“Was there an incident that happened to you that would have caused you damage? Did you fall from a great height, or get a high electrical charge?”
“Uh, yeah. Yesterday I went to unplug the extension cord that was connected to my boom box on the patio for the party and one of the wires was frayed and showed bared. I grabbed the wire and it shocked the hell out of me. I had a burn on my finger from the electricity and it hurt like hell, but when I woke up this morning, it didn’t hurt anymore but was still scorched. See?” Robot Jack held his finger out for the alien to see.
Mesalmo stepped over and examined the finger.
“I had a lot of margaritas last night and just forgot about the burn mark until I woke up this morning.”
Mesalmo walked over and stood again next to human Jack.
“Ah. That shock, in combination with the excessive alcohol most likely disrupted your control program, the one telling you that you were a robot. Even though you are ninety-nine percent robotic, your brain and your skin are synthetic organic. Synthetic organic brains are used in human reproductions instead of positronic brains because positronic brains cannot convincingly handle the emotions of humans, and human brain downloads and maps better to another organic brain.
Synthetic organics are repaired by micro-medbots in your system. Your brain is susceptible to the same ravages of self abuse as any organic brain. The micro-medbots can’t repair brain based problems as quickly, like damage done by drug inducements. They must analyze, and then produce counter chemicals. A procedure that takes time. This is truly problematic.” said Mesalmo.
“Why is that?” asked human Jack.
“You see, on my planet once a being, organic, mechanical, electronic, or any combination becomes self-aware, we can’t deactivate that being. That being is now a new species of life. We respect all species of life, organic or not. That being can never be reprogrammed or reused in any way. Robot Jack, will forever be robot Jack.”
“Uh, you mean that there will be two of us walking around this town? That’s not good either. My, uh, his mother didn’t have twins. ” said robot Jack.
“Oh, man. This is not good.” said human Jack.
“I gotta think. And the best way for me to think is to work it helps clear my head. ” said human Jack, and he got up, walked over to a work bench, and began to work on one the damaged sculptures from the earthquake.
“Yeah me too. Well, I mean I AM mentally the same as organic man over there.” said robot Jack and he also got up, and went to a workbench. He pivoted “Sir Knight” back onto the workbench, donned a welder’s helmet, turned on one of the welders and began doing repairs.
Bruce and Mesalmo looked on.
Bruce mumbled, “Mom will never believe this.”
Then human Jack abruptly cut off from welding, and flipped up his welders mask.
“I’ve got it.”
“Robo-Jack here IS me and he can go back with you, Mesalmo. I mean he has all of my memories, and he is almost as good an artist as I am."
"As good as you." Robot Jack said with contempt.
"Ok, and look how he repaired that sculpture. He can live out his life doing art on your planet. You can update that organic brain of his with my latest memories and he’s good to go.” Jack finished.
“Of course, we have never thought of introducing a bio-mechanical reproduction of another species into our society. It would make more economic sense.” replied Mesalmo.
“We will call him, Jack Jr. Since in some respects he is your offspring; he is your son, at least artistically and mentally.”
Mesalmo turned to human Jack. “His talents equal yours now, but once on our planet, he will grow artistically to our surroundings as he enters our society. He will have a long and happy life on our planet. We will see to that.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, backup the train up, wait minute, guys. Suppose I don’t want to go to another planet to live out my life? I mean all my memories are the same as Bio-Jack over there. All I know is living here, on Earth. I have no memories of your planet, customs or anything, Mr. Mesalmo. My friends are here, my, uh, family is here. I don’t know if I could adapt to your planet and small gray little people. No offense.” said robo-Jack very animatedly with his hands outstretched in a stopping signal.