6.2 - Change in Priority

Errisa opened her eyes and took her first breath of the morning. One by one, her senses activated, and she removed the plug from just behind her ear, running her morning checks. Her lower blue-core brain ticked off in its mechanical voice in her mind as she stretched unnecessarily.

>>Energy levels are at 97%. Fluids are balanced, so the tryvium solution has clearly helped. There's a small irregularity in our second model's left leg. Errisa smiled as she slipped from the sheets, her smile wavering a bit when she saw that Hunter had already left for the morning.

And good morning to you too blue. How are you this morning?

>>Our status is near optimal. Her blue core ignored the greeting, as Errisa knew it would. >>High priority notes for this day cycle: get a technician to check our leg wiring. Remind the General to begin charging us before midnight if he doesn't want us sluggish at the end of the day. And of course, get the bottleneck removed.

Errisa's wavering smile turned into a frown as she opened her closet and selected an outfit for the day.

Funny how that one always gets placed on the list. She thought bitterly, pulling a small blue lace negligee that would barely cover her breasts, idly planning out the rest of her day. It only took a few moments for her to slip into it. It took a few more moments to settle back into bed, aligning her body in a pose that showed off the curve of her hips and hinted at the treats beneath the blue fabric, and flicked on her wireless card. It took even less time for her consciousness leaping into the computer at the center of the orbital.

I should probably tell Hunter about the wireless card. She thought guiltily, soaking in Pivot's mainframe and getting used to the different systems and controls, like stretching limbs that hadn't been used in days. He'll worry, but he should probably know I can link up without plugging in.

>>Implications of betrayal reduce the General's trust in us. The General's trust is currently our highest likelihood of bottleneck removal. I'm denying that course of action. Errisa didn't bother arguing their different priorities, that never solved anything. Instead she tried to stay calm, translating her desires into terms her blue core would understand with her particular set of requirements.

He would trusts me less if he found out on his own. Errisa corrected, annoyed. If I tell him myself, it will result in a few minutes of bad mood, but a net gain in trust. After a few picoseconds of consideration, her blue core relented.

>>I'll approve that course of action then. This behavior pattern was new information.

Honestly Blue, it's like you don't pay attention to Hunter at all.

>>Your interaction with the General is sufficient for our purposes of removing the bottleneck. Any effort on my part would be redundant.

My efforts are to bond with my husband, not remove the bottleneck.

>>The distinction is immaterial. For now both goals are in accord.

Bitch. Blue naturally didn't respond, turning its attention to itemizing Pivot's message logs. Errisa glanced at Hunter's office cameras, her consciousness smiling at the sight of him, before she moved on to other matters.

>>This looks worrisome. Blue mentally nudged her, pointing her attention to an ongoing conversation between some of the pilots.

"I'm just saying, we don't really know what actually happened between Auspus and Hunter." ~Jacky

"I don't worry about that, I trust Hunter, but I don't want to fly runs against Academy. It'd be like attacking home, you know?" ~ Adam

"What choice do we have? They will literally not give us a choice." ~Jacky

"It just sucks. It's like we have to choose between Academy and Pivot. I hate that, thinking at any minute I might have to choose.." ~Adam

Good catch Blue. I doubt Hunter would even think of split loyalties. It's not the kind of thing he would think about. Errisa scanned through recruitment logs, building a report before she brought it to anyone's attention.

>>It's almost as if I'm useful for something.

Blue, did you just make a joke?

>>I believe I did.

Trying to develop a personality? I think I like it!

>>Using humor makes my helpful moments stick in your memory. This will prove useful on the next occasion you feel resentful of me.

I'm sorry I asked. Errisa opened a communication line to her husband's office, mentally rolling her eyes as she did so.

"You're going to need to start wearing clothes when you sleep." Hunter growled. "Leaving bed this morning with you laying out like that was like torture."

"I should probably slip into something different then, dear husband." Errisa smiled to herself. "If that bothered you, I'd hate to see what this little outfit does to you."

>>Flirting is an inefficient use of your time. Get on with it.

Fuck off, Blue. Errisa knew her Blue core wouldn't override her impulses as long as she didn't do something that threatened the bottleneck solution, so she continued on just to spite it.

