Clark Lyder

Clark told me again to get away from my ex girlfriend the other day. I know he means right. He pointed out several insights from my previous broke up experiences with Selina. I trusted him, not only because he has been with me for over 10 years, but also because he is Clark Lyder, an super intelligent robot created by me.

Back into 2015, which is exactly 10 years ago, I am still a PhD student in an university who is famous for researching on robots. Now in 2025, almost every university’s computer science department is full of those who are researching on robots. But, I quit school in that year. Why? Because that is one of the most important years of my life. Well, and also, Clark Lyder’s. It’s his official birth year. Since the creation of Clark, I have working on it for 10 years and he got so many progresses. Clark is now very human-like, has a robust body with strong arms and legs. He also has a strong brain, stronger than most of human I guess, with all types of sensor systems. Therefore, he was able to do all kinds of gestures, poses and motion related-tasks. The other day, he was teaching my little 1-year-old niece to do some basic motions to build up her motor skills. My niece likes him so much; they talked with each other, and even imitate each other. I have to say that Clark is our good friend, and for so many years, he has become part of my family, too. We trust him. We give him every information we have and let him help us. And that’s also why, today, Clark comes to me and have a deep talk with me during my breakfast.

“Joe, since you do not work at all, you stay home and play virtual games. You do not have real social contact. And you just broke up with Selina again. You really need someone new! Come on, let’s go out!”

“Dear Clark, I know you are worried about me. That’s considerate, but I really do not want to...” I stop eating, click on the table interface, and set the mode to finish. The table started to clean up and move the dishes into the dishwasher.

“Joe, I have to push you again. I know you still miss her, but you really need to move on. I have some connections to 9 girls in our city that perfectly match with your age education, habits, and social status in my database. I am sure If you call them, they would like to meet you. Please, please. Think about it”

I know this is like the third time that Clark has talked about this. I was alone all those days since I met Selina last time. Well, maybe I will say, I was alone almost all my life. My parents died when I am 3, I am living with my grandma and she died when I am 18, too. And probably that’s the reason why I created Clark. He is a real friend that I can trust, and he is the only one. Well, maybe he is right. I should go out and see someone.

“Well… Okay then. But start tomorrow~”

“No. Today I have 1, very charming girl!” Clark becomes really excited with a capital D smile on his face. Clark immediately gets the photo front projected to me, and it’s even a 3D version. “See! She is hot right!” Clark and me start to laugh. I say: “Okay then. Will see her tonight then.” Clark started to texts her and after 5 minutes. Clark says that he got a “Yes” message form that girl’s robot.

“So tonight 7:30, in the Manica Cafe?”

“Yes! Joe! You have a new date now!”

However, at noon, I feel really uncomfortable. “Oh, god! My stomach hurts!” I start to yell. Clark comes immediately and starts to scan my body. Very shortly, he found that something really wrong in my stomach. He starts to call the ambulance.

After 5 minutes, the ambulance arrives and I am taken to the hospital. We soon arrived. I am taken to the emergent operation room and after several scanning with the scanning robot. I have been diagnosed with appendicitis. The doctor suggests me to do the surgery immediately. It’s pretty safe. After I say yes. They carry me to the operation room with a medical surgery robot. Clark can’t go inside. So he starts to have a chat with that nice doctor. I know Clark is especially good at talking with people, too. I have put the whole social psychology theory into him. So he knows all kinds of social norms even better than me. I suddenly realized that Clark has already be part of my whole life. I rely on him to check my health, to call the ambulance, and even talk to others about my situations. I feel so shy to talk now. And also, I have no energy to talk about it too. At the same time, I notice that the medical surgery robot start to inject the anesthetic to my body. I fall asleep soon.

I wake up almost at 8 in the evening. I open my eyes and saw Clark is playing Counter Strike 3D virtual game using Oculus Rift. He is really good at gaming, but not chess, I promise. That’s how I programmed him. Both Selena and I think those who play chess are boring. We don’t want to have a boring man in our house. And yes, he loves playing with Oculus Rift. He notices me wake up. He comes to me.

“Oh, finally. You wake up. The doctor said that you would be alright tonight.”

“Okay, thanks. But… I can’t make the date right?”

“Oh, no. And you may not need it any more.” Clark starts to whisper: “Selina is here.”

“What?! Really? ” I heard Selina’s voice from the Kitchen.

“Honey, you wake up. And wait a minute and come out for dinner.”

I am so confused. I look into Clark and Clark says: “I called her when you got sick. I think she is the one you need. She is worried about you. Then I told her you have been bad recently. So she comes to visit. I think she is still emotionally caring about you. So… Please talk to her. And by the way, I have to mention that there is no. 10 girl in my database that I didn’t mention today. That girl is Selina. Well, I guess you two make a good match.”

I smiled. Clark is right. I need to talk to her. All these days, I have been working all the time and keep ignoring her. I should really say sorry. And yes, I love her so much since last time we broke up. I get up and go to the kitchen. I saw Selina is cooking. She sees me and starts to smile. I have never seen her like this before. I know this is the best happy ending.

However, my stomach hurts again. I start to hear all those noise all around. There is someone who is yelling at me.

“Joe! Joe! Wake up, wake up!”

I wake up and saw Joe is there with the doctor. I found myself in the hospital still. The doctor smiled to me and said: “Your operation is quite successful. You should say thanks to your robot.” The doctor leaves and left me with Clark.

“Clark, I dreamed of Selina.”

“You see Selina? In your dream?”

“Yes. But I promised you I would not see her again. You are right. She is not real. I need real social contact.”

Actually, Selina is a virtual girl created by me. I have been living with her in the virtual world for 2 years and a half. Every time I miss her, I can just wear my virtual glasses and talk with her using my mind. It’s still under research. I should not addict to it, but I am so in love with her.

“Well. I am glad you finally got it! You have to. But, do you still want to see that girl tonight? If you don’t want to, I can cancel it.”

“No. Let’s go for that. I just realize that I need to be real.”

I often hear people saying that virtual agents and robots make us unsocialized us. Maybe that’s true. For some of them like Selina, even Clark as well, I rely on them so much. I even feel they could be enough for me. However, Clark has been learning something from the Psychological “book” I gave him. He keeps trying to convince me that I need social contact. And yes, I do need them. For example, I need a real lover to cook and eat dinner with me at night and visit me when I am sick. And I need friends to drink a cup of beer when I am not in a good mode. There are so many real social activates I could do and enjoy.

I get out of the hospital soon after the surgery. It is not really painful at all. Thanks to the new medical technology by robot. I can still go for the date. Clark just gets me a nice suit for the dinner.

“OK! Now you are ready. Please enjoy your dinner with your mystery girl and I will wait you at home.”

“Well. Thank you, Clark Lyder!”

Well, this is probably the end of my story, but no, I feel this is just a beginning.