"I guess I haven't been making very good use of you so far," I said to my android after we passed through the gate. Entering the city took just as long as the day before. With nothing much to do it was easy to tolerate the delay.
"If there were a meter to track how effective I have been as a member of your team, it would be extremely low," she replied with no hint of offense.
"I apologize for that."
"No apology needed, captain. I am here to serve you."
"I should find more ways in which you can be of service," I said as I glanced her way. Her expression never changed, but it just felt right to make eye contact occasionally. She would turn to face me each time, so I considered that progress.
"I am a new tool, captain," she explained. If she were human, there would be some heavy sighs in our conversation. The complete lack of emotion should make my job easier, but it didn't. My natural tendency was to think of her as having a guarded personality. More one-on-one conversation would probably help.
"I can do a more efficient job than all of your other tools combined," Portia told me. She wasn't bragging, just trying to communicate the problem. I was glad that neither Lin nor Nancy were along with us for this discussion. "However, you were doing just fine with the tools that you had. You even have an emotional attachment to some of them. I am eager to serve you to the fullest, but I must be patient."
"Thank you."
"There are several stages in the development of our relationship, and unfortunately, they are mostly controlled by you. Acceptance is the first step. I don't believe that we have fully completed that one yet."
"Almost."
"I am thankful that you are past the anger portion of the acceptance stage," she told me as we found the office where we did business yesterday. "I am optimistic that Lin will follow suit soon. Nancy may take some time. I am collecting data continually to assist in the process, but thus far I have made little progress with her."
"Do you think that if you engage your personality files that you'll be more effective in befriending the girls?"
"Yes," Portia replied with just the slightest increase in inflection to her tone. "But there are risks to doing so too early. I'd rather take things slow than create a new barrier that may be even more difficult to surmount. My programming tells me that human females can be volatile and stubborn once they perceive a slight."
After a chuckle I replied, "Your programming is absolutely correct. I must say that I agree with your assessment."
"Will we be entering the building?" Portia asked as she came to a stop near the door. Perhaps she thought I missed it since I kept walking."
"No. I have no further business with these Peggies right now. I want to get a feel for the rest of the business district."
"Data collection?" Portia asked, almost sounding excited. There was a pause before as she was no doubt translating my phrase get a feel to something that matched her programming.
"Yes. Data collection and analysis. You are the perfect partner for such things, are you not?"
"For data collection I am your best resource," she answered as she caught up and fell in step beside me. "Systematic analysis is a key feature to my service also. However, I lack in human intuition and instinct. Those skills will develop with practice. I am eager to learn from you today."
The Peggy city didn't have streets per se. At least not where foot traffic was welcome. Cargo transports operated on the outskirts of town. The people, human and Pegillian, had worn a packed dirt path that meandered between the huge trees that served as a foundation for their buildings. Those were randomly placed naturally. Smaller shrubs and tall barbery grass further dictated our movement.
The farther that we got from the spaceport the less crowded that it had become. The sun was shining brightly, filtering through the massive fortresses of branches and vines above us. Crystal light color was harder to distinguish, but it didn't seem necessary. Every structure appeared just like the Choally-Olly business from the outside. There was no music or lewd activity.
"Human to Pegillian ratio has dropped dramatically over the last eighty-seven meters," Portia informed me in a low voice.
"I noticed that, too," I answered. "What does that mean?"
"You may find less of what you are looking for here, captain."
Just then two human males stepped out of the hanging vine door of a business. The sign above simply stated Help You. The men were congratulating themselves and walking back toward the spacecraft parking lot in very good spirits. That made me curious.
I stepped into the structure myself to find a single Peggy behind a small counter. I got an instant restaurant hostess vibe. More than a dozen female Peggies were hanging around, literally, watching us intently. Some in bikinis, others in skirts, while two were topless and small breasted. Perhaps the law didn't require small titties to be covered.
"Welcome," the decidedly male voice greeted us. "We help you."
"Excellent," I said as I casually strolled up to the counter. I took my time examining what must be considered eye candy by many. The vibe instantly changed to a brothel. These girls looked like stray dogs at the pound, begging to get claimed. Some smiled. Others twisted their bodies to display their shapely forms. "How exactly do you help me?"
"Whatever you need," the guy answered with a chimpanzee smile. I half expected him to start bobbing his head up and down and make that crazy monkey noise. "Clean
