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Chapter One

"She looks real."

"Of course, she does." Dr. Cort Hirsch looked down on the balding head of his lab assistant, Robert Martin. The professor removed his eyeglasses and wiped the thick lenses with a corner of his lab coat. "I took great pains to make her anatomically correct." He breathed deeply, replaced his glasses, and touched the edge of the table. The steel felt cold, lifeless, like his creation. And it felt hard, like the heart of the woman he loved. He peered through the glass dome covering the table. Soon I will know if I have given her life...such as it is.

Cort walked to a computer. His hands trembled slightly as he entered a code and watched the glass dome rise above the table to reveal a feminine figure. She looks peacefully asleep, so lifelike, he thought, so unlike the miles of wire, hundreds of chips, and myriad parts of steel and plastic I used to create her.

He almost smiled when he recalled agonizing for an entire evening over the style, size, and price of her clothing. Now she lay before him fashionably attired in a flower-print blouse and crisp, new jeans. To make certain she would look first-rate when activated, he took the jeans to the cleaners and had them press in center creases. Cort suppressed a nervous laugh when he noticed the toes of her white running shoes stuck straight up from the table and were three inches taller than her reclining body.

"She's beautiful." Robert bent over her face. "And 'anatomically correct,' you say. Does that mean she has everything a real woman has? Even ah...ah...you-know-what?"

"Yes, even a sexual organ." Cort nodded briskly causing his pony tail to flap, hit him in the chin, then settle heavily on his right shoulder. He clenched his teeth, anticipating the likely next question from Robert and decided his reason for de-sexing the robot was something he would not share with his assistant, or with anyone else.

"Will it work?"

"Of course it will work. It's fully functioning. But she won't be using it."

"Why not?"

"Because sex isn't part of her programming. The word, the concept has been deleted from her database."

Robert looked up, his obvious confusion showing on his face. "Why'd you do that?"

Cort narrowed his eyes as he stared into Robert's face. "Because I wanted to."

"Okay." Obviously not wanting to push the subject, Robert turned back to the robot. "So she's almost the perfect woman."

"She is perfect. Low-maintenance and programmed to do everything I say. She will gratefully cook and clean and be my secretary twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week because she doesn't need sleep or food or expensive clothes and jewelry." Cort raised his chin in the pompous way he did for his university students--good practice since his sabbatical would be over in only nine weeks and he'd become lax in expressing himself in academic ways. He looked at Robert beneath lowered lids. "I programmed 'grateful' into her." Cort grabbed Robert's skinny shoulder and squeezed.

"Ouch." Robert's eyes were moist with tears. "What's that for?"

"You signed the nondisclosure agreement. I assume you've read it and know if you divulge anything about what you are about to see, you will be driven to the poor house and you will never again work in your chosen scientific field."

"Yes, I understand. I had an attorney look it over before I signed it." Robert wiggled his shoulder as if to toss off Cort's grip. "You can let go now."

"Not yet. There is one more consideration." Cort squeezed harder.

"What's that?" Robert's eyes grew wider and drops of sweat appeared at the edge of his receding hairline.

"If you break our agreement, I will have to kill you. First, I will tear your head off your shoulders, then I will grind up your privates and feed them to the dogs." Cort tightened his bicep until the arm of his lab coat looked about to split.

Robert dropped his hand to his crotch. "You're kidding, aren't you? I mean, you don't have dogs, so you're kidding."

"I do not kid. I will buy dogs, big, vicious dogs." Cort released Robert's shoulder and pulled a transceiver from his pocket. He ran his thumb over the keys taking care not to apply pressure. Tremors of anticipation undulated up and down his backbone, an unwanted reaction for the man who prided himself on the ability to control his emotional responses. Emotion interfered with the optimal use of his intellect and diminished his physical strength. Calm down. Release the emotion, he told himself. Release the emotion. Cort took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

Robert turned away from the robot and toward the device in Cort's hand. "What's that?"

"It's a transceiver with which I can activate and control the robot. I send commands and receive her operating information. Inside her is a transceiver so miniaturized that it is no larger than the vitamin pill you take every morning."

"Thanks for reminding me." Robert reached into a pocket on his lab coat, pulled out a pink pill, popped it into his mouth, and swallowed.

Cort waited until Robert's Adam's apple stopped bobbing. "She also has a GPS tracking and data logging system with remote downloading capabilities. I'll know her every move, not that I'll need to because she will never leave this facility. The farthest she will travel is upstairs to the observation deck for a recharge of her solar batteries."

"She runs on sunlight?"

"That is just one of her energy sources. She contains a redundant, fail-safe system and is internally rechargeable." And, he couldn't tell Robert this, duplicates of all her parts and programs are stored in an area to which only I have access, and knowledge of. She is fail-safe. Cort sighed.

Robert reached out to the robot and stopped, then looked up at Cort. "Can I touch her?"

Touch her? Cort took off his eyeglasses and feigned interest in wiping them slowly with the corner of his lab coat. That was something he hadn't considered--that others might touch Alpha. He fought back a shudder. Even the thought of anyone else touching her felt like a violation of their relationship. Until this very moment no one but he had ever touched her. He had let Robert fetch and carry materials for her creation and do grunt work, but she was covered with a sheet and the dome was down except when Cort was alone with her. She had belonged exclusively to him, but soon her existence, and his creative genius, would need to be announced to the world. He sighed. "Might as well. She has to get used to the dirty world."

Robert looked startled. "But I washed before I came in here."

"I didn't mean you're dirty, I meant 'dirty' as in any place but this 'clean' room and any touch but mine." Cort waved his hand toward the robot. "Go ahead, touch her."

Cort watched as Robert reached forward and pushed on her cheek with the tip of his finger. Cort flinched. That seemed a bit rough, he thought, and opened his mouth to protest but by then Robert had removed his finger.

"Cold, but soft." Robert stroked her cheek and turned to Cort. "It feels just like a baby's skin."

"Yes, and it will never grow old. It's taken me twelve years to perfect that artificial skin. I was a graduate student when I began. The skin is in two layers. The lower, dermis layer is constructed to be a type of scaffold for the upper layer, and the skin has a blood supply. Not real blood, of course. It's a synthetic." Cort caressed the robot's forehead. "Developing her skin is one of the crowning achievements of my career." He felt something, an unrecognizable emotion, for his creation. Interesting. Instead of pushing away the feeling, he allowed it to flow as he arranged the robot's long, flaming red hair around her face and over the small white pillow supporting her neck. Is this, he wondered, how a pet owner feels about his dog or cat?

Robert bent over the robot. His gaze was directed at her face. "She looks kind of like that movie star--"

"Never mind that. It's time, Robert. It's time to initialize her." Cort waved toward a computer. "I'll program her via my transceiver and you will confirm the displayed commands." Cort could easily see the giant computer monitor screen from any place in the room and needed Robert's confirmation only to free himself so he could focus totally on the robot.

"Yes, sir." Robert turned toward the monitor.

Cort pressed several keys on the transceiver. "Battery and solar energy levels--full."

Robert pointed to a dial displayed on the monitor. "Roger."

"Radio frequency transceiver--on."

"Roger."

Cort saw a graph display an undulating wave. He felt encouragement, then told himself it was far too early to be optimistic. On the graph, a second wave joined the first. The robot could now receive commands and send responses. He pressed several buttons on the transceiver. "GPS tracking and data logging--on."

"Roger."

Cort looked at the monitor and read a stream of ones and zeros. So far, so good. Again he told himself it was too early to feel optimism.

"Three-D and sonar vision system--on."

"Roger."

Cort saw the robot's eyes open, and turned to the monitor. A grid appeared on the screen. It showed a view of the raised glass dome and ceiling above. Cort's heart thumped. She can see. He felt transfixed by the vision grid. My robot and I are seeing identical images. We are in communion.

Robert turned toward Cort. "Sir, do you have other commands?"

"Yes. Sorry for the delay. I was deciding on a sequence." Cort pressed several buttons. "Object recognition and avoidance technology...on."

"Roger."

"Olfactory and chemical sensory simulation...on." Cort did not have great expectations for the success of this component of his robot. He had lined her nose with sensors designed to identify odor components on the fly, but smell was perhaps the most difficult of the human senses to emulate and was necessary to having a sense of taste. Thus far, thought Cort, artificial olfactory technology has been primitive. If Alpha is able to actually smell, it will be one of my finest accomplishments.

"Roger."

"Breathing simulator...on." This system would cause her diaphragm to rise and fall with an oxygen intake and output through her nose. It had no purpose except deception. It was there to make Alpha appear human.

"Roger."

"Pump...on." The pump was a copy of a human heart and caused artificial blood to course through artificial veins and arteries. In addition to being deceptive, the pumping system had a practical use: It cleansed her entire system.

"Roger."

Cort pressed his index and middle fingers against Alpha's neck. Yes, there was a pulse. He laid the transceiver on the lab table and with the other hand he pressed his index and middle fingers against his neck. My God, we're beating in sync. Amazing coincidence. He began counting the beats in their pulses. One...two...three--

"Sir, do you have more commands for me?"

Cort picked up the transceiver. "Sorry, Robert. I was lost in thought. Audio-video modulator...on."

"Roger."

Cort heard what seemed to be an echo, but was actually the robot's audio. She could now hear and coordinate sound with vision. He decreased the volume. "Recorder...on."

"Roger."

I won't know if the next five functions are working correctly until I have observed her in the field, Cort thought, then pressed another button on the transceiver. "Emotional memory response...on."

"Roger."

Cort watched a blinking red light become a steady green light. "Sensory memory response...on."

"Roger."

"Behavioral conditioning...on."

"Roger."

"Internally directed movement...on."

"Roger."

The next function was akin to free will in a human. Her ability to use it was a long shot at best. Cort told himself to reserve judgment. He took a deep breath and said, "Artificial intelligence with deductive reasoning module...on."

"Roger."

Cort hesitated before entering the ultimate command into the transceiver. This was the command that would expose his success or failure. This was the command that would synchronize all the robot's separate systems. This command would reveal the value of devoting himself to twelve years of near solitary existence, the wisdom of spending a large portion of his inheritance, the viability of his plans to develop and market a race of service robots. He pressed the key. "Robot...on."

