Page 18 - Indies Roundtable 2nd Anniversary Edition
P. 18
C01Y2R1I0X.exe - kind-of beautiful—the air cold. It
enable 07012023AD
was quiet. Peaceful. We both
Humans call me Cyrix. My found it difficult to believe that
identification model number is under the circumstances, we
C01Y2R1I0X. My creator, Staff were still on planet Earth.
Sergeant Asha Hawkins, calls me Cy.
I am one of the very few living Ash and I always stayed warm
entities that she allows to call her even in the worse conditions
Ash. because of our built-in
environmental enhancements.
I am a Human-Robot Interaction All it took was a flick of a switch.
(HRI) Android. I am both programed
—triggered by particular events—and She wore a black T-shirt, Army
compelled to give the following fatigues, and a pair of Waterproof
account. Newton Ridge hiking shoes. Her
FN SCAR-H/MK17 assault
Today—July 1, 2023—is a day I
shall never forget. As a HRI, I am not weapon was slung over her back.
supposed to have human emotions. It was a habit for Ash to find
However, something very unique
happened to me. It was a first. I shed solitude and admire “God’s
an Oreo, otherwise known as a craftsmanship,” as she called it.
Synthetic teardrop.
Her brown eyes always reflected
The reason? Staff Sergeant Asha contentment during this
Hawkins, vanished—into thin air— meditation time.
disappeared! Right before my eyes.
She had warned me about this I have looked into her eyes
coming event—now and then—and many times—during peace—
thus the reason for this particular
data programming. during combat. They reflected
flared intensity in battle and a
The event happened like this: We settled easiness when calm. Quite
stood facing the night sky. In this the contrast.
area, it was one of the few places left
where one could catch a glimpse of Using a human idiom, I said,
the clear sky that was not covered by “A penny for your thoughts.”
smoke, haze, or dark clouds.
Ash smiled that sweet smile,
We were only about fifty meters stared right at me, and said, “I am
from the entrance to a top secret just getting some fresh air…and
hidden bunker located in the
Badlands of South Dakota. The night praying for you.”
sky was beautiful—millions-of-stars “Praying? For me? Why?”
“Because. I want you to go
where I am about to go. I think
about your questions all the time.
How you want to go anywhere I
go.”
enable 07012023AD
was quiet. Peaceful. We both
Humans call me Cyrix. My found it difficult to believe that
identification model number is under the circumstances, we
C01Y2R1I0X. My creator, Staff were still on planet Earth.
Sergeant Asha Hawkins, calls me Cy.
I am one of the very few living Ash and I always stayed warm
entities that she allows to call her even in the worse conditions
Ash. because of our built-in
environmental enhancements.
I am a Human-Robot Interaction All it took was a flick of a switch.
(HRI) Android. I am both programed
—triggered by particular events—and She wore a black T-shirt, Army
compelled to give the following fatigues, and a pair of Waterproof
account. Newton Ridge hiking shoes. Her
FN SCAR-H/MK17 assault
Today—July 1, 2023—is a day I
shall never forget. As a HRI, I am not weapon was slung over her back.
supposed to have human emotions. It was a habit for Ash to find
However, something very unique
happened to me. It was a first. I shed solitude and admire “God’s
an Oreo, otherwise known as a craftsmanship,” as she called it.
Synthetic teardrop.
Her brown eyes always reflected
The reason? Staff Sergeant Asha contentment during this
Hawkins, vanished—into thin air— meditation time.
disappeared! Right before my eyes.
She had warned me about this I have looked into her eyes
coming event—now and then—and many times—during peace—
thus the reason for this particular
data programming. during combat. They reflected
flared intensity in battle and a
The event happened like this: We settled easiness when calm. Quite
stood facing the night sky. In this the contrast.
area, it was one of the few places left
where one could catch a glimpse of Using a human idiom, I said,
the clear sky that was not covered by “A penny for your thoughts.”
smoke, haze, or dark clouds.
Ash smiled that sweet smile,
We were only about fifty meters stared right at me, and said, “I am
from the entrance to a top secret just getting some fresh air…and
hidden bunker located in the
Badlands of South Dakota. The night praying for you.”
sky was beautiful—millions-of-stars “Praying? For me? Why?”
“Because. I want you to go
where I am about to go. I think
about your questions all the time.
How you want to go anywhere I
go.”
