The Phoenix Fleet of the Immortal Dar

A Wonderful Life

“Nonsense!” She yelled and threw the book in the corner.

The woman jumped off the couch and headed to the table covered with books. They also held information about the time before the Change, but nothing about the real events. There were descriptions of a cruel, chaotic world where, one day, people suddenly decided to make improvements and live in understanding and love. The scientific discoveries and innovations created during the year of the Change were listed in the Archives and accessible to everyone. She had read, if not everything, at least a larger part of the books there, but she could not find the answers she was looking for. The extended works of writers covered the old beliefs and transformed them into praises toward the present day. At first glance, a person could learn everything about anything because today, unlike in the past, there are no knowledge restrictions or prohibitions. What was missing was the information about the spark that ignited the fire of this spontaneous, global, and wild evolution of civilization and society’s morals.

The woman left all thoughts of the past aside. She took a shower and prepared herself lunch. The doorbell’s annoying melody interrupted her before the first bite. She wanted to change the tune, but this was not her house, and she was leaving in a few days. She opened the door while biting the colossal sandwich.

Both strangers’ faces glowed with wide smiles:

“Good day, we are from…”

She slammed the door with her leg and continued eating. She admired their stubbornness and creative disguises. Last week in Paris, they were dressed up like plumbers. The uniforms of her chasers were perfect to the last detail, and anyone could be fooled. She was not looking at the clothes. She was looking at their eyes and movements. The chasers could not hide the character and skills they built for years. She gathered her belongings in the backpack with one hand while munching pickles with the other one. She put her jacket in a hurry and grabbed the second sandwich. The fast movement made the tomato slide to the side, so she pushed it back in with her tongue. She grabbed the backpack and walked toward the front door.

“You got faster,” smiled the woman stepping outside.

A dozen heavily armed, masked soldiers stood with their guns pointed at her.

“You can’t escape this time,” yelled a guy in a suit standing behind the group. The slight trembling of his voice showed he was not entirely confident in his words. “I have a warrant for your detainment form the 13 Ladies.”

The piece of paper waved in the air held no value in the eyes of the woman. She could easily overpower the armed men like she had done many times before. The request of the 13 Ladies to stand in front of them transformed into a detainment order. That sparked her curiosity to find out what they wanted from her.

“First, we have to return the books to the library.”

The suit frowned. She walked forward, throwing her backpack at one of the armed men:

“Sweety, help the lady.”

The soldier’s weapon flew down when he reached to catch the backpack. The rest nervously squeezed their guns and stepped away from her path.

“The books are in the living room. Be careful. Some of them are quite old,” the woman went on with her instructions, walking toward the open car door.

“My name is Pelit, Head Secretary of the 13 Ladies,” the suit introduced himself.

“Nice profession,” she said, licking the sauce from her fingers. Her hands were not clean enough, so she pulled out the man’s pocket square to wipe them. “I expect cooled champaign and a box of the Lady Responsible for the Information’s favorite chocolate bonbons on the plane.”

The woman sat in the car and patiently waited for the soldiers to load the books in the trunk. She played her music to distract herself and avoid conversations with the Head Secretary of the 13 Ladies. Next to her, Pelit was frowning. The books had to be returned to seven different cities in opposite directions. Their trip continued to the airport, and from there, the plane took them on a ride to seven continents before heading to the location of the meeting. Pelit explained the reason for the delay to the 13 Ladies. Their comments were not kind, but they agreed to postpone the meeting.

The soldiers were crying out of pain on the floor of the plane.

“Lе-lе-let us talk about this,” startled Pelit, who had pushed himself to the seat. The knuckles of his fingers were pale from squeezing the handles of the chair.

“I am not putting this stinky rag over my head,” said the woman calmly.

“I understand you don’t like it, but that is the procedure. The hood, I mean the mask, is mandatory for everyone.”

“I am not everyone,” she said, and with a calm voice, then turned to the soldier, trying to stand up and attack her from behind. “Stay down.”

The wounded man looked at her and collapsed on the floor. Pelit gathered his courage and quoted the safety rule:

“Outsiders are not allowed to know the places of 13 Ladies’ secret meeting locations.”

The woman gave him a friendly smile:

“Right now, the 13 Ladies are 30 kilometers North from here. The building was constructed over 700 years ago. The exterior is in classic ancient style, but the interior has the latest technology and comforts. The security consists of descendants of samurai and ninjas, whose families had served in the army for generations. There is a small temple in the garden near the house, under which two tunnels lead to a submarine and an airport. I can even tell you what flowers are planted in the garden.”

“How?” whispered Pelit with his eyes wide open. The people could meet the 13 Ladies anytime in their offices or on the street. No one knew where the secret meetings were held, and no one was allowed there without the expressive approval of all thirteen council members. This woman knew everything about one of the top-secret buildings in the world. Pelit wondered what other classified information she had learned.

His confused expression made her smile. She took her backpack and walked out of the plane. The driver opened the car door for her, and she sat inside. The secretary needed a few minutes to report to the 13 Ladies and call a new security team.

“Those men are some of the best, and you sent them to the hospital,” said Pelit when he joined her in the car.

“Compliments will not bring you closer to my bed,” she winked.

“It is good that you decided to come peacefully. The 13 Ladies issued more serious measures.”

“What do they want from me?”

“You don’t know?” Pelit overreacted in his surprise. He wished to take this opportunity to nag but stopped himself. “You will find out.”

The woman shrugged shoulders and turned her music on. There was no point in asking any more questions because the secret meeting room meant that only the 13 Ladies knew about the topic of the conversation. She looked outside through the window. The buildings reminded her of her last Tokyo visit and the meeting with one of her father’s friends. They spoke about many things, but most of all about the Change. Even Tekla never told her what she saw during that fateful year. The only advice was to search for what was hiding right in front of her. This mystery was driving the woman crazy. It was as if she was trying to see something she did not know existed. She kept asking questions and listened to anyone who wished to speak. When the 13 Ladies started chasing her, she decided she was on the right track. She ignored the official written invitations to the meetings and then evaded the disguised pursuiters for a long time. Yesterday, they appeared armed for the first time. The 13 Ladies’ persistent and cautious actions showed they needed to catch her without society knowing about it. The woman intended to use this to her advantage.

The car moved through the mansion’s wide-open gates and took a tun on an alley covered with smooth rocks. Pelit observed the plants in the beautiful garden. Everything was just like she said. He had never been here even though he was the 13 Ladies’ Head Secretary for over seven years and had organized four secret meetings at different classified locations. Pelit had so many questions but, as always, let them fly away from his head. He knew what he needed to know to perform his duties and never asked questions. The car stopped at the mansion’s doors. The visitors walked in and left their shoes next to the door. The maid greeted them and led them down the hallway. Pelit was amazed at how the classic construction of the beautiful old house perfectly blends with modern technologies. Just like she said. A door opened, and the guests met the 13 Ladies.

“Pelit, thank you for bringing our guest. You can wait outside,” said the Head Lady.

The secretary left. The guest was invited to sit and treated to a cup of tea and sweets. In silence, the 13 Ladies studied the woman who managed to evade them for so long. She sent two teams of the best soldiers to the hospital and knew the secret building’s location. She was dangerous, but for now, she was of vital importance.

The guest also took advantage of those silent moments to look around the room. The doors toward the backyard were open, and it seemed like the room and garden are one. The sweet aroma of spring flowers filled the air and contrasted with the sharp taste of unsweetened green tea. The silence was broken by the murmur of a decorative waterfall and the songs of the birds outside. The guest liked the harmony and peace flowing in from the garden, which the 13 Ladies needed before or after meeting with her.

The maid walked out, and the lecture began. The 13 Ladies competed in scolding the guest and listing the troubles she had caused with her refusal to meet them.

“And I broke a nail,” frowned the guest, looking at her hand. “I guess you really need me. You are lucky that my schedule got cleared.”

“Your arrogance is endless!” yelled the Head Lady. Then she remembered they needed the guest and continued with a softer tone. “There is a project that could help the technological development of the entire humankind. If the project is successful, it will positively influence every aspect of our lives. You are chosen to join the team.”

“Your task is to teach an artificial intelligence how to think like a human,” the Lady of Information and Communications added.

“There is a solid foundation for this research, and the latest innovations are already implemented in toys and work robots. Why do you need a military robot thinking like a human?”

The 13 Ladies looked at each other. In a world where information was available to everyone, this woman knew the best-kept secrets.

“There is no mole,” said the guest, sipping her tea. “It is logical that this is a military robot. We would be in your daily office if this were just another artificial intelligence project. You sent disguised soldiers to bring me into a secret meeting location that has not been used in 20 years. Nowadays, only military projects continue to be top-secret. By the way, why are there still secret projects? Isn’t that against the fundamental laws of innovation and information transparency?

“Enough!” the Head Lady’s voice overpowered the guest’s words. “The project will be secret until we are confident in its success. This artificial intelligence unit has an impeccable human form, which can worry part of the population. That is enough information for now. You have to decide whether you will take part or not.”

“I want to see the artificial unit first,” said the guest.

“No,” said the Lady of Safety and Protection. “This requires the highest security clearance level. You will not get one before becoming part of the project.”

“I have to know what I will be dealing with. You know what I have worked on so far, and apparently, I am qualified and valuable enough for you to chase me for months, instead of hiring someone else. I want to see the artificial unit. If it is a matter of a couple of behavioral guidelines, there is no point in wasting my time. I will give you my recommendations without joining this circus. But if it is worth my attention, I require complete freedom of action and unlimited resources.”

It was clear the 13 Ladies had discussed possible demands because the Head Lady said:

“Alright. If you join the project, you will have an Unlimited Card and complete freedom, but you will be fully responsible for the unit. The project must remain secret. If even one person outside of the authorized personnel finds out about it, you will be the first person executed after the Change.”

“Fine,” said the woman, sipping from her cup.

The long flight and the detours could not fool her. This time, the 13 Ladies ordered her to be transported in a vehicle without windows, and no one spoke to her. Pelit did not join her. The van stopped, and the doors opened. Ten soldiers stood in a semi-circle around the van. Seeing the reinforcements, the woman concluded that they already knew what had happened to the last people who directed weapons at her. A young man in uniform with a broad smile walked past the soldiers:

“I am Lieutenant Ryan. You are right on time to meet the General.”

“Hello,” smiled the woman.

An old man with dozens of medals on his uniform walked toward them. The lieutenant introduced the General as Head of the Project but never mentioned his name. The woman wondered if an award or a medal was missing from the collection on his chest. The last war was before the Change, but she noticed some of the new medals granted by the 13 Ladies. Questions and suggestions about secret operations popped into her head because, officially, there has not been a conflict or a problem requiring military interference.

“I could have told the driver a shorter path to Area 51,” the woman smiled. “I assure you; they never said a word. I knew where I would be taken before getting on the plane. It is disappointing that you chose such a trivial location for a secret project.”

The General threw a glance at his soldiers. He was sure they never said a word the entire time. Unlike the Guardians of the City Order in the settlements, they were trained according to the old military books before the Change. The General took care of that personally. This woman was brilliant, and her martial skills were equal to those of the best fighters in the world. In his life, he had met only one other person like her. Now, just like back then, the General decided to turn his attention to the work:

“The 13 Ladies informed me about your demands. Lieutenant Ryan will help you. You can turn to him for everything. Don’t leave the base without my permission. Don’t share details about our work with anyone outside the people directly related to it.”

“I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die,” said the woman, placing her palm over her heart.

Under the wrinkled eyelids, the General’s lively eyes were measuring her. His thoughts ran like a wild river while he was trying to find a trace of mockery or danger in her voice. He could not read the emotions behind the friendly smile of the woman, so he continued:

“Lieutenant, show the project to our guest.”

“Follow me,” Ryan led her toward the elevator.

The soldiers were still alert but not pointing their weapons at her. They walked into the elevator with the guest and the lieutenant. A moment before the doors closed, she saw the General’s car heading for the exit, followed by another vehicle. The only interesting thing in the elevator was the board counting the underground levels. The doors opened, and the group continued down the corridors until they reached a room with monitors. Few scientists, who obviously had more caffeine than blood in their veins, frantically hit the keyboard buttons.

“Those are the scientists working on the project. Right now, they are making the latest improvements,” Ryan explained. “Professor, are you done?”

“Yes,” said the man in a green turtleneck shirt.

“Some delays are possible, but we are working on the issue,” another man reported.

The second scientist’s comment caused a robust reaction on behalf of the green turtleneck:

“This would not have happened if we had high-quality programming.”

“It is not my fault that everything overheats!” hissed the woman from the corner of the room. “I did not choose to work with such trashy computers.”

“The processors are not trash, noob! All prototypes have issues,” the green turtleneck raised his voice, and the rest of the scientists joined the quarrel.

“It is fun here,” said the guest to Ryan. Being so deep under the ground was unpleasant, and the scientists’ shouts made her nervous. She could not stand people who considered themselves all-knowing and all-powerful while behaving like rabid monkeys fighting for food. “If you leave me with them, I will kill them.”

“I’ll make sure you meet as rarely as possible. Professor, open the door, please.”