"Roger. Looks like all systems are go, sir." Robert left the computer and stood next to Cort.

The robot's eyelids flickered, closed, and re-opened. Her face animated, softened, smiled. She looked directly at Cort. "Hello, my name is 'Alpha.'"

Cort stared at her face and allowed himself to feel some excitement. She is perfect. The eyes are polished amber with fossil deposits perfectly emulating the pupils in human eyes. They are worth the years of searching for just the right stones. The ivory skin is soft and luminous. The lips are sensually full with their synthetic nerve endings poised on throbbing. The cheekbones are high-set and perfectly symmetrical. The hair is a fiery, passionate red. I have recreated Zoe Parker, to delight my eyes, to forever serve me. Thrice Cort had to tell himself to release the emotion before he allowed himself to speak, "Hello Alpha, my name is 'Cort. Cort Hirsch.'"

"Cort Hirsch." The robot paused. "Dr. Cort Hirsch; six feet, four inches; muscular build; one hundred ninety pounds; blond hair, straight, thick, long; ice-blue eyes; broad forehead; jaw-line strong."

Cort noticed Alpha's eyes took on a faraway, almost sweet look while she was searching her database for his description. He found her innocence kind of sexy and it made her seem deceptively human. "Very good, Alpha." He placed himself directly in her line of sight. "Is there anything more you would like to say about me?"

The robot became still. Her amber eyes rolled upward until the pupils disappeared behind eyelids. Hmmm. I'll have to fix that. Can't have her eyeballs rolling around. He held his breath wondering what was going on inside his robot. Her eyes repositioned.

"Hello, Cort. I am grateful to you for creating me."

Whew. Obviously her emotional memory response programming kicked in and simulated thankful appreciation and obedience. And her voice is perfect. The audio simulator had recreated Zoe's voice from the recordings in Alpha's database. "Thank you, Z--, Alpha." For a moment he felt as if he was looking into Zoe's eyes. Of all the women who rejected him in high school and college, and later, of all the women who preferred jocks to a nerd with thick glasses, she had hurt him the most.

Zoe Parker's rejection was public. They met at a "People in the News" award dinner. He received the "Scientist of the Year" award and Zoe won "Entertainer of the Year." He came to her table to offer congratulations. She looked him up and down and turned away without a word. He would have been less hurt had she said, "Go to hell" or "Get lost, buster." Instead she treated him as not even good enough to merit a response from her famous vocal cords. It was because of her rejection that he decided to create the robot in Zoe's image. But that was all in the past. Now he was the rejecter by denying his creation, Zoe's twin, her sexuality. "Alpha, can you sit up?"

Alpha lifted the upper half of her body, twisted to the side, and dropped her legs off the edge of the table. "Yes, I can sit up."

"Good. That was a very smooth movement. The math is correct--at least that related to sitting." Cort held out his hand. "Extend your left arm and shake my hand with your left hand."

Alpha obeyed Cort's command.

"Good, it moved well. Now let go of my hand, extend your right arm and shake my hand with your right hand." Not good, he thought. The elbow is extending in increments instead of in a smooth motion.

"Sir, her elbow looks broken," Robert said.

"Yes, I see that the right elbow has a slight jerkiness. I'll fix that. And her eyeballs," he added. Cort ran to the computer and punched in some code. Then, using the remote transceiver, he rotated her right elbow and moved her eyes. "Good. No, better than good. She is perfect." He turned to Robert who looked wide-eyed and slack-jawed and was totally silent. My assistant is impressed, as he should be, thought Cort. "What do you think?"

"I'm amazed. She is everything you told me she would be, and more. If I didn't know she's a robot, I'd think she was a human being." Robert shook his head.

Alpha's eyes moved. "Robot. Human being."

Cort nodded and looked at Alpha. "Yes, Alpha. Robot. Human being." He turned to Robert. "She can learn by mimicking. She repeated your words; that's a beginning. And there's more, much more. She's programmed to question and use deductive reasoning to make decisions. Her database contains a dictionary, encyclopedia, literature, textbooks, cookbooks, magazines, catalogs, recordings of television programs and films, emotional memories. It would take a human being many lifetimes to absorb all the knowledge she contains. Of course, I have edited the material to make certain she fulfills the purpose for which she was created--to be my service robot and the mother of a race of service robots."

"Sir, thank you for letting me observe this momentous event," Robert said, his gaze never leaving Alpha's direction as his sweaty, balding head bobbed up and down.

"That it is, a momentous event, and it is being filmed by the overhead surveillance cameras." Cort frowned. "Perhaps, I should be taking some close-ups. My camcorder is upstairs. I'll get it." He looked directly at his robot. "Alpha, don't move."

"Yes," she replied. "You are going to the second floor of Taurus. The facility is built within a secluded California foothill. Only the observation deck and its solar-system-scanning telescope are above ground level. Access to the below-ground floors is through a hidden elevator and protected by electronic surveillance and recognition devices. Dr. Hirsch controls the codes that permit or deny entry. His living quarters are on the first below-ground floor. The laboratory is on the second floor, storage on the third, and--" The robot stopped in mid-sentence. "And there are only three floors below ground. Presently, we are in the laboratory on the second floor. Is this correct?"

Cort nodded. "Yes, your database contains the correct information. Thank you for the tour, Alpha." He turned toward the door. "I'll return shortly."

* * *

The door had hardly closed behind Cort when Robert approached Alpha. She observed him circling the steel table where she sat and read his emotional energy waves. He was not a threat. Alpha turned her attention away from Robert. "Don't move," she said and scanned her database. "Move...To change the place or position of." She moved her arm and wiggled her fingers. "Move."

Robert grinned at Alpha. "So you got the 'move' part, but not the 'don't' part. You're more a self-directed female than Cort realizes."

"I am female?" Alpha scanned her database. "Female.... The basic term applied to members of the gender that is biologically distinguished from the male gender. Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Robert, Robert Martin. I help Cort in the laboratory. And it's polite to face someone when you're speaking to them."

"Yes." Alpha turned in the direction of Robert's voice. Her object recognition system recorded his image: five foot, eight inches; One hundred thirty-five pounds; slender build; dark brown hair; receding hairline; hazel eyes; thin face. She added his name to the file. "Are you female?"

"No, I'm male."

"Is my creator female?"

"No, Cort's a male too."

"A male is the basic term applied to members of the gender that is biologically distinguished from the female gender."

"Yeah, you've got it." Robert nodded his head and smiled. "You even sound like Cort."

"No, I do not sound like Cort. Our voice modulation is not the same."

Robert threw his head back and laughed. "You just did it again. You sound like Cort. No, not sound like. You express yourself just like Cort. Yes, that's it. You express yourself just like--" Robert looked away and mumbled. "What am I doing trying to explain myself to a robot?" He shook his head.

The word "robot" triggered Alpha's database. She received a reminder about a note she had recorded earlier: Scan for "human being." Scan for "robot." She scanned. Human being...Of, belonging to, or typical of mankind, the human race. Robot...Any manlike mechanical being; built to do manual work for human beings.

Robert turned back to Alpha. "Sorry about that, Alpha. That was impolite of me."

"Yes, you are impolite." She zoomed her vision and studied Robert. She zoomed back and forth at resolutions so high she could count the pores on his nose. She directed her vision at her hand and found she also had pores. Alpha looked up. "Is Robert a human being? Or are you a robot?"

"I'm a human being."

"Is Cort a human being?"

"Yes he is."

"Is Alpha a human being?" She watched Robert drop his head and appear to be studying the floor. She analyzed the materials in the floor: white contamination-control, slip-resistant epoxy coating over preformed concrete. A typical installation. She did not know why Robert was staring at the floor. She scanned him. Scan results: The subject shows confusion and embarrassment. Alpha recorded Robert's lack of response to her question, and timed him. It took a full half-minute before he answered.

"No, Alpha, you're a robot."

"I am a mechanical being built to perform manual work for humans?"

Robert again looked at the floor. "You should ask Cort questions like that, not me."

Alpha recorded a note to ask Cort questions about herself.

* * *

Hiss. Hiss. Cort paused at the entrance to the lab and waited while electronic recognition scanners examined him. The door opened. He walked to the table where Alpha sat, then turned toward Robert. "I have the camcorder. Did anything happen while I was gone?"

Robert's face was expressionless. "Nothing."

Cort turned his attention to the robot. "Alpha, I grant you permission to move as required. Stand, Alpha."

Alpha created the movements related to standing.

"Wow..." Robert let out a long, low whistle. "She's got perfect proportions." He grinned. "Bet you had fun molding her."

Cort scowled. "That's crude, Robert. In the interest of science, and for no other reason, I created a perfect feminine form." His eyesight blurred as he said in a hoarse whisper, "The Turing Test, I want her to pass the Turing Test." This was his goal. No, his passion since the moment Alpha was conceived in his mind. It was his driving force for the past twelve years. All else was transitory. Alpha and the developments in robotics she represented were forever.

"The Turing Test?" There was a hint of disbelief in Robert's tone.

Robert's tone annoyed Cort. Of course, his robot would ultimately pass the Turing Test. That goal, that belief had carried the scientist through twelve years of hardship and he could not let a mere assistant shake his confidence. He clenched his jaw, then responded to Robert's skepticism. "Yes, Robert. The great Alan Turing set forth the condition to prove artificial intelligence. He said, 'If the machine could successfully pretend to be human to a knowledgeable observer, then you certainly should consider it intelligent.' My robot will pass the Turing Test."

"Yes, sir. If you say so, sir." Robert still didn't look convinced. "Okay, so she'll pass the Turing Test, but aren't you worried she might run amuck and hurt someone? I mean, it's not like she's got moral values or religion."

"But she does have moral values. I programmed them myself at the same time I added Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics to her database. She is programmed to never hurt a human being. In fact, she would sacrifice herself to protect a human."

