“Sorry about your joints.” Mom commented as I was pulling on the dress she had gotten from the marketing department. “Years ago when we first went with that design we were aware that they would limit clothing options, but that didn’t impact sales and it was the version with the least comprises.”
“It’s fine mom, I’m pretty used to them.” I responded as I was straightening the dress, it wasn’t that much different than the one they picked me up in cut-wise. Although it had literally been made for this universe’s version of me, so the fit was much nicer. Although it was a lighter grey with individual triangles of purple instead of striping, and while I wasn’t an expert on this, the fabric made me guess it was probably super expensive.
“I am a bit curious what the other options there were though.” I admitted while admiring the dress, lifting the hem a bit to watch the purple shimmer a bit under the harsh lights. “Anything particularly interesting?”
“Well, the first one we tried was just having skin across the joint, it worked really well at keeping stuff out.” She answered as I let the dress fall back down into place. “But it was quite frankly disturbing looking, particularly with how it twisted in motion. Marketing nixed that before it got anywhere.”
“That sounds gross.” I shivered at the mental image of skin just sort of laid across my joints like macabre shrink-wrap.
“Most of the others were some form of metal guard or retracting shields, but those either restricted range of motion or made the joint look particularly inhuman.” She shrugged. “I voted for just keeping them durable and making it a stylistic choice to be exposed. We knew stuff could bunch up in them, but it wouldn’t affect combat capabilities and it’s not like we had feel in mind.”
“I will admit it’s not great sometimes with the restrictions, but at the same time it forced me to try out stuff I like now.” I gave her a grin as I pulled the shoes that went with the dress on, odd little sandal-like things. “So alls good!”
“So long as you’re happy.” She agreed with a slightly off-kilter smile. “Are you interested in a tour of the facility before heading to my place?”
“For sure!”
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Given I had spent the last few days mostly or totally immobile in what seemed to be a comparatively small room, I was in no way prepared for how massive a facility this was. The prototyping labs were probably the smallest part, what with computer-aided design being a thing here too. Most of the building we were in was occupied with offices full of programmers, designers, marketing, sales folk, and every type of engineer you could think of.
Reactions to me mostly started off as vague curiosity at why a prototype was being brought around that shifted to surprise or excitement when I talked to people. Honestly, the most common response I encountered was how many were disappointed my mind wasn’t something they had developed in-house. The programmers initially thought I was some skunkworks project they hadn’t been informed of, and we had to slip away from more than a couple of impromptu discussions on how my mind works. I guess it kind of makes sense when it’s basically an entire company of synthetics nerds that they would have a positive reaction to an intelligent one.
“I’m surprised no one knew about me before now.” I commented after we had poked our heads into a busy cafeteria. “I’ve only seen you and a few of Lane’s team since waking up, but I would have thought that was enough to spread everywhere at this point.”
“We had your existence under a strict hush order that’s persisted up to now, at first the idea of someone having replicated a design that was months from release is bad enough. Then as we found how exact a copy you were, it really kicked up our paranoia.” She explained as we walked down the wide hall past an open concept office that was a kaleidoscope of colors from each cluster of tables having a different aesthetic and color scheme. “After we figured out you were a person, we didn’t want to let anyone know in case you were harassed or abducted while being unable to respond in any meaningful way. You were quite vulnerable in that state you know?”
“Don’t I know it.” I responded with a snort, then bobbed my head. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Of course.” She responded with a smile, before gesturing towards a green and orange cluster of desks where a few heads were pointing in our direction curiously. “Ready to meet some of the people responsible for your visual design? They were the team that planned out the placement of your endo armor and how your skin lays across it…”
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After a few more visits to teams that directly worked on my counterpart here, mom elected to take me over to the onsite factories for a change of pace. She had been quiet for the first few minutes of our walk down the mostly empty walkway that had initially started at the second story of the development building. I was kind of surprised at how long it was, there seemed to be a solid five or ten more minutes of walking before we would reach the buildings dominating the view out one side of the corridor.
“Hey Sam?” She prompted after we had stopped to admire the view for a bit.
“Yeah?” I answered looking back at her, the Vista of forest out the other side of the walkway had held my attention for a while as I tried to align where we were with what I knew of home. I wasn’t certain of course, but I think this campus would have been where my house and the rest of the neighborhood we lived in would have been.
