Not Human

Chapter 2: 2069

"I have turned in the report for AJ47."

Sharon nodded, "Good work, partner."

I took my seat. The next assignment was of my choosing.

Subject name- Millie

Description- Sex robot in service for 10 years; discharged last term upon showing signs of withdrawal.

Sharon whistled, "10 years."

"Yeah, she's an early model."

"You seem excited, perv."

"She was my first after all."

She looked at me with her mouth wide open.

I said, laughing, "Just kidding."

She muttered, "A virgin after all."

I stopped laughing and opened Millie's records.

Sharon said "What do you think of sex robots?"

"Umm... they are alright. Better than a prostitute I would say."

"You would rather have sex with a robot than a human?"

"Well, they are legal for one. Easier to handle. Plus they're very human-like since 2069."

"You mean Millie."

"Yeah, it was her model. They commemorated the year 2069, the year of sex robots for a reason."

"You don't have any idea how to talk to girls, do you?"

"You asked! Anyway what about you? You prefer a prostitute over a sex robot?"

"I prefer having a normal adult relationship."

"Of course. But hypothetically if you were to..."

"Sex robot."

"What a shocker. Good ol' Sharon prefers herself a piece of metal."

"They're made of Teflon, jackass."

I laughed, "You sure know a lot."

Sharon pointed at the screen. Yeah, it was written right there. My luck just wouldn't let me have a win.

We did the standard psych eval, filled out the pre-printed report until all that was left was the causality.

Sharon started "So why did a veteran metal whore go into withdrawal? Her pleasure factor was fine-tuned monthly, no issues there."

I said, "How about heartbreak?"

"Go on."

"A regular customer of hers would play house with her. Then he just stopped coming. Pun intended."

"Alright. Write that in."

"What? No counter!?"

Sharon sighed, "This is a psych report for a 10 year old sex robot. Nobody cares."

I snorted, "Peter File would disagree."

Sharon tried hard to suppress a smile and for totally unrelated reasons my heart felt light.

Sharon said with her analytical tone "The wife setting on Millie coexists with her other identities. Since the man was a regular, this setting would consume more of her memory. Maybe Millie even found love in this desolate world."

I finished, "Only for it to be crushed."

We handed in our report. Worked on a few other cases and called it a day.

***

Getting back from work I took a shower, jumped on the couch and snoozed. When I woke up it was already time for dinner.

I stepped out for some Chinese. Afterwards I idled around in the local park filled with couples huddling around as if mocking me.

I turned around to walk back home when I found a couple idly sitting by the fountain gazing at the moon. I wouldn't have spared a thought on them, but something caught my eye.

The lady looked awfully like... Millie.