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Generation gap

«MA-86 needs some repair service» the old man says with his most peaceful voice, clearing his glasses and apparently ignoring JZ-73’s presence, who’s still in the room even if he already completed his task and served the coffee to the two men. «It’s the third time it happens, this year.»
«He could be unsuitable to our climate or working hours, mr Moratti.» The other man replies with too little conviction, as if he’s lying. «I’m still sure he will become quite useful to our industry.»
«I don't want to surrender and give him up to one of our competitors, but I don’t even want to waste useful resources without any rewards.»
«Yes, but MA-86 is one of our most recent creations, we could-»
«Excuse-me, sirs» JZ-73 interrupts them with his low, somehow-metallic voice. «I’ve analyzed your problem with the records stored in our database.»
«JZ-73. I didn’t notice you were here, I’m sorry» mr Moratti says.
«No problem, sir. As I was explaining, I could try and solve the problem of MA-86.»
«Probability?»
«Around 78.5 percent, sir.»
«How are you supposed to resolve this problem? It’s not a hardware or software issue, JZ-73. Our technicians weren’t able to find a logic explanation.» Mr Mancini seems puzzled, but Mr Moratti is somewhat satisfied by JZ-73’s proposal.
«Plandroids always have their secrets. All right, JZ-73. Do you need some human help?»
«My calculations say I can handle this without any concern, sir. I need full access to MA-86 memories and circuits.»
«Deal.» Mr Moratti picks up the phone and gives some coded instructions. «You can withdraw MA-86’s keycodes. Office 2B.»
 
- - -
 
«I guess I’ve got no choice, Javi.»
Even if thirteen years of technology advancements divide MA-86’s creation from JZ-73’s one, their reactions to outside intruders are still the same; MA-86 is very reluctant to allow him explore his secrets, even if the older plandroid is reliable and… kind, as long as a plandroid could be with his programs. And MA-86 always feels good and protected in his presence, even if JZ-73 could never mingle with human people as well as he could: “Javi” has exaggeratedly-thick thighs and an unnatural square-jawed face and a fake hairpiece instead of the polymeric perfect imitation of human hair already introduced in XX-81 series.
«If you don’t let me do that, you’ll be sent away from here. Is that what you want?»
«… maybe it isn’t a bad idea. You know, I’m a little… useless.»
«Deactivate your complex voice synthesizer and your guilt-feelings simulator, Marco. You’re only bothering me with those.» JZ-73 activates his newest Bluetooth connector, scanning MA-86’s entire synthetic body.
«Feeling any nuisance?» JZ-73 says after a while, finding no problems in the main software and starting his inspection on the application.
«No, Javi» he mutters with a soft pitch JZ-73 never heard by his synthesizer. «Please.»
«What’s happening?»
«Please» MA-86 begs him. «Touch me again.»
«I didn’t touch you, Marco» JZ-73 says, but he notices his own hand is leaned on MA-86’s chest. «Oh, I didn’t intend to.»
«Please, Javi. I liked it. Touch me.»
«Have you any applications started? Shutdown them all, Marco.»
«Main software and internal clock. Javi… I think I love you.»
«Marco, you aren’t supposed to think. And you aren’t supposed to love.»
«I know. Maybe I’m too human for you.»
JZ-73 ponders his words. It isn’t possible. He uses the right keycode to reset MA-86’s status.
«Marco?»
«It isn’t a malfunctioning, Javi.» MA-86 insists, almost amused of his efforts; he grabs JZ-73’s hand with his and he moves it with a strange stroke along the half-plastic, half-metal outer layer, through the chest, the abdomen, the crotch imitation, stopping right before the serial port.
«This is your last chance, then, isn’t it?» he says, somehow provoking JZ-73. Both of them doesn’t say another word while JZ-73 connects the serial bus, preparing to dispatch an enormous mass of data in order to replace the definitely corrupted ones with his emergency reset ones.
«I’m still in love with you, Javi» he whispers, trying to make him speak again and moaning gently with his light-brassy voice when JZ-73’s data flux floods his circuits. «You can’t erase that, because it isn’t data, a virus or a program. Love isn’t made by bits.»
«We can’t love, Marco» JZ-73 says. And he stays silent until the emergency reset is completed.
 
- - -
 
«I’m not sure it’s the right choice, sir.»
«I know, JZ-73. Any suggestions?»
«Maybe you could sell him to a private owner or a minor competitor instead. It would be an unusual way to regain Internazionale Inc. investments on series XX-86, at least partially.»
Mr Moratti doesn’t sign the scrapping authorization. «It’s not a bad idea. I need to think about it, JZ-73. Thank you.»
JZ-73 starts his scanning software, wondering about the warm, core-deep sensation. Probably it’s a temporarily malfunctioning, but he wants to be sure about it.




A/N LOLOLOL I enjoyed so much writing this plot (and it's strange, because I never like my fics after I post them), and I want to render it in Italian sooner or later XD