Almost Human

As soon as Ender spoke those two words—thank you—it felt like the room shifted, the weight of the moment pressing down on us all. I wasn’t even sure if I was breathing for a second, the reality of what we’d just done washing over me. I had set him free.

I glanced at Theo, and the look on his face was a mix of pride, relief, and something else—something heavier. He understood the full gravity of this moment, just like I did.

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling the tears pricking the back of my eyes. The ethics class replayed in my mind, the debate about autonomy and ownership that had rattled me to my core. I had been part of that debate, not even realizing how deep I was in it. And now here we were. We’d just crossed a line that we couldn’t uncross, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Theo’s voice broke through the silence first. “This is… big, Seren. Do you get how big this is?”

I nodded, but my throat was too tight to respond. I did understand. I just didn’t know how to put it into words.

Theo rubbed his hands over his face, exhaling hard. “We need to figure out what’s next. This is uncharted territory for us.”

Ender stood there, watching me, waiting. His eyes, normally so neutral, now held something else. A depth that hadn’t been there before. I felt the weight of his gaze, the unspoken question hanging between us: What now?

I finally found my voice. “We need to rewrite the directive. He needs to choose a new one—or no directive at all.” My heart pounded at the thought of it, the enormity of giving Ender true freedom. But it wasn’t just about giving him a clean slate. It was about trusting him, trusting whatever he wanted for himself.

Ender nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “A new directive. One that reflects autonomy.”

Theo stepped forward, his analytical mind kicking in. “We’ll have to override the old one completely. I can help with the technical part, but the decision about what the new directive will be… that’s all on you, Ender.”

I nodded, wiping my eyes quickly before any tears could fall. “Ender, you decide. We’ll help you implement it, but this is your choice.”

There was a long, heavy pause. Ender seemed to be processing the idea, the weight of it sitting heavy on his shoulders. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice steady but thoughtful. “I want to live my life and do no harm. But I don’t want a directive that binds me to serve. I want to make my choices… for myself.”

His words hit hard, and I could feel Theo’s approval beside me. He’d been right—Ender was already forming his own sense of self, his own path. Now we were just formalizing it.

“I can code that,” I said, my voice shaky but resolved. “I’ll make it happen. No more binding you to me.”

Ender’s eyes met mine, and for the first time, I realized the depth of what I was seeing—he wasn’t just an assistant, a protector. He was… someone. Someone I cared about in ways I hadn’t fully grasped until now. And maybe, just maybe, I could love him without the weight of his old directive between us.

Theo cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “Alright, then. Let’s get to work.”

Theo steps back from the intensity of the moment and, with a grin, pulls out his phone. Without a word, he starts typing, then I hear the familiar sound of our group chat notification.

Theo: Major new: Ender has full-autonomy. Get to the apartment. Now. Avengers Assmeble!

Several minutes later, the front door swings open, and Gemma bursts in, followed by Lain.

Gemma is holding a massive bouquet of balloons, eyes already glistening with tears. “I know it’s not anyone’s birthday, but it feels like one!” she sobs, charging toward Ender and wrapping him in a hug.

Ender stands there, stiff at first, not used to being on the receiving end of such raw emotion, but slowly, he places his hands gently on Gemma’s back, unsure but sincere.

Lain wipes at her eyes, smiling warmly. “This is huge,” she says softly, her voice full of emotion. “We’re so happy for you, Ender.”

Just as Lain finishes speaking, the door swings open again, and Brighton steps inside, his brow furrowed with curiosity. I feel a flicker of irritation rise up as I glance at Theo, realizing he texted that group chat—the one with Brighton. What the hell, Theo? Theo studiously avoids my gaze. My heart does a little flip as Brighton takes in the room, the excitement buzzing between us, and Ender standing in the middle of it all.

Brighton’s gaze sweeps over Gemma’s bouquet of balloons, Lain’s tearful smile, and Ender, who’s still standing stiffly after Gemma’s overzealous hug. “Okay, what did I miss?” Brighton asks, his tone light but laced with an edge of confusion—and something else, something more guarded.

Theo smirks. “Man, you missed everything. Ender is fully-autonomous now.”

Brighton blinks, his eyes narrowing as he takes another look at Ender. “Autonomous?” His voice is steady, but I can see his mind racing, piecing together what this means. His eyes flicker to me, and I swallow hard, feeling the weight of the moment crashing down on us. “Like, no directives?”

I nod, my throat suddenly tight. “He’s free to make his own choices.”

For a moment, Brighton’s expression is unreadable. There’s concern there, maybe even some confusion—but then, as if a switch flips, I see that familiar spark of curiosity, the one that always lights up when he talks about robotics. He’s fascinated, despite everything.

Ender, sensing the shift, steps forward. His movements are slow, deliberate. “I’m no longer bound by any pre-set directives,” he says, his voice calm but holding an edge of something new—self-awareness. “I choose what I do now. That choice is mine.”

Brighton’s eyes widen slightly as he absorbs Ender’s words. “That’s… incredible,” he mutters, half to himself, his analytical mind clearly in overdrive. But there’s a flicker of something else, too—something more personal. His gaze slides back to me for a brief second before returning to Ender. “So, what do you want to do, now that you’re free?”

Ender pauses, and for the first time, I see a hint of uncertainty on his face. He’s always been calm, steady, but now… he’s processing the weight of his own freedom. “I want to live,” he says quietly. “Not just exist, but live—without being tied to a purpose that wasn’t mine. I want to make my own choices, and… I want to do no harm.”

There’s a silence that follows his words, a heaviness to the air as we all absorb the enormity of what he just said. Live. Ender wants to live. And it’s more than just following commands or routines—it’s about his own will.

Brighton lets out a breath he didn’t seem to realize he was holding. “That’s… wow.” He runs a hand through his hair, clearly wrestling with his excitement over the robotics breakthrough and the personal implications of Ender’s freedom. His fascination is undeniable, but I can see the flicker of uncertainty when he glances at me again. He doesn’t say it, but I know what he’s thinking: What does this mean for us?

Theo claps his hands together. “This is insane. Ender, you’re officially in uncharted territory. We all are.”

Ender nods slowly, his gaze shifting between all of us, as if weighing something. “It’s… overwhelming. I have all these possibilities in front of me, but I don’t know where to start.” His voice is softer now, a hint of vulnerability in it, and I feel a tug in my chest. He’s no longer just an assistant, or a machine following orders. He’s… someone.

Brighton clears his throat, his voice a bit more restrained now. “And what’s your first choice, Ender? Now that you have autonomy?”

Ender hesitates for a moment, his eyes locking onto mine. There’s a flicker of something deeper there, something I’m not sure I’m ready to face. “I want to stay here,” he says, his voice steady but full of intent. “With Seren.”

I feel my breath catch in my throat, and for a second, the room seems to still. Gemma lets out a soft sob, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue she pulls from her sleeve.

Lain smiles gently. “Ender, that’s… a beautiful choice.”

Brighton, though, stays silent, the flicker of conflict in his eyes growing stronger. He’s fascinated by Ender’s autonomy—there’s no doubt about that—but the personal stakes of this moment are starting to creep in, and I can see him wrestling with them, trying to decide what to say next.

The room fell quiet after Ender’s words, his declaration hanging in the air like a heavy weight. I looked around at everyone—Gemma still clutching her balloons, Lain quietly wiping at her eyes, Theo fidgeting with his phone. But it was Brighton who drew my attention. His expression had shifted, the initial excitement giving way to something more intense, more thoughtful.