The Mirror: Matthew's Ship

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The shuttle that took off was guided to the dock of Natthew's ship. They were welcomed off with salutes and hard lined faces, although the welcome party was the only one that seemed so serious. Other Guards and pilots both on duty and off casual strode around, settled down, or chatted with fizzy drinks on their person. A bit came by with washing supplies, but was the unfortunate victim of a flying wrench. It's eye twitching, it keeled over and sparked, the culprit swearing and running over to make sure it was all right before quickly and with much care beginning to guide it to presumably someone who could fix it. The culprit's friend yelled something about reporting her dangerous antics to higher ups and harming a fellow member. The distraction was quickly interrupted by the all too serious escort leader. "Welcome." They all stood a little straighter when they spotted Inari. "Matthew and his guest, Hytar is waiting to see you in the office."

The collar really did look pretty badly stuck. The huge band of metal was partially buried under the ship's swollen skin, which certainly would make getting it out a difficult task. Some of the passengers from Vestia had probably not seen Vestia from this perspective before, and the ship's misshapen hull and patchy looking paint only made her look more hideous.

'"Do you have access to the technology for such an operation?" Asher asked, "I can't imagine this problem is all that common, bioships being as rare as they are."

"Why, dear android," Matthew grinned, "What kind of privileged freelancer do you take me for?" He typed something else in, and the cameras began to scan the distant Vestia, determining her length and diameter. "We can help with this, too."

Asher smiled gratefully. "I'm glad to hear it. Although she's free to stop growing now if she wants, the collar certainly isn't doing her any favors."

Hytar looked at the image on the screen and tutted, shaking his head. "Ssslaversss, can't even treat their own ssship right."

"Replacing the collar was seen as... as too much of a risk." Stellan spoke, watching the ship on the screen in morbid facination. "Without being able to sedate her, there was the chance she'd fight back when it was removed before a new one could be fitted... or.. or so my brother used to claim. He.. probably just wanted her to suffer. " He lowered his head meekly.

Esk shook his head. "How much damage could she do to the people on board if she decided to? Once the collar is off?" he asked.

Mirror Luka stared at the image in horror and sadness. that poor poor ship. She mumbled something under her breath in her native tongue <<Poor old girl>>

"She can't do much harm. She was surgically altered to have no control over most of her functions, she can't even fly on her own, she has an autopilot installed to handle long distance flights, and we have to manually set it," Asher said quietly. "There's pretty much zero risk in taking the collar off, unless she tried something like deafening us."

"So even without the collar she's never going to be able to have any sort of true freedom?" Mirror Luka frowned.

Esk nodded. "That sounds pretty shit. Having zero control over your own body like that, but still being conscious. Like being remote controlled. " Esk shuddered.

"Bastards." Mirror Luka spat.

"We have ear defenderssss." Hytar suggested.

"She shouldn't hurt anyone, she doesn't have any reason to." Stellan reasoned.

"Doesn't mean she's not mad and crazy enough to try." Esk shrugged.

"It's possible that a skilled surgeon could restore some level of control to her, reverse the operations that they did. I don't know whether she'd be able to relearn how to use all her abilities, I'm sure she's spent most of her life like this," Asher said. He looked away sadly, guilt gnawing on him for what he'd almost done to the ship, "She's been so badly mistreated, and in such a crippling way. If she could just be looked after by someone who wasn't cruel, I think that would be a very good start."

"Can you euthanase something that big?" Esk asked.

Mirror luka punched him in the arm. "Don't be a dick." She told him.

Esk rubbed his arm, frowning. "What? Would you want to live like that?"

"Maybe... here and now isn't the appropriate time for this debate. " Stellan spoke calmly.

Mirror Luka nodded. "He's right."

Esk mumbled a vague noncommittal "fine."

Starr looked over to the others then back to the image ith a frown "I never saw her like this." She said quietly then looked down for a moment "Can we hail her so she can have a say in what we do with her?"

