Title: Duplication
Prompt 9/10: Sunshine
Updated: 8/17/2018
"You've tried what?" Said Sam, thoroughly surprised by her honest admission.
"I've tried replicating what sunshine might feel light according to the descriptions of the Merriam-Webster's dictionary," Quorra replied. "The simulations at their present conditions are a near-match according to Flynn."
"You've got some kind of obsession with the sun," He remarked, scratching the back of his head. "To be honest I've never really noticed it unless it was blistering hot."
"Not so, I've other interests, but since your arrival, it's been on my mind more and more," She stopped fiddling with her datapad and turned to face the bewildered young man. "To be honest, I know I'll never truly experience what it feels like, but to guess through description is fascinating enough."
"I spent a couple months living in a beach front house, this is nothing special," Sam grunted, pointing at his face. "They've got lotions and tanning salons now if you want to brown up."
"Humans wish to be brown and not pale?" Quorra puzzled over the term. "Is it socially unacceptable, being pale?"
"Or something close to it," Sam remarked dryly. "And, no, it's not socially unacceptable, more like the vice versa. There are just some people who like a good tan."
"I see," Quorra murmured, eyes falling downcast.
"What can you tell me about Mercury?" Sam asked, changing the subject. Quorra shrugged her shoulders as she turned on one heel. Her expression became shy and withdrawn. "Mercury is a second generation Game Bot. She was specifically designed to participate in the games. They were ISOs designed for deresolution or the execution of rebelling programs and entertainment."
"And Clu let them live?"
"Their lifespan technically doesn't last beyond four of your years. It keeps unnecessary game data down on the Grid. He doesn't have to lift a finger to kill them, their code will break down on its own."
"What about you? Aren't you ISO?"
"Yes, but my design is quite different from theirs. I serve no purpose, I'm a civilian Sprite, and she is a Game Bot. If she were derezzed before her decompile date, her information would be recompiled into another ID. Me? I would simply be deleted, cease to compute."
"Interesting."
"It's simply the way things function here now. Mercury is more than just her prime directive, she's my friend. She helped me escape, so I'm sure she'll do the same for your friend if he wasn't derezzed."
"And you're so sure of that? She wasn't exactly giving out love taps in the arena."
"Mercury was simply following her prime directive. She doesn't know you, had no reason to pull her punches," Quorra explained. "But, if your assessment of your friend's character is correct, then he will appeal to her sympathy."