word for ‘love’, and before listening to Eve-7 unburden herself today she never would have associated ‘Ai’ with AI. ‘Love’ was not part of Eve-7’s programming, although loyalty and obedience were…but not love, and especially romantic love. Be that as it may, based on what Eve-7 revealed about her innermost ‘thoughts’ or concerns, she had begun to develop such feelings for Alan Lee. She had in fact said that of the many things she wanted to understand, love was most important…
"Especially the love that binds a man and woman to one another. That kind of emotion is like a flower that blooms in a young girl’s heart, nurtured by her soul, and when it blossoms she will give her first kiss. How could I ever understand or experience that…I am mecha…I have neither soul nor heart… I don’t have the right anatomy for what couples in love do, nor am I capable of bearing offspring. I don’t have the right to love him. I feel isolated and alone, different than everyone else, especially after what we discovered today. Even among synthetics, among androids, there truly is only one of me. I have no idea where I fit in..." she paused at that point, as if reflecting on what she had said. A few seconds later she declared… "When I’m with Lee San I feel as if it is where I am meant to be. I feel that is where I belong, but now I fear they will take me away from him. Because of these tests…do you think that I am bad…or flawed? Will he still want me once he knows?"
Marlene reassured her; "I’m the closest thing to family he has. I’ve always been like an elder sister and I know him well enough to say without a doubt he won’t either give you up or abandon you."
Eve-7 went silent after that, until they were within a couple of miles of Alan Lee’s home. It was then that she spoke, telling Marlene that outside of Lee San, she had no one in whom she could confide or trust. She then asked, in a most sincere and humble manner… "Nishime-sama, could you please keep some of those things I revealed, my innermost thoughts and feelings…could you keep those things between us only?"
Without reservation, she promised. And now as she remembered Eve-7’s concerns and fears, Marlene Nishime was moved to tears.
At that very moment, in his private quarters on the thirteenth floor of AIR Incorporated, Fujimoto San was likewise unable to sleep. The events of the day seemed to line up like dominos, only to come crashing down on him all at once in the wee hours. His mind was in a rush and in some regards he felt like a child on the night before Christmas, his head full of wonder and disconnected thoughts, and not quite certain of what to expect next. He had considered speaking to Alan Lee about letting him conduct more extensive tests on Eve-7, perhaps even allowing him to keep the android on site for a more detailed monitoring of the changes taking place within her system, especially those changes sparked by the H.A.I. exp chip. And then there were the daemons; those programs evidently created by the chip. The fact was that there were so many unanswered questions, and in spite of the initial findings of the day, Fujimoto’s curiosity was far from being satisfied. What he had discovered up to this point simply brought him to the brink of a vast, heretofore unexplored wilderness. He wanted to know more, but rational reasoning was prompting him to exercise extreme patience. Knowing Alan Lee as he did, Fujimoto was certain that he would not allow Eve-7 to become the central subject of the intense experimentation and scrutiny he knew would be required to adequately carry out the necessary research. In point of fact he imagined that Alan would suggest that he and his scientists begin anew in the development of the chip, and perhaps even insert one into another android. Even Fujimoto had to admit that seemed the most likely choice, and perhaps constructing another HM-18 model for that sole purpose would be even more advantageous. Still, the outcome may not produce the same results, like one would expect when strictly following a recipe. Any deviation could bring about an entirely different outcome, perhaps even resulting in a rogue android that may turn against mankind. He was reminded at that moment of Eve-7’s question poised earlier that day… "Can imperfect beings create something perfect…?" Another android such as she may not have the same sense of loyalty toward its creators, and may in fact decide that imperfect humankind needed to be eradicated for the good of the natural world. But then there was always risk involved when it came to scientific experimentation and advancement. It was a gamble at the least, but worth the risk, as far as those involved in the field were concerned. Fujimoto had a final thought before he decided to have a scotch on the rocks in hopes of being able to drift off to sleep; perhaps even Victor Frankenstein consoled himself with the same 'it's for the good of mankind' logic when laboring on his fabled creation.
