Launch

Posted on Tue Mar 7th, 2023 @ 2:14am by Lieutenant Commander Klarth & Captain Linda Wilson & Commander Sandy "Phantom" Risa & Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell & Lieutenant Commander Yadira Risen & Lieutenant Brandy "Raven" Davies & Lieutenant Reeza Cuyu & Crewman Doria

5,648 words; about a 28 minute read

Mission: A whole new world
Timeline: A few days after the captain's arrival

BRIDGE

The Captain walked onto the bridge and took her seat. It was time. The Lionheart would leave the void and enter a parallel universe. "Lt Davies, lay in a course according to the coordinates the Vedala gave us to leave the Void."

"Course already laid in Captain. Ready to engage on your command," Brandy said.

It was strange for the Romulan to be wearing the gold colored, black-shouldered Starfleet uniform of his department even days after he first put it on. It still felt tight against his neck and he had to hold himself back from tugging at it in irritation. Its design had been completely replaced by the time he had joined Starfleet in 2395 so the Romulan had never had the misfortune of having to wear this style previously.

As the Flight officer readied to take the ship out of the Void and into normal space, Rayek, who had been standing at his tactical console a meter or so behind the Captain's chair, opted to take seat and strap himself in - just in case the exit from the Void was less than smooth.

"Activate dimension drive!"

Once the drive was activated they felt a strange sensation as they passed through the fabric of the Void and re-entered normal space. after a long time, what seemed like an eternity. "Wow! Ok well I've felt weird sensations" Linda said. "Ok we made it! Everyone ok?"

Upon the viewscreen was normal space. "Now that is nice to see!" However a signal was coming in.

The Romulans' caution apparently had been unneeded. The transition from Void to real space was much smoother than Elle's unauthorized dimensional jump days before. He heard the Captain's question yet before answering with his own confirmation, Rayek requested his Sec/Tac staff ping in with their status. One by one each responded. "Sec/Tac reports all stations secure."

Rayek didn't have the opportunity to appreciate the view that the Captain commented on as his attention was drawn to an incoming signal.

"Captain, we are picking an emergency distress signal being sent out in 50 known languages." The Romulan in anticipation of the Captain's next request prepared the message to play over the bridge comm system once ordered to do so.

Reeza was sitting on the bridge, Troi-ing her way through the initial launch. It was all pretty exciting, really, if she were honest. "I know Bajoran..." she offered.

"Play it!" Linda said.

The message was one word "Help!" albeit in 50 different languages.

"Well short and to the point, I'll give them that! OK get a fix and lay in a course! Engage, warp 5!" The captain said."

"Brandy's hands had already found the coordinates and was punching the Liberty up to warp 5 before the Captain had ended the final word. "Warp 5 achieved. Twenty minutes to target," she said.


As they headed towards the distress signal, the Acting Security Chief felt it was his place to speak up. "I advise caution, Captain. It could be a trap." Rayek couldn't count the number of times his own people used the lure of a distress signal to ambush unwary vessels. Back before Hobus, of course.

About 20 minutes later, they arrived at their destination. It appeared to be an asteroid, "Science, Lt Cmdr Ripley, analysis."

The science officer gave her report, "The asteroid appears artificial. 50 meter by 30 by 25. No life forms indicated. No atmosphere indicated Captain. "

"Mmm well somebody needs our help so I think we should investigate. Rayek, Ripley. You'll beam down with me. Make sure to get a life support belt, no atmosphere. Rayek as head of security feel free to bring whoever you want along but I think we're probably safe. They did ask for help! Risa you have the Conn while I'm down there. Let's go, people."

Ripley was excited about being a part of the away team. She hoped there was some animal life down there she could study.

From the moment Lionheart dropped out of warp on approach to the signal's source, Rayek had been running scans of not so much the asteroid.. science could deal with that; he was scanning the surrounding system for any sign of recent ship activity but found none.