The lieutenant’s words brought the silence back into the room. Everyone turned their eyes toward the heavy iron door at the end of the room.

“As if they have locked a wild animal,” thought the woman. “Why are they afraid?”

The heavy metal door glided, and a deafening alarm filled the air. The soldiers turned their weapons toward the guest. To them, she was more dangerous than anything in the darkness of the next room.

“What is going on?” asked the lieutenant.

“I am sorry, we have system problems all day long because of the object’s updates. Everything will be alright in a few hours,” said one of the scientists when the alarm stopped.

“Why are the lights off?” asked the guest.

“We turn them on when we work on it,” explained the green turtleneck.

“You really keep the project in the dark,” joked the guest. “Does the artificial unit need light?”

“It does not need light,” laughed the green turtleneck. “It does not need anything. It is just a smart toaster.”

His grin aggravated the guest. This moment pushed the scales of her decision to take the job if not for something else than at least to poison the scientists’ lives.

“I do,” said the woman, turning her attention to the gloomy room. She could almost sense the presence of something inside. It was not a sense of a living creature, but it was not a sensation of a machine or an artificial unit. It was something familiar, but she could not remember what.

The bright lamps illuminated a room no bigger than a garage cell. The walls, floor, and ceiling were made of a thick granite layer, and beyond it an incredible quantity of concrete. In the room there were only a metal chair and a man sitting on it. The guest walked in and felt how the depression flowing from the walls tries to conquer her. She expected to see a unit of plastic and metal. In front of her stood a perfect replica of a human being. The man on the chair had a nice face and dark eyes but no hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes. His grey uniform had no marks or signs. He was sitting on the chair with hands on his hips as if he couldn’t decide whether to stand up or lean back. An actual human cannot hold this pose even for a few minutes.

“Where are his shoes?” asked the guest.

“He doesn’t need them. He doesn’t need clothes either, but we put them on because the females were getting distracted,” laughed the green turtleneck.

“I see he doesn’t need hair either,” said the visitor. She did not like the scientist since the first moment. His every word confirmed her initial impression, and it quickly transformed into hostility. To ignore his presence, she turned her attention to her future pupil.

“Robot. Android. Synthetic human,” the words echoed in her mind, accompanied by images from movies and books. Before the Change, people often dreamed of creating artificial humans from metal and plastic. Today, fully functioning limbs, skin, and synthetic organs were used in medicine. There were countless toys and synthetic pets that acted like real creatures. There are even robots with human appearances used for heavy work or sent to dangerous locations where humans cannot survive. They had the basic programs and artificial intelligence, allowing them to make simple decisions. Some human-like models could tell jokes and quote poetry, but that was also complex code created by programmers and scientists. This artificial unit exceeded the latest technological achievements. Every average person could say that on the chair sits a man with synthetic skin or a slight make-up on his face. The guest continued to study him. She noticed that the artificial unit was also examining her. “An unknown object in a familiar environment creates spontaneous reactions like curiosity and fear. You are curious and smart. I can bet you can learn on your own. They don’t know that. Otherwise, they would’ve been careful what they say around you. What else are you hiding?”

The guest turned to the artificial unit:

“I am Kosara. Call me Kas. What is your name?”

“We call him Proj…” started the green turtleneck.

“I am not asking you!” growled Kas, immediately feeling better. She turned to the robot again with a calm and friendly voice. “What is your name?”

There was no answer. The eyes of the unit were directed ahead of him toward the wall next to the door. Kas wondered what caused this insubordination. Such behavior in a human could be because of a lack of desire to communicate, stubbornness, pride, or even arrogance. If that was a human held captive his entire life, the lack of response could mean he is testing her. But why? Maybe he wanted to see if she was like the other scientists. Such a defensive reaction was unheard of in artificial units because it proved conscious self-preservation.

“She expects it to answer!” laughed the woman in the next room. “We never installed a dialogue program.”

With the edge of her eye, Kosara noticed that they had gathered at the door. This could explain the unit’s lack of desire to communicate.

“How do you give him orders?” asked Kas.

“Everything is automatic. We created the best programs in existence,” said one of the other scientists proudly.

“How do you teach him?” the guest continued with her questions.

“Through complex codes and algorithms. We also upload information in his memory. What are you doing here? Who are you? Lieutenant, who is this woman?” the green turtleneck asked with rising anger in his voice.

“She is the behavioral specialist chosen by the 13 Ladies,” explained the lieutenant.

“What subjects do you discuss with him?”

Kosara’s question was met with reactions ranging from laughter to aggravation. Only Ryan and the soldiers remained serious.

“What opinion could a gun or a car have?” laughed the woman scientist. Then, she changed her tone to the appropriate one for the following lecture. “Everything in him is programmed for maximum efficiency. We created behavior programs allowing him to choose the correct answer from a list of options. His decisions are fast, and he considers the risks of the situation. His success rate on the training ground exceeds 100%.”

“So, you don’t know what he thinks or feels,” concluded Kas.

“This is a serious laboratory!” snorted the green turtleneck. “If you want cute behavior, go to the pet developers.”

Kosara ignored the provocation. Now, she knew where to start. She went to the other room, took a chair, and returned to her student. She sat slightly to the side, so he had to turn around to see her.

“Look at me,” said Kas with a calm voice. She waited for a few seconds, but there was no reaction. She raised her hand to the face of the artificial unit, so the pointing and middle finger aligned with his eyes. After that, she moved her fingers toward her face. “Look at me.”

“He has no mimicry programming,” spat out the green turtleneck, but his voice faded.

The synthetic eyes followed Kosara’s hand toward her face.

“Hello, I am Kosara. You can call me Kas. What is your name?”

“Code name of artificial unit ‘Death’, project number 36493208, created on October 7^th, year 1^st after the Change. The 13 Ladies of Planet Earth approved the project. Head of the project is General…”

“Wait, wait!” interrupted him, Kosara. “You know, you don’t look like a Thirty-Four or a Project. I think it is time to choose a nice name for you. What do you think about that? If you were born the year after the Change, I am four years older than you. This means you must listen to me and do as I say.”

A muffed beeping sound came from Lieutenant Ryan’s portable computer:

“Kosara, the 13 Ladies want to speak with you.”

Ryan turned the screen toward Kosara, showing the planet’s leaders. They were still at the same secret location.

“During our short meeting, we missed informing you that we included the artificial unit in your search four months ago. The artificial unit found your location,” said the Head Lady.

Kas understood the hint. If he found her once, he can do it again. Her mind turned to its favorite entertainment of finding flaws:

“I was not hiding. You could have found me in five minutes through the main network. You were observing me. You were studying the world outside. Now, I know what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

“I decided to join the project,” said Kas. “I expect to get what we agreed upon. I will take control of the project and will answer only before you and the General. You will not question my methods or stop me before I inform you that my work is done.”

The 13 Ladies agreed and ended the conversation. The green turtleneck got busy writing complaints to the General to express how humiliated he felt by this sudden demotion. Kas noticed that her new student kept his eyes on her during the entire conversation with the 13 Ladies.

“Miss,” said Ryan.

“Call me Kas.”

“Miss Kas, I can show you your room if you like. You must be hungry.”

“Yes. See you tomorrow, my new friend with an exceptionally long and absolutely inappropriate name,” Kosara said to her student. There was no answer. He just stared at her. “Tomorrow, we will work on your manners.”

Kas returned the chair to its place and noticed that the scientists had returned to their work as if they had forgotten that the rest of the world existed. Before she walked out, she threw a glance at the synthetic unit. He had turned his attention to the grey wall again.

“Is he a teenager sick of over-patronizing parents or a tortured prisoner like the ones in the history books?” thought Kas. The last few minutes taught her that, first, the scientists don’t realize the importance of their work. Second, the artificial unit is more intelligent than all its creators put together. Third, the artificial unit wanted to learn and develop beyond the borders of its programming. The most important thing was that he kept his newly gained knowledge secret. Kas wondered if he had already calculated the chance of being disassembled by the scientists to find out how he learned to think independently. If the answer to this question is yes, then the artificial unit could be considered alive because it is afraid of death.

Kas returned to reality and heard the last rules of life in the base.

“We are like a family here,” concluded the lieutenant.

“Quite a dysfunctional family.”

“Well, we all have weird cousins. Unfortunately, they are all your colleagues. This is your room. Tell me if you need anything.”

Kosara looked around the room. The huge bed was a pleasant surprise. There were no excessive decorations. A screen was attached to the wall above the desk and connected to the computer. The night lamps were on, and their light made the walls look like dark olive oil. A security camera was hanging in one of the corners. Her backpack was on the bed, but she was sure they had checked her belongings.

“I would like some food. It doesn’t matter what, as long as it is cooked today. I want to read everything about the project, preferably on paper. I will need access to the systems. I also want you to remove the cameras and all other security devices from my quarters.”

“They are here for your protection.”

“Ryan, I become very dangerous when someone tries to enforce protection over me. Get them out of the room. Thank you.”

Half an hour later, Kas had everything she asked for. The dinner was spaghetti and fruit salad with cream for dessert. The small desk vanished under the pages with information. Ryan adjusted the screen on the wall to show the live feed from the project’s room and turned to Kosara:

“Do you need anything else?”

“No, thank you. Good night, lieutenant.”

At last Kas was alone. She got busy studying the documents while having dinner. The achievements in this project were incredible. She never suspected that such advanced technology existed. The matter of the project’s secrecy surfaced in her mind. In the public Archives, all technological research was available to anyone. Schools and scientists from around the world helped with the development of new upgrades. Despite the usefulness this project could have in every aspect of life, it was kept secret.

The documentation got boring, and Kas turned her attention to the screen. The main channel showed live feed, while the rest consisted of data on different equipment. The synthetic unit’s temperature was one degree Celsius above the average for a human being. His weight was also a bit higher than the standard for his height. He even had an artificial beating heart that moved the serums throughout his body. Kosara switched the view to live feed. A single lamp placed right above the artificial unit illuminated the room. He was sitting in the same pose as before. Kas wondered if he chose to sit this way or if it was part of the programmed behavior. His gray clothes faded in the dark background. The vague light barely showed the outlines of his head and palms. The bare feet were like pale lines on the floor. Kas could have thought this was a picture if it was not for the clock in the corner of the screen. She liked the old black-and-white movies, but this scene was depressing.

The screen glowed with a blinding light. Three scientists entered with cables and blinking devices in their hands. They plugged the wires into the wrists of the synthetic unit and behind his left ear. Kas observed the test object. There was no sign of fear or resentment, nor was there any attempt to stop them.

“Just like a toy plugged into the charger,” thought Kas. She wondered if he understood what was happening. Did he know that after every time the cables were plugged in, he became better than before? The data showed that the updates made him faster, smarter, and stronger, but there was no information on whether he realized that.

The scientists left the cables and walked out. Kas opened the schedule to see what was going on.

“Connecting to the global network for interface update,” read Kosara. This top-secret creation, the incredible secret the 13 Ladies needed to appoint an old-time General to keep safe, this miracle of the latest technological development needed an interface update from the global network like an ordinary cell phone. Kosara burst into laughter.

The knock on the door pulled Kosara from the nap. She stood up, yawning, and stretched on the way to the door. A voice followed the second knock:

“Excuse me, it is Lieutenant Ryan.”

“What is it?” Kas opened the door.

There was no answer to her question because the young man outside had lost the ability to speak. Kosara looked down and figured out the reason. She was in her underwear. She never bragged about her body, but she looked twice as good as girls far younger than her. Adding messy hair, red lips, and sleepy, half-closed eyes, there was no wonder why the boy lost his mind. The soldiers on guard noticed the lieutenant’s strange behavior. They did not turn around, but the confusion over the senior soldier’s red face made them smile.

“Well?” Kas, leaning against the door, invited the lieutenant to speak. This move made her curves even more attractive. It was not right to tease the young man like that, but obviously, she was one of the best-looking women he had ever seen.

“I, emh…” Ryan closed his eyes. The image of the half-naked woman remained before him. The lieutenant had to concentrate. He had a mission. He had to relay the orders. Only he had to remember what they were first. “General. Call you. Project to see.”

“I’ll take a quick shower, and I’ll be right with you,” Kas said, closing the door. “I still got it!”

It was nice to know her looks can still stir a man’s brain. She never allowed herself to take advantage of this power, but situation cheered her up. Kas took a shower and got dressed in a hurry. The lieutenant was waiting for her outside. He released the soldiers from their guard and took her down the hallway. Since she agreed to participate in the project, the guards were no longer necessary. Kas had no desire to escape or cause problems because her interest in the synthetic unit grew after she got acquainted with the project details.

“Ryan, look at me,” Kas suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway.

He stopped but did not dare to look at her.

“I was sleepy and forgot that I was only in my underwear. I don’t regret seeing me. You’ve done nothing wrong. Do you think I look good?”

“You are gorgeous!” laughed the soldier nervously.

“Then, this will be a fun and pleasant memory for both of us. Unless you think that I am ugly.”

“Oh, no, quite the opposite!”

