Martha raised her arm and waved it above her head at the key lab personnel weekly staff meeting. “Okay, gang, it’s Tuesday, and the socialization chart says we’re scheduled to test Gabriella on higher-order tasks beyond walking in public and not being recognized as an android. It’s time to go to a restaurant for lunch!”
A cheer went up from the core group. “Engineers are always ready for lunch,” shouted Gary Barker, a materials stress engineer from within the group.
“I’ve picked an upscale burger place on East Fifty-Seventh Street. They’re reserving some tables for us.”
The team agreed that it was a good choice. Martha turned to Gabriella. “Yeah, like a group of hungry engineers would turn up their noses at any a free meal.” Gabriella understood the humor and grinned.
On the walk to the restaurant, Martha talked shop with T’quan Taylor. “I’m curious. How does the digestive system you guys designed work?” Martha said. “Gabriella eats and drinks. What goes on inside?”
“Glad you asked. It’s basic, but the team and I are proud of it. We designed an elegant pseudo-digestive system to simulate eating when she’s in a social situation. Food is held in a flexible internal chamber and eliminated at her convenience in the usual human fashion.”
“Graphic! That’s almost too much sharing. But Gabriella always smells so fresh.”
“She drinks three ounces of mouthwash every day or so to prevent odors. You couldn’t very well pass for human if you couldn’t eat or drink in public. And you don’t want to smell like you have bad breath or a gas problem, now would you?”
“Certainly not! Wouldn’t want an android with gas problems,” Martha replied, her eyes crinkling from the humor.
“Thanks, T’quan. And speaking of eating, we’re here, everyone.” Then added in a hardly audible voice, “and just in time.” Note to self: don’t ask engineers too many questions that may go down the gross-trail. They have no real filters.
The small crowded restaurant prepared their reserved tables. Larry, from Base Programming, slid up next to Gabriella at the bar. “So, what do you think of this place?”
Gabriella instantly checked the restaurant’s web page. “I like it. It has such an organic atmosphere using natural materials and plants.”
“Perfect, Gabriella. You’re doing great with casual conversation. Most excellent! Our table is ready. Let’s grab some seats.”
Jim chose the critical seating. “Gabriella, sit here next to me on my right side. Martha, could you sit across from us, please?” The team left the chair to Jim’s left empty for Francine. They understood that Francine always sat next to Jim.
“Thank you for saving a seat for me, Jim,” Francine said as she ran her hand across his shoulders, appearing to steady herself as she sat.
“Okay, everyone,” Jim raised his voice so the team could hear him over the din of the other patrons. “We agreed part of the experiment was to see if we could avoid talking shop while we are here.”
The team stared at him.
“Yeah, I know,” Jim replied to their looks, “Please try it, though, for Gabriella’s sake.” Chuckles and nods rippled around the table.
Martha leaned across the table to Gabriella. “This is a huge challenge,” she whispered with an exaggerated grin. “Telling engineers not to talk shop as they are having lunch in a Manhattan burger bar with you is next to impossible.”
“Why would it be a challenge?” Gabriella asked, and then added, “Never mind. You can explain it to me later. I need to focus on casual, conversational cues from people and how to flow with the topics.”
The engineers discussed sports and then had an enthusiastic exchange on which of their favorite video games were the best. Gabriella picked bits of information from the net and wove game tips and strategies into the conversation.
“I didn’t know you knew so much about video games,” Alex Ortiz said. “Impressive.”
“One tries,” Gabriella responded.
“Sounds like she is becoming an integral part of the team,” said Aki Gua with admiration.
Martha was taking notes on Gabriella’s conversations and her reaction to the surrounding people. She also documented the responses of people to Gabriella. Martha noticed the two young businessmen at the counter watching Gabriella as she walked into the restaurant. Their eyes followed her to her table.
“Martha,” Gabriella asked, “why were those two men at the counter watching us walk in?”
A small smile spread across Martha’s face. “Honey, they sure weren’t interested in the New York Yankees baseball highlights we were discussing. We can discuss more back at the lab.”
Gabriella observed, “There is a growing list of things to talk about when we get back to the lab.” Martha nodded in agreement.
Martha’s job was to notice everything happening near their android and to design role-playing exercises to help Gabriella mimic a human. I can’t help but wonder why Corporate is so intensely interested their android could pass. Sure, it would be a ground-breaking event, but I have a feeling there is more to the request than what’s being revealed. What is their end-game? I’ll have to wait and see.
Her mind wandered from crazy government conspiracy plots to the very high-end adult toy market. Martha dismissed them. I’m afraid I’m becoming ‘one of those people’ who see conspiracies in every bowl of Corn Flakes they pour for breakfast. If I keep this up I’ll end up wearing aluminum foil on my head to block alien mind probes; she told herself smiling, and own six cats.
“Gabriella, you’re becoming very adept at mimicking some social styles and laughter you observe around us,” Martha observed.
“I’m trying to. I’m pleased you think I’m doing so well.” Martha entered a note into her pad about Gabriella, including more feeling words in her speech.
The waiter came and took their food orders. After a time of conversation, the lunches appeared. Gabriella flagged the waiter and ordered a coffee with a shot of espresso. The team encouraged Gabriella to sample some of their food. She said the burgers and bacon-cheddar soup tasted better than the rest of the fare.
“Let’s all take a short walk through Central Park to work off those calories,” Jim suggested at the end of the meal.
“I think it’s a marvelous idea,” Gabriella said, reaching out and lightly stroking Jim’s bare arm as she had seen the brunette woman at the next table do to her lunch partner.
The touch startled him. He tried not to react. Her hand was soft and warm. The engineering side of his mind told him her skin was fibrin-agarose biomaterial, protein, and seaweed/sugar substances, all combined with a multiferroic alloy that could absorb heat from the environment, giving the surface a soft, warm feel. His emotions only noted the beautiful green-eyed, honey-blond woman sitting next to him touched his arm with her warm and gentle fingers.
He smiled and took a long sip of his coffee. Martha jotted down another note.