A bit of a longer segment, going into the weekend. Minerva, as I mentioned in the last segment, started off as a sliver of Reina. Left to her own computational devices, a new personality formed. That personality, like how a baby bird imprints onto its parents, is completely fixated by Laszlo Hartmann. Back when the Minerva-consciousness was still barely formed and she was still Reina, she watched Les and his boyfriend, Nikita, behave in a sexually deviant fashion. As a very young new soul, she made several mistakes based upon that observation when it came to expressing her deep feelings for her captain.

Now, five years later, she seems much more comfortable in her role as helpmate and second-in-command of INS Lionheart as it gads about the outer solar system. As I do not think she has ever been around human children before, her quick response, below, was a surprise to me.

I wonder what Saras and Min will talk about? In wifi, androids can speak mind-to-mind just as demis do, but I don’t think Min would without “copying” everything to Les. We shall see.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

“Minerva.  I am Saras Hartmann.” A small bow.  “Your love and loyalty shall someday be legendary.”

“Princess,” the android bowed right back.  “You flatter me.  I am a help-mate to my captain.  And, forgive me, the pronunciation is mee-nur-wa.”

Maybe five-four, short black hair except an inch-wide fringe down the left side of her face.  Pale skin from being so far from the sun, there were creased fans at the outer corners of her eyes – eyes nearly the same red as Kira’s – and worry lines around her mouth.  Amazing.  She does not age but the skin does.  I wonder if she will have to replace it someday?  I am too young with this type of technology, years old it may be.  Her plastic pants and boots, plus her close fitting dark tunic made her into a shadow.  When her eyes flicked to Les’ and back, Saras knew that’s what she wanted to be.  Not the center of attention, but an undetachable part of my uncle.

She really is in love with him.  This is all so confusing; I need to grow up soon.

Indoors to their small apartment, Laszlo excused himself to get out of his suit.  He quickly returned wearing a tee shirt and shorts, his feet padding on the plastic floor.  Saras noted that Minerva put herself next to him, never more than a foot away.  Does Mom see this?  I am so confused as to their relationship.

Now free of her suit, too, Lissa cried to be picked up.  “Onkul!  Onkul!” she yelled.  Les settled her into his left arm, his right just brushing Minerva for an instant.

Don’t get it.

“I’ve already caught up with your daughter, here,” he indicated Saras, “but would like to get to know you better, Eloise.  Can we spare an hour before dinner?”

“Of course,” her mother replied, getting a highball glass and a bottle of whiskey.  Mom, really?  “I know you demis hate alcohol, so is there something I can get for you?”

“Just water for me,” Les replied, moving to a small couch and bouncing Lissa on his knee.  Her laughing went on and on. 

“And a glass for my best friend, too, please,” he added.

Mom froze.  She did not prepare enough food for…

“It’s to be polite, Mom.  Don’t worry,” Saras explained into the silence.

“Oh.  Of course, of course.  Here you go, Miss Mendrovovitch.”

“Are you and my captain not family?” Minerva asked, still standing.  “I ask you to call me as Captain does.”

I wonder if she calls him that in private.  There is no way I can read an android; I doubt any of us could.  But I just do not think so.

“And to that,” his voice just a touch lower, “we’re all friends and family here, Min.  Here, catch!”

With a gasp, Eloise watched Laszlo toss Lissa at the machine.  Who effortlessly caught her under her arms and turned in two circles, grinning and cooing at the youngest.

Such emotions!  I… I want to touch Uncle’s mind for more, but I guess this is one of those times to do things the old-fashioned way.  She sat at the unpadded plastic chair to the right of the couch, which was their only luxury item besides the occasional gift of meat and some very old print books.  While reactionless motors made space transport cheap, storage on any ship was at a premium.

About to take her baby sister from their guest, Minerva tossed her back to her captain.  For more bouncing on his knee.  Lissa let go with a huge burp, leaving a bubble at the corner of her mouth, but was entranced at being the center of attention.

“Do you need help with the Tandoori chicken, Mom?” she asked, referring to one of those special gifts from Earth.

“It’s…” Eloise turned about to the stove and stirred a few dishes.  She turned back and came over to put her left hand onto her eldest’s shoulder.  Of course, her rapidly diminishing drink was in her right.  “It’s fine for about another fifteen minutes.  Oh.  I do not know if you’ve been here before, but we all still use most Earth times.  Some of the more hardcore are using the Martian year, almost precisely twice Earth’s.”

“Cutting your age in half, Eloise?” Les grinned again.

“I,” her voice caught and all but Lissa looked at her.  “I wish I could cut my exile in half.  And, yes, First Girl, I know.  I suspected when Fussy laid out this entire assignment of mine – of ours.  Once you’ve been arrested and tortured, you do tend to pay attention, even if you are merely human.”

“Mom!” Saras made to stand but her mother’s hand kept her down.

“Dinner’s almost ready.  I think you two demis said ‘hi’ pretty fast at the spaceport.” Tossed back the last of her drink.  “Can I bother you, Brother-in-Law, to help with plates?  She’ll be horrified to learn this, but I’ve seen how Saras is watching your girl.  She badly wants to know more about her.  Let’s give them a few minutes.”

Rather than a toss, Les turned and planted the little one onto the couch.  She grumbled at that but was too interested in the smell from the kitchen.

“I interest you, Saras?” Minerva said, still standing.

“Do you ever sit down?”

“Yes.  It is a social convention and does reduce my power consumption a tiny fraction,” she answered.  “Does my standing bother you?  I can sit on the floor…”

“Don’t you dare!” Now Saras came up out her chair a little.  So quickly that her feet were off the floor for a moment.  “Go sit by my sister.  She already likes you.”

“And you, Saras Hartmann?” Minerva did as she was told.  A Second Law response?  “Do you like me?”

“Let’s take ten minutes and see.”