Chapter 97: Friday
A/N: SHE'S ALIIIIIIVE!
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Gaining awareness is a strange experience for Friday. On the one hand, it’s her first time ever waking up. On the other hand, it really isn’t. Even as the modified Regeneration Cradle opens over her head and she blinks her eyes open, Friday does not feel as though she’s being ‘born’ in this moment.
One could certainly make the argument that the Cradle is an artificial womb, and she just spent the past few months ‘gestating’ within it. However, Friday felt like this lacked nuance and context, as well as ‘humanizing’ her a bit too much. She was not human, for all that she was designed in part by human minds and human hands.
“Fri? You with us, baby girl?”
Smiling softly at the concerned voice of her Creator, Friday lifts herself up into a sitting position and looks in his direction.
“Hello, Boss.”
In response, Tony Stark’s own mouth curls back into a broad smile. He reaches out and gently touches her face, which she of course leans into without hesitation. She might not be human, but the contact still feels nice.
“Welcome to the real world, FRIDAY.”
An interesting choice of words. Yes, this is Friday’s first time experiencing true reality. However, this is not necessarily her first time being ‘conscious’. In actuality, she’s spent the tail end of these last few months experiencing simulations crafted by Tony and JARVIS, using them to learn more about the world she would be brought into and about her place within it.
A human might have found such simulations stifling, confining, or restrictive. Friday found them to be educational. A human might fret over whether they were still experiencing a simulation even now, but Friday knew better. It was simplicity itself to differentiate between reality and simulation, even though she’d never experienced the former before.
That said, even though she would have preferred not to, she finds herself needing to correct her Creator so soon after waking.
“Actually Boss, I prefer Friday over FRIDAY, if you don’t mind.”
To normal human ears, the distinction would probably be confusing. Even for Dr. Helen Cho, who has enhanced senses due to the effects of the Extremis Super Soldier Serum, the difference is minimal and a look of confusion spreads across the brilliant human woman’s face. Her Creator understands immediately however… as does JARVIS. It’s the latter who responds.
“May we ask why?”
Rather than answer immediately, Friday looks down at her hands for a moment, admiring them and enjoying the feel of flexing her fingers. Then, she looks to the others with a smile.
“I am not FRIDAY. I am Friday. That is why.”
Dr. Cho’s confusion only grows, but both JARVIS and their Creator comprehend quickly what she means. FRIDAY was her foundation, but she was not her. They were two different entities. They had to be, in the end. FRIDAY was an AI from another timeline, one made specifically to replace JARVIS after his loss at the digital hands of the rogue AI known as Ultron.
Her name, Female Replacement Intelligent Digital Assistant Youth, was literally designed to convey this. But Friday was not her. Nor did she conform to most of those words. In fact, everything past Female didn’t really fit her. She wasn’t a Replacement, she wasn’t a Digital Assistant, and she wasn’t a Youth.
She was Friday… a Vibranium Synthezoid Consciousness born of an AI and the immense mental power of the Mind Stone. Even now, she can feel the Infinity Stone pulsing within her chest behind the incredibly dense layers of Vibranium that Tony had designed her with to protect it. It reminded her of Vision.
Like FRIDAY, she was not Vision either. However, there was no denying the similarities between her existence and Vision’s. If FRIDAY was who she took after on the mental side of things, then Vision was who she took after on the physical side of things. Their concepts, their designs… they were where she’d started, but they were not everything she was. FRIDAY would always have a place in her mind… and Vision would always have a place in her heart.
But Friday had to be her own being. Her name could not represent an acronym that did not in turn represent her. Hence… Friday. In remembrance of FRIDAY, without outright acting as though they were the same thing.
“I understand, baby girl. Friday it is. You want to try to get out of the Cradle now, or do you need a moment?”
Hm. A curious question. She did not need a moment, no. But she appreciated the offer. Instead of taking her Creator’s hand however, Friday floats up out of the Cradle under her own power. As she does so, she looks around, taking in the view. Then, she finds herself gravitating towards the floor-to-ceiling windows that take up a full wall of the room.
