As she tosses her head back, lifting the slab of biological material to the glowing lights of her ceiling, it still feels like surrender. “You win!” she shouts to no one in particular.
She slams the flesh patty onto the center of the GROW Pad, then peels off the protective gloves and discards them in the pile with the rest of the packaging. Her hand trembles as she holds the bottle over the water slot. The instructions say a single drop will start the process. Then the light will turn green when it’s full. When it turns red, an alarm will sound, and you repeat the process.
Before she can let her better sense talk her out of it, K8 tips the bottle and watches in a mixture of wonder and horror as a steady stream of water pours into the slot. When she finishes the entire bottle, she holds her breath. There’s no going back now.
A few tenuous seconds later, the light turns green.
4 – He’s Not Real
K8
October 5, 2390, Day 83.
After an arduous week spent pouring little bottles of water into the slot at regular intervals, K8 stands before her fully formed GROW a little dumbstruck. “Gorgeous,” she mutters, walking a full circle around it. Theman,with its chiseled muscles, hard jaw, days’ worth of stubble, and smooth tan skin, does not compare to the 3D model.
K8 can’t resist. Its fingers twitch as she runs her fingers across its palm, noting the calluses there. A shiver works its way down her spine in response. Positively rugged. Delectable.
In fact, her GROW might be so rugged that it’ll draw unwanted attention. Jett has already messaged her three times that morning to see if he can swing by to see it. Perhaps this is a bad idea.
No.Goodidea. Remember?She’s gone through the same series of affirming thoughts a dozen times in the last forty-eight hours. It’s like the advertisement states: “Companionship is at your fingertips. Time to take control of your destiny and get a manupartner today!”
That’s what she’s done. Bought herself companionship. Like adesperate losernormal person. She is, after all, a high-powered scientist. Nearly ninety. And deserving of whatever pleasure she can gain from thisstrange experiencefully formed manupartner standing before her. She’s convinced herself that after a week with it, her memory of Viper will be erased once and for all.
Maybe running into him and being forced to keep the manupartner means she’s lucky. Reframing her circumstances is so much better for her self-care prerogative. Maybe that means she’ll win the birthing lotto too. The old dream flashes through her mind as a series of snapshots. Getting the selection email. Choosing a donor—she’ll only pick someone who wants involvement with her and the child. They’ll get to know each other as the baby grows. They’ll see how excellent she is at child-rearing—because she’s naturally excellent at everything she puts her mind to. Then they’ll be so impressed, they’ll agree to be her companion. Maybe even move into her unit!
It’s a silly dream. With the increased population restrictions, winning the lotto is highly unlikely. Nothing she should concern herself with. Especially not when she has a manupartner to activate. But since things are going her way, she might as well aim her wishes in that direction.
Holy Mother Zephyr, I’m ready for the companion of my dreams. After I turn this manupartner in, she clarifies.
She stands on the tips of her toes to get a closer look. Are those . . .wrinkles? Three fine lines run across the forehead. Her head cocks to the side. She hasn’t seen anyone with a wrinkle since . . . since . . . well, she can’t remember when or who it might have been.
Somehow, the lines and the slight curve at the bridge of its narrow nose make it more, notless,attractive. Not to mention its sizable asset. His.Hissizable asset. She swallows the lump that’s formed in her throat as she unabashedly stares at it. Delectable indeed.
K8 wipes the corner of her mouth. Before she starts touching things she really shouldn’t—yet, anyway—K8 takes the towel from her shoulder and wraps it aroundhiswaist, tucking it so the muscles narrowing into a V peek out above the fabric. Once satisfied, she reaches down to place her fingertip on the final button on the GROW Pad. She takes a deep breath, pressing before she can hesitate. The pad beeps in the sequence she’s read indicates that all has gone smoothly. As a series of white lights around the pad flash on and off, her stomach does a series of flips, seeming to coordinate with the pad’s electrical current.
