Alien: Covenant 2: Part 15

********* Meeting Adjourned ********

Weyland's inference that the android was in "love" with her made Daniels nauseous. The ship's "Terraforming Specialist" looked over at the man sitting across the table. He was smiling.

"In love with me…..?" She spoke with a bit of sarcasm. And then added….

"Like he was in love with Elisabeth Shaw? How can an android understand the emotions of love Mr. Weyland? Or furthermore demonstrate that they even really have feelings?"

She took a breath.

"Look, I know that you've done your best to incorporate some qualities of our species into your machines. Empathy, compassion, sympathy. However, they are not human. And they never will be."

Weyland's expression changed. Still, he did not become angry or irritated. It simply changed into something unreadable.

"Making my creations more "human-like" was a directive suggested by advisors Mrs. Daniels. It was felt that having an artificial-life-form that could interact with the living, breathing souls aboard would relax their psyche, rather than intimidate them. And too, if was felt that there needed to be someone aboard whose reasoning could be ruled by logic, rather than fear, anxiety or desperation. We needed someone aboard that could keep a cool head."

"Also Miss Daniels…."

It was the first time that Meredith Vickers had spoken up in a while.

"….it was deemed that infusing said individual with more human-like qualities…droids such as Ashe, Bishop and others, would be viewed as more human-like. That they would be considered as more a member of the crew. An essential partner rather than just a robot. You know, an entity that was a real person, a living thing. In the past creations such as David were considered to be disposable, expendable. Something easily left behind."

Vickers paused here, but then started again….

"Androids are expensive Miss Daniels. They do come with a considerable price-tag attached."

"So I see. It was determined that making machines more human-like would have people aboard vessels like the Nostromo, Sulaco and Prometheus…..and even the Covenant, value your creations a bit more, rather that throw them out the window at the first sign of trouble. It is somewhat about money?"

"Well, some of it," Vickers concluded.

There was a moment of silence and then Weyland spoke again.

"It isn't all about money Miss Daniels. As always…safety is monument. However, the exploration of space, and other worlds, always comes with risk. You know that. That's why you and the others signed those release forms, the wavers. There can never be any guarantees."

This was true, Daniels knew it.

Weyland moved to steer the conversation into a different direction.

"So Mrs. Daniels…..as soon as possible I'd like for you to get started reestablishing the Terraforming data back into "Mother's" memory banks. It is vital that we get that information chronicled again so that, should anything else happen, we still have it recorded and accessible."

Daniels Branson looked at the man, her boss. She knew that although the expedition had been altered….detained, it was still on-going. And, although there had been deaths… the mission was still to move forward (there had been simulations back on earth with this very scenario…the loss of partial, or even most, of the crew). And, even if all of the crew and the colonists aboard the "Covenant" had been compromised….the android "Walter" was to continue on to Origae-6 and relay a signal back to earth.

Daniels answered.

"Yes Mr. Weyland. I'll log onto "Mother" shortly and locate the data that's missing. I'll fill in the gaps and reinstitute anything that's been totally wiped clean. However, for the moment, I would like to take a little time for myself."

"Granted," he smiled.

They were standing in the hallway now, just outside the Covenant's Conference Room. The meeting had been adjourned and if anything, there was more suspicion now then there had been before. Still, the one person Danny felt that she could trust was standing next to her….Tennessee.

"Fine then," Weyland said. "I'll see you at meal time. Good day...good day to you both."

The man then turned and walked away; following the route his daughter had taken. Meredith Vickers had not stuck around after the talks. She had mentioned something about having other things to attend to and was off as soon as the door had opened.

Danny turned to Tennessee as soon as Weyland had rounded the corner.

"Well, what do you think," she asked?

"Honestly...?"

"Of course honestly..."

'We're screwed."

That was the thing about Tennessee, he didn't pull his punches. He gave you what he thought point blank. Even if it was down and dirty. It was something that she liked about him, no B/S. He gave you the medicine straight up.

"So, how do we get un-screwed?"

"Un-screwed...?" He laughed. "That's the first time I've ever heard that."

Daniels smiled too. A bit of humor….it was actually something they needed right now. It felt good to laugh again, Ok maybe just to giggle, but it did lighten things up. And it was good for the heart. It's what made us human.

"...Anyway, I don't Know," Tennessee continued. "I'll have to think about it."

He looked at her.

"I could use some help."

Daniels looked into his eyes.

"Of course, I'll keep my mind on it too," she told him. "But for the moment we each need the other. We need them and they need us. We have to work together. At least until we find out if there are other agendas to this mission. And, if they differ from what we know."

"Agreed..." The man spoke.

END PART 15