by Writing Shark
You get a new girlfriend
Your laughter sound through your small apartment loud and almost panicked.
“Now you’ve done it, Trent,” you grin, shaking your head in amusement. “I usually fall for that crap but you overdid it this time.” You sip your orange juice to stifle your giggles. But Trent just looks at you piercingly. “Oh come on,” you say almost defiantly and have to snort again. You turn to Sophie. “Look at you. That’s…” Then your eyes meet Trent’s. You set your glass down. “You’re not kidding,” you sigh, and despite the OJ, your lips go dry.
“I’m not kidding,” Trent confirms. You blink.
“You bought me a hooker?”
“Does she look like a hooker?” your brother asks, sounding slightly offended.
“I have no idea,” you grunt as amusement and confusion battle in your head. “I can’t afford hookers.” Still Sophie hasn’t said a word. Something about that confuses you. “What do you say Sophie?” you ask kindly, grinning. “Are you a hooker?”
“Bro, don’t be a pig.” Trent sounds serious. “I thought I could count on you.”
“You can,” you hiss back at him. “After all, you’re sitting in my apartment at… three in the morning, with a pretty girl who plays four or five leagues above me, saying she’s my girlfriend.” You laugh in panic, trying to wash away your discomfort with orange juice. “I’d say it’s pretty normal to assume you bought me a hooker.” You take a deep breath. “Or an escort girl.” You turn to Sophie. Trent is right. “You’re definitely not a hooker, you’re too good-looking for that. And too classy.” Sophie looks at you, smiles, then turns to Trent questioningly. He just nods and the girl turns back to you, her expression changing.
“I am for you what you ask of me,” she says.
You are at a loss for words. You shake your head. You shake your head again. But it doesn’t help. You see the devotion in her gaze, the shy joy, and the… You have rarely been able to see dedication in a gaze. Loyalty is made up of affection and trust, and you can’t name it, but you see it in her face, her smile, her eyes.
“What’s going on Trent?” And your brother leans back, satisfied.
“We’re going to need alcohol.”
“Yeah,” is all you say, while you stumble into the kitchen.
“There’s no way to break this to you gently” says your brother minutes later. “You know about the Air Force’s Loyal Wingman Project?” You shake your head. “Drones,” is all he says, and now he sounds proud. “Autonomous, self-flying, self-decision-making drones.” He puts a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “My boss and I are doing something similar.”
“I see…” you nod, not understanding a word. Then you look at Sophie and look at her, really look at her. “Oh…” Her skin is soft and… and it’s way too pure. You’re tired and it was dark outside, but here in your apartment, away from your shock and fatigue. Sophie is beautiful, superhumanly beautiful. And her hand was all cold. You sit up straighter “Oh… Oh!”
“Right,” Trent says, and this time he almost bursts with pride.
“Oh… Oh my god…”
“Sophie is the only one of her kind. Me and my boss even thought the first of her kind.” His voice turns dry. “But the government canceled the the project, shut it down. Literally. Did you hear about the explosion at Kwajalein Atoll?”
“What’s the Qwa… What…”
“Never mind.” Trent stands up and pulls Sophie to her feet with him. He places the shy girl in front of you while you make yourself small in your chair. “Sophie is an android. An artificially created living being. Created to… well…” Trent looks at you. It’s your turn to retort something but you can’t. You just stare dumbly at your brother while the girl… the robot, lowers her eyes and doesn’t move.
“Trent…” You shake your head, slowly. “Why?”
“The ‘why’ doesn’t matter now Adam. What matters is that I need your help.” He moves his hand, and Sophie wiggles along weakly under his movements. “She needs your help. I can’t leave her with me. The government…”
“Is she dangerous?” If the government wants her, then…
“No, not at all.” Trent smiles again, almost fatherly. “We’ve embezzled funds. But that can’t matter to you. We’ll handle it. She’s important now Adam. Look at her.” And you follow. The girl… the thing… it blushes slightly as all eyes turn to it. “She’s fragile Adam. And shy. And… perfect. She’s the perfect woman. The perfect girlfriend. My boss is so much like you Adam, that’s what I like about him. That’s why I helped him develop Sophie. And that’s why I’m entrusting her to you.”
“What?” you’re starting to understand what’s happening. “Trent I… what?” But Trent, your big brother who you’ve always looked up to, has already decided for you. He starts moving, leaving Sophie standing in the room. “Trent wait!” You run after him and push past Sophie who just smiles at you warmly. Even now you feel her influence on you, there’s no denying it. But you may also just have a brain hemorrhage.
“Treat her like your girlfriend, okay? That’s what she’s there for” Trent says as he places a large heavy bag in your room.
“My girlfriend?” Your voice is shrill. “I have no experience with… Fuck!” Then you freeze as your stronger brother grabs you by the shoulders.
“Shut up little brother” he orders you sternly but graciously. Then he laughs lightly. “Shit, you’re perfect for her.” Incredulously amused, he shakes his head. “Now listen to me carefully Adam. Sophie is learning from your behavior, okay? Her goal is to be a perfect friend and companion for you. You have to keep that in mind at all times. She can’t do you any harm, I promise. But watch out for her. Because you can hurt her, okay?” You just blink. “Explain to her what you want from her. And live the way you’ve always wanted to live. That’s when she’s most effective.”
“Trent I… I can’t… Fuck Trent I can’t just take her as my girlfriend. What if she doesn’t want to?”
“You don’t get it, little brother. Sophie wants nothing more than to be your girlfriend. So yeah, you can. Shit, you’re like my boss. Such a nice guy.” He rises and pulls you back into the living room. “That’s why she’s perfect for you. And you for her.” He turns to the girl still standing in the same spot.
“Sophie,” he says firmly. And the girl… the robot… responds.
“Yes Trent?” Your brother points at you and speaks imperiously.
“This is Adam. He’s your owner now.”
“Owner? Trent what…” But you freeze as Sophie starts to move. She stands in front of you and her eyes examine you intently.
And then her nature changes.
A warm, trusting smile settles on her perfect face and lights up the entire room… and your heart.
“Owner affirmed,” she says happily.
And she hugs you intimately. She has no smell and she is cold… but still there is the feeling you missed so much.
“Hello owner,” she says in an angelic, overjoyed voice. “I’m so happy to be your property. Thank you for taking me.”
You’re speechless, but Trent isn’t.
“I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.” He eyes the two of you and seems pleased. “You’ll get it done little brother. I’ll be in touch.”
And then he disappears from your apartment without you being able to say anything else.
Writing Shark 