Unique Human Approach

“Prove it?” Jaqueline said incredulously. “Just how would you like me to PROVE it?”

Steven shrugged and they both looked at Matthew. “How are you going to prove it, Matthew?”

Matthew’s lips parted as if he was about to reply when Jaqueline steps within inches of his face and said, “Take me to the manufacturing floor.”

Shaking his head, Matthew stepped back, “I can’t do that. You’re not authorized on the floor.”

“Not authorized.” Her voice started to rise, “and who was ‘authorized’ to use my likeness as a template for this company’s new toy?” Nose to nose she continued in a strong hushed tone, “If you don’t want me to sue every man in this companies’ pecker off, you’d better comply with my polite request.”

Bumping into the wall as he tries to take another step back, “O...Okay. Give me a minute I need to make some phone calls.” Turning to walk away Steven stepped in front of him. “I think we’ll accompany you to your office.”

Steven knew all too well the tactics Matthew was capable of. At university he was synonymous with talking professors around in circles until they couldn’t remember why they were reprimanding him for tardiness, late assignments or blatant disrespect by interrupting their lecture and getting the class completely off topic. He would brag that getting out of a sticky situation is his superpower.

“I’m just calling the plant to let them know I’m bringing guests.”

“Have they ever experienced a surprise visit?” Steven cocked his head to the side and furrowed his brow. Matthew shook his head. “Let this be their first then.”

Turning and walking towards Matthew’s office Steven called over his shoulder, “What’s your assistant’s name?”

“Samantha”, Matthew whispered. Steven turned around and glared at him. “Brilliant”.

Walking up to Samantha’s desk, “Sam, can I call you Sam”. Steven didn’t wait for her to reply, “Can you call Matthew a town car? We will be heading to…” He turned and looked at his friend.

“DataArt manufacturing plant just outside Newark.”

The 33-minute ride to the plant was in silence. Jacqueline hadn’t spoken since she threatened a lawsuit. Her face didn’t reveal what she was thinking, but the tension inside the black Lincoln was palpable. She stared out the window even throw the tunnel when there was nothing to look at but the white and green tiles as they sped past their view.

Pulling through the security gate the sign read, “DataArt is a global software engineering firm that takes a uniquely human approach to solving problems”. Steven smirked, “well that is very apropos.”

After instructing the driver to park and wait, the threesome walked into the building. Greeting them in the lobby was a confused office assistant, “I’m sorry Mr. Carmichael I don’t have your visit on my schedule. There’s no one here to give a tour.”

“No problem, Stacy. I know where I’m going,” he said as he signed in the visitor log. Walking into the elevator Matthew walked to the opposite side of where the numbered floor buttons were and opened a panel. There were two options, the emergency call button and an unmarked silver button that anyone not looking for would never see. “So, that’s why they’ve never had surprise visits before,” Steven looked impressed.

Following Matthew as he traversed down three separate hallways until he reached a set of heavy locked doors. “I believe this is what you really want to see.”

He swiped his watch in front of a touchless entry pad, a click came from the metal doors before Matthew grabbed the door handle and twisted. Standing back to allow Steven and Jacqueline entrance. Automatic light sensors triggered as rows of blank faces startle Jacqueline as she jumps backward, a slight scream coming from her and steps on Steven’s foot. Reaching his hands up he grabs her waist to brace her he asks, “Are you alright?” He peaked around her and saw what she saw. Four rows across and five rows deep all her face, her eyes, her naked body standing in front of them. Slowly she approached the one of the robots. Staring eye to eye she said, “Why do they all look like me?” Searching for identifying markers she saw her mole on the left side of the robot’s chin and freckles across the nose. Reaching up she touched the skin. She felt like she entered a room of mirrors.

“Which one is Sam?”

“This one,” Steven whispered.

Jacqueline turned to see Steven on his knees, his hands on a naked robot’s waist and thumbs caressing stretchmarks. She looked down at the robot facing her and didn’t see stretchmarks. She stepped back and saw that none of the others had them either. “Why does that one have stretchmarks but none of the others do?” She spun around to face Matthew and demanded an answer. Staring at him till he spoke.

“We needed a backstory to program into the robot,” Matthew spoke slowly trying to concoct his explanation in a way that would not flare anymore tempers, but recognizing it was futile. “We downloaded your life story, what we could ascertain through social media, hospital records, genealogy, and anywhere else we could gather information on your life.”

“You used my child as part of your scheme?” The pain on Jacqueline’s face very apparent. “Who do you think you are stealing my identity, my life, putting it on display for your experiment… your entertainment.”

“I…I” Matthew didn’t have time to respond before Jacqueline started pounding on his chest and screaming, “How could you? How could you fucking do this?”

Steven snaps out of his trance, standing up and walking in between her and her target. He knows Matthew deserves every punch and scream. “Come on. Let’s get you out of this nightmare.”

Back inside the car he told the driver to go. “Where would you like me to go to?” he asked as he looked at them in the rearview mirror. Steven looked over at Jacqueline, “What’s your address?” She looks at him with an eyebrow cocked. “Unless you’d rather go back to your office.”

“721 5th Avenue.”

“Trump Tower. Got it.” The driver says back to her.

“Wow, I didn’t know there was room for anyone else to live in Trump Tower with Trump and his ego.”

She didn’t respond as she turned to stare out the window trying to hide the tears that threaten to spill out her brown eyes. She wasn’t used to letting anyone see her so weak. She didn’t realize Steven sliding closer to her until he put his arm around her.

“I know this has got to be so terrible.”

“How would you ‘know’ how it feels?”

“Maybe not in the same way,” Steven whispered. “But it’s pretty terrible for me right now and I can only imagine how you feel. This is a lot for anyone to take in.”

At that moment her resolve melts and she starts to sob. Hiding her face in her hands, her shoulders shake as she releases all the frustration, anger, fear, embarrassment and betrayal. Steven pulls her in to his chest stroking her back as she unleashes a torrent of emotion. Steven allows silent tears to slide down his face too.