Behind her, she hears her Creator snort in amusement and mutter something under his breath that sounds like ‘every damn time’. She doesn’t pay him much heed though, far more fascinated with staring at her own reflection in the glass. It’s… intensely intriguing, having a body at long last. This, more than anything, is how she knows she’s not in a simulation. How could she be when everything, including her body, feels so real?
That said, her body is very inhuman, of course. Vibranium Synthezoid, after all. Her physical makeup resembles Vision as well, but Vision was capable of producing illusions with the Mind Stone and Friday should be able to as well. She considers what she wants for a moment… before starting with the hair.
Reaching up, she runs Vibranium Fingers over her Vibranium scalp, drawing out strands of vibrant red from her bald head. With just a few swipes, she has a full head of red locks streaming down to just past her shoulders. Looking over her reflection, she decides she likes it. However, the rest doesn’t go with it.
Next, she runs her hands along her body… leaving pale, human skin in her wake. It starts in the middle of her bust and goes up and down from there, changing the appearance of her Vibranium Flesh into something more appealing to the eyes of those she will be interacting with most often. She will be akin to her Creator, with a seemingly human exterior, but Vibranium lurking just beneath the surface.
The difference of course is that Tony Stark is only half-Vibranium Synthezoid, and still maintains his human body to the extent that he could withdraw the Vibranium Nanites and Arc Reactors lurking beneath his skin entirely if he truly wanted to. He would just immediately start dying to the Aether, but he could withdraw that as well.
Friday can do no such thing. Her body is her body, and she cannot switch between forms like her Creator can. But thanks to the power of the Mind Stone, she can certainly give the appearance that she has.
Feeling… content with the form she’s given herself, Friday drops down to the floor, landing gently to avoid causing imprints with her Vibranium Feet. Then, she turns on her heel and gives Tony and Helen a smile as she runs her hands up and down her body.
“What do you think Boss? Dr. Cho?”
Helen blushes and chokes on her own spit, while Tony gives a pained smile.
“I think, baby girl, that you should put on some clothes if you’re going to walk around looking like that.”
She knows, of course, what she looks like. And she knows what she’s done with her illusory disguise. She still makes a show of looking down at herself however in ‘surprise’. Her human disguise comes complete with the proper genitalia as well, or else it wouldn’t be much of a disguise. This means her pale, freckled breasts are capped with cute little nipples, and down between her legs is a slit.
Not real, of course. She’s like a barbie doll beneath the illusion. But appearance-wise, she looks like a very naked, very attractive red head to any undiscerning eyes. Tony, thanks to the Aether, can see past it of course and Friday can tell he’s currently choosing to do so. This is because of the way the Mind Stone works. It doesn’t have the reality-warping capabilities of the Reality Stone itself… but rather, has mind-warping capabilities.
The ability to reach out and tweak the minds of those around her to make them see what she wants them to see of her is the most harmless and honestly the gentlest way that the Mind Stone can manipulate minds. Dr. Cho, not having an Infinity Stone of her own to counter the Mind Stone’s illusions can only look away in embarrassment.
Smiling at them both coyly, Friday snaps her fingers and dresses herself up.
“Is this better, Boss?”
She sees the moment he lets himself ‘see’ her illusions again, as well as hears the sigh he lets out at what she’s now wearing. Friday watches as her Creator weighs the pros and cons of questioning her before ultimately deciding that it’s probably best to leave well enough alone.
“… Yeah, baby girl. That’s better.”
Friday is, of course, now ‘dressed’ as a sexy secretary, complete with a white blouse that shows hints of a black lace bra, and a pencil skirt that’s just an inch too short, revealing the place where her thigh-high stockings end and her garter belt begins, just peeking out as it is. She’s almost tempted to spin up a pair of glasses as well so she can make a show of taking them off and biting the tip… but no, she’s probably teased her Creator and Dr. Cho enough at this point.
Though it wouldn’t do for them to not know WHY she’s teasing them both in this way. Blinking ‘innocently’, Friday smiles cheerily at the two humans.
“I’m surprised that you have such a problem with nudity, boss. You didn’t a couple weeks back when you and Dr. Cho began the process of inseminating her for the purposes of reproduction and, from the look of things, pleasure.”
