Harper retreated to the X-1's hangar after his shift ended. He tried to lose himself in his work, but he couldn't. Under a slightly different set of circumstances, that ship could have been Rommie. That bothered him. Finally, he stopped working.
"Rommie? Look ... I'm sorry, about earlier."
"It's ok, Harper," the ship's voice said.
"Yes," the android avatar said as she entered the room. "Don't worry about it." She was visibly upset, though.
"You gonna be ok?"
"I will have to be, won't I?"
"Well, if there's anything I can do - and that's not a come-on, I mean it - you let me know, ok?"
"Thanks." Rommie smiled, turned to leave, and hesitated. "Harper?"
"Yeah?"
"There is something ... um, it's kind of personal ... "
"Hey, I said I'd help."
"Well, Cassie taught me a lot about who and what I am, about what it means to be a High Guard warship, and before the Fall, I had looked forward to someday teaching another ship. But now, well, it doesn't look like I'll get the chance. There may be a new High Guard someday, but no ships like me for a long time. Yet I feel I've learned a lot, and I have a lot to pass on. Can I teach you?"
"Why me?"
"Because you know so much about me, there's no reason you shouldn't know more. Because I want to know there's some chance what I know will survive me, even if - " her eyes flicked to his stomach " - only a little longer. And because you're my friend. Please?"
"Ok, Rommie."
They went over to a corner counter and settled on a couple of stools. Rommie seemed a bit uncomfortable. "I wonder if it was this hard for Cassie? Never mind. You know what I am, Harper; now, I'm going to tell you WHO I am. Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life ... "
THE END