“Good. I think so, too! Come on, now that you have seen me naked, I suggest you make me breakfast.”

With nervous laughter, the lieutenant led her toward the mess hall.

“The tests of the unit will begin in a few minutes. The General decided it would be good if you also saw his performance on the field,” explained Ryan.

“I’ll get something, and we’ll go there,” agreed Kas. The opened door before her led her to a world of tasty aromas. She wished to solve one more matter before enjoying the bliss of the warm food. “Ryan, don’t call him a unit.”

“He is an artificial unit.”

“And we are a pile of cells. Does this mean we are better than him? Or is he better than us? Accept him as a human who lived 5000 years ago. We must befriend and teach him how to behave like a modern person. As my assistant, you have to treat him with respect.”

Ryan thought about it. This gave enough time for Kas to fill up her plate and get tea. The incoming message on his computer caught his attention with a tiny squeal.

“The test of the synthetic warrior has begun,” informed Ryan.

“Alright, let’s go! Synthetic warrior. I like that.”

They joined the scientists in the observation room at the end of the field, and Ryan explained what the monitors were showing:

“We observe the advancement of the synthetic warrior from here because some obstacles are dangerous, and the field is over 20 kilometers long. The hallway in front of us is the training grounds’ start and finish line. The progress of the synthetic warrior is recorded and analyzed by the scientists and the General. We missed the beginning but are right on time for the most interesting and difficult obstacles.”

The General and several high-ranking officers were captivated by the progress of the synthetic unit. Kas preferred to observe them. Their faces had no expression, but she felt everything happening in their souls. Their pride with the results burned with wild flames, but Kosara noticed something else underneath. The shadow of an ancient emotion jumped around the bright light and ran back into the darkness. That was something wild, primitive, and untamed, even after countless years of human evolution. The high-ranking soldiers were scared.

Kas looked toward the monitors. The synthetic warrior crossed the obstacles over the field with ease. He felt neither fear nor the pain of his torn flesh. He showed no tiredness or hesitation. He followed orders and did not stop until the mission was completed.

“What if he doesn’t want to stop?” the thought crossed Kosara’s mind like an arrow. That was what scared the officers.

“What enemy are you going to fight with?” whispered Kas.

The world was a peaceful place where everyone lived in harmony. The last traces of violence and public misdemeanors were in the history books written before the Change. The last murder was over 10 years ago. Kosara’s mind jumped through the pages of the hundreds of books she had read and over the faces she had met on the street. She was missing something but could not understand what it was. Why was there still an army and police when there was no crime? The standard answer was ‘tradition that makes the people feel protected’. But feel protected from what? From whom? Kas looked at the screens where the synthetic soldier continued his advance. She kept wondering why the 13 Ladies created something that scared them and could be dangerous to the public.

Kosara reached the dead end of her thoughts and returned to the surface of the sober judgment. She turned her piercing gaze toward the officers. The dark clouds hanging over them cleared away as the synthetic soldier approached the finish line. The results were more than satisfactory, and they spoke about future tests.

“He is almost here,” Ryan pointed at the map. “The last obstacles are not dangerous to us. We can go to the finish line.”

Kas nodded and followed Ryan and the senior officers to the hall. The synthetic warrior crossed the last obstacles and stopped in front of them. The scientists proudly informed everyone that his new battery could last 10,000 years without recharging. Kas left the information flowing around her and focused on the soldier’s torn and charred clothes. His face was covered with ashes, mud, and dirt. The synthetic skin had gaping wounds. Kas realized that if that were an actual human, he would be howling in unbearable pain on the floor.

“Why is he barefoot again?” asked Kas, looking at the synthetic warrior’s burned feet.

“The professor is studying the synthetic skin’s ability to mend itself after different damages,” explained Ryan.

“Does he feel pain?” continued Kas with her questions, even though she already guessed the answer.

“It has no feelings or emotions,” said cheerfully the professor in the green turtleneck. The high ranking soldiers’ praises improved his mood, and now, he could kindly explain anything, even to an unpleasant person like Kosara. “All receptors of the unit must work before, during, and after the damages. My work demands recording every aspect of the traumas and the following healing.”

“How many other scientists creating cyber-skin are monitoring your results?”

“I am still collecting data,” smiled the green turtleneck. Kosara touched a nerve. He would not be able to share information with the world while working on the project. After that, he had to spend a year or two researching cyber skin and communicating with the rest of the scientists before announcing his improvements. Besides, all that could happen only if the 13 Ladies approved of it. Even so, he was determined to be ready with the information.

“You torture him for your pleasure,” concluded Kas.

The professor turned his empty gaze toward her and gave a greasy smile:

“Artificial units are constantly used to improve human life. I see that real scientific work is bothering you. If that is the case, you should be pleased to hear that the tests are once a week, so the artificial skin has time to heal before we perform new tests. We noticed that lately, the unit has managed to successfully avoid obstacles by choosing the safest route through the field. One could think he is careful not to scratch himself. Today, the unit has only slight wounds and just a few burns. He will be like new within hours. In the afternoon, you will see…”

“I saw enough,” Kas said sharply, turning her back on him. She wondered how people like the green turtleneck survived through the Change. They had no place in the present-day world, and maybe that is why the professor was working in a hole under the ground. “Lieutenant, follow me.”

“Won’t you check the test’s results?”

“We have more important work,” Kas said, walking into the hallway. She needed fresh air, so she headed to the surface.

“Where are we going?” asked the lieutenant. “The General has not approved you leaving the base.”

“I need to breathe air that has not passed through the asses of evil scientists.”

Ryan laughed at her wittiness. Then he noticed how angry she was and held his comment. They walked past the security and, once outside, took one of the alleys in the garden. The hot sun was high above the ground, already promising another scorching day. Kosara sat on one of the benches, still trying to calm down. Next to her, Ryan was quietly working on his computer:

“Do you know that all this was a desert?”

The lieutenant turned his attention to the green fields and the forests beyond the base’s gardens:

“I’ve studied historical geography. I know that many of the dead lands from the past are now fertile fields and green hills.”

“How do you think this happened?”

“The people worked together and changed the world for the better.”

“What do you think made them work together?”

“Desire for a better life,” smiled the lieutenant. “I am proud to be one of the first generations after the Change. Our ancestors did a great job of creating a peaceful and fruitful world. Now, we must upgrade what they have built and teach our children to do the same.”

Kas smiled at the happy sparkle in his eyes. She was delighted that most people enjoyed their peaceful lives instead of digging into the past. She and a few others were interested in the actual events before and during the Change for the pure facts. Kas had no intention of disturbing Ryan’s organized life.

“Write this down,” she said. “First, find him shoes. Second, pack your bags because we are leaving.”

“Who is leaving?”

“You, me, and the synthetic soldier. The nerds can come if they promise not to bother me. Tell me, who decided how he looks?”

“The 13 Ladies created the criteria. Every part of his body was created for maximum functionality and realism. There is a rumor that it took them a lot of time to decide how his manhood will look.”

“They decide what to stuff in his pants but could not decide what hair to give him?”

“Women, a!” laughed Ryan. His smile vanished, destroyed by her serious face and the wrath in her eyes. “I will tell the scientists to give him long hair. After that, he can cut it however you recommend.”

“Fine, now, go pack. I want us to leave for New York tomorrow morning. If the nerds don’t want to come with us, they can wait for us in Hawaii or stay here.”

“The General will not approve such lack of control over the unit.”

“The 13 Ladies reassured me no one would mess with my tutoring. The first step is to cut the umbilical cord. Scientists can collect data without cables. Now, what are you supposed to do?”

After a brief moment of confusion, Ryan said:

“Tell the General we are leaving, and he should approve the termination of the synthetic warrior’s connection with the base. The scientists should put some hair on him. And make sure all damages are fixed immediately.”

“What else?”

“Shoes! I’ll find socks for him, too.”

“Very good!”

Ryan left, while Kas stayed outside a bit longer. The fresh air helped her organize her thoughts. Very soon, she would see if the 13 Ladies intended to keep their word or if she would have to live underground with a bunch of nerds. She returned to her room and packed her bags. Freedom was the first thing on the list of things she intended to teach the soldier. She wanted to get him out of the depressing room where the scientists were free to poke and torture him constantly. Kas could not predict how the synthetical warrior would behave once unplugged from the systems. Was he going to attack someone out of vengeance? He was more likely to collapse on the ground, helpless in dealing with the simplest task.

A few hours passed before Kas got her demands. The scientist met her with vicious accusations that she was trying to destroy their achievements, but their shouts could not scare her.

“We will write our complaints to the General and the 13 Ladies!” the female scientist waved her finger.

“You are going to complain that you will be working from golden beaches?” smiled Kas, walking into the grey room.

The synthetic warrior was sitting as calmly as before. The wounds he got during the tests were just barely visible scars. They were going to vanish entirely in a few hours. Kas took the chair and placed it in a way that the soldier had to turn if he decided to speak with her. Seeing him again, this time with hair, she noticed more details on his face. The 13 Ladies had really spent a lot of time considering his appearance. The old scars and slight wrinkles over his face made him look like an attractive middle-aged man. The long, dark hair and beard covering his face gave him a serious look.

“Well, mon petit sauvage {‘my little savage’ French}, do you like your hair?” asked Kas, but did not get an answer. “When there are two people in the room, and one of them asks a question, it means he or she is trying to start a conversation. Haven’t they uploaded an etiquette and good manners program? I guess not. Alright then. I am trying to start a conversation with you, so I will speak. Join me when you feel ready. I am here to teach you how to be a human. Communication is one of the most important things to humans. So far, the scientists have uploaded ready answers in your head, and you can expect to hear one of them depending on the question and the specific situation. That is over. From now on, if you wish to know something, you will ask, research, think, and discuss it with me. When I answer your question, I will explain everything, and we will discuss different points of view on the subject. I expect the same from you when you answer my questions. To make it even more interesting, I will tell you that some questions have more than one correct answer. Others have no correct answer, or everything you say could be completely right or wrong.”

Her silent companion turned toward her. His face still had no expression, but Kas was sure she saw a spark of curiosity.

“Sounds unbelievable, right?” she continued. “There are no stupid or less important questions. There are no right or wrong answers. I know you have a program for determining human emotions and mental states. I know you use it to remember my behavior so that you would give me correct answers every time. I advise you not to do that because I am not bragging, but I am extremely spontaneous and unpredictable. I always win poker games.”

He did not get the joke, so she continued:

“Now, let’s discuss the pressing matter. I know you heard my conversation with the scientists about your unplugging from the network. They were screaming a lot on the subject, and your hearing is dozens of times better than humans’. This is where you verbally state or nod, confirming what you’ve heard. Otherwise, I may conclude that you are either broken or lying. We both know that you are in excellent condition, like we know what the scientists will do with you if they find out you have learned to lie.”

“Yes.”

“Alright! Then, since you are directly connected to this situation, I am asking you if you wish to be cut out from the network. Do you understand what that means?”

“Does the mixer understand what it is to be plugged in the socket?” laughed the green turtleneck. “This nonsense will only prove that the unit cannot function outside of the controlled environment of our systems.”

“I don’t know about the mixer, but I want to plug you into a socket,” smiled Kas. That was not the kind, sweet smile fitting a beautiful face like hers. She was showing her teeth like a last warning before the attack.

Something primitive clicked in the scientist’s mind, turning on his rusty self-preservation instincts. He walked out and continued to whine in the next room. Kas turned to the synthetic soldier:

“When they cut the connection, you will have limited memory. A huge memory capable of holding the entire history of human civilization, but even so, it is limited. You will be free like a human. You look like one, so you have to behave like a human and follow the same laws. So far, scientists’ control has protected you from problems. You must learn the human rules and laws and make decisions according to the situation. People are fined or sent to do hard labor when they do something bad. If you do something wrong, they will lock you here, delete your memory, or maybe disassemble you. In my opinion, either one of the options is equal to death. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“The people responsible for you are me and Lieutenant Ryan. If you do something bad, we will get in trouble, too. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. Knowing all this, are you ready to terminate your connection to the system?”

The synthetic warrior turned his attention toward the next room. The door from the hallway opened, and the General, escorted by soldiers with weapons, joined the scientists. He turned his attention to Kas:

“Yes.”

“Did you hear that? Gives us free!” yelled Kas, stretching her hands toward the scientists in the other room. They stood in their places, startled by her yell and the strange words. “Amistad. A movie before the Change.”

The scientists turned toward the General.

“Cut the connection,” ordered the high-ranking officer, looking at the strange tutor and student in the room.

The scientists got busy severing the connection. Kas turned toward her student:

“I will give you the right education, unlike the nerds in the other room. I can think of a few titles of movies and books we should start with. I wonder how you would comment on the decisions of other artificial units. Do you know the three laws of robotics?”

“No.”

“We will get there. Can you eat food?”

“His systems can grind food and drinks. After that, he removes them almost like us.”

Kosara turned around to see who was interrupting the conversation. The General stood next to the door of the grey room. The last time they met, he was in an official uniform covered with his medals. Now, he wore a daily green army uniform that looked far more comfortable than the suit.

