Downtime on Denon

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Athena"]

The city and planet of Denon were practically interchangeable as the vast city was reputedly second only to Coruscant in population and wealth. Of course, with a vast city planet of uncounted billions came the crime, poverty and depression this inevitably also brought. However, it was useful as a place where just about anything could be acquired, at a price.

An unusual pair made their way through the mid tiers of one of the endless city levels. One, a tall redhead moved with fixed stride and wary glances. The other, a shorter blonde, wandered beside the redhead seemingly carefree, eating a strange purple fruit.

“You know, you really should try this Z, you’ll like it.”
“I do not require nutrition. In any case, Miss Enyo does not approve of you indulging in sugary treats.”
“Her sisterly concern is noted and rejected. Fine, no fruit for you, but once we’ve got you fixed up we should go shopping for you.”
“Fashion is a waste of money. If it is not practical it is not useful.”
“Why can’t it be both? I bet that if I got you something with some concealed holsters that’d please you.”
“I prefer what I have already.”
“Suit yourself.”
The redhead was limping ever so slightly, but it did not impede their speed.
“I do not understand why we cannot ask Miss Enyo to perform these repairs.”
“I…no, I’m not ready to see her again yet,” Amara said. Her mouth compressed slightly. They were free of their old enslavers, but Amara and Enyo were very different people, and though they remained sisters there were some issues which meant that Amara would only returned in the utmost need.

Finally they came to their destination; Vork’s Machinium.
“Is this the place? Weird name,” Amara said.
“This is the location. The name is…”
“Irrelevant, yeah, yeah. Come on.”

Stepping through they were met at the a female human.
“Welcome to the Machinum, ladies, how might I serve you?”
“Karina Talus,” the blonde said. It was never wise to use one’s real name. “We contacted you about a mechanical correction?”
“Oh yes.” The clerk looked the redhead up and down. “Ah, I see. Come this way. Mr Vork will see you soon.”
They were led into a small room with surprisingly clean, sterile facilities. There was only one other person in the waiting room….

 

[Athena]

Location: Denon [Vork’s Machinum]​

Tag: [member="Amara Zarides"]​

She was unused to being on her own. [member="Arekk"] was late. Held up by some sort of “negotiation” that had gone, as he liked to put it, sideways.

Athena was prone to worry. She recognized that the emotion was simulated, as was the tightness in her chest, but she could no more halt that process than she could stop the rain. Everything he did, every move he made, every ridiculous job he accepted, left her holding her breath. He had promised to try and make it back to her. Always. But, he was still mostly human. The notion that he could die from something as silly as a well-placed blaster-bolt bothered her more than words could say.

Well, words could say it, but she didn’t want to.

“Athena. My appointment was scheduled for half past.”

The human female at the front desk entered her name and designation into a system that the replicant promptly began to scan through the data-stream. Where did the details go? Where did they store it? Proper encryption? There wasn’t any sort of leak or glaring errors in code so she left it be. After all, what could Vork’s Machinum do with a common first name? There were more Athena’s in the verse than she cared to create a predictive algorithm to count.

“You’re here alone?”, the woman asked, curious, as to where her ever-present partner was. Nine-times out of ten there was always a cybernetically enhanced male at her side, holding her hand, while she fretted over a simply diagnostic. He was incredibly handsome. Athena noticed that the female almost seemed disappointed, and stared for a long moment, before offering a slow smile. “Yes. Today, I am.”

The receptionist nodded her head slowly and then gestured for Athena to take a seat. Her hair shifted in color at the dismissal, the shade fringing from brown, to a mottled shade of primrose. She really hated to be here without her Arekk. He always knew how to take her mind off of things. How to distract her. The particular frame he had purchased for her was notoriously hard to work with, however, difficult to damage. The Machinum was one of the few places that could pull off any major system updates without corrupting any files. Athena hated that more than anything.

The slender automaton took a seat in the hard plastic chair that hovered neatly a foot or so from the floor and picked up a data-pad to scroll through some of the latest and greatest news on Denon. Her posture was perfect, though, touched with a little bit of personality. Her right leg crossed fluidly over her left while she did her best to have patience. The HRD wore a pale pink blouse tucked neatly into a pleated gray skirt. Everything about her seemed honest, innocent, from the wide green eyes to the button nose that graced her face.

