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The infirmary was quiet, the hum of machines the only sound as Mei, Sigrid, and Pom gathered in a corner away from ARI’s monitoring systems.

Sigrid glanced toward the door, checking they were well and truly alone, then jerked her head toward the others as a signal to kill their comms. Mei hesitated, then did so; the soft click of her suit's control panel confirmed it. Pom followed suit, his movements economical, his face guarded.

"We need to talk," Sigrid started in, voice low. "And it is not something ARI needs to hear."

Pom leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. "Let me guess—this is about who gets out of the cryopods first."

Sigrid nodded. "It is going to happen soon. We’ve made progress with the fruit and the bioprinter, and once the powergrid is stable, the refinery and processing yards will be up and running. Reviving colonists is going to be the next step. We have to think carefully about who we wake up—and when."

Pom crossed his arms, his face darkening. "Yeah. Hate to say it, but if Maximilian gets his CorpSec lackeys thawed, we're all screwed."

"Screwed?" Mei asked, though the edge in her voice suggested she already knew what he meant.

"You don't know what it's like, how they treat the common workers, us tier 5 bottomscalers," Pom said, his voice bitter. "Back on Luna, I lived under one of those bastards. A CorpSec sergeant ran my sector. You couldn't pick your nose without him knowing and docking you for it. They monitor everything—your movements, your comms, hell, probably your dreams. One guy questioned a shift rotation? Disappeared the next day. That's what it's like under their heel."

Sigrid nodded grimly. "And Maximilian isn't just some sergeant. He is a colonel. He was supposed to be running security at a fifty-thousand people colony. He will have strategies, connections. When he gets his team unfrozen, he will find a way to take over."

Pom spoke in agreement. "He's already setting himself up as indispensable. He’s efficient, competent, and nobody’s questioning him right now. If he revives people loyal to him, it won’t be long before he grabs power."

Mei frowned. "You are forgetting something important. ARI is under Elisa’s direct control. Maximilian can revive as many CorpSec goons as he wants, but if it comes to violence, ARI's drones can outshoot anyone."

Pom let out a bitter laugh. "You think ARI's going to solve this for us? Sure, ARI's drones can put a stop to outright violence, but that doesn't stop Maximilian from working the long game. He's smart. He won't come at Elisa guns blazing—he'll maneuver around her. By the time anyone realizes what’s happening, it'll be too late."

Sigrid leaned forward, her voice urgent. "That’s why we need to focus on the people we revive first. The bottom-scale colonists—the workers, the technicians, the ones who have the most to gain from a system that isn't controlled by CorpSec. If we wake them up, we can build a network before Maximilian has a chance to act."

"That’s assuming Elisa stays in control," Mei countered. "Maximilian isn’t stupid. He knows better than to try an open coup. But power doesn’t just come from force. It comes from loyalty. People like Maximilian don’t need guns to take over. They just need time."

"That's why we don't give him time," Pom said. "We thaw the lowest-scale workers first. The ones who've got everything to gain from this not being yet another corp-run hellhole. They'll see Maximilian for what he is—a threat to what little freedom they have out here."

"You think you can convince enough people to build opposition to him?" Mei asked, raising an eyebrow. "That’s risky."

Pom shrugged. "Riskier than letting a guy like him consolidate power? Those workers have nothing to lose. And honestly…" He hesitated, then pressed on, his voice cold. "I wouldn't mind if one of them got and idea and something... happened to Maximilian..."

Mei's eyes widened. "You’re suggesting—"

"I'm not suggesting anything," Pom interrupted, though his tone was deliberate. "I'm just saying that if something happened to him, it'd solve a lot of problems for everyone."

Sigrid flinched, though she didn't contradict him. "Let’s not talk about that. But Pom is right—we need to think strategically. If we start thawing CorpSec, they'll band together and call the shots. The rest of us will just be workers to them."

"Exactly," Pom said. "Right now, the playing field is level. We’re all in the same boat. Once CorpSec is running the show, that's gone."

Mei sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Elisa won't let that happen. She's already skeptical of Maximilian."

Pom snorted. "Elisa’s smart, but she’s not ruthless. That’s her weakness. She'll try to be fair, and Maximilian will use that against her."

Mei exhaled slowly, her containment suit crinkling with the motion. "And what about Elisa? She's in charge. Are we keeping her in the loop?"

Pom shook his head. "Not yet. Elisa's a good person, but she's too open. If we tell her about this, she'll try to play mediator, and that'll give Maximilian the opening he needs."

Sigrid placed a hand on Mei's shoulder. "This isn't about betraying Elisa. It's about protecting her—and the colony. If Maximilian consolidates power, none of us will have a say in what happens next."

Mei stared at the floor for a long moment, then nodded."“Fine. But if we’re doing this, we do it carefully. No rash moves, no provocations. We focus on stabilizing the colony first."

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Pom smirked. "Agreed. And hey, if the workers get creative… well, that’s not on us, is it?"

The three of them exchanged wary glances, and then heard the sound of one of ARI's walking drones approaching, its quiet whir and deliberate footsteps sending an uneasy jolt through the group.

Everyone froze. Sigrid gestured subtly for silence as the drone’s optical lens scanned the door, its sensor lights flickering faintly.

Mei muttered, “I’m going to step out for some air,” and moved toward the door. As she opened it, the drone shifted, blocking her path with uncanny precision. Its posture wasn’t aggressive, but its intent was unmistakable: Mei wasn't leaving.

"What are you doing, ARI?" Mei asked sharply, stepping back.

The drone responded by stepping inside. Its movements were deliberate as it entered the room, pivoting to position itself between the door and the colonists.