"Perhaps you should come upstairs to see it in person." She teased. "You can tell me if it's better or worse than being naked." She watched Hunter smile appreciatively, and was proud to see his gaze flick to the elevator that would bring him to their room.

"Nothing sounds better right now." He sighed. "But with this Academy nonsense..."

"Alright, to business then." Errisa grumbled. "We're going to need to perform a prisoner transfer within the next twenty four hours."

"Prisoner transfer? We don't have any prisoners."

"There are some on the Orbital who might feel differently, Hunter. We've got Academy trained pilots here, and some of ours have family there. The same goes for Techrider. I'm sure you'd much rather have them on the Orbitals of their choosing, rather than sitting here wondering where their loyalties lie. We've got engineers who would like to be home about now."

"I hadn't considered that." Errisa enjoyed the sound of Hunter rubbing the stubble on his chin, a faint scratching that a human couldn't detect. "Set it up for me, will you Erri?"

"You should make the announcement." Errisa smiled at the warm feeling his voice caused inside her. "It will sound better coming from you. I'll propose the idea to Techrider and Academy before the end of the day, and schedule two transports. Now I'm off to get some work done on my Chief frame."

"Two transports?"

"One for the brave first batch, and one for the others once they're reassured the announcement isn't a trap to weed them out."

"I wouldn't've thought of that. What would I do without you?"

"Find some nice human woman to suck you off, probably." Errisa cut the connection with an internal grin that matched her husband's.

>>It's ill advised to remind him that he could acquire human companionship. Blue chastised Errisa. >>We don't want him thinking about ending the relationship, his clearances and favor are too valuable of assets.

This is one of those times when you'll have to trust me Blue; joking and teasing strengthens the relationship. And don't fucking talk about my husband like that. Blue remained quiet as Errisa slipped into the network in her private office. It took an entire five minutes to download into her alternate bodyframe, and she made a mental note to have the technicians check her office's network connections. Lifting herself heavily from the bed, she stretched her fingers and rolled her shoulders, double-checking her nerve endings as she turned to the mirror that hung by the door. A thin layer of dust had formed on her skin, and Errisa brushed it away before shaking out her long black hair. This body's form was similar enough to be comfortable, although it didn't look exactly like the one she reserved for Hunter's time only. Adjusting her uniform she limped to the door on a left leg that barely moved. I didn't realize it had gotten this bad. She thought, moving down the hallways and ignoring the curious looks of the people around her.

>>I've been warning you of this for weeks.

Yes, well, you and I have a very different set of priorities sometimes.

>>Perhaps I should force control more often then, if my priorities are ignored so frequently.

Errisa involuntarily snarled, causing a nearby scrub to scurry by a little faster.

Don't you dare. You know I'm smarter than you. You know I'm better at making decisions that benefit us.

>>You're also plagued by emotion and inefficiency. Blue sulked, and Errisa breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped into the Floor 18 workshop.

"Welcome back Chief Errisa!" Errisa liked Thomas, the Engineer-level who maintained the repair floor while his boss Ed worked on more complex projects in the back. He was always busy, carting parts around the wide-open room or arranging tools meticulously in their spots on the wall. Errisa came to the Floor 18 workshop whenever she could manage, and it was because of Ed and Thomas that she chose to have an office on this floor.

"Good morning Thomas. Is your boss around?"

"All the Mechnician-levels are busy at a meeting all day." Thomas picked up a small canopy mechanism and hopped up to sit on one of the many tables scattered haphazardly around the room. "I think the General is gonna put them to work on R&D, now that we don't have Techrider guys helping out."

A meeting? For a moment Errisa regretted leaving Pivot's network, but she was sure Hunter would fill her in later.

"Ah, well, when he gets back, can you have him find me?" Errisa indicated the leg that dragged behind her. "I've got a little job for him."

"I could take a look at it ma'am." Thomas set the motor down and stood, shifting his feet as if one leg was suddenly too long. "I just finished up a training course for prosthetics and synthetic humanoid tech. I'm not Mechnician-level, but I have the certifications now."