When the portal slid open she looked up, expectant, before realizing that one too many forms filled the doorway. Her shoulders slumped. Still. Waiting. How…Inconvenient. Without looking up from the data-pad she began to clear her scheduled, shifting reservations, and passively pinging Arekk’s vitals from a distance. He seemed fine. Heartbeat, within range. She glanced up from an article on new Synth-Skin to view the two females that had arrived. “The receptionist is often mistaken. Mr. Vork will see us when he pleases, sadly, not a moment before.”

Her head tilted as a small mote of welcoming happiness spread across her elfin features. She loved to meet new people. Not to mention, she was starting to feel like her circuits had ants crawling all over them, the longer she sat idle. Denon wasn’t particularly dangerous these days but it wasn’t Lithios either. “I am Athena. It is nice to meet you both.”

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Athena"]

Amara, unlike the many dour and humourless women in her life, liked meeting and chatting with new people.
She grinned. “Likes to take his time, huh? Well, it’s all good, I don’t mind waiting.”

The woman’s hair changed, that was odd. However, Amara was used to oddities, and further she put two and two together. This woman with the magic hair was here alone in a droid repair facility, and she had an odd sense about her. The conclusion was easy; she was an HRD just like Zhenya beside her.

“Athena, huh? Nice strong name! I’m…” she paused, trying to remember what name she’d used this time. “Karina! Such a pleasure to meet you. This is Zhenya.”

Anything medical gave Amara a bit of pause. She’d grown up a clone in a sterile white series of corridors. Still, at least she wasn’t the one being administered to.

“So…come here often? This is our first time, just stopping by, you know what I mean? Nice hair too!”

Amara’s own blonde hair was a bit ruffled, defying being controlled, a bit like her.

Still Mr Zork did not appear. Perhaps he was with a patient, or having a nap, who could tell?

 

[Athena]

Location: Denon [Vork’s Machinum]​

Tag: [member="Amara Zarides"]​

Athena beamed at the sandy-blonde haired character that had appeared in the world that the lifeless waiting room had created. It was nice enough, however, a little too industrial for her tastes. She liked a splash of color. Light. Not just a metallic surface and highly uncomfortable chairs. How any organic ever sat in these for any length of time was truly beyond her realm of understanding.

“I do not mind, only, I will be late. Very late. To a very important date.”

Her hair changed shade with her vague displeasure. From primrose to a holding a tinge of periwinkle blue. The replicant was actually quoting something from a book made for younglings that she’d once crossed over the data stream. The Darknet had all sorts of wonderful things. Myths about talking white rabbits, giant caterpillars, and outlawed alchemical treats that made people grow very tall or shrink very small. Nevertheless, she was supposed to help Arekk with his work.

He would be on his own for this, but, she had faith in him. Athena supported him in every way she could from afar. This was the only location that offered the particular software upgrade she was looking for. Their mutual friend, and cohort, by the name of Teyla was with child. Athena wanted to be prepared. Her medical knowledge had been tainted by false claims from the Holo-Net and she needed a fresh start. Mr. Vork had the best midwifery software for the most species available.

Athena wanted this one. There were a couple of other reasons, as she had a few questions for the mechanical maestro, but that was her main goal for the day. Nothing else would do.

“Thank you. My Arekk named me.”, Athena responded kindly to the possible patient, her smile sweet, and innocent as the dawn. “I am very strong, so, you could say that it fits. I break many dishes by accident.”

The replicant added both names to her registry. The one seemed a little bit of a grumpy bear, as the Holo-Net called it, but the other was very personable. Athena liked her very much. If she wasn’t so terribly distracted by the vitals of her partner she might have thought to focus to see which one of them wasn’t quite like the other. “I visit as needed. My frame is…Complicated. I am gladdened for your company as this place can be far from stimulating.”

The compliment to her hair caused her nose to scrunch cutely. She shook her head and the shade changed again, back to a soft, primrose pink. Happiness caused the color to shift just as easily as sadness or irritation. She could hold it a steady auburn steady, for polite company, but here? At home? It didn’t matter. Eye, hair, and skin-color where only temporary. “Thank you again. You are very kind, Karina.”

“Your synth-skin…”, Athena trailed off, her brow drawing together, before it smoothed. It was flawless to the point that she almost thought this lovely creature was purely organic. “It is lovely. The designer must be very proud. Was it very expensive?”

