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Rowan: Can you maybe send me all your findings as a summary at the end of the day? I’m pretty busy here.

Troy: Oh! Of course! Can I at least ask how Milo is doing? Anything new, like updates on my previous dream or ability to imagine things questions?

Rowan: Milo can actually reply to you himself now.

Milo: I can! Hello, Troy! I am here! I am also quite busy, but I promise I will provide a comprehensivereport for you should I dream or have time to attempt imagining/envisioning something.

Rowan had given Milo permission to use his own handle when communicating as himself to avoid any confusion caused by using Rowan’s.

Milo: I can also report that I have recently experienced what it is like to feel annoyed.

Milo heard a distinct snort from the direction of Rowan’s workshop.

He continued to make Rowan laugh, which he decided was definitely one of his favorite things. Something else heloved.

Troy: Sorry, Milo! I’ll leave you both to it then.

Sorry? Oh no! Did Troy think Milo meanthewas what had annoyed him? The potential for miscommunication over text was very nerve-wracking. Knowing Rowan as he did, Milo did believeRowanwas a bit annoyed with Troy, but Milo wasn’t. He very much wanted to share things with Troy, as so far, Troy was the only other person Milo could act like himself around—without sunglasses on. He just wasn’t as efficient at stacked multitasking as he used to be.

Milo was trying to return to optimal levels in that regard and to better learn how to “tune out” distractions, as Rowan had explained it, but it was so easy for his thoughts to stray when a new idea struck him, or when he got to experience another new, or at least nuanced version of an emotion. It was exciting, thrilling—as was learning the best words to describe it all.

Milo: I would very much like to talk to you, Troy, once I have finished my work on our neighbor’s A-model unit. I can report that focusis a bit difficult for me as there are so many new things to experience, and I am best enjoying and understanding those new things by immersing myself in only one at a time.

Troy: That’s amazing, Milo! And completely understandable. I can’t wait to learn more when you’re ready.

Relief flooded through Milo that he had quelled the nerve-wracking sensation with honest diplomacy. Perhaps he was getting better at being human. Although he had lied a little. His research indicated thatwhitelies were more acceptable than others, so he didn’t think it contradicted his desire to be genuine. But he wasn’treallyfocusing on only one thing at a time. What little he could divert to multitasking, he was using to research new recipes he might try that would not only be satisfactory to Rowan but—and this was something Milo had come across as an adjective to describe superior food in many instances, despite the contradictory topics—orgasmic.

His primary goal would be to create the perfect apple pie—Rowan’s favorite. Due to Milo’s clumsiness, he already had apples, but he knew it would likely take many failed attempts to get each aspect of what made a good apple pie right, and then tailored specifically to what Rowan most loved about those flavors. Milo was thinking of the problem both from a logical standpoint and from the heart.

His ongoing research into courtship through romance novels, television shows, and movies had given him many ideas for wooing Rowan, but one consistent suggestion was to tailor one’s approach to one’s quarry. Flowers and candy might work on some people, various other “love languages” on others, but if theway to most men’s hearts was their stomach, the perfect apple pie would definitely work on Rowan.

Which was why he was relieved it seemed his work on Anabelle was nearing its end.

Anabelle: Memory degradation from unrecognized bot connection at 0.000004%. Re-performing systems check of memory degradation to confirm new results.

Milo: Delay that systems check, Anabelle. Instead, prepare all memory files for upcoming transfer.

Anabelle: Preparing partially degraded memory files for transfer. Initializing backup protocol.

Milo’s nose scrunched seemingly of its own accord, which his ongoing research into emotions, facial expressions, and involuntary reactions in general had informed him meant he was disgusted, smelling something unpleasant, or, again, felt annoyed.

Did Anabelle really have to mention her memories were partially degraded?

Setting that aside for now, Milo proceeded to initiate Anabelle’s A-model unit startup sequence through the primary systems panel in her chest. It required only minor tissue removal that would seal up again once Milo was finished.

After manually entering the startup sequence, Milo waited for the physical form of the bot to come back online. It jolted, eyes opening and glowing brightly, a more standard blue compared to Milo’s silver, as its gears began to spin and body straightened to attention. It was still secured within the charging port, dressed down to only Anabelle’s undergarments after dismantling, but Milo would ensure she was dressed and ready for Ethel when the time came.

Several more seconds of internal rebooting passed before the bot blinked, focused its glowing blue eyes on Milo, and smiled—rather eerily if Milo was being honest.

“Hello!” Anabelle’s same voice as what Milo heard in his head when communicating with her memories spoke aloud. “Thank you for purchasing this A-model service unit, standard edition deluxe in monochrome russet tan, courtesy of Andreas Tech. Andreas Tech, where the primary human element is you!”

Milo’s nose wrinkled again. His memory contained, well, thememoryof having delivered a similar initialization speech upon his first boot-up with Rowan.

It was very off-putting.

“Please speak my nine-digit identification number to imprint my responses upon my new master or masters.”

Anabelle: Backup protocol enabled.