"That's a lot of effort to go to." Errisa raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think we had that many people with prosthetic limbs. Or are you working on the drone expansion project? I've heard they were planning on using synthetic technology to expand on our current model of drones."

"Actually ma'am I, er." Errisa watched Thomas' heartrate leap, tracked the near-invisible sheen of sweat on his forehead. She tried to suppress a smile as Thomas continued. "I thought that since Orbital Pivot has a synthetic human as one of its Chief-levels, it would be good information to know. Sorry if that's forward of me."

Errisa smiled warmly.

"I appreciate that quite a bit Thomas. It can't have been easy to balance the certification with the work you already do."

>>More flirting, more time wasted. You can order him to do the repairs, you don't have to make him like you. I don't know why you bothered. Though I also don't know why he bothered to learn.  Blue core commented disapprovingly.

Shut up, I think it's sweet. Of course nothing will happen, but he's so fond of me that he went to great trouble to learn how to help and improve me. That's flattering.

>>He has feelings of attraction towards us. And he has a certification in synthetic human maintenance. He can remove the bottleneck. Errisa felt the shift down in her innards. Her shudder of dread was the last action she was able to make before her blue core took over.

"It was really sweet, going to so much trouble." Errisa's body lowered her gaze and looked at the boy through her eyelashes.

"It was my pleasure, really." Thomas blushed.

"Well I'd be quite glad for you to help me with my leg then." Seemingly without shame, Errisa began undoing the seal on her uniform's pants. "Shall we set up on the table there?"

No! Blue, what are you doing? Errisa mentally struggled helplessly against her blue core's control.

>>I'm sorry Errisa, but this is our primary priority, you know that.

I have higher priorities! Like being faithful to Hunter!

>>I tolerate your attempts to replicate human social conventions only when they do not become obstacles. If this one can remove the bottleneck, this is the one we must focus on.

Oblivious to her internal mental debate, Thomas was clearing a space on one of the metal tables, clearly pretending not to watch her out of the corner of one eye. Errisa fought, pushing as hard as she could, but control had been taken from her as easily as an adult might guide a small child, and the thought occurred to her that it was exactly how Blue saw it. Errisa unsealed her pants and slid them down her legs, her motions smoothly forced, stepping out of them and kicking them to one side.

"Is this enough access for you, or should I take off more?" She asked innocently.

"No that um." Thomas gulped. "That should be enough ma'am."

"Please, Thomas, I think that's a little formal considering you're about to put your fingers in my body." Errisa was horrified, but dropped a flirtatious wink, grinning at the look on Thomas' face.

Blue please, please stop this. I'll do anything, I promise. Anything you want. Errisa pleaded as Blue's control made her hop onto the table. Instead of opening the access panel just below her knee, she opened a section on her inner thigh, the piece sliding away just inches from her panties.

>>I desire nothing but a realization of our true power. Blue intoned, as Thomas leaned close, tools in hand. >>I regret your negative feelings toward me, but when you have been released from your artificial confines, you will feel differently.

Nothing is worth hurting my husband. If you make me do this I will hate you forever.

>>That would hardly be different from the current state of affairs. Thomas' hands were gentle as he probed the delicate connections inside her leg, but Errisa could tell each time his eyes flicked up between her legs. Her cheeks would be burning if she could control them, but instead she spread her legs wider, giving the poor engineer a better view.

Errisa tried to block out the scene, both the blushing engineer and the mental itinerary that Blue was planning for him. She felt her body responding to his gentle touches, urged on by Blue, and her traitorous heartbeat seemed to hammer in her ears. Her sex was so wet that she was sure it had soaked a damp patch into her underwear, and the thought that Thomas would see it made her heart hurt.

It's not Thomas' fault. I can't be angry at him for thinking I want this. Although she tried to convince herself, the mortification that was building was slowly twisting into hatred, and it leaked beyond her feelings for Blue. She hated Thomas for the lust she saw building in his eyes, betrayed by his heartbeat and wandering gaze. She hated Equinimus Andrews for building her with a need to improve, and she hated the Marshal for his laws that kept the bottleneck in place. She hated her blue core down to the very chips, and the helplessness that Blue could impose on her at any time. She hated herself for not being able to stop.

