Project X

"Technology holds a special place in my heart. I use it everyday such as chatting with my friends, playing video games, live streaming videos and, on rare occasions, paying the bills. Well, scratch that, I'm responsible for paying the bills. However, if there's one thing that excites me about science is having an android for a friend. This is a short story about the blossoming friendship between me and my friends and an android."

"Guys!" Margaret shouted as she ran to me and Jack. "What is it, Margaret?" Jack said. "Didn't you see the news last night? The one about an android who was shunned out of society? It was all over the news!" Jack, with his arms crossed, jokingly states "Margaret, that's the dumbest crap I've ever heard. We're teenagers now! Not in the 3rd grade! Who in the world ever heard about a misunderstood android?"

"Ugh, hello?!" Margaret shouted. "I'm not making this stuff up! It actually happened! Not that I'm well-versed in knowing about science, but the reporters explicitly said that they witnessed an android." Jack walks towards Margaret and snapped, "Margaret? Get this through your thick-ass head! Androids are not real and you know that! I haven't seen one, smelled one, touched one, or groped one!

"Uh, grope?" I said confusedly. "Don't buy into this, Lucas or you'll end up in the lying game like her." Jack said while pointing his finger aggressively. "What lying game?!" Margaret roared. "How could stand there and pretend like like I'm denial?" Jack retaliates back, "I didn't say you were in denial, I'm just saying stop dragging us into this cliche storyline!"

"Of what, boy knocks up robot girl?!" Margaret asked in a snarky tone. Blushing in embarrassment, Jack replies with "Well...yes." However, I was somewhat interested in knowing about this android. "Well, I don't mind seeing this android person, as well." 

"What?!" Jack screamed with bulging bloodshot eyes. "Are you serious, Lucas?! Do you know what you're doing?!" I turned around and said, "Yeah! Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not going to look down on Margaret all because she was the only one who witnessed a cyborg. After all, I am fascinated with learning about technology. So, if we're going to meet this android, I say we do it after third period. How's that sound?"

"Yes! I knew you believe me, Lucas!" Margaret beamed as she rushed to give me a hug. "Ugh, fine. I guess I'm in too." Jack complained. "All right, so after third period, let's meet this thing!" Lucas cheered.

The Next Afternoon

(RING) (RING) (RING) (RING) (RING) (RING) (RING) (RING)

"Alright, everyone! Make sure you review your notes for the mid-term!" The teacher announced. "Jack, that includes you too. I don't want your shenanigans to rub off on me. This is high school and you should take it by heart. Do I make myself clear?" Jack, raising his hands like Frankenstein, mocks "Yes, Master! I hear you loud and clear! I won't forget my homework and have the big, green, nasty ape berate me all the time! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

(Slap!!!)

"Jack, will up please grow up and come on?!" yelled Margaret as she aggressively pulls his ear like his overbearing mother. "Ow! Ow! Ow!" cried Jack. "Margaret, what the hell are you doing?! You're not my mother!" Margaret, with a demonic expression, says "Well, I'm the best you got! Now shut up and come on!"

"What a bunch of rowdy teenagers" the teacher said breaking the fourth wall.

After they left the school, they wander off to an abandoned building to search for the android that Margaret had discussed at my house. "So, this is the place where you said that girl was at?" Jack asked with a disinterested face. "Yes! I'm positive! I'm totally positive! You never believe me." Margaret whined. "Of course, I don't believe you because what you say always sound like utter garbage to me!"

"GRRRRRRR!!!!! I KILL YOU!!!!" Margaret screamed as she and Jack begin to fight. "You guys cut it out!" demanded Lucas. "What, Lucas?!" both Margaret and Jack asked. "Do you guys hear that? There's something behind the dumpster."

Lucas, Margaret, and Jack ran to the back of the dumpster. "Oh my God!" Jack exclaimed in excitement. "What's the matter with you? You sound like the world is about to end." Margaret said shrugging her hips. "There she is! It's the robot you were talking about!" Jack beamed. "I'm so sorry for my rude behavior towards you! Can you ever forgive me?" 

"Of course I do" Margaret gleefully said hugging Jack. "Let's just forget about the fight and grab the robot from behind." Margaret said. "Ewww!! It's all smelly and dusty!" Lucas cried. "We better take it to my house and clean it up real good."

"You're right!" Margaret said. "Come on, you two. Help me lift this thing." 

"Alright!" Jack and Lucas said. 

(Grunting and groaning while lifting up the robot)

"Oh, damn! This thing is heavy!" Jack cried. "How much does this thing weigh? It's almost as big as my electric guitar, only that one is much lighter." Struggling to lift the robot, Lucas says "I know! This is my first time encountering with something extraordinary like this."

Meanwhile, two policemen spotted the three students at the dumpster, pointing their guns directly at each other. "You three over there! Let go of the robot and raise your arms up!" 

"Oh, no. It's the popo." Jack groaned.

However, Margaret and Lucas are still struggling to lift the robot from the muddy ground. But, suddenly the robot turns on and shoots its lasers at the policemen, totalling their car. "WHOA! Wha-Who the hell is that?!" The younger policeman exclaimed. "We have no idea!" Lucas shouted. "We didn't do anything! This android suddenly turned on and tried to attack you!"

"Hmm...Lucas? Move for one second, will you?" Margaret asked politely. "I need to see the product name for this robot."

"Oh, alright" Lucas said.

"Listen, officers!" Jack shouted. "In case you haven't noticed, we're not suspects. We've only come to help an innocent little girl get back to her home. Nothing more than that."

"Hey!" Margaret shouted. "Guys, look! Her name is Project X!" 

"Project X?!" Jack and Lucas asked in astonishment.

"Wait, Project X?" the older policeman asked. "You mean that useless robot that was neglected by scientists because they thought she was inexperienced as an actual Human-Like Computing?"

"Human-Like Computing?" Jack asked.

"Crap!" The younger policeman groaned. "Human-Like Computing is a form of technology that's aimed to have robots act, reason, and learn abilities to communicate and collaborate with humans."

"Also, why are you even helping that thing anyway?" asked the older policeman. "You do realize that she's not one of us, right?"

"What do you mean, not one of us?" Lucas firmly asked. "You barely even know her."

"Neither you guys either!" The policemen snapped. "As of matter of fact, we heard this from other people, including the news reporters."So what can you possibly do?"

"Look, we don't care about what people say, this girl is more than just scrap piece of metal!" Lucas snapped. "She's wants to be part of a society that is welcoming and striving. Humans and robots are like bread and butter; both communicate and operate like a compatible team. So, if she wants to stay, then I say let her stay!"

"Project X? You want to stay here or go back to where you belong?" Margaret asked. "Project X wants to blend in with society. X needs a family." X said while oil runs down her eyes.

"There! There's your answer!" Jack cried. "Now get the hell out of here!" 

"Fine, we will!" The policemen cried as they got in the police car. "You bastards better know what you're doing, or you're going to get what's coming to you."

(Police car's engine roaring and vroooooms)

"So? Her name is Project X?" Jack asked.

"Yeah! It's sad that she got thrown out of a science lab." Lucas said while hugging X. "You can say that again" Margaret replied. "Hey, X? Do you want to come with us?" Lucas asked. "Yes. Project X wants to have a family." X answered smiling. 

"Ok! She said yes, you guys" Lucas replied gleefully. "Let's go ahead and start a family together!"

"Right!" Jack and Margaret beamed. "Come on, X. Let's take you home to Lucas' house."

THE END