"Robot and Costello"
May. 20th, 2022 11:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dochermes"Robot and Costello"
11/19/2015
Gabby Marchetti packed her Ipad into the canvas bookbag, made sure her water bottle was tightly capped and got up from her seat. Down at the front of the lecture hall, Professor Millet was reminding everyone he would be in his office until four-thirty if anyone had further questions or wanted some help. Even an introductory course in marine biology was heavy going for most people. Gabby waited until the other students had mostly exited before heading for the door herself.
On this brisk November day, she was wearing a heavy wool skirt and a button-down red sweater over her white blouse. Only five feet two and slightly built, she looked younger than nineteen and the oversize round-framed glasses added to that impression. She was used to it. The curly brown hair was pulled tightly back with a barrette and she wasn't wearing even her minimal amount of make-up that morning.
Out in the hall, she saw no one near the door to the ladies' room and she ducked in quickly. Standing back in the corner was another Gabrielle Elizabeth Marchetti, wearing identical clothing. The two of them resembled each other down to the last freckle and each even had a small white scar on the right index finger from a bicycle accident.
The Gabby who had entered handed over her bookbag to the one who had been waiting. "Time to work four hours at the coffee shop," she said. "You sure you don't mind?"
"It's my job," the second Gabby replied in a voice that could not be told apart from the other's tone. "I expect good tips today, two regulars have a crush on me. One is smitten."
"Aiden Costello, still! I hope he doesn't expect a hot date or anything."
"I am polite to him but slightly distant." Without another word, the second Gabby left the bathroom. Alone, the remaining Gabby went into a stall, then took her time washing her hands and face. The Infiltrator had only been in the ladies' room for three minutes before the Marine Biology class was scheduled to end. Making sure they were never seen together took some precise timing but it was essential.
Feeling she had waited long enough, Gabby stepped out into the hall and trotted briskly toward the main entrance. She liked Stonypoint University very much so far. This first semester was crowded with prerequisite classes she had to get out of the way before really getting started on her major but, as she smirked to herself, she had help other students couldn't match.
Outside, the usual milling about was going on. Couples and small groups stood chatting at random spacing, cars were starting up and backing carefully to avoid hitting distracted teenagers. And there was that bright red Jeep Wrangler she knew would be parked by the entrance. Leaning back against the driver's door, a woman about her size and build waited with folded arms.
Megan Salenger had a thick shock of untidy black hair over an inquisitive face with a pointed nose and large watchful dark eyes. She was wearing a white topcoat which mostly concealed what seemed to be a leather commando suit with many pockets and pouches. "Hello, Gabby," she said.
"Hi! Time for the afternoon report?"
"Yes. Get in, please." Megan opened her own door and got behind the wheel. After Gabby was strapped in place in the passenger seat, the Trom Girl started the engine and headed for the lot exit. By then, most of the activity had settled down.
Gabby got a kick out of the way Megan Salenger drove. Very alert, constantly checking all mirrors, watching other vehicles. She acted like a fighter pilot, and Gabby found it fascinating. "Not much to report. My pal is at the Java Joint by now, putting on her apron and taking orders. I was going to get my assignment started, I have to do a paper on cephalopod evolution with LOTS of references."
"So far, this experiment has gone smoothly enough that I am satisfied with allowing it to continue," Megan replied. "You have not made any significant missteps."
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment. It's still kinda weird, to be honest. As far as I can tell, my friend actually thinks she's me. But at the same time, she follows my suggestions as if they're orders. I never know what's really going on inside her head."
Pulling out onto Route 211, the Trom Girl frowned. She normally had a serious expression but at the moment she seemed more thoughtful than usual. "Gabby, I allowed you to have custody of the Infiltrator unit despite reservations. You know it killed the three people who were trying to have it assassinate my team, of course."
"Sure. But you reprogrammed her, didn't you? You've got her set up so she can't use violence even in self-defense."
Megan hit her turn signal and pulled into a bistro, chosen because it was miles away from the coffee shop where the Infiltrator was working. "Yes. To the best of my knowledge, any attempt by that unit would freeze its motors and cause a processing breakdown. To an observer, the Infiltrator would appear to simply fall down dead."
"I don't want that to happen! I'm getting used to have an identical pal to help me get through life." As she unbuckled her seatbelt, Gabby continued, "I wouldn't turn down a double bacon cheeseburger. Are you buying?"