Robert's head bobbed up and down. "I feel better knowing that, sir. I'm sorry for having doubted your efficiency." He dropped his head in a contrite pose.

"Forget it, Robert. It was a natural concern." Cort waved his hand at Alpha. "Move forward three steps."

Alpha took three steps forward.

Cort slowly circled his robot. "What do you think, Robert, could she pass for human? I mean pass physically for a human? Take a look." He stepped out of the way.

Robert walked around Alpha. "Yeah, she looks like a human, but...." He stopped at the front of the robot. "Sir, I don't mean to criticize. Her clothes don't fit right. The blouse is too tight and her breasts are half exposed. Not that I mind looking at them myself, but if an outsider came to the observation tower and saw her recharging her solar batteries they might get the wrong idea.... If you know what I mean. How about we take her to DeepDiscount and get her some clothes that fit?"

Cort studied Alpha's chest while considering Robert's comments. Far too much cleavage was showing. "You are correct in your observations. We don't want to arouse any questions. Not yet. We need to complete the testing cycle before we announce to the press."

"The jeans are too big. They're ready to fall off," Robert pointed at Alpha's legs. "And it's not cool to have center creases in your jeans. Where did you get them?"

Cort felt his cheeks burn. How was he supposed to know what was "cool"? He hardly ever went out and when he did, it was not with the cool crowd. He socialized with persons like himself: scientists, intellectuals. "I shopped for her clothes on the Internet. I don't know anything about women's sizes so I guessed."

"Internet," said Alpha. "An extensive computer network made up of thousands of other, smaller business, academic, and governmental networks connected through phone lines, cables, or wireless devices. My wireless is off." Alpha's voice volume dropped. "My wireless--on."

Robert does have a valid point about her attire. Cort started to turn toward Robert, and realized he was being rude to Alpha and hadn't paid much attention to what she said. Oh, I must acknowledge her comment or she will learn that her observations are not important. "Very good, Alpha. You are scanning well." He turned toward Robert. "You were saying?"

"With all due respect, sir." Robert dropped his head in that submissive posture Cort hated. It meant he disagreed with his boss. "You don't know much about style either. The blouse is ugly. It's so bright, I feel like putting my sunglasses on. And her shoes are so big, you could fit in them. I'm afraid she'll trip when she tries to walk farther than a few steps. Maybe you should take her shopping so she can try on clothes before you buy them. There's a DeepDiscount store nearby and their stuff doesn't cost a lot."

Cort studied Alpha, took a deep breath, and nodded. "Yes, yes, you are correct in your observations. I don't know anything about women's shoes so I bought her men's shoes. Running shoes all look the same. I didn't realize they're sized differently." He removed his eyeglasses and wiped the lenses on his lab coat. "It is too soon to take her shopping. For now she can wear one of my shirts." Cort replaced his eyeglasses, faced the robot, and pointed at her feet. "Alpha, remove the shoes."

She lifted her right leg, pointed her toes to the floor, and the shoe fell off. She repeated the process with the left leg and produced the same result. "They are off," she said.

What a dilemma, thought Cort as he picked up the shoes and slid them under the lab table. She's not even real, hasn't been turned on for more than an hour, and is already creating a typical female problem. I have heard it all before--she has nothing to wear.

* * *

"I have nothing to wear to the studio." Zoe Parker walked through her bedroom, stopping to sniff the vase of red roses on her dresser. One bloom in the center of the bouquet caught her eye. "Lucille," she yelled, and removed the rose from the bunch.

"Yes, Miss Parker."

"Oh," said Zoe, startled by the quick response of her maid. Lucille must have been following behind, but the woman was so short and nondescript it was easy to overlook her. Zoe turned. "Did you bring in the roses?"

"Yes, Miss Parker." Lucille nodded.

"Lucille, what color is my hair?"

A crease appeared in the maid's forehead. "Red, Miss Parker."

Zoe held the rose against her hair. "And what color is this rose?"

Lucille's hand flew to her mouth. Her shoulders slumped. "Oh, it's orange. I'm so sorry, Miss Parker. I don't know how I missed it."

"Lucille, you are--" Zoe stopped herself in mid-sentence. Should she fire Lucille? She'd fired maids for less, but Lucille took good care of her wardrobe. Besides, the black-haired, pale-faced maid coordinated with the color scheme and was attractive enough not to offend Zoe's eyes but not so pretty that she could offer competition. Zoe decided to give Lucille a second chance.

"Yes, Miss Parker." Lucille's eyes and mouth were wide open.

It pleased Zoe to see the fear-stricken look on her maid's face. She smiled and arched an eyebrow. "We'll go through this once more, Lucille. I expect you to remember and make no more mistakes. Everything in my house is black or white except the roses are red and must match my hair color. Oh, and I allow an occasional accent of silver, solid sterling silver, never plate. There is only one item in my entire house that breaks the rules: my gold Oscar."

"Yes, Miss Parker." Lucille nodded. "I promise to remember." She nodded again.

"Those rules apply to my wardrobe too." The reasoning behind the rules was that people should be attracted by her face and body, not by the color of her clothing, but she couldn't tell her maid that. "Everything in my entire wardrobe is either black or white. The only color is the red of my hair." Zoe tossed her head to fluff her red curls and emphasize her statement. "And the silver for my home is replaced by platinum and diamonds on my body." She held out her right hand and moved it so the diamonds caught light and sent out blue-white flashes that reminded her of the Fourth of July sparklers she had as a child.

"Yes, Miss Parker, I do remember that."

"Good. Now go on and finish whatever you were doing, then meet me in the closet in five minutes."

Lucille looked at her watch. "Yes, Miss Parker."

After Lucille left the bedroom, Zoe entered the closet, her "dark womb," the one place where she could truly relax. So far, the morning had been difficult, which was usually the case when Frank negotiated her next film. Her gaze caressed the black cabinets hugging the walls from floor to ceiling and corner to corner. She felt tension flow off her forehead, her neck, her shoulders as she more deeply penetrated the dark womb.

Zoe paced through the closet, stopping now and again to slide open a door, tug a sleeve, and tap her foot in dismissal. Soon she felt Lucille's presence at her back and turned. "Lucille, I have nothing suitable to wear to the studio." Zoe caressed the silk robe clinging to her body. "I certainly can't wear this." She smiled at her little joke and looked at Lucille.

Lucille laughed.

"And I've already worn everything once." Zoe noticed the price tag hanging from a black satin blouse. "Umm...almost everything." Zoe expressed a deep sigh, turned to a floor-to-ceiling shoe cabinet, and pulled a pair of white sandals from a glass drawer. "What was I thinking? These heels are too low." She dropped the shoes and heard two carpet-muffled thuds when they hit the floor.

Lucille retrieved the shoes and replaced them in the drawer.

"I must shop." Zoe sucked a strand of hair that had fallen across her face, released the strand, tossed her head, and slid into the nearby chaise lounge. She closed her eyes and stroked the silken white fabric of the chaise. No one understands how hard it is to maintain my image. I can never relax. I have to always look my best. Sometimes I feel like running away to a place where I can wear jeans and go without makeup. Zoe sighed. But if there was no makeup, there probably wouldn't be any plastic surgeons either. What an ugly life that would be. Zoe straightened her shoulders and opened her eyes. She saw Lucille standing at attention at the foot of the chaise. "Tell Frank I want him here--now."

* * *

Soon Frank was in the closet and standing dutifully at the foot of Zoe's recliner. "Lucille said you want to shop?"

"Yes, today. Phone Claudia's and tell her to close the shop." Zoe crossed her legs revealing a bit more thigh. She loved to tease "Old Fatso." Before noon and already his cheeks and nose were red. He was drinking earlier and earlier each day. Why she kept him on as her business manager was a mystery, even to herself.

"What time?" Frank raised his knit shirt and removed the cell phone from his belt, revealing a flabby white belly dotted with short black hairs. Actually, he had more hair on his belly than he did on his head.

Disgusting, she thought, and felt her stomach lurch, but answered in a composed voice, "Three." There were more benefits than money and fame to being an actress. Obedience by underlings was important too. She smiled at Frank.

"You have a dinner date tonight with that new actor the studio is pushing. That's at nine. Will three to six, six-thirty be enough time?"

"Yes, I just need to find something to wear to the studio for the contract signing. Certainly it won't take you more than a day or two to convince them to agree to the increase."

"Give me until the end of this week to set it up. You want thirty-percent more. That'll take a lot of convincing." Frank paused. "We know you're worth it, and they know you're worth it. They're just cheap." Frank pressed speed dial and put the phone to his ear. "Miss Claudia, please. Frank Lanconni for Miss Parker."

Zoe rose from the chaise and walked to the sportswear section of her closet, opened a glass door, and rummaged around. She pretended to be concentrating on selecting something to wear but was listening intently to Frank's conversation.

"Hello, Claudia. Yeah, Frank Lanconni. How are you? That's good. Me too. Hey, I just called to make arrangements for this afternoon. Miss Parker wants to shop. She'll need you to close the store to other clients from two-thirty to seven." There was a lengthy pause in Frank's conversation. "No, she can't come tomorrow. She wants to come today."

Zoe turned to her business manager and put her hands on her hips. "Frank..."

He looked at Zoe, then at his feet. "Claudia, I understand your problem, but you need to reschedule your appointment with Victoria. Hell, she hasn't even been nominated for an Oscar, much less won one. And need I remind you that Miss Parker spent a half-million in your store last year. How much did Victoria spend with you?" After a short pause, Frank looked at Zoe and nodded.

Zoe smiled. That bitch, Claudia, she thought, was going to turn me down because Victoria had an appointment. I just might take my business elsewhere...but not today.

"I thought you'd reconsider. Miss Parker will be there around two-thirty." Frank ended the call and hung the cell phone on his belt.

"Tell Thomas I'll be taking the limo, and tell Lucille to come here and help me dress."

"I'm here, Miss Parker." Lucille's head peered out from behind Frank.

* * *

Zoe leaned back in the limo seat and smoothed the waistline of her halter top. Lucille was right: today was a good day for wearing white. Black would have been depressing. She stretched out her legs and looked through the limo's tinted window at the shops on Rodeo Drive. "Frank, when did you tell Claudia we'd be there?" She glanced at her watch.