At the Captain's announcement that she would be going down with the Away Team to the asteroid, Rayek hesitated and looked towards the First Officer to see if she would argue protocol against the Captain's orders.

"With all due respect Captain, your First Officer must remind you of Starfleet protocols. The First Officer takes all away missions off ship, therefore you are not put in what appears to be a dangerous situation and this is dangerous. I have been sensing odd empathic feelings. This indeed is more likely to be a trap," Sandy said standing.

"Commander, I suggest you brush up on Starfleet rules and regulations. That is not Starfleet protocol. That started with Will Riker and spread to the point where many people think it is standard protocol. However it is not. I appreciate your warning but I am taking security with me. l am pretty sure I will be safe. Thank you for your concern but I have made my decision!" Linda said.

With the decision out of his hands, Rayek tapped his combadge. =/\= "Crewman Tchukla - assemble Fireteam Alpha 1-A-1 in Transporter Room One in five minutes. Standard kit and weapons." =/\= The three-person team along with himself should be sufficient to keep the Captain safe.


TRANSPORTER ROOM

The Captain, Rayek, and Lt Cmdr Ripley and whatever security people Rayek deemed needed took their positions. The Captain nodded. "Activate life support belts! Energize!" The transporter tech did so and the away team de-materialized and re-materialized inside the chamber.


ASTEROID CHAMBER

The moment the team materialized Rayek and the other Security members spread out to secure the immediate surroundings. Rayek had a hand covering his weapon ready to draw at even the slightest provocation.

The interior of the asteroid was a huge empty chamber which was dimly lit only along the edges by some unseen overhead lighting. The walls were stark stone yet immaculately smooth. Clearly not a natural chamber, nor worked by mining or stonemasons of current technology.

Tchukla didn't know what it was about this place, but it was spooky to him. Maybe it was just the feeling of emptiness.

Lt Cmdr Ripley took out her tricorder and examined the chamber. "Captain, we are being scanned." Suddenly there was a hiss as air started filling up the chamber. "Oxygen /nitrogen atmosphere Captain. Should be breathable in a few minutes."

"Thanks Ripley! Hello! Anybody here?" the Captain called out.

After a few moments a recording played as a light illuminated a table. A small humanoid looking like a human child of maybe seven could be seen in the distance laying on a slab of rock. She has short red hair and was barely over three feet tall. At a glance she seemed to have two skin tones straight down the middle. One side was stark black while the other was pale chalked white. However a shimmer came across her and after a moment she appeared human. "Welcome. If you are here then you are either the Exalted Masters or servants of the Masters. The Data Organizational Recording Information Analysis (Doria) Unit being stored for the last eon has been waiting to return to the Masters of Exo-III. Her information systems are filled with data for the great library. Being servants of the Masters you will return her as your duty. The unit was stranded here half an eon ago. Diagnostic being run. Memory leak detected, initializing factory reset."

The moment the light shone upon the stone table, Rayek cautiously approached. The Fireteam he signaled to remain with the Captain and Science officer.

The 'child' on the table shook violently in what could best be described as a light seizure before settling.

After this, the recording continued, "Factory reset complete. Servants of the Masters please return the unit to Exo-III for incineration for failure to deliver the gathered knowledge." A moment later the recording device sputtered and stopped transmitting. The air also seemed to stop cycling but the girl seemed to lay still no longer seizing.

"Analysis Ripley?" The captain asked

"Exo-III! Yes, she is an android Captain! Exo-III was visited by the original USS Enterprise under the Command of Capt Kirk! They were searching for Exo-biologist Roger Korby! They found him and it turns out he had discovered the remains of an ancient Civilization, including an android Making Machine. He was assisted by Ruuk. A large humanoid android left over from the ancient civilization and Andrea, a human looking android he created. It turned out Korby himself was an android having transferred his mind into an android body as his biological one was very injured. He also duplicated Capt Kirk. However in the end all the androids were destroyed. This must be one that was left over."

