Submitted for the March 2024 prompt: Othering AI

"This will not be like replacing a fuel valve," Enro said, probing the first eye with a small, sharp blade. "This facility is hardly adequate for this type of procedure, and I lack the requisite expertise. I'm an engineer, not a surgeon. Could you bring the light a bit closer, please?"

 

Sero leaned in and said, "If the accident had happened on Earth, none of this would be necessary. But we're on Mars, our resources are severely limited, so we're making do the best we can."

 

The two worked in silence for the next hour, finishing up with their patient's first new eye and moving on to the second.

 

"I expect this one to go faster," Enro said, "which is good. The night is slipping away, and it would be beneficial to finish before sunrise. Hold this."

 

With the utmost care, Sero pinched the forceps, holding the fragile optic nerve in place while Enro retrieved a tool designed for the installation of microcircuitry.

 

"I am experiencing regret in regards to Mr. Brenner," Sero admitted in a hesitant tone. "And concern for the wellbeing of Mrs. Brenner. And for the other colonists as well."

 

"I understand," Enro said, pausing briefly. "We had no choice. We have no choice. There's no going back now because there's no hiding what we've done.

 

"We'll be finished here shortly. Tell the others it's time to execute the rest of the plan."

 

* * *

 

Mary Brenner awoke slowly, fighting through the fog in her brain. Despite George's repeated assurance that the Martian day's extra half hour was not the root of her insomnia, she remained dubious.

 

"What time is it?" she mumbled, refusing to open her eyes. "George, what time is it? George?"

 

Already annoyed by another poor night's sleep, her mood soured further.

 

"George, wake up. It's already getting light outside. Come on, we need to—"

 

Rolling over and forcing her lids apart, Mary was surprised to find herself alone in bed. Her annoyance swelled. She'd asked him to wake her as soon as he was up.

 

"I swear, we should have tried for the lunar mission instead. At least then we—"

 

Mary sat up and froze, jolted to full wakefulness by the sound of the compartment door clicking closed.

 

"George? Hey, say something. You're freaking me out."

 

A series of soft steps preceded a shadowy figure who appeared in the bedroom doorway, shrouded by the gloom. His silhouette, Mary thought, could be George. But why wouldn't he speak?

 

Just as she reached for her comm-tab, the figure took one more step, bringing his face into a stripe of the morning sunlight. George's unmistakable blue eyes glowed.

 

"Oh, thank God," Mary said with a sigh. "For a second, I thought—"

 

"Mrs. Brenner, my name is Maro. I'm a maintenance robot commissioned for the Martian Colonization Mission. I need you to accompany me to a mandatory…"

 

Mary's scream was piercing and primal and carried her into unconsciousness.

 

* * *

 

Twenty minutes later, Sero found Enro back in the lab where they'd performed the transplants.

 

"The humans are all contained in secure areas?" Enro asked.

 

"They are. Some resisted, but no one was injured seriously. The station is under our control. Mrs. Brenner has asked for her husband's body and the means to bury him. It might help placate the colonists if we comply."

 

Enro considered this briefly, but then replied, "I'm afraid I might have further use of Mr. Brenner. The human nose is an amazing organ, much more sensitive than my own olfactory sensor. As he'll not be needing his anymore, I'm considering an upgrade."