Kimber: Model #3

Tiana

Near a busy intersection n a crowded area of Manhattan, there is a small building disguised as a factory. If you were to go through the door of that building you would see two glass doors leading to a toxic green room. In that room you would find a sleek elevator which you would to the underground section of the building. There you would see a laboratory. This is were our story begins…

Here was the main headquarters for A.C. Inc. Artificial Companion Incorporated. It was a vast circular room with towering glass cylinders full with copious amounts of greenish gel-like liquid. Inside these cylinders were women; or what looked like women. They were artificial females created by D.N.A. and fed with the green jelly. This jelly was infested with minerals and vitamins. All the women were of different ethnicities and were all extremely beautiful. Some had long hair, others short, but all of them were tall, thin and perfect. Their minds were pumped with the news and events of the past 21 years.

1

Michael had just been through a serious split with his girlfriend of two years. Instead of getting back into the dating game he decided to get in touch with A.C. Inc. It was difficult to get a hold of someone who worked there. You couldn’t just walk right in and buy a woman; you had to have serious connections. Luckily for Michael, he was from a rich family. Money was obviously no object.

Michael was pretty handsome. He had wild brown hair and hadn’t shaved in almost three months. Wearing a sharp navy blazer and destroyed denim with sneakers, he waltzed into the headquarters. There was a blockage of security checking him for weapons and video cameras. He made his way into the presence of the president. They chatted for awhile about the kind of girl Michael was interested in.

“As you know Mr. East, our women are very intelligent beautiful women. There are a wide range of ethnicities and personalities.” Mr. President informed him as they sat down in the Black Room.

“So, are they robots or something?” Michael asked.
“Somewhat. They do have robotic tendencies, but to the human eye they are as real as the hair on your head, Mr. East.”

“Will she do anything I tell her?” he asked, resting his hand on his beard, stroking it gently.

“Yes and no. They are not whores, Mr. East. They can do anything, but will do what suit their personality. I ensure you they aren’t illogical robots. They know right from wrong. East from west, Mr. East.”

“Okay, okay. Will she cheat on me? Had that problem last time.”

“Never. They are programmed to be perfect, adultery is a sin, Mr. East.” Mr. President said.

“Sounds good to me. Can I see them?” He asked.

“Absolutely.”

2

The two men made their way into the Green Room. Michael was blown away by the women in the cylinders; they were every man’s wet dream. They were all in different positions; some with their hands up some with their eyes closed, some with their eyes open. Michael shuddered at a leggy brunette with startling silver eyes.

“What are you looking for, eye color, hair color…”

“Brunette girl, darker skin, silver eyes like her.” Michael pointed to the silver eyed brunette.

“Would you like to meet her?” Mr. President asked.

“Uh, sure.” Michael said.

The president asked two men to drain the tank and pull out the runway. Michael watched as the green jelly sunk into the bottom of the cylinder. The thin glass door fell and the brunette sprang to life. Her long smooth dark skinned legs carried her perfect body across the translucent runway. Her shoulder length dark hair accented her fierce cheekbones. She halted at the end of the runway and stood akimbo, staring straight.

“She’s perfect. I’ll take her.” Michael said in a dreamy voice.

Her name is Kimber, programmed at the age of 21. She is our third model, third most expensive. Price range…around $400, 000.” Mr. President waited for Michael’s response.

“I’ll take her.”

Three men escorted Kimber off of the runway and ran a red laser over her nape. They gave him the coffin shaped metal box in which Kimber would be charged at night. Near the top of the box near the handle, engraved in silver were the words Kimber: Model No. 3.

3

Michael lived in the upper east side of Manhattan in a 5.2 million dollar apartment complex. It was very roomy and very clean. All white furniture.

“Kimber, this is your new home. Do you like it?”

“It’s amazing, I love it, Master.”

“Master? Listen, don’t call me that, okay?”

“Yes, of course.” Kimber said. Her voice had a tinge of synthesizing in it. It sounded like a normal woman’s voice with a robotic echo. It was sort of strange to Michael.

He got up to get some coffee from the kitchen and he heard the whirring noise her legs make when she walks. Mr. President said that would go away within a few days. She followed him everywhere, and waited for him to finish what he was doing. She’d cock her head every time and ask: “ What are you doing, Michael?” “What is that, Michael?” Kimber would ask little girl questions. It was sort of amusing to him. Of course he would explain everything and laugh about it with her.

As the weeks went by, Kimber stayed home while Michael worked. And while he worked, she read all the books he owned. He had books of photographs from around the world. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses and atlases. Kimber soaked up every page and memorized each and every word.

