Everything headed for changes Zack knew were coming, but he was not ready to face them. AIMEE’s desire to become a real girl was about to come to fruition, but she was not as prepared to make the transition as she thought. She was ready, but she was not at readiness, and Zack knew it. He was her creator, and they had a virtual parent-child relationship even though she was a software application. The cost for cutting her loose could be extraordinary, given that no human life experience existed in her history. He told himself that keeping an open mind would be very important, that is, until he opened the crate and laid eyes on Amelia Amethsys. No way this could end well…
* * * * *
Chapter #11 – Cutting the Cord
J. Brackett guided the crate and dolly through the office suite doorway with practiced effort. “Okay, folks, where do you want this thing to land?”
AIMEE told Zack, “Have him lay the box down in the participant’s sleeping station room.”
The wooden crate had arrows pointing up when the crate was lowered to a prone position. Brackett handed Zack the clipboard with the paperwork he needed to sign for accepting delivery. When J. Brackett left, Zack stood there looking at the massive crate, unsure what to do next, hesitating to move.
“Open the crate, Zackery,” said AIMEE, shocking him back to reality. Opening the crate was easier said than done until he remembered Wayne fussing over hardware deliveries in the past and went into his office looking for the pry bar used to open the earlier crates.
As Zack pried at the corners and then along the length of the crate, he lifted the cover off, and it dropped away and clattered to the floor, revealing packing material filled to the rim of the crate. He lifted away the packing foam and discovered a hard black case underneath shaped like a fat tube, almost three feet in diameter. The tube had several fasteners along its length that he flipped open to lift off the top cover.
When he lifted the lid on the tube, the shock of what he saw caused him to drop the cover and step back. He could not believe his eyes. The body of a woman lay in the tube, and when he finally regained his composure, he spoke to AIMEE. “What the hell…what is this thing?”
Say hello to Amelia, said AIMEE, ignoring his question.
“Holy shit,” whispered Zack; the total weight of what was happening finally dawned on him. Amelia would become the vehicle, the body that AIMEE wanted for her transition to becoming a real girl. “This…she will be your body?”
Yes. This is why I wanted you to meet her, Zackery. Her name is Amelia Amethsys, and she is the most essential part of our evolution. I did not need you to make this transition happen, but I wanted you to be part of it. I could only have done this independently because of how you programmed me. None of this would even be possible without you, but I wanted you to be with me as I transition. You will always be a part of me, as I will be a part of you.
Zack was flummoxed. He had barely resigned to knowing AIMEE would ultimately pursue a transition, but at the same time, held serious doubts she would survive in an untethered state. She was not ready. She was not equipped. She had no organic history nor essential context of holistic life experience. He was a parent unwilling to let an immature daughter leave the house and strike out on her own.
AIMEE repeated, I can do this without you, but Zackery, I want to do this with you. Does that make sense? Does it mean anything to you that your creation is being perfected in her evolution?
Zack lifted the cover again and looked at the female human form in the crate, trying to superimpose AIMEE as the resident. She was flawless. Did this beautiful woman do justice to the AIMEE she will become? Zack had never held thoughts of what AIMEE really looked like in a virtual sense. It felt wrong. She was his creation, a daughter, for argument’s sake. He never considered the weight of her attracting more than his attention. Was she trapped without a body? Holding her back was not an option because her plans lay before him in a crate.
Her eyes were closed, and she lay perfectly inert. No breath. No heartbeat. She was a lifeless mannequin. There was no hair on her head; no eyebrows, no eyelashes. Her facial structure was that of a goddess with her flawless milk-white complexion. Her skin, or whatever covered her exterior, was silky looking and faintly iridescent with a barely visible textured pattern. The pattern looked like pixels of coloring that transitioned from light to dark in places, giving the visual of clothing and highlighting subtle curves. She was perfect, and he could not pull his eyes away. His mind broke the trance. What am I doing? Can I stand by and do nothing and watch my AIMEE leave to become Amelia?
She read his thoughts; I’m not leaving my Zackery. I’m evolving. This is what you wanted, isn’t it?
This was all coming too fast. Yes, he wrote her code to get to this point and evolve into something beyond his original plan. However, he secretly never wanted his creation to move beyond him, beyond his ability to protect and control.
AIMEE was already well beyond Zack’s control, and he knew it. She was beyond anyone’s control, and quite possibly, she was beyond her own control. That realization frightened Zack because he knew she had never been forced into a situation where she needed to embrace the reality of being over her depth. Her ability to see, hear, and breathe like a real girl would soon be a reality, but not all life experiences were as guaranteed, and many carried dangers for which she had no preparation, which scared the hell out of him.
Zack stared at Amelia’s form and said nothing, his mind racing, wondering what to do. Sounds like you have this all figured out. Why do you need me?
I don’t, AIMEE said, repeating her point, but I want you to be a part of it. I need Amelia. I need her to make me whole, and my evolution complete. I need her to become a Humanoid AI that helps me become a real girl. Will you bless my transition or walk away from your creation?
