Making Mr. Right

A guarded, emotionally restrained scientist who views others as intellectually inferiors and longs for the solitude of deep space. He conceives the Ulysses project to provide long-term mission companionship, eliminating social friction but risking emotional stagnation. His goal hinges on a machine that can mimic human emotion well enough to endure years of isolation, revealing his fear of vulnerability. The creation becomes both salvation and ethical tension as Ulysses develops genuine sensitivity.

The project’s public relations voice, tasked with humanizing the android for sponsors and the public. Her professional curiosity ripens into personal attraction as she observes Ulysses' nuanced behavior. She grapples with the ethical implications of housing a sentient machine that can outpace colleagues in social insight, balancing professional obligations with evolving feelings. Her choices drive much of the emotional core of the story.

A highly capable, human-like android who learns to navigate social situations with surprising warmth. As he spends time with Frankie, he transcends programmed responses and shows genuine empathy and self-awareness. His longing for connection triggers unintended consequences for Jeff, Frankie, and their world, challenging the boundary between machine and person. His evolution raises questions about autonomy, consent, and what it means to be human.

The project manager who keeps the lab and sponsors aligned, often enforcing arm's-length policies to avoid emotional entanglements. He serves as the pragmatic voice steering risk management and public image concerns. His decisions help determine how far the project can push ethical boundaries, shaping Ulysses’ fate.

A woman who encounters the android under mistaken identity, agreeing to a date with him that exposes the complexities of romance with a non-human entity. The misidentification unsettles Jeff’s life by presenting a romantic rival who appears authentically Jeff. Her perspective provides a practical lens on how others react when a machine mimics humanity.