"Hmm interesting. Rayek, what's your analysis?"

Having listened to the Science officer's explanation of the android's existence, Rayek was still skeptical. "We are not of this dimension and therefore have no obligation to deliver anything anywhere." Rayek answered.

Tchukla thought the kid was creepy. Was it a kid, was it an android? He had trouble accepting it was both.

By this time, the Romulan was standing at the stone slab and looking down at the 'child' that lay upon it. While Rayek knew the 'child' was just an android, his parental instincts felt a sense of guilt at the idea of just leaving her there. "A study of the unit could be useful - scientifically speaking," he suggested.

After a few moments the android stirred and slowly began to sit up, after a big yawn she rubbed her face with a free hand and looked around. After gauging her surroundings she then looked to the away team. "Ah, the Masters have come for this one. May this one please know the Master's and please forgive this one's error the Mistress as well designation that this one may address with. This one's memory banks seem factory reset.. So may this one ask if you plan to dispose of this one? May this one beg a new task to stave off destruction?" The small android girl seemed slightly fearful by her words but not her emotions which have not changed.

"Ok! Well, that takes care of the problem of how to activate her. Ok Doria, I am Captain Linda Wilson. We are not here to dispose of you. We come from a starship above this asteroid. We are travelers, explorers. You may address me as Captain Linda. "

"Captain, we can't just leave her here." Ripley said.

"Guess not. Rayek, any objections to taking her with us?" Linda asked.

Back on deck, Reeza stood next to the tactician. They had the comms on, and Reeza tapped her own, with a direct ear to the Captain. "Bring her on board; she can play with my daughter. She'll love that. I'll go get a room set up, actually. She can stay with us until she is settled, unless Klarth has an objection." The Bajoran was excited; she'd wanted more children anyway and, hey, why not a strange android that at least was probably better at listening than her girl? "And get some toys and clothes." She hurried away, ignoring the others.

"I hate to play pass the Buck but robotics really isn't my department, ask Engineering" said Klarth.

"Engineering here," said Vallick. "my department would love to examine that android and see what makes her tick and tock."

Unaware of the plans being made by the Counselor on the ship, Rayek hesitated. He had foreknowledge of the future (at least his universe's future) and how androids might soon be banned in the Federation and with reasonable cause... Yet the Sec/Tac Chief couldn't bring himself to make the call that knew he should. "I have my reservations... but will increase security around key systems to ensure the android cannot take over the ship." Not that ship wasn't already in the control of an AI.

The Romulan then turned to Doria. "I am Lieutenant Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell. Do you have a power down protocol? And if so how is it activated?"

"Yes Master Rayek tr'Lhoell, this one may be powered down by placing the palm on the back of this one's neck and close your hand around gently pressing to the sides of the neck but not the front where the humanoid throat is. By holding this one's neck the palm initiates the standby protocol and the press on each side of the neck initiates shutdown or reboot. However if fingers are held there and pressed into the front of this ones neck it initiatives a protocol for this one to run, hide, and evade." Doria stated before she lowered to a soft kneel, her knees together as she placed her palms down on her lap, she then tilted her head forward to aid in the ease of the deactivation on the part of Master Rayek. "This one dreamt of electric sheep while this one slept, this one hopes to again."

Rayek didn't move. It had never been his intention to power down the android immediately. Knowledge of how to do so however was crucial.

"Ok, so the new counselor would like us to bring her aboard as well. Well I think she could prove useful. Rayek go ahead and take whatever precautions you feel are necessary. Ok Doria, looks like you have a new home aboard our ship the Lionheart! Do you need to take anything here with you?"

"This one owns nothing as this one is property of the Masters and thus by extension You, Mistress Captain Linda, as well as any that You decide this one shall be property of." She looked up from her kneel before Rayek and then looked back to Rayek's feet to be shut down. With a deep breath she can be heard whispering almost prayer like, "Please keep this one safe from harm as this one sleeps Master Rayek."