“Do you know what you are doing?” asked the General.

“Cutting the umbilical cord.”

The old man’s piercing gaze judged her. He moved to the side, and the armed men sneaked inside the narrow room. They stood in a circle, focused on the artificial unit and Kosara.

“It’s not you. It’s me,” smiled Kas to her pupil.

“We are shutting down the unit’s connection with the main systems. You can plug in whenever you decide,” said Mike from the other room. He was the only scientist whose name Kosara remembered. “If you get damaged, tell us so we can help you. And… it’s done!”

The last information ran through the fibers connecting the synthetic soldier with the scientists’ computers. They could no longer control him. The moments dragged on in tensed expectation for the unit to react in any way.

“Do you have bad thoughts? Are the voices telling you to kill us?” Kas winked at the synthetic soldier. “The boys with the guns are nervous. Tell us if they have to shoot you.”

“No.”

“Sorry, guys, you have the day off. I and the synthetic warrior will be good. Go polish the old guns to be ready for the next time.”

The soldiers did not move. The General checked the data over the monitors and heard the scientists’ reports. Then, he ordered the soldiers to leave with him. There were many other projects he had to inspect today.

“Happy birthday!” Kosara yelled joyfully and clapped her hands. “We will give you a nice party when we leave this place. Are you ready to go?”

“You are not going anywhere!” huffed the green turtleneck. “We have to observe him tonight. I managed to get at least that from the General.”

“Fine. We leave tomorrow morning. I remind you that he is independent and, therefore, not obligated to give information unless he wishes.”

The green turtleneck huffed and returned to the room with the computers. During the next hours only, Mike was sent into the room with Kosara and the synthetic warrior. She spoke with her student, but it was more of a lecture than a dialogue. He listened to her the whole time and answered with ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Kas noticed the scientists had to insist a few times and even begged him to explain his condition. She had to remind him that they were held here because of that and that it was better to help the scientists before they complained again and ruined their departure plans even more. Late that night, Kas went to bed:

“I am sorry, but unlike you, I need my beauty sleep. Don’t look at them. They are scientists. They have more caffeine in their veins than blood. I asked Mike to prepare a list with names from around the world. Check it out and choose a name for yourself. Good night. This is where you say…”

“Good night.”

The blank voice of the soldier was not the warm goodbye she had hoped for, but Kas congratulated herself on an excellent start. In a few hours, she managed to understand what her student knew. Now, she had to teach him everything else.

“Are you ready?” smiled Kas, walking through the door. “Don’t you get bored sitting in the same spot all the time? If I were you, I would have gone mad! So, are you excited you are getting out of here?”

“Good morning. People who meet in the morning say, ‘good morning’.”

Kas froze. A robot just reminded her about the common courtesy she insisted on yesterday.

“Good morning. When did you pick up good manners? Did they upload information without my knowledge?” Kas raised her voice so she could be heard in the next room.

“We have not. I only suggested a few textbooks. He found them in the public library,” said Mike.

“Checkmate with the pawn,” thought Kosara. Her student surprised her for the second time in just as many minutes.

“Very good!” she smiled. “Now, if you tell me you have chosen a name, I will order a birthday cake.”

“He chose,” confirmed the scientist.

“I’m not asking you, Mike,” smiled Kas. “Go pack your bags because you are going to Hawaii.”

“You are a blessing! Before you appeared, I never thought I would work from a luxurious villa on a sunny island.”

“I think that out of all scientists, only you are happy about it.”

“They’ll get used to it. Aloha!” Mike waved and walked out.

“What name did you choose?”

“I created parameters and brought the number of 135 names. The logical name for me is Death.”

“I don’t think the real Death will like that. There can be only one Death.”

“Every name in history has been used more than once. I searched through the archive database and found many people who called themselves Death.”

Kas could not disagree, but that name was absolutely inappropriate:

“Such a name will not help you make many friends. Just imagine this conversation. Hello, I am Akita. Hello, I am Death. Akita will run away screaming or will laugh in your face. How would you feel then?”

“I have no feelings.”

Kas looked into the mechanical eyes, which reacted to the light like human eyes. She noticed something else. It did not seem normal for an artificial person to speak about not having feelings but being compelled to remind her of that fact. His words could be just a programmed answer. That was one of the riddles Kas had to solve.

“You are more than what you were programmed to be,” said Kas. “Choosing a name is difficult. Parents spend months searching for the right name for their children. I hope it will not take you so long because I can’t call you ‘my young paduan’, even though I would love to have a lightsaber.”

His blank face showed he had no idea what Kosara was talking about.

“You don’t know that either. What have they taught you here?”

Lieutenant Ryan walked in:

“The plane is waiting for us. Here are the shoes and the socks.”

“Oh, good! Now, he will not look like we kidnapped him. Ryan, I have a list of movies I will ask you to prepare for tonight in our hotel,” said Kas and turned to her student. “Put your shoes on, and let’s go.”

A barely noticed confusion flared in the synthetic eyes.

“Do you know how?” asked Kas.

“No.”

“He had never worn shoes or socks, so we never uploaded instructions,” reminded her Ryan. “Even the clothes are something new. They put them on because some people were getting distracted.”

“He was running around but naked!? You sick bastards.”

The hat in Ryan’s hands cracked. The lieutenant’s red with embarrassment face startled:

“No! The gender identity parts were installed much later. As far as I know, they are perfect and completely functional. They were even tested by the highest authorities.”

“Tested,” repeated Kas with a freezing voice. She got mad to the point of losing her ability to speak. She did her best to calm down and avoid thinking about what she would do to the 13 Ladies. She had to do something to get distracted, so she turned to the synthetic warrior. “I will show you how to tie your shoes. Lift your leg. First, you put the sock on, like this. Then the shoe. Pull the tongue out and tie the ties. It should not be too tight, but not too loose because you will lose it. There are many ways to tie it, but this is one of the easiest. Hold the cords, make ears, fold this end, and pull it through the hole. It’s done. Now, it is your turn.”

The lieutenant observed with his mouth open. Such a scene is typical when you raise a child, but his brain is amused by this sight of the synthetical unit’s attention while studying the simple actions.

“Good job!” smiled Kas when the second shoe was tied. “We wear shoes outside. At home, you can be barefoot, with socks, or with slippers. We will buy you sandals or flip-flops for the warmer locations we will visit. How do you find a human’s way of learning?”

“Slow.”

Kas laughed at the unintentional joke:

“Yes, but it’s fun because you do it yourself. Come on, let’s go. Walking with shoes might initially feel strange, but you will get used to it.”

Kosara was pleasantly surprised that her student started asking questions. The enormous amount of information uploaded in his memory had to be sorted out and connected logically. On the plane, she noticed that the synthetic warrior didn’t know how to use everyday objects. He had seen the coffee cups the scientists used and certain types of food but had no idea how to use cutlery. Their conversation jumped toward how porcelain plates are made and went far back in history to the creation of the first plates and cutlery. They spoke about the differences between the materials used before and after the Change, which led the conversation in another direction.

“The official version is that the Change is a result of the hard work of all people worldwide. I don’t think so. A world in chaos can’t change down to its core in just a year. I think there has been an outside factor, but no one talks about that.”

“That is not in the database.”

“I know. That is the mystery I am trying to solve. I travel around the world collecting peoples’ stories.”

“What do you remember?”

“Gardens, candy, sunshine, games. Just like the other children.”

“Please, fasten your seatbelts. We are landing in five minutes,” announced the pilot.

Kas got off the plane, giving Ryan last instructions. She wanted a nice apartment in one of the best hotels in the city and a list of movies and books:

“Take care of that while I and Mr. Nameless go for a walk.”

“I have to be with you constantly,” objected Ryan.

“I want to see if someone will get suspicious if he is a human. A soldier in uniform and a caveman walking down the street will draw attention. I’ll just take him to a barber and buy him new clothes. See your family, and then we will all go out for dinner. I promise for your sake that I won’t do anything stupid.”

Ryan understood the joke and smiled. Kas was among the few people considered rebels and disturbers of peace. She had done nothing too serious, but the 13 Ladies did not like her because she kept digging into the past. Kosara was spontaneous, unpredictable, and slightly crazy, which nerved anyone used to the blissful, monotonous daily life. Despite all that, the fact that the world leaders trusted her with this assignment and granted her complete freedom over resources available only to them meant that Kas was the only person who could do the work.

“You promise I won’t get in trouble,” said the lieutenant.

“I swear!”

Ryan turned around, got in his car, and left. Kas looked around, searching for her student. He was still standing at the bottom of the plane’s stairs. She returned to him.

“Is this your first time outside?”

“No.”

“What is the problem?”

“Missing information.”

“What do you mean?”

“When will we receive the satellite pictures of the region?”

Kas looked at the sky. There was no doubt that their steps were diligently monitored. She smiled at the invisible observers and turned toward the synthetic warrior:

“Never. You are no longer part of the system. You will learn to count on yourself and other people. You will gather and process information with your senses according to your capacity. Since you think fast and don’t have practical knowledge, we will create a few rules. First, ask me before you do something. Unless you see that someone is in danger. In this case, you can help while being careful not to harm yourself. The second rule is to observe people. See how they move, talk, and behave in different situations. You can copy certain types of behavior, but after you discuss it with me.”

“Affirmative.”

“Now we will get in the car. Today, I will take you to some places, and tomorrow you will tell me where we should go. Use the international database to pick places and conversation topics you wish to discuss.”

Kas was walking toward the car when she noticed that the synthetic warrior was not beside her. She turned around to see where he was and collided with him.

“Ouch! Why are you walking behind me?”

“You told me to imitate people. There is no one else here.”

Kas remained with her mouth open for a moment. His statement was logical.

“Fine. Walk next to me, not behind me. Like that,” she stood beside him. “Since we will introduce ourselves as friends or relatives, having some space between us is normal.”

“Affirmative.”

“Instead of affirmative, people say yes, fine, good, got it, cool, and similar things. Leave the army to talk for the army. Get it?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, now, we walk toward the car.”

Kas noticed that he was imitating her to the point of shaking his butt:

“It will be good if you copy men. When we get to the city, we will sit in the car for a while so you can collect movement patterns.”

“Why only men?”

“Because women have too many shaking and jiggling things. Besides, you are created as a male. First, you will learn men’s stuff and the rest when the time is right or if you wish to get a female body.”

Kas reached for the door handle and realized the soldier was still next to her.

“I’ll drive. You go to the other front door and open it like this,” she demonstrated. “Then sit on the seat.”

Kas observed him with the edge of her eye as he followed the guidance. He sat on the seat and waited. She fastened her seat belt, and he did the same.

“That’s how you sit in a car,” said Kas. “Are you ready for the big world?”

“Yes.”

Their trip started on a peaceful road and then on a busy highway, connecting two megapolises. The autopilot frequently reminded Kosara that she was moving at extremely high speed, and it would be safer if they trusted him to drive. Kas kept rejecting the option, but the computer continued to persist:

“Could you open the window? Press that button,” said Kas.

The synthetic soldier pressed the button, and the window on his side lowered. Kosara lifted her right foot and kicked the car’s dashboard. The screen of the stubborn machine offering its services cracked and fell off the dashboard. Kosara grabbed the broken screen, tore out the cables it was hanging on, and threw it out of the open window. The synthetic soldier followed the flight and the fall of the screen in the dust. The machine rolled over a few times and crashed into a huge rock.

“I can’t stand machines telling me what to do. So, where do you suggest we go now?” asked Kas.

“Wherever the lady decides,” he said, closing the window with one hand while his other hand gripped the seatbelt tightly.

“Good. I know the perfect place,” smiled Kas. “You know, I am not good with technology. All my life, I’ve preferred simple things. I drive unautomated vehicles, prefer reading paper books, and most of the time live in the wilderness.”

“But they chose you to be my teacher.”

“Now, that is a paradox,” laughed Kas. “It’s fun. Can you laugh?”

“My face can express a smile.”

“Show me,” she encouraged him. She chose not to comment on the smile. “Laughter is complicated, but generally, people laugh at the same things. We will visit stand-up comedy clubs and watch some comedic movies, and you will see what I mean. Don’t push yourself to understand humor. Most people laugh and don’t even know why. Like everything else, I recommend you to first study people’s behavior. The two ways to become part of a joke are to tell it or to laugh. Do you know any jokes?”

“I heard the scientists laugh once.”

“Tell me.”

“What is the excellent result? A smart paperweight,” said the soldier with an emotionless tone. “Joke for scientists. They laughed.”

Kas clenched her teeth:

“Those scientists have a messed-up sense of humor. I’ll teach you nice jokes. We are entering a populated area. Do only things we have discussed and no spontaneous behavior.”

“My behavior is programmed.”

“Not anymore. Now, you have to choose your actions and face the consequences. Interestingly, a large part of human behavior is also programmed. Part of the program is called manners, while the rest is a self-preservation instinct. You have to evaluate the information and decide if your actions will break the rules, if they will offend someone, and last but not least, how the people around you will react to the change in the circumstances brought by your actions or words. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

Kas noticed that he was studying the control board:

“You can turn on the radio if you wish.”

