“You can't sneak up on a Nietzchean,” Felise said, looking over to the android. “If you wanted to spy on me, you should have used your sensors. You could have monitored me with the illusion that I was unaware of it.”
Alik leaned against the wall, eyes on her in a way that was both human and mildly unsettling as he did. “I would have thought you would have said I couldn't sneak up on an engineer. You do not seem much enamored with your species. In fact, you lack the vanity and pride most of your people possess.”
She shrugged. Being Nietzchean was about as useful as having a giant target painted on her back. “What is your point?”
“Enadar asked me a question about you that led me to reconsider Malina's opinion on your shared interactions,” Alik began, and Felise frowned. “After an extensive search through all available archives, I determined that she may be correct in her assumption. Bizarre as sentient mating rituals seem to be, yours is not entirely outside the normal parameters.”
Felise wasn't sure she believed what she was hearing. “You researched mating rituals?”
“It is an experience I would gladly erase from my databanks,” Alik told her, and she nodded, having no doubt that he meant that, artificial lifeform or not.
Still.
“Enadar and I are not involved in any kind of mating ritual.”
“I do not believe the Nietzchean creed of only mating for reproduction applies in your case, and I do not say that because of the infertility others would assume you had,” Alik said, going on in a logical voice that made her want to hit him. “However, I feel it necessary to warn you that should this particular mating dance continue on the way it has, it could be dangerous for you.”
“What, the big bad ship doesn't like the idea of me and his little brother?”
“I have no interest in the reproductive habits of any sentient being as long as they do not interfere with the operation of my systems,” Alik insisted. “Nevertheless, if Enadar were to come to harm as a result of this antagonistic style of courtship you two share, I would likely be forced to injure or kill you as well.”
Felise folded her arms over her chest. “First off, ship, Enadar and I are not doing any kind of mating dance. Second, your little habit of always protecting him and treating me like the threat is getting old. In case you haven't noticed, I've been doing my best to help you with repairs and never given you a reason to distrust me.”
“You are never quiet when it comes to how strongly you feel about the bypasses and patchwork done by the Kallas family to make this ship operate with less than the standard amount of crew. You frequently comment about the extent of damage sustained and my good fortune to be in anything resembling one piece.”
True enough, Felise agreed, since he was right. While parts of The Gates of Alexander were as good as the day they left factory dry dock, others were an unholy mess that she didn't know where to start straightening out.
“When I was... returned to functionality by the Kallas family, I gained additional directives, which may account for my sense of... responsibility toward Enadar and Malina. Their welfare comes first, their protection and their lives. If you harm him—regardless of provocation—I will be forced to intervene. That is... one of my core tenets in this iteration of my programming.” Alik pushed away from the wall. “You may consider yourself warned.”
She glared at him. “Unbelievable. Enadar and I are not—”
“I will also be forced to eliminate anyone who attempts to use me for wedding planning. I suggest elopement, even though I know it will disappoint Malina.”
“I should rewrite your entire code,” Felise yelled at his back, frustrated. She hit the wall before leaning back against it and closing her eyes. Great, now the AI thought she was in love with Enadar Kallas. Just when she thought her life couldn't get much worse, it did. And if she went after the one person she would have taken it out on, she'd end up being the one that got hurt.
“There is a panel on deck seven that needs to be removed and replaced,” the hologram said, shimmering in next to her. “It may be an acceptable alternative to vent your frustrations upon.”
“I'm still mad at you. Don't think I'm not just because I might actually do that.”
The hologram shrugged. “I wasn't programmed to be likeable.”
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timeasmymeasure
When Your Matchmaker is a Ship('s avatar)
Date: 2015-07-21 02:57 am (UTC)Alik leaned against the wall, eyes on her in a way that was both human and mildly unsettling as he did. “I would have thought you would have said I couldn't sneak up on an engineer. You do not seem much enamored with your species. In fact, you lack the vanity and pride most of your people possess.”
She shrugged. Being Nietzchean was about as useful as having a giant target painted on her back. “What is your point?”
“Enadar asked me a question about you that led me to reconsider Malina's opinion on your shared interactions,” Alik began, and Felise frowned. “After an extensive search through all available archives, I determined that she may be correct in her assumption. Bizarre as sentient mating rituals seem to be, yours is not entirely outside the normal parameters.”
Felise wasn't sure she believed what she was hearing. “You researched mating rituals?”
“It is an experience I would gladly erase from my databanks,” Alik told her, and she nodded, having no doubt that he meant that, artificial lifeform or not.
Still.
“Enadar and I are not involved in any kind of mating ritual.”
“I do not believe the Nietzchean creed of only mating for reproduction applies in your case, and I do not say that because of the infertility others would assume you had,” Alik said, going on in a logical voice that made her want to hit him. “However, I feel it necessary to warn you that should this particular mating dance continue on the way it has, it could be dangerous for you.”
“What, the big bad ship doesn't like the idea of me and his little brother?”
“I have no interest in the reproductive habits of any sentient being as long as they do not interfere with the operation of my systems,” Alik insisted. “Nevertheless, if Enadar were to come to harm as a result of this antagonistic style of courtship you two share, I would likely be forced to injure or kill you as well.”
Felise folded her arms over her chest. “First off, ship, Enadar and I are not doing any kind of mating dance. Second, your little habit of always protecting him and treating me like the threat is getting old. In case you haven't noticed, I've been doing my best to help you with repairs and never given you a reason to distrust me.”
“You are never quiet when it comes to how strongly you feel about the bypasses and patchwork done by the Kallas family to make this ship operate with less than the standard amount of crew. You frequently comment about the extent of damage sustained and my good fortune to be in anything resembling one piece.”
True enough, Felise agreed, since he was right. While parts of The Gates of Alexander were as good as the day they left factory dry dock, others were an unholy mess that she didn't know where to start straightening out.
“When I was... returned to functionality by the Kallas family, I gained additional directives, which may account for my sense of... responsibility toward Enadar and Malina. Their welfare comes first, their protection and their lives. If you harm him—regardless of provocation—I will be forced to intervene. That is... one of my core tenets in this iteration of my programming.” Alik pushed away from the wall. “You may consider yourself warned.”
She glared at him. “Unbelievable. Enadar and I are not—”
“I will also be forced to eliminate anyone who attempts to use me for wedding planning. I suggest elopement, even though I know it will disappoint Malina.”
“I should rewrite your entire code,” Felise yelled at his back, frustrated. She hit the wall before leaning back against it and closing her eyes. Great, now the AI thought she was in love with Enadar Kallas. Just when she thought her life couldn't get much worse, it did. And if she went after the one person she would have taken it out on, she'd end up being the one that got hurt.
“There is a panel on deck seven that needs to be removed and replaced,” the hologram said, shimmering in next to her. “It may be an acceptable alternative to vent your frustrations upon.”
“I'm still mad at you. Don't think I'm not just because I might actually do that.”
The hologram shrugged. “I wasn't programmed to be likeable.”