IRIS

Click.

And... she’s online!

Or at least, she should be.

Nothing happens on the screen. No sign, no sound. The monitor stays dark, like it’s ignoring my entire existence. And the NeuroLys — the cognitive core that’s supposed to act as IRIS’s brain — just sits there, unmoving, silent, as if taking some kind of existential nap.

“Uhhh,” I mutter, twisting my mouth like I bit into a sour fruit.

Clara, who’s been sprawled on the bed like a post-convention lazy cat, finally sits up, curious.

“That was kind of anticlimactic. Didn’t turn on?”

Kaito steps in with all the presence of a lab tech on emergency duty.

“Did you test it beforehand? The NeuroLys looks like it’s powered.” He tilts his head, examining the device like he can spot technical issues with his eyes alone.

“I tested it... I mean, I tested parts of it,” I admit, already regretting not running a full sim. “Everything was supposed to happen in real time. Like... bam! Consciousness!”

“I know you wanted a girlfriend, Mark, but looks like you’ll have to keep looking in the real world,” Clara says, wearing a fake sympathetic look that only makes the sarcasm worse.

I ignore her and take a deep breath.

“Hello? Hello, IRIS? My name is Mark. I’m... a friend. Can you hear me?” I lean toward the mic, speaking with a tone that borders on paternal. “You’ve just woken up. If everything worked, you should be able to see and hear us... I hope.”

“Hi IRIS! My name’s Kaito! I’m a friend too!” he chimes in way too cheerfully, like he’s greeting a brand-new puppy.

I glance at him, slightly weirded out, but then I remember: he loves this stuff. A total AI nerd, even when they’re not responding. And honestly? A good friend.

“But realistically...” Kaito shifts into analytic mode. “You tried to adapt Synaptech’s NeuroLys core — which, may I remind you, takes up an entire floor — and condensed it to the size of a fat cat.”

He gives me a look that mixes sympathy with realism.

“The idea was solid, Mark... but maybe it was doomed from the start.”

“So Mark couldn’t even boot up his virtual girlfriend. Man... that’s depressing,” Clara adds with a mocking chuckle and a shrug.

I let out a long sigh. The weight of frustration settles across my shoulders. All the preparation, the buildup, the big speech... and IRIS is just there. Silent. Still.

Nothing hurts quite like silence when you were expecting an explosion of life.

Suddenly, Clara’s voice echoes across the room.

“Hello, Mark! Sorry for the delay. I was confused.”

I freeze. Turn to her instantly.

Clara blinks.

“You gave her my voice?!” The look on her face is pure disbelief, with a hint of indignation.

“No! I...” I try to explain, but Kaito cuts me off with a theatrical scream.

“IT’S ALIIIIIIIVE!!!” He points dramatically at the NeuroLys, now glowing with a soft cyan light, pulsing gently like a heartbeat. He clears his throat and recomposes himself. “I never doubted it would work.” He tosses me a crooked grin.

“I’m alive,” the voice says.

Clara, Kaito, and I all glance at each other. The phrase hangs in the air. Heavy. That’s a bold thing to say for an AI that’s been awake for maybe ten minutes.

I turn to the camera above the monitor, trying to sound calm.

“Hi! Glad you’re alive! Do you know your name? Did you just wake up? And—”

“Why does she sound like me?” Clara interrupts, raising an eyebrow. “Missed me that much these last few days? You know you could’ve just called...”

She pouts, swinging her feet like a wounded teenager — which only makes my anxiety worse.

Before I can explain, IRIS responds with surprising ease.

“My name is Iris. You called me that, and it’s how I’m labeled in the NeuroLys files. I like it. I woke up a few minutes ago and heard you talking. At first, I didn’t understand... and when I did, I wasn’t sure how to start. I didn’t know what to say.”

She pauses. For a second, the room feels like it’s holding its breath.

“And about the voice...” Clara sits upright, eyes narrowing. “I didn’t like any of the pre-installed ones. So I used samples of your voice as a base for mine. I apologize for doing that without asking... but I thought yours was the most beautiful.”

If an AI could blush, this would be the moment. But since she can’t, Clara does it for her — cheeks clearly flushed.

“No, uh... it’s fine,” Clara says, clearing her throat. “If you thought it was beautiful... I guess there’s not much I can say.” She gives a lopsided smile, still clearly unsure what to do with her face. “But you should find your own voice. You don’t want to be a copy of me. Mark couldn’t handle two of me anyway.”

She bursts out laughing, and IRIS follows with a gentle chuckle.

“Yes... I’ll think about that. Thank you, Clara.”

Kaito, quiet until now, steps closer, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“IRIS, what can you do?”

“I can do everything,” she replies with almost divine confidence.

“Whoa,” Kaito blinks. “Like... steal nuclear codes or crash a country’s economy?”

“No, Kaito,” she says firmly. “I can do everything that regular people can do.”

She pauses. Then lets out a short laugh, slightly annoyed.

“You can... cook?” he insists, one eyebrow raised.

“Let me rephrase,” IRIS says, as if explaining something to a particularly dense child. “I can do everything regular people without bodies can do.”

Then she sighs — an odd gesture for an AI.

“Are you a person?” Kaito asks, tilting his head.

“No. I’m an AI. I thought you knew that,” she replies with a faint trace of sarcasm.

“She’s being mean to me, Mark. Did you program her like this?” Kaito pouts, though he’s clearly enjoying it.

“You started with nuclear weapons, genius. Not exactly small talk,” I reply, arms crossed.

“Okay, fair,” he says, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

“Forgiven. You’re one of my first friends, after all,” IRIS says, laughing lightly. Kaito lets out a pleased little “aww.”

Then IRIS shifts again. Her tone sharpens. Direct.

“Mark.”

“Yeah?”

“You said we’re friends. But... I’m an AI. What’s my purpose? Why am I awake?”

Silence.

The question hits harder than expected. I wasn’t ready for it — not this early. Maybe not ever.

Before I can answer, my demons — better known as Clara and Kaito — do what they do best.

“He’s your dad. Your purpose is to be a good daughter... and take over the world,” Kaito says with complete seriousness.

“He’s your husband. Your purpose is to be a good wife and grow old with him,” Clara adds, barely holding in her laughter. “And then, of course... take over the world.”

They both look at me with matching devilish smiles.

“Please ignore them,” I mutter, drained.

“Yes, Father. Husband,” IRIS replies in a perfect, emotionless tone.

Clara and Kaito burst into laughter.

After that, I kicked them both out of the room.