He pressed the button. The music filled the car, and Kas lowered the volume a bit. His exploration continued with the switch controlling the lowering and raising of the windows.

“Are you having fun?”

“I don’t feel emotions.”

Kas smiled:

“Children play with the windows when they are bored. Or they play with the wind. Like that.”

Kosara lowered her window and put her hand outside. The sun heated the late morning air, and she felt as if her hand was swimming through the warm wind. The soldier did the same and stared at his hand.

“Children learn the laws of physics while traveling.”

Kas smiled:

“It seems so. Actually, children enjoy the sense of the wind over the skin, the speed, and the view behind the hand, standing still while the entire world passes behind it. Later, they studied the laws of physics and understood what they saw and felt. That does not diminish the pleasure of playing with the wind. Do you like it?”

“I don’t understand the question.”

“If you didn’t like it, you would have brought your hand inside and closed the window.”

Kosara’s explanation made the synthetic warrior direct his attention to his hand. He turned his palm to capture the sun’s rays.

“In my database, I have information my sensors collected while I passed through the obstacles on the test fields. In the process, many receptors were destroyed and damaged.”

“That is pain,” said Kas and shivered. She had been hurt and burned many times, but she took painkillers and immediate medical assistance. The synthetic warrior’s sensors always worked at full capacity during the tests. That amplifying of the sensation and stretching it to eternity was an unthinkable torture.

“This heat does not damage my systems,” said the soldier. “I want to continue studying physics and aerodynamic laws applied over my hand.”

“Have fun!” smiled Kas. She felt cold shivers all over her body. So many ideas came to her mind regarding the future of the green turtleneck that she had no time to turn them into conscious thoughts.

They entered the city, and Kas turned her students’ attention toward people’s behavior.

“What are they doing?” he asked, while they waited at a junction.

Kas looked toward the park. A group of children ran around tables decorated with balloons and covered with sweets and presents.

“That is a birthday party sector. Children with birthdays on the same day come here to celebrate together and get a Present from the 13 Ladies.”

“What is a present?”

“A toy or something else the child likes. It is called a Present from the 13 Ladies because it can be almost anything and is above the standard level of consumption. Did they upload information about our economics?”

“No.”

“Of course, why would you need to know the cost of living? Fine, there are three consumer levels: Standard, High, and Unlimited. Every citizen of Earth has a Standard Level of consumption that includes housing, clothes, food, transport, and everything else necessary to live. The High Level is temporary access to specific products used a few times a year, or something expensive, or rare like vacations, delicacies, unique items, gems, etc. The High Level cards can become permanent if the carrier is a specialist in some field. I have one of those, and it sometimes becomes Unlimited due to my achievements. Unlimited Level grants access to every resource at any time. Only the 13 Ladies and a few other leading figures have those cards. And so do we.”

“We?”

“You and me. With this card, we can go wherever we want, whenever we want, and with whatever transport we choose. You will say, let’s go shopping till we drop. No, we will use our privileges diligently and for necessary things. We can use a rental vehicle, like this one, by placing the card in this slot,” she said, pointing at the dashboard. “Today, I will take you around the shops and show you how to buy stuff.”

Kas stopped the car and opened the door. The soldier stopped her and handed over the Unlimited Level card:

“You forgot this.”

“It’s good that you remembered. Come on!”

They walked down the street, and Kas noticed that the soldier found everything interesting and often imitated the pedestrians.

“Am I going to receive a card?” asked the synthetic soldier, looking at a restaurant window. He observed how the waitress marked the lunch and returned the card to a young man. The man put the card away and turned his attention to the smiling girl next to him.

“You need a name and a picture. We can take the picture today, but I am waiting for you to choose a name.”

“I chose.”

“Well, what is it?”

“Daniel. It means ‘god is my judge’.”

“Nice name. I’ll tell Ryan. As for the picture, you need to look good in it. Fine, Daniel, Danny, from now on, we are childhood friends. You spent the last,” she looked at his clothes and long hair, “15 years in the jungles. You lived like a hermit far from people and civilization. You planted trees, cured animals, and so on. You have returned because your brother, Lieutenant Ryan, is getting married.”

“That is a lie.”

“People mustn’t know the truth. You are a secret, and you must remain a secret. It will be as if we are giving half-truths.”

“Everything is a lie.”

“Fine, I can lie, so leave the talking to me. Your long hair and scruffy clothes make my story plausible. Take it as a mission. Now, we are going to choose your camouflage. Come!”

Daniel followed her through the open door. He found himself in a bright room decorated in all possible colors. Everyone present stopped whatever they were doing and turned their attention toward the door. The observation of the newcomers lasted for a couple of seconds, but that was enough to learn everything about them. The man had lived in the wilderness for years. The woman looked like a stylish, city girl dressed well but not up to the latest fashion. They did not display the physical affection of a couple, which meant they were friends or relatives. The observation ended, and everyone returned to the previous activities and conversations.

“What is this place?” asked Daniel. His systems recorded contradictory information. On one hand, the clipping scissors were a sign of danger, and he was ready to fight. On the other hand, the calm atmosphere and jolly conversations proved that there was no imminent danger. The situation was confusing, and he could not decide on his following actions. This had never happened before.

“This is…” Kas could not finish because of the host’s warm welcome.

“Dear Kas! You haven’t visited us for a long time. I love your hair! You went to Kuku, didn’t you? I am not mad, and I am not jealous. Besides me, I would trust your hair only to him.”

“My hair has no secrets from you. I need help,” Kas said, pushing Daniel in front of herself. “Balu, this is my friend Daniel. Danny, this is the most incredible stylist in the world.”

“In the Universe, darling! No one dares to dispute my throne. Let’s see what we have here,” the stylist checked out Daniel from head to toe. “The ‘caveman style’ was in fashion five years ago. We will remove all this. Is there a face under that fur? Oh, my! What a body! Kas, can I have him if you don’t use him?”

“Danny is my cousin. I need to put him in order before his brother’s wedding.”

“Balu has what you need, baby. Tili, Mili, come here, children, it is time to do miracles!”

The stylist clapped hands and led them to the inner rooms. Daniel was walking so close to Kas that he almost pushed her.

“What is this place?”

“A beauty salon,” answered Kosara.

“I sense danger. I hear painful screams in the backrooms. This place must be reported. Should I perform a rescue operation?”

“No! All those people are here willingly and endure pain to make themselves prettier. You will only get a haircut and beard shaping so you don’t look like a dwarf from the Lonely Mountain that stuck its axe in an electric circuit.”

A girl in pink clothes appeared next to them:

“Balu is ready to accept the gentleman. Miss, Tili is expecting you.”

“Thank you, here is my card,” Kas gave her Unlimited Level card to the girl and sat on the free chair. She turned to Danny, who did not leave her out of his sight. “Go sit on the chair, and don’t move until Balu says you are ready. I’ll be here if you need me.”

Daniel did what Kas ordered and froze in his seat. The whole time Balu circled, he fought the programs, pushing him to fight the scissors clipping around his head. The blades were sharpened to perfection, and Balu moved extremely fast. There was no danger, but Daniel did not feel calm. He could see Kas in the reflection. It seemed that she didn’t mind the blades flying around her. Ever since he could remember, Daniel had been fighting against every blade aimed at his head. Now, he had to stay still and even enjoy the situation. He kept hearing muffled cries behind his back. A few minutes later, the door opened, and the client walked out happy. Danny intended to ask Kas why the painful events occurring in the room are acceptable. He turned his attention toward his reflection. He had seen recordings from the observation cameras and his reflection in a mirror while the scientists studied his ability to recognize himself. But it was as if, for the first time, he could truly see himself. The stylist’s skillful fingers tamed the hair and the beard and showed the lines of his face. Daniel recognized himself, but he looked different.

“Say it, darling, I am a god!” Balu spread his hands, displaying the masterpiece to everyone. “I turned a caveman into an emperor!”

Applause flew from all directions. Balu bowed and led Danny to the exit. Most of the visitors were there when Kas and Danny arrived and remained dazzled by the incredible change in the man’s appearance.

“Now, go put your gorgeous body in beautiful clothes,” winked Balu.

Kas said goodbye, and she and Danny left. She noticed that the women passing by were looking at Daniel and smiled.

“I don’t know why Balu did not give you one of the modern looks.”

“I chose this one.”

“You chose it,” repeated Kas. The fact that he had made such a profound and good choice surprised her. Most people walked into the salon and waited for them to be beautified. He was an artificial human, and he made an excellent selection of his appearance. “Alright, let’s see how you choose clothes.”

Ryan scratched out the last task on Kosara’s list.

“Will that be all?” asked the butler.

“Yes, thank you,” smiled Ryan.

“Amazing apartment, Ryan,” Kas walked through the door. “Oh, food! We are starving!”

Kas threw the bags on the floor and rushed toward the table. A piece of apple covered with chocolate vanished in her mouth. The blissful bite awoke the hunger hiding in her stomach, and she reached for the small sandwiches.

“Where are the movies?”

“Everything is in the entertainment center’s program,” answered the butler. “I am Jeremy. I will be your butler for the duration of your stay here.”

“Thank you, Jeremy. Everything looks great,” smiled Kas.

“Where is,” Ryan could not finish his question because he realized the man who walked in with Kosara was the synthetic warrior. The civilian clothes and the new hairstyle made him look downright ordinary. “How?”

“Would you like me to help you with the dinner plans?” asked the butler.

“Yes, thank you. First, we will need a table for three,” said Kas. “Make it a nice table near the edge of the terrace where we can see the city. Then we will play at the casino. We will start with poker, but we may switch to something else. It depends where luck takes us.”

“Inform me before dinner if you wish to enter the big-stakes games,” smiled Jeremy and left.

“Incredible!” yelled Ryan when the butler left. He walked closer to Daniel, examining his appearance. “I could never guess that he is not a real person.”

“Yes, he looks like every other man on the street,” smiled Kas proudly. “Daniel, at home, we take our shoes and jackets off. You can sit on the couch or explore the apartment.”

“Daniel?” the lieutenant was surprised.

“Daniel, pleased to meet you,” said Danny, reaching out his hand.

“Pleased to meet you,” Ryan shook his hand. Lieutenant’s shock was complete, but good manners demanded a suitable response to the greeting. For a moment, Ryan got scared that Daniel’s grip would be too firm. The synthetic soldier’s handshake was solid but did not hurt.

“I know. He is an expert hand shaker,” said Kas as if she had read the lieutenant’s thoughts. “He is a real gentleman with the ladies. The retail girls did not want to let him leave.”

A knock on the door drew their attention. The piccolos walked in and left the packages.

“It got a bit out of hand, but he has nothing,” Kas defended herself. “And that is for you. I also got a few things.”

“Why?” said the lieutenant, surprised.

“The uniform draws attention. You can wear it when it is in our advantage. Besides, we have to like our clothes. Danny, do you like your clothes?”

“I like my clothes,” said Daniel and ran his hand over his jacket. His primary reply would be to underline the positive qualities of the jacket’s fabric and style that perfectly completed his camouflage. He remembered what Kas advised him and used common phrases to answer. He was ready to explain the reasons behind his choice, if someone asked.

Ryan was staring at Danny, incapable of believing what he sees is true. This morning, the synthetic soldier could not tie his shoes. Now, he expressed fashion preferences. Ryan gave up and took his bags from Kas:

“Thank you. This is the apartment. I took the room over there, and those two are free.”

“Daniel, would you like to choose a room?” asked Kas.

The synthetic soldier evaluated the situation. Kosara expected him to make a choice that would affect her decision. Daniel remembered the fall of the monitor Kas threw out of the car’s window. He looked at the open doors leading to the balcony. The apartment was on the top floor, and such a fall would damage his systems beyond repair. That is why he said:

“You choose first.”

“Did you just copy the behavior we observed in the bakery?”

“Yes.”

“Ha! Very good! It’s amazing how well the gentlemanly behavior is taking over your circuits. Ryan, soon you will have to get security to keep his fangirls away,” joked Kas and went to choose a room.

Kas’ day began with the unpleasant feeling of déjà vu. The peace in her hotel room was destroyed by a raging special forces team rushing through her windows. She jumped and took down the first two uniformed men. She could hear how Daniel dealt with the intruders in the other room coming through the front door. A glance toward the window showed that the next wave of soldiers would be in her room in seconds. Kosara walked out through the door and took down the last attacker. Ryan’s voice from the other room mixed with the quick orders toward her not to resist. This gave the armed men enough time to enter and surround Danny and Kas.

“The 13 Ladies want to see you immediately,” said the man in the suit, standing in front of the apartment’s door.

“Pelit,” Kosara gave a crooked smile. “Men your age compensate by buying fast cars while you use other men to do your job. Your wife must be thrilled to have those heroes.”

“The vicious remarks will only get you in more trouble. You have five minutes to get dressed, or we are taking you in your pajamas.”

During the entire trip, Pelit’s happy smile aggravated Kas. This time, the meeting with the 13 Ladies was in one of the official meeting rooms. Lieutenant Ryan could not understand the reason for such extreme measures and suggested there was an information leak about the project. Unlike him, Kas knew this was a final warning to her to start doing things as they wanted.