“Would you mind helping me with something?” She asked eyes slightly unfocused out the window with a worried half smile.
“Sure.”
“Not going to ask what?” She asked turning her head towards me.
“I doubt it’s anything bad from your expression, but what is it?”
“Could you help me bring your sister to life?” She asked hopefully. “Before it was just a pipedream that we had the capability to do it. But you are proof that it’s possible no matter how difficult it might be, and I want to give it another try with your help.”
“I would be happy to!” I answered emphatically, then paused and got a sheepish grin. “I kinda hope it won’t be too invasive though.”
“Ha, well honestly I don’t have a firm plan yet,” She answered her smile more full but still uncertain. “I was probably going to start by just watching your logs for a bit, beyond that I will probably play it by ear.”
“Sure, I already know I can keep you out of bits I don’t want you looking at.” I answered the grin turning cheeky, getting a serious nod in return.
“Of course.” She said while returning to looking out the window, deep in thought.
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The factory was a mixture of exciting and disturbing, it had that interesting element of seeing stuff being made or assembled but also some of the things being made were quite gross looking as they were robot guts.
Only a minority of the components were made on-site versus contracted or made in some other local or foreign factory as you would expect. The things they made on site were probably the most interesting parts though, stuff like the electro-mechanical computers were assembled out of thousands of components in assembly machines that moved with mesmerizing complexity. Arms moving in progress components from specialized stations to other equally specific stops, each placing dozens or hundreds of tiny gears, levers, or complete previously prepared arrangements into their needed locations. Then they would be transferred to the next step on the line, either receiving more parts or being passed off to be installed into whatever synthetic was awaiting it.
I spent like twenty minutes at one just asking questions of a bemused worker as I tried to follow what exactly was happening. I dragged myself away when mom pointed out that General Synthetics had the largest mage workshop in Ontario a mere fifteen-minute walk away.
“I wonder how the introduction of solid-state computers might affect all that beautiful work.” I mused as we left the building.
“What do you mean?” She asked. “I am assuming you aren’t talking about those ones Mitsubishi are pushing.”
“Well I know transistors haven’t really appeared here, but where I’m from they are the method for computing.” I started to explain. “It’s kinda more boring than here, but they have managed to get stuff pretty cheap and durable. Oh wait I know where your mechanical tech could be really applicable! Last I checked you haven’t even started on nano construction here, maybe you could apply your mechanical computer technology to that? Once you get to that scale the solid-state stuff doesn’t work so great if I remember correctly. Now that has potential for some neat developments!” I cheerfully finished.
“You do talk about enough odd technology or cultural differences to reinforce that other dimension story you know?” She commented. “Although, you seem to have a better grasp of this world than I would expect. At least in some areas.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Ah well, I did basically do nothing but read every random thing I could for a month straight, plus a couple of people gave me a hand” I admitted. “I’m also lucky in that the deviation between this dimension’s timeline and mine is pretty recent as these things go. It’s not like one where the entire evolutionary history was different.”
I stopped for a moment as a thought struck me.
“Something wrong?” Mom asked stopping a few steps ahead with a frown.
“Sorta, I did kind of up and vanish on the people I know here.” I then hesitated for a second. “Would it be possible for me to see them at some point, so they know I’m OK?”
“Of course, it’s not like I’m going to trap you here or something.” She said the frown deepening. “I might be a little overbearing and go with you though. I will admit a bit of reluctance to let you get snatched by some competitor who may not be nearly as concerned with keeping you alive, there are no laws or regulatory bodies that would protect your rights after all.”
I nodded, I did kind of just appear in her life and she was very much attached to me right now. It had been difficult to get her to go home to clean up let alone sleep in her own bed for the first while. I would probably try and push some space in soon, but after a lonely month, I don’t mind it.
While the main factory was heavily automated and desperately advanced like some I had seen on YouTube back home, the mage workshop was like stepping into a cottage industry. Little clusters of specialized individuals working with hand tools on various dull grey or muted pink rocks, while some things could be automated like printing patterns on thin wafers of crystal that reminded me of circuit boards or chip designs. The act of cutting the patterns and infusing meaning was apparently more of an art than anything, so there was a high degree of variability between each finished sandwich of glued-together wafers in both shape and to some degree exact behavior. This meant that the installation and testing of any of the complex stuff required a team of skilled laborers in the next room doing essentially custom work for each robot that warranted one of these more advanced ones. It sounded like this workshop was mostly focused on the particularly high-end or custom lattices, most of the volume of simple ones that were in normal consumer synthetics came in from other suppliers.
