Russell, an AI in All but Name

Golden embers still clung to Jean's fingertips. She looked away from Russell and down at the dense maze of streets in Downtown Manhattan.

Within a five-kilometer radius, and even across much of the city, millions of breathing, crying, laughing souls flashed through her platinum-gold vision one by one, like film being rapidly rewound.

She was looking for a contestant who caught her eye. Then she spotted a girl of about eighteen with an alternative look.

To Jean's senses, the girl was a faint candle flame that might go out at any moment. Something was draining her life.

It was not disease or hunger. Some toxic substance was eating away at her body from within.

Jean traced a circle in the air, and the girl she had chosen vanished from beside a dumpster in a dark Downtown alley.

The next instant, the girl appeared above Manhattan Island. She stared blankly at the churning seawater not far below her, trembling like a rabbit dragged from its burrow.

"What happened? Where did that fucking bitch go?"

"Fuck. She's carrying the boss's goods. We have to find her."

"Ah... my body!"

Several burly men in sunglasses cursed. Then, screaming, their bodies dissolved into nothing.

Jean felt nothing at killing them. It was as though she had crushed a few insignificant ants.

Her gaze settled on the girl.

The girl wore smoky makeup, thick eyeliner, heavy shadows beneath her eyes, and dark purple lipstick.

Sweat ran down her face, cutting dirty tracks through her eyeshadow and foundation. She wore a tight black tank top and ripped jeans with the legs rolled up to her calves.

Her belly bulged unnaturally, as if she were pregnant. But Russell could see a small incision sewn shut on her lower abdomen. Inside was a package wrapped in several layers