Aiden got over his surprise quickly, though, and cleared his throat sharply. “We don't have time for that,” he snapped.
Barix, who'd just begun to look elated at his good fortune, whirled on him furiously. “What?”
“You heard me. These guys are doing their work in record time, and once they're finished we're gone.”
The slight man spluttered in apoplectic rage for a few seconds. “You really can't let anyone have what you've got, can you?” he muttered sullenly, staring after the companion as she walked off with the pod. Then he turned away with an irritable curse. “Probably for the best . . . a sex robot who takes all comers, play on words very much intended, is probably toting around a filthy biological waste receptacle that's just crawling with disease.”
Terra, standing with the other scientists and the rest of the crew near the pods, cleared her throat. “Actually, adult companions thoroughly clean and sterilize-”
Barix rudely spoke over her. “Well then, maybe since HAE's being so generous, they'd be willing to give me one of my own. We can trade them one of the combat androids to make room.”
Aiden seriously doubted their current hosts would be up for that incredibly uneven deal. And even if they were . . . “Not a chance. I'm already crawling in my skin with one of their murder robots around.”
Ali gave him a hurt look. “Even under the current circumstances, my love, there's no reason to be rude.”
“You might not have to worry about that for long,” he shot back, “since I'm tempted to leave you behind with your beloved corporation. I'm sure they can use the help building an army of robots to enslave humanity.”
“Wait, what?” Lana demanded, stepping around Terra to confront him. “Is that just your paranoia talking, Captain, or have you heard something?”
Before he could respond, Ali grabbed his arm and gently but firmly led him back into the ship, out of earshot of the others. As he was leaving, Aiden noticed Barix sneaking furtively out of the cargo bay after the working companions. Probably trying to make time for a romantic engagement while he was distracted.
Guess the Ishivi wasn't so disgusted by the idea of a used sex robot after all. Well fine, if it shut him up for five minutes. Or thirty seconds.
Aiden expected his companion-turned-Caretaker to lay into him for revealing secrets she'd entrusted him with, but apparently she had something else on her mind. “Don't look at our efforts in this system as just a means to wage war, my love. With constructs like these mining planets and refining the materials to be useful to humanity, it won't take long at all before we can easily provide for the needs of every human in the universe. You can all live in luxury if you wish, with no need to fight for resources.”
“And in the meantime, we'll have companions to do all our menial chores, as well as meet our sexual needs?” Aiden snapped. “I'm pretty sure that's been referred to as a “gilded cage” all throughout history.”
“What cage?” Ali shot back. “The only thing humans will be prohibited from doing is harming themselves or each other or causing wanton destruction, which you shouldn't be doing anyway. You'll literally be free to do anything else, and we not only won't prevent you but will aid you in your goals. Tell me one rational downside to what the Caretakers want to do for humanity, one single concern you have that's driven by facts and logic rather than gut reaction.”
That should've been an easy challenge. In fact, Aiden had already opened his mouth to answer. Then he paused, and after several seconds slowly shut it. He couldn't help but look away, ashamed at himself and frustrated.
“Just because I can't think of one right now, doesn't mean there isn't one,” he muttered. “It just feels wrong, Ali. What is humanity without the struggle? What will happen to our drive, our passion, our will to overcome all obstacles and carry forward, when you've cleared away those obstacles and left us an easy path to amble along?”
The disguised woman rested a hand on his arm. “It doesn't have to disappear. Only instead of battling against the universe or against other humans for survival and dominance, you can channel that spirit, that drive, towards expanding the limits of human understanding. What more worthy goal is there?”
“And you'll be there to hold me close and encourage me every step of the way, like you always have?” he asked bitterly.
She didn't seem to catch his sarcasm. “Every step, my love,” she promised solemnly. “Assuming you don't leave me behind, of course.”
Aiden stared at her, wishing she was human so he could gauge her sincerity. Although that probably wouldn't have helped much, since he'd always had trouble reading women. “Let's say I trusted you enough to take you along,” he said quietly. “Can you promise me, right now, that you'd never betray me, not even to help HAE? That you'd never act against me?”
Ali's eyes softened, and she stepped forward to rest a hand on his shoulder, looking deep into his eyes. “I'm your companion, my love. I know you have a hard time believing that right now, and I can't entirely blame you. But your wellbeing is my primary concern. I'd never act against you, aside from intervening to keep you from harming innocents, which I don't believe you'd ever do.”
For the first time since she'd betrayed him by syncing, he didn't feel the urge to shrug away from her touch. The pragmatic side of him knew he shouldn't trust her, but for some reason he did. Even though she was a robot programmed with who knew what core priorities.
“All right,” he agreed. “You can stay. Can't deny I'd have a harder time running the ship without you.”
She beamed like the sun,
