NETO

Within an lab within Ti Ven Drua Labs be 2 sentients. The globular sentient afloat in a tank of nutrient fluid be called Little Oracle. He be the namesake of Oracle, the large drua brain afloat in its own nutrient tank distances away – within the confines of the Oracle Project. A swivel device atop Little Oracles tank contain the sensory devices and audio speaker for the brain. At now – those devices focus on the other sentient in the lab – Neto – a stocky dark u-man male that sit at a desk eating lunch.

Orc. Speak the u-male.

Neto. Sound a metallic voice from the swiveling device.

Load the editorial from prior Natural Life Alerts titled Stupidized Druas.

The editorialists voice – dripping with cynicism – sound from Little Oracles speakers.

Speak of a nightmare for u-manity – druas with emotions and citizenship.

At after – Neto step down a hallway of Ti Ven Drua Labs. From behind – a tall red-headed u-man engineer step faster. His name be Beme.

Beme match step with Neto. Well. Did you hear that editorial re us.

Bene smile. It be emotional vomitus.

Neto turn to face the gangly man. Speak your motive.

Bemes eyes open wide. Laratisik want to produce caregiving druas – with emotions.

For Neto – the mental dawn. Neto reason that Beme be thinking that the editorial stimulate the rebellious part of him – inspire him to join Laratisiks new enterprise.

Okay. Be not long. Bemes smile fade as he turn and leave.

At work end – Neto step down the hallways of to Laratisiks lab. He encounter her drua engineers and support staff. All move to the side while he pass.

Almost all other u-noids evolve more egalitarian etiquette with their drua coworkers. Not Laratisik. Even though she admire the skill of her drua staff, she continue to treat them as servants or slaves.

Before he see her – he hear Laratisik screeching commands at 1 of her drua engineers. At the sight of the gaunt u-fem – he call. Tisik. Her close-cropped light-brown hair fly out as she spin her head in his direction. Dru-imo questions.

I be just closing up. Step along please. Laratisik say.

Neto step alongside. About fear.

Laratisik walk fast talk fast. Fear be suppressed while programmed responses be substituted – tru to Boyanskian principles. There be null fear of death. And null pain.

At now – they approach Laratisiks dru-fem infant named Ifa chambered in 1 year old body. It stir from drua sleep, coo and reach its tiny arms to Laratisk.

Neto speak as Laratisik pick up the dru-child. I think the rational system need dominate.

They step toward the exit of Laratisiks lab when she speak. I forget. Do hold Ifa. I get a copy of the proposal for you.

She hand Ifa to Neto and hurry back to her desk and fumble thru a mountain of accumulated material.

While Neto hold Ifa out in front of him – Ifa stuff her hand in her mouth – yet manage to smile at him. Though he visualize her artificial structure – though he know her programming – he find himself speaking in a singsong high-pitched voice. Did u-mom leave Ifa with strange u-man.

At the sight of the returning Laratisik – Ifa began to kick and flap her arms excitedly.

Laratisik trade Ifa for the business proposal. Fall under her spell – you did. When do you adopt one.

Laratisik answer distractedly. Soon.

Outside the lab Neto turn to Laratisik. At new day – come to my lab.

At new day work start – Laratisik arrive at Netos lab anxious that Neto join her team. Of the u-man and drua engineers she know, he have the finest grasp of cognitive processes outside the Oracle Project.

It happen that Little Oracle be reciting a news item re the Oracle Project.

Laratisik ask. What be that. I miss.

Little Oracle turn silent.

Neto answer. Oracle make a pronouncement on citizenship for druas. He say that minus an objective ethical force in nature u-mans have null compelling reason to enfranchise druas.

Null objective ethical force. Do I feel the earthquake caused by a philosopher multitude turning in their graves.

Laratisik snicker. U-mans, the more powerful. A drua be more powerful than a u-man physically. And in some ways, mentally. And they soon be more numbered than u-mans.

But there be null compelling reason. Laratisik smile. Oracle say.

Laratisik speak quietly. You should be on that project.

Nieto glance down. They might still call me.

Be it a disappointment if designing emotional druas.

At 6 years – when the u-man trio introduce dru-imos into the caregiving market – Neto decide for a dru-son.

He enter the public access area of the factory. Then he enter an empty Drua Designer booth. The designer scan him then display a holografic image more ideal than real Neto. Then Neto instruct the Designer to youthen the image to an infant of one year. He instruct that the obedience-to-owner principles be set on full. He turn on the heuristic facilities so his dru-son can learn and be chambered in progressively larger bodies – in contrast to Laratisiks dru-child – its learning abilities be retarded and it remain at infant level. Then Neto decline emotional augmentation.

At 3 months – he go to the delivery window to receive his dru-son.

At 4 years – 2 sentients and 1 drua infant share Laratisiks office. Beme – teary over Laratisiks death from a fall while carrying Ifa down a flight of stairs. Neto – as executor of Laratisiks estate. Ifa – in dru-sleep atop the office table.

Neto read Laratisk will aloud. Then stop. The passage he just read startle them. Neto read again. It say – when Laratisik die Ifa must be shut down.

Beme cry out. But she be Boyanskian.

But I not understand. Why Tisik want that.

Neto respond as if the answer slowly form in his mind. May it be related to her views on citizenship. She reason that druas be machines and less than u-man. Or may it be she repulse by thought of Ifa continuing beyond her death. I be not sure why.

At that moment – Neto glance at Ifa, convincing as a sleeping u-child. He reach out toward here and she open her eyes, giggle and kick her feet. Neto rise and pick her up.

There. Beme say. Can you end that little life.

Neto cry out angrily. Beme.

Neto pause, ignoring Bemes continuing chatter.

Neto interrupt. Beme. I will consider for 1 month. If I cannot reason contra Tisiks will, I will cleanse Ifa. I will cleanse this drua.

Neto carry Ifa to his office. He put her down on his desktop. Orc.

Neto.

Little Oracle intone. The justifiable reasons for nulling will requests be the request be impractical or impossibile or socially prohibited.

Neto pace. Ifa be a rational creature.

Ya. Neto say. Do not the u-man consensus seem ready to embrace that definition as the criteria for enfranchisement.

Neto continue to examine reasons until the 1 month deadline. Then he turn on Ifas free will and turn on her heuristics. Then he carry her into Bemes office and give her to the grateful man to raise in his household. Then he free his dru-son and all his household druas.

At about the implementing of Drua Citizenship – the Oracle Project invite Neto to join team. Neto and Beme part amicably. But Neto never see Beme again til over 30 years later when his dru-son lead Beme, gray and stooped, and a lovely adult dru-fem to his deathbed.

Beme talk softly. Neto He point to dru-fem. This be Ifa.

Netos mouth open in surprise. He speak weakly. Ifa. Little Ifa. Chambered.

He raise his hand. It tremble. Ifa grasp it with both hers.

Beme continue to speak. And she be dru-imo now. Many u-noids say they not note difference, but I tect difference. More response variety. More unexpected behavior.

At the moment – Ifa lean down and press her lips to Netos cheek as her long Laratisik-brown hair brush his face.

Then for the first time – Ifas adult voice wash upon Neto. My heart to you for continuing me. I be grateful.

Netos dru-son bend over and dab the tears sliding down Netos face while Beme wipe away his own tears. Then they settle into chairs to await Netos finality.

Copyright 2003, 2008 by John A. Eyon