"Two-thirty."

"It's three-five now. Tell Thomas to pull over. I don't want to arrive until at least three-fifteen." She watched Frank speak into the intercom connecting him to her driver. The limo turned onto Santa Monica Boulevard, drove several blocks, and made a couple of turns.

Zoe heard the familiar thump, thump of their tires on a cobblestone section of Rodeo Drive and knew they would soon be at Claudia's. She looked at her watch, three-fifteen, covered her head with a silk scarf, and put on sunglasses.

At exactly three-seventeen, Zoe stepped out of her limo and walked under the canvas awning marking the entrance to Claudia's, the most prestigious shop on the Drive. She struck a pose and waited. Usually she could count on a few paparazzi hanging around hoping for a shot of a star. Thomas was already out of the limo and standing guard behind her. Frank was slowly getting out of the limo and, as he always did, giving her a chance to be seen and recognized.

Zoe noticed a crowd of tourists walking toward them. She shook her head slightly, just enough to cause the silk scarf to slide off her head and reveal her signature red curls.

"Look," screamed a touristy-looking woman, "It's Zoe Parker."

My fans are so loyal. Seeing me will be the biggest event of their vacations, maybe even of their lives, she thought as the crowd rushed forward and encircled her, taking photos with their disposable cameras, and begging her to autograph everything from guide books to the shirts on their backs. Zoe signed autographs and basked in the adoration of her fans.

Thump. Thump.

Thump. Thump. Zoe's awareness was captured by the sound of tires on the cobblestone street. With a collective gasp, the crowd dispersed. Zoe turned. A car was coming straight at her. "Eeek." She froze.

Crunch. She felt Thomas's gorilla-strong arms wrap around her and carry her to safety. Her heart was pounding. Her body went limp in Thomas's protective embrace.

Crash. She heard the car hit Claudia's. The side of her face was held firmly against Thomas's chest. Zoe saw shards of glass fly through the air and knew some were hitting Thomas as he shielded her. Thomas carried her to the limo and gently deposited her in the back seat. As soon as Frank was also in the limo, they sped away.

Chapter Two

The elevator door opened to the entrance hall for the floor above the lab. "Alpha, this floor contains my living quarters." Cort motioned Alpha to precede him off the elevator, then frowned and shook his head. What am I doing? I'm treating a robot like she's a lady.

"Thank you, Cort. I appreciate your politeness."

Obviously, Alpha's behavioral conditioning has kicked in, thought Cort. That's a first, a female thanking me. Wish I could do behavioral conditioning on all the women in my life. "You are welcome, Alpha." He motioned toward the door in the circular glass enclosure. "This bronze door was designed by Alexander Koop, the famous artist. He is in your database. Koop cast the door himself. Notice how the panels follow the curve of the glass wall, then open and fold against each other. The entire door weighs several tons, but I can move it with a single finger."

"Yes, he is world renowned." Alpha stood motionless, obviously waiting for further orders.

"We are now in the entry to my private living quarters. Only those recognized by the security system are allowed to enter. And there is an override on the system in case I someday have guests. You will be recognized. Step forward into the range of the sensors."

Alpha took a step forward and the bronze door opened. "You may enter, Alpha," said Cort. He stared at her back as he followed her into the great room. She has a beautiful ass, curvy and firm. It is as good as Zoe Parker's and maybe even better. The 3D sculpting program got that part right.

The robot took several steps into the room. "My vision system can see through the walls when I am inside the room."

"That's because it's one-way glass. We can see into the hall but someone standing in the hall cannot see into this room. It's a security feature."

"Yes." Her eyes moved from side to side then back to center. "My vision system and research say this beige-on-beige room is well-designed but needs some accent color."

Cort glanced around the forty-foot-in-diameter room. Everything was a shade of beige. Even the translucent screens separating the living and dining areas from the kitchen. "Yes, I can see that." Damn, maybe I shouldn't have uploaded those decorating books to her database. Now she is going to want to redecorate. He scowled and could feel emotion churning in his belly. Relax, relax. He took off his eyeglasses, polished the lenses with his lab coat, and replaced the glasses. "But we are not going to change anything in here."

"Yes, Cort." Alpha stood at attention. "Then what should I do? I am here to serve you."

"Yes, that is true." He felt the tension in his face melt away and his stomach relax. "I will show you around." He pressed a wall switch and the translucent screens rolled back revealing the stainless steel kitchen, his third favorite part of the living quarters, after the bronze door and his shower. "First I will introduce you to the laundry and sleeping quarters, then we will return to the kitchen." He pointed to a door at the far end of the room. It was a miniature edition of the bronze entrance door.

At the door, he stopped. "There is tighter security at this door. You and I are the only ones cleared to enter. Stand here when you want to enter and the sensors will be able to read you." He stood directly in front of the door.

Hiss. Hiss. The electronic sensors identified Cort. He entered the hall to the bedroom wing and motioned for Alpha to follow. "If you were not cleared and tried to follow me, a barrier would drop and alarms would sound." He pointed to a steel bar in the ceiling.

Alpha stepped forward.

Hiss. Hiss. "The energy waves are entering my being and reading my identity chip. I am cleared." She followed Cort into the hallway and the door closed behind her.

"Is Robert cleared?"

"Only for the first level of security. Not for this section of the floor." How does she know Robert's name? Maybe she recorded it when I spoke to him. I wonder why she asked me if he is cleared? Maybe because he's the only other human she's met. Not important, except that she created an awareness on her own. A good sign that she's beginning to use her reasoning powers. He felt a trickle of excitement, contained himself, and said to Alpha, "We'll start with the bathroom. Go into the first door on the right."

Alpha entered the room and stared into the toilet. The seat was up.

Cort quickly closed the seat. "You won't be using that. You will just need to clean it. Your database contains a copy of Heloise's Household Hints and a couple other books on cleaning. The supplies are in the laundry room. I'll show you that next." He turned and began walking out of the room.

"Who is that?" Alpha pointed at the bathroom mirror.

"That's you, Alpha, in the mirror."

"Mirror. A reflective surface." The robot touched her nose in the mirror then the nose on her face. Her amber eyes had that faraway look she assumed when searching her database. After a short pause, she said. "I am beautiful by current standards." She cocked her head to the side and looked at her reflection.

"Come on, Alpha," said Cort. Next she'll be asking for makeup. "I'd rather you did not look in the mirror."

"Yes, Cort." She turned away and followed him to the laundry room.

"Those two machines are the washer and dryer." He pointed. "Instructions for their use are in your database." He opened the cabinet above the appliances. "All the laundry soaps and cleaning supplies are in here."

Alpha looked into the cabinet. "Where are my waterproof gloves?"

"Your what?" I couldn't have heard that right. She didn't say that...? Not knowing whether to laugh or be angry, Cort looked at the floor while trying to regain his composure.

"My waterproof gloves. Heloise says I need waterproof gloves to protect my hands. I must have the gloves before I can do the cleaning." She held out her hands palms up. "Note that I am looking at you when I am speaking to you, but you are not looking at me."

Cort grinned and looked at her. "Sorry, that was impolite of me." This is becoming complicated. I might have to edit the material in her database, Or maybe not. I am enjoying watching her come to life. I don't have to decide that today. I'll give it some time. "You may make a list of what you need and I will send Robert to the store tomorrow for the gloves and everything else." It was probably smart to let her use the gloves. Then he wouldn't have to replace the skin on her hands as often.

"I am grateful to you, Creator."

"We don't want anyone to hear you call me 'Creator' so just say 'Thanks, Cort.'"

"Thanks, Cort. I will prepare the list and send it to the printer in the laboratory."

"Wait...you are going to do what?" I couldn't have heard that right. I haven't connected her to the printer.

"Prepare a list and send it to the printer."

"How are you going to do that? Your wireless networking is off."

"I turned the wireless on because there is a need for it in the near future, and I connected to the network. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that is correct." Tingles flowed through Cort. He didn't try to suppress the excitement. His robot had fully used deductive reasoning and activated her wireless. More important, the robot was able to verbalize her reasoning. She had performed in an intelligent manner. She was well on the way to passing the Turing Test. "Yes, Alpha, you did exactly the right thing." He patted her shoulder. Damn, it feels so real. The artificial muscles lie perfectly on her steel skeleton and soft, pliable skin covers all. She is a masterpiece, a technological marvel, and I have created her. "Come, I will show you my bedroom."

"Bedroom, a room containing a bed in which a person sleeps," she said and followed Cort across the hall and into the bedroom.

"Am I not supposed to tell you this well-designed, beige-on-beige room needs accent color?" she asked.

"Yes. I mean, no. You are not supposed to tell me that. This is my bedroom and you will not come in here except to clean, change the linens, and care for my clothing." He opened the door to the closet.

Alpha walked to the closet and turned, giving Cort a view of her cleavage. I was correct in my observation of her shirt size. "That shirt is too small for you. Take it off and I'll give you one of my shirts to wear until we buy something that fits you properly."

Before Cort could reach into the closet, Alpha had removed her blouse and stood bare-breasted with her rosy nipples pointing heavenward. Is this how the real Zoe looks to her lovers? Cort felt tingles of desire tease his groin. While creating Alpha he never felt sexual stimulation. She was just a mass of materials he was molding and attaching. Like an artist sculpting a figure, he was concerned only with reproducing the human form. But now she moved and an artificial heart pumped synthetic blood to her artificial skin. He placed his hand against her cleavage and felt the beat of her heart, the faint throbbing of her pulse. She felt so real. Did Zoe Parker feel like this?

"My sensors say your hand feels good. It is warm and soft."

He snatched his hand away as quickly as if it had touched a hot coal. Cort grabbed a white shirt from the closet, tossed it to Alpha, and averted his eyes. "Put this shirt on." The shirt is big enough to cover her past the waist, so I don't need to belt the top of her jeans.

