Previously Published in the STARDUST Anthology by Cynthia Shepp. Isaac, a Mark 3 Android, has one purpose after his creation-to make the lives of those he's assigned to easier. Shortly after being "woken up," he's presented to Mrs. Nelson-a frail, old woman who treats him like a son. He easily settles into life as a helper, just as he was programmed to do, until the doctors deem Mrs. Nelson in need of a second android companion. That's when Isaac meets Sonya, and his life, artificial or not, becomes much brighter. ISAAC is an 8,600 word futuristic romance short story by Michael Loring, author of Dehumanized and Unnatural: A Collection of Supernatural Short Stories.