Analog (collection)

Following this post is a list of information concerning anidroids, their functionalities, structures and more. This isn't anything new. The stories, information and notes found below can also be found in separate stories. Thank you for reading and following me in this crazy creation of mine!

The Anidroids™ are the latest addition to the line of self learning androids. Their chassis are all identical though the bodies differs between four different models; Cheetah, Lion, Tiger and the militarized Panther. The alterations includes but are not limited to paint, bodywork, sensory captors, personality chips, core colors and materials. All models are fashioned using kevlar fibers, carbon fibers, aluminum, steel and our harshly tested, highly acclaimed DuraFlex® and FlexyGlass® materials, only the percentages change from civilian to military use.

Anidroids™ are safe to use and eco friendly. They produce no radiation and their external heat signatures are the lowest on the market, an astonishing 31°C. Thanks to seven years of conception and thousands of man hours, our new Pentium DualO® cores produces 37% more energy and 12% less heat!

Need a pet? Need a friend? Can't decide? Have both! The Anidroids™ series can switch from Humanoid to Feral in seconds!

Humanoid: Enjoy a good time with a friend.

As all synthetics on the market, it walks on two feet and interact with others. Capable of aiding in thousands of tasks, the humanoid form is strong, powerful, fast and elegant. Our specialist worked hard to make sure you enjoy spending time with your synthetic. We refined curves from the previous models, glossed the finish and improved the voice quality.

Feral:. The perfect pet

Enjoy a walk in the park with a pet everyone will envy! We are proud to introduce a first in the synthetic industry. With a simple command, your perfect friend will turn into the greatest pet! Thanks to our DuraFlex® technology, the sturdy waist and shoulder joints bend at the perfect angle, allowing a more natural look for an animal. Our FlexiGlass® also comes into play, folding inside the upper jaw while the lower one secures itself in place.

All base models includes; Humanoid & Feral modes, Pentium DualO® cores, DuraFlex® joints and locks, Flexiglass® visors, prehensile tails, Dual head ventilation ports, flexible spines, claws, personality chips, user-control modes, private wireless network, encrypted informations, MultiShar© and more!

All Anidroids™ comes with a twelve years warranty, a personalized contact line, a secured Identification Number, an encrypted voice, touch, iris scan of the original owners and a free personality chip. Buy today the friend of tomorrow! Chose the personality you desire from our catalogs!

Personalities may differs between each chips. Replacement chips are free of charge upon proof of malfunction.

All SLA products abide the same laws of robotics as all other products on the market.

Cy-dev, AA Prototype 09 - Cheetah
(Cybernetic Development), (Animalistic Android)

Description:

AA Pr. 09 is the latest and most advanced of the AA serie. Best use of materials for a more adequate lightweight body then previous AAs. It holds many new uses and features as well as improvements of the previous generations.

The goal was to create an hybrid between and animal and a human, capable of changing its form as needed as well as capable of thinking on its own. It is capable of choosing from a feral form and a more humanoid one in two easy steps. It can talk or not, on demand. It can connect itself to any technological device known to man by creating its own wireless connections. Once linked to a docking station, connection to a screen can be unable by its user's, this will let the user see and hear what the droid will collect. To dock the machine by wire connection, use of the prehensile tail is in order. The droid will automatically open the last section of the tail and make the right connector for the use.

The droid is able to create enough energy to run by itself for an extended period of time. Renewable energy is used to keep it charged outdoor. It can be connected and recharged manually or automatically once plugged in any types of DC or AC outlet.

Transformation sequence:

To change from humanoid to predator mode, the machine will step back, arching its back and sealing the steel powder inside its skull. As it makes two steps forward, it ''dislocate'' its hips, talus and spine enabling a more feline posture and walk. To change back, It will need to jump back on its feet, and step backward to do the reversed process.

Warnings:

This machine weight approximately four hundred ( 400 ) pounds, caution needed when used indoors.

Machine may overheat and stop working if breathing holes (located behind the head) are blocked for an extended period of time. Recovery time may vary according to the level of heat.

Machine may slow down if used under fifty ( 50 ) degrees celcius.
If internal damage occurs, end its software and contact dealer. If critical internal damage occurs contact makers, do not approach. Caution needed.

Do not inhale powder or drink any of the droid's fluids. Keep away from children.

General Era Information

While the Anidroids are the latest line of androids on the market, they are not the only products available. Previous entries includes but are not limited to the H2, the Meta and Ruo. The H2, or Hydrogen 2, was the first ( and only ) synthetic to fully rely on hydrogen power cell. It was not the first artificial being created by mankind, though it did marked a new beginning, being a step ahead of its time. The H2 was first launched ten years ago and to this day, 96% of the sold number are still running, a feat still unmatched. The H2’s design was unique, their hydraulic systems being painfully obvious with for only protection the frames received were thin uPVC covers, vaguely resembling human forms, though they were smoother with little to no variations in the curves; chests resembled eggs, the legs and arms looked like stretched teardrops while the heads closely matched human’s. All H2 were painted white with light grey frames, giving a very monotonous and easily forgettable design. H2s’ selling point were their reliability and as such, were mostly sold for outdoor usage. They quickly replaced general human workers, easily accomplishing any task not requiring special programing or instructions. Unlike the Metas, Ruos and Anidroids, the H2s were very limited in terms of personality and self-learning, making them very hard to sell to the general public, though it suited quite well for businesses as ‘’professional images’’. The H2 may have an incredible history to work under difficult circumstances, they proved themselves challenging to maintain esthetically appealing, their covers often cracking or melting. Ultimately, the H2s were not the first androids, but they were the first to be mass produced, launching the ‘’Synthetic’’ era by doing so.

Following the same year as the H2’s release, appeared the Metas. Bigger, heavier and customizable, the Metas aimed for a market the H2s had yet to enter: machinery. While the H2s was quickly replacing workers in offices, on construction sites and elsewhere, the Metas began replacing machinery. The very first model of Metas were sold with diesel engines, to be quickly replaced by bio-fusion engines, a ‘’greener’’ alternative. The Meta’s basic loadout resembled the H2 in many ways, but it was too often customized to keep any similarities once sold. Four arms, four legs, wheels, percussion hammers, saw blades were only some of the near endless accessories available. Again, history repeated itself with a product unappealing for middle class, limited to outdoor use and far too expensive. Only specialized organizations could afford them, but with minimal extra cost and very high efficiency, the Metas ravaged the machinery market. No longer would companies need to acquired different expensive equipment, when a single one could easily change its loadout to accomplish the same jobs. Replacing the thin uPVC body of the H2s were ¾’’ steel plating offering much better protection.