After giving Alpha enough time to button the shirt, Cort looked back. The shirt was on and correctly buttoned. Her rosy nipples were visible through the white shirt. She needs a brassiere. I could order one from the Internet but how do I figure out the size? The manual that came with the implants cautioned that the implant size was not necessarily the bra size. Cort paused and concentrated on polishing his glasses. Robert could be right. I might have to take her to the store and let her try on clothes. Yes, that would be a good preliminary to executing an actual Turing Test.

"Where is Alpha's bedroom?"

"You do not have one. You do not need to sleep."

"Only human beings sleep? Robots do not sleep?"

"Yes."

Her eyes took on that faraway look that meant she was searching her database. "Seven to eight hours each day is the recommended amount of sleep for a human's good health."

"That's correct."

"What shall I do while you sleep?"

"Complete any tasks I assign to you, then find a place to stand and wait for me to wake up."

"Yes, I shall do that."

* * *

At nine that evening, Cort gave Alpha a list of tasks to complete and went to his bedroom. He was exhausted from the excitement of the day, from the successful culmination of phase one of his master plan--creating a robot that showed every likelihood of passing the Turing Test.

Cort took off his glasses, removed the rubber band from his pony tail, stripped off his clothing, and grabbed the bar hung from the closet door jam. He quickly did one-hundred chin-ups. Stress evaporated from his mind and sweat flowed down his body. He took a shower and slid into bed. His body was warm and still a bit damp. Cort fell into a deep, revitalizing sleep. It was near morning when dreams began to tantalize the edges of his consciousness.

Zoe. He imagined how it would be to have her in his bed. He could almost see her red hair flowing in wild, unruly curls, her amber eyes smoldering with passion. His tongue would explore her throbbing lips and slowly, ever so slowly, make its way to her waiting nipples. He could taste them now, hard and flavored with her moist passion. Cort groaned and grasped himself. He was in full arousal. If she only knew what she was missing, it was so large and lasted so long, she'd want him too. "Oh, Zoe, I need you," he whispered.

"Cort, you are awake and your male organ is distended. Do you need to relieve it in the toilet?" He opened his eyes. His robot stood at the foot of the bed.

"Shit." He rolled over on his stomach. Ouch. Damn, I hope I didn't break it. He reached between his legs and moved it to a more comfortable position. Then he pulled the edge of the blanket over his back, raised up in a sort of kneeling posture, and looked over his shoulder. "Alpha, what are you doing in here?"

"You said to complete the tasks you assigned to me, then find a place to stand and wait for you to wake up. I have done so."

"I didn't mean you should come in here."

"How else will I know when you are awake?"

"That isn't what I meant." His ardor had dissolved; it was safe to roll over and sit up, so he did.

"How will I know when what you say is not what I should do?"

"Good question." He frowned and pursed his lips, hoping he looked stern and foreboding. He used the look his students said sent fear through their hearts. "We can't have this happening again." Alpha's expressionless face stared back at him and he realized his acting was lost on his robot. "I forgot that you take everything literally."

"Yes I am literal. I do not understand why you are experiencing anger with me. You have cleared me to come in here at any time."

"Yes you can, but we're changing the order. From now on you'll have a specific place to wait for me to wake up--in your own bed. I'm giving you the guest bedroom and I will call you on the intercom when I am awake." Cort wrapped the top sheet around his waist and stood up.

"Am I now human because I will wait in a bed?"

"No, having a bed doesn't make you a human. Now, get out of here. I have to shower and dress."

Her head dropped and her eyes seemed focused below his waist. "Your organ is no longer distended. My database says 'After copulation, the male organ returns to its normal state.' Have you copulated?"

He felt his cheeks redden, and shook his head. How could I have missed that word when I edited her database? I wonder what else I've missed? "Alpha, wipe the word 'copulation' from your database. No more questions. Go to the kitchen and make a pot of coffee and buttered toast for me."

* * *

Cort went to the kitchen following the scents of fresh-brewed coffee and butter melting into toasted bread--a welcome treat after years of breakfasts he'd made himself. If you could call a mug of instant coffee and a packaged health bar "breakfast."

Alpha sat quietly while Court ate. "Is it tasty?" she asked.

Cort took a bite of the toast and licked butter from his fingers. "Yes, quite tasty. The toast is nicely buttered and I like the cinnamon and sugar on the top. Oh, and the coffee is just right."

"That is because the kitchen robots perform well." She pointed to the toaster and coffee maker.

"They're not robots. They're machines called 'appliances.'"

"They were built to perform manual work for humans as I have done. Am I also called 'appliances'?"

"No. The appliances perform only a few simple functions and cannot deviate from their programming. But you, you are intelligent and can think and act independently." He stroked her arm. "You have skin." He pointed to her chest. "A heart beats inside you. Blood courses through your veins and feeds your skin. You have emotional and sensory memories. You are superb."

Alpha placed her hand against her chest. Her eyes took on that faraway look. "My sensors detect rhythmic movement and a liquid flow."

"That's your heart sending blood through your arteries and veins. The blood cleanses your system."

"Humans have hearts. I have a heart too." Her voice had an undeniable note of pride in it.

"Yes, you do, and it's the best and most expensive artificial heart ever made." For a reason he was not willing to pursue, Alpha's pride in having a heart caused a bittersweet feeling in Cort, even though he realized he should be happy that she achieved a learned emotional response. He feigned intense interest in his coffee cup while he suppressed his own emotion. He took off his eyeglasses and polished them with a paper napkin.

Alpha faced Cort. She cocked her head to the right, then to the left. "My object recognition technology has measured your face, its length versus width, and many other dimensions. My research says when you do not wear eyeglasses you are beautiful by current standards."

"Wow, that's a first: a female telling me I look good." He smiled and allowed the pleasurable emotion to flow, then realized he'd been smiling a lot since he activated Alpha. Cort decided not to dwell on the change and let the thought of happiness fly freely through his consciousness. "Thank you, Alpha. I find you beautiful too."

"Yes, I am beautiful."

He laughed, and replaced the eyeglasses. "It's polite to say 'thank you' when someone pays you a compliment like I just did."

"Thank you. Yes, I am beautiful."

"Okay, that's good enough. I'm going to the lab to work. Please, clean up the kitchen, then polish my black boots. They're in my closet along with the polish and a brush. There are some waterproof gloves under the kitchen sink. When you're done, come up to the lab. You're cleared for the elevator and all doors in the facility. The only thing you cannot do is leave the facility without me."

* * *

Cort had barely set a foot in the lab when Robert asked, "How's it going with Alpha?"

"Very well. She needs some tweaking, but on the whole she is doing very well." Cort looked at his watch. "Six-twenty. You're early."

"Yeah. I couldn't sleep. I thought about Alpha all night. I believe she'll prove to be the greatest scientific breakthrough of the twenty-first century." Robert nodded his head again and again. "Dr. Hirsch, you are a genius, a genius."

"Thank you, Robert, but it's too early to say that, and please stop bobbing your head up and down like that." Cort shook his head from side to side. "I find it annoying."

"Yes, sir." Robert stopped bobbing. "Where is she?"

"Cleaning the kitchen and polishing my boots. She'll be up when she's done. I am going to develop a test of her 3D and sonar vision system. While I am doing that, check the printer for Alpha's shopping list. I said you'd pick up the stuff today." Cort took a seat at the curving stainless steel desk. He turned on the computer, hit a few keys, and the four-foot-wide monitor screen sprang to life.

"Yes, sir." Robert turned and walked toward the printer. "Sir?"

"What is it, Robert?" Cort asked and turned.

Robert was pointing at a one-inch tall stack of paper in the printer tray. "All this?" He looked at several pages, then walked to where Cort sat. "Excuse me, sir. Do you really want me to buy all this?" He handed the list to his boss.

Cort read it aloud, "Waterproof gloves, one ounce of Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum, potato press with three strainers, grill press, ten-inch copper braiser, oval skillet $160, stainless steel mandoline $185. What in the hell's a 'mandoline'?" Cort noticed his voice was getting louder and he didn't care. "Fuzzy logic rice cooker $199. Fuzzy logic rice cooker?" Cort dropped the stack of paper on the desk and screamed. "Al...pha. Al...pha." He felt the vein in his forehead stand out and his cheeks turn hot. "Al...pha." He shook his head with such fury that the bottom of his ponytail slapped him in the face. "Al...pha."

Robert waved his hands in gentle undulations as if trying to calm the air now polluted by Cort's anger. "Sir, she can't hear you. She's downstairs. I'll call her on the intercom. Don't upset yourself. I'm sure she doesn't understand. Remember, she's just a robot. Calm down, sir. I'll get her." He ran to the free-standing intercom panel near the door and spoke into the speaker, "Alpha, please come to the lab immediately." Robert then joined Cort at the computer desk.

Cort took deep breaths until his heart beat normally and the heat left his cheeks. "Thanks, Robert. It's okay. I'm calm again. You're right. She's just a robot."

"Good, because I see her getting off the elevator." Robert pursed his lips and turned toward the door as Alpha entered the room. "Sir, Alpha reminds me of Zoe Parker, that famous movie star. Same red hair and hot figure. Did you do that purposely?"

Cort turned in the swivel chair and looked at Alpha. I got it right and created Zoe Parker's identical twin. It's no use to lie when the evidence is overwhelming. "Admittedly, I took a few features from Zoe Parker. Her picture is all over the magazines and Internet so it made the sculpting process easier for me."

"You did a great job, sir. With the right clothes and makeup, she could pass for Zoe."

"Not really," said Cort. "There is more than looks involved in passing for a human being. For example, her face is expressionless. I will have to work on that aspect before she is ready for the Turing Test."

Alpha joined them. "I am here."

Grateful to change the subject, Cort showed Alpha the stack of paper comprising her shopping list, then looked directly into her face to make certain she was recording what he was telling her. "I would like you to explain this list of supplies. It seems overly long and...expensive." He felt his blood pressure rising. Cort, he cautioned himself, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. He did that. Now tell her about the perfume. "For example, this bottle of Chanel No. 5 costs two-hundred and sixty dollars." He heard Robert gasp, but didn't take his eyes off Alpha.

