Issue 1 Downtime

Cal was facing a mild insurrection.

"Look, I know, I was undercover a long time, and I'm sorry, but getting pissed at me isn't going to do anything. And you all need your updates, so shut up and listen to the lesson programs."

Only Galatea turned to the hard light display as he said this. The other robots continued looking irritatedly at him, until he pointed, and a few hard-light assistants formed to drag them to the training area. He sighed as a lot of digital back-and-forth started between the little robots and the analysis AIs, shaking his head as the program compelled the little robots to submit to the updates.

Taliyah's arms wrapped around Calvin from behind.

"I'm not sure whether I should kiss you or kick your ass."

"Mmm... I kind of like it better when you taken the first route," Cal said, smirking as he leaned back into her. "Second route can be fun if it's mixed with the first one, though..."

"And instead of coming immediately to my room you're fiddling with your robots," Taliyah says, "I think I'm a little offended."

"Well, I didn't know if you wanted me to, and then I found that these guys had gone on a bit of a cleptomaniac spree while I was gone, and I had some rather... angry messages about them in my queue, so.... yeah."

"They steal anything important?" Taliyah asks, taking a seat next to Calvin.

"Pff, not intentionally. A couple rings tripped the 'oooh, something shiny' alarms, but mostly just silly little stuff they thought was cool but was really just annoying for people to not have all of a sudden. Oh, and pocket change. Lots of pocket change."

"So... what have you been up to, then?"

"Therapy and debugging," Taliyah says, "...I suppose it's kind of the same thing for us, really."

Cal smirked a little at that. "Sorry I couldn't be there to relieve the tedium."

"That's fine. I can handle the tedium myself," Taliyah says with a grin.

"Oh. Well, see, if I'm not needed, why am I getting shit from you," Cal teased.

"Because I feel like it," Taliyah says with a grin.

Cal grinned. "Well, I do like a girl who isn't afraid to just take what she wants," he teased.

"Well, then," Taliyah says, "I want you to take me on a real date."

"Done," Cal said without hesitating. "Any hidden preferences I should know about before I start planning?"

"Just make it spectacular," Taliyah says.

"Well of course," Cal said. "You've been putting up with this 'undercover' bullshit and generally keeping me sane for a month now. You think I'm going to skimp out here? Hell no."

"Good," Taliyah says with a lazy grin, "I'll be sure to get all dressed up and everything."

"And I'll make sure it's worth getting dressed up for," he said, smiling back as he ran his fingers lazily along her neck.

Taliyah smiles, snuggling up next to Calvin.

"I'm glad you're back."

Cal smiled, wrapping his arm around her. "God, so am I." He glanced up and noticed that they suddenly had an audience and made a flicking gesture with his hand, making the AIs pull the little robots back to their lessons.

Taliyah sighed happily, her skin glowing faintly yellow.

Cal smiled, sighing, running his hands into her hair lightly as he browsed various date options. "Do you speak Italian, by the way?" he asked, seemingly idly.

HAL? Query her systems... what personality is running things right now?

Code: Select all

Processing

Discreetly

Code: Select all

Processing discreetly

"No," Taliyah says, "Is that a problem?"

Calvin's query would reveal that Green was still firmly in control, but Yellow was in the passenger seat.

Cal gave him an order to see what he could figure about Yellow, but left it be at that. "Not really... Would you be too bothered needing me to translate things, or would that cut down on the mood too much?"

Taliyah smiles, "Wouldn't bother me any."

Yellow seemed to be a more passive personality but without it being actual active there didn't seem to be very much accessible info about it.