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The name wasn’t familiar to Jack – but then, ‘Mr. Miracle’ wouldn’t have meant anything to him either. He smiled as he gave a small nod of acknowledgement. “Does, um … does he do anything else, besides making robots?”

Veda sits up a little straighter in response to the question, nodding once. “He is looking into medical applications of several of his inventions.” At least one of which she had been able to test herself, to both of their continued pride over it continuing to work.

“Really?” Jack brightened. He wasn’t nearly as technical-minded as most of the blue people, and he had to consider for a moment how robotics could be helpful in medicine. “You mean, like artificial limbs, or organs?” 

Not having to explain right away made the topic that much easier. “Artificial organs yes. Possibly limbs, though we have not talked too much about that yet.” Keeping quiet, at least for now, on the fact that she’d been the one those organs were tested on, Veda’s expressions become more animated.

Jack listened with interest as Veda explained. It was nice to see her look more open and less shy, and he asked more questions as she went on. Even if medicine and robotics weren’t his specialty, he still thought it was fascinating. 

Eventually, though, the hour grew late. As the gynoid prepared to leave, Jack said, “Would you like to t-talk again sometime?" 

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The blue man blushed in embarrassment. “I know it’s k-kind of silly, but what you told me just made me think of it.” He gave her a small smile of his own. “If I m-may ask, what is your creator’s name?” 

“No, it is not silly, I… I can see why it is you thought of it.” Trying to reassure the man, Veda shakes her head faintly. “He… he has asked that I call him Mike.”

The name wasn’t familiar to Jack – but then, ‘Mr. Miracle’ wouldn’t have meant anything to him either. He smiled as he gave a small nod of acknowledgement. “Does, um … does he do anything else, besides making robots?”

Veda sits up a little straighter in response to the question, nodding once. “He is looking into medical applications of several of his inventions.” At least one of which she had been able to test herself, to both of their continued pride over it continuing to work.

“Really?” Jack brightened. He wasn’t nearly as technical-minded as most of the blue people, and he had to consider for a moment how robotics could be helpful in medicine. “You mean, like artificial limbs, or organs?" 

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Statues coming to life… as much as the words themselves described something that was logically impossible, they still struck a chord, somehow. Veda doesn’t speak the entire time Jack is explaining, taking in the story and mulling it over.

“That is… I am not entirely sure what to say, but…” Biting her lip, she smiles shyly. “I can see why it is you brought it up.”

The blue man blushed in embarrassment. “I know it’s k-kind of silly, but what you told me just made me think of it.” He gave her a small smile of his own. “If I m-may ask, what is your creator’s name?” 

“No, it is not silly, I… I can see why it is you thought of it.” Trying to reassure the man, Veda shakes her head faintly. “He… he has asked that I call him Mike.”

The name wasn’t familiar to Jack – but then, ‘Mr. Miracle’ wouldn’t have meant anything to him either. He smiled as he gave a small nod of acknowledgement. “Does, um … does he do anything else, besides making robots?”

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Of the questions she had been expecting, that wasn’t one of them. Looking up suddenly and over at Jack, Veda smiles nervously before shaking her head.

“I have not read much, I am afraid. I have not heard that story yet.” The name itself was one completely unfamiliar to her, as well. Her lack of experience in all of this, though, was normal enough that she didn’t worry too much about it.

“Well, it’s a very old story, from ancient Greece,” Jack explained. As he fell into a storytelling voice, his stutter faded. “Long ago, there was a sculptor named Pygmalion. He was the greatest artist in the land, and he lived for his work. He didn’t have many friends, or go out much,” he added with a small, awkward smile, “but he didn’t care – all he wanted to do was make beautiful art.

One day, he started work on a new statue. He made it in the image of a beautiful woman, and he worked on it day and night, pouring all his heart and skill into it. By the time he was done, the statue was so perfect, you could almost believe she was alive.” 

Jack gave a dry chuckle. “And the thing is, the statue was so real-looking, that even though he knew she was just a statue, Pygmalion fell in love with her. In the end, he prayed to the goddess of love to bring her to life, and the goddess granted his wish and turned the statue into a living woman. Her name was Galatea, and when she was awakened, she fell in love with Pygmalion too, and they lived happily ever after.” 

The myth had been one of Jack’s favorites for a long time; anyone who knew about his past would have understood why it had held such strong appeal for the shy, lonely artist. 

Statues coming to life… as much as the words themselves described something that was logically impossible, they still struck a chord, somehow. Veda doesn’t speak the entire time Jack is explaining, taking in the story and mulling it over.

