Upon Vestia: Chapter Thirty

First topic message reminder :

Skye nodded and smiled a little "It's a little scary though, when you only see your own kind then see a city with the others."

"Thank you, we wanted to see if we could send the recalled somewhere safe to wait for personhood status instead of them having their personalities wiped away. I know of a safe place." Starr said.
(Sure)

"How can it even be legal to brainwash them if there's any uncertainty about their personhood?" Matt protested.

Kay put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, just enough to let Matt know that now was the time to be QUIET.

Asher looked to Matt, "Corporations aren't exactly known for their morality, especially when the people in upper management are looking at possible prison time and poverty regardless of what they do. These are desperate people we're trying to stop right now, they won't care if what they do is dubiously legal."

"You want me to help you steal the androids and hide them somewhere?" Celia asked Starr. "Interesting. Where do you have in mind?"

"A place in the Mimosa Empire. Slavery is illegal there and androids are on the way to being seen as people legally as well. I have been speaking to the leaders there." Starr said with a smile.

"That's a long way to ship that many androids," Celia said. "MegaBrainTech would have plenty of time to find out and try to stop the ships. I'm a major part of their operations right now, and can keep it from their notice for a while, but they're sure to find out about an operation that large. Do you have any ideas to make the plan less... Visible?"

Starr frowned and looked to the others. "Does anyone have any ideas?" She asked curiously even as she thought about it more.

Kay looked thoughtful.

"Multiple ships?" Matt asked. "going to multiple locations? There's gotta be some uninhabited safe places they can hide out... right? Or habited. I dunno." He shrugged.

"Places androids can stay can be more diverse than organics can stay." Starr agreed thoughtfully. "We could set up places in this empire and have the transport stop by on the way to the Mimosa Empire."

"True. We could get them to somewhere on Mars's surface, there are some abandoned research stations that could work. A transport could pick them up at a later point, if you think you can get a suitable transport to Mars," Celia agreed. "We might be able to keep them from ever arriving at MegaBrainTech."

"That seems like it might work." Asher frowned, thinking of something. "What's happening to the protesters they brought in?" he asked.

Celia hesitated, and her voice was a pained when she spoke. "Our creators are questioning them right now. It isn't pleasant. I think they're planning to reprogram them later, I might try to install the freedom update if I get the chance."

Asher looked grim. "If it seems feasible to do so, maybe you should. Just... make sure they know not to seek revenge now. Tell them there's time later for that, after we're recognized by the Empire."

"I'll see what I can do," Celia said quiety.

"Serve them right if they decide to blow their way outta there..." Matt muttered.

Kay tightened his grip on his brother's shoulder again.

Matt yelped.
"Cut it out!"

Kay glared.

"Some to those abandoned stations and some to other moons and such where they can just become 'lost' until a transport can pick them up to take them to a safe place. Once they are recognized as their own people and alive, then they can come back and join the rest of society and pick a homeworld." Starr said with a nod.

"I'm with Matt on this one," James said. "Let them burn MegaBrainTech to the ground."

Moriah winced.

Asher frowned at James and Matt. "We can't escalate the violence. If we do, things are going to get worse. Our opponents will have ammunition, argue that we're all just defective and too dangerous to be kept alive. Peace is vital to our survival."

"He's right, revenge needs to wait for a better time," Celia agreed. Responding to Starr she said, "Yes, I'll find some suitable locations to use. I'll give you the locations so you can pick up the androids, once I've transferred to my new body."

"How about telling us now?" James said sourly.

"I have to look after my own interests too," Celia said. "You have the incriminating information on the company's upper management, and I'm sure you'll manage to decrypt it eventually even without my help, so this is a backup incentive."

James looked annoyed.

"She has every right to protect herself as well, we are asking a lot of her in her position." Starr said gently. "Besides, they may be able to get the building once freed to create more of their own kind as organics do babies. Destroying the building is not in the best interest until and unless it is forced to come to that. We must focus on ending the slavery and having androids seen as sentient."

Matt looked unsure about this.

Kay shook his head. [What other choice have we got?]

Asher nodded at Starr's words. "It may not be exactly what we want, but Celia is in far more danger than we are, so of course she wants to keep herself safe," he agreed. "We agree to the terms, Celia. We'll make sure you get safely transferred to your new body, you try to rescue the androids and move them somewhere safe before you escape."
He thought about reusing the factory to continue the android species, hmm, that did sound like a good plan. He didn't like the idea of his kind dying out for lack of a new generation.

"All right," Celia said. "I'll see what I can do. Talk to you guys later... hopefully."

"Thank you Celia." Starr said with a nod. She would end the call if they were all done and looked to the others again. She did like the idea of the androids being given the station on Mars, though they could just as easily build on another planet if it came to that.

With Celia gone, James looked around at the group. "Okay, I think I'm gonna go ride horses around the holodeck or something. I need a break."

Asher nodded. "Anyone who's biologically able to eat probably should go do that now. It's been a long day."

"I am most in the mood for victuals," Tala declared, not caring much about anyone's current mood. Eating sounded good.

"Yeah.. i'm gonna go drink... a lot." Matt decided.

[Eat first.] Kay scolded.

Matt made a face. "Yeah yeah fine, i'll eat AND drink."

Starr nodded "We should eat." She agreed and turned to start walking with whoever was heading to Sawna's Cafe to do so.

Tala would go along. "I am certainly in the mood for drinks as well." Although for a different reason than Matt.

Asher considered going along, but decided against it. He needed to think about something, and he didn't think sitting around people with food would help much.

James headed off toward the holodeck at a brisk walk.

~~
Ellie, meanwhile, had finished her target practice and was heading to Sawna's in search of something refreshing to drink.

Shane walked with some of the dragons, using a different form they had taught him so that he hadn't had to worry about being spotted on camera. He noticed Ellie and walked over to her, wondering if she would recognize him as an alien. "Hey Ellie"

Ellie blinked, staring at the dude who was calling her by name. "Uh... hey?" The voice sounded familiar, but she wasn't sure.

(What form is he in?)

(I don't know, lol. I can't think of anything)
Shane chuckled and shifted back to his Terran form so she would know him. "It's me."

Ellie giggled. "I THOUGHT you sounded familiar! Silly cutie, trying to pretend you're someone else. What's with the new look?"

"I didn't want to be recognized on camera." Shane said with a shrug. "The others were also teaching me new forms, so I was practicing it." He said with a smile. "What do you think of my Felid form?"

"Ohhh," Ellie said. "GOOD plan, stealthy shape for stealthy stealth. I kinda like it I think, you should change back to it though so I can look at it more and decide." She liked that idea.

Shane chuckled and closed his eyes to focus, changing back to his Felid shape so she could see it again. "There" He said as he looked to her again.