We're All Just Stardust

PACD Part 1

Work has been grueling these last few weeks. The team and I have been working double, sometimes triple shifts just to get this project underway. But all that hard work paid off, and now our advanced AI program is almost ready to launch. Just a little more fine-tuning and we'll be able to manufacture a droid with near superhuman intelligence. A sapient being capable of not only feeling emotion but independent abstract thought.

Too bad I won't be able to see the fruits of my labor for at least the next couple of years. Our development team has only just started working on a mainframe that will be able to support the program. Still, I think my team and I have more than earned a little R and R.

Dressed in my comfy robe and slippers, I plop on the sofa and begin tapping away at the holo-vid screen. Hmm, maybe an old classic from the 21st century? I'll put on a light-hearted comedy, synthesize some popcorn, a glass of wine, and-

A metallic tapping at my door jolts me from my thoughts. Finding it strange that whoever it was didn't announce themselves on the com, I pull up the security feed to see who my guest could be. To my surprise it's a droid. A humanoid, male assistance droid to be exact. His metal plating is painted such a bright white it nearly glows on my screen. His eyes glow an vivid blue as he smiles and waves at the security camera.

Curious, and just a tad annoyed, I get up from my comfy nest on the sofa and slide open my front door, "Yes? Can I help you?"

"Funny, I'm suppose to ask you that," the droid tells me as he smiles down at me. I had no idea they built these things so tall! A few more inches and he would have to duck to come through my door.

"I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong room."

He blinks those glowing eyes at me and his smile broadens, "Dr. Wezhullz warned me that you would respond in such a manner. You are very cute, Doctor."

My jaw nearly hits the floor as I gawk at him. Did this droid just call me cute?

"I'm sorry, what now?"

"You are very apologetic. Why is that? You have not malfunctioned as far as I have been able to analyze. Do you feel guilt for some reason? Would you like to talk to me about it? I have been programmed to be a wonderful listener."

Picking my jaw off the floor, I take a quick glance around the droid to see if any of my colleges are snickering in hiding, "Did Dr.Wezhullz put you up to this?"

The droid tilts his head towards me so that we are now eye-to-eye, "If by 'put up' you mean that he sent me then yes."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I glare up at the droid and ask him why my boss thought it was necessary to send him to my door.

"Dr. Wezhullz wanted to acknowledge all of the hard work you did on the new AI program. He is aware of the long hours you put into the project and was worried that you may have overstressed yourself. He sent me to help tend to your needs so that you may better relax. As the only human on the-"

I shove my hand in the droid's face and push, creating some much-needed distance between us, "Oh, I get it now. Since I'm the only human here he's worried I'll break under the pressure huh? Just because I'm not cybernetic or have an exoskeleton doesn't mean I'm the weak link here! I've earned my place on this team! I may look soft but that doesn't mean I need to be babied! Hell, I'm surprised he didn't make some crack about me being the only woman!"

I feel the droid smile into my palm as his eerie blue eyes drop from mine and begin to leisurely look me over. His attention seems to focus on my lips as I rant at him, then his gaze slowly travels south until he is blatantly staring at my chest. I follow his gaze and see that my robe had shifted open, giving the droid a good look at my cleavage. I quickly remove my hand from his face and use it to close up my robe. The droid responded by innocently smiling at me, his gaze now directed back to my face.