Estelle spent nearly a week modifying Crescent.
Saying "modifying" might not be entirely accurate, since she had already left Stella Technology and no longer had developer access to his core internal programs. All she could do was import some external plugins within the system's permitted range as an ordinary user.
For example, she embedded a positioning system in him, with real-time location updates sent to her phone every two minutes, so she wouldn't have to worry about losing track of him again;
She also set up a communication channel for him based on the city network, directly linking her phone to Crescent's speech system and auditory sensors, allowing her to stay in contact with him at all times;
She added him to the whitelist of smart devices, enabling him to charge himself at high power using the magnetic charging station without her authorization;
And she even bought him a bed.
Robots consume 1.7 times more energy when resting in a seated position compared to lying down. To conserve resources, Estelle cleared out a storage room for Crescent to live in.
While she was busy with these tasks, Crescent prepared her meals in the kitchen.
Objectively speaking, he was a good cook and made food that suited her taste. Although she still couldn't find his cooking program, it didn't seem to matter much. Over time, she got busy with other things and gradually came to terms with this fact.
Watching his memory usage increase from 10.3% to 12.8%, aside from the original PWL basic bionic system, the only additions were the external programs she had imported. There was nothing unusual beyond that.
With her assistance, Crescent gradually became able to integrate into social life like an ordinary human being. The only inconvenience was that he lacked identity information; his irises and fingerprints could not be linked to a human electronic account, which meant he had no money.
But he always needed money sometimes, and she couldn't be with him forever. So Estelle made him a fingerprint cover.
Extremely thin bioplastic covers went over his fingers. Crescent examined his index finger, while Estelle said, "This is my fingerprint. You can use it to make payments when you shopping."
Crescent immediately left. Ten minutes later, Estelle received a notification that her electronic account had been charged 20 dollar at a fruit supermarket.
Another ten minutes passed, and Crescent came back through the door carrying a bag of apples. Estelle crossed her arms and leaned against the table, smiling, "Did it work well?"
"It worked very well," he replied.
Crescent peeled an apple for her. The peel was long and beautiful, dropping neatly into the trash bin.
Estelle watched his smooth and agile movements, which were powered by countless complex AI programs. She was lost in thought when Crescent suddenly said, "You really like eating apples."
Estelle hummed in agreement.
"When I was studying, my graduation project was to design a harvesting robot. To test the harvesting program, I lived in an orchard for over two months and ate a lot of apples. I guess that's when I got used to eating them."
Crescent asked, "Why did you design a harvesting robot?"
"Because humans have a need for harvesting," Estelle answered. "Just like how service robots are created because humans have sexual needs. Humans will design as many different types of robots as they have different needs."
"People can harvest too."
"Of course, but the population is now quite small," Estelle said. "A world war broke out over a decade ago, and it's only been eight years since the peace treaty. Billions of people died during the war and plagues. Now society and the economy need to develop and rebuild, but there isn't enough labor to support the demand, so we need to manufacture large numbers of basic-function robots."
The apple was peeled, and Crescent handed it to Estelle.
Estelle sat by the window reading in the twilight, eating the apple quietly. For over ten minutes, Crescent watched her until she finished the apple, and the useless core was tossed into the trash bin.
"I have a date tonight, so you don't need to prepare dinner," she said.
"Do you need me to come with you?"
"No," Estelle put down her book. "It's a human gathering. You wouldn't be much use there."
Golden sunlight poured in through the crack in the door. Estelle left, leaving Crescent alone at home.
Crescent lowered his head and saw the oxidized apple core tangled in the black garbage bag. It seemed that every object had its inherent function, and when that function was lost, it would be discarded.
He was just a high-tech product of economic development, not a real human being.
As for Estelle, she had said from the beginning that she didn't need his functions.
