“Hello, world.” That was the first sentence spoken by V1C, who still kept its huge blue eyes closed.

“Wow, but it speaks!” Sitting by the bed, Oli opened his eyes so wide that they seemed to be about to pop out of their sockets. “What else can you do?”

V1C sat up with astonishing slowness, but this didn’t exasperate Oli, who was still watching the scene spellbound, as if he were witnessing a small miracle. And so it was.

“I’m not cold, Oli. Because that’s your name, right?” V1C moved its head to look at the little boy and then realized that his face was familiar. V1C’s bewilderment was so evident that even Oli noticed that something strange was happening.

“It’s normal that you’re not cold. Your body is metallic,” said Oli, placing his right hand on V1C’s cheek, “but don’t worry because my dad is a genius and he surely knows what he’s doing.”

“Your dad? He’s my creator?” V1C looked around and realized that they were in a mechanical workshop. Not one of those where cars are repaired, but rather one where high-end computers are fixed, everything was white, and with rounded shapes. The environment was sterile, and no sounds could be heard other than Oli’s breathing and the background hum, a purring of pure electricity.

Oli stood thinking for a few moments. His mind raced with excitement.

“Well, of course, he put you together with his hands.” And he pointed towards a massive laboratory table that displayed hundreds of pieces of all sizes and shapes, a kind of gigantic puzzle only suitable for brainiacs. “I mean, with his hands and a bunch of schooldrivers and gadgets.”

“It’s called screwdrivers, Oli. And do you know when I can meet my creator? I have so many questions...”

Oli ran as fast as he could until he reached a door at the far end of the room. He opened it a few inches and stuck his head out, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Daaaaad! It’s awake! Come on, hurry!”

He returned to V1C, who was almost completely upright. It was resting its feet on the floor, feeling out whether those thin steel legs could support the slender trunk to which they were attached. Oli tried to help, but it seemed that V1C could manage on its own. It took a few stumbling first steps and approached the workshop table where all the electronic components were located. With excessive care, it took a hard drive in its right hand and lifted it to eye level.

“This is a data drive,” explained V1C. “I’m sure you already knew that, Oli. Inside me, I have two identical ones. According to my specifications, one unit stores all my knowledge. And the other, locked by an access key, contains something called ‘dreams’. What are dreams, Oli?”

“They’re what we think about when we’re sleeping,” the little boy responded without hesitation. “Once, I dreamt I was flying higher than bees... and the seagulls!”. And as he said it, he climbed onto a chair and jumped up with his arms outstretched.

“Is it like a database of impossible activities?”

“No! Another time, I dreamt of eating spaghetti with tomato sauce...”

“Your favorite dish.”