Chapter 4
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. Good idea. 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 a desperate loser normal person. She is, after all, a high-powered scientist. Nearly ninety.
And deserving of whatever pleasure she can gain from this strange experience fully 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, not less, attractive. Not to mention its sizable asset. His. His sizable 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 around his waist, 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 their meeting.
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 impressive equipment.
Anticipation has her belly clenching with excitement despite any residual misgivings.
Then . . . Well, then comes the companionship part.
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 before it him in his fully formed state, she resolves to enjoy him.
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 a he. The GROW is a him. 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 her eyes 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?”
K8 takes several wary steps backward. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stand upright with alarm.
Her unit tries to lunge forward, but the GROW Pad holds him in place. He won’t have full motor control over his body until she programs a name and pushes the last button.
Suddenly, the swirling depths of his eyes take on an irate sheen. “Can you hear me? Or am I talking to myself?”
“I hear you.” K8’s unsure of how else to respond. Did she check the wrong box? She was quite drunk. Or should she have used more care selecting his traits? She doesn’t think this is how the activation is supposed to go. Thank goodness he remains stuck to the pad.
“Then answer my questions. And why can’t I move?” His voice comes out as a growl.
K8 scours her mind, trying to recall what he asked.
And why is her heart beating so frantically?
Fear? Exhilaration? “Calm down,” she instructs them both, but he is practically vibrating with anger now.
Her words only seem to heighten his agitation, so she quickly supplies, “I’m K8.
You are in my unit. The spare bedroom. You can’t move because I haven’t programmed in your name. ”
There. Now he will be pleasant.
His eyes narrow. “If I tell you my name, you’ll release me?”
K8’s head tilts to the side in confusion. Hopefully, he isn’t malfunctioning. Since GROW won’t refund her unicoin, that would mean she’d have to go through this whole awkward process again—something she’d prefer to avoid at all costs.
“The pad will. Not me.” She points to his feet, but it’s of no use. He can’t look down to see. “There’s a pad that you’re connected to at your feet. It’s what is holding you, but once I name you and program it, then yes. It will release you.”
She offers him a smile. Probably another side effect of GROW’s tinkering.
“Don’t worry. I only need to think of a name.
” His brows furrow, the space between them creasing unnaturally.
She taps a finger on her lips as she contemplates which name suits him.
“What about Lucal? Or Bensy. No, that’s too close to Yansy. Echo?”
Her eyes widen as she finds herself genuinely interested in his input.
She can only guess at the analytical process Drunk K8 employed to select his traits.
The scientist in her is more than curious about this experiment.
Riveted. Now that she’s committed to it, that is. And provided he isn’t defective.
“Those names are idiotic. And I already have a name,” he barks.
Oh my. What an odd development. He stares at her as if she is crazy.
Could playful possibly be interacting negatively with assertive?
Or independent? Oh, maybe this is some sort of game for her benefit.
Interesting. At least he has visibly relaxed and isn’t twitching like Purpl.
A little tension is probably a side effect of waking up that she missed in the literature.
Well, her GROW is already poised to keep her on her toes.
Somehow, she wouldn’t expect it any other way.
She only needs to change the lens. This will be fun!
She releases a breath, her smile returning. “Okay, then. Let’s hear it.” Maybe GROW has done it with this latest batch of programming. How exciting!
The GROW gives her a snide smile, then bites out, “My name is James Alexander Fletcher.”