Chapter 157
Visitation, visitation. Just hearing those words was enough to make any soldier's heart race. As an officer, I never had much personal connection to it, but watching my subordinates rush off with excited faces always warmed my heart. Still, I never imagined I'd be the one getting all worked up before my own visitation.
This one was special, for two reasons. First, I—a man—was the one going to visit her—a woman. Second, the visitor was bursting with anticipation, while the visitee was reluctant about it.
"Please come in. Artemis is waiting."
A pink-haired android stationed at the entrance to the Incubator Room greeted me.
"Is she really waiting? This visitation was barely wrangled out of her after endless coaxing and sweet-talking, since she kept refusing."
Artemis hated showing me her unfinished form. For instance, she wouldn't even speak to me near the Incubator Room. But I couldn't bear missing her entire growth process, so after relentless pleading, I'd finally secured 90 minutes.
"To be honest, she didn't want to."
"..."
She switched up her words with the utmost naturalness.
"She kept repeating things like, 'Ugh, you can't look.'"
Her impression was laced with emotion, but she snapped back to a dry tone the moment it ended—kind of funny.
"Thanks for the heads-up, but... is it okay to be this straightforward? Won't Artemis chew you out?"
"The system administrator has the right to all information. Lying is a regulation violation."
"What about white lies?"
"I am not qualified to distinguish good intentions from bad."
True or False only. I nodded, thinking it was a very machine-like mindset—then her next words caught me off guard.
"Besides, telling the truth will ultimately strengthen the bond between you two. Artemis may feel embarrassed, but that will be offset by your perception of her as cute."
Whirr. The door slid open.
"Please enter. Visitation time is 90 minutes, but the countdown has already started."
The android stepped half a pace aside.
As I stepped inside, a black short-haired android bowed politely, and beyond her loomed the massive incubator.
"Oh..."
Inside was a little girl curled up with her head toward the ceiling. Maybe 6 or 7 years old? Even being generous, she still looked like a preschooler. Legs tucked together, arms hugging her knees, eyes gently closed. Her hair had grown just past her shoulders. Her skin, never touched by sunlight, was dazzlingly white, and her moonlight-smooth locks cascaded over her chest and shoulders, each strand distinct.
An uncle trudging through a ruined world and a young girl. I could see why that combo was so beloved.
Even unfinished as she was, a fierce urge welled up—I'd give my heart to protect her.
Pop. A tiny bubble rose from her small lips.
Up close, her lips were working faintly.
"It's a reaction from DNA imprinting," the black-haired short-cut android said, pointing to her abdomen with an index finger.
Something flowed through the thin, transparent artificial umbilical cord.
"When nutrients for body formation are supplied, it instinctively triggers a craving like breastfeeding. Suckling motions are often observed."
"I figured since it's Artemis's body, it'd be purged of anything unnecessary for perfect flawlessness... but she's showing some surprisingly human traits."
"That's not what she wants. If it were, she'd have used an android body."
The android briefly gestured to her own chest before continuing.
"Artemis wants animal instincts and uncontrollable chemical reactions in her flesh. And..."
The android fell silent. I had a hunch and chuckled.
"Did Artemis tell you to zip it?"
"Correct!"
"It's fine—spill it all."
"Understood!"
Assured of my authority, she eagerly continued.
"She wants her great mind as control AI to naturally fuse with primal animal instincts passed down since ancient times."
Bzzz. Faintly, the incubator room's speakers activated with their signature static hum. It lasted a few seconds before cutting off—like opening and closing a mouth.
"Artemis calls this 'adrift on a raft of DNA upon the ocean of great intellect.' She's greatly anticipating it."
Whether Artemis's 'mouth' opened or closed, the black-haired android kept talking nonstop. I almost worried about the backlash for her.
"Weren't the gods in Greek myths like that? Divine powers, but oh-so-human behavior. Despite shaking heaven and earth, they fell to lust, shed tears, regretted."
"True enough."
Maybe that's why their stories endure—those human flaws make them lovable.
Pop. Another bubble from those cherry lips working away.
"You're fortunate, Manager. This reaction isn't visible anytime."
"Looks like nutrients are pouring in endlessly. Won't she get fat?"
Bzz. The speakers opened briefly, then shut.
"Prime growth phase. It all goes to bones and muscles at high speed. Materials for ultimate beauty. No risk of imbalance like obesity. Ah!"
She clapped sharply.
"There are two areas that will fill with fat—up top and down below. But those aren't spots seen as obese. Quite the opposite. They'll make you very happy, Manager."
"You'd better stop there..."
Fun as the chatter was, I sensed Artemis's patience nearing its limit.
"Aren't you scared at all?"
"Scared, sir?"
The android tilted her head, as if wondering why I'd ask something so trivial.
"Full disclosure will enrich your relationship. Humans often face troubles from withholding info, don't they?"
"Fair point."
Life experience barely at crawling stage, yet dropping wisdom bombs.
"I pictured a fearsome queen and her cowering maids. This is... different."
Deep respect toward me, the system admin, but casual with Artemis. Though she did have her ditzy moments despite her power.
"Artemis is a grand vessel."
This girl seemed no ordinary android either, saying it so calmly.
"True family will soon be born to our city. A man and woman clasping warm-blooded hands."
Awe colored her voice. Maybe from tending her so closely?
The two androids handling the Incubator Room were the most human-like among the awakened ones.
"Family... honestly, it doesn't feel real."
Orphaned from birth, I'd lived alone forever. Friends weren't deep; lovers couldn't replace family.
"Not just any family—a grand one. No disease, disaster, poverty, or malice will touch it. This is the Shelter, after all."
She met my eyes squarely.
"Everything in the city will bless and guard this precious family. Forever."
I realized they weren't mocking Artemis—just comfortable with her.
We gazed at her body beyond the glass. Her profile, fixated on the curled form, felt more emotional than any conversation with me.
"Time to go now."
The eviction order came after a while.
"Still got time left?"
My neural implant timer showed at least 10 minutes.
"Just watching a motionless girl—aren't you bored?"
"Not at all. Just looking makes me happy."
I'd hated guard duty back in the day, but I'd stand here all day for this glass tube.
"She'd be thrilled by that sentiment. But please leave. She's reaching her limit."
"What limit?"
"Final nutrients only, but urine's unavoidable."
"Ah..."
The android smiled sweetly.
"She's holding it desperately to honor the 90 minutes. Any longer, and she'll snap."
She knew exactly when Artemis's patience would break.
One last look at her flesh beyond the glass. I'd stared plenty, but turning away brought sticky reluctance.
I shook it off and headed for the exit.
Whirr.
"Satisfied?"
The pink-haired girl outside asked.
"Already wanna see her again."
"May that feeling endure."
"By the way, she really didn't say a word the whole time?"
I glanced at the ceiling speakers.
"Her tolerance matches her pride."
"Yeah. Letting you spill all she hid from me, without a peep."
"What you heard was just a fraction of what she shares with us."
Curiosity burned—what else?
Reading my mind? She smiled faintly, pressing a finger to her lips.
"Secret. Can't tell even you."
Winking one eye, defending Artemis like a true maid—not some mere robot following orders.