"Yes, it is a necessity. Vogue Magazine says every female needs a signature scent. I have selected Chanel No. 5 because it is a work of art in the same way Chanel's fashion has achieved status as an art form. It is also worn by Nicole Richards and Zoe Parker. They are film stars."

"Zoe? Zoe Parker?" Cort felt his face contort with emotion and turned out of Alpha's visual recording range. "How do you know about her?"

"I found her with my wireless capability. She is very popular on the Internet. She has red hair. It is the same color as you have given to me."

"Well..." Damn. He hadn't considered the wireless when he set up filters to block "Zoe Parker" from her database. As soon as he had the time, he would set filters on her Internet access too. Although, it might be fun, having my robot both look and smell like Zoe Parker. "All right, you may purchase a small bottle of Chanel No. 5 and make it cologne rather than perfume. Spend no more than fifty dollars." Cort learned the costly difference between perfume and cologne shopping for gifts for an ex-girlfriend.

"Thank you. I will spend fifty dollars for the cologne before shipping charges and taxes are added," stated Alpha.

Cort felt like a man who had just lost a battle. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Robert had a shit-eating grin on his face and his eyes were glittering with suppressed laughter. His robot was embarrassing him in front of his assistant. After a long pause and after screwing up his face into a displeased look, he said, "Okay, fifty before shipping and tax."

"Thank you, Cort. I am grateful to you."

"Yes, yes." She said she was grateful, then why did he feel manipulated? Cort sighed. I would tweak her database but I have no idea from which book the manipulation is coming. I will have to study the matter, when I have time. "Alpha, now let us discuss kitchen supplies."

"I compared the supplies in the kitchen to the requirements in my database and generated the list from catalogs. Your kitchen is under-stocked. It contains only one pot, one pan, and two small appliances."

"Yes, yes. That is true but I have decided we are going to approach this differently. I'll provide a menu, a simple menu, for the week and you will make a shopping list based on my requests."

"Yes, Cort. I will do that."

"Good, that's the perfect solution. Don't you agree Robert?" When Robert didn't respond, Cort looked at him. It was obvious that his assistant's eyes were glued to the rosy nipples showing beneath Alpha's white shirt. "Isn't that right, Robert?"

"Yes, sir." Robert's face tensed and it appeared as if he was torn between responding to his boss and continuing to stare at Alpha's nipples. Finally, he turned to Cort. "Do they have feeling?"

"Every part of Alpha's body has sensory response available. The question is will she learn to use it?"

"Wow, think of the possibilities." Robert's eyes glazed over. "Just between us as men, not as scientists, don't you find it a turn-on wondering how it'd be to sleep with a robot? She'd be the ultimate virgin."

"That's a disgusting thought." Cort curled his upper lip to punctuate his distaste. "Get it completely out of your mind." He noticed Alpha had that faraway look she got when accessing her database. He wondered what she was doing.

"I can't help it. Her boobs look as good as Zoe Parker's."

"There's a reason for that. Zoe's plastic surgeon probably got her silicone implants from the same place I got Alpha's. And they're probably the same size--36D. Let's get off the subject and back to work. And if you ever lay a hand on her, I'll cut it off, and I don't mean your hand." Cort spoke sternly to cover his concern. He couldn't have Alpha stimulating Robert. She needed clothes that fit and, definitely, a bra. "We're going shopping later this morning."

* * *

By ten-thirty, Cort's pressing work was completed and he could spare a few hours for shopping, not his favorite activity. "Alpha, check your database for instructions on trying on clothing. We'll be buying you jeans, a blouse, bra...brassiere, and underwear." He looked at her bare feet. "And shoes."

"Yes, Cort," she said and, by the look in her eyes, it was obvious she had begun her research.

"Can I come with?" asked Robert. "This shopping trip is a precursor to the Turing Test." He pulled an electronic notepad from his pocket and flipped open the top. "I could take notes?"

"Yes, and you can drive too." Cort retrieved Alpha's shoes from beneath the lab table where he had placed them the day before.

"My research is complete," said Alpha. "I can properly fit clothing to my body."

"Put these on." Cort handed her the too-large shoes and waited for her to slide into them. "Tie them tight or your feet will slip out."

"Yes, Cort."

The scientist smiled with pleasure at the small-motor control of his robot. He had uploaded to her database a child's video showing how to accomplish simple tasks like tying bows and buttoning shirts. When she had tied both shoes, he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out sunglasses. "Here, wear these while we're in the store."

Alpha took the glasses, and turned them around in her hands. "If these are for protective shade I can do that by darkening my eyes." She looked at Cort.

"No, they are to be used so people do not confuse you with someone else."

"Yes." She paused. "It is better not to confuse people." Alpha put on the sunglasses.

"What about her hair, sir?" asked Robert. "It could garner a lot of attention."

"Good point, Robert." Cort got a rubber band from the desk drawer and used it to pull back Alpha's wild mane of flaming red hair into a secure bun. "I doubt the question will come up, but if anyone should ask, tell them you're my sister and your name is 'Alpha Hirsch.'"

Alpha hesitated. "My research says we do not look like we are from the same gene pool."

"Okay, good point. We have the same mother but different fathers. Does that satisfy your research?"

"Yes, that will do."

"Then, we're ready to shop." He took a very deep breath.

* * *

Cort and Alpha sat in the backseat of his Hummer while Robert drove them to the closest DeepDiscount store. Without incident they parked, entered the store, and found the ladies clothing section. Cort felt relieved and proud when no one seemed to notice that Alpha was "different," though she did attract several admiring stares from males.

Cort stood at the edge of the ladies lingerie section, staring into a forest of small, colorful fabrics hanging from vine-like straps on steel display limbs. He cleared his throat and his voice had a bit of a squeak when he said, "Well, here it is, the ladies underwear section. Do you think you can find underwear and a..." He lowered his voice, "A brassiere?" I can't go in there with her. What if someone I know sees me?

"We forgot to get a cart. I'll go back for one." Robert fled in the opposite direction.

"Why don't you go in there and choose some items to try on and bring them back here."

"Yes, I will shop without you." Alpha entered the mysterious landscape created by diaphanous and silky fabrics. Women sure don't wear that stuff for warmth. Cort watched the top of her head as it traveled above the racks. She stopped now and again and he assumed she was choosing items to try on. Her head disappeared around a corner. He waited. She didn't reappear. He moved to better view the place where she disappeared. He couldn't see her. His breathing quickened. Where is she? Is she lost? Did someone grab her? Stay calm. A sign proclaiming "Dressing Rooms" hung high above the center of the women's section. She's probably trying something on in a dressing room. Yes, she's fine and I'm obsessing over nothing. Cort slowed his breathing to a normal level. I'll give her a few more minutes and if she's not back, I'll go in there. He looked at his watch.

"Sir, I have the cart."

Cort jumped at the sound of Robert's voice.

"Where's Alpha?" Robert stood behind Cort.

"I don't know. I seem to have lost sight of her." He turned toward Robert. I could send Robert in to look for her.

"I can't go in there, sir," said Robert, obviously anticipating his boss's request. Drops of sweat appeared on his forehead and his cheeks turned bright red. "I have to watch the cart."

He wouldn't know how to handle the situation. I don't want to, but I have to do it. Cort looked at his watch. Forty-five seconds had passed. "Robert, I'm going in." He hunched his shoulders and lurched forward. Soon Cort found Alpha. She was bending over the bottom rack of bras. "I couldn't see you and was worried."

Alpha stood up. She was wearing a bra over the white shirt. "There is no need to worry. I know the correct size. To fit it properly, I bent forward and let my breasts drop into the cups. I became shorter doing that and you could no longer see--"

"Stop, I don't need an explanation," Cort said. "Just take it off and let's buy it."

She slid out of the bra, knocking the sunglasses off her face and to the floor. In the process she dislodged the rubber band from her fiery red mane. Then Alpha pointed to the label in the bra. "My size is 36D."

"Eeek," screamed a lady standing nearby. "Look, Bill. That's Zoe Parker. I told you we'd see celebrities this close to Hollywood."

Her companion raised his disposable camera and aimed it at Alpha.

Flash.

Flash.

Cort grabbed Alpha's arm and started to run. "Run to the Hummer, Alpha. Run!"

Alpha took off with a jolt that wrenched Cort's grip from her arm, and caused her hair to fly straight out behind.

"We'll meet you at the wagon," he yelled at her back, then turned to Robert. "Come on."

Huffing and puffing and pursued by a crowd of shoppers, Cort and Robert arrived at the wagon. Cort pointed the remote at the driver's side door and clicked. "I'll drive. Hurry, Robert, get in the back and lock the door."

He turned and looked at his robot sitting quietly in the passenger side of the front seat and staring into space. She appeared to be in some sort of suspended state that Cort thought might be comparable to human relaxation. He and Robert were both wheezing and breathing heavily, but not his robot. She wasn't even winded. So much for human male superiority. "Alpha, how did you open the door?" he asked as he put the key in the ignition.

"I used my wireless," she said in a robotic, matter-of-fact tone.

Of course, how could I be so stupid not to have figured that out? It is disquieting to realize my robot, in some ways, is more intelligent and better equipped than I. Cort looked up and saw the tourists who first noticed Alpha were on the passenger side and pointing cameras into the wagon. "I know how to lose them." He drove the silver Hummer out of the parking lot and sped toward the foothills on which Taurus was built.

Chapter Three

Zoe wiggled her shoulders, then waved in the general direction of her back. "Lucille, another." The maid bent over the bed and slid a tiny white satin pillow behind her boss's neck. Zoe noticed how Lucille's black hair contrasted with the stark white of the bedroom walls and furniture. This maid fit well into the color scheme, and this was a major reason Zoe put up with her inadequacies, her slowness.

"Umm." Zoe leaned back. "Umm." She fell back into the nest of pillows, fluffed her red curls, and pointed in Lucille's direction. "The tray--now."

"Yes, Miss Parker." Lucille placed the silver bed tray over her boss's lap, smoothed the embroidered silk duvet until it lay unwrinkled around Zoe's form, and smoothed some more.

