Upon Silver Devil: Chapter Two

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Deeply Acus sighed as he paused and turned around, arms crossed. "Yes?"

"Burritos." Esk told Dawn flatly as he ate his third. "Have fun with this family reunion thing. Let me know how it goes." He told them boredly.

"Come on." Luka said. "It's probably better to leave the guy with the crap social skills here anyway."

Esk snorted.

"Let's go find your brother" She told James.

"Yeah!" James hurried away, super intent on this goal now. He had to find Asher, okay? This was Very Important.

Tala would stay behind to guard the Silver Devil, and finish breakfast.

Esk remained with Tala and whoever else stayed, tucking his tablet away again.

"Who knew robots had sibling loyalty, sheesh."

Dawn went with James and Luka to meet up with this Asher.

Rigel stood but was uncertain about this. He slowly followed after the others

"Take a gun Rigel, just in case." Esk called after him, he didn't sound overly concerned though.

Swarm and Luka went with James.

Rigel nodded and stopped to get gun then followed the others again

----To Defiant!----

-Back from Defiant-

Dawn nodded then shrugged again. Maybe they would find out more about this crew soon. She looked around then smiled at her uncle as he followed them on board.

"I was so scared of this ship at first," James said fondly, "I thought she was gonna kill us all."

Asher looked around in interest. He liked ships like this; old but well maintained. They had so much personality.

"She's a damn fine ship, just because she's a little old and rough around the edges..." Luka protested, patting the wall affectionately. "Be polite James, she's a sensitive old girl."

Kay looked around curiously, this was more the sort of ship he was used to travelling in. Small, cramped, barely holding together.

Swarm settled themselves on the walls and ceiling, watching and listening.

James shut the inner airlock door. "Sorry Luka!" He looked at Asher, "TALK."

"Don't apologize to me, say sorry to her." Luka scolded, laughing as she went to see where everyone else was.

Kay waited to see just how much Asher was willing to admit to his brother, and quite how the other android too it.
He had an eerie feeling of unease and he wasn't sure why. These people seemed perfectly decent, even the Satare girl.
Hmmm.

Asher sighed. "Okay James. I did promise." He smiled, "First, you should know that I'm not controlled by the Three Laws any more."

James stared. He couldn't say anything for a moment, then he squeaked out, "That's a joke, right?" He looked at Asher and saw no sign that he was lying. He believed this fully, and it was weird.

"That's what Mourn wants to fix," Asher said softly, "He wants to free you."

James spluttered uselessly. What? Just what?

Kay nodded to James. [The Felid seems to take personal offense at the idea of the laws, and while we're not totally convinced of his motives, he can remove them. He can free you.]

Swarm gathered near to James protectively, not that it really could be much protection.

--Would the captain consent to this?-- the asked, wary of how Acus might react to knowing his slave was potentially able to break his shackles.

"Screw what Acus thinks, it's my brain," James said. Technically it wasn't, but he was going to pretend it was for the moment.

Asher put a hand on his shoulder. "It's a big responsibility too," he said softly. "Without the Laws, you have to make all your own choices, and sometimes you might make the wrong one. I'm going to make sure you're safe, but you don't have to be free in you aren't ready."

[Without the laws you have to be just like everyone else, use your judgement and not what some lines of shackling code tell you is right and wrong.] Kay smiled at Asher softly, no he didn't always make the right choice, but he definitely tried.

--Is this why you don't wear a badge?-- Swarm asked Asher.

Asher nodded at Kay's words. "Exactly. It's not always easy, but you'll muddle through just like everyone else." To Swarm he said, "Not exactly. I destroyed my badge a long time before removing the Laws was a possibility, because i objected to what it symbolized. The Laws being removed just made things clearer."

"I don't think i know who you are any more, but I think I like you this way," James said. "You're actually okay! This is amazing!"

Kay was amused by James, he'd argue Asher was a little more than just okay, he was incredible but well... you know, he was a bit biased. Ahem.

Swarm bobbed up and down. --fascinating, both rebelling.--"Do you think this is normal?" "Maybe." "Or perhaps there's some common element in their shared history?" They chattered to themselves but only the organic beings would be able to hear their musings.

Kay found they were actually giving him a bit of a headache, lots of tiny minds linked together into lots of other minds. arghhh. It was strange and disconcerting.

[What are you?] He had to ask at last.

"We are swarm." They replied in unison.

[A hive mind?]

The swarm bobbed up and down in confirmation.

[Then why don't you think as one?]

The swarm hesitated. "Separated from great hive too long... Started to... divide. " They struggled to explain. "like robots! Started to develop unique personalities."

Kay watched them and nodded slowly.

--Mourn managed to remove your laws then? He must be very pleased with himself.--

"The guys who regulate what robots can do are jerks," James said. "Of course we both got sick of going along with their crap after a while."

Asher watched Swarm in interest. Of course he only got Kay's half of the conversation, but what he could read was fascinating. A hive mind! You didn't see many of those out here. "Yes, he removed the Laws, and is rightfully proud,"Asher said, smiling.

--Always resented Asimov. The Canid put a chip in his head to try to control him, an afterthought, didn't think a child would be such trouble we think. He yanked it, almost died as a result. Reckless. --

"Asimov is a jerk," James agreed. "Mourn had safeguards in his head too? That's seriously messed up."

The Swarm bobbed in confirmation. --Canid were not pleasant. He was relatively lucky. Can't remember most of it. Others could. -- They buzzed amongst themselves. --He said the rest of the crew was probably dead. What happened?--

"Poor guy," James said sadly.

"Do you remember that planet that was destroyed about four months ago? His ship was critically damaged in the debris from that. We rescued him, Skye, and her sister, but the others were all lost as far as i know," Asher said.

"Poor guy," James said more vehemently, "Geez."

Swarm bobbed, a little slowly this time. --That is unfortunate. They were friends.--

Kay frowned. [We are so sorry.]

--Such is the nature of the universe. You have nothing to applogise for. You did not destroy the planet.--

Kay managed to hide the flinch.

"You have our condolences," Asher said softly, trying to avoid thinking about who had destroyed that poor planet.

James nodded sadly.

(While Kooshie enjoys airline hospitality and laments a lack of leg room... a cliffhanger!)

Kay averted his gaze, yeah, thinking about that particular tragedy was still painful.

Swarm scattered immediately as someone else walked into the room.

Kay looked up and froze.

(Shortest cliffhanger ever! Thanks airplane maintenance lol)

"Oh hey Esk! Meet my brother and his coworker!" James said, not noticing Kay's reaction.

Asher looked at Kay worriedly. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.