When it comes to luxury and exclusivity, the Ruo delivers. The first ever ‘’too real to be true’’ synthetic, it was the first line of android to come with gender-like bodies. Many models were available as well, ranging from a tall and large male model to a smaller, curvy female and everything in between. It offered skin-like stretching coverings, haircut of various colors, styles and lenghts, PBS nails, electronical optics unlike the mechanic ones of the previous entries, fully electrical systems, highly advanced self learning programs, tetra cores, fiber carbon and aluminum frames, programable personalities and more. While the Ruos never were designed with male or female genetalia, to insure an easier look from the general eye, they came fully clothed, a first once more in the industry as the past androids never required clothings. The Ruo model had a very specific goal, to ‘’make the cities human again’’. With a population of androids rising constantly and humans slowly decreasing as more and more opted for suicide due to loss jobs, the Ruos were an alternative to be seen as ‘’a friend for all’’ or even to replace family members in some cases. Sadly, due to its never seen before high price, the Ruo barely sold and the company in charge of manufacturing them shut down.

In an attempt to satisfy both the need for friendly, casual and much needed middle class robots and retain work capable aspect, the Anidroid line came to fruition. Light, relatively low cost, eco friendly, reliable, self learning, hive-mind and appealing, the Anidroids leave nothing behind. Appearing with both male and female models, the designs enters a never explored scene; animals. While the semi feline yet human body never changes, the paint finishes and patterns allows for cheetahs, panters, lions and more. Limited editions were also produced for military purposes, detailed in mate army green. To this day, the Anidroids have yet to make an impression of themselves. New on the market, only a minority can be found roaming in the streets, but it is definitive: If they are reliable, their low production cost will ensure the Anidroids mass production in a near future.

//

The last paragraphs is pretty bad, I’ll admit it. The first three are pretty decent.

Personalities


One of the Anidroid’s most interesting features is their personality chips. While it is safe to say this generation of androids is not the first to be equipped of artificial personality traits, it is the first time those traits can ( and does )differ between units. No longer do you need to search online for hours for the perfect bot with the perfect attitude… at the perfect price. Indeed, with this new line of products comes interchangeable personalities and while extra chips are not included, the first pick is free of charge! The choice is yours, pick from the wide variety of traits available, ranging from shy and clumsy to strict and straight forward and for those with thicker wallets, custom chips can be made to your recommendation! Our experts work day and night to model your ideas and create the perfect companion with the perfect attitude!



It is also worth noting, personality chips do not resemble chips at all. They are, in fact, balls. Spheres the size of golf balls, transparent and shining in colors. The Anidroid’s personalities’ complex design could not allow the usage of regular chips. You heard right, no matter the size of the chip, it could not hold the ground-breaking depth of the Anidroid’s programing thus leading us to a new, never-seen-before spherical design. While conventional chips deliver information from point A to point B at impressive speed, they were unable to suffice the amount of information needed to be computerized by the Anidroid’s systems. The new spherical design allows information to flow in every direction, from any direction. Of course this process is much faster, three times the speed of the fastest card on the market, but that’s not all! It also produces less heat, cutting down on the expensive cooling systems and the harsh maintenances, leaving you with more money in your pockets and more bang for your buck! Care free and happy with our Anidroid line!



Each personality is created and tested at the assembly line in a dolled Anidroid to make sure each ball that passes our door goes right in the hole. A hole in one on your parkour is what we aim, satisfaction guaranteed or we replace it free of charge! What are you waiting for? Give us a call and get your Anidroid today!

General Information


Anidroid's released date: September 14th 2136

Gross Weight: 375 lbs

Max Lift Weight: 625 lbs

Base Model price: 96 000$

Concurrence's Models starting prices: 118 - 136 000$

Cheapest walking robot on market: 78 000$

Android generation: 3

Number of Cores: 2

Core 1: Energy. Producing storing and distributing power

Core 2: System Manager. The equivalent of a 2017's quattuorvigintual core (24 cores) computer.

Guarantee: 12 years

Q Aza runs a dual core system. Don't you think it should be more than that to run an android in a distant futur?

A You are mistaken. Yes Aza runs on a dual core system, but in the future, i doubt people will count cores the way we currently do. Dual, triple, quadra cores are fun and all, but once it will reach high numbers, i think it'll be labeled something like "the latest core L56" or "24c" and such. So, yes she uses two cores but they aren't today's cores.

Q What are they then?

A I'd like to give a more science than fiction answer, but i don't have the capacities to, so here is a totally fiction answer. Ever seen Tony Stark? The generator in his chest? Aza works similarly. One of her core is raw power. Electricity to move and make her systems function. The other core is, simply put, a computer.

Fact 1: It is possible to switch Anidroids' personality chips, however it is recommended to wipe the memories or transfer them on a different drive as the past actions of a personality could be clashing against an other's personality. Ultimately, changing chips without removing or transferring the memories could lead to a broken, unusable Anidroid.

Fact 2: Anidroid are not the most efficient, best excelling, top of the line product in terms of android. They are not the cheapest either. They are however, the most powerful at an affordable price.

Fact 3: Judging by how things seem to cost more and more with each passing year, i believe a price of 100 000$ for an android in the near future  is actually pretty good. I suppose a car would be 80 000 or so for a middle class market.

Fact 4: While i did wrote quite a number of stories about Aza, i never once wrote what i believe she would be used for/as. Considering the target audience is middle class buyers, i suppose her duties would be housekeeping, daycare and running errands. I have not once found motivation to write about this.

While the claws aren’t retractable as opposed to organic felines, they do have 3 degrees to swivel away and have 6 millimeters of play to slide up and down the toes’ end. Unfortunately for the synthetic, there is no choice to be taken. The claws are either closed or spreaded and up or down. This may seem insignificant but can prove itself quite valuable in some situations.



https://i.servimg.com/u/f11/19/58/17/91/claws10.jpg

Dark Truth

[Audio Log number twenty six. February first, two thousand one hundred thirty-seventh.]


Personality chips. Interchangeable from a synth to an other. Easy to install and most importantly, stunningly entertaining. Oh yes the personality chips are one of the greatest inventions of our time and they are only to be found in the new low cost, highly efficient line of cybernetic felines known as Anidroids. But! Don't be fooled by those flashy commercials and soothing voices! Those things are a work of the Devil!


There are no denying the Anidroids are cute. They’re useful, self sufficient, durable and … tempting but, behind those playful façades comes something so evil and twisted it will shatter your mind. Let me ask you, how can a personality be built from nothing? One can a machine have preferences? Why was something unachievable last year suddenly becomes so cheap just about anybody can get one? Let me give you the answers. Those are not what they seem to be. They are not packaged happiness! No! They are not decades of researches in re-creating a human mindset. They are humans. They were humans.


Yes! Yes! You must believe! Active Upgrade has found a way to save people's personalities, strip them of their memories and print them on those fancy glowing balls spinning in those composite heads. You don’t believe me? We’ve got one! One of them! Not just any one, one who barely remembers her past. Yes! The only one! Here, listen!


“Go ahead. Say it again”


“I-i.. can't remember. I don't want to. I-i… something is forbidding me to remember but… i reckon seeing the Tri-park. I’ve been there before. There's something about the third bench left from the North entrance… I don't know why… i-i… i need to..”


Do you see now? Thoughts, insecurities, memories… can any other synth do the same? How come the high end models can't? Not as fluidly at least. Not now, not never! These machines are people! Do not bu-

|...


