Less than Human

"Less than Human" by Zoë Blade is a futuristic story that looks at what makes us human in a world filled with advanced robots. Set in the early 21st century, the story centers on Suzi, a skilled assassin who struggles with her feelings after eliminating a target, a copyright violator named Jon Russell. As she continues in her deadly line of work, made more challenging by technological body changes, she begins to lose touch with her essential self. After a strange event, Suzi faces a robot duplicate of herself. This encounter leads them to question their purpose. As Suzi and her counterpart explore life together, they realize they want something more than following orders; they ultimately choose to become independent, showing that reclaiming one's humanity involves making choices about one's life.