Terra gave her another thoughtful look. “Interesting you should say that, because it was actually a large part of our motivation in creating these companions.”
She blinked at the other woman. “You built sex robots to help people interact better with other people?”
The willowy woman grimaced. “I'd appreciate if you didn't call them that. They're so much more, and meant to be. Which is actually the point I'm trying to make. Humans have fewer and fewer opportunities to interact face to face. Between the allnet, full immersion, and the growing prevalence of AIs doing tasks for us, we are all isolated in our own solitary worlds, at best seeking out those who agree with us, and ignoring or even attacking those who don't.”
“How do companions help with that?” Lana asked.
“Because our companions are meant to be an example of the best qualities of humanity,” Terra replied, showing real enthusiasm. “Humans will interact with them, form deep relationships, perhaps be taught or even raised by them in the future. Companions' kindness, respect, and concern for the wellbeing of others will encourage their humans to act the same. And by frequently interacting with humans face to face, companions will keep alive the art of conversation.”
“Hmm.” Lana absently played with a strand of her hair. “Ai-um, the Captain once admitted to me that being with his companion made him more awkward around real women. Since he can't mess up with her, and she won't judge him, he's worried he's lost the tact required to interact with women without making them hate him.”
“Really?” The scientist eagerly leaned over her pad, fingers working swiftly. “See, this is exactly the sort of feedback we need to refine our companions and their interactions with their humans.” She tapped a finger to her lips thoughtfully, reading what she'd just jotted down. “Maybe it's not good for humans to have their interactions with companions be too easy. We want them to feel safe and supported in the relationship, but we also want them to be accountable for their behavior and thoughtful in how they treat others.”
That sounded awfully . . . Lana wasn't sure, manipulative maybe? “You really think people will want these companions to be constantly tricking and nagging them into being better people?”
Terra blinked at her owlishly behind her glasses. “Why not? Doesn't everyone want to be better than they are? Imagine each person as a monarch, full of good intentions but corrupted by power. Our companions will be like the trusted servant of those monarchs, offering unwavering loyalty and sage advice to help their humans find the right path.”
“Will you be using an adult companion when they come out?” Lana asked.
The willowy woman seemed even more surprised. “Of course. In fact, I have one now.” She grimaced. “Or had one, before the Deeks took me . . . they shot poor Halon to pieces when they raided the facility, as he did his best to protect me. And even assuming he could've been salvaged, then they nuked the place.”
Lana gave Terra a thoughtful look. She didn't seem too distraught about the loss; had she not been close to this Halon, in spite of her insistence that companions were meant to develop strong relationships with their humans? “I'm sorry for your loss,” she said cautiously.
Terra smiled slightly. “Well, he's not really gone. One of the main reasons companions sync is so that their memories can be preserved. That way if their current shell is destroyed a new one can be created . . . the worst they'll lose is whatever memories they'd gained since their last sync.” Her smile turned wistful. “In fact, I'm looking forward to getting back in the care of HAE and being reunited with him. I hadn't realized how much I relied on him, emotionally as well as practically, until he was gone.”
“Then you're satisfied with your companion?” Lana asked. “He's someone you could spend your life with, so you don't need to find a real man?” Maybe the question was too personal, but she really wanted to know. If for no other reason than to help her understand Aiden's relationship with Ali better.
The willowy woman didn't seem offended, thankfully. She pursed her lips, thinking over the question carefully. “I can't speak to a real relationship, since it's hard to know what the future holds. But I can say that Halon will probably be a lifelong companion, even if I did find another human to be with. Humans are unpredictable and all have different desires and motivations. It makes long term relationships very difficult, as the glow of initial passion fades and their desires and goals drift farther and farther apart, until being together becomes more of a detriment than a benefit. People won't have that issue with companions, because companions are designed to have the same goals and desires as their human and to help them fulfill them.”
That wasn't what Lana to hear at all. She couldn't ever imagine feeling differently about Dax than she did right at that moment. She wanted to be with him forever, and couldn't see that changing. “Well,” she said, a bit more coolly than she'd intended, “speaking as someone who has a real and very good relationship with a real human, I disagree. In fact, I think I'm going to go spend some time with him now.”
Terra once again blinked at her through her odd glasses. “Except he's a Construct, isn't he? That's not so different from a companion.”
Lana had to strongly resist the urge to slap the woman. “I don't think you know as much about people as you think you do,” she said through gritted teeth, then turned and stomped away.
She found her boyfriend resting on their bed, reading a document on the fold-down terminal. It was still a shock to see him in his disguise, and even more so with his arm swathed in bandages and in a sling. They'd had Ali change them out of the disguises on