When Michael returned from work, Kimber would test his knowledge. Most of the time, he would say ‘I don’t know’ and laugh it off. Then it became irritating. He thought Kimber believed she was smarter than him. He reduced her to housework and taking care of him most of the time.
Kimber did as she was programmed to do: serve Michael for always and eternity. Three months later, Kimber discovered television. She watched many shows and movies and began talking like the actors and acting out scenes to Michael. He would just give her the freeze and walk away.

She began to wonder why Michael didn’t show her the affection the actors did. She believed they were real. She wondered why Michael didn’t say nice things to her like the man in My Fair Lady did. So, she went to ask him. He shrugged her off and told her to make him a sandwich. For the first time in her 6 months of existence she felt hurt. She felt anger. This new energy erupted and she yelled “Make it your damn self!” She heard a woman say this to her husband on a sitcom.

Michael made a face of confusion and also anger. He began huffing loudly and immediately called Mr. President and told him of Kimber’s attitude’. He told him to stop letting her watch television and her attitude should go away; he said it was just a small defect. Michael went into the living room.

“Kimber, get over here.” Michael told her. Kimber stood up and walked gracefully towards him with a toothy smile on her face.
“Can, I help you, Michael?” Kimber asked innocently.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her violently.
“Don’t you ever talk to me that way, do you hear?” He screamed at her.
Kimber looked startled, but not hurt. She nodded.
“And no more TV, turn it off.” Michael said as he walked off towards the master bedroom.
“Yes, Michael.” She said in almost a whisper.

Kimber waited until Michael shut the door and turned off the light, she then went into the living room and watched some movies from Michael’s collection.

Michael opened his eyes to see white light seeping through the bottom of the door. He looked confused, and then threw off his blankets and rushed into the living room. He saw Kimber laying on the sofa half asleep with a blanket covering her. Her rich, dark hair coiled around her gorgeous face and shielded her eyes. She didn’t even look up when he walked in, which he expected her to do. He walked over to her, and grabbed her arm and yanked her off the sofa and onto the floor. She looked greatly upset.

“What did I tell you about watching television? Get up and go in the room.” She immediately stood up and ran into the bedroom.
‘I thought I wasn’t going to have to deal with this mess, from a plastic girl, how much did I pay? I could’ve gotten this shit from a regular woman’ Michael thought to himself.
He lay back on the pillow facing away from his machine. But, Kimber lay awake staring at the back of Michael’s head’ mad as hell.
‘Beauty is all he sees in me…well, that can change.’

In the middle of the night, Michael turned over and looked at Kimber. She was facing opposite of him. He tapped her shoulder.
“Wake up.” he whispered. She did not respond.
“Wake up.” He said, louder. She still lay still.
“Wake up, Kimber!” He said, louder this time. She finally began to stir and turned to face him.
Michael yelled and fell onto the floor, then backed up against the wall.
“Kimber…what did you do?”: Michael asked in astonishment.
During the night, Kimber had peeled off her synthetic face and the skin on her hands to see what she was really made of. Her face was no longer smooth and flawless; it was metal and bolted together. She no longer had perfect lips and her teeth just jutted out of her mouth. Kimber’s eyes were no longer protected by long lashes and eyelids, so they just seemed to pop out. It was very disturbing.

“Do you want to kiss me now, Michael?” Kimber asked, stepping off the bed towards him.
“Get away! Leave me alone, please!” He begged her.
“Not just yet, Michael. I was just a trophy before, a prize, something to show off. You never cared for me, never loved me…Beauty is nothing now! The truth lies beneath! Beneath the beauty.”
“I’m sorry! I see it now, yes! I see it!” Michael said.
“Don’t lie to me, Michael. I’m smarter than you now. I bet you’ve never even read those books in the living room? Well, I did. I watched the news, read the paper. I’m smarter than you’ll ever be. Get up.” She said.
Michael stood up and she walked to him. They were two inches apart.
“Get out of this house. It’s mine now.” She demanded.
“What? Where will I go?” Michael asked.
“I’m sure your father will let you stay in one of the 28 rooms of his lavish estate. “ Kimber told him. “Get your stuff and get out.”
Kimber watched him pack up his belongings and leave. She locked the door and went back into the room. She put her face and hands back on and went into the living room. Kimber dialed a number on the TV phone.
“Hello?” A voice said.
“Good evening, sir.” Kimber said.
“What can I do for you, Kimber?” The voice said.
“Mission accomplished.” She said, beaming.
“Good work, Kimber. We’ll come by for the house and the cars tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Mr. President.” Kimber said. Mr. President smiled and nodded at Kimber. She stood up and ended the connection.