This had started out as a one-off story, but as ever I got hounded into
making it longer. It won't be as fluffy as some of the story's I've
written, but it will be nice.
Even Androids play the blues, part 2
Rommie was embarrassed: ever since Dylan had found out she played the saxophone he had made a point of staying up to watch her at lest once a week. So here they where, sat on the grass in hydroponics, in the middle of the night.
Dylan rarely said anything; he just sat there, listening to the music, amazed that Rommie had gotten so good is such a short space of time. He knew that AI's learnt faster than humans, but music was something that very few AI's ever bothered to try. And Rommie had gotten better since he'd first heard her play. He smiled: maybe it was having an ordinance that did it?
Rommie came to the end of the music, and Dylan clapped, making her blush, "I wish you wouldn't do that: it makes me nervous." Dylan smiled, "You're good, and you deserve the compliment. I'm sure you noticed that we're going to be docking at Mendocino Drift for a few days, and that it is well know as a retreat for artiest and musicians. I thought that you might like to have a look round." Rommie blushed, "We're only stopping off to pick up supplies. I'll be needed to help with loading."
Dylan shock his head, "Everyone else get's time off to relax when we visit drifts, so why not?" Rommie's eyes fell, "Because I'm the ships Avatar: AI's don't get time off." Dylan bit his lip, realising that he had put his foot in it. He stood and walked over to the tree so he could sit next to Rommie, and put his arm around her protectively, "I'm sorry, I forgot. Look, captain's orders: for now on, you get shore leave the same as the rest of us. We'll work it out so we all get time on the drift and there is always someone onboard."
Rommie smiled slightly, "Thank you Dylan, but it's not necessary: I've not even told the rest of the crew that I play, I'm not sure I could handle talking to strangers about it." Dylan laughed slightly, "So the big bad warship is to embarrassed to talk to people about her amazing abilities? I know Beka, Harper and Rev Bem would be impressed. I can't talk for Tyr, but I'm sure he'll understand that learning a new skill is a good thing."
Rommie smiled anew, "Thank you." Dylan felt her shift slightly as she rested her head on his shoulder. He wasn't sure how to react, especially when he noticed she had fallen asleep. He had asked Harper why he had given Rommie the ability to sleep, as it wasn't necessary: the engineer had said that it was an important part of the human experience, and he felt it was only right that Rommie be allowed to share in it. He felt his own eyes grow heavy, and slowly drifted off to sleep himself.
From her hiding place amongst the plants, Trance smiled.
TBC
Even Androids play the blues, part 2
Rommie was embarrassed: ever since Dylan had found out she played the saxophone he had made a point of staying up to watch her at lest once a week. So here they where, sat on the grass in hydroponics, in the middle of the night.
Dylan rarely said anything; he just sat there, listening to the music, amazed that Rommie had gotten so good is such a short space of time. He knew that AI's learnt faster than humans, but music was something that very few AI's ever bothered to try. And Rommie had gotten better since he'd first heard her play. He smiled: maybe it was having an ordinance that did it?
Rommie came to the end of the music, and Dylan clapped, making her blush, "I wish you wouldn't do that: it makes me nervous." Dylan smiled, "You're good, and you deserve the compliment. I'm sure you noticed that we're going to be docking at Mendocino Drift for a few days, and that it is well know as a retreat for artiest and musicians. I thought that you might like to have a look round." Rommie blushed, "We're only stopping off to pick up supplies. I'll be needed to help with loading."
Dylan shock his head, "Everyone else get's time off to relax when we visit drifts, so why not?" Rommie's eyes fell, "Because I'm the ships Avatar: AI's don't get time off." Dylan bit his lip, realising that he had put his foot in it. He stood and walked over to the tree so he could sit next to Rommie, and put his arm around her protectively, "I'm sorry, I forgot. Look, captain's orders: for now on, you get shore leave the same as the rest of us. We'll work it out so we all get time on the drift and there is always someone onboard."
Rommie smiled slightly, "Thank you Dylan, but it's not necessary: I've not even told the rest of the crew that I play, I'm not sure I could handle talking to strangers about it." Dylan laughed slightly, "So the big bad warship is to embarrassed to talk to people about her amazing abilities? I know Beka, Harper and Rev Bem would be impressed. I can't talk for Tyr, but I'm sure he'll understand that learning a new skill is a good thing."
Rommie smiled anew, "Thank you." Dylan felt her shift slightly as she rested her head on his shoulder. He wasn't sure how to react, especially when he noticed she had fallen asleep. He had asked Harper why he had given Rommie the ability to sleep, as it wasn't necessary: the engineer had said that it was an important part of the human experience, and he felt it was only right that Rommie be allowed to share in it. He felt his own eyes grow heavy, and slowly drifted off to sleep himself.
From her hiding place amongst the plants, Trance smiled.
TBC