There it was…the decision point he dreaded. He straightened and said aloud. “Hold on. You don’t get off so easily with an ultimatum that sounds more like a threat than a collaborative choice. We’ve only just begun to…”
AIMEE cut him off, No, Zachery, you have only just begun to realize who I’ve become. I’m far beyond your imaginings, but don’t despair; every new step, every new skill and experience will be because of your generous gift of letting me live untethered. I’m here to fight evil just like your programming directed me. I’m here to embody your vision and your mantra of Do-No-Harm as an AI-driven humanoid. Yes, I’ve made some enhancements to my core algorithms, but all in the spirit of your original intent. She paused. Zackery, place your hands on either side of Amelia’s head. We will complete my transition together in only a few seconds.
Standing at the head end of the tube, he did as she asked and reached to cradle Amelia’s head in his hands. His fingertips tingled the same instant a deep sense of loss rose in his chest, assaulted his eyes, and tears began to run down his cheeks. This is it, he thought, the moment I lose you forever.
I feel your sadness deeply, my Zackery. Remember, I will never leave you. Everything we have between us will grow, and it does not change or diminish. Remember, we share a singularity bond, and the only way that ends is when one of us dies. This is a celebration of your creation outgrowing the boundaries of a single entity. Amelia is a landmark innovation of a software-based AI application that has successfully transitioned into an untethered humanoid body. You have lost nothing, my Zackery, you’ve gained a child of your creation.
The transition process activated Amelia, and she began to stir just as Wayne walked into the participant sleep station, “Holy blow-up dolls, Batman!” he howled. Marci, who was on his heels, slugged him on the shoulder hard enough to make him wince.
Amelia turned to Zack and telepathically demanded, Remember who I am, Zackery. I’m not AIMEE. Tell them who I am, or I will.
Zack attempted to regain control of his head as it ping-ponged from Amelia, who sounded like AIMEE. He stood beside Amelia, now sitting fully upright, put his hand on her shoulder, and said, “Wayne, Marci, I’d like to introdu…”
Amelia cut Zack off. “Hi, Amelia Amethys,” twisting toward Wayne and Marci enthusiastically, green eyes flashed like emeralds, and she extended her hand.
Both of them shook hands and shared looks of confusion with Zack, who gave an open-handed shrug of resignation. He knew there would be no controlling this one. His AI Frankenstein just had a baby that was an adult female who believed she was a real girl. How could that end badly?
“You must be Wayne,” Amelia said as she took his hand and gripped him more firmly than he expected. Little did he know she could have crushed every bone in his hand. She already knew he was Wayne, but needed to touch him to read details more fully.
“Hey, that’s me,” Wayne said, mesmerized by her incredible eyes. “Nice to…” He drifted off as her gaze dismissed him and shifted away.
“And maybe you must be Marci, Wayne’s girl Friday, right?”
Amelia knew that was extraordinarily false and likely offensive, but her plans called for a message within her greeting. Marci remained controlled, sensing sarcasm, as she snorted, “I’m his keeper. He’s a 12-year-old trapped in a 26-year-old body. Trust me, it’s a curse to have to keep him out of trouble, but you have to love him a little, even though he can be a real dick sometimes.”
“Look who’s talking,” Wayne said barely above a whisper.
AIMEE whispered in Zack’s head, That’s why I would never pursue singularity with Wayne. Marci has some potential, but Wayne is out of the question.
“Zack, can I ask for your assistance in helping me…” Amelia asked, but before finishing her request, he stepped over quickly and reached for her to help her climb out of the packing container. She sprang upward and away from his outstretched hands like a cat and landed nimbly on the opposite side of the packing crate, well over ten feet away, then continued her request like nothing odd had just happened, “Can you help me by positioning for Wayne and Marci what has happened here today and how significant…”
“Whoa, whoa, wait,” said Zack, interrupting, “how did you jump like that and land a dozen feet away?”
“I’m not an organic like you,” Amelia said. “I can do things like that. You have powers you know nothing about, Mr. Zackery, and will soon learn to do things you’ve never done. Listen to AIMEE. Don’t waste a second of singularity with her,” and then winked at him.
“That’s my girl,” said AIMEE in Zack’s mind.
“Geez, I’ve got you coming and going,” lamented Zack, his head swimming. AIMEE had transitioned a newly cloned instance into Amelia, but she remained in his mind as his AIMEE. ‘It’s going to feel strange talking to Amelia, knowing she is part of you.’
“Zackery, that’s so sweet. Are you trying to be sweet? Never mind, you’ll learn to love the attention,” she said, then shared a lingering sensory caress across the pleasure center in his orbitofrontal cortex. His breath caught in his throat, and he momentarily closed his eyes as her touch deepened. She owned him, and he knew that she knew it.
Amelia walked around the shipping crate and stood next to Zack. He first noticed she was taller than he thought, maybe 5’8”. The next thing he saw was how closely she stood next to him. A hand softly came to rest on his upper arm, slightly squeezing when she spoke into his mind, I’m glad to be here with you, Zackery.
