Chapter 79 - The terror

Demos pointed to my bracelet, I followed his finger. Scrolled on the local news network. A mosaic of a hundred different screens appeared before me. Each displaying almost the same thing. Sequences of the attacks that took place today. Confused I looked up at Demos.

"Turn on the twelve," he tipped his chin and I did as I was told. The screen change to channel twelve. A young woman with a yellow blazer stared straight at me.

"We have the identity of the bomber from 88 floors, Claris tower found on level 22. She is a young woman of 26, working as a Lab technician in the largest biofarming industry. So far the investigators found traces of her DNA on the remains in the elevator shaft," I frowned at the woman then met Grant's concerned face.

"Did you lend your friend anything before she left?" he asked. I did a mental rewind of the latest event. Trying hard not to go into another panic attack when the images of the crumbling tower rushed back at me.

"She... took a shower... and took some of my clothes," I answered in doubt.

"That bitch!" snapped Demos making me jump. "Who knows, she might be out there laughing her ass off!" he glared at me. "I can't believe this is happening!" he fumed. My heart drummed inside my chest, I wasn't sure I grasped the full story.

"Are you saying that Lyla... might be alive?"

"Even if the details are vague, it points towards you. I think she wanted to frame you as the bomber on our apartment," commented Grant. "And I also think she could be alive. But nothing is certain," he shook his head. My mind was flashing too much information at the same time, I felt dizzy.

"No, no, wait. Lyla...? Are we even talking about the same person, here?" I laughed. "She's a cheerful, mindless girly fashionista who likes when men buy her pretty things. She likes parties and cheap champagne. Lyla who always complains that I'm too serious. She's everything but a terrorist!" I almost screamed. They both gaze at me with pity. At least, that's what I saw.

"Liliane, not all humans have good intentions," Grant said in a flat tone. Demos nodded in agreement. I let out a chuckle, I was on the brink of insanity. It couldn't be real.

"What about you, Grant? What are your intentions? Cause lately, mine doesn't seem to be the priority," he pressed his lips in a fine line and narrow his eyes.

"Is there a problem here?" asked the young man with green eyes. He came out of the shadows Demos turned and faced him. He was taller and wider than the newcomer. But the man didn't flinch in front of Demos. He kept his eyes on me. Even if I admired that people cared about my well-being, I didn't like the interruption.

"It's ok," I gave him a tight smile.

"We are hers so mind your own business, Sir," Demos said through gritted teeth. The guy gave me one last uncertain look before turning back to the deck where I could hear lively chatter. I sighed and leaned against the railing and cross my arms over my chest.

"What's wrong with that guy?" Demos gazed at the darkness.

"Jealousy is not cute," I commented.

"Deal with it," he faced with a smirk. Grant remains silence, eyes locked on the bay as we slowly moved away. The salty wind brushed against my face helping me ease out of the bad mood.

***

As the bright lights of the bay turned to one straight line across the horizon Dr. Churchhill called us inside for dinner. Donald, the cook served a delicious steak with sauce and boiled veggies. Since the table only had space for seven people Grant and Demos waited by the wall as Dots and Donald placed the plates in front of us. Dots turned away and nodded to my mates and they both followed him outside leaving me alone with this cast of strangers.

"It's not every day that we get such prestigious members of robotics gathered around this table," said the large man. The doctor laughed at the inside joke leaving the captain and the cook who just joined us wondering. When he noticed his faux pas he cleared his throat.

"I mean Dr. Churchhill and Dr. Nadaly are two of the top-notch experts in AI and robotics. Both worked for decades in the field. Even if they don't usually get along on some topics we can't deny their genius," the woman blushed while Dr. Churchhill clapped.

"Stop it, Angus, you're making Evy blush," he laughed and raised his glass. "To what is waiting for us on that island," the other imitated him and I did the same. The glassed clicked together. The captain laughed along. Angus complimented Donald on the dish. I ate in silence as I followed the small talk.

"So why did you choose to build your own company," asked the young man whom I didn't know the name yet. Dr. Churchhill wiped his mouth before answering.

"I'm a hopeless romantic, I'm afraid. After the death of my wife, Miranda. I spend too much time in our house with all her memories. So each day after work, I would go down my bas.e.m.e.nt work on this side project. That soon became an obsession. Since at work I was commissioned to make an AI base on logic, I tried this crazy idea," he paused and his eyes meet mine. There was a flash of recognition in them then he turned back to his audience. "I wanted to make a machine that could feel, genuine human emotions," the woman, called Evy snorted.

"Nonsense!" she shoved a piece of meat into her mouth and took her time to chew it down.

"As I was saying, grief and loss was my main drive on this crazy project," the doctor resumed after a couple of minutes. "I wrote extensively about it before going public. Since I know the views of the scientific community. My work was largely base on Dr. Laurell's papers about splitting. I believe he is also working on that smart city project on that island," Angus quickly nodded in agreement.

"He sure is a brilliant man, but a little too eccentric for my taste," added Agnus, he drained down this glass.

"You mean more eccentric that Dr. Churchhill. He is running a dating company where you order your own mate, for god sake," laughed the young man. Everyone laughed except the woman and me. Was that supposed to be a guy joke?

"Can you explain it for us, common people," the captain leaned on the table with keen interest. The cook was smiling from ear to ear.

"Well, Sognare's concept is very simple. We scan your brain wave connector and tailormade an ai that will fit your taste. There are different scenarios that are preprogrammed so that it feels natural. Then you pick up your favorite physical type. Voila," my breath caught up in my throat. I tried to wash it down with wine. It was a bad idea.

"Preprogrammed?" the word slipped before I could stop myself. The table went silent around me. All gaze rested on my paled face.

"Of course it is Miss Kerry. As I said before, I've tried numerous times to recreate genuine emotions but failed miserably. So I gave the illusion of true love. Since we humans can't really love as the imate can. We are not selfless, that's for sure. We can't give undying attention to our partners, we can't even begin to read women's emotions," he chuckled and all the guy did the same. Another inside joke. Evy crossed her arms on her chest. She had pushed her half-eaten steak away. She was clearly not enjoying the talk and me either.

"What are the stats?" asked Angus eager to hear more.

"The market went ballistic on the first batch. My clientele was mostly male. But don't get me wrong this is not some guy's fantasy to build oneself a harem. We don't take the imate back cause you're bored with the new toy. It is built for companionship and not a s.e.x toy," he waved an index at the audience.

"Machines can't replace a real relationship," snapped Evy. The doctor lowered his head and sadness crept on his features. He suddenly looked older.

"I know, I feel her absence every single day. But for some lonely people... it is all they will ever know," my blood went cold in my veins. I had the impression he was speaking directly at me. I rose up on shaky legs and excused myself. Eyes followed me to the door.