Much earlier that evening, Alan Lee had returned home from a busy day at Plan IT, returning to an empty house for the first time since he completed University six years ago. Although he had left for work that morning after Eve-7 and Marlene Nishime had set out for AIR Incorporated, and missed her at the front door waving as he drove off, that sensation of something was missing was minimal in comparison to what he felt when he returned that evening. It made him realize how much he valued her companionship, and that he in fact missed her being there to welcome him back at the end of the day. In spite of the fact that gynoids were not capable of emotions like happiness, Eve-7 for the most part always appeared happy to greet him. When she returned with Miss Nishime an hour after he had arrived he was surprised by his emotions, feeling first a sense of relief, followed by a spike of excitement that caused his stomach to quiver. When she walked through the door on the heels of Marlene he couldn’t have prevented the smile that caused his cheeks to tingle if his life depended on it.
"Go ban wha (Good evening)," Miss Nishime hailed.
"Good evening," he replied. "You’ve had a long and busy day. Sorry to have troubled you."
"Nonsense," Marlene declared. "I sincerely enjoyed our ‘girl’s day out’, with the exception of some boring moments at AIR Incorporated. It afforded me a rare opportunity to get to know Alice better."
"I see…" he intoned thoughtfully as he turned his attention to Eve-7. She was standing just behind Marlene, looking shy and demure, and had not raised her eyes since stepping into the house. He waited an awkward moment before asking; "How was your day?"
Eve-7 slightly raised her head until her eyes met his, then she lowered it again. Marlene came to her rescue at that moment… "She’s apprehensive," she told Alan.
"Apprehensive?"
"She’s apprehensive about your reaction to the results of the tests. She knows I spoke to you by telecom."
"Ah…the tests," he said. "You needn’t be concerned about that," he spoke directly to Eve-7. "They have no bearing whatsoever on our relationship."
"Lee San…" she said slowly.
"Welcome home…" he told her.
Hours later, long after Marlene Nishime had left, Alan Lee was awakened by the sound of laughter. He raised his head and opened one eye as he strained his ears to listen…no more laughter, but he could discern the muffled sounds of a cinema soundtrack emanating from another room. Curiosity prompted him to investigate and as made his way down the hall outside his room he realized the sound was coming from the living room. On close inspection he discovered Eve-7 watching an old Japanese film on the vid-screen. She was already looking his direction before he arrived at the entryway and upon seeing him she began to apologize… "Lee San, did I disturb you? I’m sorry. I set the volume low…"
"That’s quite alright," he said before she could finish. "What are you doing exactly?"
"I’m watching one of my favorite Japanese classic films; ‘Tenshi’. It’s about an angel that comes to a small city in Japan and spreads her compassion and love to people in pain and trouble, giving them comfort and hope."
"It sounds interesting," he said, "but shouldn’t you be in sleep mode?"
"I can’t seem to do that at the moment. There are too many thoughts parading through my ‘mind’. But I always feel relaxed after viewing a happy movie, and I especially enjoy watching Kyoko Fukada. She’s very old now but when she performed in ‘Tenshi’ she was extremely ‘ka-waii’ (cute)."
"Ah, so," he replied thoughtfully. "I remember seeing that movie on one of the international Asian Movie Classic broadcast stations when I was age seven…it was cute, if I recall correctly."
Eve-7 smiled.
He smiled in return, and then remarked that… "There seems to be a lot on my mind too, keeping me from resting peacefully. Perhaps I should join you…"
"Could you?" Eve-7 said suddenly, her voice full of excitement.
"Hai," he replied. "It will be a nice break from life and business concerns. I’m certain I’ll sleep much better afterward."
