I informed both of my devoted women that Portia was beginning to integrate personality into her programming. We should expect more quirks popping up. And jokes. I had to warn them to be expecting some humor out of our android at opportune times.
The food delivery made it in just under the deadline that I imposed. Portia quickly got it loaded and locked us up. Port control then gave us a launch time just an hour and eleven minutes later. We were lucky that the spaceport wasn't having a busy day.
As with human cultures, the Peggies had their tiers of workers. Those that handled all the dealing with inbound and outbound ships were easily the most professional. Then came the dock authority. After that the companies that traded with the spaceships, human and otherwise. There was a significant drop off after that to the restaurant and bar staff close to the port. And it just kept going downhill from there. Quite a range. Like going from high class negotiations in Manhattan to drug dealing in Brooklyn. Versatility in demeanor was a must.
We spent that hour working on our exit path and monitoring our systems as we powered up the engines. Lin was officially our navigator, but we went at it like a group project. When Portia returned to the bridge, my reemerging nickname for the control room, I had her double check our calculations just to be safe. That got me some stink eye from my wives, but no negative comments. In time they’ll appreciate the android backing them up. It could greatly reduce the stress of jumping to another star.
Departure was just like arrival. More chaotic than most places, so we had to keep our eyes open. Our ship's computer was provided potential danger feedback at an alarming rate. We had to weed through the alerts to find any real hazards.
"Portia, can we adjust the parameters so the ship doesn't go bat-shit crazy every time we visit Pegillas?"
"Yes, captain. But I advise against it," our android answered. "Since pilot and navigator error is a risk with each and every other ship in our vicinity, double checking the crazy shit provides us the lowest hazard rating. I can do all the work myself, if you prefer."
"No, thank you," Nancy replied loudly. At least her tone wasn't as snotty as on previous occasions when Portia offered to do her job for her. And she made no comment about the android’s new word selection.
"Captain," Portia said. "I am picking up on sensors another entity inside the ship."
"Already? We've barely left the planet!" Nancy blurted out. "Can't that shadow fucker at least wait until we rip-jump again?"
"Where are the readings coming from?" I asked, as frustrated and bewildered as the rest of the crew.
Portia answered, "In the cargo bay again, my lord."
My lord? What kind of data did they load this android with? Was this a case of increasing her vocabulary or an attempt at humor?
"First a pirate, now a medieval wench," Nancy muttered after a chuckle.
"Wench is inaccurate description..." Portia began to say.
"Leave it!" I cut off the unnecessary chatter. Funny comments were fine, but we didn’t need diversions at that pivotal time of our departure. "If the shadow creature comes near us, let me know. Otherwise, we're going to focus on what we are doing."
"I found a lane," Lin announced, not getting distracted from her job. "Sending you the next three nav-points now."
I doubled checked the data and authorized the flight adjustment. A few minutes later we were into a more organized section of space. Proximity alerts with other ships were coming in much slower than before.
"Unless we need to make significant adjustments," Lin announced. "We'll be jumping to Teegarden in just fifteen hours. I'll start working on the jump numbers."
"You do that, girl," Nancy said.
"Does Nancy now outrank Lin?" Portia asked, obviously misunderstanding the intent behind Nancy’s statement. Again, with the lack of inflection it was difficult to tell if she was joking. Our android was the perfect straight-faced comedian.
Officially the order of command was me, then Lin, then Nancy. Portia would only take over control if all of us were incapacitated. Though she may offer to do so whenever the crew was under duress, such as when I was attacked by the creature from jump space.
"It was just crew banter," Nancy informed her. "Just like me calling you a wench. Everyone hear outranks me except for you. That makes you my bitch."
"I am everyone's bitch, apparently," the android responded without any emotion.
"Excuse me?" I asked. It was hard to predict what was going to come out of her mouth next. Despite her tone I was worried that we might have an issue based solely on her choice of words.
"Nancy is the next highest rank above me. If I am her bitch, then I must be everyone's bitch. Is that not how it works? In the hierarchy of bitch-hood?"
"You got it right, girl!" Nancy exclaimed joyously. "I think we just might get along after all."
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Captain, I would like to readdress the entity in the cargo bay," Portia announced. "The readings are stronger than previously."
"That thing is getting stronger?" Nancy asked.
"No, silly girl," Portia responded, causing us all to do a double-take. "The readings are stronger. The signature is significantly different as well. We adjusted our sensors to target the alleged creature from beyond our fabric of space. I believe that has caused the computer to overlook the potential risk of a stowaway."
"A stowaway?" both girls reacted. At least they didn't focus on Nancy being called a silly girl. The expanded vocabulary project was going in some weird directions.
"We'll need to
