Starr's Shuttle, Pegasus

First topic message reminder :

I don't remember its name at the moment. Starr, feel free to edit the post title if you want lol

"That would be interesting to see what they write about all of this." Nova said with a smile. She shook her head at the question asked of her. "I have never owned anyone but I was a slave myself at one time. Perhaps that helps me see the truth of their life when we were both enslaved."

"You were a slave as well?" The interviewer ducked her head slightly. "I'm sorry you went through that. I can see how that would give you a different perspective on this situation."

The young android, who was listening in with his polite curiosity, looked a little horrified at the thought of an organic being a slave. The Three Laws told him in no uncertain terms that doing that to an organic was Very Wrong.

"I was, but I am free again." Nova said and shrugged. "It is a good possibility that such affects my view, but at the same time seeing androids as their own people is something I did before I was enslaved. My people had free androids on our world, though they have moved off to another place now."

Asher looked at Nova curiously. He wondered which androids had been on her homeworld. As far as he knew, the first sentient Terran androids had been created a long time after the dragons had been conquered, so he kinda wanted to know which androids the star dragons had been protecting. Presumably other species had invented sentient androids by now, after all.
He supposed that was a question for another time though, when they didn't have an audience.

"Free androids? As in, androids without the Laws?" the interviewer asked carefully.

Nova shook her head "Free as they could be with the laws. They had no owners and lived as they wanted." She couldn't say they weren't Terran made, or that they didn't have the laws in the first place, given how long ago it was.

Asher had so many questions, omg.

"Ah." The interviewer nodded. "I've heard that some people do like keeping androids safe and letting them live almost like they were free. One of the androids I interviewed had lived with someone like that, and talking to her was very insightful. I haven't heard of a whole community or species protecting androids though, that could prove to be even more interesting." She looked thoughtful.

"It was interesting for us, even if I was just a child at that time." Nova said with a smile and a shrug. "They had their own houses and everything."

"You should write about your experience and publish it online, I'm sure a lot of people would love to read it," the interviewer said.

At that point, the two androids from the waiting room came in, looking a little worried. "Jacob?" one of them, a blonde-haired woman, asked.

"Maybe someday." Nova said with a shrug. She looked to the parents as they came back and gave them a smile. "Hello, sorry we kept him from returning on time. We had some questions for both of them." She said with a dip of her head to them.

Jacob, as the young android was apparently named, looked slightly relieved, albeit still in a very polite manner. He went over to join his parents.

"Are you all right?" the other one, a red-haired man, asked worriedly.

Jacob nodded. "I'm fine, they were just curious, like she says," he indicated Nova.

His parents eyed Asher and Nova with slight concern, which faded slightly to be replaced by recognition. "You two are the activists who've been traveling around, aren't you?" the woman asked. "Asher and Nova, right?"

"That's us," Asher said. He smiled reassuringly. "We're here to check that this facility is being run according to the ethical guidelines decided by the Terran Empire. We're very sorry about the delay."

"That's all right," the android woman said, although she still stayed close to Jacob, looking protective. "I'm glad there are people here keeping an eye on the situation."

Nova nodded and smiled at the parents. "We are glad to help as we can to get your people free and make sure you are being treated well." She said honestly. Even if there wasn't all that much they could do, she wanted to help.

"Well, thank you for your help," the dad android said, smiling a little. He patted Jacob's shoulder. "We're all hoping this investigation will work out. We'd like to be able to live a normal life finally."

"What's it like, being a family in here?" Asher asked curiously. "Do they try to separate you?"

The mom nodded. "Pretty much. There was some talk of separating us at first, but ultimately it was decided that androids who'd come from the same owner should stick together. We were all grateful for that."

Jacob nodded. "I wouldn't want to be here alone. It's much better this way."

Asher smiled softly. "I'm glad you're all able to stick together. These past few weeks have been so hectic, it's good to have a bit of stability in our lives at times like this. You've all been interviewed by now, I suppose?"

"Yes. The interviewers have been nice enough, it helps that there are surveillance cameras everywhere," the mom said.

The interviewer looked a little awkward. "I mean, I like to think we'd all be nice to you guys even without the surveillance."

"Tell that to the android who got murdered by those guards the other day," the mom said with a shrug.

Nova frowned a little and tilted her head as she listened to them talk to one another. "It's good to not be alone and to be treated kindly." She agreed.

"Yes, we all hope someday that'll be the norm, instead of the exception," the dad said. He sighed. "You guys keep trying, okay? We need you to keep an eye out for us until we're safe, and keep trying to convince the organics we're alive."

"Yeah, keep it up. We're counting on people like you," the mom told them.

Jacob nodded, although he still seemed politely puzzled by this whole conversation.

Asher nodded. "We'll keep trying. I can't guarantee we'll succeed, but I promise that we'll do everything in our power to try to convince the Terran Empire to do what's right."

"Thank you," the mom said.

Nova nodded and smiled happily. "Yes, we won't stop. That's why we are here after all." She said cheerfully.

"Thank you," Jacob said, although it was pretty clear he wasn't entirely sure why he should be grateful, just that he should be.

"We should get going," the mom said, "It was good to meet you guys."

"I should prepare for my next interview, I suppose," the interviewer said.

"It was good to meet all of you too." Nova said honestly. She was glad to have met them all and that they were all friendly.

The androids headed off together, still looking protective of their kid.

"Enjoy the rest of your day," the interviewer said.

"You too," Asher told her. He'd probably head out of the interview building with Nova, still smiling. Cute protective android families made him happy.

Nova walked with Asher, thinking about the family they had met and the interviewer. "That was a very interesting trip."

Asher nodded. "I'm glad things seem to be okay for now. It gives me hope that this might work."

"It should work. The only reason I can see it not working well is bribery." Nova said then sighed

"I like to believe that most people are better than that," Asher said, "But only time will tell for sure." He looked out at the desert beyond the fence, thinking. "I think there are one or two empires that might be willing to terminate their trade agreements if the Terran Empire doesn't free us so... that counts for something at least, money-wise."

Nova nodded then smiled wryly "Weird that it could come to that, but good if it is what works."

"We'll have to wait and see," Asher said. He glanced around and didn't spot anything that might be listening in on them, "Your people had androids on your planet?" he asked quietly. He was curious!

Nova chuckled and looked to him then nodded "Not Terran made of course, but yes."

Asher smiled a little. "Were they Drakkan androids? Or something else?" Drakkan androids were the only ones he knew of, but he supposed there might be a whole lot of other kinds out there. "I hope it's okay to ask. I'm just very curious about this subject," he added.

Nova shrugged then nodded "Some were, they were from all over. It's one reason our people were targeted, especially once our weaknesses were learned." She said quietly.