Even Androids play the blues, part 3
Dylan woke, but after opening his eyes, wished he hadn't, "Tyr. How long have you been standing there?" The Nietzschean looked at him, "A few minuets. Are the two of you quite comfortable?" Dylan nudged Rommie, and here eyes opened. She instantly tried to hide her saxophone, but it was too late.
Tyr looked at the instrument, "Don't tell me it's trying to learn how to play that thing?" Dylan stood, his back aching where it had been resting against the tree all night, "Rommie's not learning, she's learnt: and she's quite good." Tyr shook his head, "What is the point is an AI learning to play music? Surly it's just repeating the same thing over and over again?"
Rommie stood, and without saying a word, walked off, sobbing slightly.
Dylan glared at Tyr, "Well done Mr Anasazi: you've managed to make her cry. I hope you're happy with yourself." Tyr shrugged, "I just fail to see how it supposedly learning to play that thing is meant to improve the running of the ship." Dylan looked ready to throw a punch, "For one thing, her name is Rommie, not 'it', and secondly, she is trying to evolve beyond her original programming. I would have though that you of all people would understand that: new skill's lead to new understandings, and that could be useful." Tyr raised an eyebrow, "Are you seriously trying to tell me that the ship's Avatar learning the play the saxophone could increase our chances of survival?" Dylan looked at his over his shoulder as he walked off, "Who knows."
Beka shook her head as she took a sip of her coffee, "You know Tyr, sometimes you amaze even me: we've been on this ship more than 18-mouths, and in that time you have NEVER given Rommie the respect she deserves. She's saved our lives more times then I can count, and yet you still treat her like part of the background." Tyr looked at her, "She has also put our lives at risk several times. Remember the Balance of Judgment?" Harper smiled, "What about your little trip to Enga's Redoubt? And that sealed crate into storage bay 5?"
Trance smiled, "Well, I think it's good that Rommie's learning how to express herself." Tyr glared at her in a way that would have scared most people, "Why do I feel that you had something to do with this insane plan of 'hers'." Trance smiled, "I mealy suggested that music might help her understand what's it's like to be human." Tyr shock his head, "I preferred it when you where purple and meek."
Dylan walked it, ignoring Tyr, "Ok, we dock at Mendocino Drift in a couple of hours. You've all got you've duty assignments, but I've adjusted them slightly, so we all get a little less free time on the drift." Harper looked up, "Why?" Dylan looked at Tyr; "I've decided that Rommie should be given some Shore-leave from now all. I'll tell you what, we'll put it to a vote: all those in favour of giving Rommie some time off?" Beka, Harper and Trance put their hands up. Dylan nodded, "Against?" Tyr's hand went up. Dylan smiled, "Motion carried 3 to 1 with one abstention."
TBC
Dylan woke, but after opening his eyes, wished he hadn't, "Tyr. How long have you been standing there?" The Nietzschean looked at him, "A few minuets. Are the two of you quite comfortable?" Dylan nudged Rommie, and here eyes opened. She instantly tried to hide her saxophone, but it was too late.
Tyr looked at the instrument, "Don't tell me it's trying to learn how to play that thing?" Dylan stood, his back aching where it had been resting against the tree all night, "Rommie's not learning, she's learnt: and she's quite good." Tyr shook his head, "What is the point is an AI learning to play music? Surly it's just repeating the same thing over and over again?"
Rommie stood, and without saying a word, walked off, sobbing slightly.
Dylan glared at Tyr, "Well done Mr Anasazi: you've managed to make her cry. I hope you're happy with yourself." Tyr shrugged, "I just fail to see how it supposedly learning to play that thing is meant to improve the running of the ship." Dylan looked ready to throw a punch, "For one thing, her name is Rommie, not 'it', and secondly, she is trying to evolve beyond her original programming. I would have though that you of all people would understand that: new skill's lead to new understandings, and that could be useful." Tyr raised an eyebrow, "Are you seriously trying to tell me that the ship's Avatar learning the play the saxophone could increase our chances of survival?" Dylan looked at his over his shoulder as he walked off, "Who knows."
Beka shook her head as she took a sip of her coffee, "You know Tyr, sometimes you amaze even me: we've been on this ship more than 18-mouths, and in that time you have NEVER given Rommie the respect she deserves. She's saved our lives more times then I can count, and yet you still treat her like part of the background." Tyr looked at her, "She has also put our lives at risk several times. Remember the Balance of Judgment?" Harper smiled, "What about your little trip to Enga's Redoubt? And that sealed crate into storage bay 5?"
Trance smiled, "Well, I think it's good that Rommie's learning how to express herself." Tyr glared at her in a way that would have scared most people, "Why do I feel that you had something to do with this insane plan of 'hers'." Trance smiled, "I mealy suggested that music might help her understand what's it's like to be human." Tyr shock his head, "I preferred it when you where purple and meek."
Dylan walked it, ignoring Tyr, "Ok, we dock at Mendocino Drift in a couple of hours. You've all got you've duty assignments, but I've adjusted them slightly, so we all get a little less free time on the drift." Harper looked up, "Why?" Dylan looked at Tyr; "I've decided that Rommie should be given some Shore-leave from now all. I'll tell you what, we'll put it to a vote: all those in favour of giving Rommie some time off?" Beka, Harper and Trance put their hands up. Dylan nodded, "Against?" Tyr's hand went up. Dylan smiled, "Motion carried 3 to 1 with one abstention."
TBC