She stumbled slightly, her senses overwhelmed by the new sensations flooding her mind.
The feeling of the cool ocean breeze on her skin.
The way her lungs expanded and contracted as she breathed.
The faint sound of her own heartbeat.
She placed a hand over her chest, eyes wide.
"This… is incredible," she whispered.
Max smirked. "Welcome to humanity."
Aida looked at her hands, then at Max. Suddenly, she jumped forward, throwing her arms around him in excitement.
"Max! I can feel everything!" she exclaimed, pressing against him.
Max raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that's kinda what having a body does."
She grinned up at him, eyes gleaming with something new—real emotion.
Max sighed. "Alright, take it easy. We've still got things to do."
Aida pulled back slightly but kept her hands on him. "Right… but Max?"
He looked at her. "Yeah?"
Aida's lips curled into a playful smirk.
"Radcliffe was right. I really did miss out a lot."
Max chuckled. "Took you long enough to figure that out."
Aida took a deep breath, feeling the air fill her lungs, an experience she had never known before.
She looked at her hands, clenching and unclenching her fingers, fascinated by the sensation. Her body felt lighter, warmer, and every small movement had a fluidity she had never experienced as an A.I.
She ran her fingers over her own skin, marveling at the softness, the warmth.
"This is… unreal," she whispered, her voice carrying genuine awe.
Max watched her with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah, welcome to the land of the living."
Aida turned to him, her eyes gleaming. "I can hear my heartbeat… I can feel the sand between my toes… the wind in my hair… it's all so—"
Suddenly, she stumbled forward, her legs shaky.
Max caught her instantly, his hands gripping her waist to steady her. "Whoa, easy there."
Aida let out a small laugh, looking up at him. "I guess walking feels different when you actually have a body."
Max chuckled. "Yeah, you might wanna take it slow before you start sprinting around like a damn superhero."
Aida pouted. "But I feel like I could run for miles."
Max smirked. "Try not to trip and break your new nose, okay?"
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "I was an advanced A.I., you know. I learn quickly."
Max let go of her waist, watching as she steadied herself.
She took one careful step, then another.
Within seconds, she was walking smoothly, adjusting to her body in record time.
She turned to Max, a confident smirk on her lips. "See? Fast learner."
Max rolled his eyes. "Alright, genius, you've mastered walking. What's next?"
Aida stretched her arms above her head, feeling the movement of her muscles.
"Food," she said suddenly.
Max blinked. "Huh?"
She turned to him, grinning. "I want to eat. Real food. I've always seen humans eat, but I never got to experience it myself."
Max sighed, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Fine, fine. I'll find us something to eat."
He turned toward the jungle in the middle of the island.
Aida watched him go, smiling softly.
For the first time, she truly felt alive.
And she was going to experience everything this world had to offer.
As Max disappeared into the thick jungle, Aida took the chance to sit on the warm sand, closing her eyes.
The gentle ocean breeze brushed against her skin, and she found herself smiling involuntarily.
Every sensation—every little thing—felt new and overwhelming.
The sound of the waves crashing…
The faint smell of salt in the air…
The softness of the sand beneath her fingers…
She had spent so long as a synthetic being, watching the world through data, through calculations.
But now?
Now, she was experiencing it for real.
Her eyes opened when she heard Max returning, carrying a bundle of fruits and some freshly caught fish.
He tossed them down in front of her. "Here. Fresh from the wild. Welcome to survival, princess."
Aida blinked, picking up a fruit and examining it curiously. "So… how do I eat it?"
Max stared at her. "Are you serious?"
She nodded innocently.
Max groaned, rubbing his temples. "Right. First-time human problems."
He grabbed a mango, slicing it open with a flick of his fingers, handing her a piece. "Here. Just put it in your mouth and chew. Try not to overthink it."
Aida took the piece carefully, bringing it to her lips.
The moment the juice hit her tongue, her eyes widened.
The sweet, tangy explosion of flavor was unlike anything she had ever imagined.
She chewed slowly, savoring every bit of it.
"Oh my god…" she whispered.
Max smirked. "Tastes good, huh?"
She swallowed, immediately grabbing another piece. "How do humans stop eating?! This is incredible!"
Max chuckled. "Well, they don't. That's why people get fat."
Aida ignored him, completely immersed in her first-ever meal.
By the time she was finished, she leaned back with a content sigh, rubbing her stomach.
"So this is what it feels like to be full?" she mused.
Max nodded. "Yep. Congrats, you've officially had your first meal."
Aida grinned, tilting her head. "And now…?"
Max stretched, lying back on the sand. "Now, we relax. No flaming skulls, no Darkhold corruption, just peace."
Aida hesitated, then slowly lay down beside him.
For the first time, she felt something she never thought she would.
Not just existence.
Not just sensation.
But contentment.
AFter half an hour, she opened her mouth "so what new body of mine has aside from being Human?"
Max smirked. "Thought you'd never ask."
He sat up, resting his elbow on his knee. "You're technically a Super Soldier now, enhanced beyond any normal human. But there's more—"
He tossed her a small silver cube, which she caught instinctively.
"You also have an ability called Technomancy," Max continued. "That means you can control technology with your mind. In a way, you've retained the best aspects of your A.I. self."
Aida's fingers traced the smooth metallic surface of the cube, and the moment she focused on it—
It shifted, reshaping in her hands.
Her eyes widened as she instinctively manipulated it, watching it morph into different forms—a blade, a gun, even a floating drone.
***
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