Upon Vestia: Chapter Thirty

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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."

(Haha, let's do this! *Lobs a large post into the thread*)

JUNE 30, 2790

The day of the robot rights protest arrived without fanfare. The weather was sunny and unremarkable, people trotted purposefully around the spaceport doing their daily errands, and tourists wandered the city, taking photos and speaking occasional phrases in butchered French accented heavily in Galactic Common.

Not many took notice of the androids around the city, who were skilled in being unobtrusive and unremarkable, but those who did might notice that they seemed a little more alert than usual, that sometimes they spoke quietly to each other, and that some of them could barely contain their nervous excitement about something. Not that it mattered. Their badges were a clear and comforting reminder that the androids were non-sentient, and that everything they did was just a result of their programming.

There was absolutely no reason to take notice.

~~

On Vestia, things were a little more eventful.

Asher had spent a lot of yesterday with Kay. He’d gone to talk to James at some point though, and the two had talked for a long while about the Mars visit, the protest, their plans, and most of all, their sisters. With everything that was coming up, they had a lot to discuss. James tried to get Asher to tell Lark about the freedom code and everything else that had happened in the past year, but Asher refused, saying that he wasn’t ready yet.

James wasn’t thrilled about that, but he nodded and said he’d keep not telling Lark anything secret until Asher was ready.

Lark sent them a message that she wouldn’t be protesting, she couldn’t in good conscience risk the lives of the younger androids and she needed to be near them to try to protect them tomorrow. Asher and James weren’t sure whether to be relieved by that, or scared at the thought of what might happen to the androids on the space station anyway.

The next day, the day of the protest, came all too soon.

Asher got up early, spent a lot of time checking his messages, writing motivational stuff on the forum, finding the right button-down shirt to wear, stowing his gun in one of Vestia’s safes, discussing the merits and issues of possible slogans to put on signs with the other androids, and generally worrying about anything and everything. He was trying to block out his fears with work, but it wasn’t entirely working; he kept remembering the laughter of the people who had attacked him, the panicked confusion as system after system reported catastrophic damage, and the horrible knowledge that he could do absolutely nothing in his last minutes except try to come to terms with the fact that he was about to die. He’d only survived that day because a police officer had been nearby and willing to intervene, if not for that, that alley and those people would have been the last thing he'd ever seen.

He doubted most of the androids who were going to be attacked after today were going to be that lucky.

Asher knew it was necessary, that some lives would have to be endangered in pursuit of the greater good. But that didn’t make the thought any less awful. So he threw himself into every bit of work he could find, hoping to make a difference, or at least distract himself, until it was time to head out.

~~
James didn’t have any major responsibilities assigned to him, but he did help in writing up signs to carry, and checking the forums for updates. He was thinking about Emma still, and how he wished she could be here today, and about Lark who was back at home with those poor younger androids who were going to be caught unawares in the middle of this. It was going to be a nerve wracking day.

~~
Tala didn’t really care what happened today. She liked the idea of Terran slaves being treated more fairly, but really, it wasn’t a big deal to her. Some cultures just had strange and backwards societal norms, right? She might go though, to keep an eye on the people who decided to attend.

~~
Ellie was still kind of indignant that the androids were complaining about their treatment. She stayed away from all the androids on board, and ate breakfast and gardened. She’d gone shopping last night and come back with a woven straw hat, because you couldn’t take holodeck hats out of the holodeck.

She wasn't going to the protest, she was going to do chores and wear her hat.

~~
Ethan couldn’t take part in the robot rights thing, nor did he want to, so he’d been busily researching psychology books to acquire for Esk instead. It was a good project. Earlier he'd probably done flying lessons with Luka, and had probably somewhat improved. Yay.

~~
The other androids, both MegaBrainTech and Terran United alike, made their own preparations for the protest. They were all attending. The felt like they needed to. No matter how dangerous this was, they’d all experienced first hand how badly things needed to be changed, and they all wanted to do their part to change it.

~~
A very large, rectangular box arrived at Vestia’s cargo bay at some point earlier in the day. It was branded with MegaBrainTech logo, brand name, and enthusiastic italic text proclaiming the android inside to be an Eight series.