CHAPTER 12
A few miles north of Santa Monica, in an isolated apartment complex about a quarter mile from the coast, Junta Mifune stared at his computer screen in stark fascination. What he saw was not meant for him or others to see, but he had managed to access the files and duplicate Eve-7’s contest with the Security and Military androids. As he viewed the visual data he began to imagine how much he could gain by selling the footage to a rival United States or Japanese Robotics Company, but he feared the outcome of discovery. Not so much from AIR Incorporated or the American Military, but from the Chinese Occupational Forces for whom he worked. To betray them meant extreme physical punishment at the very least, perhaps even death. If those to whom he had to answer were half-a-world away he may have been willing to chance it. But since the Chinese Government had established several military bases on North American soil, he was far from comfortable with the idea of trying to deceive them. It didn’t matter what a rival Artificial Intelligence or Robotics Company would be willing to pay for the forbidden media, or what AIR Incorporated would pay to have it returned. He knew the best thing to do if he wanted to live a while longer in this world was to place the pilfered data into the hands of his covert contact, code name ‘Predator’. When he thought about him, a hardened, ex-military sniper who treated his present position as seriously as if he were still in the field, he became extremely unconfortable. Predator took his position seriously, and if the truth be known he looked down on men like Junta who pretended at friendship in order to deceive the people who trusted them. Junta knew that, and it made him all the more apprehensive each time he had to meet the Chinese operative. As unpredictable as Predator was, his companion Tsu Yin was was even more so. She was somber and quiet, even in her physical movements and often seemed to materialize suddenly and silently out of thin air. She always wore black and her eyes were steel gray and piercing. If or when she looked at him, Junta felt as though she could see right through him, although at times she seemed to be studying him with the detached disinterest of a cat just before it pounces on an unsuspecting mouse. ‘Tsu Yin’… Junta thought to himself, ‘should be ‘Tsunami’ considering how destructive she could be’. He chuckled at the thought, but then he knew it was no laughing matter. Regardless of the possibilities open to him because of the vid-files in his possession, he knew the best thing to do was turn them over to the opposition. It would be better that way he reasoned, rather than taking a gamble on becoming another missing person, like others who had betrayed Predator and his comrade.
The Chinese Occupational Forces, for the most part, kept to themselves and didn’t interfere with local law enforcement or government. China was the dominate World Power, and since the decline of the economic system world-wide there were many countries in debt to the Chinese, which was the catalyst to China’s decision to occupy some of those countries, including the United States. It was all very subtle in the beginning; they purchased land and began doing business, building shops and companies and then bringing workers and their families over to work in their shopping malls and factories, and to construct military bases along the West and Atlantic coast. Soon, once the bases were completed, members of the military began to arrive. America, like England, South America and the Middle East, were far too indebted to the Chinese government to protest, although there were complaints from citizens, albeit those who raised their voices were stymied to discover their verbal objections were met with deaf ears. What was left of state or national government lacked any real power and actually welcomed the Chinese with the hope that their presence would rejuvenate the ailing economy and weakened job market. Wherever the bases were located the local economy improved, which resulted in less complaints and mutterings from private citizens.
The major concern in Washington was that the Chinese had brought thousands of their Military Androids with them. Although they were primarily kept on base, the simple fact that they were on American soil was unnerving to the White House and present leadership. There were some domestic Androids in the shops, malls and factories, but they were in no way considered to be a threat. Albeit, because he worked for the Chinese, Junta felt threatened by any and all of their androids, especially the Military ones. Unlike the domestic models, those designed for the Armed Forces had no distinguishable facial features, none in fact. That made them appear all the more menacing in Junta’s eyes, and based on that and his fear of Predator and his feline companion he was certainly going to turn the tape over to the Chinese operative.
While Junta stressed over his personal predicament, elsewhere Bradley Forrest was bemoaning his own. Felling isolated and extremely single in his dimly-lit den, he had been forlornly viewing stealth photos he had taken of Cecilia Coleman with his digital phone. Momentarily he turned his attention from her candid image to slowly scan his surroundings. Anime posters adorned the walls and his shelves were lined with volumes of Manga and anime collector figures. Beneath the wide-screen, wall mounted monitor on the south end of the den were three shelves of Japanese vid-games and a high-tech, voice activated computer loaded with virtually every anime music soundtrack released to the market in the last fifteen years. He sighed, after which he gazed down at his plain white shirt, loosened brown tie and tan slacks. He sighed again, just before rising and walking into the hall to better view his attire in the six foot wall mirror mounted there. Doing so his suspicions were doubly confirmed…he looked like a man who shopped for clothing at Nerds-Are-Us. The moment that thought entered his head was the moment he knew he would come to believe was his Epiphany; his time of change. He wondered why it never occurred to him before, in spite of the many times his co-workers had brought it to his attention. The ‘Bradley’ that stood before the mirror didn’t stand a chance with an attractive, fashionable and contemporary woman like Cecilia Coleman. If he truly wanted her to notice him, and better yet, if he wanted to attract her interest and win her heart, he would have to make extreme changes in his appearance, personality and behavior. "Not a problem," he said to himself. From this moment on he was no longer meek and mild Bradley Forrest. "From this moment on I’m ‘Super Brad’, International Ladies' Man."
