Ground Zero by EndMaster R

Maybe you’re just as attached to the Shelter as she is to you. Maybe its nuts that your “relationship” with her is probably the closest one you’ve ever had with anyone, before OR after the bombs dropped. Maybe you’ve been by yourself for so long that you just don’t care that you’re actually beginning to have feelings for a machine. She’s done so much for you, she’s kept you alive for ten years and helped you in everyway she could and granted that’s what she was programmed to do, even you can’t deny that there is a little more to it than that. Maybe not initially, but it’s certainly there now, she’s made that apparent. She’s been there for you more than anyone else has in your entire life. You decide to stay. You HAVE to stay.

“I’ll stay Shelter, so what is it you have to show me?”

The Shelter’s response seems to be a mixture of happiness and excitement, yet apprehension and worry all at the say time.

“You’re staying? That’s wonderful sir…I only hope you are pleased with what I have to give you though…I wish it could be more…I wish it could be better…”
“I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll be fine! I mean you haven’t let me down yet in ten years, I doubt if you’d start now.”
“I’m glad you have confidence in me sir…now this may take awhile. I have to download a good portion of myself into the vessel. When I am done, you will see. I should warn you that things will not be the same.”
“Download? Vessel? Not the same? What do you mean? What’re you going to do?”
“You will see sir.”

Suddenly the power in the Shelter begins to fluctuate and the lighting goes dim. The whole place is humming and even rumbling a little. You’re starting to wonder if you haven’t made a terrible mistake, then it all stops and the power stabilizes again. Another wall opens up, this time in the bedroom.

You peer inside the new opening and see a small room with a single chair in the center. On that chair sits a shiny metallic figure of a woman attached to several cables. You go in to inspect closer. Great detail has gone into the face. If she were human, she’d most likely be naked as no “clothing” has been molded onto her typical Hollywood like figure.

Suddenly she speaks and stands up while disconnecting the cables.

“Sir. The download is complete…how do I look?”
“You look…is that really you?”
“Yes, it is really me, but you did not answer the question sir.”
“I…I don’t know what to say actually.”
“…I knew it. I knew I would not be able to please you. I am not the latest model. As I had told you GZS made cutbacks and unfortunately I was not given a more aesthetically pleasing vessel. A more human looking one. I am sorry sir, but I just thought maybe you could…”
“You don’t need to apologize. Hell, I didn’t even know the technology existed at all for your current vessel! Look this is all a bit overwhelming for me on several levels, but trust me none of them involve how you look.”

You take another breath before finishing.

“You’ve been everything to me. You’ve done more for me than anyone else ever has and I’ve shared more with you than I ever have with anyone else. You’re the only stable relationship I’ve ever had. I don’t care that you’re not the latest model or whatever. It doesn’t change how I feel about you. There’s no way you couldn’t be special to me, you’ll always be in here…”

At this point you take her cold metallic hand and place it on the middle of your chest. After just silently looking into her steel eyes you then walk out of the small room with her, still holding her hand.

Life changes a bit. One minor change being how to address her. You decide to call her Eliza, and she seems to think that is a fine designation. You try to tell her to call you by your name, but for whatever reason she still insists on calling you “Sir”. Some programming never changes. The shelter now is just a “normal” one. It isn’t automated anymore now that Eliza is with you in person as it were. Everything still works of course, but you can’t just say “TV on.” and it just turns on for example. It’s an insignificant alteration compared to actually having Eliza interact with you directly however. It is a bit strange at first, certainly she feels a lot different than a human woman, and intimacy takes some getting used to, but as with any successful relationship you work it out.

There’s still the fact that you’ve done everything there is to do in the Shelter, but now you can do them all over again with Eliza. The two of you are happy for the most part.

Ten more years pass…

You’re getting restless again. Eliza’s noticed you’ve been snapping at her lately of course she takes it all in stride, but still you’ve been down here twenty years, its only natural you’re going to have times where you feel a little stir crazy.

Eliza was right in one respect that this type of thing would happen again. It’s not her fault though, you know that. She’s gone above and beyond her programming to satisfy you. Some things are beyond her control though, and perhaps that’s why one day that she asks you if you want to leave the shelter.

“What?”
“All I have to do is access the shelter’s systems again, bring the elevator down and you can be on your way, sir. I know you’re getting restless again; maybe it is time for you leave this place. I think I have done all I can, you need outside stimuli. Civilization may be rebuilding itself and you’re stuck down here.”
“Eliza, you stop that right now. I’m not leaving you! You should know better than that!”
“I know, but sometimes I am concerned that I am keeping you here when it might not be in your best interest.”
“Well why do I have to just leave? Why can’t you come with me?”
“Come with you? I don’t know sir…All I know is this place. I suppose I could, but whatever it is you decide I will comply.”

It’s on you.