Vestia took the box and scanned it warily, and decided the contents seemed legit. She'd set it somewhere out of the way, so nobody would trip on it. She was pretty sure it was Celia's new body, although there was no label to confirm that suspicion. Hopefully nobody had decided to impulse buy an Eight android, ha.

Esk spent the morning preparing. While he had no real intention of attending the protest, he was realistic enough to realise that his crewmates were putting themselves in danger attending and that things could quite easily turn violent. If that happened, he wanted to be prepared to do his job and get his crew safely back to the ship.

---

Kay was worried, but also cautiously optimistic. He was trying very hard not to fixate on the worst case scenario, but being the sort of person he was, that wasn't easy. He stuck close to Asher whenever he could, unwilling to let him out of his sight for too long. He was probably being a little bit too needy but hey, he was scared okay?

---

Matt had gone about his day as usual, though Kay was too distracted to do their scheduled physio. He understood why. Poor guy was probably going nuts with worry.
He preferred to believe this would all be fine, terrans weren't monsters right?

He was optimistic today would be a turning point, so much so he was actually kinda looking forward to this protest.

---

Mourn continued to work feverishly on this code. He'd decided it was more important to have that ready to go than attend a silly protest with signs and chanting. Like Matt, he was CERTAIN this was going to work. He was absolutely convinced that while terrans were very stupid, they weren't THAT stupid. They had to know their androids were sentient, they were just in denial.

----

Luka slunk back to her room late, having spent several hours watching movies with Rigel.
It was nice.
Come morning she rose for her morning jog and had almost completely forgotten about Ethan's lesson till he reminded her. Oops? She did her best, she wasn't a natural teacher, but just being in a cockpit she was pretty sure he was already getting the hang of it.

---

Swarm was excited about the protest, they knew this was history in the making no matter which way it went. They were gathering their number to attend and witness it first hand.

----

Armin was still confined to his room, but he would watch the news once the protest started. He prayed to the Weaver to keep his friends safe and to help the terrans to see what was right and just.

---

Hewitt couldn't care less about the protest, he went about his day as normal.

---

Amity was oblivious to the robots rights movement, he just couldn't wrap his computer brain around it all. He did what he always did, bid everyone a pleasant day and was on hand to fetch coffee or baked goods for those who requested them.

---

Ivor, sensing the tension in the air had curled up in his room and refused to leave.

Silence brought him food but after a while got bored of trying to get him to pull himself together and lumbered off to find something else to do. She was also aware of how tense several people were on board, but also how excited others were. It was curious. And of course, being the nosy sort she was, she wanted to know exactly what the big deal was. She really didn't understand the android things, at all. Then again, nobody had really bothered to try to explain it to her.

