CHAPTER ONE

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The gentle morning light filtered through the blinds of Shahrazad’s luxurious bedroom, casting a warm glow across the plush silk sheets. Shahrazad McDaniel was the sixth smartest person on Earth and head of Sphinx’s Human Resistance Force division within Sphinx, was soundly asleep. Her dreams were influenced by the previous night’s festivities. Her AI companion, Luna, dutifully announced the incoming call from Valencii O’Neal. Shahrazad stirred, slowly waking up to the persistent sound of Luna’s voice.

She found herself nestled in the comforting embrace of A.N.A.S. or her Artificially Intelligent Noble Assisting Servant. It was a human-based cybernetic organism she had created a year ago. A.N.A.S.’s presence was both comforting and a source of mild embarrassment given the circumstances. A nagging headache pulsed behind her eyes, a clear reminder of her overindulgence the night before.

“Incoming call from Dr. Valencii O’Neal!” Luna’s voice echoed again, cutting through the lingering fog in Shahrazad’s mind.

“What do you want, Valencii?” Shahrazad muttered, her voice thick with sleep and frustration. “Connect the call, Luna.”

A large holographic image of Valencii materialized in front of her, her vibrant energy a stark contrast to Shahrazad’s groggy state.

“Shah! Shahrazad, girl, where are you?” Valencii’s voice echoed through the room, full of both concern and a hint of playful accusation.

“Will you keep it down?” Shahrazad groaned, her hand instinctively shielding her eyes from the bright light of the holographic display. “I just woke up.”

“What is it?” she asked, trying to regain her composure. “Is everything okay?”

“I should be asking you if you’re okay?” Valencii retorted, her tone laced with a hint of annoyance. “Why the hell am I at work alone?”

“Why are you there so early?” Shahrazad countered, her brow furrowing slightly. “It’s seven in the morning. You know I like to sleep in on Saturdays, Valencii. I don’t like waking up until noon.”

“I’ve been calling you all morning,” Valencii said, her voice rising slightly. 

“Why are you yelling?” Shahrazad rubbed her eyes, yawning and clenching her pink robe closed as she attempted to process the situation. 

Then, her eyes caught a glimpse of Valencii’s gaze. Valencii’s eyes were wide, her expression a mixture of disbelief and amusement. Valencii had noticed the male figure in bed with Shahrazad — A.N.A.S., clad in only boxer briefs, and his morning stiffness was clearly visible.

“Girl,” Valencii started, barely able to contain her laughter. “If you had a man over, why didn’t you just say so?”

“Because someone keeps yelling,” Shahrazad replied, irritation creeping into her tone.

“I probably interrupted you helping him make it go down,” Valencii teased, her laughter echoing through the room. “I tried calling you several times last night, but you never answered your cell… Now I see why.”

“He’s got more pipe than a porn star on Blacked,” Valencii continued. 

Both women erupted into laughter, the tension momentarily forgotten. Shahrazad couldn’t believe Valencii was talking about A.N.A.S. in such a sexual manner.

“There’s no man over here except for A.N.A.S.” Shahrazad finally admitted, deciding to be truthful.

Valencii’s laughter subsided. “I’m surprised that Jakara let you keep A.N.A.S. after she found out about him.” Valencii said, a hint of disbelief in her voice. 

Jakara Hartford, the Director of Sphinx and the smartest woman on Earth, had a strict “no-sentient-AI-in-the-bedroom” policy.

Valencii’s expression suddenly shifted to one of disgust. “Please don’t tell me you’re not… sleeping with that thing because I—”

“I had too much to drink last night and A.N.A.S. made sure I was okay,” Shahrazad interrupted, hoping to quell Valencii’s inappropriate thoughts. “Nothing happened, Valencii. A.N.A.S. is offline. I was sleeping good too,” she added, stretching and yawning. “Give me two hours and I’ll see you at HQ.”

“You know A.N.A.S. is only a year old,” Valencii said, her tone laden with feigned disgust.

“Get off my line with that sickness,” Shahrazad snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Valencii, realizing that she was pushing her luck and didn’t need to start a debate with one of the world’s most intelligent women. She ended the call. Shahrazad, left alone with her thoughts, realized that it was going to be a long day.

The steam from the shower dissipated slowly, revealing the sleek, modern contours of the bathroom. Shahrazad stepped out of the shower, her skin still glistening with water droplets. She looked at herself in the mirror, her eyes still clouded with sleep. A fleeting smile touched her lips. Her reflection gazed back. She was a scientist always on the precipice of helping to build the future. But as her mind cleared, a wave of concern washed over her.

