He was babbling now. Very uncharacteristic of him. Had he realized his blunder? Maybe he was sorry and was trying to cover.
“This mission to the past was to observe and study firsthand what made people fall in love and stay committed in a relationship with each other,” she added to distract herself from over-analyzing Dariux’s words.
“Both Dariux and I are scientists. He is an engineer, and I’m a neurobiologist. We hope, by traveling to different time periods, to find a common thread to the human amorous relationship that can be used in a rehabilitation program to turn the tide on a generation addicted to robots.”
The duke and Olivia wore identical expressions of bewilderment.
“What are these robots you keep talking about? Are they some sort of automaton?” the duke asked.
“Similar, but much more advanced,” Dariux explained. “They look exactly like humans and possess artificial intelligence, which means they act like humans too. In Olivia’s time, robots already exist, though none as advanced as the ones in our times.”
“In my time, robots look like... machines,” Olivia said. “I don’t think anyone would think of having a relationship with one of them. Of course, I have seen movies that depict advanced robots like the ones you are describing, so I have no trouble imagining them. Although I have to confess that it seems far-fetched that people have reached the point of preferring a fake relationship with a robot over a real one with another human being.”
“Why is that so difficult to understand?” asked Dariux. “Just consider how many human relationships fail. Getting along is difficult. Personalities clash. Life’s problems erode relationships. Even monotony, boredom, and weariness affect even the best. Is it any wonder that people prefer a relationship where there’s no drama and all their needs are met? When they aren’t, or even if they merely change their minds, they can simply exchange or reprogram their robot and receive all the benefits of a new relationship.”
Oh! He was not sorry at all. He was sticking to his guns, so to speak. The knife in her heart twisted.
“But what about love?” Olivia asked, appalled.
“What about it?” Dariux replied almost defiantly.
At that moment, Kalli’s dreams of love died a painful death. She finally understood why people called it a broken heart. The pain in her chest felt as if her heart had fractured and sorrow was oozing out of the cracks.
“I mean, don’t people want to feel loved? To love somebody in return? Surely that is not possible with a machine!”
“There is affection involved,” Dariux protested. “Some people have stayed with the same robot for years, even when more advanced models have become available. When asked why, they say they are fond of its quirks. Isn’t that a sign of this emotion you call love? The behavior has no logical explanation.”
The sadness transformed into blinding anger. At herself, mostly. For believing he could love her. Despite his protestations to the contrary. What a fool she had been.
“I don’t think Livvy is talking about the partiality you may feel for an inanimate object. Or even the affection one might feel towards a dog or another animal who has served us well. She is talking about a deep bond between two souls. A bond so strong you can’t imagine life without each other, because nobody can replace that person in your heart or your life,” the duke said.
Now that was love. The duke’s words had the power to destroy her. Kalli wished someone looked at her with a tenth of the emotion he directed at Olivia. And Olivia? She wasn’t looking at him. She seemed caught in a vortex of misery. Which could only mean she loved him as much as he loved her.
And they were about to break them up.
“Are you here to take me back to my time?” Olivia asked.
“Yes,” Dariux answered. “That is why we are here. We will finish this mission and depart a week from Sunday. We will take you back to more or less the exact moment when you were transported. Nobody from your time will have had time to miss you or notice you were absent.”
“I see. That is good then. Wouldn’t want to worry my parents.”
The heartbreak in the room was a tangible thing. It seemed to squeeze all the air out of the space.
Kalli couldn’t stand it.
“I just want to add something,” Kalli said, “because you don’t seem very happy. Leaving or staying is your decision. We would never try to force you one way or the other.”
Dariux’s head whipped to look at her. His shocked gaze promised a heated argument. So be it.
“Transporting her here was an accident. We can’t leave her here. We don’t know the consequences. It’s dangerous,” Dariux said.
“Consequences could be already underway without us knowing. She should be allowed to decide,” Kalli shot back.
“I don’t agree,” he bit out.
“That’s because you don’t understand the very emotion we came to investigate.” To hell with him.
“And you do?”
