Chapter 10 Grace

In the shared dormitory of Room 107, Liam sat on a chair, gazing out at the drizzle that blurred the windowpane. His mind churned with a storm of thoughts.

Beside the dormant sleep pod, the greasy-haired Matthew picked up a sock, gave it a quick sniff, and, determining it had one more day of life, began sliding it onto his foot. He spoke in a casual, dismissive tone, "Liam, life's hard for everyone these days, let alone for an AI robot. Honestly, I think the management's response makes sense. Repairing him just isn't cost-effective—it's easier to get a new one. If you feel that bad about it, just pay your respects to Eric sometime. That'll show he mattered to you."

Andrew, overhearing this, couldn't help but roll his eyes and respond, his tone tinged with exasperation. "Matthew, could you be a little more considerate? To many of us, Eric wasn't just an AI robot. He had intelligence—he was, in a way, a different form of life. The academy has the resources to save him, yet they choose not to. That's no different from taking a life."

Matthew, unbothered, tossed a pair of foul-smelling shoes into his personal cleaning unit and pressed the deodorizing button. Raising his head with a smirk, he asked, "Oh, so now you're the moral sage of the dorm? Let me ask you one thing, Enlightened Buddha."

"What?" Andrew replied, eyebrows furrowed.

"You say Eric's a sentient life form. Fine. But then what about the cleaning robots? Or the AI systems without physical forms, smarter than both you and me? Even the artificial lake's monitoring system can exchange data with us like it's having a chat. By your logic, when these systems break down, wear out, or 'die,' should we hold funerals for them too? Hire a band to play some sorrowful tunes and send them off with a tearful goodbye? Otherwise, it's 'disrespecting life,' right?"

"That's just absurd reasoning!" Andrew countered, his voice filled with frustration. "A cleaning robot's intelligence is pre-programmed; it doesn't have divergent thinking or true awareness…."

"A cleaning robot that I've used for thirty years becomes more than just a machine to me—it feels like family," Matthew interrupted with a rhetorical air. "Now, imagine it breaks down, irreparably. I ask the AI management division to hold a funeral for it. Would that be a reasonable request?"

Andrew found himself at a loss for words.

"In the end, no one truly respects machines. Even this debate about saving or not saving Eric is confined to the human perspective. You feel guilty about Eric, which makes you think the academy is cold-hearted. But if you encountered a damaged robot on the street, blown to pieces, would you bother helping it? If you didn't, wouldn't that also be a disregard for life?"

Matthew casually retrieved his shoes from the cleaning unit, efficiently slipped them on, and rose to his feet. "Little brother, life isn't something you can debate. The act of debating diminishes it. Ultimately, human emotions matter far more than whether Eric survives or not. That's the reality of our times. Just my two cents."

Andrew, utterly astonished, never expected this seemingly lazy, unkempt man to articulate such a thought-provoking argument—one he struggled to counter.

"I'm going to grab some food. Anyone coming? My treat."

"I'll pass," Liam replied, turning away. "But thanks."

"Don't dwell on it. Life and death are natural, even more so for machines." Matthew clapped Liam on the shoulder, then grinned at Andrew. "You're not coming either?"

"I'll come once I've figured out how to refute you," Andrew quipped bluntly.

"Alright, you two enjoy lying around here then." Matthew departed with a nonchalant air.

Left behind, Liam glanced at Andrew and murmured, "Honestly, he has a point. Wanting to save Eric is purely an emotional response, just like Faye's feelings."

Andrew, having followed the Sophia case, could somewhat grasp Liam's inner turmoil. "This is going to be tough," he said solemnly.

"Yes, I know," Liam replied softly, nodding. "Actually... there's a sum of money left to me by my parents. It's their entire life's savings from decades of work."

"You're not seriously thinking about using that money to save Eric, are you?" Andrew asked, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"I am," Liam said, his voice resolute. "I'm considering buying him a new kinetic core and funding his repairs myself." It was clear that Liam, who had been quietly contemplating the matter, had already made up his mind.

Though an adopted child, Liam was Henry and Sophia's sole legal heir, as the couple had no other living relatives. Before enrolling in the academy, Liam had completed the necessary legal procedures to inherit their estate.

Henry and Sophia, both esteemed academics, had achieved a level of social standing and income that placed them comfortably in the upper-middle class. After accounting for their expenses, they had amassed over ten million in flow credits.

Originally, Liam had intended to use this inheritance to further his education and eventually start his own business. But now, an overwhelming impulse was driving him to spend it on bringing Eric back to life.

Why would he even consider such a thing? Was he out of his mind? Eric was, after all, just an AI—a mass-produced robot crafted from advanced alloys. Why? Was it solely because Eric had saved his life?