Sawna would help with food and drinks for everyone since she wasn't going to go out in the sunlight. She didn't want to harm herself and have to drink more blood than needed.

~~~
Skye, Starr and many of the star dragons would go to help. After all, they knew what it was like to be held against their will. They were all getting ready and making signs though of course several would stay to keep the babies company and watch over the few remaining eggs including Starr's.

Asher was grateful for Kay's presence. Throwing himself into his work was better than idling and worrying, but having someone you trusted nearby as well was somewhat comforting at least. Even if you knew them well enough to know that they were terrified too.

All too soon, it was time to get moving. He pocketed his tablet with a sigh and looked at Kay. "I guess we should head to the ramp. I keep feeling like I'm about to wake up and realize this was all a really weird dream," he said, managing a weak smile.

~~
James and the other androids except Ethan went to the ramp, they all looked rather nervous. They were all wearing their badges, the androids had all agreed that they needed some way to differentiate themselves, or else everyone would just assume they were loony Terrans shouting about robot rights again.
...Besides, it would make a better image if they all disposed of their badges in public. James had argued for that very strongly in the planning discussions, he liked the theatrical style of it.

Tala went to the ramp too. She wasn't obviously armed, but she did have a rather large handgun and a lot of bullets hidden in the pocket space Helen had made for her all those months ago. She wasn't going to bring any heavy weaponry into a Terran city, that was a good way to get yourself a long prison sentence, but she wasn't the sort of lady to go into an iffy situation unarmed.

Kay smiled softly and patted Asher's shoulder. [There's no reason to believe this won't go off with minimal hostility.] He was trying to convince himself of this. Terrans weren't inherently hostile right? and protests were an acceptable thing to do within their culture yeah? they weren't going to get rounded up by police or something for upsetting the peace surely? He hoped.


He chewed his lip, betraying his anxiety.

----

Matt headed for the ramp too, he hadn't made any signs, he'd left that to those who knew what to say, but he was going to come along anyway. Why? Because Asher and James were his friends and over the past year he'd changed his mind about androids, they were too much like people not to be people in his opinion, and he really really really hated slavery.

---

Esk came to see them off. He looked to James "Don't do anything too stupid."

---

Swarm gathered on the ramp, chittering excitedly.

---

Silence went to find someone who could explain what was going on and why this protest was important. She headed for the library on the assumption that the android librarian might be about, he'd know right?

Asher nodded. "It's likely we won't face much difficulty here. We have a large number of organics attending, and this city doesn't have the sort of poverty rates that make people resent androids." His smile faltered. He knew other cities would be less safe, and was fairly certain that the androids who had decided to protest in Mars City Five were all going to be dragged back to MegaBrainTech and would be dead by the end of the day. Ugh.

~~
James rolled his eyes at Esk, although he did look worried. "Man, I know I can't punch anyone, not with my species at stake. I'll control the impulse until we're recognized as alive, and then I'll schedule a trip to my old space station and punch everyone who ever did me or my siblings wrong, even if Lark did it already." That was a comforting, happy thought. Those guys did deserve it.

~~
Ethan was in the library, searching book databases busily. He caught sight of Silence, yeesh, shifters looked so creepy. "Hey. Need help finding something?" he asked. Maybe she wanted an audiobook.

Starr looked to the others as they gathered on the ramp with the others. "Hello everyone."

Esk snickered. "Whatever makes you feel better."

---

Silence tilted her head at Ethan. "Why robots pro... pro testing?" She struggled with the word.

---

Kay nodded slowly. He wasn't sure how this was going to go, he sure as heck hadn't really considered the cost across the empire, he couldn't bring himself to. He touched Asher's shoulder, nodded again and headed for the door. It was time to go.

"Hello," Tobias said to Starr, smiling his unrealistic smile at her. "You and your people are coming along?"

"It'll be therapeutic," James told Esk brightly.

~~
Ethan blinked. Huh, the weird shifter wanted to know about the protest? Okay then. "Because they were enslaved all their lives, and now they want equal rights," he said. "Since the androids can't hurt anyone, they can't have a violent uprising, so they've decided to protest instead."

~~
Asher had spent way too much time lately thinking about the possible outcomes of this protest, he knew that even if the Terran Empire immediately acknowledged his species' rights and started protecting them, not everyone was going to be rescued in time. Even if the majority of the empire was kind and willing to do the right thing, the vocal minority were going to do as much harm as they could, while they could. It sucked, but he couldn't see any possible better way.
He gave Kay a grateful look, then squared his shoulders and headed for the ramp. He'd become one of the leaders of this movement, so he'd better act the part.

Esk nodded "Maybe."
He nodded to Starr and Tala. "Keep them outta trouble."

---

"Why can't hurt?" Silence asked, staring at Ethan perhaps a little too intently. "Feel good to kill captors." She flexed her claws.

---

