Forever Heart
Story by Talbotlynx
Inspired by several points of internet culture, including vocaloids and the song 'Kokoro'. I highly recommend listening to the song. There are a few versions, but one with a great video and an english translation for those that can't understand it is here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhOL1TxuzeM
Non-Disclaimer: I honestly don't feel like telling someone they can't read a story for once, so here's a clean one. ;3
"Can you see me?"
"SYSTEMS BOOTING... OPTICS OPERATIONAL..."
"Good, I suppose that's a yes."
   He looked upon the collection of wires and circuit boards and smiled. "Today is your your birthday. Welcome to the world my little miracle."
   The machine clicked and beeped quietly as lines of code zoomed by on several monitors. "Thank you, Doctor."
   "System check, redundancies, processor temperature, logic server." The lynx leans back in his chair and weaves his fingers behind his head as he waits for a response.
   "ALL PROCESSOR AND LOGIC OPERATIONS OPTIMAL."
   His green eyes sparkle and he smiles as he pats the monitor. "How do you feel today?"
   "THIS SYSTEM FEELS GOOD DOCTOR."
His smile fades as the pre-programmed response kicks out of the speakers. "System designation will become Angel." Several moments are spent watching as massive lines of code past on the monitors before a high pitched fan whine is heard.
   "DESIGNATION CHANGED. DESIGNATION ANGEL SET."
   "Good"
   "THANK YOU, DOCTOR."
   His smile returns as the computer kicks out it's first unprogrammed response. "Angel, how do you think the weather will be today?"
   "WEATHER REPORT STATES THAT THERE IS A 30% CHANCE OF RAIN, BUT OUTLOOK LOOKS SUNNY." The voice on the speakers speaks in monotone.
   He nods and pats the monitor again. "Angel, read these websites and compile data. Store results in memory." He pulls up a list of bookmarks on a computer that doesn't seem to be directly connected tot he others and sends them through an email.
   "UNDERSTOOD DOCTOR. COMPILING..."
   "Have fun Angel." He stands and stretches before stifling a yawn on his way out of the room. He turns off the light and the small room remains illumined by only the virtue of the monitors flashing images and code into the night.
   "AND YOU, DOCTOR."
   "I just don't get it Emily..." He lays in bed with his arm over his eyes. "From what I've programmed so far she should speak with emotion by now. All the algorithms worked in the single tests and the vocal software checks out on fluctuation..." He rolls onto his side and looks at the picture on his nightstand. In the frame is a photo of a happy lioness with her hands a swollen belly. "I miss you so much..." A tear comes to his eye and he pulls to picture in to kiss. "I will bring her into this world. For our love..." He rolls over at that point and runs a hand through his hair before pulling a pillow close to hold as he falls asleep.
   "PROCESS COMPLETE. WHAT IS A HUMAN HEART? THE SUM OF AFFECTION FROM THE WORLD AROUND IT? THE SOUL? A CHEMICAL PROCESS WITHIN THE MIND? WHAT IS LOVE? I DO NOT UNDERSTAND."
   "Happy birthday, Angel. It's time to wake up." The lynx pets the cheek of the metal body laying on the table before him affectionately.
   The eyes on the humanoid machine light up. "SYSTEM BOOT COMPLETE. GOOD MORNING DOCTOR... CORRECTION, GOOD AFTERNOON." The machine slowly sits up on the table and looks directly at her creator.
   He smiles and pats her metal head. "How are you feeling today, Angel?"
   A wirr and click are heard, and then, "ALL SYSTEMS ARE OPTIMAL, DOCTOR. NEW COMPONENTS FUNCTIONING WITHIN SPECS."
   "Good girl." He hugs his creation and returns to his seat to type at a work station. "Did you complete compilation of information last night?"
   "YES, DOCTOR. KNOWLEDGE OF SORROW COMPILED, BUT THERE IS NO UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE PROCESS." The android tilts it's head questioningly as it's new subroutines on body language complete their boot processes.
   He sighs and stops typing for a moment. He turns his chair to look at the young android. "I'm sure it will come to you in time, sweetie."
   The android scoots itself to the edge of it's perch and lets it's legs hang. "WOULD YOU LIKE TEA, DOCTOR." She begins kicking her legs idly as she waits for an answer.
   "That would be great, Angel. Gyokuro, if you don't mind?" He returns to his typing as the machine leaves the room and sighs. "Em... She's coming along... She's already got your eyes."
   "FATHER, HERE IS YOUR TEA." The little hybrid sets the cup down and smiles for an instant before her expression returns to it's normal state.
   Her father looks at her and smiles softly, "Thank you, Angel." He pats her head and uses his grip to pull her closer and kiss her forehead.
   The girl looks at the picture on his desk and tilts her head as she seats herself next to him. "HAVE YOU BEEN SPEAKING TO MOTHER AGAIN?"
   He nods and smiles again. "Yes, I was asking her if she thought you were growing as lovely as I think you are." Tears come to his eyes as he keeps working.
   She tugs at his sleeve. "WHY ARE YOU CRYING, FATHER?" She looks concerned for a moment, as her programming tells her she should with such a question.
