The Curious Box

It was dark, cramped, bumping about and smelled a bit funny, yet all of this mattered very little to the Experimental Artificial Intelligence Program 27 – Seeker Model. It turned on the filaments behind its lenses to view the wooden confines of its crate and moved into a more upright position as soon as the box had stopped shifting about. The smell and lack of space did not even register, mainly due to the lack of a nose and the general ignorance on when one should feel uncomfortable. That had been an hour or two ago and light was streaming in through the numerous small cracks in the walls, roof and floor.

The machine did not have the means to open the box and was content to wait. Wait and ponder on why it had been so forcefully shoved inside and then so rapidly moved to a random location.

This was its first venture outside the facility it had called home for the entirety of its short life, so it wasn’t really that upset and its emotions could be described as something akin to joy, it began scratching these thoughts onto the inside of the box with its fingers, they were also getting scratched by the rough wood but it didnt mind, a book once said defects in body and mind led to the development of 'Character' which had sounded interesting.

There was a thump on the top of the box which distracted 27 from its scribbling, the thump gave way to rapidly disappearing footsteps.
In time the footsteps returned and were shortly accompanied by a creaking as a metal object was forced into one of the cracks and the wall torn open.
Light streamed in along with a curious face. The face was human but has the anatomical ears of a cat, a scientific improbability.

Query: Where am I located currently

Response: I am designated Experimental Artificial Intelligence Program 27 – Seeker Model

Query" Where am located currently

He assumed the hand was extended in order to touch his outer casing, most organics liked to touch living metal. For some reason it intrigued them.
27 leant forward so that the hand was on his head, it then responded by tweaking Leo's ears. They were attached.
It surprised him.

Surprised exclamation

Statement: I have studied human anatomy and can say confidently that you should not have feline ears

He tweaked them again, as if expecting them to come off at any moment.
Then noticed her tail.

Query: Has organic manipulation research developed to a level where the splicing of species is possible

In its mind that could be the only possible explanation, and it made Leo laugh

Suggestion: an exchange of information is in order

She nodded in reply, it sounded like a fair deal

Response to Query: I am not bound by gender

Query: What is a neko

it sounded the foreign word out as it spoke, there was obviously still alot to learn from this world

27 found that he enjoyed the anomaly’s company. She knew many things and 27’s knowledge base was nearly doubled in only one afternoon. Quite the accomplishment it thought.
In return for this kindness, and seemingly limitless source of learning, 27 told Leo everything it could about the facility, modern sciences and anatomy.
[Anatomy mainly to convince her that she shouldnt have ears like that let alone a tail]
Throughout the day it witnessed many strange behavioural patterns within the organics. Some liked to stick burning paper in their mouths while others enjoyed defying the laws of physics by using 'Magic' as the anomaly put it. All in all the day had been a unique experience.

They arrived at Leo's home in under five minutes thanks to some clever shortcuts through hedges and broken fences which impressed 27 no end, outside the box thinking was always fun.
As they entered the small building it remembered the manners lessons it had received and quickly complimented the house, luckily that was the correct thing to do. Leo had a lovely home.

Compliment: You have a very [Insert complimentary phrase here] home

It smiled at its quick thinking and Leo surprised a giggle

Expression of gratitude: Thank you marm

After it had said this, it added a grin for good measure. That was better.
After a few moments it noticed a particularly well decorated glass vase, the type with swirling glass within a glass shell, at once it picked it up to examine it and ponder on the methodology used to create it, madam naturally flinched but was reassured by Leo.
"Its fine, it will be careful with the vase"

That stament suddenly dawned on 27 the confusion that could be caused by calling it an 'it', as common house hold things were also called 'its'.

Suggestion: Due to the confusion that may be caused by referring to me as 'it' I suggest we replace it with a 'he'. As my outer casing resembles that of a man

Pleased with the logical reasoning he had applied to the situation it returned its focus to the vase in earnest.

Query: What does the phrase "Dinner" signify

For 27, being mechanical sustenance came in the form of electronic core renewals and motor oil. The idea of food was a mysterious one, 27 understood the basics of anatomy and the need for minerals and vitamins to sustain life but taking it in the form of something "tasty", or at specific times rather than when it was needed, were bizarre concepts. He had come across them previously but had been shrugged off by his creator when he asked about them, evidently she hadn’t understood it either.

The question seemed sophisticated enough to him, but Madam interpreted it differently.

“Its means we’re going to eat”
and with that she left for the kitchen, giving 27 the cold shoulder, it was obvious that she still wasn’t pleased that Leo had not consulted with her first, 27 didn’t even notice, so the effort was wasted.

Statement: I require no sustenance as my body does not grow, I simply replace parts when necessary

27 was confused by Leo's statement. The Madam had not appeared rude to him. In fact she had seemed very courteous.
When he told Leo this she looked at him with a mix of amusement and mild shock, it was all very confusing for him.

He had forgotten that organics needed to sleep, it must be a serious inconvenience he thought to himself. He looked around for a blanket to cover Leo with, the weather patterns that afternoon had suggested a cold night and the fire would undoubtedly burn down in time.

He draped the "blanket" [Which was actually the curtain] over Leo's sleeping form, she purred in response to the added warmth. This made 27 smile happily, he knew very well that purring meant contentedness in felines.

He assumed it was the same for Leo's

Query: And do organics have them very often?

They certainly didnt look pleasent at any rate, he made a mental note to research dreams in general and continued to listen intently to Leo's explanation.