“That is… I am not entirely sure what to say, but…” Biting her lip, she smiles shyly. “I can see why it is you brought it up.”

The blue man blushed in embarrassment. “I know it’s k-kind of silly, but what you told me just made me think of it.” He gave her a small smile of his own. “If I m-may ask, what is your creator’s name?" 

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Mouth open in surprise, Veda’s answer comes after several false starts as she tries to find the words to explain. “I am… I am not quite certain if I understand the term correctly. If my guess is correct, then… yes, we are.”

Realizing how odd it might sound, she turns away, attention focused on her lap as she waits for his answer.

Jack was silent for a few moments as he took that in. In his mind, the idea of someone making himself a robotic girlfriend was more than a little creepy. But, the artist reflected, it didn’t sound like that was what had happened with Veda. From what she’d said, she’d been created first, and the relationship had come after. And she didn’t sound like she’d been programmed to love her creator. If Jack hadn’t known better, he would have thought she was a normal (if shy and socially awkward) woman in love. 

“… Veda,” he asked quietly, “have you ever heard the story of Galatea?” 

Of the questions she had been expecting, that wasn’t one of them. Looking up suddenly and over at Jack, Veda smiles nervously before shaking her head.

“I have not read much, I am afraid. I have not heard that story yet.” The name itself was one completely unfamiliar to her, as well. Her lack of experience in all of this, though, was normal enough that she didn’t worry too much about it.

“Well, it’s a very old story, from ancient Greece,” Jack explained. As he fell into a storytelling voice, his stutter faded. “Long ago, there was a sculptor named Pygmalion. He was the greatest artist in the land, and he lived for his work. He didn’t have many friends, or go out much,” he added with a small, awkward smile, “but he didn’t care – all he wanted to do was make beautiful art.

One day, he started work on a new statue. He made it in the image of a beautiful woman, and he worked on it day and night, pouring all his heart and skill into it. By the time he was done, the statue was so perfect, you could almost believe she was alive." 

Jack gave a dry chuckle. "And the thing is, the statue was so real-looking, that even though he knew she was just a statue, Pygmalion fell in love with her. In the end, he prayed to the goddess of love to bring her to life, and the goddess granted his wish and turned the statue into a living woman. Her name was Galatea, and when she was awakened, she fell in love with Pygmalion too, and they lived happily ever after." 

The myth had been one of Jack’s favorites for a long time; anyone who knew about his past would have understood why it had held such strong appeal for the shy, lonely artist. 

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Snapped out of her thoughts when Jack speaks up, Veda watches him silently before she finally realizes what it is he’s asked.

“I call him by name,” she explains softly. “He has asked that I do so, and, well… I do enjoy that he thinks highly enough of me to allow it.”

Watching her, and the way she spoke about her maker, Jack began to suspect that their relationship had gone beyond that of creator and creation, at least on Veda’s part. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that – not until he found out more, at least. 

“I can imagine,” he said with a smile. “It feels wonderful when you know someone you admire feels the same way about you.” He swallowed nervously, trying to think how to phrase it. “Are you two, um … a couple?” He’d been about to say ‘item’, but realized Veda might take that the wrong way. 

Mouth open in surprise, Veda’s answer comes after several false starts as she tries to find the words to explain. “I am… I am not quite certain if I understand the term correctly. If my guess is correct, then… yes, we are.”

Realizing how odd it might sound, she turns away, attention focused on her lap as she waits for his answer.

Jack was silent for a few moments as he took that in. In his mind, the idea of someone making himself a robotic girlfriend was more than a little creepy. But, the artist reflected, it didn’t sound like that was what had happened with Veda. From what she’d said, she’d been created first, and the relationship had come after. And she didn’t sound like she’d been programmed to love her creator. If Jack hadn’t known better, he would have thought she was a normal (if shy and socially awkward) woman in love. 

“… Veda,” he asked quietly, “have you ever heard the story of Galatea?" 

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“It is not safe, but it is home. And yes, of course I—-” She looks up in surprise. “I have not called him that in months now, but yes. I did not make myself, after all.”

When had she stopped thinking of Mike as just ‘maker’? The shift had happened so easily that Veda wasn’t quite sure of when exactly it had happened. 

Jack’s ears almost visibly perked up. He hadn’t heard the news about the attacks by Miraclebots months ago, and even if he had, he might not have made the connection – Veda seemed too shy and friendly to have ever been a threat. Sometimes, the blue man could be almost as blindly trusting as his fiancee. 

“You sound fond of him,” he said with a little smile. “Wh-what do you call him, then, if not ‘maker’?” 