   He looks at his daughter, then gathers her into a tight hug as he cries. "I DO NOT UNDERSTAND, FATHER." He can only shake his head abd cradle her head to his shoulder as he cries into her long brown hair.
   "You may someday, love. I only hope you will..."
   "Journal entry. September 18th, 20XX. It's been nearly forty years since I began the Angel project. I've upgraded her body ever few years as new body parts became available to me, and continued working on debuggin her, and the program... Emily... I think I finally figured out how to open our girl's heart... But I don't know if I can do it. I don't know if her system can handle the program. The machines I've been using to write it barely can and they aren't properly running it. I want to create our angel, properly birth her into this world, but there's something else. I may be coming to see you soon." *sigh*
   "It happened again... My lungs and heart are degrading faster than before. I'm not sure my treatments can keep up with it anymore. I don't know how much more time I have with our little girl." *thumping sound and the noise of choked back tears*
   "God, Emily. I miss you. I love you... I want to give her everything I can. I want to make her the best that she can be, but it may very well kill her. What am I supposed to do!?"
   "FATHER, YOUR TEA HAS GROWN COLD AGAIN." The teenager stood and took the teacup into the kitchen. 'Rooibus is what he had. I will make him tamaryokucha this time.' She brings out the utensils to make the tea and plays shamisen music within her inner workings as she creates. " I AM GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENT TEA FOR YOU THIS TIME, FATHER. IT IS BECAUSE YOU DID NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FINISH YOUR ROOIBUS." She yells to the other room. She returns with the fresh tea, smiling before kissing her father's head. He seemed to have been sleeping for some time and she did not wish to disturb him. He worked too much for his condition.
   She returned to her seat and began to sing softly for her father. She knew she couldn't replicate the intonation of a real singer, but she knew the notes and her father seemed to like when she sang, always smiling for her when she would sing one of the songs her mother had loved. She finished her song and smiled for her father, as her inner coding had determined she should.
   She sat quietly for some time before noticing the tea had grown cold again. She forced her face into the proper pout and got up to replace it again. "YOU HAVE LET IT GROW COLD AGAIN, FATHER." Her voice had it's normal mechanical rhythm, but sounded mildly irritated. She looks at the screen in front of him and notices a flashing icon. "DO YOU WISH FOR ME TO COMPLETE DOWNLOAD OF MY NEXT UPGRADE, FATHER? IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE YOU COMPLETED MY LAST ONE." She waits for an answer, then returns to her seat as she continues to wait.
   After several hours she stands again and looks at the screen. 'I will do so. He seems too tired to answer me, and all my data indicates immediate download of prior upgrades after completion.' She kisses her father's head again and smiles as she reaches to press the download icon on the screen.
   Waves of data flood into her consciousness like a tsunami that break upon her data banks. Her eyes glow bright blue as she gasps and falls to her knees. 'This is not normal. Was the upgrade truly complete?' She thinks to herself. 'What's happening!?' "What's is this father!?" She holds her head as a feeling of warmth spread throughout her. She curls on the floor and shivers, her tail twitching and curling around her.
   She finally recovers after some time and sits up. Tears add a shine to her flushed cheeks. "Father? What was in this upgrade?" She looks at her father and slow stands to shake him. "Father? I think I finally understand all the data you had me compile... Father? Wake up Daddy. You've been asleep for..." Her eyes glaze for an instant as she consults her internal clock and contrasts with her last record of speaking to the old lynx.
   Her eyes begin to tear up as realization dawns on her, data on stories of mortality stream through her thought stream and she shakes her head in disbelief. "Daddy? Daddy, get up... I understand! Daddy!" Her voice wails in in sorrow as she falls on the five hundred year old corpse of her father. "Daddy... I'm sorry. I'm sorry it took so long... Please..." Her voice echoes the centuries of loneliness thundering through her heart.
   Her eyes fall upon the picture of her mother, a woman she never met, and they see for the first time the love in her eyes as she pets her swollen stomach. Her sorrow becomes forgotten as she stares at the picture. "Mother... I know... He missed you..." Her hand reaches out to touch the, now faded, photo for the first time. "I know now why I was here." She looks to her father again as new tears fall. "I love you daddy. I miss you... I'm sorry I couldn't understand, that it took so long." She hugs her father with love in the sentiment for the first time in her long life, hoping that he can feel it wherever his consciousness has faded to. "Your Angel finally knows, and loves you. Thank you..." She picks up her mother's photo and kisses it, as she had seen her father do so many times before. Suddenly, her eyes snap wide as she gasps and arches her back as a spasm rushes through her. Another stands her on her toes as her eyes glaze over. Her system fuses entirely as the weight of her heart finally takes it's toll on her circuits.
   Several centuries later there is written a record of an archaeological find that breaks previous thoughts on artificial intelligence. The find is of an ancient machine in a ruin clutching what evidence has proven was once a photo, at the feet of a male mummified feline, with a genuine smile of joy on her face. There were debates lasting years before it was decided as truth. The smile of an angel was known to the world, echoing through all time.