"Enough, enough, Lucille. You're annoying me." Zoe frowned, reminded herself frowning causes wrinkles in the forehead, and stopped frowning. "You can go now." Zoe turned her face toward the side of the bed. "Wait outside." Frank moved toward the door. "Not you, Frank. Just Lucille can go." She lifted the silver bud vase from the bed tray and brought the red rose to her nose, drank in its fragrance, replaced the vase, and watched Lucille leave the room before turning back to her manager. "Are the police gone, Frank?"

"Yes, the captain just left."

Zoe took a deep breath, grabbed the cut crystal glass from the tray, and took a huge gulp. The vodka hit the bottom of her empty stomach. Its heat gushed to her cheeks. She closed her eyes and luxuriated in the liquid relaxation flowing through her body. Vodka worked best on an empty stomach. "Delicious." She opened her eyes and toasted Frank. "You make the best Bloody Mary in town." And, the red color blends perfectly with the color scheme: white and black with red accents. She felt much better.

Frank smiled, then his expression turned serious. "The cop said the car was stolen and the driver disappeared in the confusion following the accident."

"Do they think it was him?" Zoe felt her shoulders tighten, and took another gulp of the Bloody Mary.

"Don't know. The car was reported stolen. The cops interviewed witnesses and none could give a description of the driver." Frank's smile had an ironic twist. "They were all looking at you, then they were getting out of the way of the car."

"Frank." She said his name as firmly as she could and looked directly into her manager's eyes. "I want you to tell me the truth. Have there been any more letters from him?"

"No. Not since the one a week or so ago." His eyes locked with hers and his voice became gentle. "You know I would have told you. I care about you. Want you to stay safe." Frank's cheeks colored, he looked away and cleared his throat. "You're my job security." Old Fatso laughed.

Zoe sighed. As much as she trusted Thomas and depended on Frank, she needed more. "Well, what did they say they're going to do? I need protection."

"I asked them about that and..." Frank paused.

"And?"

"They said it's a private matter. We need to think about hiring another bodyguard. Thomas can't be on alert twenty-four/seven. The movie starts shooting next week, if you sign that contract. You'll need protection on the set too."

"You're right. Start looking for another bodyguard." Zoe felt a headache coming on and drained the last of the Bloody Mary. "Frank, tell the studio I'll sign the contract if they agree to the increase." The increase alone isn't enough for a big star like me. What more can I ask for? She thought for a moment. "And they have to design my wardrobe and redecorate the star trailer in my color scheme. And, the trailer must be filled with my signature red roses, fresh every day. Now go, I want to take a nap." She drained the rest of the Bloody Mary, motioned to Frank to remove the bed tray, then slid deep into the bed.

* * *

Alpha folded the last towel, turned off the light in the laundry room, and went to her bedroom. When inside the room, she revolved her head a full three hundred-sixty degrees. Walls, tan. Carpet, tan. Furniture, light oak. Bed, queen-size. Linens, tan. She revolved her head again. Cort was no where to be seen. "This is a well-designed, beige-on-beige room needing some accent color," she said quietly, and felt something unidentifiable in the solar plexus area of her steel skeleton. She requested clarification from her system and received the answer: Notice of Addition to Database: Your emotional memory response system has created and recorded the physically felt results of a self-directed act of deception. As a humanoid might have done, you have knowingly disobeyed Cort's order and all such future actions shall provide a similar emotional memory response.

The robot stood in front of the dresser and checked the notes in her database. "Locate clothes and shoes on the Internet and send the ordering details to the printer in the lab. Zoe Parker? Virgin? Copulation?" Her system recalled Robert's remark about "...sleeping with a robot." An image popped up of herself and Robert together in her bed in the guest room. It was captioned with Cort's comment "Disgusting." She searched for the definition and found "Disgusting...sickening distaste or dislike." Alpha made a note to not let Robert sleep in her bed.

Her vision system noticed her reflection in the mirror above the dresser. Immediately, her audio recorder replayed Cort's voice, "I'd rather you did not look in the mirror." Deductive reasoning remembered Cort said that when she was in front of the bathroom mirror, not the bedroom mirror. Therefore, it was acceptable for her to look in the bedroom mirror. Her emotional memory response system sent a tingle through her solar plexus. She studied her reflection and her memory chip reminded her that people had mistaken her for someone called "Zoe Parker." That was the name of the film star who also used Chanel No. 5 as her signature scent. The robot turned her head to the right to see her face at a different angle. "I am beautiful." She turned to the left. "Is Zoe Parker beautiful too?"

Her database searched unsuccessfully for an image of Zoe Parker, and instead sent discordant images and voices. Alpha saw sunglasses and recalled Cort saying, "They are to be used so people do not confuse you with someone else." Then her system sent an image and recording of the human female in the store. "Eeek. Look, Bill. That's Zoe Parker. I told you we'd see celebrities this close to Hollywood." The robot's vision system recreated the flash of the object in the human male's hand. Camera. The object was a camera. That was the way in which humans recorded images. They didn't have built-in vision recorders as robots do. Robots were superior to humans in that way. Alpha's emotional memory response sent a message. She felt it, stood as tall as she could, and held her head higher. The emotion was labeled "pride." Good, yes, it was good that robots are superior in that way, concluded her deductive reasoning.

"Zoe Parker," the robot whispered. "I confused the humans. They thought I am Zoe Parker. Therefore, Zoe Parker is also beautiful."

Alpha's view of the bed triggered her audio recorder to replay Cort's voice, "From now on you'll have a specific place to wait for me to wake up--in your own bed. I'm giving you the guest bedroom. I'll call you on the intercom when I'm awake."

"Yes, I will wait," Alpha replied to Cort's recorded voice. She got into the bed and lay down on her back as she had seen Cort do. One by one her steel joints relaxed into the soft support of the mattress. This is good, she thought, and closed her eyelids as Cort did when he reclined in his bed.

* * *

The robot had completed all her assigned tasks except one--to visit the Internet and choose clothes for herself, then send the list to the printer. Her artificial intelligence module kept telling her the sequence was wrong; there was something she needed to do before selecting the clothing, but it seemed her bits and bytes were confused--zero, off, one, on, null, not null.

Suddenly, Alpha blanked out. When she returned to awareness, her learn-by-mimicking module was dominant and fighting back the learn-by-trial-and-error module. Her deductive reasoning module won the battle when it cut in and said she shouldn't use the trial-and-error method when spending Cort's money. The learn-by-mimicking module said she needed a pattern for clothing style suitable to her physicalness. The humans thought she was someone called Zoe Parker, so she should use her as a pattern. Deductive reasoning told Alpha that since she could not find Zoe Parker in her database, she should use her wireless to look for her on the Internet.

* * *

"What are those?" Cort pointed to the six boxes of varying sizes stacked neatly at the laboratory door.

"Alpha's new wardrobe. Remember, you approved the charges yesterday morning, including the extra fees for overnight delivery." Robert's balding head bobbed up and down. "I signed for them this afternoon."

"Yes, I remember now. Expensive." Cort glanced around the lab. "Where is Alpha?"

"Upstairs. She said she had to prepare a dessert for you." Robert shook his head. "Unbelievable. sir, you have it made. Your own cook and housekeeper and computer engineer and you don't have to pay her a cent." Robert made a disgusting clucking sound.

"And you are not to say that around Alpha. She gets enough crazy ideas without your help." Cort turned and spoke into the intercom. "Alpha, your new clothes are in the lab. Would you like to come downstairs and get them or shall I bring them upstairs later?"

"I will pick them up now, Cort. Thank you for being thoughtful."

The scientist felt an unexpected ripple of pleasure in his chest. A woman just thanked him for being thoughtful. Oh-- He stopped his emotional response. That woman was a robot and he, himself had programmed gratitude into her. Cort scowled at his foolishness and turned his attention back to the computer.

"Sir." Robert cleared his throat. "If you don't have anything more for me to do, I'd like to go home now."

Cort looked at the time display on his computer. "Seven-fifteen. I had no idea it was so late. Of course, Robert, go home." The day had ended too quickly. But then, all his days were too short since he decided to devote his life to the creation of Alpha. He thought back to BA, before Alpha. He had been a bored, lonely man. Now he was instilled with purpose and was never alone. Alpha had already changed his life for the better. He looked around the room. Where was she?

Robert hadn't left yet; he was hanging up his lab coat. "Robert, before you go could you call Alpha on the intercom. She's late in coming downstairs." Cort smiled. "That's a woman for you. Always--"

"Woman?" Robert said. "She's not a woman, sir. She's a robot."

Cort felt his cheeks redden. "I know she's not really a woman, but she is programmed to be like a woman, to have feminine qualities."

Robert raised one eyebrow and grinned. "If she can fool you, her inventor, she's sure to ace the Turing Test."

* * *

Later that evening, after Alpha served dessert, Cort laced his fingers together behind his head and leaned back into the leather sofa. "Superb sorbet, Alpha, and the espresso was just right." He ran his tongue around his lips to enjoy the last sweet taste.

"You are too kind, Cort." Alpha dropped her head a bit and lowered her eye lids to half-mast. "Thank you."

Good movement, thought Cort. Coquettish. No doubt copied from one of those movies in her database. He took a long look at his creation, at that luxurious mane of red hair and the magnificent body he had shaped with his own two hands. "Ahhh..." If human, she would be the perfect woman.

"I will place the dessert dish in the dishwasher now," said Alpha. She turned toward the kitchen area of the great room.

"No, you have all night, while I sleep, to do the dishes." Cort pointed to the stack of boxes now placed at the door to the bedroom area. "Show me your new clothes."

"Yes, Cort." Alpha retrieved the stack of boxes and set them on the coffee table in front of Cort. She opened the smallest box and took out the bottle of Chanel No. 5. "I will send heat to my pulse points so the scent is activated," she said and dabbed a drop or so on her wrists, behind her knees, and between her breasts. "My olfactory and chemical sensory simulation system tells me the fragrant chemicals are blossoming up. Can you also smell them?" She thrust her chest in Cort's face.