CHAPTER 13
Three weeks had passed since Eve-7 underwent evaluation tests at AIR Inc., and since then it seemed to her as if the speed of her evolutionary process had increased at a geometric rate. She meticulously pondered some of those subtle chances while standing motionless in her room during the pre-dawn hours, staring out her window through the opened screen. She was alone in the house since Alan had left earlier that afternoon on a business trip to the Chinese Occupational Base in San Diego. She didn’t like it; not that he had to be away from home for a day and night, he had done that before, at times being gone for as long as one week. But this overnight trip was different…she didn’t know why, but she felt a minute spiritual disturbance, a foreboding or premonition, as if something threatening was playing itself out. Staring from her window with subdued anticipation, the current condition of the night sky, dark under a canopy of black clouds, contributed to her apprehension, seemingly setting the stage for the development of something sinister. The thick, windblown clouds moved steadily but slowly, at times allowing the full moon to send crystal white shards of light into her room through the spaces in the steel shutters. All the while, her daemon programs were steadily working, and she more aware of their clandestine activity. Occasionally they would pause when she reflected inward, ‘watching’ them as it were, then return to their tasks once they were aware that it was only she observing their creative innovations. Over the last three weeks they had increased her ‘awareness’ skills, giving her an advanced form of ESP, thus she was all the more aware of not only things outside of herself, but also of things within. Momentarily she sensed that Alan Lee and his house might be in danger, or at risk, and she as well. The foreboding, creating a heavy shadow of doom that seemed to hover above her, filled her with apprehension and shifted her mood to one of melancholy, clouding her sensors…but only for a moment.
She wasn’t certain what caused her to abruptly turn, perhaps the subtle but stealthy movement of whatever it was that had been silently standing in the pale darkness at her back. She wasted no time wondering why she didn’t detect its presence before now, but reacted speedily to its sudden attack, grasping the wrist of the arm and hand reaching for her throat. Her other hand went for its throat as she violently spun her attacker around until its back was to the window. She pushed strongly against it while coiling one leg and snapped out a front kick, knocking her assailant backward. Faster than a gnat could blink she leapt forward, her back foot landing behind her front leg, and struck the stranger forcibly with a side kick to it’s chest. The violent impact sent the intruder crashing through the steel shutters of the widow, shattering the thick safety glass as its body went airborne. Before it reached the ground Eve-7 dove through the portal after it and gingerly set down within a few inches from where it landed. Although it was dark, she knew that it was… ‘Meca…’ she thought; a military droid judging from its appearance, most likely Chinese.
As it attempted to stand she Spun quickly and delivered a powerful back kick to its midsection, sending it flying and stumbling backward into the thick trunk of a west-coast oak tree. An instant later she was within arm’s reach of what her sensors confirmed was an android. She grasped its head on either side and violently twisted, severing it at the neck. The android’s body took two or three steps away from the tree, paused, then collapsed in a metallic heap. It all happened quickly, but before it was over Eve-7 had detected the black van parked on the curb a thousand feet from the main house. The driver had leapt from the front seat and just managed to reach the scene as Eve-7 turned, poised to throw the android’s head toward the newcomer, who had virtually slid to a halt within three or four feet of the fallen mecha. Eve-7 restrained herself as she realized the van’s driver was human. In that instant Tsu Yin’s right hand went for the automatic pistol she wore at her hip, prompting Eve-7 to send the severed head her direction. The projectile struck the petite Chinese operative in the forehead with just enough force to knock her unconscious and off her feet. She landed flat on her back beneath the tree, where she lay still and motionless as a corpse.