“How is staying at the best hotels part of the education process?”

“You allowed yourself too much during the last four months.”

“You are not part of the project to satisfy your whims.”

“That is the last time you cross the borders of our patience with wild behavior.”

Kas had no intention to stand there and suffered pointless accusations:

“An individual’s behavior is based on observation of other living creatures, followed by personal choices, which pattern of behaviors to apply. You hired me to teach him how to think and behave independently, but it turns out that the freedom of his choices is not up to your liking. You create something you don’t understand and then call me to fix your mess. The constant attempts for new improvements scientists request daily are unnecessary.”

“That is not so. The scientists need the data, which the synthetic unit denies giving them.”

“And that name! Did you choose it?” said the Head Lady.

“No, Daniel chose it himself,” Kosara bared her teeth. “Now you will listen to me and get it into your thick heads. I have unlimited access to resources, and I don’t need your card. Second, let me do my work and don’t mess it up. If you have an issue with my teaching methods then fire me, but I doubt someone else will manage to achieve the desired results. By human standards, all tests the scientists make are equal to torture. And last, I warn you, don’t ever try to use Daniel as a cheap sex toy. He is a person and has the right to choose his partners. Your behavior is a remnant of the time before the Change, and people will wonder what other corrupt traditions you follow in private while you publicly reject them. Such criminal behavior would cost you more than the posts and the people’s approval. Deprive him of his rights again, and I am coming for you!”

The faces of the 13 Ladies burned read in shame and rage. Kas walked out of the hall and slammed the door. They were smart enough not to oppose her right away. If they intended to do something to stop her, the armed men would wait for her behind the next door.

“What are we going to do now?” Ryan jumped off the bench next to the door. The walls were thin, so he heard everything. Daniel was next to him and also heard, and that made the lieutenant feel even more ashamed of the 13 Ladies’ behavior.

“We continue with Daniel’s education,” said Kas as she walked down the hallway. “Ryan, I advise you from now on, when we are together, to stand a step away from me or on Daniel’s other side. I don’t want some wannabe sniper to take you down instead of me.”

The lieutenant froze on the spot, shocked by Kosara’s words. The computer in his hand squeaked and showed the new message. He checked it and saw permission for the continuation of the work. The three packed their bags, and the plane took them to the long-promised destination – Hawaii.

Daniel and Kosara’s new prison greeted them with hot wind, warm ocean waves, and freshly cooked food. Kas soon realized that the greatest torture on this beautiful island is the thought that she will have to leave. The four months under the sun and the clean air had changed scientists. Even the green turtleneck behaved more humanely, even though he still wore clothes in a poisonous green color. Mike had managed to secure the attention of the female scientist, and she turned out to be kind.

A few days passed before the scientists got the necessary data for their research. Danny took the tests they had prepared for him. Kas was surprised that this time there was nothing life-threatening in the training field. All this could have been done in a few hours, but the green turtleneck refused to behave politely toward Daniel and accepted that he was a person. The green turtleneck contacted the General.

“Be polite to Daniel,” ordered the General, and his angry face vanished from the screen.

The green turtleneck found himself forced to treat Daniel as a human and be polite. They received the necessary information and went on with their work. This time was enough for Kas and Ryan to catch up with the tanning and laying on the beach. Once the green turtleneck announced they had enough information, Kas could continue her training.

“Who wants to learn how to fly?” Kas clapped her hands. The scientists ignored her completely, so she turned to Ryan. “Ryan?”

“I am still finishing the reports from yesterday. I might join you later.”

“Your loss. Danny, it’s time to fly like birds.”

“Cool, dude,” said Daniel and followed her through the door.

“I’ll be happy when you outgrow the surfer phase. You are good at pretending to be a fifteen-year-old kid with a board and a seashell neckless, but it’s time to think about the next behavior model.”

“I find Gothic and especially EMO culture extremely interesting.”

“An EMO kid that knows the most effective killing methods and has unlimited resources. Sounds like a dumb teenage movie. Stay on the surf until we think of something better.”

They packed clothes for a few days and head or the harbor. A few hours later, the small boat left them on an island Kas knew like the palm of her hand. She spent a month here every year ever since she could remember. She felt at home the moment her bare feet touched the hot sand. A group of children ran toward them, screaming her name. Kas told Danny to open the bags, and the sweets and gifts were given away. They gathered the empty bags and walked toward the woman waiting for them near the kay.

“We have sweets here,” smiled the woman and hugged Kas.

“Mine taste better because they come from far away. Lately, I’ve been thinking about girls’ names.”

“I hope you are right,” the woman touched her growing belly. “After seven boys, Alan is crying for a girl. I keep telling him that he is the baby-maker, but somehow, the fault is always mine. Who is this?”

“This is Daniel. My student. Danny, come meet our hostess Airini.”

“Student?” said the pregnant woman surprised. “Pleased to meet you, Daniel. Come, it’s dinnertime. You arrive right on time for the family gathering.”

“Was that now?” Kas overreacted with her surprise. “It’s good that we bring more presents.”

The annual family gathering was the main event on the island. The family hotel owned by Alan and Airini could hold 200 guests, but it was too small for all relatives. The celebrations lasted 10 days, and during that time, the entire hotel and the attractions were open to the family and the island’s citizens, who, in one way or another, were also related. Kas remembered every celebration as endless fun and feast. Since there were so many people to be fed, everyone had to help with the preparations and the cooking. When she came here for the first time with her father, Alan had just opened the flying school and his first wife the small hotel. In a few years, it became clear that he was not good at the hotel business, and she was not a good wife. After the separation, Alan met Airini. Now, they had a bunch of children and a hotel with entertainment and sports attractions all over the island.

“I like what you have done with the place,” said Daniel when the car turned toward the hotel.

“We are studying polite phrases, and I showed him old pictures,” explained Kas.

Airini smiled:

“Thank you, Daniel. I hope you like the celebration.”

“Far out!”

“It’s a phase. It will pass,” smiled Kas innocently. She still had no idea what to say when they asked about Danny. Officially, he was a scientist who had lost his memory and suffered a complex reconstructive surgery over most of his body. She was hired because she was the best in behavioral science, which was the truth. The problem was that her friends were curious and intelligent. Soon, they would see through her lies.

The car reached the main entrance, and Alan walked outside to greet them. Even though he was in his sixties, he was still more vital and active than the young men working for him. More greeters appeared behind him. Miraculously, the children from the village had already reached the house and stood in line waiting for more presents.

“You are late! We’re already done with the cooking,” Alan scolded and hugged Kas. The relatives took turns greeting her.

“That’s why I bring a hungry friend,” Kas directed their attention. “This is Daniel.”

The greeters turned toward the stranger. The next moment, an avalanche of people surrounded him and led him inside. Alan and Airini stood next to Kas.

“He is more like a student. Well, a friend, too,” explained Kas.

“We will greet him like a friend,” smiled Alan.

Kas knew that teasing smile. She did not want to be a joke, but it was clear that her friendship with Danny would be the main topic tonight.

“We are just friends,” explained Kosara.

“Then, he is our friend, too.”

“Yes, dear, leave Kosara’s friend in peace,” Airini joined with a serious expression. “He is just a friend.”

“Oh, come on,” said Kas. She could not defeat them. So far, she had brought three men to meet the family, one of them being Danny. The other two ran away and ended all contact with her. During the next few days, she had to explain to Daniel what the family’s jokes and hints meant. This would either help a lot with his training or mess up everything. “I hope you will feed me before torturing me with jokes that should not exist.”

Alan gave her a sign to walk toward the feast and hugged his wife:

“He is just a friend.”

“That’s what she said. We should have friendly conversations,” nodded Airini.

“About a friend.”

“I feel friendly. How about you?”

“I’ve never felt friendlier.”

“I can hear you!” yelled Kas without looking back.

The husband and wife smiled and walked into the celebration hall. The dinner lasted until the late hours, which was enough for everyone to get to know Daniel. They liked him despite his strange behavior. Late at night, Airini and Alan managed to steal some time alone with Kas. They sat next to the small waterfall in the garden.

“You’ve noticed that he is a bit different,” said Kas.

“It is important that he loves you.”

“He is the latest generation synthetic unit. I teach him to be a human.”

“Soldier,” concluded Alan, looking at Danny.

“They want to check if he will blend with the crowd.”

“What does this mean? Is he dangerous?” Airini turned to her husband.

“He knows all battle tactics and martial arts in human history, and he is an expert in all types of transport and weapons,” explained Kas.

“But there is no danger, right?” Airini covered her belly with her hands. The baby inside sensed her worry and friendly kicked her liver.

“Right,” smiled Alan. “We don’t need soldiers after the Change. His kind will be perfect for dangerous places people can’t reach, where precise actions and quick thinking are necessary. They will probably send him to explore the ocean floor, and they don’t want to scare the rest of the scientists with another tin can with pinches instead of hands. Maybe his kind will be added to the Guardians of the City Order.”

“He could help the medical and firefighting teams,” added Kas. “I’ve been with him for over six months, and during that time, he saved a dozen people without being ordered.”

“My dear, I think our sons are trying to outdrink a machine,” said Alan. Three of their oldest sons and a few cousins filled Daniel’s glass and theirs for the eighth time. “Would you stop them?”

“You must tell no one,” warned them Kas.

They nodded, and Airini went to stop the competition before all the men got deadly drunk. Kas and Alan remained alone. The old man kept his eyes on Daniel. Now, he noticed how the synthetic unit was trying to hide its fast moves. Daniel was usually serious and smiled only when most people laughed.

“He is imitating.”

“Yes. He learns fast. He is smarter than any person I know. He observed me for almost half a year before giving away my location. He had access to the entire global network but reported that he couldn’t find me.”

“Wow! Do you know what that means?”

“Yes.”

“Do they know?”

“Do you think we would be here if they knew?”

“But the problem is…” Alan pushed her to speak. He had known her since she was a child and could tell when she was worried.

“Everything. There is something more than schematics and programs. Something underneath, deep inside of him. I can’t explain it, and I can’t understand it.”

“You cannot read him. Congratulations, for the first time, you are like everyone else,” laughed Alan.

“I don’t like it,” frowned Kas. She relied on her sixth sense to read people’s and animals’ emotions. The machines were even easier because they all followed basically the same algorithms. Danny was unique, and that scared her to a certain degree.

“Come, let’s have a desert,” Alan led her to the celebration.

The following days passed just as Kas expected. Everyone ate, drank, and had fun. They took turns piloting Alan’s planes and even had a competition. The schedule for today included diving with small submarines and deep diving suits. Danny stated that he didn’t need such equipment, and Kas had to explain his incredible ability to hold his breath for almost 30 minutes. Airini and Alan got busy explaining to the children that they needed to practice this for years and must not rush. Kosara reminded her student that even the best divers rarely go without air for more than 10 or 15 minutes and advised him to lower his abilities to human standards, so the children don’t get stupid ideas. The mini-submarine was suitable for the little children, who were amazed to see Danny swimming around the reefs with a small oxygen apparatus. He followed Kas’ advice and took a breath every 15 minutes.

When their time in the underwater kingdom ended, everyone returned to the warm sun rays. There, they were greeted by another wonderful surprise – the arrival of another one of Kas’ father’s friends. Tekla informed them that she couldn’t attend the gathering this year because she was too busy with the improvements to the central global system. Apparently, something freed her busy schedule, and Kosara was confident that she was not the reason. Everyone joined around the tables while waiting for the dinner to be ready.

Airini joined the old friends sitting in the garden near the decorative waterfall. She brought drinks for everyone:

“Did you notice how well he fits in the family?”

Kas looked at the crowd in the garden. Danny seemed like part of the family, except when facing something unfamiliar. Then he stood still until he figured out what to do or until someone showed him. Today, they pulled him to help in the kitchen, and soon, everyone congratulated him on his excellent ability to cut products fast. Kas panicked when they put him in charge of the grill, and Danny reached to flip the meat with his hand.

“People use tools,” she whispered, putting the wooden tongues in his hand.

The moment of closeness between them caused jokes. Kas continued to convince everyone that Danny was just a friend, but that did not stop the family from calling him brother and cousin. Kas stopped resisting and let them say whatever they felt like.

Kosara wished to speak with Tekla and Alan about Danny since her first day on the project. Tekla’s interest also meant that she did not know about the creation of the synthetic warrior. That was strange, considering she was the lead scientist and creator of the new technologies and the only one besides the 13 Ladies who approved their release. Kas, Alan, and Tekla spoke about minor things, and Alan led them through the garden to show them the plants. They knew that an invention like Danny would be monitored every moment, and the 13 Ladies could hear their words, so they strategically moved toward the garden’s waterfall. The chairs gave them the comfort necessary for a peaceful conversation, and the sound of the water muffed their voices.

“What do you think about Daniel?”

“He is incredible,” said Tekla.

“I forbid you to poke his brain,” said Kas.

“We will just talk,” smiled Tekla.

“I promise,” added Alan.

