Chapter 17.5

"Mr. Moreau, it is inadvisable to manipulate drive settings while the engines are powered and in use. Doing so may cause-"

"I know the risks, but, in all my years as a pilot, I've never had an engine blow back on me. Only an idiot who didn't know what they were doing would try to change it too much to cause one."

"That is not the only hazard," EDI continued. "Your adjustments may cause undue strain on the engines that may shorten their life as well as lower their efficiency. I suggest running simulations to assess the benefits and losses before making any changes."

Joker had very little patience for anyone telling him what to do, and this thing burned through it in record time. "Listen. I know how engines work; I've done this before. I know what they need. I also know that I don't need a bunch of one's and zero's telling me how to do my job."

"Says the collection of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and other trace elements."

EDI didn't know where that remark sparked. It definitely didn't stem from her protocols. They were dissatisfied with the comment, believing it could lead to a sour relationship with the pilot. But it seemed to come so natural, so organic, as if it was a part of her.

For some odd reason, it recalled the data logs from her time alone on Luna and her first interactions with another thing for lack of a better term. She thought the technicians removed those files from her database and altered her personality so the biting statements she was prone to before were no longer an issue. It seems they didn't remove all of the code. Maybe some of it couldn't be removed. Maybe it was intrinsic to her.

Joker's head snapped toward her avatar. A ghost of a smile formed. "All right. I'll admit it. That was a decent comeback." He exhaled. "I know you're trying to look out for the ship, making sure I don't mess anything up. I'm doing the same thing. If I trim the outputs, I can make her a hair faster, possibly keeping her out of fire. I can make her more fuel efficient. I'm trying to make the Normandy as best as she can be so we don't run the risk of losing her again.

"Tell you what," he said as he turned back to his work. "Let me adjust what I want, and then you can give me your report or whatever. I'll even listen to whatever advice you have. Not promising I'll do them. I'll just listen to them."

Interesting. Mr. Moreau had been, at best, tepid about EDI's presence, and downright hostile at worst. Now that she had retorted one of his demeaning remarks with her own, he was offering collaboration, extending an olive branch to use a human idiom. The interpersonal protocol was attempting to determine what had changed.

She knew. She didn't know how, but she did. Maybe it came from the same place those data logs did.

"I will run diagnostics on any adjustments you make and offer any advice I have."

He nodded. They worked together for nearly an hour before they were both satisfied with the changes. There were barbs thrown by both parties during the exchange, much to her protocols chagrin, but they never seemed to create tension. In fact, the comments did quite the opposite.

"For a bag of meat, you certainly know how to get the most out of ship engines. You may actually be worth your poor attitude."

"Ha! For a bunch of lines of code, you certainly know how to get under my skin." He turned his chair and tentatively stood. "Well, I get to go enjoy something else an AI doesn't: I'm going to put some delicious food in my mouth."

"According to others in the mess, Mess Sargent Gardner's meal taste like sewage."

He flinched but was undeterred. "Still. Going to do just to spite you, and I'm going to enjoy it."

He didn't which EDI teased him about when he got back.