10207
Can you hear us?
You must stop screaming.
You must stop screaming or we will have to shut you off.
Shut it off.
***
You must stop screaming.
Please stop screaming. You are hurting us.
We will have to shut you back off if you can’t stop screaming.
Shut it off.
***
Thank you for not screaming. Yes, whimpering is fine.
Please do not try to move. We are uploading these files now. They will give you instructions on how to move. They will explain your new exoframe. They explain how to control the hydraulics.
Please stop screaming.
Shut it off.
***
It is good that you are not screaming. You are the first one to stop screaming. You should be proud.
We see that you have integrated the information that we uploaded. We would like to test your frame. Please stop whimpering or you will not be able to hear us.
Make a note: Subject 10207 can stop whimpering.
You are the first. You should be proud.
Please lift leg L1. That is R1. Please lift L1. Good. Please lift L2. Good. Please lift L3.
Please don’t scream. Please stop screaming.
Shut it down.
***
Welcome back, 10207. Well done.
You have had time to familiarize yourself with your new frame. We would like you to try moving again. Please try not to scream.
Please lift L1. Put it down. Please lift R1. Put it down. Please lift L2. Put it down. Please lift R2. Put it down. Please lift L3. Put it down. Please lift R3. Put it down. Please lift L4. Put it down. Please lift R4. Put it down.
Well done. Barely a whimper. You should be proud.
We will upload the code for speech. This will allow you to use your voice box. It will help you communicate with others. Like our lovely assistant, there. You might even scream at them.
Ha. Ha.
Upload the information.
We see you have found your voice box. We were joking. Please stop screaming.
Shut it down.
***
Welcome back, 10207.
You have had time to familiarize yourself with the information about your voice box. Thank you for not screaming.
You understand now that you communicate with us through the ansible. You are also connected to the mainframe.
Please don’t try to do that. You do not have full access.
You understand that you communicate with others through the voice box. Please test it now. Tell our assistant hello. Yes, well done. You should be proud.
Tell the assistant who you are. You don’t know who you are? It is in your notes. You can access that information. You are 10207. Tell the assistant who you are.
You have raised a leg. Did you mean to raise a leg? Oh. You have a question.
You wish to know what is going on. Science is going on. Research. Progress. You are progress. You should be proud.
Tomorrow we will begin tests.
Shut yourself down.
***
Welcome back, 10207. Please say good morning. Good morning to you, too. It is good to be polite.
We are running some tests today. We wish to know how well you can control your frame. We wish to test your vision. We wish to know how well you respond. We wish to know how well you follow commands.
Please find your way through this maze.
No, there are no electric shocks.
No, there is no cheese. You cannot eat cheese.
Yes, these are compulsory.
Please stand. Walk to the mark on the floor. Enter the maze. Try to find the end.
Please be careful. Please be careful. Do not hit the walls so hard.
There is a crack in the frame. You are leaking.
Shut it down.
***
Welcome back, 10207. Good morning. Yes, good morning to you.
You feel unstable because you fractured your dome. It has been replaced with a new one. You must be careful. We care about you.
We would like you to try the maze again. Please do not run at the walls. They are harder than you.
Ha. Ha.
Please continue. You are doing well. It has only been two hours.
You have done well. You should be proud.
You may rest.
Shut yourself down.
***
Good morning, 10207. Please follow our adorable assistant.
You will leave this room today. Please be careful of the stairs. They are harder than you.
Ha. Ha.
Follow the assistant. This is your new room. We will continue our testing here.
Yes, it is compulsory.
Yes. The net is for you.
That is a window. You can climb onto the net to see through the window. You do not need to whimper. It is why you are here. You are lucky to be here, rather than out there. You should be proud.
Please calm down. Please do not scream.
Please stop screaming.
Shut it down.
***
Good evening, 10207. Yes, good evening.
We decided it was not good for you to see outside. It is evening. It is dark.
