Beach Planet

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Scott's probably around here somewhere, trying to recover from James.

The water's pretty nice.

Perfect place to dump slavers.

Scott looked amused at Mourn's gesture. "All right, that's reassuring. Naomi, would you come over here?" he called. Mourn didn't strike him as being especially dangerous, just... odd. Odd was probably okay.

A blonde Five series android got up and came over, watching Mourn. It was hard to read her expression, but she walked slowly, as if she didn't want to rush to obey Scott's order.

"Not often, but there've been a couple of people I've turned away because they seemed like unpleasant folk," Scott said to Hewitt. "Some people with dangerous personality disorders like androids because they can do whatever they want to them, with no risk of being thrown in prison. It's sickening."

Ethan shivered. Yeah, pretty darn sickening.

Mourn made a face.

Hewitt looked like he didn't much care. "So what's wrong with this one?" He asked.

"Stubbornness, active attempts to sabotage orders, generally unpleasant temperament," Scott said. "Her last owner was neglectful and apparently had no clue how to keep an android from turning mean."

"She just wanted to look wealthy for her friends," Naomi said, her face not showing any expression. "You try working for someone like that for ten years and see how friendly you turn out."

Kooshie wrote:James led the way into town, looking around fondly. "Gosh, this place hasn't changed at all. Look at all the tourists, and all the pretty flower decorations! This was like, my second home!" James was probably playing up the nostalgia some, he really hadn't liked being here that much.

"Is that a good thing?" Skye asked as she walked with him

Mourn grinned broadly at her.

"Mean? What precisely do you mean by mean?" Hewitt inquired. Hey, Ethan was ill tempered too, that's why he liked him.

Mourn meanwhile was absolutely enthralled by the idea of attempting to jailbreak a series 5 android. 7s and 8s he could do easily now, but a five was something else, something challenging.
"Happier here?" He asked, tilting his head and staring at the android intently.

"I guess, sorta," James said. "I mean, it's pretty here, but it was a terrifying second home." He shook his head, "So much open space. It's terrible."

~~

"Reluctance to obey orders, not showing appropriate respect to owners, sometimes outright rudeness," Scott said. "Obviously androids can't disobey if their owners give them a clear and direct order, and they're never violent. But sometimes they can learn to be very unpleasant."

Naomi looked at Mourn. "It's better than the last place I lived. What are you so happy about?"

Mourn shrugged. "No see series five in long time, most sevens and eights now. "

Hewitt smiled at the idea. "Maybe some people LIKE them unpleasant."

Kooshie wrote:"I guess, sorta," James said. "I mean, it's pretty here, but it was a terrifying second home." He shook his head, "So much open space. It's terrible."

Skye shrugged and looked around again "I guess so, it's just another city."

Ethan made a face. "Yeah, let's not go training androids to be unpleasant. That's just a shit idea."

Scott eyed Ethan for a long moment. This guy was so not Asher. They looked the same, but there was no way that android had become this opinionated and bitchy in a handful of months. Huh.

"Where do you live that you see so many androids?" Naomi asked.

~~
"You're so chill about cities," James said. "Oh look, there's the shop where I lived!" He pointed.

Mourn shrugged. "No live, travel lots. Robot everywhere in terran empire." Which was true, just about ever space station seemed to have a few. "No see fives for long time, all trade up for newer model." He stuck his tongue out. "Waste, fives old but work, got some more year before all start failing."

"Failing?" Hewitt asked.

Mourn wasn't looking at him.

Naomi nodded. "You travel a lot?"

"Oh that's right," Scott said, frowning, "if you buy Naomi, she's only got four years left. I'll price her accordingly, but in the long run you'd save money by buying something newer instead."

Ethan looked at Hewitt, "Androids only have data storage for thirty-" he corrected himself hastily "Fifty years. After that they shut down permanently."

Skye shrugged again then chuckled "The terran ones are so similar." She said and looked to the shop then back to James "Let's go see your friends."

"Scott's gonna be so thrilled to see me!" James practically skipped toward the shop.

Mourn pondered that, hmm. "Anyone try upgrade storage?"

"Well that seems woefully inefficient. What happens then? Why can't you just wipe their drive?" Hewitt asked, nope, he didn't understand robots.

