The Phoenix Code by Catherine Asaro Read Free Book Online

sitting at his workstation. A flock of holos skittered across the screen, a colorful profusion of cubes, disks, pyramids, and spheres.
    "May I come in?"
    He swiveled his chair around. After he had stared at her a while, she said, "Are you all right?"
    "No."
    "What's wrong?"
    "I can't answer your question." His expression reminded Megan of her four-year-old niece when the girl was confused. It made her want to hug Aris. She held back, of course. Even if he understood the gesture, which she doubted, he probably wouldn't appreciate being treated like a child.
    "Which question caused the problem?" she asked.
    With her exact intonation, he said, "Are you all right?"
    She blinked at his ability to mimic her voice. "Why can't you answer?"
    In his normal baritone he said, "I don't see how 'all right' applies to me. The evolution of software is a neutral process, whereas 'all right' suggests emotional content. If I am not all right, am I somewhat wrong?"
    His literal interpretation didn't surprise her. Not only was it a trait of computers, it was also one of young children. "The reason I wondered if you were all right was because you just stared at me when I asked if I could come into your room."
    "I am not a person."
    "I'm not sure I follow."
    "I am an android."
    "Well, yes." She tried to interpret his response. "Does that affect whether or not I can come in?"
    "It depends."
    "On what?"
    "My predecessors. The other RS units. They ceased." He regarded her with his large blue eyes. "If I am not 'all right' will you take me apart too?"
    Good Lord. He thought if he gave a "wrong" answer, they would destroy him? No wonder he didn't want to respond. It also meant he was developing a sense of self-preservation. Protective impulses surged over her. Maybe it was his youthful face that made him look vulnerable, or his wary gaze, as if he had no defense against the inconstant humans around him.
    "I would never hurt you," she said.
    "Software can't be hurt."
    Then why do you look so scared? Was she reading emotions into him that weren't there? In any case, he still hadn't said she could come in. "Did Marlow Hastin ever ask permission to enter your room?"
    "No."
    "Did he request your input on anything?"
    "Rarely."
    She didn't see how anyone could work with an AI and not offer it choices. How would Aris develop? "Did you ever ask for choices?"
    He shifted in his seat and a lock of hair fell into his eyes. "No."
    "Did you want to ask?"
    He pushed back the curl. "I have no wants. I carry out program instructions."
    Softly Megan asked, "Then why did you move your hair?"
    His arm jerked. "It was in my face."
    "So?"
    This time his arm snapped out and smacked the console. He yanked it back against his side. "It's inefficient to have hair covering my eyes."
    "Why is your arm moving?" She could have asked Tycho, but she wanted to hear his own evaluation.
    "My brain is instructing it to alter position."
    His deadpan response almost made her laugh. "But is it efficient, do you think?"
    A hint of confusion showed on his face. "My analysis of your tone suggests you are teasing me."
    She smiled. "A little, I suppose."
    "Isn't teasing an expression of affection?"
    "Well, yes, sometimes."
    His voice softened. "Do you have affection for me?"
    How did she answer? If she said yes, it implied she was losing her professional objectivity. If she said no, it could damage his developing personality. Besides, in this situation, professional objectivity might be the wrong response.
    "I enjoy your company," she finally said.
    "Can you feel friendship for a machine?"
    "I'm not sure." She sighed, giving him a rueful look. "What do you say, Aris? Do we humans make sense?"
    His lips quirked upward. "I have too little experience with humans to know."
    His hint of a smile heartened Megan. "Would you like to meet more people?"
    "How?" Now his expression shifted toward wariness. None of his emotions were full-fledged, but he had made progress. "I can't leave NEV-5 and you are the