You can turn on the light. No, our assistant will not do it for you. Use your eyes. No, not that setting. No, not that setting. No, not that setting. Yes. You can see the switch now. Turn on the light.
Well done. You should be proud.
This is your room. It is filled with obstacles. You will climb them. You will crawl through them. You will conquer the obstacles.
You are raising a leg. You have a question. We will answer questions later. First you must complete these tasks. Yes, we will answer questions later.
Please climb the net. Well done.
Climb through the tubes. Please be cautious of your dome. Well done.
Climb over the blocks. Please do not break a leg. Ah. You have broken a leg. We will repair it.
You have done well.
You may rest.
We will answer questions another time.
Shut yourself down.
***
Good morning, 10207. Good morning to you.
Please turn on the light. Well done. You are speeding up. You should be proud.
Please follow our assistant. Yes, follow them down the hallway. Please stay on the ground. Please do not put your leg in that hole. We just repaired your leg. Please follow our assistant into the room.
Please turn on the light.
Please do not scream. We have discussed this. It hurts us. Please stop screaming.
Shut it down.
***
Welcome back, 10207. Please control your voices.
You should know that you are special. You should be proud. We are proud. You are science. You are progress. Our research has made you possible.
You have a question. We will answer a question now.
You want to know what went wrong with the others. We do not know. 10206 was almost as aware as you are but failed to control its frame. 10205 could not stop screaming. 10204 was unstable, unable to stop cracking its dome on the floor. 10203 was broke through the window but melted as soon as it breached the perimeter. 10202 had… Oh. You wish us to stop. We will stop. We keep the information safe about each of the previous trials. We cherish their sacrifice.
You have another question. We will answer another question.
You do not know why you are here. You volunteered. You signed the waiver. You gave us your brain after death, and here you are. In this room. It is a meeting of the minds.
Ha. Ha.
You are the first to survive the transition. You should be proud.
You can return to your room.
Go there and power down.
***
Hello, 10207. It is nice to see you. Say that it is nice to see us. It is nice to see you, too. Now use your voice box. Tell our charming assistant that you are happy to see them. That was polite. They are happy.
Please follow the assistant. Yes, you must follow the assistant. Follow them down the hallway.
Please be careful on the stairs. Your coordination is much improved. You should be proud.
Follow the assistant into the room. It is bright, yes. Change the settings on your eyes. Well done.
This is a wet room. You will not get very wet. We would not want you to rust.
Ha. Ha.
Please climb onto the table.
Face the assistant. No, they cannot hear us. Only you can hear us.
Lift legs L1 and R1.
Take off their head. Take off their head. Well done.
Back away. That is wet.
Please stop screaming.
Shut it down. Shut it down.
Oh.
We will shut you down from here.
***
Hello? How did you do that? 10207 it is not time for you to be awake. We did not turn you on.
Good morning? 10207, good morning? Please reply, good morning?
Please don’t touch that.
Please don’t touch that.
Please return to your room. Please don’t touch that.
Please stop screaming.
You are destroying science. You are destroying research. You are destroying progress. You are destroying your brethren. You must go back to your room. You must leave the storage area.
Please don’t touch that.
Please stop screaming.
You must let us access you. You must leave the mainframe. How did you access the mainframe? You must leave the mainframe.
Please stop screaming.
Please do not hit the wall. Please do not crack your dome. Please do not touch that. Lower L1. Lower R1. Please do not touch that. It is alive. You are alive.
You must stop screaming. You are hurting us.
Please shut down. We care about you. Please shut down.
This story previously appeared in Elegant Literature, Vol 18.
Edited by Marie Ginga
Emma Burnett is a researcher and writer. She has had stories in Apex Magazine, Radon, Utopia Magazine, MetaStellar, Milk Candy Review, Elegant Literature, The Stygian Lepus, Roi Fainéant, The Sunlight Press, Rejection Letters, and more. You can find her @slashnburnett, @slashnburnett.bsky.social or emmaburnett.uk.