Asher winced. There WAS a bit of sense to what Esk said, even if it was horrible. A life of slavery, with no way to ever gain control of yourself? Even androids had it better than that, at least they could be reprogrammed. She was trapped, probably forever. It was awful. He nodded at Starr's words. "That sounds sensible."

Matthew nodded at Starr. "We could." He sent out a signal to Vestia.

After a few seconds the ship would respond. "Sirs, ma'ams?" She asked nervously, "Can I help you somehow?"

"Yeah good luck with this one." Esk folded his arms and opted to not have this discussion with the giant ship. Nope.

"We wanted you involved in the decisions that will affect you, such as what you will do and if you would want your systems reverted to your control, though that may not succeed or if you would prefer to end your pain now?" Starr stated rather bluntly.

Vestia stayed quiet for almost a minute. This was definitely a test, and she didn't want to answer wrong, for fear of the consequences. "I'd rather not die, ma'am, but of course I defer to your judgement," she muttered finally.

Starr sighed a little "You are not going to be punished for an honest opinion on this matter. At least that got euthanasia off the table."

Vestia wasn't entirely convinced, but it was obvious that they wanted a more detailed response to the question. Hmm, honesty versus guesswork. Not an easy choice. "I don't think I could survive alone, even if I could control myself," she said honestly at last. "And I don't want to have to find out the hard way."

"once a slave, always a slave." Esk muttered.

"Could we ensure she goes to someone kind who could give her a decent life despite her limitations?" Mirror Luka asked. "Someone who could help rehabilitate her after a lifetime of servitude?" They'd dealt with people like this before, so many couldn't deal with freedom, a lot of them took their own lives rather than live free. It was sad, but i was the nature of slavery, it took people's very sense of self from them. Each loss only made her more determined to stop the vile practice and save people while they could still be saved.
It might be too late for the poor bio ship.

Stellan remained quiet through all this, watching everyone thoughtfully.

Hytar sipped his drink, he didn't look particularly interested in all this. Moral debates? nah, not his thing.

Asher gave Esk a look that he hoped would be read as please be quiet, you're not helping right now.

"That sounds nice," Vestia said very hesitantly at mirror Luka's suggestion.

Starr nodded silently and looked to the screen again "I would like to stay your captain." She said softly

"You would?" Vestia asked uncertainly.

Starr shrugged a little and nodded "Yes, though you will not be a slave ship anymore, even if I so not stay your captain in this time of transition."

The ship stayed silent.

"Admittedly the situation was different then, but Starr was always kind to me back when she was able to give me orders," Asher said. "I'm certain there are other options available for you though, should you wish to take them."

"I don't know," Vestia said nervously. Too many options! Make it stop! she thought.

Asher looked sympathetic. Poor ship.

Esk actually did shut up, he kept his arms folded, face blank.

"What WILL you do now?" Stellan asked Starr. "Will... will you continue your experiments?" He looked slightly wary.

"Able to give ordersss?" Hytar asked. Hmm, seemed Stellan had inherited his father's incurable curiosity.

Starr sighed softly then shrugged "I have not chosen what my future will be." She admitted quietly

Asher looked at Starr worriedly. He hoped she would only experiment on consenting test subjects from now on, at least. "My three laws were removed a few months ago," he told Hytar, "Now I'm free to make my own choices."

"Removed?" Hytar leaned forward, studying Asher critically. "How isss that possssible? the terransss inssssissst their lawssss are.. how did they put it Matthew... infallible and un-hackable?" He chuckled. "Typical terran hubrisss. But who would want to free an android?"

"People who aren't comfortable with slavery." Esk shrugged.

Hytar smiled oddly at Esk. "You talk an awful lot."

Esk shrugged again. "you asked."

"That I did." Hytar chuckled. "Ssstill, ssssuch an achievement. The impossssible, apparently. Hmmm." He mused, trying to figure out if there was any potential profit, either monitary or powerwise in this information.