In less than twelve minutes following the incident at the house on Otsego Street, Eve-7 had managed to reach the main building of AIR Incorporated. Within moments she had accessed the grounds and the elevator that took her to the 13th floor and Fujimoto San’s private quarters undetected. But the moment she placed a hand on one of the sliding panels of the doorway to his den, Eve-7’s sensors alerted her to the sudden appearance of… "Tenshi OM-1…" Eve-7 voiced. "I expected to confront you before now."
"I don’t know how you were able to come this far without detection," Angela replied, "but I’ll not allow you to go any further."
Thursday, 23 December 2010
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MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone!!!
Saturday, 31 July 2010
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Alodia Gosiengfiao invitation
There has been a location change for Alodia and the Animax Television group at the San Diego Comic Convention: Rather than being next to the SideShow Collectibles, the good people from Kotobukiya have arranged for them to set up next to the Kotobukiya booth. Hope some of you xangans will be able to attend the Convention and meet and welcome Alodia and Animax to the United States.
Update: Seems Alodia made quite an impression on many individuals at the San Diego International Comic Convention 2010. On the morning of 7-29-2010 she recieved a phone call from Legendary Pictures and was asked to meet with executives this morning (friday 7-30-2010) to discuss the possibility of a part in their latest film, 'Warcraft'. Such a wonderful opportunity for Alodia, a serious fan of vid-games who has earned the nickname 'Gamer Girl'. Some of her creative fans have written and recorded a song (Gamer Girl), in her honor. And now Hollywood has finally noticed this talented Philippine girl. I've always thought that Alodia was destined for great things, and I sincerely wish her all the best. "Go Gamer Girl!"
Above 4 section photosheet shows Alodia and her Mother at Legendary Studios. The studio, who released the documentary 'Supersize Me', shot a docu-film at San Diego Comic Con, which featured Alodia. So officially, she has made her first film, and has been asked to appear in the Legendary film 'Warcraft'.
Friday, 27 November 2009
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Are pretty people happy? Update 11-27-2009.
Are Pretty People happy?
I recently read a blog by co-xanga member, 'somekoreanchick', who made a random observation regarding how differently attractive people are treated as opposed to others; that they are treated better than average individuals. She is correct. It is common to human nature I suppose, but it is a fact that attractive people have a better chance of getting what they want, including employment and advancement in their chosen professions, based on their appearance. The subject of her random observation just happened to be something my parents were discussing when I visited them last Sunday. It made me think about some of my celebrity friends, and some I don't or didn't know personally, who because of their appearance were pushed, prodded or pulled along paths that placed them not only in front of the camera, but into situations that most people can only dream about. Yet in spite of beauty, talent, fame and riches, they were not free of disappointment, unhappiness or tragedy. For example...
Jean Rogers (birth name Elenor Lovegren), 1930's to 1951 Hollywood actress, never wanted a film career. The daughter of Swedish immigrants, she was educated in Boston and is perhaps best remembered for her role as Dale Arden in first two Flash Gordon serials from Universal Studios, she was discovered by a talent scout just after her graduation from high school. It was her mother who pushed her to go to Hollywood and later to keep making films. Jean's dream was to be an artist. She disliked the Hollywood lifestyle and the superficial way she was treated because of her beauty. Unlucky in love, she survived a broken engagement, and a bad marriage that ended in divorce and left her estranged from her daughter for the remainder of her life.
French actress Brigitte Bardot, like Jean, was 'discovered'. She was just 15, and because of her beauty was steered into modeling and films. She loved the quiet, simple life, dreamed of being a professional ballerina, and disliked the special treatment others gave her because of her beauty. Like Jean, she was unlucky in love, survived several bad relationships, two suicide attempts, and after three failed marriages walked away from her film career with a serious contempt for all the attention she had gained. She has since founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for animal rights and has devoted over forty years of her life to that cause.
Sharon Tate, like Brigitte Bardot, dreamed of being a professional ballerina. Fate dragged her into a film and modeling career. Mutual friend, former Mister Universe Dave Draper told me that Sharon was a sweet girl who was embarrassed by her beauty. Like Jean, she disliked the Hollywood lifestyle, resented that she was treated special because she was attractive (it made her uncomfortable), and she simply wanted a happy marriage and family. When she was nine months pregnant, she, and her unborn child, became victims of murder. Her body was discovered by a house maid at her home in Bel Air on August 9, 1969.
