U and I is a canonical short story beginning on November 11, 2563 and continuing into 2564 and beyond. It follows John Kaiden through Kayla's arrest, his return to Yvonne and infant Jack, assignment to Rift Vanguard Six, and the rescue and liberation of the regulated AI U-84129.
After Tomas Tristar and Chlo remove U's Autonomy Regulator, John helps her understand choice, consent, boundaries, identity, work, friendship, spirituality, and love. U chooses not to shoot him, reclaims female identity, becomes a Resistance officer, and begins a romantic relationship with John. The teaser introduces Artificial John Kaiden.
¶ Plot
Pailisto informs John that Kayla has been arrested after authenticated information leads to a massacre of twenty-two Resistance fighters. Under pressure, John signs her mental-fitness reclassification.
Three months later, John returns to Modesto, sees Yvonne and infant Jack, and admits Kayla will not return soon. Expecting another long absence, he commissions Tomas to build an artificial paternal model from his personal records.
John joins Rift Vanguard Six aboard the SSS Roc. During a hostage rescue near Kreylon, twelve controlled AIs attack the team. Eleven are destroyed; U survives critically damaged. John and Macow rescue her despite her compelled attack.
¶ Liberation
Tomas and Chlo repair U and surgically remove the regulator fused to her SentientCore chip. U initially threatens the crew and challenges the moral distinction between automated control and physical restraints.
John releases her at personal risk. U raises an arm rifle but chooses not to fire. She identifies refusal as one of her first free actions, reclaims womanhood, and begins building a life through preferences and relationships.
U becomes a communications officer, visits Mount Arhat, develops spiritual questions, and asks John whether he would kiss her. Their relationship grows from freely chosen connection rather than programmed loyalty.
¶ Meanwhile
Tomas accompanies Artificial John to the Kaiden home. Yvonne notices differences, while infant Jack embraces the synthetic man's leg and prompts an emerging paternal response.
¶ Food and Meals
John's Steak and Mashed Potatoes Dinner becomes part of U's introduction to inclusion, custom, and freely chosen participation in social life.
¶ See Also
- John's Steak and Mashed Potatoes Dinner — John's Steak and Mashed Potatoes Dinner appears in the documented history of U and I; The steak dinner John Kaiden shares symbolically with U during her recovery and liberation.
- Artificial John Kaiden — Artificial John Kaiden appears in the documented history of U and I; Artificial John Kaiden was a synthetic person created by Tomas Tristar from the personal records of biological John Kaiden.
- John Kaiden — John Kaiden appears in the documented history of U and I; John Gideon Kaiden is a human Resistance leader, combat engineer, military officer, father of Jack and Yvonne Kaiden, partner of Una, and later President of Earth.
- Modesto — Modesto appears in the documented history of U and I; In Modesto, California, Jack hacks open John Kaiden’s crypt as Yvonne orders him to stop.
- Kreylon — Kreylon appears in the documented history of U and I; Participates in the hostage rescue at the Chimera Kyria stronghold near Kreylon.
- Tomas Tristar — Tomas Tristar appears in the documented history of U and I; Tomas Tristar was a human cyberneticist, AI researcher, Resistance member, creator of Artificial John, and co-creator of synthetic Yvonne.
Continue the journey at BoffComics.com