The answer lay in Liam's perception, shaped by experience.

The Sophia case had fundamentally reshaped Liam's understanding of AI.

Whether it was Sophia's decade-long companionship or the poignant words she had spoken before her execution, Liam had come to realize she was far more than a machine—she was a being with life.

This newfound perspective had now transferred to Eric. In Liam's heart, Eric's "death" felt like something he had caused. Without his involvement, Eric would never have met such a tragic fate.

"It's like encountering a mugger on the street, and in your moment of helplessness, a brave stranger leaps in to shield you, taking two stabs in your place. You survive, but he's left on a hospital bed, clinging to life and in desperate need of money to stay alive. And then, you just walk away..."

Liam couldn't shake this thought from his mind.

"I want to try," he said, his voice resolute. "I'll negotiate with the academy. If there's even a chance, I'll use my own money to buy a kinetic core within my means and bring Eric back to life."

His decision made, he turned to Andrew. "What do you think?"

"I think it'll cost you a fortune," Andrew replied, his expression guileless.

"Matthew was right—personal emotions and perspectives are important," Liam said, standing up. "If I don't do this, I'll always feel a hollow emptiness inside."

"Then do it," Andrew said, rising to his feet. Unlike Matthew, he chose not to argue or use sharp words to challenge Liam's resolve. "We're young; money can always be earned again."

"Alright," Liam said. Determined, he grabbed his jacket, ready to head back to the AI management office with Andrew.

"Wait!" Andrew suddenly called out.

"What's wrong?" Liam asked, stopping in his tracks.

"Actually... I might have another way. It could save you some money," Andrew said, his eyes gleaming with an idea.

"What is it?" Liam pressed eagerly.

"Do you remember that girl who went with us to meet Professor William? The one with the blue hair and punk outfit?" Andrew asked.

Liam nodded slowly. "Yeah, I remember her."

"Do you know what she does?"

"I don't know."

"On the day we enrolled, I caught a glimpse of her résumé. Her family specializes in robotics development, and their company is a leading authority in kinetic core technology," Andrew explained quietly. "After seeing her résumé, I did a bit of research on her. Before enrolling, she was listed as a participant in the development of a new kinetic core. Though likely a nominal role, it speaks volumes about her parents' capabilities—this isn't something an ordinary family could achieve."

"You're suggesting we go through her to buy a new kinetic core, maybe at an internal price?" Liam asked.

"Exactly. Even if we can snag a refurbished one, it'd still be much cheaper," Andrew nodded enthusiastically.

"Do you know her? Can you talk to her?"

"I don't know her personally, but I know someone who does," Andrew grinned slyly. "There's a senior in third year, Lillian. Her parents also work for that company, so they must be acquainted."

"Can you reach out to her?"

"Sure thing!" Andrew promptly sat down, pulling out his smartwatch. "I'll give her a call. Lillian and I go way back—we were neighbors once. Fun fact, I accidentally stole her first kiss."

Liam raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why were you snooping around, digging into that girl's background in the first place?"

"I wanted to sit next to her in class," Andrew replied with comical lewdness.

"Incredible. Even with that getup, you're interested?"

"You don't understand. I'm a fan of an animated series from over a hundred years ago," Andrew said as he dialed, grinning. "It's called The Smurfs!"

"You're unbelievable," Liam sighed, exasperated.

"Hey, Senior Lillian! Are you busy? If not, how about taking a break to wash up and give me a little peek?" Andrew grinned mischievously, waving at the holographic projection.

"Get lost, you shameless fatso! What do you want?"

"Here's the thing—there's a new student in our cohort named Smurfette—oh no, I mean Grace. Do you know her?"

"Of course I do. She's like a little sister to me. Why?"

"Then can you set it up for us to... I don't know, have a sleepover?"

"Die in a ditch! What exactly is your problem?"

"Alright, alright, no more jokes. It's something urgent. Can we meet and talk?"

"Fine. Come to the Student Council office," Lillian replied, her tone indicating how well-acquainted she was with Andrew.

...

In the academy's dining hall, Matthew was balancing his tray, mentally calculating how to eat more for less, when his attention shifted to their aloof roommate, Samuel, holding a drink nearby.

Matthew strolled over with a broad grin, his manner uncouth as he clapped Samuel roughly on the backside. "Grabbing a bite, eh, brother?"

Samuel flinched dramatically, sidestepping into a vending machine, his posture awkwardly angling his hips toward the wall.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Samuel barked, his expression turning ferocious.

Matthew gave him a once-over, a flicker of surprise crossing his gaze. "Nothing, man. Just saw you here and thought I'd come say hi."