Jim moved closer to Sharon and took her hand. "I love you, Sharon. You know you can tell me anything. Come on, what's up?"
Sharon gave a weak smile. "I love you too...oh, Jim...I can't think of any other way to explain it, so I'll just have to say it...I'm an android."
Jim had been frantically trying to figure out what Sharon's worry could be, but he certainly hadn't been expecting that. "Um...OK..."
"Jim...I know I sound crazy, but it's true. Earlier today, at exactly 30 years after the moment I thought I was 'born'...I don't know, some thought came into my head. It told me I have to be at a government research center about 20 miles from here by 4pm tomorrow, or my self-destruct system will be activated, and I'll shut down...forever..."
"Well, hun...maybe it was just a dream?"
Sharon shook her head. "It's not a dream. I know exactly where I have to go. And what my real name is."
Jim guessed Sharon was play-acting, and decided to go along with her. "And what is your real name?"
Sharon looked distraught. "Biosensory Replica Unit 003. I'm one of four androids that were created by a Doctor Carol Blakely. She built us as babies, giving us the ability to grow, and develop, and then she gave each of us to an adoptive family...now she wants us back, to study how we've developed."
"I see...come on, Shar, this is silly, let's-"
"No!" Sharon screamed suddenly. "Jim...I'm telling the truth! I'm just a load of metal and wire and plastic, which means I'm not real! It means I'm just a machine...look!" Before Jim could stop her, Sharon poked both her eyes with her fingers. Instead of hurting her, they retraced slightly into her head, and Jim watched in amazement as his girlfriend's face split down the middle, with each side extended out from her face and sliding to the side. Inside Sharon's head was packed an artificial face, surrounding by wires and circuitry. The face looked to be on the point of tears.
"This is the real me, Jim..." she said, her voice trembling. "I'm a FAKE!" She closed her face back up, and began to cry.
Jim was amazed, both at the revelation of what Sharon really was and at the incredible level of technology she was. But right now, she was more upset than he'd ever seen her, and he had to comfort her. He opened his arms for her to hug him, and she looked at him a little reluctantly, almost as if he couldn't believe he'd want her. Then, she couldn't hold back anymore, and she threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"I'm sorry, Jim..." she whispered.
"What for?" he asked. Sharon let go of him and sat back up. "Because I'm not human. You deserve someone real...not a fake..."
"Hey, hey, stop that. Now, yes, you're not flesh and blood, but that doesn't matter to me. You're a person, you're *you*. I fell in love with you for who you are...and just because your body isn't what we thought it was, it doesn't change the person you are. I love you."
Sharon shook her head. "I'm just a machine...you can't love a machine."
"Why not? Does that machine love me?"
Sharon smiled. "That machine is crazy about you."
"Then why can't I love her back?"
"Oh...oh, Jim!" Sharon hugged him again. "Thank you for being so understanding. I was worried I'd freak you out...that you'd leave me to them..."
Jim began to worry about what was planned for Sharon. "Do you know what they're going to do with you tomorrow if you go back there?"
Sat Dec 18 03:37:17 2004