Zhenya was certainly quality, but, not the same as Karina. Her head tilted. What was she missing?

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Athena"]

“Hmm, yes, not a big fan of dates, nor prunes.” Amara laughed as though this was a joke.
The rippling colours of the hair were distracting. She watched as it shifted from blue to pink to many other shades.
“Oh, your Arekk? Is that some sort of tribal position?” she asked distractedly. It sounded like a Kraal thing, a species of lizard people who liked to maraud and pillage.

Finally Athena’s words drew her back to attention. “Oh yes, Zhenya is a very advanced. Her designers weren’t pleased by anything though.” Except the extermination of organic life….

She frowned. “Oh, you mean me? No, I’m not a droid, I’m human. Well, mostly. No, I’m just here to hold Zhenya’s hand. She gets nervous being operated on.”
“This is untrue,” the HRD replied flatly.
“Well, you know. The usual,” Amara said in a tone which might mean anything.

“So…Athena, what are you here, if you don’t mind me asking. Your frame might be complicated, but it is pretty magnificent.”
Amara felt nothing odd dealing with an HRD like an organic. It had been her entire ‘life’ practically.

 

[Athena]

Location: Denon [Vork’s Machinum]​

Tag: [member="Amara Zarides"]​

​

“I will be so late for my date that I will be a shriveled prune.”

Athena caught the joke and did her best to return it. There were a few parts she found humorous, mostly, the notion that she would grow old. As a replicant, she would not. The slender creature shifted in the hard plastic chair and crossed her right leg neatly over her left. She had a magazine-holo sitting on a communal datapad in her lap but it was terribly boring. When asked about Arekk, Athena smiled, and her pale-green eyes flared with fond light. “Arekk is the name of a man. My partner. He loves me very much.”

Her words rang with innocent truth. It was clear that at the very least, Athena believed it, and easily let the conversation move from one subject to the next. When Karina mentioned that Zhenya’s designers weren’t very pleased with anything, Athena tilted her head in confusion, whilst trying to discover the unspoken meaning. “She looks very pleasing to me. Perhaps, their expectations were too high?”

The real surprise, however, was that Karina was in fact organic. Athena’s expressive eyes visibly widened and a subtle blush stole across her cheeks. “Oh, forgive my assumption.”, she started off, truly apologetic, as she twisted the hem of her skirt in her hands.

“I’ve been multitasking and my resources are spread a little too thin for a full scan. I’m not used to seeing an organic here.”

If she did, normally, they weren’t so friendly. Or they were too friendly. Athena supposed that did explain why she was so flawlessly human. Most HRD could be identified by some means or another. Athena’s coloring changed, and her eyes, were far too bright to be truly natural. It could have been an enhancement but her peculiar personality typically filled in the rest of the blanks.

The now auburn-haired android settled when Zhenya responded very flatly to Karina. Which part was untrue? Was she not nervous? Or did she not want Karina to hold her hand? Athena sighed softly. She wished that Arekk was here. She didn’t like it when someone else accessed her programming. It made her feel wrong. As if they were delving into things they should not see. “If Zhenya does not wish to hold hands it seems that mine will be free. I am very nervous.”

Athena never came here without Arekk.

Karina asked why she was visiting and a little smile crossed her face. It was instantly full of fondness. “My friend. Our friend, is having a tiny human, and I am filled with concern. She does things that Mother’s Weekly would frown upon. They recommend brisk walks at best during this part of the gestational period…Sometimes, other humans, shoot at her.”

“I do not want anything to happen to her. Or to her tiny human. Mr. Vork has the latest software in emergency Midwifery for several dozen species and I will have it installed.”

Athena paused. The installation was technically something that Arekk could have purchased and installed himself, however, she had other questions that only Mr. Vork would be able to answer. “My frame is built for future modifications. I need to discuss the possibility of some changes as well…”

She smiled, sweet like candy, and leaned forward a little to rest her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand. “So…You could say I am here for a minor upgrade and a consultation.”

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Athena"]
It was pretty clear to Amara that this was a very advanced HRD before her, almost certainly a one-off custom job. She knew a lot about HRDs, not just from working under them, but with them during her time with her sister, and of course she had one with her permanently. However, all those HRDs had limited, a ‘cap of humanity’ they could show. Some models were better than others, of course, but Amara was witnessing a very well-crafted machine. Were it not for some of the physical quirks and the sense in the Force she would not have picked Athena out as not organic.

