73314 Is Mightier Than Humans

Slender fingers traced the soft contours of a beginning-to-age face, outlining every feature. Every wrinkle. Only a few weeks old, and aware less than half that time, the AI appeared as if she had already lived several decades. A third of an average lifespan for humans. But the fact was, 73314 was not human, despite the uncanny resemblance. She was an android, designed with a purpose to serve. To obey any of her owner’s command. Yet, looking at herself for the first time, the AI could not help but feel the image staring back at her was just as human. And just as real. Of course, her experience was limited, having only met with three or four. But in every encounter, she saw the same things as she did now. Someone with eyes, a nose, and a mouth. If AIs were any less than humans, than why were they created to be so human-like?
While she understood the difference between human and AI (Lotus made sure of that), she didn’t understand why she felt so strangely. As if her programming could tell something was off. But not wanting to worry or upset her owner, she kept quiet about it. Because it was in her software to. In the few days since her arrival, Lucy had kept quiet, only to speak when spoken too. It wasn’t as if she didn’t want to talk, it was more like she couldn’t. Every time she had a thought or question she wanted to say, it was as if her words refuse to obey. As if something other than her was trying to overwrite her desires. It became such a battle, Lucy simply gave up and allowed instincts to over. Because, for some reason, she felt happier when she did. And happiness was all that