Snapped out of her thoughts when Jack speaks up, Veda watches him silently before she finally realizes what it is he’s asked.

“I call him by name,” she explains softly. “He has asked that I do so, and, well… I do enjoy that he thinks highly enough of me to allow it.”

Watching her, and the way she spoke about her maker, Jack began to suspect that their relationship had gone beyond that of creator and creation, at least on Veda’s part. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that – not until he found out more, at least. 

“I can imagine,” he said with a smile. “It feels wonderful when you know someone you admire feels the same way about you.” He swallowed nervously, trying to think how to phrase it. “Are you two, um … a couple?” He’d been about to say ‘item’, but realized Veda might take that the wrong way. 

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Veda’s confusion shows on her face as she watches Jack, keeping her attention on his face in order to better read the man’s mood. “We are… we are from here, this city. This is where we were… born, I suppose.” If that even fit.

“I have not known many places beyond this city, just two others. Still,” Her smile turns secretive, toying a loose thread on the couch cushion between her fingers. “Of the few places I have been, I prefer this city.”

Jack couldn’t help smiling a little at that. “I know what you mean. This city can be d-dangerous, but it can also be a very nice place. M-most of the best things in my life have happened here.” He glanced briefly at the room where Katelynn had gone. 

“So … do you have any family, Veda? Friends?” He decided to say what he was really getting at. “A maker?” 

“It is not safe, but it is home. And yes, of course I—-” She looks up in surprise. “I have not called him that in months now, but yes. I did not make myself, after all.”

When had she stopped thinking of Mike as just ‘maker’? The shift had happened so easily that Veda wasn’t quite sure of when exactly it had happened. 

Jack’s ears almost visibly perked up. He hadn’t heard the news about the attacks by Miraclebots months ago, and even if he had, he might not have made the connection – Veda seemed too shy and friendly to have ever been a threat. Sometimes, the blue man could be almost as blindly trusting as his fiancee. 

“You sound fond of him,” he said with a little smile. “Wh-what do you call him, then, if not ‘maker’?" 

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Fighting the urge to fidget with him looking at her so intently, Veda nods slightly. Unique was one way to put it.

“There were… if I am remembering correctly, there was one other. I am not sure of where he is, however.” The meeting itself didn’t amount to much, nothing had come of it that she knew of. What the creature was doing now, she didn’t know that either.

Jack nodded. The idea of another robot roaming the city, disguised as a human, wasn’t a pleasant one – although if he was really like Veda, it was probably safe. Whatever she might be, the gynoid seemed like a nice person; she’d taken the trouble to bring Katelynn home when she was feeling ill, hadn’t she?

“And, where did the two of you come from?” he repeated, then added, “If I m-may ask?”

Veda’s confusion shows on her face as she watches Jack, keeping her attention on his face in order to better read the man’s mood. “We are… we are from here, this city. This is where we were… born, I suppose.” If that even fit.

“I have not known many places beyond this city, just two others. Still,” Her smile turns secretive, toying a loose thread on the couch cushion between her fingers. “Of the few places I have been, I prefer this city.”

Jack couldn’t help smiling a little at that. “I know what you mean. This city can be d-dangerous, but it can also be a very nice place. M-most of the best things in my life have happened here.” He glanced briefly at the room where Katelynn had gone. 

“So … do you have any family, Veda? Friends?” He decided to say what he was really getting at. “A maker?" 

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“I am not sure quite why, but…” Veda smiles, a slight shy expression as she taps a finger against her collar, just above where her frame had been damaged months ago. “I have met only one other who is like me, and they were visibly damaged. I… I do not know if it is the same for me, but…” She shrugs. “I do not regret it, if it is.”

Jack listened intently as she explained. His mind focused on those words, ”only one other” – and what that implied. 

“I can understand that,” he said softly. “It m-makes you unique. But, er … if you don’t mind my asking, how many others were there?” His gaze focused on her intently. “Where did you come from?” That seemed a politer thing to ask than ‘who made you?’

Fighting the urge to fidget with him looking at her so intently, Veda nods slightly. Unique was one way to put it.

“There were… if I am remembering correctly, there was one other. I am not sure of where he is, however.” The meeting itself didn’t amount to much, nothing had come of it that she knew of. What the creature was doing now, she didn’t know that either.

Jack nodded. The idea of another robot roaming the city, disguised as a human, wasn’t a pleasant one – although if he was really like Veda, it was probably safe. Whatever she might be, the gynoid seemed like a nice person; she’d taken the trouble to bring Katelynn home when she was feeling ill, hadn’t she?

“And, where did the two of you come from?” he repeated, then added, “If I m-may ask?”