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rest is up to you to decide. I am a logically programmed database of knowledge, devoid of organic-free-willed emotion, so you will have to decide for yourselves." Spurted Em.

"But Em!" Neila urged. "You have emotion programmed into your system. I saw it earlier, when Omec contacted us."

"The emotion is programmed to simulate a recognizable and heart felt familiarity, for organic life comprehension. This does not mean that I, Em, a machine, can feel. It means that I, Em, can emit a comfortable atmosphere for other life forms to associate and relate to, within the boundaries of their own interpretations. That is all." Em replied autominously.

Neila thought deeply for a moment, then replied. "Em, why are you here?"

"Yes, why are you here?" Asked Omec.

"I am here to program and serve a purpose. I am here to communicate with all organic life forms. I am here because I am here, that is all. I just am." Replied Em.

But, why do you think that is?" Asked Omec. "Do you think?"

"Omec and Neila, I do think and I know. I know that you are organic life forms and I am aware that I am a machine with some organic fluids that give me certain emotions, such as yourselves. However, there are some things that are best asked by oneself, to oneself. That is all." Em urged, softly.

"I see." Said Omec. I am sorry to trouble you, perhaps one day, we will be able to understand the wisdom that has been programmed into you, Em?"

There was silence and then more.... Communications had been severed and Omec and his crew were gone.

"Em, so what you are saying, is that you can't tell me why I am here, because it is for I and only I, to figure out?" Asked Neila.

"Yes, it is the one sacred part of the universe that only allows an individual to formulate their purpose in this life. Without that, there would be no purpose at all." Replied Em.

"Are you saying that I am free and I can think for myself, no matter what?" Neila asked, solemnly.

"Without that, there would be no universe at all Neila. There would be nothing." It was almost as if Em cried.

"Who built you Em?" Enquired Neila.

Who built you, Neila?" Asked Em.

"My parents did, of course!" Neila felt a little uncomfortable. "You didn't answer my question. Who built you?" Neila asked, recovering from her emotions.

"Your parents built me." Replied Em. "They were very gifted organic life forms."

Neila was shocked and somewhat pleasantly surprised, all at the same time! "Do you remember my parents?" She asked excitedly. "I never met them, they left long before I could remember. What were they like?"

"They were just organic, free willed life forms that could move without programming." Em replied.

"But, did they say anything before they left us. Did they tell you bout me?" Pleaded Neila, feet dangling and moving excitedly.

"Yes, they did." Said Em. "Yes, they gave me something to give to you."

"What is it?" Enquired Neila, at the edge of her seat. "What did they give you. Can I have it now?"

"Of course Neila, here it is." Said Em.

"What is it then?" Neila pleaded.

"This is it, Neila. This is what they gave you. They gave you Em, they gave ME to you!"

The space ship roared off into the solar system at three times the speed of light. Em and Neila were off to another galaxy to discover more worlds and more wonders and, answer more questions.

At the heart of the universe, everything was just the same as it always was and how it should be!

Learn more about this author, Jon Coe.
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