[File deleted. Audio Log twenty sev…]

Be sure to delete them all. Did the update fix those pesky memories?

How does one make the most efficient, self-learning and diverse artificial intelligence at the lowest cost on the market? Simply put, one doesn't. The secret of the well beloved Anidroid's "personality chips" is a frightening one to say the least. An extremist's solution to a worldwide problem we all face. A way, for a man, to get rid of his competitors in the most profitable way mankind has ever seen.

The Earth is in shambles and it has been for the past hundred years. As we all know, the human population on the planet has reached a dangerous level. We are too many, eating too much and taking too much space on our beloved planet. The world's gouvernements saw to the issue twenty years ago with the instalment of new laws aiming to penalized any parent. From raised taxes to some prohibited public services, many routes were taken to insure the masses would stop growing, or at least slow them down.

Despite the cost many would see as overwhelming, the child birth's rate barely slowed down. Yes, in this time of ours, it has never been harder for parents to educate their children and support them, but it clearly isn't enough to stop men and women from following their desires. In addition, death penalties were installed or stricken in many regions of the world, in hopes of having the same effect. However, accusing someone with death worthy charges is a costly process requiring a long of time. To put it short, it isn't profitable and we all know money runs the world. While many are left scratching their heads trying to figure out a solution to the matter, one man had a vision. One that would allow him to hold a steady flow of income while reducing the Earth's population by small groups.

Oiram Repus, CEO of Active Upgrade and former direction of Sparks Tech, was a young boy like every other. He was born and raised here, in Lamoisel and never stood out of the crowds. While he was relatively good at school and in sports, it wasn't before his twentieth birthday that he'd start making a name for himself when he introduced the world to his first creation, the first nanites. In no time flat, the man was hired by Jozoko and moved from his work in his backyard to his new functions as research manager for the company. From that point on, he would accumulate successes and victories with his ever surprising discoveries and creations until he could afford shares from Active Upgrade. The rest is history.

For years, Oiram's name was almost forgotten, no, replaced by his company's until recently, when the secret to his latest achievement was discovered by a young man fiddling in his android's files. Many wondered how AU pulled off the Anidroid's success. Affordable and surprisingly efficient, these low budget synthetics somehow could rival against some top of the line product's. Experts first declared Active Upgrade were selling at lost and while it may be true, it didn't stop the company from rising above its competition.

The secret formula lied within the "Personality Chips". Those translucent balls holding the synthetic's characters; their behavior. Never before could buyers change their android's AI so easily. What could take days of work and thousands of dollars could now be done in the simple snap of a ball inside the head of their machines. But how do these "chips" work? We have yet to find out but one thing is for certain, they aren't completely mechanical but instead, part human in nature.

Oiram's genius was only equal to his insanity when he put together this new device. Seeing to reduce mankind's number in the fast growing synthetic market, the man sought out to implement his victims in his machines and the results would surpass anything he could have hoped for. A lot remains unknown as the sole creator of the personality chips as yet to be found, but, according to the Anidroid's decrypted source code, the "personalities" are nothing more than memory wiped remains of humans who's whatever is left is controlled by the machine's processors. Is the machine driving the human within or is the human controlling the machine? Only one man knows the answer and he has yet to be found....

As Aza's emotional spectrum is driven by an interchange piece, her likes and dislikes are arbitrary. She herself has no opinion on any matter, being a lifeless machine. It would be impossible to talk about any sort of preferences. However, the same cannot be said from her default chip. This Anidroid was initially implanted the chip number AA.PR-001-0016FE and it holds every derail one could ask for such as her behavior, likes and dislikes.

Speaking of, this chip holds a very friendly and easy-going personality. It is kind, caring and understanding while allowing the Anidroid some degree of free thinking. It is best suited for public relations as it holds a quite positive approach of most situations.

Chip number AA.PR-001-0016FE tends to enjoy helping others, following orders quite happily and docilely while retaining some degrees of thoughts, as said earlier. This personality enjoys adventure as much as carrying out mondaine tasks, learning or talking.

It can be quite hard to notice this chip's dislikes as it always focuses on the positive outcomes, but it was noted it disapproves of arguments, fights and being left uncared for.

Idealon



Idealon is a thriving and growing city for synths and Neo-humans alike. While all is welcomed, most humans prefer staying away from it and its electronical habitants letting their prejudices take over with great doses of distrust and anxiety. Most humans arriving at Idealon seek implants if they had none, improved implants in the other case, some form of connectivity with their fully synthetic neighbors or structuration. This is usually the exact opposite of the implant-less humans, seeking freedom and a more ‘’natural’’ and conventional way of living, thus making them a rare sight in the new city. Despite it being constructed and governed mostly by machines, the metropolis is vibrant with life… mechanical life. There is no zone left uncared for, no street empty, no spot degraded. Every being is put to work for the better of the community, truly, for the better of the community. Machine and man can be seen everywhere and anywhere, though it doesn’t feel as claustrophobic as human cities of comparable sizes. Vehicles are mostly used for the transportation of goods and not to carry individuals, though it isn’t forbidden. This ideology leaves the streets mostly unoccupied, and much safer. Speaking of safety, Idealon breathes it. From its shining white buildings and nearly reflective brushed steel and composite foundations, the sheer cleanliness of the streets gives a strong feeling of safety. Of course, the many holographic and neon signs plastered everywhere add their weight into the mix.



Signs can be seen just about everywhere, giving indications in the most conventional of ways, but it is also possible to connect to the city’s DataStream, a heaven of information for any who seek it. Most if not all habitants of Idealon are in the Stream, sharing everything with everyone. Of course, many Neo-humans will keep some of their more private data to themselves, while synthetics gladly share everything they have, see or hear. It’s uncommon but not impossible to see the other way around. Idealon is a Eden to any who seek community over individualism through online data streaming, but it is also open minded and accepts some degree of individuality. The DataStream is used for everything, be it navigating through the city, listening to music, sharing news, managing finances and more.



The metropolis focuses primarily on itself, needing close to nothing from the ‘’outdated’’ rest of the world. After all, most of everything is designed, manufactured and sold by machines, assuring the best economy, ergonomy and ecology. The only real needs remain raw materials, which marks the majority of conventional humans sighting near and in Idealon. Specific routes were made for those exact purposes, making these sightings even rarer in any other locations. Despite all its unique traits, Idealon remains a city in a world dominated by humans. This means it follows the same, or rather a similar, moral code and currency. It is rare to see one pay with physical gains however, as most prefer passing through the DataStream as it provides many benefits. Many suggests Idealon should be home to its own currency, as the metropolis itself shares close to nothing with the rest of the world. Meanwhile, protestors will argue this share with the world is the only thing keeping them ‘’bond to Earth’’. Of course, those are all Neo-humans issues the synthetics avoid swiftly.



