Some people who read my work probably hate me for my lack of updates. I thought maybe, I could try again; maybe try to make you guys happy. I started with my roots: Akuroku. You know the movie Bicentennial Man with the wonderful Robin Williams (Bless him) and the story of the same title by Isaac Asimov? This fic takes some plot points and will probably lean towards some more of the major plot points in the movie. Hope you like. I'll try to update sooner than later.
Humans are particular creatures. There are successes and faults present in these ever-adapting beings. They don't have programmed instructions; they live without conforming to the same lifestyle that I do. Humans are tedious creatures requiring constant care and always giving into biological needs and functions. Definition, food: any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth. I do not need nourishment. I do not eat because I am bored. I do not drink because of a dry throat. I am not human.
There are two definitions of vision. The faculty or state of being able to see; an experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition. Either definition could be applied to my experience. I was opening my eyes to see a room I had never seen before; I had never seen anything before. My vision was blurred, lights and shapes were fuzzy and unclear. Blinking is an odd sensation, but it did seem to assist in my sight. As my eyes became clear, I took in the view. There were monitors with scrolling text to the right. There was a bench littered with tools to my left. There was a man with yellow hair and a white coat in front of me. He was touching my fingers, my hands fastened to the surface.
"Wonderful. I didn't expect you to be aware for another few minutes. I don't expect you to vocalize any statements yet, so nod your head like this," he raised his head up and brought it down, "if you can do what I ask."
I mimicked his movement, my head feeling heavy.
"Can you feel this?" This man squeezed each of my fingertips, eliciting a nod in response.
"Bear with me. I added nerve endings into the major appendages of your body. There will be feeling nearly everywhere, but I just a little lazy. This is a routine checkup. You've got a big day ahead of you. Today and tomorrow."
Without speech, I ran a quick search for facial expressions that could express confusion.
"You've been purchased. More or less adopted, if you will. There was some money involved, but not much, since you're more of a gift. From what I've gathered, the family has one biological son and one adopted son. Why they didn't just try to adopt again scapes me, but if you stayed here, I would have just made you play housekeeper. You'll at least have a life, you know."
Before the man could say anything else, I replayed a recording of what he had just said, only to be met with ecstatic sounds from him. He paced back and forth, a smile stretched across his face.
"I've worked on you for nearly seven years and for you to grasp so much so fast astounds me. Let's see what else you can manage right now."
I nodded silently as he knelt down and unfastened my ankles from the table on which I stood. He worked the straps on my wrists and helped me down, steadying me as I went.
"Now, follow me."
The man and I walked in a square around the table I had been on and around once more.
"Your joints sound wonderfully smooth. No clicking, no whirring, just silence. I'd like to see how you form your words. Is that okay? In your own voice, say 'Ansem'," he instructed.
In a slight echo, I'd repeated what he had said.
"A little work. Maybe after some time. Would you like to know more about your family?"
Ansem, I believe that is his name, sat in a large chair in front of a computer. He motioned for me to do the same.
"I first met your new family when the adopted their last child nearly four years ago, but you came along some years before. People have been buying and selling androids for almost a decade now. Once the innovators behind modern robotics, my colleagues, had gotten past the idea of just having androids around for labor and housework, they were designed to be personable.
I had the idea to make the perfect son. Your new family was handpicked by myself because they were already trying to make a difference in our world by bringing children of unfortunate situations into their home. Everyone else I'd seen were more interested in having an android to call their own. You're not a prize to be sought, but a privilege to be earned. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
"Yes," I answered in a much clearer voice.
"Wonderful progress," Ansem declared.
"Your name is Ansem. What is my name?"
"Oh, yes! It's been discussed by my research assistants for weeks. As I moved closer to finishing you up, they weren't sure whether to call you Roxatron or Rox-S. Roxastron seems like a stereotypical robotic name, and I've been told the 'S' means superior in respect to humans, but I think that could be a little offensive to some. Do you like those?"
I ran a generator to find confusion with the names, checking for anagrams and acronyms, placing and replacing vowels in both.
"Roxas," I said and spelled out in a monotone voice.
"It seems simple enough. It could help It could help you blend into society like a normal teenager. You like it?"
I nodded my head and gave him a low, "yes."
Ansem showed me how humans eat, how they drink, and tried teaching me to pass the time with television. He explained to me that food isn't necessary for my body, but it wouldn't hurt me in any way. He expressed his jealousy for not gaining weight.
Ansem had me lie down on the table for my last rest in his lab. He had instructed me to review preprogrammed human interaction for the morning. Introductions were difficult. I learned to make a first impression. I learned how I should try to make connections with my family. Family is defined as a group of consisting of parents and children living together in a household. I also found: a person or people related to one and so to be treated with a special loyalty or intimacy. I conducted one more search before I had powered down. I watched clips, videos, and television shows about family to see what would happen to me. By all possibility and statistical counts, I may not fit in because I am new; I am not their blood. They do not know me; what makes them think they will want me?