Aboard Pietas's flagship, Le Persequor
"I'm not leaving the Dragon Ring on board, Uurah, and that's the end of it." Pietas slipped into the plain brown shirt the android held for him. "I never take it off. And I'm not taking triefan."
"My lord, a vial of--"
"No means no, Uurah. I don't need triefan. Why would I need the healing nectar? It's a short trip. I can't imagine why I'd need it in the small amount of time I plan to spend there. I anticipate no fights. I'm only looking for a horse."
"It also reduces your pain level, my lord. And--"
"Thank you, Uurah. But no."
"As you wish, my lord. No triefan. Then will you allow me to attend you?"
"No. As I said before, I'm going alone."
"Perhaps I could send an android with you. One designed to resemble a Kin female."
"I'm going alone, Mother Hen." Pietas fastened the last button and then flipped back his hair. "I have my notereader." He patted the rear pocket of his pants. "It uploads to you. I'll communicate through that."
"Yes, my lord. Do take care with your ring. Theft of small, valuable objects has been on the rise on Felidae. When possible, keep it in a pocket." The android held out a leather coin purse holding Kin currency. "Money is stolen often too."
"Thank you for telling me what I already know."
"You are welcome, my lord. Or is that...sarcasm?"
"What do you think?"
"I am unsure, my lord. I--"
"Sarcasm, Uurah." Pietas clipped the small pouch to a hook on his pants, and then tucked it inside an adjacent pocket. "I've been robbed more times than I can count. No one's ever gotten away with taking my ring. It's not going to happen now. I'm wearing it."
"Yes, my lord."
"How do I look?" He held up one finger. "And don't say perfect."
"You resemble a human dressing like a Kin worker. The disguise is perfect...ly adequate, my lord."
"Good save, Uurah."
"One of the android servants could be altered to look like a female Kin in order to accompany you to the surface."
"What did I just say?"
"You said, 'Good save, Uurah.'"
Pietas rubbed the tight spot between his eyes. "I meant about going alone."
"That you were doing it, my lord."
"And what else did we discuss?"
"I mentioned my concern that you might be in danger."
Pietas pressed his lips together, unwilling to snap at the well-meaning android. "True. And then I said that I don't need looking after. I can manage on my own."
"Males are not permitted to travel unaccompanied on Felidae, my lord. I worry about your safety."
"I'll be fine."
"It could compromise the mission, my lord."
"Uurah..." He took a deep breath. "Did we not just have this discussion?"
The android smiled. "Yes, my lord."
Pietas ignored his developing headache. "And what did we discuss this afternoon while we were underway?"
"A great many things, my lord. Would you like a list?"
He maintained eye contact without speaking.
A human-like expression of confusion crossed the android's face. "My lord, I sense you refer to my attempt to protect you. It is what you created me to do. My areas of concern on your behalf are clear on that aspect of my being."
"Yes, they are." He'd hug the android, but Uurah wouldn't understand. "I know you're doing what you're supposed to do, and I appreciate it, but I can manage. Don't worry about me. What do you think I want you to say now?"
How human Uurah looked, puzzling over those words. "That...I still disagree?"
If Cyken were here, he would be chortling by now. Not at Uurah--the android was far from laughable. He was simply struggling to obey conflicting orders. No, Cyken would laugh at Pietas for trying so hard not to lose his patience.
Uurah gave a slight bow. "A correction. I sense you wanted me to say you are frustrated by having to deal with me."
"Somewhat true, but yet...not."
"Then how about, 'Yes, my lord.'"
Finally! "Yes. That's excellent."
The android smiled in response. "Thank you, my lord, but I will worry over you if I wish."
Pietas blinked. "What did you say?"
"That I will--"
"No." Pietas held up one hand. "Don't repeat it. I heard you. I was expressing astonishment that you backtalked. Where did you pick that up?"
"From the androids you assigned to Cyken, my lord. When I upgraded them in preparation for Izzorah's fealty test, I discovered that phrase in their response array. Since I did not possess a similar response, I adopted it."
"You picked that up by interacting with others like yourself." What a frightening thought. This must be how parents felt when their children came home from school, having learned swear words.
"Should I remove the response, my lord?"
Pietas checked his immediate desire to agree. How often had he hoped for independent behavior and thinking like this to develop? Each iteration of Uurah surpassed the previous.
He must not quench that, but foster the behavior.
No matter how annoying he found it.
Cyken stood and crossed to him. "I aligned with Izzorah because you, his rightful king, would not. When he passes this test, and he will, he'll be one of your people. So if anyone is guilty of betrayal, it's not me." Cyken folded his arms across his massive chest. "It's you."
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