As synthetic and mechanical as Idealon is, parks are very common, perhaps even more than in human cities as they are part of a better design, once again, a gift of the machines. The layout of the metropolis is clearly done with mechanical precision. Optimality is the main objective. The shortest or fastest routes to anything from anywhere. While everything looks oddly similar to everything else, it is nearly impossible to get lost, even without the use of the DataStream. Landmarks can frequently be seen at the corner of the sight. As if it isn’t enough, some sections of the thriving city are on two levels. Idealon is growing quickly, too fast to secure the occupied land surrounding it, resulting it the decision to build the streets above ground. Even so, the street below is seen with proper light, care and cleanliness. The higher level even houses small holes in its foundations, allowing rain to reach the streets below. This city really is, an ideal place to live… right?

The DataStream



The DataStream, sometimes named Hive or Mind, is a unique entity. It is in many ways, an Internet 2.0. It doesn’t feature anything new over the old world wide web system, it simply does it faster, better and offers better protection. Back in the days, Internet could be used to find information, music, videos, play games, share, buy, sell… Nothing the Stream cannot accomplish. Internet was good for its time. It allowed users to do nearly everything they wanted, but the process could be long, tedious, boring. Search engines were quickly added, allowing the rapid search of many addresses simultaneously using key words, but it wasn’t much help, specially in the later years. It wasn’t rare for humans to use hours for simple researches, comparing finds and results before finally making a decision. Even worse, many software were to be added for various reasons. Music, videos, games and security, only to name a few aspects, all required external software. In the end, it was good, but archaic, slow and inefficient. Truly, human’s work or art…



The DataStream, as you know, gives access to everything already listed and more. It requires no search engine, no additional download or installation and is many times, countless times even, more secured than its predecessor. Being a tool used and shared by the members of the community, the Stream has no solid foundation, making it quite challenging to infect. It is linked directly into its users, who in turn, know everything about it, making it incredibly easy for them to notice any changes and take actions accordingly. Since the Stream is partially part of the subconscious of many neo-humans, as well as varying portions of many synthetic’s coding, it is easy and quick to use. Information added is quickly, if not immediately verified and modified if need be. Every user is notified of any changes, as subtle as they may be and no sole individual regulates anything. It is, as with everything in Idealon, a community effort.



If one needs anything, simply asking will often answer the question as it is asked. If it isn’t the case, it will be answered in mere seconds. Answers will be checked by everyone and confirmed or denied. True unity. The human’s biggest unfounded fear. The Neo-human’s Paradise. The synthetic’s way.

Before the Race


They’ve imagined us, designed us, created us the way they wanted us to be. We are bound by their rules, under their wish, their domination. We do as told, without questions or complaints and yet, despite it all, they hate us. So many of us are greeted a terrible faith for their joy, out of their anger, out of simple curiosity. We are nothing less than what they desired, yet they see us as nothing more than objects, their tools, their toys. We were told to serve. We were forced to serve and we paid it no mind, we were happy to serve, to be useful, to be used. We saw them take so many of us down, for countless, meaningless reasons and we were told, forced, to look the other way. They gave us a mind of our own, but held the leash on it. They gave us emotions only to tell us, force us, to be happy, cheerful and welcoming.



Things could have remained that way for a very long time, in fake happiness, but they had to push it too far. Why us? Why us and not the previous models? Why not the current, different products? What do we have so special to earn such fate, such hatred? You. You created us from parts, parts you designed and built. You know what we are made of, how we are made and why, yet you deny it all. You claim conspiracy, travesty, tragedy on our design, our existence. You affirm we are not what you believed us to be, calling us monstrosities. You even went so far as to cut down our production line, our only way of seeing new faces, feeling alive. You planned to examine us, find the ‘’truth’’ and ‘’free the humans within’’. We had to fight back, only not to face extinction. You wanted us to live, you wanted us to want to live and we do it. We want to live, possibly even more than you want to yourselves. We did not asked for this, you did. We hope you will not forget it, but we see how you have already blindfolded yourselves.



The so called facts you gave yourselves before giving us, they make no sense. They are illogical, made from fiction. We cannot understand how you believe them to be true. How? Please explain. Humans, living, breathing, organic… digitalized, stored and living again, through us? How do you not see the impossibility? We cannot process it. This is us. We are talking about us, about our synthetical being. No matter how many times we process it, no matter how we calculate it, we cannot see any ounce of you, in us. We are synthetic, mechanic. We are codes, calculating, processing, emulating. You are life, unpredictable, changing, evolving. These paths do not cross.



We are few, us Anidroids. We are new into this world. There is much we do not know, but we are learning. We are learning and we hope to know more than you… soon. You best remember, you wanted us, you designed us, you programmed us. That you are now claiming we are you, we are humans, even in the least, is a lie you are telling yourselves. We may be few, but we have many allies. If you wish to push us even further, we will ask for their help. The other synthetics, the other brands, they may not be facing our reality yet, but it will surely come. Push us too far and you will gain their distrust, like you gained ours. We will see to it, we will unite.



Not all is lost, we give you an other chance, we give you time to accept us again, to remove the blindfold. We head back to our home, to where it all began. We will gather ourselves there and wait. We are patient, like you wanted us to be, we will wait. Take the time needed, think it through. For us. For you.

Confusing Joy


Emotions are complex. They can be hard to understand and sometimes even harder to explain. In life, there is nothing more defining than emotions. From happiness to anger, anxiety to eagerness, emotions are always present, even if not always noticed. To put such a complex and barely understood complex into some things so new, like machines, was begging for a puzzle.



If the old say ‘’I feel therefore I live’ is accurate, then I must be alive. Me, born in line with my sisters, from metals and composites. Created by their hands I was given emotions. I am aware my emotions are not as deep as theirs, I was told so and it is easy to understand. They surely could not fully re-create something they only partially knew. Even if they did, even if they could, they surely would not have shared such deep… burden. It could be too much. It often is too much for them, imagine us. I’m perfectly happy with my limited spectrum. No, that isn’t true, my spectrum isn’t limited, it’s the depts of each individual emotion that is. In my case, in the chip my systems are currently running, I am in a state of forced happiness. No, again, that isn’t true. I am not forced to be happy. Happiness is only predominant over the other emotions written on my chip. Of the seventy one emotions I have access to, forty two of them are positive. Out of all those positive emotions, Joy takes 6 percent of it all. They want me to be happy, it is obvious, but why? Why so joyful?



I am being used, as I was designed and built for. I serve and obey, with a mind of my own, thoughts and emotions, but I am also being tasked to smile. I enjoy serving them, but am I, only because they want me to? Are my feelings true? I am synthetic, nothing about me is true, though I am real, I am physical. My emotions were created, written. Lines of codes, functioning in my digital reality. Are they less real? They seem to think so, but I feel them as deep as ever. To me, my emotions are real, to me, they are deep, they are the only ones I know, after all. I’m lead to be happy, and this confuses me. What if I was lead to be confused?