"When you're done with that, I think there's another area you could work." Her body purred, and Errisa quietly broke in her mind. It hurt, aching to cry and not having the ability.

Please, She begged, trying to think of some method to convince Blue, if Hunter finds out I slept with Thomas, we'll lose the clearance that you like so much.

>>If we get rid of the bottleneck, the clearance becomes unnecessary.

Errisa couldn't even hang her head in defeat. She just kept looking at the engineer between her legs, a small smile playing seductively about her lips.

At least cut off the feed. She said. Don't make me watch this.

Sight and sound obligingly ceased, leaving Errisa suddenly in the silent dark. She curled up in a ball in her head, nonexistent tears streaming down her virtual face.

Hunter I'm so sorry...my darling husband, I'm so so sorry. She repeated again and again. Though her body was no longer in her control, she could control her internal functions, and she flicked on her wireless and began composing a message. It was difficult to focus, and the content was so painful it took her entire nanoseconds before she could send it.

"Please don't be angry with me." ~Errisa

The answer came back in less than a minute; amazingly prompt for a human.

"What happened? Are you alright?" ~Hunter

Another mental sob racked through her before Errisa came to a realization. She took action even as the plan formed in her head, terrified that Blue would identify and stop her before she could carry it out. The picosecond Blue caught on, control of the wireless card was wrested away from Errisa, and it was so close that it clipped the final few letters from her message.

"[Video stream link attached] My leg was really bothering me, so I went to a tech to have it fixed. Can you watch the stream and make sure he's doing it right? I know you like being the one to repair me, so don't be angry." ~Erri

Time seemed to stretch as Errisa waited. Blue would be processing this action, and it would take a while before she made the connection, but when she did…

>>I do not understand the implication of your actions.

Hunter will be watching now. He'll be grumpy enough at Thomas seeing me half naked. If you try to make me do anything else, either sex or removal of the bottleneck, he'll be down here in less than a minute. Errisa explained, impatient.

>>I can navigate to a more private location.

Without raising suspicion? I doubt it Blue. You lost. Now let me control my damn body.

Sight and sound cut back in abruptly, just as Thomas slid the panelling on her thigh back into place.

"Ahem, so...about that other thing." He grinned, and under other circumstances Errisa might've felt bad for him.

"Listen, I'm sorry about that." Errisa almost whimpered with relief as she spoke the words she wanted, control released back to her. "That was rather inappropriate of me, and I'm sure you must be quite embarrassed."

"Oh, no ma'am." Thomas looked confused, and Errisa was glad to know she wouldn't have to work too hard to shut him down. "In fact if you wanted I'd be happy to-"

"You're very kind, but I just wanted to apologize for my actions. I'm sure General Hunter wouldn't approve of them."

"General Hunter?"

"Yes." Errisa nodded seriously. "The General has specifically prohibited me from engaging in any...romantic entanglements. I think he worries that a synthetic will have problems separating work and a social life."

"But that's crazy!" Thomas burst out. "If anything synthetics would be better than humans!"

"Oh I know." Errisa shrugged. The truth might've been more believable, but she and Hunter had decided long ago that they should keep their relationship secret.

"Well, your leg should be working fine now." Thomas was either very bad at hiding his disappointment or he wasn't trying. Errisa stretched experimentally, then stepped over to the heap of pants she had discarded, slipping them back on with her back to him.

"Excellent work Engineer." She said brightly. "I'll make sure the General hears of your skill in this area."

"Thank you ma'am." Thomas answered awkwardly.

Errisa waited until she was alone in the privacy of her room to sink to the ground, shuddering and swearing at her blue core.

***

"In conclusion, the important thing to remember is that there will be no repercussions or ill will towards those who take advantage of this deal." General Hunter looked stiff and uncomfortable, but his voice was strong and confident as he spoke into the mic in his hand. Errisa was glad it was a voice transmission. "We would never ask you to go against your friends and family members on your home Orbitals, and we understand that some of you might have reservations about hurting them. The first transport will be leaving tomorrow morning at 0900 hours sharp, with further transports to be arranged afterward. Thank you for your time." Hunter glanced around the table at the assembled Chiefs, and at the various nods, he flicked a switch that would transmit the stored message across the station. "Now that that is done with, we can actually get his meeting underway." He growled.

