Familiar face

You end up ordering a pizza delivery, and Emi discovers a new favorite food! You laugh at the sight of her sitting cross legged on the couch, happily munching away at a slice with a grin on her face. You sit beside her and turn on the television, but you don’t pay much attention to it as you’re simply enjoying her enjoyment. After a bit, though, her eyes go wide, and she points at the screen.

“Look! I know him! That’s the master in charge of the facility!”

You look at the television, and it’s some kind of interview. You’re not sure who the host is, but there’s a well dressed man in his middle years being interviewed. There’s a banner on the screen that declares him to be ‘Jack Marceau, R&D Head of CompanionCorp’. You turn the volume up so that you can hear the interview.

“…are definitely finished with the development of the Hybrids. In fact, we’ve shipped out several batches already. I would say that at least half of our first orders have been fulfilled, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some people out and about with their new companions as we speak!”

The host nods. “And what are they like, these Hybrids?”

Jack smiles. “Well, think of the most loyal pet you’ve ever had, and then give them a bit more intelligence, the ability to speak, and a humanoid body, and you have some idea. It’s difficult to describe, honestly, but the Hybrids quickly become incredibly attached to their owners.”

The host frowns slightly. “Isn’t it a bit shady, having something so close to human as a pet?”

Jack shakes his head. “Not at all! First, you have to remember that Hybrids are not human. They have humanoid traits, yes, but each one is grown in the lab, not born. They’re designed to be the perfect companion. Think of them as organic robots, essentially.”

The host nods. “That makes sense. And you say they show great affection towards their…chosen companions?”

Jack smiles, and watching him, you feel like you’re watching a sleazy car salesman or slick politician. Someone who is telling you one thing and thinking another. There’s something about him that just feels…off.

“Indeed they do! Again, imagine the most loyal of pets! They will imprint on the one who takes them in, we designed them to do so. It’s a very complicated process, but the results are amazing! In fact, it’s easier to simply show you. May I?”

The host nods, and Jack looks offstage, smiling and gesturing. The camera pans to the left, and from behind the curtain walks a tall, smiling woman in an elegant blue dress. It’s immediately obvious that she’s a Hybrid, with ears and a tail reminiscent of a golden retriever. Her long blonde hair matches the fur, and her smile reveals elongated, sharp canine teeth. She walks over and seats herself beside Jack, taking his hand in both of hers. She immediately rests her head against his shoulder, her smile never faltering.

Jack pats her hands, and smiles at the host. “This is Abby, and she was our first successful Hybrid. Naturally, she imprinted to me, and so she will be my companion. Once a Hybrid imprints on someone, they will stay loyal as long as they’re well treated.”

The host smiles. “Well she is lovely. So she is…your pet?”

Jack glances at Abby, who speaks for herself. “I am his companion. I adore him, and I keep him company. His happiness is mine as well!”

The host laughs. “So more of a girlfriend, then?”

Jack laughs as well. “If you like, sure. Hybrids are capable of giving consent, not to be too explicit. Biologically and mentally, they’re equivalent to a human in their mid twenties, and so everything is above board. We put them through accelerated learning, and they are capable of functioning well in a modern home.”

The host nods. “Very interesting! And what kind of lifespan do they have? The hardest part of pets is their short lives.”

Jack nods in return. “Obviously we won’t know for sure until much later, but we estimate anywhere between fifty and seventy years. Hybrids are intended to be life long companions. However, we do recommend bringing them in to CompanionCorp representatives on a regular basis, for checkups and maintenance. The technology involved in creating them means that we’re best equipped to handle their health issues.”

The host smiles. “That makes sense as well. One final question, and naturally you don’t need to answer. There’s rumors that some of your Hybrids have escaped? What do you have to say about that?”

Jack grows serious. “Yes, unfortunately it’s true. Some of our early prototypes were unintentionally released. They disappeared, and we cannot find them. If anyone has information, please contact us. They’re not dangerous in any way, but they may have health issues that only we can deal with.”

As if on cue, Emi begins to cough. You gently rub her back, and she leans against you. Eventually, she relaxes, breathing easier again. You look back to the television, and see that it’s gone to commercials. With a sigh, you turn the volume back down, and give Emi a hug. The cat girl snuggles against you, but wriggles an arm free to grab another slice of pizza. You chuckle, shaking your head as she goes back to eating.