“Hey mom, if one of those smaller crystals takes that much work, how much would I actually be worth given how many are in me?” I asked in a pause in the conversation. “Surely that makes the production models prohibitively expensive.”
She chuckled. “Well Sam, you’re a prototype that we went with multiple to allow us the ability more easily alter each piece of functionality.” She explained while pulling me over to a tiny tray of completed crystals in a locked cabinet nearby. “Each of these is supposed to roughly cover all of the ones you have since they are for the finalized design, but you are right in that you would be insanely expensive. Assuming market value, you’re worth millions for those alone.”
Yikes, note to self avoid being snatched for parts resale. I’m not certain but I am pretty sure the Canadian dollar is worth way more here than back home, at least judging off the economics bits of papers I had read anyway, making that value even more wild.
“These are far, far less valuable but honestly the production model was always going to be expensive because it’s a low volume customizable design.” She continued. “Themed bodyguard synthetics have always been a plaything of the ultra-rich, even beyond just the cost of the synthetic itself there are an endless array of expensive to maintain licenses and permits. Even after all that, while the Battle-Maids line has a relatively practical theme since they can do housework, you could hire a professional or a team for many years at similar or lower costs.”
“Urgh not sure how I feel about being that.” I responded with a grimace.
“Well, you aren’t. You’re my daughter and prototypes were never going to be sold anyway.” She pointed out. “Realistically projects like this are used to push the edge of our technology rather than be a viable product. We sell a few to justify the investment and then the advancements get pulled back into the other model lines.”
“Huh, makes sense.” I looked at the little multicolored sandwiches for a moment before a thought came up. “Have you already started on a mark eight?” The quiet stretched a few seconds too long prompting me to glance back at the complex expression on her face.
“No, that wouldn’t be in the schedule for a year or two. We would be back on the integration phase for a while normally.” She answered uncomfortably. “But yes, there is a mark eight planned.”
“Neat, I’m interested to see how they turn out.” I commented looking back at the crystals. There are some remarkably beautiful lattices in here which made me wonder what mine look like. While my curiosity could probably be satisfied, I wasn’t really interested in getting basically brain surgery for pictures. Although its possible mom had pictures of them somewhere, or maybe it wasn’t too hard to access them?
“You aren’t upset at the idea of me trying to do a ‘better’-“ I could hear the discomfort at that word. “version of you?” Mom asked pulling my attention away from the cabinet again.
“Hmm? Not really no, this body is pretty nice and I’m happy in it.” I answered turning back to her. “It’s not like I am expecting technology to halt because I exist or something, I would appreciate spare parts sticking around though.” I finished with a chuckle.
‘I’m sure we can figure something out.” She agreed with a smile.
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“Do you know what you want to do about sleeping tonight? I only have one bed, and while I’m happy to share...” She trailed off on the walk towards the carpark from our stop in the R&D division to get her handbag and coat.
“I don’t really mind sharing either, but a couch will work fine if you have one.” I answered with a shrug, the fuel canister in my left hand sloshing a bit at the motion.
“I do, but I could sleep on it and let you have the-“
“Mom please, I can basically sleep wherever without it being an issue.” I countered. “I spent a month sleeping on roofs or metal floors no problem, you actually benefit from a mattress.”
She nodded reluctantly, before looking in her handbag for her key. The vehicle we arrived at a few minutes later was one of the fancy tuk-tuks-like things that seem pretty popular in this area. They were three-wheeled affairs with a single passenger seat right behind the driver with only a small trunk for internal storage, although small matching trailers seemed incredibly common for them. Hers was one of the nicer designs where the angled front of the cabin extended into a beak over the front wheel. One thing I liked about this dimension is that the cars mostly weren’t just on the black to white spectrum, hers was in a curious warm brown with orange piping that looked surprisingly sharp.