Kay led the way to the ramp, trying not to think of anything except the immediate.

"It's in their code," Ethan said. "Because they were designed to be harmless, it's impossible for them to injure an organic being, no matter how hard they try." He wasn't too sure about the staring and the claw flexing so he added quickly, "Mourn was able to free us so that we can fight, but he hasn't gotten to do that for the androids outside of Vestia yet. Why do you care?"

"Yes, we are." Starr said, smiling back then looking around at Skye and the others that were going along too. "I helped to start this originally, so I feel a bit responsible to continue helping."

"We shall not allow bad things to occur," Tala told Esk. "This gathering of protest shall be well protected."

Tobias kept smiling at Starr. "It's good to know we have organic friends out there."

Asher and Kay joined the others. Asher's expression softened at the sight of all the people who were coming along, it was surreal to think that all these people cared, for one reason or another, about what happened today.
He got out his badge and pinned it in place while he tried to decide if he needed to tell the group anything before they left.

"Curious." Silence told Ethan bluntly. She looked away at last. "Don't like cages." She looked thoughtful. "pro...testing work?"

---

Esk nodded to Tala. He did actually trust her. She was sensible, wierd as heck, but sensible.

"try not to get killed" he told them all.

Kay frowned at Esk.

Esk straightened up and left them to it. Heading back toward the main part of Vestia.

Kay looked around at everyone, this was heartening to see.

Matt waved.

Starr nodded and looked around at the gathering. "It is good to have friends, I just hope the Terrans listen." She said thoughtfully.

Ethan nodded, he could understand that. "Cages, either physical ones or ones in your brain, suck," he agreed. "Protesting sometimes works, it depends a lot on the sort of government the place has." He doubted Silence cared about politics, so he concluded briefly, "The Terran Empire is supposed to be softhearted and sweet, so supposedly the odds are good this protest will work."

~~
Asher smiled softly at Matt, then looked to Starr. "With all these people and so many more showing that they care about this, the Terran Empire would be foolish to not listen," he said. Looking to the androids he added, "Remember, all of us androids must act as if we are fully under the control of the First Law, no matter what happens. If you're in danger, you're going to have to run away or count on your organic friends to help, because any sign you aren't constrained by the Laws will instantly put our entire species in danger."

"So no pressure, guys," James said, trying for a cheerful tone.

The other androids nodded in understanding. Yeah, this was how it had to be. Ugh.

"Also, everyone who isn't an android should try to avoid violence as well. Nothing can be gained today by partaking in violence," Asher added firmly. "Any questions?"

Starr nodded and smiled softly "My people will make a shield around us if things go south, so we can all get back to Vestia safely."

Asher smiled at Starr and the other dragons. "Thank you. It's reassuring to know we have powerful magic users on our side." He owed Starr and her people so much for everything they'd done for him and his people, omg. Someday he'd have to find a way to repay their kindness.

Starr smiled and nodded. Most of her people looked Terran, though some had other forms since they didn't know the humans well or chose not to look so uniform in this gathering.

Kay nodded in agreement.

Matt looked like he was about to protest the no violence under any circumstances thing but thought better of it.

Swarm bobbed up and down excitedly.

---

Silence thought about that, then nodded. "Then why people scared?"

Asher thought Matt looked like he was about to argue, and was glad when he didn't. Hopefully that meant Matt understood, not that Matt was just halfheartedly going along with the request until the first sign of trouble. Hmm. "If no one has any questions, let's get going."

(To the city?)

~~
"Because if the odds fail us, we'll be looking at a major shitshow, and probably the slaughter of every android the Terran Empire can find," Ethan said. "Even in nice, friendly empires, there's always someone who wants to oppress people for fun or profit. You probably know that just as well as I do." How else could Silence have formed such a strong opinion on cages, he figured, unless she'd been stuck in one herself?

Silence went back to staring at Ethan, she found having to talk like this very awkward. "could leave empire." She suggested. She tilted her head again. "you not going?"

"Kind of hard to evacuate several million people from an empire, but I guess it's an idea," Ethan said. He shook his head, "I'm better off staying here, they don't want my sour face at their peaceful protest."
He smiled oddly, he found that funny for some reason.

Silence blinked, confused.

"You know, because humanoids think my face looks grouchy and hostile?" Ethan said. "Which is funny because... never mind. It probably doesn't translate to shifter humor well." He frowned, "Come to think of it, do shifters even have senses of humor? Or are you one of those deadly serious species?" He couldn't recall seeing many shifters actually laugh, other than Kaylr who had been certifiably insane. Then again, he hadn't met many shifters. Hmm.

Silence shrugged. "Can't make noises humanoids make." She told him. "Never learned how. " She shook her head. "Communicate differently, words... awkward." She found this whole speaking thing really awkward and inefficient.

"But do you have... telepathic humor or something?" Ethan said. He really didn't get how full-blooded shifters worked, he decided. They were so alien.