On November, 23, 2035, a chilly Friday night, the lovely young psychiatrist Dr. Susan Calvin was exhausted from her duties as Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Robotics. Soon after Lance Robertson had an untimely and abrupt death by the hands of the company's central brain, V.I.K.I., Susan reluctantly accepted responsibilities. At this moment, she was simply tired and hungry, and exited a Thai take-out restaurant with a bag of dinner. She entered her Audi and sped toward her home.

Along with today's fatigue, came a sense of introspection. The raven-haired Susan had felt the change since the day of the tragic death of Dr. Alfred Lanning.

Even while she was a small child, Susan felt discomfort around everyone, including her parents. She was dedicated to science with a penchant for robotics at six years of age. Her first books were authored by Jules Verne and Isaac Asimov.

Unfortunately, that isolation neither earned her friends nor social relationships. Susan was a geek with eyeglasses. Bullying from classmates augmented her distrust of human beings. Soon after age sixteen, Columbia University enrolled her and she anticipated the negativity to dissipate. As she physically developed into an attractive woman, she struggled to attain credibility. Ultimately, she persevered during the course of her education and graduated with a PhD and full honors.

U.S Robotics and Mechanical Men immediately hired Dr. Calvin. Dr. Lanning mentored her for several years, and in return he received valuable insight into the psyche of the first manufactured NS-3 robots. Susan Calvin was a famous pioneer in Robopsychology, having implemented character functions for Positronic brains.

Then her world was shattered because of a friend's death. A robot was accused of violating one of the three rules of robots: murder.

Soon after the tragedy, Susan encountered two people. The first was Homicide Detective Del Spooner, who received a deathbed request to investigate the death of Dr. Lanning. The second, not a person at first, was a radically different NS-5 who preferred to be named Sonny.

Her initial focus was on the police officer's blatant hatred and passive-aggressive attitude toward robots. Dr. Calvin expected more from law enforcement. To her, Detective Spooner was a brash, ignorant, and selfish representation of why robots were created.

From that day forward, her audio journal was filled with far less scientific information:

Audio Journal Archive: July 16, 2035: "Having shared company with Detective Spooner for a huge portion of this day, I feel my brain liquefying. He showed up at my apartment cut and bloodied. I regret not offering medical assistance, but his inordinate banter caused me to assume felines caused his injuries. My PhD pretty much lost credence with that."

Examining Sonny was her career revelation. His structure and psyche were exceptional compared to the average NS-5. While she recorded the findings, Susan visited Spooner.

Audio Journal Archive: July 17, 2035, "I despise his prejudiced, antiquated life. Spooner initially seemed to respond to my studies of Sonny, but basically he ignored me. I neither know why he didn't kick me out, nor why did I even stayed in his apartment. After I fumbled around with his ancient audio equipment, he emerged from his room shirtless. Ordinarily I would have been offended, but I noticed his scars, and finally understood.

"He permitted me to examine his cybernetics. I traced its flawless contours. I heard his breathing pattern and surmised his lung was replaced. Three of his ribs were artificial, but I tickled him after touching a real rib."

"Well, I recoiled. I was far out of functional medical practice, and it was an unprofessional slip. Somehow it triggered his story of how an NS-4 chose to save his life over a child. It explained very much, and while it doesn't excuse his bigotry, I detested him less."

A robot revolution escalated and Susan Calvin and Del Spooner were in its nexus.

Journal Entry, July 18, 2035. "I have never used a gun, yet Detective Spooner trusted me to back him up as if I were a partner. I thought he was going to die so I agreed to help any way I could."

When they discovered V.I.K.I. was the catalyst of that revolution, it was only Calvin, Sonny and Spooner who could save Earth.

"Those two collaborated and risked their own lives to save a world full of people they never met! After V.I.K.I. was destroyed, we convened at Dr. Robertson's office. I was saddened to see Lawrence deceased and overwhelmed by what transpired. We lived the climax of a Hardy Boys book."