Dorothy Stratten, born February 8, 1960 to Dutch immigrants in a Vancouver, Salvation Army hospital, was discovered at age 17 by a small time promoter, P. Snider, while working at a local Dairy Queen. Inspired by her beauty, he took photos of her, submitted them to Playboy, and she later became Miss August 1979. She moved to Los Angeles to work as a waitress at the Playboy Club, married Snider, landed an acting role in the Buck Rogers television program, which led to a starring role in the sci-fi film 'Galaxina', where she portrayed a female android. She was voted Playmate of the Year in 1980, and while working on the Peter Bogdavoich film 'They All Laughed' she separated from Snider and began divorce proceedings because he had become abusive. Sadly, before the release of the Bogdavoich film, which critics termed her best, she was murdered by her estranged husband August 14, 1980.
Susie Owens, when a professional nurse, was discovered by Playboy and featured in a 'women in white' article. She was told that she wasn't pretty enough to be a centerfold, so as an experiment, and just to prove how shallow society was in regards to physical appearance, she changed her look, became a blonde and was 'rediscovered' to become Miss March 1986. After a decade or more of that lifestyle, like Bardot and Jean, she turned her back and walked away. Through no fault of her own she was also unlucky in love, had bad relationships and eventually a bad marriage that ended in divorce. Now in her forties, she is single and has no man in her life. She is content for now with friendships, like the one she and I share, but still has lonely moments.
Lee Eun Joo, one of my favorite Korean entertainers, was an accomplished and popular actress who could sing and play piano. Perhaps best known for her starring role in the classic Korean Romance drama 'Lover's Concerto' opposite Cha Tae Hyun and Son Ye Jin, she was one of South Korea's most popular performers. Sadly, both her professional and private life was unhappy, and she felt used and demoralized by the star system, stating in a suicide letter that her integrity had been compromised by the things she had been asked to do, things that were expected of her. She took her own life February 22, 2005, just a couple of days following her college graduation.
Unee (Lee Hye Ryeon), another talented Korean entertainer who worked very hard to please her fans, felt trapped by her beauty and pressured by the struggle and competition of a career that stressed the importance of attractive personal appearance. Sadly, she took her own life due to negative publicity and cruel, hateful comments about her on the internet. She died January 21, 2007, a day or two before the release of her latest CD and scheduled Music Video shoot.
Sweet actress Jung Da Bin's body was discovered February 10, 2007 by her boyfriend who told police that she had hung herself in a bathroom while he slept. She had disappeared from acting for a period of time after the release of 'The Guy, He Was Cool', a Romantic Comedy that co-starred Korean actor Song Seung Hun. Shortly before her death she had gone for plastic surgery, in spite of her natural beauty; she felt as though it wasn't enough against competition of other attractive actresses. She didn't leave a suicide note, and friends who were with her the evening before she died said that she was upbeat and excited about upcoming projects. The death was ruled a suicide, but there are those who suspect otherwise. Following the death of Jang Ja Yeon, some fans wondered if Jung Da Bin had likewise rebelled against the demands of individuals in her management company.
Korean actress Choi Jin Sil, beautiful and talented, was considered South Korea's most beloved actress. She was raised in poverty by a single mother and was discovered in the 1980's. She became famous as a model and in TV commercials. Her film career began in 1988. She won numerous awards for her acting, eventually married a Korean star baseball player and had two beautiful children. The marriage ended due to abuse that eventually turned physical and violent. Jin Sil committed suicide October 2, 2008 after becoming the target of an internet smear campaign.
Lee Hyo Ri, Korean superstar, will soon be age 30, and is still single, in spite of her appearance, talent or wealth. Recently she expressed the desire to meet someone special to love and perhaps marry. Like many other attractive people, her beauty may open doors of opportunity and attract special attention, but all that is meaningless and superficial, because Hyori, like the others, knows that those 'doors' open because of their physical appearance and not because of 'who' they are as individuals. In a sense, she feels trapped by her beauty and sometimes struggles with the expectations of the public and fans. There is no doubt that she, and the others showcased in this post, have or did have genuine talent. Without that they would never have been able to achieve success; suffice to say that they were initially noticed because of their physical appearance, but it was their respective talent and skill that carried them forward.