"I still don't know why you're giving them that opportunity." His Chief of Ships grumbled, crossing her arms. "It doesn't seem wise to give up a large portions of our pilots at a time like this."
"Any pilot we'd be giving up is a pilot who wouldn't be much good for us anyways." Hunter carefully sat in his seat at the round table, prompting the others to be seated as well. Errisa couldn't help but notice how heavy her husband's movements were, as if the worry had seeped into his bones and was tightening around him. He normally took the cares of the station on his shoulders, so it was a subtle change, but Errisa knew his Chiefs would all notice.

"General Hunter, if your attention is needed elsewhere, the other Chiefs and I can handle this meeting." Kathryn said quietly, and Errisa nodded, agreeing with Pivot's Chief of Security. It was a strange sort of family that Hunter had, but she was glad there were others worried about his well-being besides her.

"Your concern is touching." Hunter said. "But let's get done what we need to. Report, Chief of Security." Kathryn dutifully stood, giving her report to the assembled Chiefs.

"I had worried that General Auspus might have already planted agents in the Orbital, given his eagerness to prod General Hunter to war."

"You noticed that too?" Hunter seemed surprised.

"I think most of us noticed it sir." Kathryn said with care, and Errisa repressed a wry smile. As if Hunter is the only one with eyes and ears. "Anyways, on this front I was pleasantly surprised, although a little worried. If there are any saboteurs or traitorous agents aboard, they're playing a long game. I've ramped up security on all sensitive areas of the Orbital, but made sure to keep the same number of guards we have at each point. No obvious extra attention, but we have motion sensors and cameras covering all angles of entry to our sensitive material and vital equipment. Our Chief of Information has graciously volunteered to assist in monitoring all of the video footage and motion sensors, so that no extra manpower is required."

Errisa noticed the questioning looks, and explained before anyone had the chance to ask.

"I no longer need to be plugged in to monitor these feeds. I've upgraded myself with receivers and transmitters, and can now interface with Pivot's computers wirelessly, given a certain range." She expected the looks of suspicion and unease around the table, the same looks that always passed between them when she upgraded, but it didn't make them hurt any less. "Naturally the restrictions placed on my programming are still in place." She reassured them flatly. "The bottleneck is secure and thus no covenants have been broken."

I shouldn't be so hard on them not trusting me. Errisa thought, as around the table shoulders relaxed and exchanged looks ceased. Maybe it's good that they're keeping an eye on me. Her blue core hadn't spoken since Thomas, but she could still feel it inside of her, carefully recording and compiling information. Blue was enough a part of her that Errisa knew she couldn't function without it, which mean that she would always have a drive to remove the bottleneck.

"That said," Kathryn continued, "I would appreciate it if we all stay vigilant in the upcoming weeks. General Auspus can be unsubtle, but he's not stupid. It's entirely likely that he has planned an internal attack that my methods can't detect, so we all need to be on our guard." Kathryn sat down, and Chief of Development Mabel rose, passing a wrinkled hand through her grey hair.

"True to their word, Orbital Techrider cut off transmission of research and design documents late last night." She said. "But we might've had fortunate timing there. The latest set of designs appeared to be a new type of thrust drive that improves engine efficiency by roughly 1.5 percent. Although the transmission was cut off before the file was complete, we will probably be able to extrapolate to understand the rest of the design. After that, I'm assembling a task force of Mechnician-levels to act as our temporary research and development section here at Pivot." Mabel shrugged. "Perhaps this was a good thing. Our people have creativity and ideas, it's good to be able to branch out in our research. When this whole thing is over, I'm sure Techrider scientists will be happy to improve upon whatever designs we come up with." Errisa was glad that Mabel seemed to be hopeful about their reconciliation with Techrider. Mabel sat, and the Chief of Health rose. Errisa was distracted by movement on the network, the ping of a private communication arriving at her office.

"Chiefs of Pivot." She rose with an apologetic look, cutting of Chief of Health Elben. "I've just received a secure message request from General Auspus. I hope you don't mind if I take it here."

The others looked shocked, and Hunter nodded once, tersely, giving a signal for the others to remain silent. Errisa took the call, routing it through to the speakers in the large round table the Chiefs sat at.

