Author : Jules Jensen

The world is dangerous.

“Yes, I know this.”

No, you don’t. People will kill you for water, for food, for anything you have that is even slightly better than what they have. They don’t care about your past, your present, your future. They don’t care about the things you’ve learned, the knowledge you’ve amassed, or the people and things counting on you.

“People are no more dangerous than the wild animals. You showed me how to survive against them.”

Animals kill to eat or protect themselves, nothing more. Humans can kill just for the sake of killing, or out of mere boredom. I did not spend twelve-point-five years taking care of you and teaching you just to have you meet your end the first time you encounter another person.

“So you’re saying you won’t let me go out and find another human? You know I can’t have only you as my companion for the rest of my life. I’m nearly an adult now. I want to start a family-”

This talk is nonsense. You want to go through the rigors of training an infant human how to survive? You know things are getting worse, right?

“I know, I know, you told me all about the lack of rainfall. Big deal. We live by the ocean.”

Which you can’t drink.

“What are you doing? Why are you looking at me like that?”

I am a robot. I have no ability to look at you in any way other than to observe.

“You’re doing that analyzing thing. Like when that dingo came too close to camp and it looked like it was sick.”

Correct. You’re recent attitude change has altered our survival rate.

“How?”

I am, as you say, a ‘robot’, and that means I can’t die of old age. I can’t forget the knowledge I’ve gained, or the skills I’ve learned. I am perfect. You are not. And yet, you talk about finding a potentially untrustworthy human here, one that might kill you and destroy me.

“No, no, don’t look at me like that. I’m not going to do anything to endanger you. Or myself! Come on, you’re the one that goes on about logic, why would I do anything to hurt us?”

My software has decided that I am worth more than you are.

“So I’ll just leave. J-just stay back. Don’t pick up the gun! I’ll go, and I’ll never come back!”

Doubtful. Humans, when in dire need of assistance, tend to go back to the places and beings they think may help them. I can’t risk you coming back here and bringing unwanted attention.

“No! L-leave me-”

Screaming is pointless. It will only draw attention.