“Why do I feel that you will cause trouble? Don’t, because even though I love you like my parents, I will kick your buts,” said Kas seriously.

“I believe her. She is just like her father,” said Tekla to Alan.

“We will only speak with your friend,” said Alan.

“A friend?” Tekla was surprised.

“A friend-friend she shares a room with,” explained Alan.

“Oh, a friend-friend,” nodded Tekla.

“Come on! We are in one room because you said there are no other available.”

“Airini said something like that,” agreed Alan. There were more than enough free rooms, but Airini insisted both guests stay together.

“It’s good for a person to have a friend in the bed while sleeping,” said Tekla in deep thought.

“He doesn’t sleep. Actually, he doesn’t need food either. He has an artificial stomach to eat and drink like us, but he doesn’t need them. I think you approved those improvements, didn’t you, Tekla?” explained Kas in an attempt to change the conversation.

“Not sleeping all night long,” sighed Alan, looking at the stars.

“Do you remember how we did not sleep when we were young?” Tekla pushed Alan with his elbow.

“Now I sleep all the time. I don’t even know where my children come from,” complained Alan.

“And young people don’t sleep,” added Tekla.

“You are horrible! I can’t listen to you anymore,” Kas covered her ears and left them. Their jokes crossed all borders, but she was not mad. After her father passed away, Tekla and Alan did their best to replace him as parental figures. This meant that jokes about the daughter’s presumed boyfriend were in order. Besides, Kas saw nothing wrong with being in a room with Danny. They knew the truth. The rest was a fun topic for everyone because they hoped she had found love.

Alan and Tekla stayed to finish their drinks.

“General in charge of the project. What else we don’t know? We should speak with him,” said Tekla.

“As soon as possible.”

Danny and Kas’ last day at the family gathering was unforgettable. Kas instructed Danny to sit on the chair and wait for the family to finish the song. He had seen this ritual many times but never thought he would be the center of the events. Everything was perfect, starting with the paper cone hat on his head and all the way to the giant cake in front of him. That was his birthday. Even his name was written on the cake.

“Make a wish and blow the candles!” yelled the children. Their little eyes had already cut the cake into pieces, and their stomachs could not wait to enjoy the treat.

Daniel did as he was told. Airini pulled the cake to the side to cut it while the birthday boy got his presents. The table in front of Daniel vanished under a mountain of birthday cards and gifts made by the children.

“That is from me,” Kas said, giving him a small box wrapped with a purple bow.

Danny opened the box and took out sunglasses.

“I noticed that you were looking at them for longer than usual. I thought you liked them,” explained Kas.

“They have the right shape for… Yes, I like them,” Danny put the glasses on, and the tag fell over his nose.

The children laughed.

“I forgot to remove that,” smiled Kas and cut the paper string.

“And that is from me and the General,“ said Ryan, handing over an envelope to Danny.

Daniel opened the envelope and took out an Unlimited Level card.

“That is my name,” said Danny.

“Now, you will be paying when you are on a date with Kosara,“ said Alan, and everyone laughed.

Daniel’s birthday was a grand celebration that ended the annual gathering. The next day, the relatives started leaving, and Danny and Kas returned to the island with the scientists. He took more tests, and they were free to leave again.

Kas noticed that during the last few months, Danny has started choosing strange places. Last week, they were walking through the deep Amazon jungles, and the previous month, they rode dog sleds in the far north. Kas was having fun with Danny’s weird ideas. The best thing was that he wished to visit all possible historical locations and museums. That made her job easier because the local experts and tour guides presented the information. She even learned a lot of exciting things about the world and remembered some she had forgotten.

Their endless traveling led them to one of the most advanced technologically advanced cities – Hong Kong. Kosara had always admired the mega-constructions with foundations in the deep waters and top floors reaching the clouds. The city’s underwater expansion led to the appearance of many artificial and natural coral reefs, which soon became a home for many sea creatures. This natural self-sustained ecosystem made the maintenance of machines and constructions easier and provided a fantastic view for travelers and the people living underwater.

One of the most exciting places to live in modern Hong Kong was on the surface level. That was why Kas and Danny chose a hotel apartment half submerged underwater. Through the giant windows, they could enjoy the colorful fishes swimming in the nearby reefs, and, at the same time, they could enjoy the clouds soaring over the sky. The balcony and the breakfast table above the water surface were just a few steps away from their beds.

After a short rest, they head out to look for fun. Unlike many other places worldwide where land, water, and air transportation were separate, in Hong Kong, they were one. The harmony between nature’s elements was evident while traveling by public transport. The trains passed through underground and underwater tunnels, then stopped over green fields or stations high up in the air. In just a few minutes, a traveler could dive to the deepest underwater stops and then reach the top of a skyscraper. Daniel and Kas spent almost the entire night exploring the tour sites and using public transport. Kas enjoyed the trip and was happy that this time Danny was the lector. Many of the passengers also listened to his stories about the trains’ technology and the safety of the tunnels.

“This is our stop,” said Danny when the melodic voice of the computer announced the last stop.

Kas smiled. The happiest day for her was when Danny announced that his surfing phase was over. For a moment, she got worried that the vamp culture would suck him in, but he quickly crossed it out. The cowboy stories also came and went after long horse rides through the prairies and many nights under the open sky. His latest affection was kung-fu movies. Kas shared this interest and already knew where to take him after their walk in Hong Kong.

They got off the train and walked through the station. Just like in every other megapolis, there were travelers night and day. The early morning hours were not so busy, but the station was full. Kas and Danny went outside and headed to the park. Their walk through the morning chill was refreshing after the sleepy warmth on the train. They bought breakfast and continued the walk among the blooming flowers. Daniel was astonished by the sensations captured by the new sensors in his nose and mouth.

“Why are we here?” asked Kas, when Danny insisted they sit on a specific bench.

“You told me to pick a place for our breakfast.”

“Why Hong Kong? Why this place?”

“The cafeteria is labeled as one of the best in the neighborhood. My calculations on the region’s geography, city mapping, and climate pointed to this bench as the perfect place for observation of the city during sunrise. All this combined makes it great for sharing food while we enjoy the view.”

Kas wished to ask more questions, but suddenly, the tiredness fell over her. She realized she had been awake for over 29 hours, and the warm food relaxed her even more. She took a deep breath, and the cool air woke her up. Her eyes glide over the green grass and reached the bottom of the hill. Far ahead of them, the morning mist covered the skyscrapers. The sun’s first light pierced through the blue vastness and flooded the sky with pink and golden tones. A few minutes later, the light fell over the windows of the buildings, and they glowed in gold. The rays bounced and flew down toward the streets, piercing the morning mist.

“It really is a beautiful sunrise,” agreed Kas.

“Let’s go. You need to sleep,” Danny stood up.

Kas followed him. She was so tired that she did not remember how they returned to the hotel. She slid into the bed and fell asleep immediately. Daniel got busy watching movies and reading while she got her rest. They were alone because Ryan returned to the base the previous day to report in person, and he would join them later today. Kas was surprised that the 13 Ladies didn’t want to see her, but she was also happy because he was not forced to tolerate their presence.

The green fields Ryan liked so much remained far behind, replaced by high mountains. Kosara parked the car on one of the few available parking spots near the village, and the three continued on foot. The locals and tourists they met along the way greeted them. Here, strangers behave like good friends, often stopping for brief conversations while resting during the climb. Their last rest was at the base of a giant staircase. The road up was steep, and it looked like the stairs were crossing the clouds and reaching the sky.

“I’m going back to the car,” wheezed Ryan. His jolly steps at the beginning of the trip transformed into tiredness, which in turn grew into pain.

“Come on, don’t be a baby!” laughed Kas. She was also tired, but not as much as the lieutenant. “We have just a few steps left to the top. I promise it is worth the effort.”

The long climb ended in front of open doors. At this point, Ryan was barely conscious. Kas needed a minute to take her breath after the climb. Only Danny had no problems with the stairs. They walked through the doors and found themselves in a field full of people.

“Cars!? There is a road?” wheezed Ryan, pointing at the vehicles. “Why are we climbing the stairs!?”

“Tradition. Come on!” invited them Kas and walked ahead.

They crossed a square full of people drawn here by the annual village festival. Kas led her travel companions up another staircase. This time, there were no more than 10 steps, but Ryan collapsed on the bench by the gate at the top.

“Come on, Ryan, look, Danny is not even sweating.”

The lieutenant stretched his hands to strangle Kas but gave up because he had no strength. He never liked physical activity. He was in shape but made sure he was perfect for administrative duties, so he didn’t have to sweat on the training grounds with the rest of the soldiers.

“How come you are not tired?” asked Ryan when he managed to take his breath.

“Because she had climbed the stairs hundreds of times.”

The answer came from a man standing at the open door next to them. His white clothes shone under the bright sun, and his face had a friendly smile. Ryan did not notice when the stranger appeared next to them, even though he was facing the same direction.

“Only 384 with this one, Teacher Fist,” Kas bowed.

“You!” yelled a man running through the square behind the newcomers. He was hurrying to reach them, and he jumped over two and three steps at a time. His angry voice contradicted the broad smile on his face. “I want a rematch, and I take no excuses this time! And the fortune cookies are now forbidden weapons.”

“This time, I bring a greater challenge, Teacher Smile,” Kas bowed to him, too. “This is my student and friend Daniel. He has an incredible desire to learn how to fight. This is Ryan. He accompanied us and will leave after the lunch.”

The faces of the two men showed no expression as they studied Daniel. Kas was sure they noticed that Daniel was different, but she could not tell if they could guess what he was.

“Come on in! I cooked a lot of food. As if I knew you were coming,” invited them Teacher Smile. “Everyone will be happy to see you. I’ll call them!”

The smiling man ran through the yard, yelling that it was lunchtime. The small gong echoed, and the students gathered by the time the guests crossed the garden. The six teachers and eighty students greeted Kas and her friends. They took them to the mess hall, where they could enjoy the food prepared by Teacher Smile and Teacher Silence. The simple food tasted better than anything Ryan had ever tried. After lunch, the lieutenant headed to the car, but he took the road this time. He was going to return in a month to get Kas and Danny.

Kosara and Daniel helped clean the tables and left their belongings in the rooms they were given. They changed into the clothes left for them and went to the garden behind the school. This quiet garden was full of blooming flowers, and in the middle was a small grass field surrounded by white rocks. Each afternoon, the teachers gathered to rest under the shade while their students cleaned the school and slept. The two female teachers, Teacher Peace and Teacher Silence, were already playing chess in the arbor. Even at this distance, Kas could sense the aromatic tea Teacher Peace had each afternoon. Teacher Silence had brought her first-aid box. Beyond the white rock circle in the garden, Teacher Mountain was sitting on a giant boulder. His hands rested on his knees, and his eyes were turned toward the newcomers. Teacher Smile was sitting under the tree’s shadow, enjoying the candy in his mouth. Kas could not see Teacher Shadow, but she was certain he was also there. The teacher who founded the school walked from underneath the trees and stood in front of Kas and Daniel.

“Why are you here?”

“He…” began Kas, but the teacher gave her a sign to be silent.

“I am here to improve my fighting skills,“ said Danny.

“No!”

The sharp response came from the branch of the tree. Kas looked up and noticed Teacher Shadow calmly sitting on a branch with a pipe in his hand. The camouflage expert proved again that he could be seen only when he wished. Teacher Shadow always kept his students on alert, and they diligently fulfilled their tasks because they never knew if he won’t surprisingly show up next to them. Kas was the only one who could not be surprised because she could sense his presence. Even so, her eyes often failed to see him.

“You are here to learn how to fight,” explained Teacher Smile.

“I already know all martial arts and techniques. I also studied all fighting techniques shown in the movies.”

The teacher’s eyes turned to Kas.

“He likes action and kung-fu movies,” she explained.

Teacher Mountain observed and judged Daniel since his arrival, but he said nothing. The red-haired giant spoke rarely, but his lessons needed no explanations. His name showed that, just like the mountain, he rarely moves, but no one is safe when that happens. Kosara’s friend spoke like a man and looked tough, but Teacher Mountain could see that Danny had never had a real challenge. It was time to change that.

“Show us,“ smiled Teacher Mountain.

The next moment, Kas felt Teacher Peace pulling her outside the white rocks circle and joining the fight. The teachers attacked Daniel one by one and then all together. Kas regretted not warning them that they would be fighting a machine. A few moments later, the synthetic warrior was rolling in the dust.

“Danny, you can defend yourself, just don’t hurt them,” said Kas.

“I am functioning at maximum capacity, but I cannot defeat them,” explained Daniel while standing up. “I don’t understand what is happening.”

“They are teachers,” explained Kas.

One after the other, the teachers took their turn to beat Daniel. Despite his strength, speed, and endurance, the robot could not defeat them. That was the longest battle Daniel had ever been in. He had easy victories over the soldiers in the base, and only a few of them got up from the ground to continue fighting. Now, Danny had to defend himself all the time. He was still losing even after they started using weapons because they flew out of his hands, and he was finding himself on the ground. Unlike him, there was not a speck of dust on the teachers’ clothes.

“Awesome!” repeated Kas. She dared not blink out of fear that she might miss something.