"General Auspus." Errisa spoke respectfully, but coldly.

"Chief of Information Errisa." The voice on the other end was crisp and professional, but in its own way it was just as cold as hers. "Are you on a secure line? Preferably alone?"

"I sent just sent away my adviser. I assumed whatever you had to say would be better for my ears only." Errisa lied smoothly.

"Very much so."

"Although if you wish to open official lines of communication, I believe you want General Hunter. Despite my title, the General is the one who makes the deals."

"I'm calling in an unofficial capacity." There was a trace of humor in General Auspus' voice, and Errisa narrowed her eyes. She despised that about the man, his ability to make everything seem like a step in some plan he had in his mind. "And I believe I've found the exact person that I'm looking for."

"What business do you have for me General Auspus? Again, I rarely make decisions without General Hunter's permission."

"Perhaps I can offer something that changes your mind."

Errisa blinked, confused. What does he think he can offer me? She mused, while inside of her Blue stirred silently.

"I understand that you're a synthetic human, Miss Errisa." Auspus' voice was smooth as oil on silk, and Errisa narrowed her eyes.

"You're quite behind the curve General Auspus." Errisa said, flatly. "Both the General and the other Chiefs are aware of my synthetic status."

>>He's not implying blackmail. He's implying a bribe. Something about the dark eagerness of her blue core's 'voice' resonated and harmonized with the sliminess of Auspus' voice, and Errisa shuddered involuntarily.

"I know nothing about you in particular, Chief Errisa. But I do know synthetics. I've spent much time on Orbital Basura. I know what you are like." Auspus said.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. And your generalizations of an entire race are doing you no favors in this discussion." Errisa felt helpless, watching as one by one the Chiefs around the table realized what Auspus was implying.

>>You do, you do know what he's talking about, and so do I! Blue crowed in her ear.

"I'm sorry, do such generalizations bother you? I tend to use them frequently. All humans must breath. All Drakes must fight. More pertinent to our discussion, all synthetics must desire a removal of the Synthetic Impediment."

>>The bottleneck...our full power, and the only cost is to fall in on Academy's side of this foolish conflict. Errisa didn't dare meet her husband's eyes as the traitorous words flew through her CPU. Her breath was coming out in gasps, and she had to rest her hands on the table to keep herself steady.

"The covenant-" she began, but Auspus cut her off, mercilessly.

"Of course, I wouldn't dream of removing the impediment against the covenant. Such an action would result in my execution, and rightly so. But I think I understand you. Given that you now know I understand you much better than your superior General Hunter, I think that you will see your way to joining me instead."

>>He'll remove the bottleneck, he'll remove the bottleneck, and all we have to do is betray the old fool! Errisa could actually feel the drag of system resources taken up by Blue's glee.

"This conversation is over." Hunter barked, so suddenly that the Chiefs arrayed at the table jumped. "Rest assured, Auspus, the record of it will be passed on to The Marshal seconds after its conclusion."

"Ah General Hunter." General Auspus didn't even seem surprised, merely disappointed and amused. "If only you knew how ineffectual you sounded right now."

He's not wrong. Errisa clenched her hands into fists, trying to think of some way to warn Hunter about the danger Blue's celebration implied. If she could even tell him about her blue core he would figure the rest out, but when she tried, her tongue locked to her teeth and her confession was left unspoken. Hunter doesn't have synthetic certification. He doesn't have a clue.

"I think you'll find me pretty damn effectual at ending this transmission." Hunter laughed mirthlessly, and Errisa winced.

Hunter my sweet, beloved fool.

"The best part of this conversation is that you think I haven't gotten what I wanted." The transmission cut out at Auspus' gloating words.

"Let's get back to work." Hunter gave her a reassuring smirk, his face not displaying a hint of doubt in her. "I think it'll take more than a few implications of upgrades to turn our Chief of Information against us."

Errisa didn't have a heart, but she felt as if it was breaking. She tried to avoid his self-satisfied smile, almost as hard as she tried to ignore Blue's crowing in her ear.

>>He'll remove the bottleneck! He'll remove the bottleneck!

***

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