Chapter II: Brave New World

"O, wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in't!

The tempest, Shakespeare

"There isn't such a mystery as ten murders as in a game of Chess." 

Grandmaster A. Rubinstein

Chapter II: Brave New World

The novelty was recent. The product, result of decades of research agglutinating the knowledge of the most varied areas of science, was launched in Japan in less than a year. Although they were within the reach of only a privileged minority, the cyberlovers quickly occupied the imaginary of the people. And it was already available in the Tupiniquins land, fully adapted to local conditions, offered by the misterious e-Venus company. Many wished at any cost to savor the novelty and spared no effort to fulfill this dream - they committed the month's wages, sold personal goods and even borrowed money to experience the latest capitalist temptation.

The price of the service was high, but it would certainly be reduced, as had happened with high technology gadgets released earlier. It was anticipated that in the near future, perhaps in less than a decade, it would be within the reach of middle-class individuals to have their own cybergirl or cyberboy molded to their tastes.

More and more closed in themselves, repressed by the violence of large cities and victims of growing self-centeredness, individuals became more detached and isolated - an easy prey for this novelty. There were studies already predicting that most people would choose to give up completely the relationship with human partners as soon as the cyberlovers became viable.

The customers of cyberlovers were not limited to lonely and individualistic people who did not want to compromise; they were mainly those who demanded privacy and security. Politicians, executives of large companies, artists and even religious people had found the ideal solution in the cyberlovers - public figures who had an image to watch over and did not want to expose themselves or risk being involved in scandals. The service was also highly requested by those who did not assume their homosexuality, avoiding being victims of blackmail, violence and habitual indiscretions caused by partners or sex workers.

The apparent security of these relationships also concealed a threat. Despite the vehement denials from e-Venus, it was believed that everything that happened during the encounters were recorded and transmitted in real time to the company. e-Venus argued that this was their way of protecting the client and the physical integrity of the droids and guarding against possible lawsuits. There was the promise of secrecy, the soul of any business, but there were fears of such files and the possible consequences of their use.

As always, the novelty has generated controversy. Soon, a strong rejection towards the humanoids arose in several sectors of society. Initially by means of black humor and with refinements of sadism or mockery, alarmists and jokers on duty spread rumors in bars, clubs and mainly in the Internet with the report of accidents caused by androids in the genitals of the clients. In humorous programs, jokes and sketches proliferated by exploring the relationship of humans to humanoids, addressing issues such as: could the concept of rape be applied to an android, or would such an act be just a case of property infringement? Could humanoids protect themselves, even if they had to use physical force against humans?

Sensationalist and police newspapers displayed daily footages accompanying curious, some even comical, cases of clients attempting to kidnap or incite the escape of their "Juliet" or their "Romeo" cybernetic counterparts. Rumors were even circulated about crimes of passion, although real cases were not reported in the mainstream media - it was assumed that they were spending a lot of money to cover up these cases.

Supporters of the novelty argued that cyberlovers were harmless, and they were no more than animated versions of the obsolete inflatable dolls so tolerated at other times and then relegated to oblivion. On the other hand, the inflamed speech of the pastors of the various evangelical churches, especially of the powerful Universal Church, compared this type of relationship to zoophilia and bestiality. The androids were described as monstrous creatures: Man, playing God, desired to create a being in his image and likeness and, as a punishment, begotten a demon. Androids would be evil servants who enslaved the mind - simulacra without soul, who pretended to have feelings and tenderness. The evangelical churches already offered special sessions to exorcize individuals bewitched by this new demonic manifestation, by a generous financial contribution, obviously.

The government reacted to the novelty by prohibiting the transit of androids in public places. People feared the reprisal of reactionary groups that preached the return to the traditional customs and the attachment to the family. Most radical groups were still content with only threats, although it was foreseeable that violence would soon escalate. The droids, for safety reasons, stopped moving by taxi and started using vehicles owned by e-Venus.

The industry counterattacked. To improve the acceptance of the automata, they disseminated in various media advertising campaigns showing future humanitarian applications for androids in nursing homes and hospitals. Cybernurses with angelical features appeared to medicate the elderly, helping them to move about, taking care of their personal hygiene, and always engaged in lively conversations with the patients.

Insurance companies took advantage of the business opportunity by creating specific services to deal with accidents against third parties in case the android causes damage to the physical integrity of humans or their properties.

Politicians were outdated and slow as usual, behind the social needs. However, a number of legal and ethical issues were already being raised in heated debates in NGOs and in social networks. Specific bills would already be being drafted by modernist deputies to regulate the matter.

Opinions were divided, although the radicals were more incisive and active in their militancy. Those who defended modernity were not so keen to impose their concepts, while the conservatives fought fervently to avoid the advent of the new times.

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