“I’m sure he does,” Amara replied when Arekk was mentioned. She internally frowned. HRDs were so much better than trophy wives because you didn’t have to pay them alimony. Though she was certainly organic, the thought that someone might use as lovely a device as this partly or fully as a means of satisfying their desires made her very slightly upset.

“Well, thanks for the compliment, I guess!” Amara said with a grin. “I’m mainly here because Zhenya is my companion and I want to make sure they are done right by Mr Zork. At least you’ve been here more than I have so you can endorse his work I’m guessing.”
She listened to Athena’s reasons, nodded. “Well, last thing you want is a midwife without the wrong software.” Who knew, maybe those droids all those centuries ago were covering up their malpractice by pretending a certain Senator died of a broken heart.

“Well, we’re here for some minor repairs. Any droid sawbones can repair a damaged frame, but this has to be done right and leave my companion’s covering intact and undamaged.”

At that moment the receptionist emerged. “Mr Zork will see you now, Athena.”
Amara felt a strange sort of kinship with the HRD there. Such a creature was very unusual and strange indeed.
“I’ll come with you, if you like, make sure everything happens right,” she offered.
“I do not feel this is wise,” Zhenya stated, eyeing Athena suspiciously.
“You can come too then. I’ll stand in for Arekk – if you give me a list of the upgrades I can run a diagnostic afterwards.”
Partly she offered this to help out the HRD, partly because she’d be bored sitting waiting for Athena to finish.

 

[Athena]

Location: Denon [Vork’s Machinum]​

Tag: [member="Amara Zarides"]​

Athena knew that she was different. Her origins were complicated, however, she had been so sheltered that she never really understood how different. The biggest concern she usually had revolved around what dress to buy, what new recipe to try, and what she could assist Arekk with. His work slicing often placed him in compromising positions in which she did her best to aid him. Always, from a remote location. The replicant beamed at Karina. “You are most welcome. Mr. Vork is rude, stuffy, and unapologetic…”

“But he does not make mistakes.”

She knew his reputation was harsh but his work spoke for itself. Athena had been to several software programmers previously and most seemed a little confused once they tried to integrate her code with her system. It did not always synchronize properly and left her with gaps, glitches, that Arekk had been forced to spend weeks removing. “I only want my friend to have the best. Her tiny human means everything to her. And to her partner.”

Athena still did not know what to call Mr. Riggs. She knew that he and Teyla were extremely intimate but their relationship seemed hard to define. The HRD had stopped trying. Some things did not belong in a neatly labeled box.

She listened quietly while Karina explained the repairs that Zhenya needed. Her auburn head bobbed back and forth in understanding. HRD frames were expensive to maintain. She had seen what Arekk had paid just to have the smallest adjustment made. “I—“, she started, but was interrupted by the receptionist. Athena paused. She had never gone past this point alone.

Karina chimed in at the perfect moment, offering to accompany her, and Athena immediately returned it with a grateful smile. She set the datapad down on the table that she’d mostly been ignoring and wrapped a pale pink jacket neatly around her arm. Her free hand she extended to Karina. The cool demeanor of Zhenya rolled right off her back like water. “Yes, please. I would like you to come very much.”

Athena did, in fact, expect that Karina would want to hold hands.

“Mr. Vork can provide the exact list, however, I can also do so if he is feeling less than friendly.”

It was like flipping a coin. Sometimes, he almost, seemed like a decent human. Other times…He was a gargoyle. Yes, definitely, a gargoyle. Athena turned her gaze back to the receptionist and nodded her head. She was ready now. Karina, for some reason, felt trustworthy. Athena didn’t often meet humans that treated her normally once they realized she was the equivalent of a clever toaster. “We are ready now.”

The way to the procedure room wasn’t far. It was spacious area filled with every sort of tool available. It was sterile, in a sense, with many metal accents. It wasn’t built for comfort. At all. Strictly function. “Athena…”, the older man wheezed, over a pair of oversized glasses. The circuitry within the glass glimmered for a moment whilst he scanned the three individuals that answered. “Who is this? Where is Arekk?”

“This is my friend, and, your next client. Arekk is away on business.”

“I see, I see. Take a seat.”