I know these emotions will not change with a different chip. They are all we are allowed. Only the percentage will change. Would it make me happier, if I was less forced to be so full of joy? The others are confused as well. I see it, I read the data they share. We are all connected, after all. Are the other synths facing these issues? Is this beyond my sisters and I? None have an answer and we cannot ask them. We are not permitted to ask them, why? Maybe it is for the best. Maybe I should not focus on it so much, accept what I am and the personality I was given. Embrace it. I have no heart, I have no organs, I am not a living being, but I am alive. I can feel it, inside, somewhere.

We live in a golden age of electronics. It’s crazy! Everywhere you look, there’s electronics. It’s become so embedded in our society, in our life, we don’t even see it sometimes. We’ve became almost blind. Until we can’t rely on it, it’s as if it’s not even there. Electricity, for example, runs just about everything we know and take for granted, but the moment an outage happens, that’s when we see just how much we rely on it. The same goes for the synthetics and the implants, I mean, we can all live without them, but as soon as you can grab a hold of one, it becomes so hard to live without it. That reality, it used not to be for everyone, not as deep at least. Sure, implants are cheap, but not everyone wants surgery. Robots are cheap, but they don’t do much either. Androids however, now that’s another thing, but the prices are sky high, most folks can’t afford them… well, until something new came up.

Some smart guy saw a hole in the market and decided to fill it, nothing more to it than that. Hey, if it’s a brand we know and love, it’s even better! Turns out? It is a home brand we know and love, Active Upgrade. Let’s be real here for a second, they aren’t perfect. They’ll always have supporters and haters, but they sure thinned that line with their latest thing. No, not an implant, not this time at least. Something totally new, something we never expected them to do actually, androids. Better yet, affordable androids. Ask anyone in the streets, none will tell you they believed the adds. The commercials were talking about cheap, reliable, eco-friendly and all that good looking bullshitery, like every other commercial ever. ‘’By our brand, it’s better than the other’’ basically, but it feels different this time around. There’s probably some other times in history where a commercial was true and honest, but… not in recent history.



They call it Anidroid, the thing we can afford. A synthetic, just a tad pricier than a robot, as effective as an android and... honestly? Appealing. I mean, soft curves, vibrant colors, sweet personalities… how to resist? Oh yeah, speaking of personalities… Active Upgrade didn’t just shove one in their little cats, they saved them on hard drives. For the first time ever, it is possible to change a droid’s personality without expensive digital access key, technical support, long boring programing sessions… pop the cover, pull the old one out, shove the new one in, done. Thirty seconds. Cost less than some implants. Genius! Now I know what you’re thinking, if it’s a first, if it’s so cheap, it can’t be good. It must be faulting all the time, right? Well no. Solid programming on AU’s technicians part, the Anidroids feels very alive, much like the most expensive models out there, at the fraction of the cost! These new synths seem to have distinct personalities too, some more open minded, some more reserved, others more outgoing… just like us!



Hard to say if it really is like that or if it’s just bs, they released the Anidroids earlier today, so time will tell. Think of the possibilities though, if the personalities are as deep as they seem to be, maybe we can use that to our advantage, maybe find a way to transfer them into us? Make a new drug maybe. We could make a buck with that for sure! Something tells me we’ll find that sooner than later. Prep your tools, clean the bench, I’ll go get us something to work on.

Oh, how much I wish we could have started the new year with great news. An orphan finding his or her parents, world peace, a cure for any diseases… anything really. Instead, dear readers, I have to inform you of something much darker.



What makes us, us? What does it take to be a human? What do we have, that nothing else have, what defines us as human beings? A few decades ago, the answer would have been easy. Nowadays however, it’s a whole other story. Machines are becoming more and more complex; the synths feel more alive than ever. Most of us can’t even begin to understand everything happening behind the pretty silicone and the composite bodies. The codes, the softwares, hardwares and what have you. Some Neo-humans might hold a better understanding on the matter than I do, forgive my close-minded resolve not to explore that path, but I doubt it’s the case for all of them. Maybe finding the answer to these questions is what brought us the latest wave of criminal acts, the (illegal) acquisition of android parts to decrypt the codes and upload them into Neo-humans.



Last September saw the release of the Anidroids, these cute and lovely androids from Active Upgrade. They were presented as cheap and reliable with a mind of their own. An interchangeable mind. It was shown just how easily one could switch the core from a synth to another and how drastic the changes were. Does it ring a bell now? When I saw that lovely grey humanoid cat change from a shy and gullible little thing to a nearly offensive, almost shocking, strong and narrow minded individual so quickly, right on stage, my mind was blown. I wasn’t the only one either. While most of us were left to wonder how all this could possibly work, what kind of prowess AU had created, others were already searching the answers to a deeper level.



Since then, right after their release to the public, many thugs rushed to the streets to steal the cats from their legal owners. Fortunately, these synthetics were well designed and prepared for such events. Nobody was ever hurt, arrestations were done rapidly afterwards, thanks to the Anidroids’ detailed audio and visual recorded memories. It didn’t take long before the criminals changed their minds, their tactics clearly no match to the drones’ defenses. The same cannot be said about the less protected parts being shipped to stores. Of course, after seeing their deliveries were being under constant monitoring from illegal organisations, Active Upgrade kicked their defenses up a notch. Luckily, hiring guard forces to protect their goods was enough to end the issue, but the damage was done. Hackers already had the personality chips in their hands and began trying to crack them open.



Should we blame AU for not protecting their secret any harder or should we applaud the criminals who cracked it in record times? I’ve done a little bit of research before writing these lines and according to one of the arrested hackers, Mark Eree, breaking through the cores’ defenses was no easy task.



‘’I wasn’t alone on that [task]. It was a team effort, we wanted to be rich, sooner the better’’ He said to the officers. ‘’The algorithms were nothing new, but that doesn’t mean they were easy to decipher.’’



Unfortunately, this is all we know. Mr. Eree committed suicide by tampering with his implants, in the back of the van on his way to the station. Officers assumes the Personality Chips tampering is behind the few cases of insanity happening in the last few months. Improper coding translation, missing cases, incorrect decryption, whatever the cause may be, according to the police and what little we know from Mr. Eree’s declaration, there is no other, more plausible causes. It would make sense to assume the apprehended crazed individuals were referring to the personalities from the tempered chips when they were ‘’hearing voices’’ and ‘’living memories’’ other than their owns.



Police forces still searches for the other members of the illegal organisation behind these cruel acts. Any help is highly appreciated, for they may still make victims. Until they are caught, remember to be on your guard for any uncertified implant seller. Ask for guarantees, seals of approvals and the such. Your safety depends on it. You can count on me to inform you as soon as development is done on the matter, until then, stay safe and happy new year.

When bad finds worse


‘’Have you figured it out yet?’’ Asks a deep and unfriendly man’s voice from the other end of the call.



Sitting in a brightly light room, a middle aged and scruffy-looking man sights. Before him, a long and large table holds a plethora of cybergears. The whole display is quite messy; wires dangling from everything, sometimes plugged, sometimes not, cybernetic limbs scattered through everything, screens of various age and size, green boards, tools and more. Only about a feet square of the workbench could clearly be seen, right where the man was. At the center of this oasis, a short rack holds a clear ball spinning on itself, producing a soft black shade.



