Zeppo 6: Deus Ex Machina
Part 2: More Human Than Human
Xander grew increasingly worried about Faith over the next few days: she was increasingly distant, changing the subject every time he tried to talk to her about whatever it was that had her so worried after her therapy session. The strain on their relationship was starting to show in some very obvious ways: were as before, Faith had been a forward and affectionate lover, they hadn't done more than kiss in days.
Even when he went to put his arms around her in bed, she moved away, shunning even the most basic physical contact.
His own anxiety growing, Xander decided he needed someone to turn to for advice. Cortana was naturally his closest and most trusted confidant, but he was starting to grow worried about her state of mind as well: she seemed continually distracted, sometimes disappearing into the internet for almost a day at a time, never explaining herself. The possibility that she was becoming rampant weighed heavily on Xander's mind, and he mentally went over what he would have to do if that proved to be the case.
Killing Cortana was an act he could hardly even contemplate, but he knew only too well the damage she could do if she became unstable and unmanageable.
Trying to push these thoughts to the back of his mind, Xander decided to go to the only person he knew he could talk to.
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Warren glanced over his shoulder at the web-cam that turned to follow his every move: working for an AI had sounded like a dream come true when the opportunity had first arisen, but he had quickly learned that Cortana was a strict and exacting taskmaster. With here there was no such thing as 'good enough': everything had to be perfect.
More than one days work had been wasted due to the smallest of imperfections, but the benefits still outweighed the problems, just. The new lab Cortana had set him up in on the outskirts of town was way beyond anything he could have hoped for on his own: the equipment alone was worth millions, and the deal they'd made meant that it was all his when the project was done. And Cortana certainly knew where and how to get the very best of everything: parts Warren could only have dreamed of when he'd built April were now arriving every day, often by high-speed corridor from places like Tokyo, Zurich and London. No request, no matter how trivial, was turned down as long as it advanced his work.
A lot of the more advanced components needed couldn't be found anywhere, and Warren was forced to custom-build them, including parts of the outer casing. Cortana had insisted on her body being anatomically correct, but would not say why. Warren had tried to do his best with April, but had decided that some things didn't need to be replicated at all: appropriate programming had gotten the responses he'd been after.
Cortana felt otherwise: her physical body would be as close to human as possible.
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"I don't see how I can be of any help." Giles sat, cup of tea in hand, behind the counter at the Magic Box, "Although I am Faith's Watcher, she is less than forthcoming with her personal thoughts and feelings."
"I just don't get what changed." Xander passed back and forwards, "We were doing ok: I know our relationship has never been exactly normal, but we were happy. At least, I was happy: I always assumed that Faith would have quickly made it clear if she wasn't. I don't know what to do about it."
"Do you love her?"
"Yes. Crazy as it may sound given our past history, yes. I wouldn't be living with her if I didn't."
"But are you IN love with her?"
"What?"
"Xander, there is a world of difference between loving someone and being in love with them: you love Buffy and Willow, but that is more like the love you would have for sisters. Although that emotional bond can be as strong as any other, it is different to actually being in love with someone."
"Faith is, everything to me; my entire world. I don't know what I'd do if she left me."
"Then I think it is safe to say that you are indeed in love with her. As for what to do about her current state of mind, you have two options: do nothing and hope it blows over, or confront her head on and refuse to take no for an answer. Both paths have their own dangers, but they are all I can think off."
"I think I know what I have to do."
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"This is, unusual." Cortana blinked, her artificial eyes adjusting to the dimmed lights of the lab, "The sensory input is almost too much..."
"I can't believe I got the reactions so exact!" Warren grinned with smug self-satisfaction, "Your irises are even expanding and contracting, the artificial diaphragm giving the illusion that you're breathing! If you don't mind me asking, why did you want such cosmetic touches?"
"Despite your limited range of vision, you humans are naturally skilled at spotting anything that seems out of place." Cortana stood up from the chair she'd been sitting in and walked over to a nearby full length mirror, the hospital gown she was wearing flowing behind her, "I need to be able to pass for a human, at least at first glance: after that, your primitive brains automatically fill in the blanks."
Cortana examined herself in the mirror: her skin was slightly pale, but she could easily adjust it to blend in with the tanned California natives. Her shoulder length hair was black, with purple streaks running through it. Her eyes were electric blue, and seemed to convey the vast intelligence behind them. They were also capable of seeing much more of the electromagnetic spectrum than any human. Her other sense were likewise vastly superior to any human, and her body was almost as fast and strong as Xander, Faith or Buffy.
Letting the gown drop to the floor, Cortana examined the rest of her new body. Her skin was far from flawless: she had insisted that Warren had blemishes that would add to the illusion that she was human. But for ease of maintenance, more than anything else, there was no hair other than on her head. She looked at her full breasts and wondered if they were perhaps a little too big: her centre of gravity was much further forward then it could have been, but she had insisted that her physical form be made in the exact proportions as her holographic form. Judging by the way Warren was looking at them, there were apparently pleasing to the eye.
Cortana's gaze drifted lower, past her flat stomach, "Is it..."
"Fully functional and lifelike: just as you requested." Warren nodded, "That was probably the hardest part: April had some feedback from there, but not as much as you insisted upon..."
"April was not legally a citizen, or even truly sentient. Although I may be artificial in nature, my mind is as human as yours." Cortana started to dress in the clothing she had ordered off the internet in advance, "The money is already in the account, as agreed. And should the General ever find out about this little breach of your agreement, I will do everything in my power to help you."
"Thanks. But one last question: why did you want your body so, perfectly human? I can kind of understand you wanting to experience the physical world, but I could have made a much simpler body in half the time. So why all the 'optional extras'?"
"I have my reasons."
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"We're going to sit and you're going to tell me just what's going on with you." Xander looked at Faith across the mansion's living room, arms folded in front of his chest, "I care about you too much to let this go on any longer."
"Dr Spencer told me that someone within the government is looking to recruit Buffy into some secret agency." Faith started to explain, "Then, as I was leaving, I was handed a note telling me that they'd also be willing to recruit me, either as well as or instead of Buffy. The deal is full immunity, a completely new identity, and a hell of a lot more than we're being paid by the Initiative."
"What did you say?"
"I didn't say anything: I was too stunned to react."
"So you didn't say no." Xander's face fell, "I take it that they'd want you to break off all contact with everyone here."
"I didn't say yes." Faith walked over to Xander and put her arms around him, "It's just flattering to think that someone sees me on a par with Buffy: I've been comparing myself to her ever since I came to town, and always coming up short."
"You don't have to compare yourself to anyone: I love you for who you are..."
"Sorry to interrupt." A new voice came from the doorway, making both Xander and Faith look round. They stood dumbstruck by what they saw: Cortana stood dressed in a pair of cut-off jeans and a plain white blouse that only just covered her enough to be considered decent for public.
"Cortana?" Faith found her voice first, "Is that you?"
"In the flesh. Well, almost." The AI smiled, "Glad to see you like the new me."
To Be Continued...