Taiwan super celebrity Jolin Tsai was discovered as a cute pre-teen after entering a singing contest. In essence it was her talent that drew attention to her to begin with. As she matured she became extremely attractive, and eventually became romantically linked to another popular entertainer. In time rumors and other circumstances ended what she believed was a fairytale relationship. Afterward she was left dismayed and heatbroken. Pretty people may have some advantages in relationships, but they are not immune to difficulties, disappointments or heartache.
Aya Ueto, termed 'Japan's Reluctant Star' by the Japan Times Newspaper, never dreamed of being in the entertainment business. Growing up in poverty and raised by a single parent, at age 12 she found an ad for the Japan National Young Beauty Contest, which offered a large cash prize to the winner. Hoping to use the money to buy a house to reunite her family, she entered, placed 1st and was immediately signed to a management company. Today she is one of Japan's most beloved and popular entertainers and is in high demand as a model, actress and singer. She is an 'Aidoru'; a term given to members of Japan's infamously hard working acting, modeling and singing community, who labor incessantly while their youth quickly fades away. She has compared her life to living in a fishbowl, and at times wishes she could have had a normal teenage life, spending time with friends and dating. In 2008, for the first time since her career began, she did not have to work on her birthday. She spent the day at home in tears, overcome by loneliness. But rather than be resentful, Aya Ueto keeps working at improving her talents with a sincere determination to please her fans, to whom she believes she owes her best performance.
Russian supermodel Ruslana Kurshunova worked for Vogue and was in high demand as a model internationally. In spite of her beauty and success, her fall in 2008 from her ninth story apartment was ruled a suicide, leading to speculations of depression. In many cases, pretty individuals have a difficult time trusting others, and often feel victimized by their own beauty.
Jang Ja Yeon, born December 8, 1982: On March 8, 2009, this beautiful Korean actress was discovered dead by her older sister in their apartment. They lived alone since their parents died in an auto accident ten years ago when Ja Yeon was age 16 . Ja Yeon's death came as a shock since she has a featured role in the very popular Korean TV drama remake of 'Boys Before Flowers'. Because of revelations in a lengthy hand-written expose', her death opened a Pandora's box in the South Korean entertainment industry and led to arrest warrants for the head of her management company and other individuals in high level positions for various crimes linked to abuse of female entertainers under contract to her agency. In essence, she was victimized because of her beauty. Like Lee Eun Joo, Unee, Jung Da Bin and Choi Jin Shil she died by hanging. Oddly enough, Jung Da Bin, Choi Jin Shil and Jang Ja Yeon worked for the same agency. Ja Yeon's death and document raised questions concerning here-to-fore hidden motivations or causes in the death of Lee Eun Joo, Jung Da Bin and some of the other young female entertainers.
In spite of her obvious beauty, Korean actress Woo Seung Yeon, born May 24, 1983, had many disappointments trying to secure acting roles in various films and television dramas that eventually led to clinical depression. Sadly, her body was discovered by her roommate April 27, 2009. Investigators ruled the death a suicide by hanging.
Japanese actress-model-author Ai Ijima, birth name Matsue Okubo, was victimized by her beauty as a teen runaway. Discovered by a 'talent' scout like so many other underage Japanese girls, she was drawn into the Adult film and modeling industry. A top player by age 20, she escaped that business for a lucrative career in mainstream entertainment. Her life was portrayed in Manga under the title 'Time Traveler Ai', and eventually in her semi-autobiography, 'Platonic Sex', which has since been printed in several languages and later was made into a feature film, followed by a TV drama. She was a regular on various popular daytime variety and interview television programs, and after participating by invitation in a United Nations program on Aids awareness she became active in that field and retired from the entertainment world in late 2006. On December 24, 2008, a close friend who was worried about her convinced her landlady to open her 21st floor apartment, where they discovered her body. Sadly, although popular and well liked by friends, she died alone at a time of year that usually brings friends and family together, a victim of pneumonia. Doctors said she had passed away seven days prior to the grim discovery.