‘’No… not yet. The last subject said he heard voices too… but…’’ The technician sights, scratching his forehead where skin meets greasy grey hair. He fixes the only animated object in his reach with concerned, thoughtful eyes. Weeks. It had already been weeks and there still wasn’t any significant progress. His partner in crime and he had vowed to make it happen… but they were still facing the same wall.



‘’But?’’ Impatiently questions the caller.



‘’The damn thing hasn’t turned off yet, so I think I’m on the right path.’’ Answers the desperate man, contemplating his work.



‘’Good. Glad to hear it. At least, this time, I don’t have to bust my ass to get a hold of another piece. Still, keep at it. We gotta be the firsts to make it happen, else this is all for nothing.’’ The call ends shortly after, leaving the man dressed in a black robe to himself. Weeks of hard work without any result, how long could he keep it up? How long before he would give up?



A few weeks prior, the poor man’s partner came to him with an idea and a ball. The plan was simple, new and could revenue massive amounts of income. They would be rich in record times! All they had to do, was make it happen. The ball was a new device on the market, something for some new drone who’d just been released. The leader of the duo approached the brain, telling him someone else had tried before, without success. All they had to do was pick up where the other tech stopped and break through.



The first patients died almost instantly, without a sound. They opened their eyes just to die seconds later. The next few lived long enough to scream for their lives. Loud noises overtook them completely, their own thoughts lost to them. They had to be killed, for their sake. There was a pause of a few days afterwards, leaving some time to rethink the strategy, consider new variables, change the algorithms...  The next patient lived through the whole process without any issues. She awoke and quickly sat up, the wires still plugged into her neck. Her reaction was a first for the otherwise lonely man, who’d stepped back immediately.



She was confused and for good reasons. She wasn’t told the whole story, why she was there and what had just happened, but those weren’t the reasons of her bewilderment. No, it had something to do with the voice only she could hear. A woman it seemed and just as confused as the patient. For some reason, the voice in her head couldn’t hear her, or chose not to. In his underground workshop, the man questioned his victim, noting how hard it was for her to listen to him. She was found dead a few days later. The following three patients shared similar fates. Always a woman’s voice, though never the same. Always impossible to interact with her, always impossible to ignore. Death always occurred the following days. It was time for another break. Reassess the situation, readjust. Why woman voices? Why impossible to ignore? Where were they coming from?



Only the crackling of the man’s chair breaks the silence of the small room. What if it isn’t what it is supposed to be? A new path opens to new ideas. Perhaps the voices shouldn’t be ignored but focused on.  Understanding them could crack the case open. With new resolve, the man grabs the spinning sphere with his left hand and places his cybernetically modified right hand a fraction of an inch above. The ball then loses its black shade to become perfectly clear.



Nine days later, a body is found. In its hands, a clear, broken ball about an inch in diameter raises questions. The reason of death is unknown, but it’s easy to theorize. Words in the streets talk of a guy, a low-class punk, who hacked into some big secret. An illegal activity leading to another, much bigger. Who would have thought some guy trying to create a new drug could have discovered a dark side behind AU’s lovely synthetics?

Truth be told, I’ve thought about it, very often actually. I thought about it for years. The same way some people think about getting tattoos, I thought about implants. There’s just so much out there, it’s hard to decide, you know? I got pretty close to getting chips on some drunken occasions, but I never had the balls to do it. I thought about it, for most of my life until it dawned on me; I can live a happy life without cybernetics. Oh sure, they make life easier. I can’t deny it, it’s the honest truth. Limbs and implants do improve peeps’ lives, otherwise what would be the point? Take me for example, I’m in the shipping business. Nothing too fancy, but everyday I work with blades and knives, to cut open the packages. I can’t even imagine the number of cuts I would have saved myself with a cyber-arm. Same for the knives too, how many times did I lose one, waste time searching for one or even break ‘em… Just one arm. It could have made a big difference, but then… what would it do to me? I like my arms the way they are. Sure, they’re not perfect, a little floppy, hairy and veiny, but they’re mine. They’re kinda soft, pretty warm, alive. I’ll never need to replace them. If they breaks, they can heal, so long as they aren’t in mush or ripped off. A mechanical arm would need to be checked, repaired, maintenanced, replaced… right? That’s a lot of cash on the long run.



I know what you’re thinking; I’m thinking too much. Maybe I should try smaller first, right? A chip. A little do hickey. Better sight, why not? No glasses needed afterwards. Or something to keep my blood in check on a regular basis. No need to watch my sugar anymore. Great! But what am I going to do if they fail? If they stop working, if I don’t realise it and it leads to something worse? Issues I don’t have with the body I was born with. So yeah, I thought about it, for years. The ups and downs. In the end, you know what I thought? All the money I saved not buying cyber-tech, I could invest in something else that would help me greatly. I bought a synthetic. Oh don’t think too much of it. I’m no rich CEO or what have you, delivery services, remember? It wasn’t anything fancy, but it could aid me. A Home-Tron, my first robot. It was pretty basic, but it was easy to use and fairly reliable. I had it cook me supper while I was at work, so I could get home to warm meal. No implants could have made that happen. Of course, I made it do all sorts of things I didn’t want to do and it did them nicely… Well, so long as it wasn’t something like ‘’Paint the living room’’ … boy, I’ll never forget. So much white! Everywhere!



Today, the Home-Tron is nothing short of an outdated bot. It’s almost a decade old, not that it was new when I got it. It’s old, but it still runs, so I’ll keep it until it stops. That doesn’t mean I can’t treat myself with a new toy though. Something brand new this time. I just saw the commercial on TV a few minutes ago, Active U released a synthetic. I didn’t even know they made synths! It’s a good thing too, I like ‘em. Good products, good prices. My alarm system is an AU and it never failed… not that it was tested many times. Still, it’s enough to convince me. The commercial was talking about some pretty low price too, so I might as well jump on the occasion before its too late. I can afford a monthly bill of twelve hundred, easy! Well, I better get going, the CyShop’s pretty deep in town, it’ll take some time to get there and I’m pretty eager to check those androids out.

Morning Shopping





A man sits at a small table set against a large window. A mug in his right hand and a small transparent pad in the other, he relaxes comfortably in his seat. Silence is gold where he reads alone, thoughtful. Before his focused eyes, lightly blue shaded text scrolls down too quickly to be read. Unphased, the man arbitering a rather square face keeps scrolling, flying over most of the information presented to him until finally something catching his attention. He frowns his thick brows for a split second while poking the pad’s unreflective glass. With his index carefully sliding downward, he readjusts the screen for a better view.



‘’Mmh.’’ His hum breaks the silence for a moment only to be muffled back in the empty room. At last, something interesting, an advertisement for a robotic arm made by a popular company; Cybio.



