Chapter 17, Page 23a: Programmed to Love

With the macronanos temporarily out of the way, Dr. Muskiday should be concentrating on how to neutralize them.

Instead, he has a more troubling question on his mind.

HoloClone Miss Match insists that she truly loves him—but she also admits that she couldn’t feel any other way. Muskiday programmed her devotion into every part of her personality. She can never stop loving him, question that love, or choose someone else.

Which means she can never truly choose him, either.

Suddenly, the fantasy of creating a beautiful hologram who loves him and obeys his every command is beginning to feel a lot less romantic.

In this scene, Dr. Muskiday starts to grapple with the ramifications of programming a hologram to love him and do his every bidding. She can never truly love him because she can never not love him.

Panel 1:

HoloClone Miss Match runs away from the scene, carrying Dr. Muskiday

HoloClone Miss Match: Hurry! We don’t have much time!

Panel 2:

Entering the lab

HoloClone Miss Match: You need to find a way to neutralize the macronanos!

Panel 3:

Dr. Muskiday: Hey, um… that stuff you said about loving me… did you MEAN that?

Panel 4:

HoloClone Miss Match: Of COURSE I did! couldn’t feel any other way about you. Did I do something wrong?

Panel 5:

Dr. Musiday: No… but I’m starting to think -I- did.