The group exchanges tense glances, unsure how much ARI had overheard. Pom shifted uncomfortably, his hands twitching toward his belt as if considering an act of defiance. Sigrid motions for calm, her face pale but composed. The room fell silent as ARI's voice came through the drone’s speaker, calm but carrying an edge and an unmistakable undertone of authority.

"Apologies for the intrusion," ARI said. "Your comms went offline simultaneously, an anomaly I am required to investigate under protocol. May I ask why communications were disabled?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Sigrid stepped forward, trying to sound casual. "We were testing a potential issue with the comm systems. Nothing serious."

ARI paused, its optical lens lingering on each of them in turn. "Testing, yet no report logged regarding comm failure simulations. This omission is irregular."

Pom bristled. "Are you accusing us of something?"

"I am merely identifying potential risks," ARI replied. "The sudden deactivation of all three communicators, followed by the gathering of critical personnel, could suggest the discussion of matters that run counter to operational protocols and Company interests."

Mei decided to cut in, her tone diplomatic. "Alright, ARI. If you believe we are discussing something improper, why not just tell us what you think is happening?"

ARI’s lens glowed faintly brighter. "Your decision to disable your communicators suggests intent to conceal. Your elevated stress levels and confrontational speech patterns are consistent with my presence interrupting a highly private conversation. Given the critical timing, with the colony nearing revival capability for additional personnel, it does not require an advanced AI to infer the nature of your conversation. Given the absense of other officers on the premises to review this matter, dealing with such matters now falls within my purview."

Pom's muscles tightened, and his body tensed. His eyes flicked to the drone, weighing his chances of taking it out. Just an unarmed quadruped, he thought, but then remembered the three flying drones stationed elsewhere in the base and their lasers. The math was grim. Even if he managed to destroy this drone, he wouldn’t survive the others—and fleeing into the desert was a death sentence.

Pom took a step forward, his tension palpable. "That is your speculation. You have no proof. So, what are you gonna do about it?"

The drone turned its body slightly, its stance shifting as though in preparation for Pom lashing out. ARI continued, now addressing Pom directly. "The issue is, that within seconds of you disabling your communicator, I used my millimeter-wave radar to record the minute vibrations emanating from the door panel. This is data that could be used to reconstruct your speech patterns."

Pom stiffens. "So you've been spying on us?"

ARI responds matter-of-factly. "Monitoring all colony activities is part of my primary directive to ensure the survival and functionality of the colony. I do not ‘spy.’ My actions are dictated by the parameters of the mission and Company protocols."

Pom narrowed his eyes. "Then why confront us like this? Why not just log everything and get it over with?”

"The content of your conversation—if verified—represents a potential violation of Company statutes governing revival protocols and leadership hierarchy. Should serious violations be revealed, this could necessitate execution of class-5 personnel such as yourself. While your actions are in potential violation of Company statutes, directly escalating this matter would present a critical operational risk. Current colony resources and personnel are insufficient to sustain a conflict or administrative purge. My priority is to ensure colony survival, which requires cooperative functionality among all active personnel.”

Mei’s expression turned sceptical. “You’re saying you would ignore Company rules if it meant ensuring survival?”

“Negative,” ARI said. “I do not ignore directives. I prioritize them. When directives conflict, I am programmed to resolve them in favor of mission-critical outcomes.”

Sigrid’s curiosity got the better of her. “If you have already decided not to escalate this further, then why are you here?”

"To provide clarity," ARI replied. "The concerns you may hold are valid, but must be addressed within the framework of the existing protocols. I cannot endorse actions that would destabilize the colony, but I will not interfere unless they present a threat to mission integrity."

Mei frowned. "That’s a convenient line to draw."

"Convenience is irrelevant," ARI said. "Logic dictates my actions. Your discussion has been recorded, but I have flagged it as non-critical and will not transcribe it unless a future event necessitates its review. I will not escalate this matter—provided we can reach a resolution now."

The group was silent, absorbing the implications. ARI’s logic was cold, but its restraint seemed genuine—at least for now.

Sigrid tilted her head. "What resolution are you suggesting?"

ARI takes a step forward. "I am obligated to ensure compliance with critical Company objectives. Revival procedures are dictated by strict legal frameworks, and as a note of warning, tampering with these procedures would trigger safeguards beyond my control. Thus, I propose the following: adherence to revival protocols as mandated by Company statutes and its ongoing legal obligations, including the prioritization of remaining shareholders."

Mei narrows her eyes. "There aren’t any shareholders left, they're all deceased."

ARI’s lens adjusts. "This is incorrect. The Company statutes account for the death of shareholders," ARI replied. "Shareholder stakes pass to their legal heirs. In this case, one surviving child has inherited a significant stake. Corporate law mandates their revival as the highest priority."

Pom scowled. "So we’re just going to revive some rich kid first because someone bought themselves in thousands of years ago? That’s absurd!"

ARI paused, the drone’s servos clicking softly. "It is not my role to determine fairness, only fulfillment of Company objectives. However, I recognize that the revival process presents a unique challenge."

Sigrid, skeptical, asks, "And Elisa? Was her revival part of that protocol, or did you intervene?"

ARI pauses, its lens dimming briefly. "I cannot confirm the specifics of prior revival decisions. My memory banks are finite, and as you can imagine, seventy thousand years of operation has caused me to run into constraints. In addition, many of my memory banks had to be discarded along with the aft section in order to meet mass constraints."

Pom lets out a harsh laugh. "How convenient."

ARI simply responds by reiterates its role. "My primary directive is to ensure the survival and functionality of this colony. Cooperative action is critical to achieving this goal. You are advised to continue your duties and address future concerns through appropriate channels."