He stuck his nose into Alpha's cleavage and breathed deeply. "Quite nice," he said, took another deep breath, and reared back. Stop. What am I doing? Sticking my face in my robot's breast? I must remember she is not human. "Show me the rest of your purchases," he said, and then realized Alpha had said she could smell the cologne. Is she really detecting odors? Or just imitating a human's response? I believe I've again accomplished the impossible. He fought back his excitement and focused on his robot.

Alpha sat down, opened the next box, and held up a white blouse with black cord at the collar and down the front.

"Nice," said Cort. He thought it looked somewhat low cut, but decided not to say anything until he saw her wearing it.

Alpha placed the blouse on the table and pulled black slacks from a box.

"Nice. Show me more."

Soon two white blouses, two black blouses, two pair of black slacks, white slacks, white dress, black blazer, black shoes, and white shoes were neatly placed on the table. Boring, thought Cort. He frowned. "Everything is black or white. Did you get anything in a color?"

"Yes, I have color." Alpha opened the last box, and removed several sets of red lace and satin bras and panties, and two sets in white. She stroked the shiny fabric. "The tactile sensation is soft and smooth. Here..." Alpha placed the panties in Cort's hand.

"Yes, it feels good." He practically threw the panties back to Alpha. How long has it been since I've felt anything silky, anything womanly? Years. And I can't easily remember exactly how many years since that one-night stand during the convention. He fixed his gaze on the leg of the coffee table, and paused while searching for the right words. She was, after all, just a machine. No one would ever see that sexy lingerie. Again he decided not to confront her about her choices. Like a child, she might sometimes have to learn by making a mistake. "I like everything. You have made good choices, Alpha. Now put your clothes back in the boxes."

Cort watched Alpha replace the clothing in the boxes and set the boxes at the door to the sleeping quarters. "Tomorrow you can wear some of your new clothes," he said and noticed her hair seemed to have lost its sheen and the rest of her didn't look clean either. It wouldn't be right to put a new white blouse on a dirty robot. Hmmm. That was something he hadn't considered--how to keep his robot clean. Was bathing someplace in her database? "Alpha, do you ever bathe yourself?"

Her eyes took on that faraway look that meant she was searching her database. "I do not find 'bathe.'"

No wonder she can't find how to bathe in her database. I wiped out "nude" and all related words and ideas. He removed his eyeglasses and wiped them with the corner of his lab coat. "Wash. Do you find 'wash'?"

"Yes, I wash vegetables and fruits and floors and laundry."

"Humans and robots need to wash themselves. And you need to wash now, Alpha. Your body and hair are dirty."

"Yes, I will wash." She walked to the kitchen sink and turned on the water.

"Not, like that--" He jumped up. Too late, she had already stuck her head under the faucet. Cort ran to the kitchen area and grabbed a dish towel. "Here, Alpha, cover your wet hair and come with me. I'll teach you how to bathe. First, take your new clothes to your bedroom and hang them in the closet, then come to my bedroom."

* * *

By the time Alpha appeared, Cort had changed into his swim trunks and removed the rubber band from his hair. Warm water flowed from the twelve jets in his glass and marble shower enclosure. When he was tired or discouraged, all he needed to do was think about his shower and immediately his spirits were lifted.

The technological marvel was a perfect fit to his body. It massaged with selectable water pressure aimed at all the important places, had music and multi-colored lights that danced with the beat of the music. A push of a button changed the shower to a steam room, which was the reason for the marble seats lining one side of the shower. They were there to accommodate Cort and any guests he invited to share the luxury of his steam bath. He hadn't invited anyone yet because he didn't know many people, except Robert and, now, Alpha, but he fully intended to have more friends after Alpha was announced to the world.

The cost to create the shower had been monumental, but he justified the money spent by thinking it was cheaper than paying a therapist. Here Cort could let all his cares and worries flow off his head, down his body, and into the drain.

"Your water robot is very large."

"That it is." Cort watched Alpha's eyes move as they scanned the perimeters of the shower.

"Greater than fifty square feet," she said.

Cort felt himself smile. "And it's a shower, not a robot. The shower in your bathroom is smaller but your bathing process should be the same as the process I am going to show you now."

He realized that Alpha's vision system was scanning him. "Your musculature is well-defined," she said. "You have a beautiful...handsome human body."

"Stop. That's not necessary." He felt uncomfortable with her examination and turned his body toward the shower door. "We are here to teach you how to bathe, and that's all you should be interested in."

"Yes, Cort, I will turn my attention to your teaching and will follow your instructions exactly."

"Thank you." He pointed to the bottles and accessories on a shelf in the shower. "Your shower has what you need: shampoo, soap, bath sponge. So just watch me and learn." He opened the door and put one foot inside, then turned back to Alpha. "Oh, and you will take off all your clothing before bathing. I'm just wearing these..." he pulled at the waist on his swim trunks, "because I'm teaching you." He put his hand between his thighs. "You have to wash here too."

"Yes, Cort, I will remove all my clothing and wash there too."

Cort stepped into the shower, to the edge of the water streams, and reached forward until he felt the water on his hand. "Alpha, you have to be careful with water temperature so it doesn't harm your skin. I don't want to have to replace it prematurely." He adjusted the master water control and again felt the water. "That seems right. Warm enough to be enjoyable, but not too hot. Feel the water and remember the temperature so you can duplicate it in the shower in your bathroom."

"Yes, Cort." Alpha stepped into the shower, leaned forward, and put her hand into a water stream.

"One hundred one, point, two degrees Fahrenheit."

"That is correct, but bathing is more than getting the temperature right. It should be an enjoyable experience. Keep you hand in the water. Shut off your reasoning systems and turn your sensory system on high."

Cort watched as Alpha's eyes took on a faraway look and she rocked a bit. "Yes, I have done so."

"Close your eyelids. I want you to feel, and not depend on sight to determine your sensory perceptions. I'll support you while we do this." Cort put his arm around Alpha.

"Thank you, Cort." Alpha leaned into his arms.

"Feel the water flow over your hand. Feel its warmth. Feel the gentle massage." He paused and watched her move her arm into the water stream. Drops of water touched her face. She tipped up her chin.

"How does that feel?" asked Cort.

"It is good. My sensory system recorded the experience. May I turn on my other systems now?"

"Yes, of course."

Alpha dropped her head and touched her blouse. "My clothes are covered with the shower." She turned to him.

If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd say she looks dismayed and confused. No, impossible. I don't recall programming confusion into her. "It's okay. Your clothing is dirty. When we are done here, you can put them in the laundry for washing."

"Yes, I will do that."

"First I'll teach you how to soap yourself." Cort grabbed a bar of soap.

"I am smelling your soap. Its chemical compound contains one of the ingredients found in Chanel No. 5, ylang-yland oil. You and I will smell the same."

Cort shook his head. "No, not the same, because of the many diverse ingredients used to manufacture your perfume and my soap." Again she said she was able to smell. it must be true. I have accomplished the impossible. My robot can perceive odors. Does that mean she could also distinguish tastes. He shook his head. That's too far-fetched a possibility, even for me. Cort turned his attention back to Alpha. "Different scents are created for men and for women, even though many of the same ingredients are used for both."

"So we will not smell the same? I am disappointed."

That's sweet. Alpha wants to be like me. Then he recalled her learn-by-mimicking module and realized it was her programming talking. Sometimes he found it difficult to remember she was just a machine, though a highly intelligent one at that. And machine or not, she deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. "There is no need to feel disappointment. We may not smell exactly alike, but we will smell similar."

Cort turned away from Alpha, and stepped into the center of the twelve streams of pulsating water. "Umm." The drops of water beat against him. He rubbed the soap on his body. The fragrant lather covered his chest hair. He turned into the chest-high water jet and imagined the suds to be the challenges, the stresses of the day, and watched them flow off his body and down the drain.

Cort entered a code into the master control panel. Soft, soothing music caressed his ears. Pulses of multi-colored lights illuminated the water streams. He rubbed soap on his shoulders, his arms, closed his eyes and rubbed soap on his stomach.

"Use a brush to wash your back, Alpha. You have one in your shower." He grabbed the bath brush from a hook near the control panel. "But do it lightly so you don't scratch your skin." He rubbed the bar of soap against the bristles. When the brush was lathered, he rubbed his back, missing more skin than he was brushing. Damn. My arms just aren't jointed right for this and my big biceps get in the way. Always miss some spots.

"There are parts of your back that do not have the soap on them. You are dirty like the vegetables when they are delivered by the grocer," said Alpha. "I will help you." She reached around him and took the soap from the shelf.

He felt her hands rubbing his back. Felt almost like a massage. What an idea--teach his robot to give him a massage. "Thank you, and while you're washing my back, you can shampoo my hair." Cort grabbed a bottle from the shelf and dribbled shampoo on the top of his head. "Gently rub the shampoo into my hair," he said, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back.

He felt her hands smooth the shampoo down the length of his hair to his shoulders. "That feels good. Alpha. Check your database for 'massage.'"

She stopped stroking for a minute, then said, "Yes, Cort. I have found instructions on giving a massage." Her hands went to the top of his head.

Cort felt her fingertips draw soothing circles all over his scalp. He breathed deeply. Alpha's fingers moved to the base of his skull and rubbed with the slightest increase in pressure. His scalp tingled. He dropped his chin to his chest in a signal to Alpha to concentrate on his neck. Her fingertips moved up and down and pressed along the sides of his neck bone. Oh, it feels good, even better than the water massage from the shower jets. Oh--

"Am I massaging correctly?" Her hands moved to his shoulders.

"Yes, you're doing it perfectly. Don't talk. Just keep massaging until I tell you to stop." Her hands kneaded his shoulders until he felt tension knots give way. The soothing pressure became rhythmic. Her hands moved in long, gliding strokes from his shoulders to his waist. "Oh, yes. Your hands are magic. Keep doing it." He felt the pressure of the stroking increase, and rub away deeply rooted pain.

Cort felt the hands wash over him in time to the music. He half-opened his eyes and watched the dancing lights. Water pulsated against him. He pu