It seemed eerie to Michelle as she watched Mr. Engel sit at the table poring over the digital catalog of parts, for just a few hours ago she had watched Mr. Torreines sit at the very same table looking over a different catalog. The difference was that while Mr. Torreines had been choosing the customization of his new android body, Mr. Engel was trying to customize the body that Mr. Torreines was selling.

 

She watched in silence as Mr. Engel customized the body’s dimensions to his preferences, as the display updated the resulting image repeatedly with his inputs. He frowned and then looked at her.

 

“I cannot seem to customize the skin color to match my skin tone,” he stated in his crisp British accent, adjusting his navy blue tie.

“Mr. Engel, as you have…” began Michelle, but he cut her off with a raised eyebrow as he said, “Call me Adam.”

 

“Mister Adam,” she corrected herself.

 

“Just ‘Adam’, doctor.”

 

She blinked, closed her eyes, and said, “Adam. As Mr. Torreines is dark-skinned to begin with, there will be physical limits to how much we can customize the body for your preferences.”

 

He sighed and glanced back at the image that rotated slowly on the screen.

 

“Would it be different if I started with a different donor?”

 

“Certainly, but as your specifications were very precise our database only showed Mr. Torreines as a donor.”

 

“Hmm,” Adam mused to himself, “Do I have any options?”

 

Michelle patiently explained to him that if the skin tone was not up to his standards, he could opt to wait for a different donor.

 

Adam smiled at that, and shook his head, “I do not have time. How old do I look to you, doctor?”

 

She tilted her head back slightly, trying to keep her facial expressions impassive. Adam Engel seemed to be no older than herself on the outset. But she knew the numbers for Receiver Zero well.

 

“A hundred and forty-two.”

 

He chuckled at that, smoothing out his hair. “Well memorized, my dear doctor! And being one of the oldest people in the world, I do not have the luxury of waiting for a different donor. And if only your company had perfected lab-grown bodies from stem cells… oh nevermind, I shall talk to David about it for my next body.”

 

“Alright, then have you accepted these customizations for your new body, Adam?” asked Michelle, trying to stay professional. And don’t call me ‘dear’, she thought to herself.

 

Adam glanced down at his tablet and spun the digital model around. “Borderline acceptable. A shame that only a black man could fit my requirements. I suppose I will have to pass it off as a tan.”

 

He pressed his confirmation into the tablet and handed it back to her. She took it and confirmed that it was sent off to the lab.

 

“I will be coming back in three weeks then.” Adam stood up, checking his watch.

 

“Ah sir, but – ”

 

“Not sir. Adam.”

 

“…Adam,” she corrected herself again, “We have a strict schedule and I think the fastest you’ll get your new body customized is in four months.”

 

Adam frowned at her.

 

“Perhaps I should speak with David.”

 

Michelle paused.

 

“Very well, Adam. I shall see you in three weeks.” But she had no idea how she would make it happen. David, perhaps?

 

“Good.” He stood up, checking his watch again. “And now, I must bid you adieu, doctor. Three weeks.”

 

And with that, Adam walked out of the room.