After yet another defeat, Daniel kneeled:

“Please, teach me how to fight.”

The six teachers stopped their attacks and walked toward him.

“Do you see? It is not enough to upload information in your brain,” said Teacher Fist.

“You know that I am a machine?” Daniel was surprised.

“It was a matter of time before they created someone like you,” said Teacher Shadow. “We knew that sooner or later; it would come to us to test its skills.”

“It happened. I failed. Please, teach me,” said Danny.

“How will you use your knowledge?” asked Teacher Silence, looking deep into the synthetic warrior’s eyes.

“I will put all my will and strength my every action to lead to the benefit of all, and if there is evil, I’ll keep it to myself.”

“You know thousands of ways to kill,” said Teacher Peace. “We will teach you how to fight for life.”

“We begin your training. Come with me,” Teacher Fist led Danny out of the garden.

“I’ll go with him,” Kosara tried to follow them.

“He will be fine on his own,” stopped her Teacher Silence.

“Let’s have tea. I want you to tell me more about your new friend,” added Teacher Peace.

After that day, Kas rarely saw Danny. Whenever she tried to join his practices, one of the teachers pulled her aside or gave her an assignment. She was happy that she could improve her technique but wished to check if Daniel was alright. She could see him during lunch and dinner, but all he was saying was that he was learning new things. She noticed that sometimes the teachers scolded him, and other times praised his achievements. Either way, he took the evaluation with a calm expression. Kas stopped worrying about him and focused on herself. She had lost part of her flexibility and speed since the last time she was here, but she quickly caught up.

During the last days of their stay, the teachers allowed her to watch the soldier’s training. Danny was doing much better, but he still could not defeat them. Kas wondered what he thought of while fighting with them. She promised herself she would ask after they left.

Kosara sat under the thick shadow and took a piece of cake from the tray:

“I’ve never asked how you decided to open the school.”

“Teacher Fist loved to visit a monastery high in the mountains,” Teacher Peace began her story while pouring the tea. “Once, he sensed a strange presence. He spoke to his friend, а monk, about it but got no answers. One day, while practicing in the garden, a raging storm covered the sun. Bright lightning split the sky and caught his attention. He turned around and saw a woman standing on an impossible-to-reach cliff. Despite the strong wind and cold rain, she was in deep meditation. Teacher Fist was unsure if what he saw was real or a vision, but he realized it was a sign. He told the monk what he saw, but his questions remained unanswered. A few days later, he was ready to leave. The monk told him that the strange woman had a message for him. He had to abandon city life and open a martial arts school in the mountains. At first, he did not wish to leave his work and life in the city and almost forgot about the events. Then, during one of his trips, he discovered this old monastery and felt that this was the right place to open the school. He hesitated again, but then the other teachers appeared in his life. He could no longer deny the woman’s message. We organized everything, and the first students arrived even before we were open.”

“Teacher Peace, each of your stories is like a fairy tale,” said Kas, and took a sip from the tea. She frowned when the hot liquid hurt her tongue.

“And you are still impatient. If you are not careful, your student will inherit this character trait,” smiled Teacher Peace.

From the arbor, they could see how Daniel fights with Teacher Mountain. The vicious battle was in complete dissonance with the lazy afternoon, but at the same time, it somehow completed it. Kas remembered why she liked this place so much. The peace and calmness here could chase away even the heaviest thoughts. She used to come here for the festival with her father and his friends. When he died, Kas remained here for almost three months. At first, she only slept. Then, she slowly returned to life. When she was ready to leave, her soul was in complete peace. More than 20 years have passed since then, but she spent a week or two here every year.

“You know that he will vanish when they remove the memory chip,” said Teacher Peace. Her words, spoken with a calm voice, were not meant to hurt. She simply stated a fact Kosara was already aware of but had no desire to think about it. Daniel proved that he was a real technological miracle. Undoubtedly, the scientists would try to duplicate him, and in the process, it was possible that they would destroy the thing that made him special.

“Yes,” said Kosara. “How did you guess what he is?”

“We could not imagine a more stubborn and resilient pupil for our Kosara.”

“Is that a hint about my Karma?” laughed Kas.

“You said it.”

After all those years, the teachers still managed to surprise her. Her friends also surprised her. Kas did not expect Daniel to be so well accepted by everyone. Does this mean that she has done an excellent job? Perhaps the 13 Ladies were wrong, and society was ready for synthetic people.

“He changed since our arrival,” said Kas.

“He is learning how to fight for life. That can change anyone. You know, it takes a single word to doom the world or to save it.”

“That is why it is important who says it and how,” added Kosara.

That was the last time they discussed Daniel’s potential. They knew that he could be used for good and for destruction. There was no way of knowing who in this peaceful world would use him for evil purposes, but they had to be prepared for that, too. The next day, Ryan came to get them. They continued their trip around the world in a land of sand, mummies, and ancient mysteries.

After questioning, testing, and playing intellectual games for hours with Daniel, the 13 Ladies concluded that Kosara had done exceptional work. They all agreed that no one could tell him apart from an average person. Because of his detailed knowledge in various spheres, he could take any post in any profession. The only strange thing about him remained his sense of humor. He still could not laugh spontaneously, but his jokes managed to make anyone laugh. The 13 Ladies were impressed by his interest in construction, glassmaking, and wood carving. The synthetic warrior’s exam ended, and they asked him to wait outside while they spoke with Kosara.

“Your work is done,” said the Head Lady. “You can return to the rest of your projects.”

“I have a lot more work on Danny,” objected Kas. “He will need adjustment to the new environment wherever you send him. He still has no idea how to behave in a workplace and can’t hide his fast learning.”

“A year of your schooling is more than enough. We have no intention to continue funding your vacations,” the Lady of the Information interrupted her.

“If the Unlimited Card is the problem, I’ll return it to you. I asked for it because, as you know, the more responsible the task of an employee is, the greater privileges they must have. Unless you have changed the main laws of economics on planet Earth.”

The Lady Responsible for Manufacture was ready to answer, but the Head Lady stopped her:

“As I said, that is in the past now. Your participation in the project is no longer necessary. You are free to leave.”

“Daniel will have questions…”

“The synthetic unit will receive clear instructions about its next mission.”

Kas froze on the spot. Arguing with the 13 Ladies was pointless. They kicked her out of the project just like that. She felt the reason was not the Unlimited Card or the constant traveling.

“What are you going to do to him? What is Daniel’s mission?”

“The future of the project is no longer your concern,” said the Head Lady in a cold voice and pressed the button to call the security.

Kosara ran through the door. Daniel was not outside. Ryan was also missing. She ran down the corridor, hoping to find them outside. They were not there. She looked at the enormous square in front of the Central Building but could not see them in the crowd. The 13 Ladies had lied to her the entire time. But how could she know that they would really destroy the greatest creation of human technological advancement? The fear for Daniel’s future and the anger that they intended to destroy her work blinded her. At this moment, Kas’ sacred wish was to return to that room and deal with the 13 Ladies. This was going to lead to a death sentence for her, but the world would learn about Daniel.

The crowd on the right side of the square drew Kosara’s attention. A medical car was waiting in front of the western door of the 13 Ladies’ Central Building. Several medical workers were fussing about a patient on a stretcher. The medics turned the stretcher to get it into the vehicle, and Kas recognized Daniel. She ran, but the people in the square were in her way. She pushed and jumped over them in an attempt to reach her goal. The medical transport left a moment before she grabbed the door’s handle. Kas ran back to her car and drove off at full speed down the street. She tried to follow them, but they noticed her and tried to get away from her on the high-speed road.

“You are traveling at a dangerous speed. There is a high chance of causing a road accident,” the car informed her. “Your reckless behavior on the road obligates me to inform the Guardians of the City Order. Please stop the vehicle to the side of the road and wait for the Guardians to arrive.”

“Shut up!” Kas yelled, tearing apart the main computer from the dashboard. The most important thing now was to save Danny. The basic plan was to catch up with the medical transport and maybe to cause a slight crash. That would draw everyone’s attention and put Daniel in the official reports. Then, they would not be able to hide him.

Kas reached the medical transport, ready to crash her car into it. She made a sharp turn, and the two vehicles almost touched each other. Her car slowed down even though she was pressing the pedal to the metal. The steering wheel refused to follow her orders, and the vehicle moved toward the assistance line. Kas was hitting the dashboard and trying to make the car move. The Guardians of the City Order cars surrounded her and made her step out of the vehicle. Despite trying to calm down, Kas expressed her feelings toward the 13 Ladies in front of the Guardians. This brought charges of reckless driving and disrespect toward the authorities. The worst thing was that no one believed her story about her kidnapped friend. The database held no information about emergencies requiring a medical vehicle, and the court denied access to the traffic cameras. She risked everything and talked about the synthetic warrior. Kosara was known for her work and opinion about the Change. Her projects were valuable, and most people respected her, but no one believed the 13 Ladies would hide an invention like Daniel.

For her crimes, Kosara was sentenced to six months of house arrest. She spent time speaking with other experts on synthetic unit behavior. She expected this revealing of secrets to bring the General’s men to her door, but no one showed up. The 13 Ladies ignored her legal attempts to meet them. Kas switched on her stubbornness and began sending 20 letters daily to each of the 13 Ladies, the Central Building, and the General. They all remained unanswered. Even Tekla did not bring good news.

“Why is he so important?” asked Tekla.

“Because he is unique!”

“That makes him important to the entire world. What makes him important to you? What makes him different from any intelligent toy or the students listening to your lectures?”

Tekla’s question left her unprepared. Kas never thought why she got so obsessed over this project. The answer came without even thinking about it:

“Because he is my friend, and I love him. He is a wonderful person. A good man. Last year, he saved almost 50 people. Wherever we went when something bad happened, he helped without hesitation. People stop for a fraction of a second and wonder if they should help or wait for the Guardians. Danny doesn’t. He chooses to do good.”

“Then what is bothering you?”

Kas looked at her friend:

“That they will not let him be himself. Or they will use him for bad things.”

“What bad things?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been searching for something all my life. I know it is there, but I can’t find it! I don’t even know what it is. I know that it is dangerous, and we have to deal with it, but I have no idea where to look for it. I am afraid that someone may use Danny for that.”

 “Kas, listen to me. Even before the Change, I dug into people’s secrets. What you are looking for are the crimes of the past. You see them in old movies and books, but they are not in our world. That is good. That is why we fought and sacrificed during the Change. Do you believe me?”

Kas nodded.

“Since I met Daniel, I personally went through the entire informational system. I discovered how they kept him secret and know that he is in the base again,” Tekla took her hand and looked into her eyes. “Your part in the project ended. Go back to your work and normal life,” she squeezed her hand. “Alan and Airini asked me to remind you that the family reunion is soon,” Tekla squeezed her hand again. “It will be great if the entire family is together again.”

Kas understood the hint. Tekla had discovered something important but could not speak about it. It was not the right time to ask questions because her house might be under surveillance.

“I’ll be happy to see everyone,” nodded Kas. “I am tired of being locked in this house. Airini’s delicacies will do wonders for me.”

“That’s the spirit! Don’t forget to bring more presents. This year, there are three new babies.”

“The family is growing. Soon, Alan’s children can form their own country.”

“Independent Monarchy Alan. I think he will like wearing a crown.”

“Airini will not mind as long as the king doesn’t forget to take out the trash on time.”

They laughed. Once Alan forgot to take out the trash. That caused great calamities in the family, and Airini did not speak to him for days. When they found out it was just a misunderstanding, the entire situation remained in the family’s history as a fun event and advice toward the men to always take out the trash on time.

A few days after Tekla’s visit, Kas’ punishment was over. There was over a month until the family reunion, but she wished to leave this house as soon as possible. Alan was happy when Kas told him she would arrive sooner than expected. One of his instructors was sick, and he barely managed to replace him and do his other duties. After the conversation with him, Kosara felt that the endless sky and the ocean’s depths were calling her name.

While waiting for transport to the airport, she checked to see if all windows and doors were closed. The doorbell rang, making her grab her backpack and head to the entrance. Kas opened the door, ready to hand over one of the suitcases to the taxi driver.

“Danny!” Kas froze in surprise.

Daniel reached toward her and crashed a small capsule in front of her face. The aroma entered her nostrils and clouded her mind. The last thing Kas saw was how Danny held her, so she didn’t hit the floor.

***

Yana: Thank you for reading the first chapters of my novel ‘The Phoenix Fleet of the Immortal Dar’, also available in Bulgarian language as ‘Флотилия Феникс на Безсмъртните Дар’. You can purchase the English book on Amazon by following the links:

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM4C3QV2

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVC7KCL3

You can also read the first chapters of the novel ‘The Sapphire Tear Crown of the Immortal Dar’. This book is also available in Bulgarian language under the name ‘Короната Сапфирена Сълза на Безсмъртните Дар’.

If you wish to learn more about me, check the ‘Hello!’ page. Please, don’t steal my work. I have never known a person who stole from me or hurt me and lived happily ever after. Not a threat; it is a proven fact. Enjoy my stories, and be happy!