Deep

Chapter 94 In between Spaces

Bob... Black.

Light. Humar's worried face. 'Captain, Captain, stay with me.' 

Humar, you have a beautiful voice, you should speak more. Black.

Light. 'BP ninety over eighty, HR one twenty, breathing twenty-four, shallow laboured. He has a collapsed lung...' 

Gilroy you overachiever. Black.

Light. 'Ready. One, two, three. Lift...'

Cassandra. What's up, Doc? He, he, he. I made a funny. Black.

Dim light, I am in a dark theatre. There is only one person present other than me. They are in the front row watching the screen. The screen is a blur to me, but its contents riveted them. I advance to discover who they are.

It is Bob. Hey Bob, what's up?

[Sh, watching the film.] I am sitting next to him now with a box of popped corn in my hands. It's heavily buttered popcorn, and I like buttered popcorn. The butter smells heavenly, and it is hot and fresh. I toss a tasty morsel into my mouth, savour the salty buttery sweetness, and settle to watch the screen.

The film on the screen has focused. It is a memory of happier times.

I open the door to my old residence.

'I'm home.' Elise runs out to meet me with a new friend in tow. She races and jumps into my arms. She staccatos me with questions. 'Hi, Daddy. How was work? Did you rescue anybody today? Are you going to be here long? Can we play?'

'Okay, no, a few weeks, and let me chat with your mom first. Where is she?'

'Mommy's in her office.' I nod at her shadow, who stands in quiet observance. 

The AI was sky blue with gold highlights and was the size of an average five-year-old girl. She lacked distinct facial features, something typical of new AIs, until they chose a face. She was unusual, as she had already selected a sexual orientation, which was a feature they chose, along with a face and a name.

'Who is your new friend?'

'Oh, she just came home with mommy today. I'm taking care of her.' Elise placed her hands on her hips, showing me she is a"big girl" now. 

'Does she have a name yet?'

'She says she does not have one. I find she looks like an...'

'Alice.'

'Yep. Alice accepted the name Elise suggested.' I turned to the speaker.