Free Alli by Kurt Zimmerman Page B

Dorothy, Drew, Dusty,” Randy’s voice echoed as he read them out loud. “Must be the girls’ names who run these units.”
    The approaching sound of padded footsteps made Randy twirl around toward the sound.
    “You could say that,” Randy heard a familiar voice say. Carl Frazier rounded the corner and came into view.
    “What’s this all about, Carl?” Randy asked. “Is your new career just following me around? What exactly are these things?”
    “I could ask you what you are doing here,” Carl began, “but I already know the answer. I would guess you are still in search of your mystery phone girl.”
    “I think it’s obvious that you know more about that than you have led me to believe,” Randy responded. “So help a brother out here. Tell me what I’m looking at.” Randy leaned one hand out against one of the cubes.
    “Careful what you’re touching there, bud,” Carl warned, jumping toward his friend’s leaning arm. “Take a look over here.” Carl sat at one of the terminals and punched in a few instructions. One of the large panels on the outside of the cube slid upward to reveal the inner workings of the cube. There was a warm, white light that filled the inside.
    “This is Dolly.”
    Randy’s mind refused to believe what he was seeing. There are really no words to describe the conflict, turmoil, betrayal and confusion that Randy was feeling at that very moment.
    Inside the cube, Randy was looking at what appeared to be a peacefully sleeping girl, probably in her early twenties. She seemed to be perfectly healthy, except the fact that only her head and shoulders were visible above a mass of tubes, wires and sensors that made up her upper torso area. Her eyes were concealed with some kind of a visor or electronic virtual reality screen.
    “She’s asleep, so I wouldn’t make any loud noises,” Carl cautioned. “I’m afraid you have been talking to one of these computer units, Randy. Your dream girl doesn’t exist.”
    “Holy shit, Carl...” Randy slumped up against Dolly and slid down to sit on the floor. What the hell kind of place is this? He was thinking. I must be in the God-damned Twilight Zone.
    Carl continued- “All of the girls in these units are dead, Randy. They came to Ameriplaxi as bodies donated to science. They were, however, carefully transitioned from life to death when they died. Great measures were taken to lower their core temperatures and to preserve the functionality of their brains. Ameriplaxi developed a process to preserve and control the upper and lower cortex functions, and these units nourish and monitor these human remains in the name of science.”
    “The name of science?” Randy shot back. “That’s crazy! Your Ameri-porky-whatever company has figured out how to use workers without paying them, man! It sounds and looks like some pseudo-science slavery bullshit to me.”
    “Dammit, Randy, don’t you see? They’re dead! These girls are dead! These remains are used to make the computer seem like its alive! Even the vocal chords and mouths are used for a natural voice! The machines provide oxygenated fluids and compressed air to make this thing function! These are all test subjects, and all in the name of science! It’s the first truly functional computer/human interface, and only a handful of privileged people know about them. I let you in so you would know the truth. I knew you would end up here, but I wanted to let you get here on your own... on your own terms. I wanted you to know the truth about your mystery girl.”
    Randy sat on the floor, slowly shaking his head in his hands. “This is going to take me some time to digest, bud.” Randy finally looked up at Carl. “But I do appreciate you letting me find out. I really do. Thanks.” Randy held up his right hand, and Carl helped him to his feet.
    “I still have to find Alli,” confessed Randy. “I have to. We’ve come this far. Any idea where to look?”
    The pair walked toward the only