Less than Human

"Less than Human" by Zoë Blade is a short story written in the early 21st century. This fictional narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the blurring lines between humans and machines in a futuristic society where human assassins are a rarity amid the rise of artificial counterparts. The story revolves around a protagonist who grapples with her emotional detachment after carrying out an assassination, questioning what it means to be human in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. The plot follows a skilled assassin named Suzi, who completes a hit on Jon Russell, a target whose copyright violations have led to serious repercussions. As she navigates her profession, she discovers her own humanity is slipping away under the pressures of her work and the modifications made to her body. After a mysterious incident leads her to encounter a doppelgänger who is also a highly advanced android, their shared fate compels them to confront the true nature of their existence. Together, they decide to forge a new path, opting to freelance while reclaiming their humanity and agency, ultimately evolving from mere tools of their employer's business into independent agents of their own destiny.