"Honey. Have you seen the remote?" Amber asked. "I can't find it."
"The remote is in dock two." Honey, the house's artificial intelligence responded. "Domestic Unit Number One malfunctioned again I regret to say. I have ordered a maintenance review for today."
Amber looked as the dock for her ipod communicator. Sure enough there was the remote. "Honey. Tell them if they do not get it fixed I want an upgrade. This domestic bot has been nothing but trouble."
"Yes Miss." The AI answered.
"Messages please Honey."
"You have one from you mother." Amber winced. They are never fun.
"Skip."
"You have one from Mr. Davis wanting you to see him urgently. One from you friend Craig from Australia and an apology from Delta Date. They have not found a guy for your specifications."
Amber reviewed the messages and had breakfast. As she did the wall changed, shimmered and started playing an ad for Cyberex's newest range of replica domestic units. "Tired of domestic bots that look like the came from an old 2d science fiction classic?" A square box on legs walked into the shot followed by an old round bodied mech. on three legs. "Why not upgrade!" The bots were replaced by a replicant model. This one female with curves that would have made a 2d actress feel inferior. "With the latest onboard processors, most reliable sensors and new simulflesh the N55 series domestic is ideal as a nanny model. And for a small fee she can easily be fitted with feeding bladders for the busy mother of today who wants her child to be breast feed."
Amber wasn't paying much attention. The commercial featured two other models one based on a handsome male form. "Now why can't they find me a guy like that?"
"Sorry Miss?" Honey asked.
"Sorry. Disregard. Just thinking out loud."
"Okay Miss."
The door bell toned. "Miss it is your driver."
"Okay Honey. Tell him I am coming now."
"Yes Miss." Amber stood up and picked up the latest in ipod's successful range before walking out.
An hour later delivery vehicle with Cyberex on the side pulled up. After a full diagnostic the old domestic bot was declared invalid and shut down. It's useful life over. Returning from the truck the tech dollies in a large box. Hooking it to the access port on Honeys main panel he synced it up to the AI.
"How can I serve you?" A soft, gentle male sounding voice intoned. "Domestic model s3x is online and fully operational. My designation is SAM069."
The box opened. SAM069 was a six foot tale masculine model. One of the first in the series. He, for lack of better, looked and sounded like a healthy male about mid thirties. Tall, slim, brown hair. Caucasian skin tones.
The tech left after downloading the new unit's instructions and override codes into Honey's main frame.
That night Amber came home to a neat tidy home. Everything where it belongs.
"Honey. Lights please." The lights come on. "Entertainment Channel Three please." The wall shimmered. That was when she jumped. "Intruder Alarm." Nothing. "Honey Alarm."
"No need Miss. No intruder is present. That is SAM069 your new domestic. They replaced the old model with an upgrade."
A little embarrassed, Amber looked again. The domestic unit had not moved. She walked closer. She could see the waxy synthflesh. They had considered using medical flesh but they focus grouped it and found that many were uncomfortable with the model appearing too human.
"Oh. Okay Honey." Amber replied as she studied the motionless robot.
"My data banks contain full operational option instructions. Right now the data says it is waiting for voice printing and activation." Honey explained the procedure which included naming the robot. Amber followed the directions naming the unit Sam.
"Domestic Unit designated Sam now online. Cyberex would think to extend to you our thanks for your choosing this model. This model has many capabilities which may be activated if so desired by the use of codes on the supplied manual." Sam spoke in a clear human like male tone that was vastly improved offer past units that sounded tinny.
The coming weeks Amber was content to let operate in basic mode. It cooked and cleaned under Honey's ever watchful supervision. Sam performed flawlessly. Amber was so impressed she wondered at what other capabilities it had.
The manual was a long series oh computer files. Amber had Honey play them back one by one. Sam was not kidding. Domestic was just one mode. It could function as a personal assistant, a retail or commercial mode; even security and nursing mode. All fairly routine roles for a human. Though not many robots had the ability for more the most basic functions.
One weekend Amber was experimenting with Sam's mode files trying different options. Some were activity modes. Other personality modules. Amber had a few surprises with the personality as Sam imitated old actors, musicians and ethnic background styles.
On more than one occasion he had her laughing. Amber hadn't even noticed she had started calling Sam a him and not an 'it'.
On the Saturday evening after eating, Amber was again at the monitor. File XXX012569783.doc. This file is restricted. Use of this file is not recommended and the file has been disabled, flashing on the screen. To Amber that was a challenge. Telling her a file can't be accessed makes her more determined.
She started trying to open the locked file using all the most common decrypts. Nothing. Now it was personal. The put it on her system. It therefore should be accessible.
Over the coming days Amber hacked away at the file. Then finally. "ACCESS GRANTED." She was in. Similar to the other doc files this one had Sam's designation and design details. One difference though Sam was depicted with out the uniform he is given to wear. It looked like before and after shots but they were identical. Or were they. Amber studied them carefully. That's when she saw it. The first one there were no genitals. Then second sported an impressive set of male genitalia.
"Wow." Amber said aloud as she scanned the document. As with other modes there are some codes to enter. The usual warning too.
