Experiment 11: Truth

The large holographic displaying an intricate designs and theoretical models.

Dr. Wallace stand at the head of the table. "Ladies and gentlemen, robots and AI. This time, with the advancement in neural patterning and the incubation chamber. I'm confident we'll succeed!"

The room erupted in murmurs of agreement and a chatter of a speculation.
Leia however, sat stiffly on her chair, her arms crossed and her gaze sharp. "Before we get ahead of ourselves, I think it's worth discussing the moral implications of this project unlike last time."

Wallace waved a dismissive hand. "We've been through this before, Miss Leia. We're scientists, progress is our responsibility."
Leia narrowed her eyes. "Progress without ethics leads to misfortune. The last time we attempted this, the results were..." She glanced her eyes away slightly. "Complicated, to say the least. Luckily it does not caused harm."

A colleague chimed in, a humanoid robot. "That's why this time will be different. With the new AI we're developed, no more unpredictable failure."

Leia leaned forward. "And what about consent? Rights? You asking us to create life in a lab again! As if it just another experiment, you thought about unpredictable failure like these aren't real lives we will be dealing with. What happens if things don't go according to plan? What happens to them then?"
Wallace quickly filled the silence of the room. "Calm down, Miss Leia. I don't remember you acting like this last time. It literally the same thing we're doing." He continued. "These beings will be created for specific purposes. And humanity will continue to exist."

Leia voice sharp. "Did 143 failure not enough?"

One of the leader of the project stepped in, his tone serious. "Miss Leia, if you're not on board with this like last time. Perhaps you should reconsider your role here."

"Maybe I should." Without another word, she strode out of the room, her heels clicking sharply as she walking.
Frustration filled inside her.
They don't get it. They never will.
This isn't science. It's playing god.

While Wallace frown slightly as the meeting resumed, knowing they need her skills and mind and that is why she need to be part of this experiment.
"Why does she suddenly against all these? Something not right, something must have happened, or the failed project last time really did effect her." He thought to himself. "But thinking back, she was the one that seem not to cared much about it and just declared the experiment as a failed project."

It's been two weeks since the meeting.
It would be just another day for Leia at FLARE but recently, for some reason, Dr. Wallace has been a little too curious about her personal life. Constantly asking questioned and Leia with a straight face, answered it with a lied.

Today, when he walked back over after a brief detour to his terminal, carrying a mug of coffee and endless stream of questions.

"So, Miss Leia," He began casually. "Got any weekend plans?"
Leia didn't look up from her work. "Planning to continue with the teleportation project that was postponed."
She planned to bring Eve to a new opened cafe by the street this weekend.

"That sounds great," He said, try fishing for more. "But I mean, socially? Meeting anyone interesting recently?"
"I met plenty of interesting subjects for research." She replied with a faint smirk.
The interesting person she'll be meeting is Maria, that invited her and Eve for a dinner at her house tonight.

"How about pets? Got any?" He asked.
"I have a Scottish fold cat and Beagle breed dog."
The closest to a pet she got is Piz that is literally self made robot puppy for Eve.

"Any new recipes you trying making at home?"

"I interest of making this one dish that was popular back in The Twenties."
She don't know how to cook.

He sighed then take a sip from his coffee. "I couldn't help but notice you've been spending more time at home lately. Got a project on the side at your basement?"
"No side projects. Just catching on sleep." She answered.
This one is not a lie.

"Good for you, because as far as I know. You and sleep doesn't exactly go hand in hand." He laughed. "The truth is," He continue. "I find it hard to believe someone as brilliant as you not having much going on in your personal life."
"Are you wishing a misfortune on me, Dr. Wallace?" Leia said.
He laughed again. "That is not what I mean."

Leia smiled. "Indeed, my life is boring and dull."
It's not, it was full of laughter and warmth.

Suddenly, her watch buzzed. Leia glanced down and saw a message from Zero.
"Eve wanted to make Pizza to bring it to Maria's dinner tonight, you better get home soon with a pizza before we turn this kitchen into a disaster zone."

Leia remained smiling.
There it was. Her current life in one simple message.

She only chuckled softly and glanced at Wallace.

"Well, I'm afraid that's all for today." She said, standing up from her desk.

"I really have to get back to my house."

Wallace, still skeptical, gave up. "Alright, fine."
He walked out of the lab, grumbling under his breath.
Maybe there is nothing suspicious or interesting about her life after all.

Leia was standing in line at the pizzeria when her wrist buzzed, she glanced at her watch seeing Maria's name on it. Then she answered it, and a hologram appear floating from the watch.

"Hey, Maria." Leia answered, already smiling.
Maria appeared on the screen, with Eve and Piz happily standing beside her in the kitchen.
"They helping me cooking for dinner tonight, it was Zero's idea."

Maria shifted the camera to the window of her neighbor seeing Zero looking across.
"I thought, I'd let them with Maria or else your house going to burn with me here." Zero said to Leia.

Eve waved, wanting the camera to turn to her way. "We're making lasagna and cookies! Can't wait for you to join us!"
Piz barked, a sign of reminder.
"Oh, and the Pizza!" Eve said to Leia.

Leia laughed. "I'll be there. Make sure not to caused trouble for Maria." She said to Eve.
Eve nodded.

The camera then shifted to just Maria, her face softening as she looked into the screen.
"See you tonight," Maria said, tender and sincere.

Leia fluttered. She smiled warmly. "See you."