"Then, please come in."
Henry raised his hand and spoke politely, his voice carrying both confidence and quiet pride.
Under his lead, a group of visitors entered the gleaming headquarters of Vanderbuilt Technologies.
The moment they stepped inside, everyone's eyes widened in awe. The main hall was enormous—an ocean of white and silver steel, filled with the hum of high-end machinery. The floor shimmered like glass, and the air carried a faint metallic scent of new innovation.
On both sides of the hall, 3D holographic projections floated in the air, playing promotional videos of the company's greatest creation—the Modia Units. These were the next evolution of artificial lifeforms, humanoid assistants capable of learning, adapting, and even expressing emotion.
Among the guests, Gwen Stacy couldn't take her eyes off the scenes of smiling Modias helping people in hospitals, construction sites, and police units. Her blue eyes shone with curiosity and admiration.
When the group reached the security checkpoint, a security-type Modia stood silently at attention. Its eyes glowed blue as it scanned each visitor in sequence. A soft chime rang as the doors turned green.
"Welcome, Director George. Miss Gwen…" the Modia greeted with a perfect, practiced smile. Its tone was gentle, almost human.
Then, the doors slid open automatically, and the group entered.
"Next, allow me to guide you through the interior of Vanderbuilt Technologies," said Izzy, Henry's intelligent and efficient assistant, her voice bright and confident.
She led the group through the company's many departments. Each section was like stepping into the future—labs filled with robotic limbs, assembly floors with drones weaving through the air, and glass corridors where engineers worked on projects ten years ahead of the competition.
The guests could only stare in astonishment. Compared to other tech corporations in New York, Vanderbuilt Technologies seemed like it had leapt a decade ahead of humanity itself.
After the tour, Izzy led them to the Simulation Hall on the tenth floor—a facility so large it could simulate environments from deserts to cityscapes, allowing Modia Units to be tested under any condition.
Henry was already waiting for them inside.
As the massive doors opened, the hall appeared dark at first. Henry stepped forward, snapped his fingers, and suddenly—light flooded the chamber.
Rows of lights illuminated hundreds of Modia Units standing in formation, their mechanical bodies gleaming beneath the white light. Each was equipped with high-grade military armor, the perfect blend of machine precision and human discipline.
Henry stepped forward and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, for the protection and peace of New York City—Vanderbuilt Technologies has developed one hundred military-grade Modia Units!"
He spread his arms proudly. "And today, these one hundred units will be donated to the New York Police Department—free of charge—to ensure the safety and order of this city."
Chief George Stacy couldn't help nodding in appreciation. Such generosity from a private company was unheard of. Behind him, however, a tall, broad-shouldered police officer crossed his arms with a look of disdain.
Henry continued, unbothered by the skepticism. "Each Modia Unit here has been equipped with real-time decision algorithms, adaptive combat routines, and empathy modules—to ensure not just strength, but also judgment."
He pointed to two figures stepping out of the formation.
"These two are the finest among our military Modia line. In the future, they will also assist in leading tactical operations alongside your force."
The two Modia Units stepped forward—one male, one female. Their eyes shone faintly blue, and their movements were as fluid as any human's.
Chief George and Gwen observed with interest, impressed by their precision. But then, a gruff voice broke the silence.
"Why's there a woman-shaped robot in this military batch?" the tall white officer scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Looks like she could be blown away by the wind. Can she even handle a real mission?"
The atmosphere in the hall stiffened. Several officers exchanged awkward glances.
Before Henry could respond, the male Modia turned sharply toward the man. His synthetic voice carried a hint of indignation.
"What did you just say?"
Although his voice came from an artificial vocalizer, the emotion in it was unmistakable—anger.
"Stand down!" said the female Modia calmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Her tone was smooth and controlled, the perfect counterbalance to his aggression.
Henry smiled faintly. Even in this moment of tension, he was proud. The personalities he had programmed—an impulsive male and a composed female—were working exactly as designed.
The officer snorted. "Ha! Look at that. The robot's got an attitude now. Cute."
Henry's expression hardened. "It seems one of our guests doubts the capabilities of the Modia Units," he said smoothly, glancing at Chief George, who frowned at his subordinate's behavior.
"In that case," Henry continued, "why don't we let this officer test it for himself?"
The officer straightened, his pride flaring. "Fine by me," he said. "I'll show everyone what real human training looks like."
He stepped forward, cracking his neck and flexing his arms. "Name's Frank, former U.S. Marine Corps. I don't believe some tin can can match a man trained for combat."
"Then please," Henry gestured toward the combat ring in the center of the hall. "Let's see how your strength compares."
Frank strode into the circle, confident and smirking. "Being a cop means knowing how to fight, not just follow code. Let's see if your toys can bleed."
Across from him, the male Modia stepped forward. His face showed no emotion, but his posture mirrored readiness. His combat sensors glowed red for a moment as his internal systems synced.
"Test simulation—activated," Izzy announced as the walls of the hall retracted, revealing a holographic battlefield. The lights dimmed; a digital skyline shimmered around them.
Frank clenched his fists. "Come on, machine!"
In a flash, the Modia moved—a blur of motion faster than the human eye could follow. Frank barely had time to react before the machine stopped an inch from his face, its hand held in restraint position rather than a strike.
The impact of air alone pushed Frank a step back.
Gasps filled the hall.
"Holy—did it just—stop itself mid-attack?" one officer whispered.
Henry smiled. "Indeed. The Modia Units are programmed with precision control. They can subdue a threat without causing unnecessary harm."
But Frank wasn't done. His pride screamed louder than reason. "Don't hold back, robot!" he roared, throwing a punch.
The Modia sidestepped effortlessly, its sensors analyzing Frank's movement pattern within milliseconds. With a twist, it caught Frank's arm, used his own momentum, and gently—but firmly—pinned him to the floor.
Frank grunted, trying to break free, but it was useless. The machine's strength was overwhelming, yet its restraint showed a strange kind of mercy.
After a tense few seconds, the Modia released him and stepped back.
The hall was silent.
Even Chief George was momentarily speechless. Gwen's eyes sparkled—not with fear, but admiration.
"Remarkable," she whispered. "It fights like a soldier—but feels… alive."
Henry nodded slightly. "That's exactly what Vanderbuilt Technologies strives for—to create companions, not replacements. Machines that can think, protect, and feel responsibility toward life."
Chief George finally spoke, his voice calm but thoughtful. "Mr. Henry, your technology could change policing forever. But it'll take time for people to trust them."
Henry smiled faintly. "Trust must be earned. Today is just the beginning."
Behind them, Officer Frank slowly stood up, his pride shattered but his respect genuine. "That thing… it held back, didn't it?" he muttered. "It could've crushed me."
"Yes," Henry replied quietly. "Because even machines can choose restraint."
The words hung in the air like a quiet revelation.
The demonstration had ended, but something greater had begun—the dawn of a partnership between man and machine.
As the lights dimmed and the visitors prepared to leave, Gwen looked once more at the female Modia who had calmed her companion earlier. Their eyes met briefly, human and machine sharing a strange, silent understanding.
In that moment, Gwen whispered softly, "Maybe… they really can be like us."
Henry watched from a distance, his expression unreadable—but deep down, he knew this was only the start of something larger. The Vanderbuilt Project had officially begun—one that could reshape humanity's future.
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