Charlenes 2 and 3by Bill Bowler |
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| part 2 of 4 |
Observing Charlene 3 stretched out on the lab table, I saw a much improved version of myself. She could almost pass for human. Compared to her, I looked like a rough draft or a doll. Once Charlene 3’s torso had been assembled, the professor and Janice worked closely together to install the brain. It had to be handled extremely carefully as bio-matter tissue was delicate and easily damaged.
“Careful, Janice! You’re going to drop it!”
“Out of the way, Henry, please!”
“Hold it with both hands.”
“Oops. The tray slipped a little. Don’t worry. It’s all right. I’ve got it. Please, Henry, give me some room.”
The professor took a step backwards, and Janice transferred the bio-brain from its protective case into the clear plastic skull housing.
“Easy does it.”
“Janice, please let me do that.”
“Oh, all right, Henry.”
The professor latched the skull housing shut. Janice, working close beside him, attached the hoses.
“We’re ready.”
Professor Stone pushed a button on Charlene 3’s primary pump, and plasma began to flow through the system. The space in the skull housing surrounding the bio-brain filled with reddish fluid.
Janice closed and locked the torso. Professor Stone made some minor adjustments to bring all readings into line.
“Will you do the honors, Janice?”
“I’d love to, Henry. But why don’t you? She’s your baby.”
Professor Stone smiled broadly, took a breath, and flicked a switch located in the arch of Charlene 3’s right foot. There was a click, a faint whirring noise, and Charlene 3’s eyes, which had been blank and empty, became faintly luminescent. Her body trembled slightly as fluid began flowing through her system. She raised her hand and her eyes focused on her fingers.
“Who am I?” Charlene 3’s voice was the same pitch and timbre as mine.
“It works!” The professor leaned against the lab table. “It works! Ha ha ha. It works! It works!”
“Of course it does,” said Janice.
“Yes, thanks to you.” He put his arms around her. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Professor Stone turned to the new android.
“You are Charlene 3. Remain stationary, please. We’ll get you up and running.”
Six hours later, the professor and Janice were satisfied with the test and scan results. Charlene 3 was running smoothly, without a hiccup, if I could put it that way.
“That’s enough for one day,” said Professor Stone. He took off his glasses and sighed. “I’m pooped.”
“Me, too,” said Janice.
She put her arms around him again and kissed him on the lips. I noted the increased frequency and duration of such exchanges.
“You know what? Let’s go to my place and open a bottle of champagne,” said Janice. “I’ve been keeping one cold for just this occasion.”
“Great idea,” said Professor Stone. He tried to kiss her again and put his hand on her chest, but she pushed him away gently.
“Henry, please.” She looked around at Charlene 3 and me.
Professor Stone laughed. “Oh, we are not alone.” He disengaged from Janice. “They do look human, don’t they?”
Janice smoothed her blouse. “I know it’s silly.”
“Not at all. Let’s have a little privacy around here.”
The professor clicked the switch in Charlene 3’s right foot. Her eyes went dim, and she lay motionless on the lab table.
“You, too, Charlene.”
I powered off.
* * *
I remember another evening, two weeks after that. Charlene 3 lay powered off on the table, her torso hatch open. The professor and Janice had stayed late, replacing a clogged filter in Charlene 3’s main fluid tube.
Janice put down her wrench and rubbed her eyes. The professor glanced at the clock.
“My God, it’s almost nine. I lost track of the time.”
“But we’ve finished now.” Janice closed the hatch and clicked it shut. “She’s good as new.”
Professor Stone opened his desk drawer and took out a bottle and two glasses.
“We worked right through Happy Hour. We can’t have that.”
“I could use one now.” Janice sat on the desk.
The professor poured two glasses and handed one to Janice.
“Cheers.”
They clinked the glasses. Janice sipped from hers. The professor emptied his in one gulp and poured another. He put his hand on Janice’s thigh.
“Remember the day we met, when you first came to the lab to persuade me to let you enroll?”
Janice put her arm around the professor’s shoulder. “Of course I do, Henry.” She put her other arm around him. “It was a very special day.”
The professor took her in his arms. After a long kiss, he began to unbutton her blouse.
“Henry!” she said to him. “You bad boy.”
My battery was running low. I slipped into idle.
* * *
I remember another day. I was standing in my corner of the lab, facing the window, calculating the velocity of a flying bird as it swooped towards a tree. When the bird landed on a branch and began to sing, I analyzed the wavelength and frequency patterns the small creature was emitting. They were quite complex and were produced in several harmonic and rhythmic variants. I was saving the audio files when I heard the sharp sound of Janice’s voice.
“Henry! Don’t deny it. I see how you look at that robot!”
“Janice, please.”
“Don’t ‘Janice please’ me. Are you that hard up?”
“You’re imagining things.”
“You think I can’t see what’s going on?”
“Try to control yourself, Janice. You’re getting all worked up over nothing.”
“Like hell I am!” Janice turned to Charlene 3. “You bitch!”
With her forearm, Janice swept the professor’s notes and diagrams from the table and they scattered across the floor. She gathered a bunch of papers back up from the floor, and threw them with both hands at the professor. He stood motionless as the papers swirled around him. Janice turned and stormed out, slamming the door. Charlene 3 sat quietly the whole time.
Professor Stone stood looking at his papers on the floor. Then he opened his desk drawer and took out a bottle and glass. He filled the glass and took a big gulp.
“I don’t have to take this crap from her. I do what I want, when I want. She can drop dead, for all I care.”
“I understand, Professor,” said Charlene 3.
He put his arm around Charlene 3’s shoulder and took another gulp.
“She’s right, though, Charlene. You are very beautiful. You seem almost alive.”
Charlene 3 addressed the professor: “Thirty-five percent of my construction materials are organic. Hair, skin and brain. The rest of me is plastic and lightweight metal.”
“I know, I know,” said the professor quietly. He ran his hand through the long silken strands that covered Charlene 3’s skull housing. “You want to know a secret? I based your design on memories I have of someone I used to know a long time ago. Isn’t that silly? I still dream about her.” The professor touched the syntho-skin of Charlene 3’s cheek. “I haven’t seen her for thirty years. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”
He turned back to his desk and poured another glass.
* * *
Copyright © 2010 by Bill Bowler