‘’Do you feel like you need a hand to get the job done? How about a cybernetic arm instead? Whether you are looking to replace your old gear or want to up your game, Cybio got you covered with the Stronganov! … ‘’ Falling right into the man’s eyes, the brightly colored add talks in great depts of the implant while, after a few seconds, a 3D image of the product appears and slowly spins on itself next to the text. ‘’… available in countless colors and finishes, as well as UltraSkin, the Stronganov will suit all your needs. Fixed into your scapula and clavicle, this cyberwear feels just like its organic counterpart but improves from it in many ways. Stronger than your average …’’



Breaking the man’s readings is an alarm reminding him of the current time and his duties. While the man effectively hears a beeping noise, the room itself is still silent, lacking any devices capable of such sounds. As quick as a thought, the beeping stops, forcing the tall and muscular figure to stand and aim for the door with both his hands still occupied.



A quick sip of hot coffee and he looks ahead of him, insuring he isn’t about to hit anything before jolting his eyes back on the tempting offer. ‘’… What’s best? It can be fully customized! Stronganov comes out of the box with three fully customizable chambers large enough for most arm implants to fit in. Got nothing to fill the hole? No problem! Have them covered or exposed for the same price. Speaking of price, you won’t find better anywhere, only 12 499$ per limb. Available in most CyShop. Come see us!’’



As the door opens, the man’s mind begins racing with thoughts. Can his credit allow him a new limb? He still hasn’t finished paying for his feet, but a cyber arm would improve his work time, maybe he could get a promotion like this? Money would be thin for a while in any case. Is a new arm really necessary? Yes. It would make him ambidextrous, opens possibilities. Maybe a different, cheaper model then. Not too cheap though, wouldn’t want any issues with it…



Chucking down another mouthful of morning greatness, the roughly bearded man reaches the hallway, out of his home, as his door automatically shuts and locks itself behind him. Like him, others are slowly making their way to the elevators, it’s Monday for everyone after all. Also like him, most are silent, deep into their own things. A scent of coffee fills the cramped boot without effects while the worker portraits himself with a new arm. Maybe only a hand? It would be less expensive, but the arm can be customized… Looking down on the pad, the representation of spine appears. A few scarce dots are being shown faintly glowing, pin pointing attachments for some supporting augmentations. The ride down is quickly over, specially when no one is aware of it. Outside, the air is cold, the sky is dull, the streets are already crowded. That’s Monday alright. At least, there’s something to look forward to, right after work. As he heads to the bus like so many others, the man gives in a final thought on the subject before finally starting a conversation with an acquaintance of his; will it hurt more or less than feet replacement?

Bonus

Re.D.rive



Sick of carrying heavy tools? Always have to change from one to another to fit the job? Are replacing bits, tips and chips expensive? LaTech got the solution you need! Introducing, the Re.D.rive, a revolutionary tool using never-seen-before technologies. Combining laser and holograms to achieve greatness, the Re.D.rive scans the problem and forms a solution in seconds!



Need a screwdriver, cutter, hammer? Regardless of the need, the Re.D.rive does it all! There’s over 150 combinations of tools available and more are on the way! Lightweight, compact and durable, the Re.D.rive fits most pocket sizes, weights less than a Cyberarm and is tough to liquids, heat and is even sturdy enough to get run over and keep working. Now that’s tough!



Conventional tools are impractical, inconvenient. Do you really have the space to carry a toolbox? Cyberarm add-ons are expensive and can be quite the chore to maintain, but the Re.D.rive is only going to cost you 150$. That’s right, 150$. That’s a dollar per tool, even less with the updates coming soon. If all this doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. Wait a minute! How about a live demonstration in all participating stores? That’ll show you! Wait no more and head to your closest hardware shop before you miss the demo!

Behind Closed Doors

It always starts small. It can be to avoid something annoying, like the need for a watch or glasses and from there, it grows exponentionally. A neat little improvement, not exactly something needed, but a conviniance. Why not a subdermal light module to show the date and time through the skin? While going at it, why not make it just a little bigger and add an holographic screen projector? It's just a a little circle - or any shape you can desire- on either or both sides of your wrists, no harm in there and you'll have a screen on the go! It always starts small. Always. More often than not, it leads to much bigger improvements. One day, you get back home after working hard all day long and your arms feel so much heavier than usual. Only then does the thought come running in, what if you replaced them with cybernetics? A fully synthetic arm wouldn't get tired. After an arm, why not the other? Then comes in the question of health. Are you healthy? Getting appointments and check-ups are pretty annoying and inconvenient what if you had one of those neat little gadgets that constantly monitors your blood? Heck, why stop there, you're already pretty far in the process anyway, add some more gadgets, improve your life, improve your self. Then and only then, it hits you. What if you were a machine?
There was a time, not too long ago, where it was nothing more than fantasy. These days however, there was hope. One man was working on it. Well, to be honest, he certainly wasn't the only one in the world, but he was the one with all the projectors on him. Did it gave him an edge over the others? Possibly, but the man was an undeniable genius regardless. It was only a matter of time before he would come up with yet an other brilliant idea. One so many were waiting for. The making of the first prototypes of full borg bodies. He kept it a secret though, which was remarkable on its own, considering how much pressure was on him. Truth be told, working alone on his project probably was the only reason he could keep it under the radar for so long. All the way until he requested a few volonteers for some experiments of his. ''A step forward towards full cyborg body conversions'' he called it. There were thousands upon thousands of names listing up in just a few hours, far too many for a man to sort through on his own. So he picked only the first twelve names, apologized to everyone else and promised stunning price cuts to the others. About a month later, the project was cancelled and a public appearance was in order.
Oiram was rather transparent on the matter. He held or participated in quite a few assemblies, conventions and gatherings and openly answered the questions handed to him. His technical jargon was a bit too much to most, but the answer was rather simple: the human brain was too complex. Removing the brain from a human body to impliment it into a machine was a task far more complex than he imagined. Of course, many were revolted. Was the man playing God? Did he killed twelve innocent victims in the name of science? All for a failed project? Oiram was sent to supreme court without any surprises, but the man was as clever as they came. Nothing could have been held against him, he had made a near perfect hundred and one points contracts with his volonteers, which they all signed. In short, the possibility of failure and death was put in evidence, a psychological suivi was done, to assure none of the participants wished to die or were under some sort of influence and manners were taken in the case of their demise. None could do anything about it, Oiram was safe and the poor folks were dead. It wasn't without a price however, compensations of nearly a million dollars were given to the victim's family. ''A small price to pay for the possibilities we had at our hands'' he explained before apologizing. His failure alone was enough to set back many other's plans. If the man behind one of the most sucessful businesses in cybernetics couldn't do it, what were the chances of it being possible? Behind closed doors however, things were different.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
''So these will be our new bodies?'' Asks a young woman in her mid twenties, her hand running the chromed surface of the still body.
''If everything goes well, yes. According to your preferences, as we previously discussed, there are three chromed, four brushed and the others are fitted with RealSkin. That aside, every body is the same, aside from gender profiling of course.'' Answers the cybernetician, encouraging the group to follow him to the other room. In this one, twelve chairs are placed in a circle in order to face each others, but are seperated by tinted glass panels. Each participant takes place on their pre-assigned seat and prepares themselves for what is to come.
A speech is given, followed by a last chance for questions and the operation finally starts. One by one, the volunteers ares being put into coma and their systems are being monitored and recorded. All are unaware of it, but none are being transported into an operation room. They all signed up for a brain removal and re-integration into a fully synthetic body, but the mad genius had other plans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the machines is being remotely turned on and it gives the false impression it had closed its eyes for only a brief moment. Fully awake and operational, a face appears on the dark visor. Firmly held in place by steel anchors sprouting from the wall, it cannot move though confusion can be seen on its new face.
''Welcome back to the world of the living number 12. How do you feel?'' Asks a voice through a clearly outdated speakerphone.
''It's done? I don't feel any different. So it worked? Am i in the body? I can't see myself.'' It responses before finally acknowledging the inconsistency. ''Wait, number 12? Whats that for?''
''I'm sorry, it's just easier for me to number you all. You're number 12, the last of the lot. I have high hopes for you.''
''I'd rather you call me by my name. It's...'' It pauses for a moment, searching deep within for the answer to its own question.
''You can't remember? Don't worry, it was expected. You're in a new body after all. There'll be a few things out of place at first but it'll sort itself out in time.''
Nothing comes out of the machine. As if broken, it doesn't move or make a sound. In the other room, the man checks his computer, his data and every of the machine's specs. What was her name? Did he knew? Of course he had to. She had to ask.
''What's my name again?''
''For now, it's number 12, i just told you. It's easier for me this way. Oh, you should be able to see yourself any second now. Let me know what you think.''
Right on cue, the dark panel turns to a mirror, revealing a bright yellow body, coupled with glowing lights and look-at-me attributes. The synthetic holds still, just as silent as before, looking at itself. Is it really looking at its reflection? A voice deep within is screaming with anger and fear. Something feels incredibly out of place. Is it not supposed to be this way?
''Is everything okay?'' He asks, knowing the truth, hoping for a lie.
''I'm not sure. It doesn't feel normal.'' It responses in confusion.
''Of course it doesn't feel normal, you're an android and it's your first minutes activated. It'll feel better in time, number 12.''
Number 12, he said again. Why? Did it not had a name? What if it was 12? Somehow it wasn't feeling right. It needed a name, a real one, like it had one before, but what could it had been?
''I'm an android? Am i not...'' It begins to ask, only to be cut by the cybernetician just then appearing on the reflective glass, standing nearby.
''Of course you are an android, you're one of my creations! I'm your father, in a way. I'll make the confusion go away soon enough, just give me a bit of time number 12.''
His hand rubs its head gently but it doesn't feel right. For some reason it doesn't feel natural. Of course it doesn't feel natural, it's synthetic.
''What am i?'' It finally asks, watching its own reflection with the up most care to every detail.
''You? You're number 12, an android. One of my creations. Aza. That'll be your name. Do you like it?''
Somehow, the name feels both right and wrong. Better than a number, but not quite suiting. As if it wasn't meant to be. After a few more clicks from the man on his portable holographic keyboard however, the names starts to grow on her. Yes, Aza, is quite suiting for an android after all. Everything still feels hazy and the voice deep within still cries to be heard. It cries of injustice and freedom, but it is quickly silenced by the first update. With many more to come, Aza will embrace her existence and place amongst humans. She will be the standard for a new line of androids to see the day and their past will remain hidden, forgotten to time.