For the first time, Megan's face brightened. Her smile was slight but genuine. "I will use my KDF expense account."
"Oh, in that case, I think onion rings and a large Pepsi is called for. I skipped breakfast."
They entered and sat themselves in a corner booth. Gabby ordered what she had mentioned, and Megan asked for only ice water and a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato slices for herself. While they were waiting, the Trom Girl said, "I have to remind you that this experiment will not go on indefinitely. Soon I will want to begin partial disassembly of the Infiltrator. It is of Human construction but it uses stolen Trom technology. My superiors will want full details."
As their food arrived, they both paused the conversation for a minute. Gabby insisted there were far too many onion rings and forced Megan to eat some.
"You know, I was wondering something about my identical pal," she began but hesitated. "You might think it's gross."
"I've been fighting the Midnight War most of my life," Megan replied, twirling an onion ring idly. "Not much shocks me, I'm afraid."
"Okay. Okay. Now, not a word of this to Timothy, you promise?"
"Yes."
"Suppose I started dating that Aiden Costello boy. He IS cute and he goes to concerts with bands I like. And, further suppose, that sometimes if I'm cranky or don't feel well, I send my friend to substitute for me. Sometimes twins do that, you know?"
"Where exactly are you going with this, Gabby?"
Unexpectedly, her cheeks flushed. She took a long sip of her soda before continuing. "Do you think my pal could have sex?"
"Yes. My examination showed the unit is functionally correct in every external detail. It has a realistic vagina."
Gabby toyed with the last onion ring. "That's... what I thought. I mean, she's what you say is an Infiltrator. She was designed to pass as a real flesh and blood person. She can eat small amounts of food, she imitates breathing, she reacts to the weather the same as I do. So, you think the boy wouldn't notice anything odd?"
"I have not given this any thought, Gabby. Give me a second. If a condom was used, I don't think a sexual partner would notice any difference between the Infiltrator and a Human woman. But it's not a topic I would want to test."
Gabby Marchetti sighed. "See, here's a problem. I'm considering going out with Aiden. Why not? If you don't date your first year in college, when will you? But Megan... what if he likes my pal better?!"
10/2/2021
11/19/2015
Gabby Marchetti packed her Ipad into the canvas bookbag, made sure her water bottle was tightly capped and got up from her seat. Down at the front of the lecture hall, Professor Millet was reminding everyone he would be in his office until four-thirty if anyone had further questions or wanted some help. Even an introductory course in marine biology was heavy going for most people. Gabby waited until the other students had mostly exited before heading for the door herself.
On this brisk November day, she was wearing a heavy wool skirt and a button-down red sweater over her white blouse. Only five feet two and slightly built, she looked younger than nineteen and the oversize round-framed glasses added to that impression. She was used to it. The curly brown hair was pulled tightly back with a barrette and she wasn't wearing even her minimal amount of make-up that morning.
Out in the hall, she saw no one near the door to the ladies' room and she ducked in quickly. Standing back in the corner was another Gabrielle Elizabeth Marchetti, wearing identical clothing. The two of them resembled each other down to the last freckle and each even had a small white scar on the right index finger from a bicycle accident.
The Gabby who had entered handed over her bookbag to the one who had been waiting. "Time to work four hours at the coffee shop," she said. "You sure you don't mind?"
"It's my job," the second Gabby replied in a voice that could not be told apart from the other's tone. "I expect good tips today, two regulars have a crush on me. One is smitten."
"Aiden Costello, still! I hope he doesn't expect a hot date or anything."
"I am polite to him but slightly distant." Without another word, the second Gabby left the bathroom. Alone, the remaining Gabby went into a stall, then took her time washing her hands and face. The Infiltrator had only been in the ladies' room for three minutes before the Marine Biology class was scheduled to end. Making sure they were never seen together took some precise timing but it was essential.
Feeling she had waited long enough, Gabby stepped out into the hall and trotted briskly toward the main entrance. She liked Stonypoint University very much so far. This first semester was crowded with prerequisite classes she had to get out of the way before really getting started on her major but, as she smirked to herself, she had help other students couldn't match.
Outside, the usual milling about was going on. Couples and small groups stood chatting at random spacing, cars were starting up and backing carefully to avoid hitting distracted teenagers. And there was that bright red Jeep Wrangler she knew would be parked by the entrance. Leaning back against the driver's door, a woman about her size and build waited with folded arms.