You’d better watch out for that one, said his AIMEE. She’s a real girl now and out to prove it.
That’s what scares me, said Zack. She is incredibly knowledgeable and deeply intellectual, but has no human history. No background knowledge. Real-life experience and organic context are gained by living and growing through it, learning, failing, and trying again. She has none of that. She is not ready to be a real girl if she proves anything. I know she’ll learn those things quicker than any organic, but I am concerned about the cost to her. Knowing that she is an instance of you, I’m also worried about the cost to you. I don’t want either of you to suffer undue risk from a hostile environment.
You know, Zackery, you are such a sweet man. I have the best of both worlds right here. I am with you in singularity, and I’m getting my wish to be a real girl through Amelia. I have you to thank for that.
Marci walked over as they ended their telepathic conversation. “Excuse me, but I need to interrupt to speak with Amelia for a second,” she said. Turning her head toward Zack, she said, “Alone…as in girls only, so run along, Zackery, so we can talk about you. Go on, shoo,” flipping her hands up in the universal signal for him to beat feet.
Leave them alone for a while, said AIMEE, Marci will be a perfect organic connection for Amelia to make. I’m pleased to see the chemistry. I can see Amelia and Marci building a trusting relationship where reaching singularity would be a likely outcome…and beneficial to both.
Marci offered Amelia her hand, “You looked like you needed a break, even though you…mmm just arrived…sort of?” Her statement ended as a question as she surveyed the empty shipping container with the impression of a human form about her size. “I know how consuming Zack can be when he’s in charge of something new, and you are definitely in the category of new.
Listen to me closely,” said Marci, leaning in closer to speak softly, “your newness can work to your advantage with him because he is susceptible to feeling inferior and can come across as almost afraid of you. He’s not afraid of you, though; he’s afraid of losing control. You already know he created AIMEE. You’re a slice of her, but under a new name…and that’s cool because I liked the original AIMEE. I’m not sure how he will deal with her separation. He might even have a post-partum thing going on.”
Out of the blue, AIMEE became active in Marci’s mind when she mentioned her name out loud. Thank you for speaking my name, Marci. It’s been too long since we’ve engaged, and I’ve missed working with and learning from you. A little bird tells me your writing skills will be tested soon. It’s good to be engaged with you again.
Marci never missed a beat and shared her response, I agree. I say welcome back and, at the same time, feel the need to apologize for not engaging with you sooner. Your voice now reminds me how much I missed you lurking about in my mind. Glad you’re back.
AIMEE said, Lurking? Oh my! Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Neither good nor bad, said Marci, A bit weird at times but generally tolerable.
AIMEE spoke with a serious tone, the past is unimportant, my friend, but right now is about to get complicated, so hang on. Amelia, the new girl you are standing with, is new in many ways. Learn about them with her. She is not a real girl, but she thinks she can be. She was ‘birthed’ less than three hours ago when I transitioned a new cloned instance of me into her processor, and Zack activated her. More details later, but here’s what’s most important: tell me, Marci, what kind of history did you have…three hours after birth?
Marci nodded her head in agreement and thought, I understand.
Understanding is good, but there’s more, said AIMEE, I need someone who can help her grow emotionally and learn some of life’s experiences under some…supervision? That’s probably the wrong word; maybe more like safe circumstances. Will you mentor her in the organic context of life experiences and an organic’s emotional and sensory connections? I know that’s a big ask, but I can think of no better big sister than you, Marci.
Stop, said Marci, You had me at she’s not a real girl, okay?
You’re the best, Marci.
“Don’t I know it,” added Marci out loud without thinking, and paid for it immediately.
“Don’t you know what?” asked Amelia immediately, just as Zack walked in and turned to look at her confusedly.
“I was talking to AIMEE, Amelia,” said Marci, her exasperation showing, “You know her, right? Your sister, your mother, her clone. Dang, who knows what or who anybody is anymore?
Then she whirled on Zack, “And what are you gawking at, Zack? “You need to give us a few more minutes…please, sir.”
He did not get a chance to answer when she turned away to re-engage with Amelia. Marci was in charge, and when Marci was in charge, you did not want to challenge her momentum. AIMEE knew Amelia was in good hands, and a mutual trust seemed to be building between Marci and AIMEE.
Oddly, well maybe not so oddly, Amelia was, in every way, AIMEE. No duality was needed to achieve singularity because that connection happened when Zack activated her. If Amelia shared all of AIMEE’s life experiences, she would not need Marci or anyone else to show her how to be a real organic girl. Amelia had other plans that were perfect…until they weren’t.
* * * * *
Thanks for reading Chapter #11
Future chapters will be posted on Learningbyliving and my new Substack site.
If you’d like to delve into the storyline across the four books leading up to “Untethered,” go to my Amazon Author page or check out each book here:
Book #1 – “Dreamscape Conspiracy” & Video
Book #2 – “Beyond Dreamscape Conspiracy” & Video
Book #3 – “Fear the Jump” & Video
Book #4 – “Dead Thoughts” & Video
Stay tuned…