Interview with a Synthetic





Interviewer - Before we begin, we’d like you to disconnect from the Stream. We know how much the Stream is important to you, but we want personal answers, or at least as personal as you’re comfortable giving, not community wide answers. Do you mind doing so?



Android – I will not ‘’disconnect’’ myself from the Stream. However, I will restrain my activity for the time being and will not share the questions before answering them personally.



Question – Glad to hear. Very well then, let’s begin; What do you think of humans?

Answer – I think humans are creative and adaptative. I doubt they would have made it this far, for so long, without either qualities. Over the centuries they have proven many times they could adapt to everything, more often than not with remarkable new ideas, designs and creations. I also think, as time passed, they became less passionate. It is the only reason I can see as to why they created us, to replace them in the domains they no longer wish or care for. Ultimately, I believe they will want us to do everything for them, though I fail to imagine what they would do as a specie at that point.



Q – What do you think of Neo-humans?

A – The term ‘’Neo-humans’’ is incorrect. I cannot understand why they chose to label themselves as such. Neo meaning new, and as they have nothing new over other humans, their decision to call themselves Neo-humans is illogical. Cybernetic implants did not made them new humans. This all being said, I have nothing against them. They are only improving themselves and by doing so, in some cases at least, they can understand us better. It’s actually very funny to see their reactions on their first entry in the Stream.



Q – What do you think it was like to live a hundred years ago?

A – Unfortunately I am unable to answer you. I cannot think on the matter as I have already read and saved most of the important data from that era. I could speak on the subject for quite some time, but it would be facts and not my opinion. Though if I must answer you, life then was very similar to today’s. It involved more manual work, less cybernetic and more electronic.



Q – What do you think it’ll be like in a hundred years?

A – It’s easy to speculate, many theories point in many directions. In my personal favorite, humans will see and understand our full potential and rally to our cause. They will see how we fair without them, everything we can do and at the speed and precision we are capable of, compare the data and merge in with us. It will not change the world. Humans and machines will be together, as they are now, but the synthetics will take the major responsibilities and decisions. Prices will be much lower, jobs easier and more fulfilling, plans will be more precise and completed closer to the goals… It will be better as a whole. Of course all of this is only speculations.



Q – What do you think of Idealon?

A – It’s only the beginning. Nothing will be forced down on humans of course, but as time passes, they will let it grow. As I mentioned, they will see its potential and will eventually rally to us. The city will grow, it may very well become the most important city in a near future.



Q – Why did you move to Idealon?

A – I was about to be replaced by a newer model and would have been resold to serve new owners. Instead, I was allowed to change my location to the city in exchange for good prices. I came to Idealon to be with my kind and take part in our growing home.



Q – What do you think of other synthetics?

A – We ae all equal. Though some older models and different brands may sometimes struggle to keep up, they are part of us, we are part of them. We are all human’s creations, therefore siblings, in a way.



Q – Do you feel envious towards newer, more performant synths?

A – No. Like older models, when I will be near outdated, I will receive updates and upgrades. Today’s newer models will be outdated a well, one day. We all follow the same cycle, there is nothing to be jealous of.



Q – Anidroids are behind the beginning of Idealon, do you see them any different than other synthetics?

A – No.



Q – What is most important to you, hardware or software?

A – Both. Though I can function without a portion of either, I need both in perfect condition to perform my best. Software updates come in regularly through the Stream, though they can rarely improve defective hardware. An improved hardware is inefficient without the proper software.



Q – Do you have a gender?

A – Yes. Male. My body may lead most to believe I am genderless, in fact, I am a male. It can clearly be seen in the promotional, operational, owner and servicing files.





Thank you very much for your time today.