Her GROW takes a sharp inhale, almost making K8 jump out of her skin. How has she never invited herself to watch one of her FRIENDS’ manupartners activate? Of course, she’s seen the videos online, but seeing it in real life is something else. The GROW’s breaths now come in a steady rhythm as the electrical connection between the brain and body is made. The manual says this will take about ten minutes.
Once the unit’s eyes open, it will be ready to have a name programmed into the pad. Then one more button and it’ll be released. Ready to get dressed, then go downstairs with her for theirmeeting.
After much deliberation, she selects the perfect location for it to happen: an eclectic teahouse called Bird Tea on the third floor of her building. She’ll plant the unit at the standing table in the back beside a large cage that holds a pair of rare love birds. Then she’ll slip up beside it. Perhaps say something about twittering. It’ll fall helpless to her charms. They’ll enjoy their tea before heading to her unit to test out that impressiveequipment. Anticipation has her belly clenching with excitement despite any residual misgivings.
Then . . . Well, then comes thecompanionshippart. They’ll get ready for bed. Tuck in side by side and discuss the latest Old News article she read before drifting off to sleep. In the morning, they’ll go meet Jett and his manupartner, Decci, for breakfast. Lessa will show up ready to lament about missing Yansy until they see K8’s manupartner. Then they’ll be off to order one just like him, their status in pay bracket A allowing them to afford a regular premium manupartner. That and their willingness to wear last year’s designs, something K8 could never do. After breakfast, maybe she’ll take her manupartner to a simulation chamber. They can walk by the lake, holding hands. He’ll ask about her FRIENDS and she’ll tell him that even though they’re not perfect, they’re the best FRIENDS she’s had.
The unit’s fingers flex, drawing her attention from her fantasy. Those hands, those calluses, will roam over her skin in a matter of hours. Now, if she wants. A tantalizing thought. No, better to drag out the first time for at least an hour or two.
As she stands beforeithimin his fully formed state, she resolves to enjoyhim. Admittedly, she’s still working through the mental gymnastics required to swallow her hypocrisy. Think of it as a real man. Believing the fantasy shouldn’t be too hard. It is ahe. The GROW is ahim. And if she’s going to enjoy it, she had better start thinking of it—no,HIM—that way. Besides, she’s already spent the unicoin.
As the timer counts down to six minutes remaining, K8 considers the options she selected. Assertive. Kind. Confident. Passionate. Open. Adventurous. Playful. Present. Devoted. Independent. Interesting. Unlike Lessa, and perhaps because she ordered the kit after she spent a night with them and Yansy, friendly and agreeable are not on the list.
An uncomfortable sensation washes over her. Like she is seeing something she shouldn’t. Is it really appropriate for her to be standing here while he comes to life? Is that considered rude? K8 clamps hereyes shut.He’s not real. This thing doesn’t give a care about what you do or don’t do. Literally.She can bring someone else to her bed without mentioning it and he won’t blink. She can return it to the recycle station tomorrow. It doesn’t matter.
Of course, she won’t do that. The standard contract is for three months paid upfront, a substantial investment. Then the contract can be renewed on a monthly basis as required by the user. If you don’t pay, they can come to repossess your unit. She’s only ever heard of that happening once, though. Usually, you get a string of angry emails before they show up at your door.
When K8 opens her eyes, the darkest pair of slate irises stare back at her. They are supposed to be blue, but all she can say is, “Wow.” It comes out as barely more than a breath. She’ll take the deep color of his eyes as a happy accident. Two swimming pools, seemingly depthless, full of swirling emotion more intense than she ever expected from a manupartner. One could get lost in them for days and be glad for the escape. Maybe GROW’s tinkering is working.
Jett might be right after all. This is exactly what K8 needs. Right as a grin is about to sprout, her manupartner’s mouth opens.
A rough voice booms, “Where the fuck am I and who the fuck are you?”
