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Robots weren’t supposed to be warm. Razer had fixed one-to-many overheated engines at gunpoint to understand to wear protective gear. He, too, had touched one-too-many robots in war to understand robots’ exteriors were as cold as the decisiveness programmed into them.
But this robot was different.
When he first picked it up, he was surprised by the warmth radiating from it’s body. Aya had stolen Illana’s form; had it too stolen Illana’s warmth? Would it too steal her life?
Hal Jordan made a similar comment to Aya's strange warmth. “Wow, it's just like a human.”
The machine blinked, as if confused by the Earthman’s surprise. “98.5° F. I do believe that is a livable body temperature for the people of Earth. In truth, my systems are running warmer than your normal body temperature, but it is to be expected of this body.” It’s dark eyes focused on the rest of the small “army”. “Is it not agreeable?”
Kilowog only shrugged, saying he was a soldier rather than a scientist. Razer scoffed internally since even he,a soldier, knew basic sciences. But, the Red Lantern said nothing.
However, now that he had carried her weakened and limbless form away from Shard, it startled him how alive Aya was. Razer felt the machine’s eyes burrowing into the side of his face. He did not need to know how to read minds—if AIs could technically have minds—to guess she was questioning why he held the body as far from him as possible.
For the rest of the almost-war, Aya never questioned him about the way Razer held its body. In truth, it wasn’t until they were to meet again after the siege of Oa that Aya questioned him about it.
He paused before answering. “No, Aya,” he said, “your body temperature is more than agreeable.”
In return, she smiled.