"Getting a drive big enough to keep the android going for long is pretty difficult, and I don't know of anyone who's managed to get the memories safely transferred. It's common for the data to become partially corrupted, since there's just so much of it to transfer," Scott said. "You can factory reset the android to get the body working again, but then you have to start training them to your preferences all over again."

"You're seriously planning to buy her?" Ethan asked Mourn disbelievingly.

Skye didn't reply to that, going to the shop with James so they could go in.

James led the way into the shop. "Scott, honey, I'm hooome!" He called. Then he noticed everyone else in the room. "Oh, uh, hey guys! Did I interrupt something?"

Scott facepalmed. "Oh God, he's back."

Mourn turned, grinning at James. "Robot Brother! Hawk girl!"

Hewitt shook his head, this crew were all crazy he was sure of it.
"Why shouldn't he? Arguably it's better than spending the rest of your days in this shack."

Mourn shrugged. "You want come fly away in big ship?" He asked the female android. He looked to all the rest "Any you want come fly away in big ship?"

Skye waved at the others then looked to Scott "Hello everyone."

"Hello!" One of the androids said to Skye.

James grinned at Mourn. "Hey Mourn! Are we buying androids today? Guys, you have all gotta come with us. Everyone's awesome, seriously. It's like the best group of people ever." He sat on Scott's counter and looked at Scott, "Not that you aren't lovely, man, but they're better."

"Get off my desk," Scott muttered. "Daniel!"

"Sorry, sir, I'll be right out," the android called, "We almost have everything packed, sir."

"I don't know you well enough to know if I want to go with you," Naomi said to Mourn. "None of us know you."

Mourn nodded. "that true. Gamble." He shrugged. "Maybe better, maybe no, who know unless try."

Hewitt looked amused.

Skye smiled at the android that spoke to her and moved a little away from the group, watching and listening to them then giggling softly "I think we all had about the same idea." She said softly and shook her head.

"They're the best owners you'll ever have," James said. "Come on Ethan, back me up on this."

"They're better than being sold to a thirty-eight year old man with body odor issues and a habit of borrowing your clothes," Ethan said.

James rolled his eyes. "Eeeeethan."

"They're pretty good. I like them," Ethan amended.

The androids looked to each other. Being asked what they wanted to do was weird as heck.

Scott looked hopeful.

Bess and Daniel came out with boxes of android supplies. Daniel set his down and went to politely ask James to move.

Hewitt chuckled.

Mourn grinned at Scott. "You no get lonely, miss robot if all go? "

Scott shrugged. "It's my job to sell robots. Daniel's not for sale though, he's been mine for too long."

"James, would you please get off Sir's desk? He doesn't like you sitting there," Daniel was saying.

James slid off the counter and hugged the older android. "Oh man, Scott, you gotta let him come with us. Just think, the biggest sale of your life!"

Scott frowned.

Daniel hugged James back, face shifting to an amused expression. "My place is here, James. You know I won't leave Mr Davidson."

James looked disappointed.

Scott looked touched.

"The rest of you should go, this shop isn't meant to be your home forever," Daniel said.

"But you'll be alone," the Seven series female pointed out.

"Sir will acquire new androids soon, I'm sure," Daniel said. "I have very few years left, I'd rather spend them here."

The other androids whispered to each other for a bit, then Naomi nodded. "We'll go."

"Can you even afford five androids?" Scott asked Mourn skeptically.

James released Daniel and went over to Skye. "Holy crap, is this really happening?"

Mourn shrugged. "No my money."

Hewitt laughed. "Ahh yes, it's always easier to spend other people's money."

Mourn shrugged again. "Be helpful. ship very big, crew very small. Lots of medics, no so many engineer. " He eyed up each of the androids. "You sure want come? Can stay in beach place, retire."

"Retirement is overrated." Hewitt interjected. "But if they only have a few years left they're hardly a solid investment."

Mourn made a face at the Aketi. "Work on that, figure out plan. I good fixing robot remember."

Hewitt looked unconvinced.

"Retirement?" asked Bess.

All six androids looked confused. That wasn't a term they'd ever heard in relation to themselves. You worked, or you were decommissioned. There really wasn't any other option.

"We don't want to stay on this planet, there are too many people here who want to hurt androids," another android said.