Jakara Hartford’s notorious “No-Sentient-AI-in-the-Bedroom” Policy. The steely Director of Sphinx held a strict line when it came to the agency’s employees and their interactions with artificial intelligence. Sphinx was an extra-governmental intelligence agency tasked with protecting Earth from both extraterrestrial and extra-dimensional threats. It operated on a razor’s edge of secrecy and technological advancement. And within this world of hidden dangers and futuristic innovations, Jakara believed in upholding a rigid moral compass, particularly where the rapidly evolving field of sentient AI was concerned.

Naked, Shahrazad walked into her bedroom, her footsteps silent on the plush carpet. Her eyes scanned the room, landing on her bed where A.N.A.S. lay offline. A.N.A.S. was a marvel of modern technology wrapped in a sleek, twenty-five year old male package. 

His skin, a mesmerizing shade of caramel, always felt warm to the touch. At six feet tall, he exuded an aura of confidence and strength. His body sculpted into a harmonious blend of sinew and steel. The polymimetic alloy endoskeleton beneath the surface allowed him to move with a fluid grace that is both fascinating and lifelike. His muscles rippled and flexed with precision. His body was slim yet muscular, with a rock-hard six-pack each one a testament to the countless hours of Shahrazad’s design and refinement. 

A.N.A.S.’s eyes were a vibrant hazel, always alert and gleaming with a hint of curiosity. His hair was kept in a low cut, framing his handsome, baby-faced visage with a touch of masculine severity. His dimples punctuated his cheeks when he smiled, and his lips, full and inviting. A.N.A.S.’s penis making a small tent in the sheets was a thick, ten-inch appendage that served as a stark reminder of his non-human origins and his primary purpose.

The “No-Sentient-AI-in-the-Bedroom” Policy, a cornerstone of Sphinx’s ethical guidelines, suddenly felt like a heavy weight on her conscience. It prohibited Sphinx employees from engaging in romantic or intimate relationships with sentient AI entities, aiming to maintain professional boundaries and prevent emotional attachments that could blur the lines between human and machine. AI entities, the policy stated, were tools, not companions or partners. It was a policy designed to protect Sphinx’s reputation and prevent potential ethical conflicts, to ensure that the power of AI remained firmly in human hands.

“A.N.A.S.,” Shahrazad called out, her voice a soft whisper in the quiet room. “Awaken.”

A.N.A.S.’s eyes flickered open, a soft blue glow illuminating his face. As he became aware of his surroundings, a curious sensation bloomed in his lower regions, a sensation that was both unfamiliar and intensely personal. He felt his morning erection, a byproduct of his developing human-like biology and his complex interactions with Shahrazad. Like when she became intoxicated like she did last night. 

“Good morning, Dr. McDaniel,” A.N.A.S. said, his voice a smooth baritone, devoid of any emotion. “It seems that I’m suffering from priapism again, Dr. McDaniel.”

Shahrazad sat on the bed, next to A.N.A.S., her heart pounding in her chest. “Remember what I told you, A.N.A.S.,” she said, trying to maintain a calm façade. “I know you’re embarrassed, but call me Shahrazad.”

“Are we headed to Sphinx HQ?”A.N.A.S. asked, ignoring her request.

“Yes,” Shahrazad replied. “Thank you for taking care of me last night.”

“Shahrazad, you were highly inebriated,” A.N.A.S. said, his tone clinical. “I was simply following my programming.”

“Following your programming, huh?” Shahrazad raised an eyebrow. “If you were following your programming, then why were you in bed with me this morning?”

“Shahrazad, you gave the command to ‘hold you’ before deactivating me,” A.N.A.S. explained, his logic impeccable.

Shahrazad face-palmed, a groan escaping her lips. “How drunk did I get last night?”

“Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.20%,” A.N.A.S. reported. “Are you capable of working today?”

A faint smile touched Shahrazad’s lips. “I swear you like my job more than I do.”

“I like everything you do,” A.N.A.S. responded, his words heartfelt.

“Has the priapism stopped?”

“Why does priapism affect me every morning?” A.N.A.S. asked, his curiosity piqued by his own biological response.

“It’s because A.N.A.S., while an AI, you’ve grown so much interacting with humans.” Shahrazad explained, caressing his cheek. “Let’s see how you can grow some more today.”

A.N.A.S.’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “I’m ready to grow some more, Shah.”