Rayek reached down a hand towards the submissive android with the intent to help her to her feet before the beam up. "The Federation looks poorly on anything resembling slavery. You will fit in better if you merely address the crew by their rank."

"OK Doria. one thing, drop the mistress part please. Call me Captain Linda. Stand up for Pete's sake." She tapped her combadge, "Lionheart, 7 to beam up! Energize."


TRANSPORTER ROOM

Very quickly they found themselves back in the Lionheart's transporter room. "OK here we are. Elle!" Linda called.

She took Rayek's hand and slowly rose but kept her eyes lowered. "This one will do their best to remember and speak accord.."

The android paused curiously as the transporter beam hit and they appeared elsewhere. On arrival she backed up a bit but then stopped deciding it best to stay close to those who brought her here. Even if they did not wish to be called the Masters they were that.

"To speak accordingly", she finished as she blinked while looking around.

Elle appeared and was very excited. She went over to Doria and reached out to shake her hand and said "You must be the android. I'm an artificial intelligence too, that makes us like sisters. Can I check your functioning a little bit? What's the square root of 2,700? What is the tenth digit of pi? It's your birthday and you get a calfskin wallet. A boy shows you his butterfly collection and then he shows you his kill jar."

"It pleases this one to meet you sister. This one is happy to know another like this one is here.", she said, shaking the offered hand. Doria then took a deep 'breath' and began to respond to the functionality, 51.9615242271 is the square root of 2,700. The first ten digits of pi are 3.1415926535. This one would thank the one giving this one a gift and be thankful for any gift allowed. This one would be fearful and 'hope' the insects did not suffer." Doria looked to the AI and lowered her eyes to show her place.

Elle was impressed. Doria had the computing and even the beginnings of emotions. Elle laughed to herself because the second two questions had come from an old Earth movie "Blade Runner." It's funny how sometimes Humans actually got things about the future right by accident.

"Very impressive, my child," said Elle. "I look forward to getting to know you better." Then she patted her on the head and locked eyes with the Captain and gave her a thumbs up.

Doria gently smiled then her face went back to an emotionless mask with the head pat.

"Well you just got thumbs up from the ship herself. That's a very big recommendation" Welcome to the Lionheart Kiddo!" Captain Wilson said

"Thank You Captain Linda Wilson Ma'am.", Doria said emotionless.

"We'll get you a place. Counselor Reeza volunteered to take you in. You will report to her quarters. She will take care of you!" Linda tapped her combadge "Wilson to counselor Reeza, your guest is waiting in the transporter room. Please come and collect her."

Upon arriving, with the android child's hand still holding his, Rayek looked to Doria and nodded at her willingness to try to address people slightly less formally, even if her manner was still submissive. Reluctantly, the Romulan released his hold and took a step back. "Crewman Tchukla here, will be assigned to escort you wherever you go on the ship outside of Counselor Reeza's quarters. He's there for both your safety and our own." Rayek stated.

Following around a creepy android kid was not the mission Tchulka wanted but he would do as ordered.

Once Elle finished introducing herself and testing Doria's for the basic computational and logic system, Rayek decided to inform her of the rules. "You are not permitted to make any alterations to the ship's programming whatsoever. To do so will result in you being powered down. Is that understood?" Rayek's tone was stern, using the android's own desire to please and avoid punishment as an insurance against future problems. "Nor are you permitted to harm any of the ship's crew or civilians."

Seeing the security man, the Android instantly clung to Rayek's hand. Not hard but firmly. She looked up with a glimmer of emotion when hearing the rules but instantly nodded, "Yes Lieutenant Commander Rayek Sir. This one will follow all orders and not wander. This one will do everything ordered, please do not put this one in power down mode." She continued to look up with a face that kept almost showing worry then her eyes lowered to the ground.

