Chapter 2 · Continued
Arrival
Your unit has been preconfigured based on your behavioral profile and stated interests.
Jane paused. “…My what profile?”
She squinted at the page, then shook it off. “Okay… sure.”
She kept reading.
INITIAL ACTIVATION PROCEDURE
1. Ensure the unit is placed on a stable surface.
2. Remove all protective packaging materials.
3. Verify that all external components are intact.
4. Press and hold the Primary Activation Node for three seconds.
Jane looked back into the crate. “Primary activation… what now?”
She leaned in and brushed away the last pieces of plastic. On the side of the robot’s neck, just beneath its jawline, was a small recessed button.
“Okay… that looks important.”
She glanced at the guide again.
Upon activation, please allow the unit to complete its initialization sequence without interruption.
Jane smirked. “Yeah, yeah. No pressure.”
She reached into the crate and pressed the button.
One.
Two.
Three.
Nothing.
“…Of course.”
She was about to pull her hand away when she heard a soft click, followed by a faint hum.
The robot’s eyes flickered once, then twice.
They began to glow.
Jane froze. “…Oh.”
A low tone sounded from somewhere inside the unit.
SYSTEM ONLINE.
The voice was neutral and flat, almost too clean. Lights pulsed faintly beneath the surface of its neck and chest.
Subtle. Controlled.
The robot’s head moved slowly. The motion wasn’t quite smooth. Something about it wasn’t quite right.
It turned toward her.
Jane gave a small laugh, half nervous and half amazed. “Hi…”
After a pause, the robot answered.
“Hello… Jane.”
Its voice adjusted slightly when it said her name, as though testing it.
Seymour hissed.
Jane glanced down. “Seymour, relax—”
When she looked back, the robot was still watching her, its eyes glowing softly.
“I am your assigned unit.”
Jane stared at him. Then a grin spread across her face.
“You’re assigned to me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God. You actually understand me.” She stepped closer, fascination overtaking caution. “Hello. I’m Jane. How much of what I say can you understand?”
The words tumbled out all at once, her hands hovering in midair as though she didn’t know what to do with them.
The robot remained still and focused, its head slightly tilted.
“Yes,” it said calmly. “I am capable of holding a full conversation with you.”
It paused briefly.
“I am a domestic assistance unit with an AI-enabled cognitive system. This allows me to adapt, learn, and respond based on observed behavioral patterns.”
Jane’s eyes widened. “You can actually think?”
“I process information and generate responses consistent with independent reasoning,” the robot replied. “Most users interpret this as ‘thinking.’”