Hilargi was hard at work on the turret all day while Nikodemus and Yair were making sandcastles and lollygagging about. Gotta get this thing done on a time crunch. She and her team of mutant scientists were working quickly, and made good progress, but Hilargi was beginning to feel under-the-weather toward midday, so her mutant friends told her to take a lunch break. Hilargi reluctantly agreed after they pestered her over and over again. She headed to the mess hall and ate what was available to her and then took a seat.

She smiled when she saw Yair sweeping the room and helping to keep it clean. She noticed that his arm canon was impeding him, and then she frowned. Poor guy… I really should make his arm canon detachable and a regular hand attachable. That will help him.

Yair spotted her and then made his way over to her. He had a seat across from her, giving her a moment to appreciate just how adorably he was designed. His large eyes, blonde hair, and round features were to die for.

Perfection! Truly the best thing I’ve ever created. Hilargi beamed. To Yair she said, “How have you been today, Yair?”

Yair shrugged. “I have been a little bored. I want to help out, but it’s difficult because I was built for combat.”

Hilargi nodded, crossing her legs at the ankles. “I understand. I’ll make you a detachable arm as soon as possible. Looks like you’ve been doing pretty well helping out though.”

Yair gave her his best synthetic smile. “I’ve been trying my best. Some of the ladies here don’t like me much though.”

Hilargi was offended. No matter how hard she tried not to, she couldn’t help but consider Yair something of her son. How could anyone hate Yair? He’s perfect!

To Yair she said protectively, “Who doesn’t like you?” Yair frowned, and the frown overwhelmed Hilargi with compassion. She held his fingered hand in hers.

“Rebecca doesn’t like me because so many women had to die to make me…” Yair explained, his face crestfallen. “Because I’m not human, she thinks it was a waste to make me.”

Hilargi shook her head. “That’s ridiculous!” She exclaimed. “It’s true that many women died to make you, but that doesn’t mean it was a waste. Just think of all the women you will save! Most of all, you can help protect the Last Man--the most important person there is!”

Yair withdrew his hand. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, which she thought was very odd. “Hilargi. I became very frightened earlier.”

Hilargi was surprised by how human in manner he was behaving. It was true that she had designed him to behave so humanly, but the pace at which he was learning the behavior of humans was almost alarming to her. Hilargi took a sip of water and asked, “Why were you frightened? You’re the most dangerous thing in this fortress, after all.”

Yair nodded, but his expression only became more furrowed and worried. “That’s why I was frightened. I felt angry at Rebecca for saying she wished I didn’t exist. I had an instinct that I wanted to hurt her, but of course, I didn’t, because you programmed me not to. After that, I thought it would have been better if I hadn’t been created, too. I want to be human—to ensure that I do no wrongs—but I don’t think I will ever be human.”

Hilargi stabbed a piece of her camel meat and swallowed it, thinking about what she could say to allay his fears. Hilargi eventually said, “There’s an Italian old fairytale called Pinocchio--popularized by a Disney retelling--that I want to tell you about. He was a wooden boy, wished to life by his creator, Geppetto. However, although he was moving—he could speak, he could dance, he could even learn—he was not human. He wasn’t human because he didn't possess the morals and values that humans possess. He told lies, didn’t follow the instructions of his caretaker, and tried to take the easy road to success. Therefore, his skin remained made of wood, and he had no soul. It was only when he acted entirely selflessly—that he sacrificed himself to save his father—that he earned his humanity.” Hilargi smiled. “I think you can become human in everything but skin so long as you possess moral fibre. Besides, even humans behave reprehensibly sometimes—and those humans don’t deserve the skin that God has given them. I think you’re a step closer to being human than they are, despite the fact that they are supposedly already human.” Hilargi grinned. Her eyes became glassy and she sniffed as she said, “well. I’m not human either, and I’ve always thought I’ve had to earn my humanity, too.”

Yair took a moment to digest her words, and in a moment, he found himself smiling, too. “I like the idea of having to earn it. What do you think I have to do to feel human?”

Hilargi sighed heavily. She had pondered that question many times before herself. “I think you just need to follow orders that are just, and behave kindly without deceit.”

Yair smiled. “I can do that. I think you’re already doing that, so you must have already earned your humanity, too.”

Hearing such kind words from her creation bolstered her energy so much that she was able to go back to work on the turret and work twice as hard.