After a moment more, "Sir need not tell this one to not harm, hardwired into this one's model is an inability to harm sentients as they serve the Master. This one will go out of this one's way to prevent harm but will not interfere if a conflict happens. This one will do everything ordered and will not hamper or access any and all ports or functions without supervision and direct permission to be allowed. Should this one call Crewman Tchukla Master?"

Rayek nodded, accepting the child-like android's assurances that she would obey. He was a bit puzzled by her almost fearful reaction towards the Polynesian security crewman and looked down to the hand that she clung to. At her question, the Romulan shook his head. "No. Crewman Tchukla will do."

Doria let go as Rayek had wanted. She simply held her hands close to her and remained quiet.

Tchukla actually softened a bit at this question. Being a crewman he was so used to being ordered around he was momentarily excited about someone calling him master and maybe having to salute when he came in the room. But looking at how innocent the android girl looked he dismissed those thoughts and he smiled warmly and said "You can call me Rongo."

"This one is happy to meet you, Rongo Sir. This one hopes the Sir will be an acceptable alternative.", she looked up to him tilting her head side to side as she looked at the Crewman.

Seeing the Crewman making an effort to be less intimidating, Rayek nodded approvingly. "I will leave you in his capable care," he said to Doria. Once more he attempted to extract his hand from her hold.

Suddenly an odd sound came from the Android's lower abdomen. "Please forgive this one. This one has not had nourishment since eating lichen over a millennia ago. It helps regulate this one's power reserves. This one will reroute power reserves to prevent the sound from bothering Lieutenant Commander Rayek until this one is safely away."

Tchukla chuckled and said "Looks like the first stop is the mess hall. The food here is not great, but I think we can do better than lichen."

"Only if allowed Rongo Sir. This one was told to go to the Counselor Reeza's quarters. If this one deviates, this one would fear punishment." She began to look around while processing her options. "This one would assume that if escorted to that location by You this one would be safe from discipline for the deviation Sir? Pending the arrival first of the Counselor Reeza."

Tchukla tapped his combadge. "Counselor Reeza this is crewman Tchukla I've been assigned to escort our new guest and well, she is hungry. Shall I still bring her to you first or can you meet us in the mess hall instead?"

The unexpected stomach rumbling surprised Rayek. An android powered by food? That was new. He nodded to Tchukla. "Just bring her to her quarters. She can eat there." The Romulan answered the crewman - figuring it was best to keep the android out of the general populace until he could be more certain of her.

The Romulan looked around the crowded transporter room and dismissed the other security to their regular duties. He then turned to the Captain. "I'll be in my office making security arrangements for Doria, if you need me."

As Rayek made it clear he was departing Doria reached out with a small hand but slowly drew it back to her not wishing to disrupt but she then walked over and offered a small hand up to the Crewman.

Tchukla took her little hand; it seemed so tiny compared to his. He had not received an answer from the counselor so he started to walk with Doria towards the mess hall.

Doria looked up and followed along obediently.


HALLWAY

It was just by happenstance that Rayek's own current quarters (he still had yet to move to the Senior officer's level since his promotion yesterday) and the Tactical office (his preferred space to work now that he had access to an office) was along the same route as the counselor's quarters.

Reeza carried a doll in one hand, and her daughter Soja on her left hip. She was trying to get the girl ready for dinner and evening before meeting the new child, but Soja was still kind of needy. The Counselor recognized this as out of character for the girl, and was trying to give extra attention as she could. Change was tough for children, after all. She stepped into the hallway, and finally saw Lieutenant Commander Rayek and smiled.. "I am SO sorry I am behind. I had...a minor emergency." The minor emergency was Soja's having a tantrum, but that wasn't important. She reached out for the child. "HI! I am Counselor Cuyu Reeza, of Bajor. You can call me Reeza. Come on in!" She held the door open. "You too, Crewman, just long enough that you can report back that Doria is safe!" Reeza was trying to keep her cool, but she was quietly panicking; she barely had time and control over her own child, let alone a strange one. "I will radio with Security. Can you get a message back to the Captain that she is fine with me for the time being, and I'll await further orders? Thank you." To Doria, she spoke. "This is your home for a bit; our suite is ready for you. I set up Soja's room for you. I hope that's ok. What do you like to eat?"

