It had taken months to make her perfect. He had put in every hair on her head by hand, carved out each feature. She was perfect, then too perfect. He added freckles to her nose, make one ear slightly higher. Now she was believable, as close to human as a machine could ever come. Tonight they would see just how real she could be.
It had started as a bet, as these things often do. Dr Simonson and his colleagues met every year between Christmas and New Years to discuss the past years failures and accomplishments. They’d had several glasses of brandy when brash young Dr. Evens began to discuss the limitations of android technology.
“Sure they can do basic tasks, but they will never have the depth of feeling to do something like the arts. No android will ever paint, write poetry, and play an instrument. This requires human qualities. Passion!” Evens exclaimed sloshing his brandy around in his crystal rocks glass.
Dr Simonson stood and paced towards Evens, his thick soled shoes beating a tattoo into the hard wood floor. “I disagree. We are in an age where technology is unlimited. I know that an android can be made capable of art, or at least the more controlled ones. Surely an android could be programmed to play a violin. I have half a mind to prove you wrong Evens”
Dr Evens slapped his knee with glee. “Then do so! Create an Android that can do something spectacular. A ballerina! I bet you can’t do that!”
“Humph, too easy.” Responded the cocky Simonson.
“Easy?” said incredulous Evens. “Shall we wager then? If you can create a ballerina, by this time next year that is good enough to do a solo, I will pay for you and your lovely wife to take a trip around the world.”
Simonson considered the proposition for a moment, “And if I loose?”
“You will give me all your research on alternate fuels, and take no credit for any of it.” Dr Evens responded, his eyes afire with delight.
“Fine, we have a deal then!” Simonson stepped forward and the two men shook hands.
The party continued well into the night but the two men avoided each other. Much was at stake, reputation, money, and Simonson could loose years of invaluable research that was days from a breakthrough. Still Dr Simonson felt more alive than he had in years. If he succeeded he would win more then an extended vacation for him and Sally, it would be the single greatest leap in android technology to date.