Megan Salenger had a thick shock of untidy black hair over an inquisitive face with a pointed nose and large watchful dark eyes. She was wearing a white topcoat which mostly concealed what seemed to be a leather commando suit with many pockets and pouches. "Hello, Gabby," she said.
"Hi! Time for the afternoon report?"
"Yes. Get in, please." Megan opened her own door and got behind the wheel. After Gabby was strapped in place in the passenger seat, the Trom Girl started the engine and headed for the lot exit. By then, most of the activity had settled down.
Gabby got a kick out of the way Megan Salenger drove. Very alert, constantly checking all mirrors, watching other vehicles. She acted like a fighter pilot, and Gabby found it fascinating. "Not much to report. My pal is at the Java Joint by now, putting on her apron and taking orders. I was going to get my assignment started, I have to do a paper on cephalopod evolution with LOTS of references."
"So far, this experiment has gone smoothly enough that I am satisfied with allowing it to continue," Megan replied. "You have not made any significant missteps."
"Well, I'll take that as a compliment. It's still kinda weird, to be honest. As far as I can tell, my friend actually thinks she's me. But at the same time, she follows my suggestions as if they're orders. I never know what's really going on inside her head."
Pulling out onto Route 211, the Trom Girl frowned. She normally had a serious expression but at the moment she seemed more thoughtful than usual. "Gabby, I allowed you to have custody of the Infiltrator unit despite reservations. You know it killed the three people who were trying to have it assassinate my team, of course."
"Sure. But you reprogrammed her, didn't you? You've got her set up so she can't use violence even in self-defense."
Megan hit her turn signal and pulled into a bistro, chosen because it was miles away from the coffee shop where the Infiltrator was working. "Yes. To the best of my knowledge, any attempt by that unit would freeze its motors and cause a processing breakdown. To an observer, the Infiltrator would appear to simply fall down dead."
"I don't want that to happen! I'm getting used to have an identical pal to help me get through life." As she unbuckled her seatbelt, Gabby continued, "I wouldn't turn down a double bacon cheeseburger. Are you buying?"
For the first time, Megan's face brightened. Her smile was slight but genuine. "I will use my KDF expense account."
"Oh, in that case, I think onion rings and a large Pepsi is called for. I skipped breakfast."
They entered and sat themselves in a corner booth. Gabby ordered what she had mentioned, and Megan asked for only ice water and a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato slices for herself. While they were waiting, the Trom Girl said, "I have to remind you that this experiment will not go on indefinitely. Soon I will want to begin partial disassembly of the Infiltrator. It is of Human construction but it uses stolen Trom technology. My superiors will want full details."
As their food arrived, they both paused the conversation for a minute. Gabby insisted there were far too many onion rings and forced Megan to eat some.
"You know, I was wondering something about my identical pal," she began but hesitated. "You might think it's gross."
"I've been fighting the Midnight War most of my life," Megan replied, twirling an onion ring idly. "Not much shocks me, I'm afraid."
"Okay. Okay. Now, not a word of this to Timothy, you promise?"
"Yes."
"Suppose I started dating that Aiden Costello boy. He IS cute and he goes to concerts with bands I like. And, further suppose, that sometimes if I'm cranky or don't feel well, I send my friend to substitute for me. Sometimes twins do that, you know?"
"Where exactly are you going with this, Gabby?"
Unexpectedly, her cheeks flushed. She took a long sip of her soda before continuing. "Do you think my pal could have sex?"
"Yes. My examination showed the unit is functionally correct in every external detail. It has a realistic vagina."
Gabby toyed with the last onion ring. "That's... what I thought. I mean, she's what you say is an Infiltrator. She was designed to pass as a real flesh and blood person. She can eat small amounts of food, she imitates breathing, she reacts to the weather the same as I do. So, you think the boy wouldn't notice anything odd?"
"I have not given this any thought, Gabby. Give me a second. If a condom was used, I don't think a sexual partner would notice any difference between the Infiltrator and a Human woman. But it's not a topic I would want to test."
Gabby Marchetti sighed. "See, here's a problem. I'm considering going out with Aiden. Why not? If you don't date your first year in college, when will you? But Megan... what if he likes my pal better?!"
10/2/2021