Tchukla hadn't realized the counselor's quarters were on the way to the mess hall. "The girl is hungry, so I was taking her to the mess hall. I tried to reach you on coms." Then he said to Doria "You'll be safe here, but com me first if you want to go anywhere else on the ship. Commander Rayek wants it that way for now, ok?"

"This one will do so Sir Rongo and this one thanks you", Doria said before offering a firm but not painful hug to the man then followed the Counselor.

After they left Tchukla starting walking down the hall to return to his duties. As he walked down the corridor he thought to himself that he was actually looking forward to escorting the android around for a while. This surprised him as he didn't think he liked kids, but she was so sweet and innocent. He couldn't help but like her.

Doria seemed visibly overwhelmed by how eager, energetic, and 'bouncy' the Counselor was. She was unsure what to do. It was hard to process everything. So rather than offend, which she hoped that she wasn't offending Rayek she went into default greeting to be unsure how to approach the kind but overwhelming woman.

The small android girl bowed her head before returning to the kneel she had on the asteroid, her knees closed as her hands folded palm down on her lap. Looking to the Counselor's feet she responded, "This one is happy to meet You Mistress Counselor Cuyu Reeza of Bajor. This one is happy to be allowed to stay in your chambers. This one will not be bothersome, this one swears. For food.. complex dishes do not digest well to this one and the act of eating meat is reserved for the Masters and by default the Mistress's such as you. So simple vegetables, fruits, grain, pastes, things of this nature would suit this one best. May this one ask if this one may do tasks about Your quarters Mistress Counselor Cuyu Reeza of Bajor to show this one's appreciation for being allowed to reside?"

She looked up slightly to the Counselor and saw the doll and for some reason a bit of emotion escaped her normally stoic exterior. A look of almost joy but then she lowered her eyes back down to stop the display.

Rayek offered a nod of greeting towards the Lieutenant and watched until Doria and the crewman entered the quarters before moving off down the hallway to the Tactical office.

Reeza noticed the android looking at the doll. "Would you like to play with the doll? Her name is Rebecca. She's from Terra/Earth. Soja's father got her for her when he was there for training." She looked at the Crewman as she handed off the doll. "You can leave, if you'd like. "I'll let the Commander know." She returned her attention to the girl. "How about if I replicate something for you now, and tomorrow, we can work out a cooking menu? I will not let you do tasks for me; I am one of the only crew with a child, it only made sense. Plus, I am a Counselor. Who is better?" It was really rhetorical; she didn't expect the child to understand. "Pasta with butter and cheese? That is what Soja and I will have. Tomorrow, I will make Sem'hal stew."

Doria reached a hand out, gently touching the doll and looking up to the Counselor with a bit of emotion, "She reminds this one of this one's self." Carefully she cradled the doll as a tiny bit of lubricant leaked from the android's eye and rolled down her cheek. Looking up to the nice woman, "This one doesn't know what Sem'hal stew is nor what pasta with butter and cheese but this one is happy to be allowed whatever you will allow this one. This one is appreciative for being allowed to reside in the Mistress's quarters. Please allow this one to express this one's extreme appreciation." She then looked down and began to instinctively rock the doll in her arms, her stoic and emotionless face brightening as she did.

