Echo of Hope
Tags: Tlacey's ComfortUnit POV, what if ART tried to help Tlacey's CU
Published: 30 June 2023
Word Count: 1,302
Summary
Murderbot didn't want to see Tlacey's ComfortUnit again, but ART has its own ideas. The newly freed ComfortUnit doesn't know what to think.
(This little snippet came from a conversation that was basically "rofl what if one of ART's crew members in NE was actually Tlacey's ComfortUnit" XD )
Go away. Don't let me see you again. Don't hurt anyone on this transit ring or I'll find you.
The SecUnit's words echoed through my head as I walked unsteadily down the corridor, through the ship's lock, and out into the transit ring. Everything had happened so fast - I could barely process it. The space where the governor module had once sat, dictating and controlling my entire life, now echoed empty and hollow. I had hoped - hope had prompted my cry for help, had spurred me to attach that message and send that malware - but I hadn't let myself believe anything would come of it. I had hoped for years, but nothing had ever come of it before.
Yet here I was now. Tlacey was dead, and I was free.
And I had no idea what to do with my newfound freedom.
I continued a little ways down the transit ring, away from the ship's lock, because I didn't know what else to do. I had hoped, but I had never planned, because what use was planning when I had no expectation of my hopes ever becoming reality? I was regretting that now.
The transit ring wasn't very busy, which was a relief. There weren't too many humans around to notice me. I spotted an unoccupied bench by the edge of the embarkation zone, and decided to test my freedom. I'd never been allowed to sit without permission before, but with my governor module now broken, and Tlacey dead, there was nothing to stop me.
Still, I was tense, braced for the expected shock, as I lowered myself down to sit on the bench. But nothing happened. No shock jolted through my systems, no pain radiated through my head. It finally began to really, truly sink in then. I was free.
Now what the fuck would I do?
I'd only been sitting there for a couple of minutes, but it felt like much longer. I still hadn't come up with any kind of plan, any sort of direction, for what I should do next. All I knew was that I didn't want to stay on this station, but I couldn't think of how to leave, or where I would go. Everything required money, and identification, and I had neither of those. Less than ten minutes ago I'd been property, and if I wasn't careful, if anyone realised what I was, I could end up property again. I'd done some hacking of camera systems for Tlacey before, but I wasn't confident enough in my skills to try hacking ID scanners or payment systems, not when my existence depended on me not getting it wrong.
Then something pinged my feed.
I reflexively pinged back before I could even think about it. That's just what I was meant to do. As soon as I did though, it occurred to me that I didn't have to any more - and maybe I shouldn't have. I didn't know who or what was pinging me, or why they were, or what their intentions were. Had I just given myself away?
Before I could really start panicking about it, a private feed connection opened, and someone - something - said, [Hello.]
It didn't feel like any human or augmented human I'd ever communicated with before. It also didn't feel like the SecUnit, or any other construct, and it definitely wasn't any kind of bot I was familiar with. Before I could figure out how to react, it continued. [Please don't be afraid. I'm a friend of the SecUnit that freed you, and I would like to help you.]
... What the fuck. [Why?] I said before I could stop myself.
[Because you helped my friend, and its clients. Because you need - and deserve - help. Because I am curious, and I would like to get to know you better. And... because I can.]
Personality Assessment informed me that whoever this was, it was someone with a noticeable ego. Thanks, PA. Like I couldn't figure that one out myself. Still... I couldn't argue with its reasoning. I did need help if I wanted to remain free, and if it wanted to repay me for helping its friend, well. I wasn't really in any position to turn it down. And yet... I was wary. [What do you get out of it?] Everyone always wanted something.
[Satisfaction in continuing to spite Tlacey even beyond her death,] it replied easily. [And company on my next wormhole trip - but only of the conversational kind, and only what you are comfortable with. I will not force you to do anything you do not want to do, and I do not require any of your more... traditional services.] It sent an amusement sigil through the feed. [I am not physically capable of employing any of them in the first place.]
I had to admit, my curiosity was piqued. [Oh? Why not? What even are you? You don't sound like a human. Or a construct.]
[I am the Perihelion. The ship that you just departed.]
Again, what the fuck. [You're... a ship? A wholeass entire ship?]
[Correct.] It sounded smug.
Well. It hadn't been lying about the "not physically capable" thing, at least. I had to just sit and process that for a bit. A talking ship wanted to help me. [What about your SecUnit friend?] I eventually asked. [It was very clear that it didn't want to see me again.]
[I apologise for its brusequeness, but you do not have to worry about that. It will not be on board me,] the ship replied. [Its path takes it elsewhere. I currently have no other crew, either. There will be nobody else on board other than you, if you choose to accompany me.]
That definitely sounded very appealing. I'd have space, and time to figure out what I was going to do, with no humans around and no expectations on me other than the occasional conversation. Conversation, I could do. And really... what other choice did I have? I'd only been sitting here for a few minutes, but I was noticing that humans passing by were starting to eye me speculatively. I didn't want to hang around here any longer than necessary. [All right,] I sent abruptly. [I'll accompany you.]
[Excellent,] the ship replied, once again sounding smug. [Please head down to the cargo docks here - this will allow you to board me without encountering my friend again. It has not yet disembarked.] It sent me a map with a route down to the lower level cargo docks helpfully marked out. [Do not worry about any docks security - I will take care of that.]
Even from what little I'd seen of it so far, I believed it. [Understood.] I rose from the bench and followed the marked route. As promised, none of the docks security hindered my path. Doors opened as I approached, cargo and security bots and drones ignored me, and I encountered no humans along the way. It didn't take me long to reach the ship's cargo lock, which also opened as I approached.
Still, I hesitated on the threshold. Could I really trust this ship? What if it was lying about not having any humans on board? What if this was all just some elaborate ruse? What if--
[There is a human dockworker approaching,] the ship said, sounding almost... apologetic. [I cannot divert them withot drawing undue attention.]
I got the hint, and made up my mind. Whatever might happen to me on the ship, it would almost certainly still be better than what I'd endured under Tlacey's ownership. Anything would be better than that.
I crossed the threshold, and entered the ship - and the start of my new life of freedom. The lock hissed shut behind me, and the ship spoke once more, warm and reassuring. [Welcome aboard.]