Program 12 (5 page)

“Emile,” Alexis spoke softly. “I hope that you do not mind me calling you that. I’m aware that in here you are addressed as Program Thirteen. But out there? Out there you will need to become one of them. You will only be addressed as Emile.”

“I do not mind,” I replied. And I truly did not. It was gratifying to feel like a person rather than a Program.

“Okay then. Well, to start with, you are going to need a last name.” Alexis pulled a folder from the bag next to her seat. She spread the manila folder out on the steel table, quickly glancing over a form. “Ah! What do you think of Reed? Emile Reed has a rather nice ring to it, don't you think?” It certainly did. Emile Reed.
Beautiful.

“Yes, Reed will be perfect. Thank you,” I finally replied after I remembered Alexis was still waiting on me.

She laughed and reached out to touch my hand. “I know you are scared that I’ll run out of the room screaming, but I can assure you that I will not. When I took this job, I knew what to expect. I knew what I’d be working with and I was, and still am, perfectly okay with that. My job is to prepare you for life outside of Vesta Corp. I have every intention of making sure you are ready when you leave here.”

As I pondered the idea of being out there among the humans, I began to wonder how different it would be for me. Would I truly ever blend into their world or would I stand out as a copy? I turned to face Alexis, who was currently staring at the door.

“Alexis, may I ask you something?” She turned to meet my gaze, a smile forming on the corner of her lips.

“How different will it be for me out there? Will they accept me for what I am?”

I might be preparing for life outside of here, but I wasn't so sure that humans were prepared for me. It wasn’t that Vesta Corp was a secret organization. It was quite well known actually. At least from what we’d been told. But until every human was willing to accept us for what we were, the world outside of these walls was still terrifying. They felt that we were not living beings and therefore had no reason to exist.

“But you will prove them wrong,” McVeigh always told us. “You are all full of life. Show them that you belong in their world.”

Show them that you belong.
I only hoped that I could.

“Emile, I’m not going to lie to you. Things outside of Vesta Corp will be incredibly different for you. The thing you have to remember is that you are a computer program meant to look and act as a human being. Some of us, like me, have accepted your existence in our world, but unfortunately there are still some who have not.”

You are a computer program meant to look and act as a human being.

“Yes, but I am a
living
program.”

“Look Emile, there is a lot about your program and your outer shell that you are not aware of. Soon enough though, it will all come to light. Soon enough.” Alexis’s gaze fell to the steel table, her hand brushing the folder that lay in front of her.

There was a buzzing sound as the door opened. The large metal door slammed into the wall. I watched as the White Coats approached me, Tina leading the pack. “That will be all for today, Alexis. Thank you,” Tina said, forcing a smile as she grabbed  hold of my arm and lifted me from the chair while the other White Coats followed closely behind. “Thirteen, I believe you are due for a hard drive inspection. Rhys, can you please escort Thirteen? I need to have a little talk with Ms. Ward.”

Rhys stepped forward and grabbed hold of my arm, leading me to the evaluation room as the others looked on curiously.

Hard drive inspections were administered once per day. I’d already received mine earlier. There had to be a mix up of some sort. Maybe they did not receive my updated reading tablet. Maybe they did not know. “I’ve already had my evaluation today, sir.”

“Now that you are in Level Three, things will run a bit differently. Whenever we state that you are due for a hard drive evaluation, you will receive one. No questions allowed. Do you understand?”

I nodded, though I did not understand. Being that I was a Program and Rhys was one of my caretakers I was not allowed to question his judgment. Not unless I was willing to accept deactivation.

Rhys lowered me into the chair and quickly secured all of the restraints. The leather straps were tearing into my flesh. “Looks like we’re going to have to get these patched up, huh?” He smirked. “Wouldn’t want our lovely Thirteen to look inhuman, now would we?”

Rhys stood back up and proceeded towards the frosted glass, tapping the glass gently to alert the scientist that we were ready to start. As he turned to leave the room, he stopped at the door, peering over his left shoulder. “You are worthless.”

The metal door slammed shut behind him as his words lingered in the silent room.

Standard procedure stated that scientists were to remain anonymous to Programs. If they made their identities known, Programs could lash out against them. As long as they remained shadows, they were safe from our hands. They knew how torturous these evaluations were for a Program; they could tell simply by looking over the readings.

We were not supposed to know the scientists, but I knew this one particularly well. It was my old caretaker, Hayden. He pressed up against the frosted glass as his voice, soft and comforting, rang through the room. “I’m going to give you your life back, Emile, the life that they took from you. I promise. I’m going to get you out of this.”