"Sonny confessed to assisted suicide of my mentor. Just as I intended to defend Sonny from arrest, Spooner said he could not be arrested. I was shocked when Del offered his hand in trust and friendship. It was Del who finally found a heart. I should consult Sonny to approximate the length of time I stared at Spooner."

For weeks after, U.S.R. struggled to rebound from the global tragedy. It befell upon Dr. Calvin to pick up the pieces, but she was not alone.

Audio Journal Archive, August, 16, 2035. "I was inundated with calculations of monetary restitution for the losses of NS-4, NS-5 and worse, human lives. Detective Spooner stopped in as per usual. While he's been of valuable assistance to our rebuilding, he couldn't do all that much today. Del offered to call in some favors to alleviate our dilemma. Given its magnitude and however moot, I couldn't have been more appreciative."

Del continued Detective work, but the murder rate dropped considerably after the Revolution. His visits to Dr. Calvin were more personal.

Audio Journal Archive, August 18, 2035. "Del invited me to dinner, and after today's incessant, conflicting meetings, I gladly accepted. Funny, after meeting him a month ago I never expected to desire being in his company. Sonny was the brunt of his bigotry when they first met, but he still never felt negativity about Del the way I had. Never underestimate a child's wisdom. Gee Gee, incidentally, makes a delicious sweet potato pie."

Sonny, constantly under a microscope, found comfort in the care of Susan and Del. He noticed their paternal roles evolved.

Journal Archive, September, 2, 2035. "We were strolling In Ping Tom Memorial Park. Sonny walked long ahead of us. I haven't seen Del in person for weeks, for we had both been quite busy with our jobs.

"Del and I were ambivalent about our relationship, until we stood face to face. The dumbest dumb person I'd ever met was never so handsome to me. Sometimes though, we have to look past the surface, like he did with the childlike robot who shared our company. "

"A wind whisked my hair and Del lightly brushed it back. The only time I gazed at him this much was when his heart was revealed to me, and history repeats itself. Del pressed his lips onto mine. Not many kisses crossed my mouth and they weren't even worth journaling. His approach was as if he knew what sort of kiss I would appreciate."

Today, after a short drive, Dr. Calvin steered her car into a parking garage, parked, and emerged from her vehicle. The elevator took her up to the floor of her apartment. She lightly yawned and walked towards her door and entered.

The apartment was partly illuminated, contributed by the flicker of her wide screen television. She set the bag of food on the table near her door and called out.

"Del? Sonny? Are you guys here?"

She walked through the apartment into her den. Sitting on her couch were Del and Sonny. The NS-5 was not speaking. Del rested his index finger across his lips to hush her

"He's sleeping," he announced.

"Glad to see you're sensitive to his needs," Susan smiled.

"Why wouldn't I be? He's a great kid," Del stood from the couch and kissed the woman he never expected to regularly kiss.

"Because I know you," she retorted.

"You know my Archie Bunker-inclination toward robots is gone," he admitted while he inhaled some of the aroma she brought home.

"Archie who?"

He gravitated towards the bag of Thai food. "You bought dinner?"

"You hate my cooking, and I don't want to use Sonny as a chef." she said.

"He's learning so much from Gee Gee. Maybe he'll want to cook something for us someday." Del noted.

"Someday, but not any time soon, get it?"

"Okay, okay, I get it," he politely stalled her.

"I need to change clothes."

They separated to carry out their tasks. She walked past Sonny as he rested on the couch, lightly patted his head and entered her bedroom.

She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and tee shirt but sat down in front of her computer. "Switch to manual," she commanded and tapped the keypad.

Manual Journal Entry, November, 23, 2035. "The board members bombarded me on the NS-6 prototype but I held up well. It is especially good to be home with my family. I cannot believe I just typed "family" into my former science journal. How did it flow so naturally?

Del leaned in to the room where he saw her seated by her computer.

"I suggest you get out here before it gets cold, unless you want to nuke it," he jovially said.

"I'll be right out," she was momentarily startled.

Del nodded and left. But she waited one more moment before she typed:

"I guess, for once, I was given a gift besides intelligence, for I cannot imagine living without the comfort of Del and Sonny."

THE BEGINNING