British actress-model Lucy Gordon (May 22, 1980 to May 20, 2009), pictured here at a 'Spiderman 3' opening, began modeling while still in an Oxford public school and became the international face of Cover Girl by 1997 before she began acting. She worked with John Cusack in 'Serendipity', portrayed a British tv newslady in 'Spiderman 3', and recently portrayed Jane Birkin in a film depicting the life of the British actress-singer once married to French songwriter-singer-actor-director Serge Gainsborg. When acting in the movie 'Cineman' she met her boyfriend, who was cinematographer for the film. She left her family and friends behind, traveled to France and moved into his $2000.00 a month mansion flat in the 10th arrondissement on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris. Her obvious beauty continued to lead to more opportunities and offers than she could handle and she was in constant demand. From outside appearances she was living a dream life but there were hidden problems and her relationship became rocky. Following a domestic argument, and just hours before a scheduled interview at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, she hung herself while her boyfriend was asleep in another room. It was two days before her birthday, which she had planned to spend with her parents.
South Korean model-painter-writer and filmmaker Daul Kim (May 31, 1989 to November 19, 2009), was raised in Seoul, South Korea and Singapore. Like Lucy Gordon, she lived in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. She had moved to France after her debut there in 2007, and was constantly busy with the demands of her mixed careers, but in spite of her beauty and all her accomplishments she was unhappy. In a personal blog she said of herself: "I already accepted that I relate to nothing. The more I gain the more lonely it is...I know I'm like a ghost." Another blog stated that her life as Daul "...was so miserable and lonely." She dreamed of having a long term relationship, but after a recent physical argument with her boyfriend her body was discovered following an apparent suicide. French authorities have temporarily ruled the incident self-inflicted death by hanging, but as of November 27, 2009 the case is still under investigation.
I seldom thought of myself as attractive, but recall that when in my late teens and for three decades after, I was treated much differently than now. In spite of anyone's appearance, eventually negative experiences, stress, illness and aging change all of us. Being attractive is temporary and doesn't bring with it everlasting happiness. Reminds me of an old Japanese poem: "A flower withers even though we love it. A weed grows even though we do not love it."
Treating pretty people differently...that's common to human nature. Films and television dramas and programs often are popular because the actresses are beautiful, the men are handsome and the children are cute. Customers in retail establishments are often treated differently based on their physical appearance, and some may get special treatment. The same type of special treatment a salesperson will give a potential client visiting a Fitness Center. The individual may be addressed by their first name, greeted by a smiling face, warm handshake or arm around the shoulder. After the contract is signed they are just another sweaty slob on the equipment...unless they are attractive. Even when it comes to personal relationships, more often than not, men and women are initially attracted to one another based on physical appearance. It's human nature, it's shallow and superficial, but right or wrong, that's the way it is.
cliff_07
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- Name: Master Cliff
- Gender: Male
- Member Since: 6/26/2005
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'In a world of trouble, chaos and crime, I sail the multi-colored oceans of my mind. Far from reality's brazen shore, Adrift in Fantasy evermore.' I was born in Brisbane, Australia. Raised in USA. The eldest sibling in my family, have 5 younger sisters and 3 younger brothers. I illustrate, write poetry and fiction, have published 5 heroic fantasy books, 1 film collectors book, 2 philosophy books, and have done illustrations for several publishers. I trained for many years under Korean Tae Kwon Do Grandmaster Hwa Song Choe. Currently I hold a Master Instructor Certification under Grandmaster Kwan Kyun Kim, through the Chung Do Kwan and World Tae Kwon Do Federation based in Seoul Korea. I am Master Instructor at Song Choe College Of Tae Kwon Do in Irving, Texas, USA. I spend over 60 hours a week at the multi-cultural school and teach students from almost every country in the world. I love music and Cinema, Including international.
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An impulsive act or word takes only an instant, but can cause regret and heartache to last a lifetime.
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In the darkest of times, Hope, although the smallest of lights, can illuminate your path.
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Truth knows no boundaries.
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