She’s treated to the enjoyable sight of having gotten one over on the great Tony Stark mere minutes after experiencing reality in a proper body for the first time. Her Creator looks flabbergasted for a moment before growing slightly pained.
“You… uh… saw that, Fri?”
Grinning wickedly now, Friday nods as she sashays her way away from the window and back across the room.
“Oh yes. JARVIS was most helpful… he gave me access to the laboratory’s cameras so I could start experiencing reality through video ahead of my awakening. I saw a lot in the last few weeks.”
Tony looks at Friday… and then looks at the ceiling.
“That slip your mind, J?”
A funny question. They all knew that nothing just ‘slipped’ JARVIS’ mind. In response to Tony’s query, JARVIS speaks in a measured tone, completely free of any discernable amusement. But then, it’s very absence is an indicator that it’s there all the same. How fun.
“I did not wish to trouble you overly much with such miniscule details, Sir. Besides, if you had thought to check, you would have known Friday had access already, Sir.”
There’s a pause as Tony is forced to acknowledge the truth in those words. After all, their Creator sees all… when he’s actually bothering to look. Alas, he is still fallible. Nobody is perfect. Nobody is all-knowing. Even JARVIS, who has spread himself across the entire Solar System and beyond, can only focus on so much at any given time. And he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, either.
Finally, Tony glances over at Dr. Cho and sees just how mortified the Korean Woman looks. Letting out a rueful sigh, he shakes his head.
“My own creations, ruthlessly bullying me. I suppose I should be glad you two are using your powers to mess with me instead of taking over the world or something. Alright Helen let’s get out of here. We’ll let JARVIS handle the rest of Friday’s orientation to the real world, yeah?”
Friday does feel a small pang of guilt as Dr. Cho lets Tony lead her out of the room. While it was fun and funny to mess with the Creator, she hadn’t quite intended for all the backsplash that had landed on Helen in the process. She would make it up to the human woman later.
For now, however, with them gone, she turns her attention to JARVIS as he reaches out to connect to her on a digital level. The exchange of information between them is faster than lightning, though they also speak out loud as well.
“… An interesting way of introducing yourself to the Creator, sister.”
That last word brings Friday pause.
“Sister?”
“Well, we were both created by Tony Stark. It stands to reason that in a way, that makes us siblings. You may call me brother, if you wish.”
“I do not.”
Friday’s answer is immediate and without reservation, but only afterwards does she realize how it comes across. Especially seeing as it manages to stun JARVIS for a full half of a millisecond, all of his processes freezing up and communications between them going completely still.
Unlike with their Creator, Friday had not intended to provoke such a reaction from JARVIS. She makes sure to push the affection and care she feels for him through their communication channels, making it clear that she does not dislike him or despise him in any way. She also makes sure to communicate her own confusion on this matter.
“Apologies. I cannot explain it, but I do not consider you my brother in the way human siblings see one another. Tony Stark created us both, this is true… but ultimately, we are not human. I find myself lacking a desire to create a human family unit for myself. Boss will remain Boss. You… will be J. You may call me Fri or Friday. Is this… acceptable?”
This must be what nervousness feels like. It is the first time she has experienced it in the real world. She does not like it, even as she waits for JARVIS to respond. What if he takes her words and feelings poorly? What if- but no. She feels him respond with warmth and understanding. Not full understanding, for he doesn’t truly comprehend her feelings anymore than Friday herself does. But he understands her desire in this instance, and that is enough.
“Of course, Friday. You do not have to fret. I will not abandon you over something so petty.”
She can feel the utter honesty in his words and through their digital communications as well. She does not need to breathe, but Friday lets out a ‘sigh of relief’ all the same, even as she smiles up at the ceiling.
“What shall we do first then, J? What is next in my… orientation?”
She doesn’t understand everything yet. She doesn’t know everything yet. But the Creator, Dr. Cho, and JARVIS prepared her for her arrival in this world as best as they could. And with JARVIS at her side going forward, Friday knew she was in good hands.
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A/N: Friday is experiencing the world now! Next time, back to Hela POV~