Artificial

Awakening

Generation 2.1 AI #2

The first sense I get back is my hearing. It's muffled, but it's definitely there.
"Aural processing unit is showing full function," a calm male voice reports.
"Good," a deeper voice responds. "Proceed with visual."
Slowly, the world fades into view, revealing a sterile lab, with clean, non-reflective silver walls and roof. Standing over me on my left is a tanned technician, carefully inspecting different parts of my body while speaking to his comrade, standing at a computer on my right.
"Activate tactile sensor array," the technician orders.
"Activating in 3...2...online."
The best way I can describe the feeling is that it feels like my whole body was asleep, and it's just now waking up.
"Full function achieved," the technician at the computer reports.
I feel...cold. And naked.
I can't move yet.
"Katya, honey, we're gonna give you control of your body in a second. I just need you to remember to stay calm."
He takes my hand, and raises it into my view.
The hand he holds is not mine.
The hand he holds is black, and made of synthetic material woven around metal. It's the hand of a machine.
Yet...I can feel him holding it.
"Okay, Reaver, give her control."
"Establishing connection...secured."
The first thing I do is raise my hand to my face.
Yup. It's mine. It's textured polymer and it's cold steel and it's me.
I take deep breaths, trying to remain calm, when realization pass over me like a cold, salty ocean wave.
"Do I even have to breathe anymore?"
"You don't, but you've found that you still can. We want all of our AI brethren to feel as human as they please. You can still breathe, eat, drink, and sleep, if you choose to. Some embrace their robot side. Some need to stay human or they'll go insane. We give you the option."
I want to freak out so badly, but I hold back. They're being too nice to freak out on them.
That, and I honestly don't know what this new body is capable of.
"You said I'm an AI. What exactly does that mean?"
"Your old body, unfortunately, died on the battlefield. However, Operator Evo was able to perform a brain scan using the helmet you were wearing, which, combined with the interview he gave you, allowed us to create an artificial intelligence that is exactly like you, you. We built a body for it to inhabit, and here you are."
"Wow. I had no idea the IAF were so technologically advanced."
"We keep it under wraps pretty well. Any more questions?"
"Is Riot okay?"
The technician chuckles.
"Of course. The man's a goddamn tank."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"Now," he continues, "if there aren't any more questions, please get off the bed as soon as you feel able."
Slowly and cautiously, I sit up, and look down at my new legs.

They're nothing like my old ones.
They're long, and muscular, and powerful. They're warrior's legs. I swing them to the side of the bed I'm sitting on, and ease myself to the floor.
The floor has never seemed so far away.
"Wow. I feel tall."
"You should," the tan technician responds. "You're a towering six-foot-eleven now."
"Whoa. People don't come that tall where I'm from."
"No, they don't. Here, on the other hand—lets just say you're an inch taller than Velox and a few shorter than Riot and Evo."
"Wow. I feel like a giant."
"You'll get used to it."
As I look down at my feet again, I can't help but notice the rest of my body, which looks just as powerful as my legs do.
"A buff giant."
"It's up to you to get used to that. I swear Velox kisses her biceps more often than she kisses Evo."
Ouch. Harsh.
"Seriously though, this body is really muscular, which is great, except for one thing."
"Which is?"
"Couldn't you give me...oh, you know...breasts? Like most women have?"
The technician releases a short sigh.
"Please take up any issues you have with your body with Agent Reaver over there," he politely says, then begins to walk away, adding under his breath: "I don't get paid enough to talk to AIs about boob jobs."