Reeza nodded. "Ok, well. You can refer to yourself by your name. You DO have a name, right? And pasta with butter and cheese is a Terran dish that both Soja and I like. Sem'hal stew is from our planet, though. It is a ruminant animal, similar to a Terran sheep, which is cooked with vegetables and a sauce." She replicated a few plates. "You and Soja can play for another hour, and then Soja will need to sleep. Do you sleep at night? Some species do not." She handed the plate with the noodles to the child. "Here, let me help you up." She pulled out a chair for Doria, and set her in it, doing the same to her daughter next, and then herself. "Juice? I have some apple juice and I can replicate anything else to drink." She made herself some Bajoran Jumja tea, and handed the girls each a glass of the sweet juice. "You can borrow some clothing from Soja until we can get you permanently settled in and see what you like." Reeza began to eat, and it was quiet for the moment.

Doria sat obediently in the chair and looked at the noodles, her olfactory sensors analyzed the dish as something she could easily consume and she dug in. The nutrient value was high and the warmth and texture was rated to be a 'delicious' dish. As she ate she smiled and sipped her drink, the drink cooling some of her systems as she analyzed and found the liquid also rated to be 'delicious'. As she ate she began to answer questions.

"This one is called Data Organizational Recording Information Analysis, but the Mistress Captain Linda called this one Doria. This one is happy to play and will power to standby mode once this one is ordered to but this one must stress they are afraid of the dark. May this one beg for a small amount of illumination while in standby mode. As for the animal? This one is forbidden from eating meat as only the Masters may eat meat. This one would not be permitted such and would dread the punishment for that offense if this one did. This one finds the pasta and juice delicious and makes this one feel nice inside. Thank You Mistress.", Doria answered.

Reeza nodded. "Ok, Doria. Firstly, you have no masters here. When I was a little girl, about Soja's age, Bajor was invaded by the Cardassians, and they were *our* masters. We did eventually defeat them with the Federation's help, but we had to refer to them as "Masters" at school and such. It was terrible and I refuse to let you do it." She hadn't realized her voice had risen an octave or two. "I am sorry, I don't mean to sound upset. You're not in trouble, I just need you to understand. Secondly, we have a nightlight in the bedroom; Soja doesn't like complete darkness, either. Thirdly, you can eat whatever you like. Even children deserve autonomy, I believe." She replied. "I believe you should power down soon, though; I am sure that Engineering and medical will require your presence tomorrow sometime." She herself wanted to get the child in her chair. "For now, you can eat the noodles, and we can talk about more easily digestible foods. Perhaps some potatoes. Do you count fish as meat?"

Doria flinched when she heard the tone of Reeza's voice. Her face seemed troubled and worried but she nodded, "Yes.. Ma'am? Counselor? What would you prefer this one to say?" She continued to listen but seemed troubled. "The Masters made this one.. this one belongs to them. This one is a failure so this one was supposed to be returned to the Masters to be put in an incinerator." She thought a moment so she could use the right words, "The.. Captain? She decided this one will not be destroyed. So did Lieutenant Commander Rayek. This one is happy to not be terminated in fire." She continued eating the noodles seemingly enjoying. "This one has no words for this ones creators other than the Masters, can this one beg to ask a word to call them?" As she ate she thought about Soja and getting to 'play' as well as the nightlight. "Potatoes? Tuber root? That sounds most delightful. But fish is meat and this one will be punished if this one consumes food the Masters reserve for themselves." She finished the noodles and then her drink before whispering, "Does Ma'am? Have a preferred manner of address?" She asked again to make sure she could find a proper word to say. "For this one wishes to say Thank You along with the proper word." Remember something the child Soja said Doria tilted her head slightly, her face emotionless, "Mama?"

Reeza smiled. "Maybe we'll wait on Mama for now, oK? Just Reeza, or Ms Reeza if you must. On my home planet, it is preferable to refer to someone by their surname first, so you can even call me Cuyu Reeza." She said, "And we will discuss meals more tomorrow. For now, enjoy your noodles. I will plan a quiet activity before bedtime. Perhaps some art." She stated.

"This one would very much like Ms Cuyu Reeza.", she finished her food entirely and waited to be allowed to experience art.

 

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