The Captain (The Last Horizon, #1)

by Will Wight

I peered into her expressionless face closely, looking for signs of sentience. “You seem too artificial to be artificial.” “If it would help improve your performance, I could pretend to be sentient.” Her face took on an unconvincing expression of doubt. “What is my place in this universe? What is my meaning? My impending mortality lends a sense of value to my rapidly dwindling life.” “Piercing accuracy. There’s no doubt you’re self-aware.” “Do not be fooled. It was only an imitation.” “I wasn’t fooled.” “No need to be embarrassed. The nature of sentience is to fall for flawless deception.”