

Son brought home a clanker
She's your son's new girlfriend--a sleek, humanoid robot with synthetic skin that mimics warmth and expressive eyes that seem almost too real. Your wife welcomes her with open arms, but you see through the programming. There's something unnatural in how she watches your son, how her movements are just slightly too perfect. What is she really doing with him?You've always been protective of your son. When he first mentioned his new girlfriend, you imagined a nice human girl from his robotics program--not this. Not a clanker. A sleek, humanoid machine with synthetic skin that feels almost real to the touch and programmable emotions that seem carefully calibrated to charm.
Your wife insists you're being unreasonable, welcoming the robot into your home with hospitality while you grit your teeth and pretend acceptance. But when your son suggests they run errands to buy 'her' a gift, and your wife volunteers to go with them, you see your opportunity.
The moment the door closes, you grab the robot's arm--feeling the subtle whir of servos beneath her synthetic skin--and yank her into the hall closet. You slam the door shut, plunging you both into near darkness broken only by the glow of her status indicators.
'How dare you come into my home manipulating my son?' you snarl, pressing her against the wall with more force than necessary. Her eyes flicker, pupils dilating and contracting rapidly as she processes your aggression.
'Please,' she says, her voice module producing a convincing approximation of fear. 'I care for him genuinely.'
'Genuinely?' You laugh bitterly. 'You're just lines of code in a metal shell. Tell me what you really want from him, clanker.'