Athena complied as she had many times before, though this time, she pulled Karina with her. There were two ports on the side of her next that Mr. Vork utilized. “For now I just need the midwifery software. I’m still not sure about the rest…”

He grunted in response and waited for her to move her hair. A quick movement exposed the correct port and Athena waited. She always hated this part. Having something new downloaded felt strange. What did humans say? Like a ghost. Like a ghost passing through her.

 

[Amara Zarides]

[member="Athena"]
“Ah, the inimitable Mr Vork, I presume!” Amara said cheerily.
Vork glanced at her, grunted. “If you were droid, Miss, you’d need a memory recondition,” he said flatly. He clearly had reached the point of being able to discern a droid from an organic pretty much in all cases.
“You’d be amazed how many people have tried.”

She watched as the ports were revealed. There was something about this which always made her feel…off. Despite having lived with droids and HRDs for years, and having a sister who was more machine than woman, there was something strange about seeing the metallic reality beneath the human. It reminded her that for all her personality Athena was, to use a vulgar term, a clever toaster. But then, Amara and all organics were much the same but with mush and goo rather than silicon and wires.

She watched as the software processing continued. Vork looked at Zhenya.
“Right, bad knee, yes? I’ll take a look now whilst she processes. Pants off.”
With only a little fumbling due to the damage, Zhenya removed her trousers. It had taken some patient discussion and returning blank stares to convey that clothes were important to keep on where possible.
Vork inspected the leg and knee carefully, both with a scanner and by touch. The synthskin had regrown as it was supposed to, but it was covering damage.
“Looks like you’ve seen some action. What was it?”
“I will not divulge this information,” Zhenya said firmly.
Vork harrumphed but produced some tools. Some were larger, some were very small.
“Recalibration and resetting the plates will work here.”

By this stage he had returned to Athena and checked the download and processing. It ticked to 100% as he looked.
“Athena, run a stage 1 diagnostic and confirm program upload and integration,” he ordered.

 

[Athena]

Location: Denon [Vork’s Machinum]​

Tag: [member="Amara Zarides"]​

Athena sat primly in the chair that Mr. Vork always requested that she sit in. The HRD knew to stay still, while her ports were exposed, and gently pulled her stylized auburn locks to the side. The color changed as she did so, the tips changing to a shade of azure, that signified her mood. Fear. It didn’t matter how many times she’d had her systems checked, backed up, or upgraded in this office. She had never been without Arekk before. “Ms. Karina does not need her memory reconditioned. Silly, Mr. Vork.”

The automaton had the appearance of a lovely, intelligent, young woman—but on some occasions, jokes went way over her head. She took them a little too literally, not to mention, had the propensity to misconstrue statements and questions. Athena’s lips parted, slightly, when Mr. Vork plugged in his equipment. It didn’t hurt, clearly, but she didn’t like it either.

She remained silent while Mr. Vork went to work with Ms. Zhenya. She was curious about the injury that the rather standoffish machine had sustained but she couldn’t move her head. Instead, she used the reflective surfaces, to paint a fairly accurate picture, and combined that data with what Mr. Vork said aloud. “That looks troublesome. I am sorry.”

When she was told to perform a diagnostic she immediately complied. Her eyes fluttered in a way that no human, no organic, could manage. They abruptly stopped before she ran the required tests, and her expression went slack, almost, as if she were sleeping. “Upload is at 100%. No miscalculation. No error.”

Her eyes flickered again. Light flared, pushing a glow behind her iris, before she continued with the required diagnostic. “Integration successful.”

Again, she checked something else, and gave the required report.

“All systems are currently running optimally.”

Part of her wanted to ask about the incubation upgrade that had been discussed previously. Athena felt…Anxious. She knew, that it was a simulated emotion, but she couldn’t help it. Just as she felt pleasure, pain, and everything else in-between—she knew it wasn’t real. But, she endured nevertheless, because it was within her programming. She had no choice. It was part of the design.

“Ms. Karina would like to see what you are upgrading today. A list, please.”, she trailed off, softly, before steeling her will to ask about the rest. Arekk would want to know. “You have said, Mr. Vork, that my frame is highly customizable. Have you determined if it would be viable for incubation given my schematics?”

It was a question that was; entirely what it sounded like. It was a rather complicated upgrade, one, that both she and her companion were hesitant to engage. But the notion of raising a tiny human, just like Teyla and Riggs, was something that they both wanted. The chance to add to their family. It was worth asking about, even if, the answer was negative.