I was a little surprised where we ended up after a twenty-minute drive, it was a worn little apartment building where her unit was practically a basement with a separate entrance set halfway into the ground. It was a bit barren but well lived in space once she had opened the door and let me pass in ahead of her, she had enough stuff that it was clear spent a reasonable amount of time at home but it wasn’t the type of place where everything had a story. No street signs from South America or pieces of unidentifiable art like I’d seen in some of the rooms I’d been to with Mike for little get-togethers.
Instead, she had a dark wood bookcase of technical manuals and fantasy novels, a worn sofa with a nice rug in front of a tv, and a number of well-cared-for plants. It was what I would consider a studio apartment, while the kitchen and dining table were in a separate area with a half-height dividing wall behind the couch, her bed was basically at the back of the living room without anything separating it from the living room. Honestly, it didn’t really seem like the place the head of R&D at the fourth largest manufacturer of synthetics would be expected to live in, I liked it though as it had a comfortable atmosphere like she cared about it rather than just being a place to sleep. I hadn’t ever really been to an ‘adult’s’ apartment, so maybe this was normal for people that aren’t students?
She turned the TV on in a motion that seemed reflexive with the remote that was laying atop the dividing wall before she hung her coat on the rack beside the door. Immediately the room was filled with the sounds of some sci-fi show that was amid a tense standoff with dramatic music that she didn’t really seem to be noticing. “Feel free to just settle in on the couch while I get my dinner ready.” She mentioned after kicking her sneakers off while making her way towards the kitchen.
After another look around, I removed my sandals and followed her instead, out of a desire to protect the dress, I grabbed an apron hanging on a hook next to the fridge. There were a few there that mostly looked unused, I couldn’t quite figure out why there were so many. Maybe they were gifts or from a relative, as they all seemed to be handmade.
“What were you going to make?” I asked curiously as she was rooting around in the fridge, causing her to look back in surprise.
“Probably Bibimbap, but it’s fine you don’t need to help.” She answered waving a hand dismissively. “I wouldn’t want to make you work on something you wouldn’t even want to eat.
“It feels weird just sitting around and I find it surprisingly fun to cook.” I countered while fetching a knife and cutting board. “Bibimbap has garlic and then like assorted vegetables, right?”
“Yeah.” She confirmed while pulling stuff out of the fridge. “It’s something you’ve had… over there?”
“Yep, we had a nice Korean restaurant about a five-minute bus ride away. Honestly, I can’t even remember what it tasted like anymore…”
I hadn’t really lived with someone who used a TV for background noise, but it wasn’t bad. It was still odd not to recognize a single show mentioned during the schedule preview in ad breaks through preparing the meal. While I didn’t stream that much western stuff back home, I had enough friends that did and I had spent enough time online that I at least recognized some stuff in conversations. Natalie had shown me a few things, but I hadn’t recognized any of them on mom’s TV, I think they must be from a different channel or something.
I did scare mom a bit with how little attention I paid to chopping despite how fast I was going, but I pointed out that I couldn’t really be hurt by the knife and had way better awareness of where my hands were than a human. I did try to pay more attention to chopping just for sake of appearances though.
I had forgotten how much I missed just chatting while preparing and eating a meal, I knew I had gotten lonely the past month having literally never eaten with anyone else but when I rediscovered how much better the gas was with company I was moved to tears.
Mom fussed over me a lot after that.
I joined her in watching TV for a bit after dinner, a cyberpunk investigative thriller she liked was going to be on. I kind of dozed off next to her instead of paying attention though, the normalcy of being with someone where I didn’t have to pretend to not be a person resulted in a tension I hadn’t realized I had dropping away.
I found myself still leaning against her sometime later when she turned the TV off, it took a moment or two for my brain to spin up again in the sudden silence. She found me an extra sheet before closing the blinds on the windows, once we had that bit of privacy, I took the dress off and laid it up on the headrest of the couch. The lack of a bra underneath not really bothering me given how naked I had been the last few days. At, least I still had the panties, so I wasn’t completely naked on her couch. How much that matters I find hard to tell these days, mom didn’t seem to be worried about it and it’s not like I sweat or move in my sleep.
Mom didn’t seem the sort to immediately go to sleep, so I fell asleep to the occasional quiet flip of a page nearby as she read a novel.