Chapter 3B: Coming of Age
The two people who showed up for C5731A’s coming of age ceremony was a middle-aged man with a monocle that floated directly in front of his eye, along with a female android who wore what looked like a dated flight attendant outfit.
The man stepped in with false bravado and a slightly sinister grin on his face. But in reality, the girl was far more afraid of the android.
Either way, she must behave in front of the two beings. One was a B rank investigator who decided to stay behind on a seed ship to earn credits, and the other was an android made to house a spawn of the Mother AI. Both outranks the girl, and both have the authority to ruin her life.
The man looked satisfied with the girl’s act of servitude and her submissive attitude toward her examiners. He took a step forward and introduced himself but was cut off by the android.
“Hello passenger C5731A, today is your big day!” The android said with anticipation.
“Y-yes it is, m-miss,” The girl replied nervously.
“No need to be skittish, we will be done very quickly,” The man laughed.
He was annoyed the android stepped on his pride, but what can he do against his ‘employer.' The girl very quickly got herself back together and began introducing her topic.
The android listened with a constant smile on her face. One couldn’t even read what her face was saying. The man, however, was very nonchalant. He felt the topic was fundamental, nothing really worth his attention. It was not until the girl got to the prototype that both the being’s interest peaked.
“…And this, is the prototype,” The girl walked over a large canvas covered object and revealed the tree underneath. A multitude of colorful light glimmered from the leaves and the veins in the bark hummed with electrical life.
The man’s eye behind his monocle widened.
“You built this?” He asked.
“Y-yes,” The girl replied to the sudden question.
The man was shocked. Usually, teenagers will not build a prototype. They are mostly theory and ideas and nothing to show for it. Not often do they have something tangible to show the examiners.
“Very good C5731A!” The android praised.
The man frowned. He initially was hoping to get another assistant today. After all, most teenagers would do poorly during their inspection. He would take the chance during their despair to bring them under his wing as a pupil. Most would be incredibly thankful for the offer. He would then have another minion under him to do his bidding.
“No, something is missing,” The man said, “You completely forgot about the cost.”
The android frown.
“The world is not a free place, especially with resources so limited. What would the cost of such a tree be? How much will it cost to build?” The man continued with a sly grin.
He wanted to stump her. He could always use another cute assistant.
The girl smiled brightly which gave the man an uneasy feeling.
“Thankfully the old man had notes on the inspection. One of the inspectors will always try to fail you through bullshit means,” The girl thought to herself, “The old man must have gone through this long ago.”
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The girl confidently walked over to a cabinet to grab a file. She took a pamphlet out and handed both the inspectors one. The android smiled while the man frowned again. Inside was a full detailed budget plan including the cost of production and labor fees. It was very thorough and included everything the man asked about previously.
“Well, well, well, C5731A, you sure are well prepared!” The android praised.
The man shook in anger. His pride took a hit today. Suddenly, he thought of something he could use.
“Still, missing something,” The man said again with a sly grin. But before he could say it, the android glared at him with annoyance.
“P0833D, I do not appreciate you are so dismissive of C5731A’s achievements,” The android said with disdain, “I know what you are up to. So don’t do it in front of me when there is such a brilliant pupil.”
The man shivered in fear. Usually, the AI would ignore his schemes, but it seemed like they have found a formidable person, One that is worthy of being preserved.
“Y-yes, ma’am,” The man replied obediently.
The android quickly faced the girl with her usual smile.
“Good job C5731A, don’t worry about P0833D’s comments. He will always be just a small frog in a well.”
“I understand.”
Seeing the AI take her side instead, the girl took the initiative to mock the man for trying to harm her chances, “After all, remaining on the seed ship would mean his rank is in the upper echelon but once he set foot on Gaia, he is but another B rank peon among a sea of talent.”
The android’s eyes lit up as she began laughing.
“Very right, C5731A!”
The man was seriously pissed now, but he couldn’t show it in front of the AI right now.
“I will make your life a personal hell,” The man thought to himself.
The Android and the girl chatted some more on her experiment and wholly ignored the man.
Finally, after a lengthy discussion, the android who seemed very satisfied ended the inspection.
“Good, good! Now C5731A, for your results,” The android closed her eyes while pretending to be mysterious. The man just crossed his arms and leaned on the wall while glaring at the girl.
“You pass with flying colors and have ranked up! You are now B- rank, high enough to be sent to Gaia!” The android smiled.
The man frowned. He couldn’t take his revenge if the girl left. Actions had to be taken before that happens.
“Great!” The girl said with much glee. Finally, her dream was becoming a reality. The old man’s wishes will be fulfilled. “When can I go?”
“Whenever you want to, the transport ship is scheduled to leave daily,” The Android replied.
“Great! Then let’s leave now!”
The man looked at the girl with anger. If she leaves now, he wouldn’t have a chance to attack her.
“What about your friends and family?” The man asked.
“Don’t have any,” The girl straight up replied with confidence.
The man nearly tripped at the girl’s proud reveal of her horrible social life.
“Then let’s go, you don’t need to pack up, everything will be provided by Gaia. Only grab memorable things.” The Android clapped.
The girl already had the USB the old man gave her on her necklace. All of her old stuff have already been incinerated after her original body’s death. She really had nothing left that contained memories for her.
“I’m all set.”
The android’s eyes glimmered.
“That’s everything?”
The man wanted to mock the girl for having no essential items, but with the android monitoring his actions and most likely recording his speech as well, he couldn’t act.
The android led the man and the girl out of the room. As soon as they left, the glistering electric tree was disassembled and stored by several mechanical arms that ejected from the walls. It would seem the AI was watching the entire building process, so it knew how to take it apart.
______
They soon arrived at the terminal dock. A small shuttle arrived to take them to the transport bay. Without a moment’s rest, they got in and sat down. An uncomfortable atmosphere soon permeated the small shuttle. The man was still noticeably pissed, and the android was very nonchalant. The girl was nervous and excited.
Darkness filled the tunnel while the inside of the shuttle was illuminated with only a small bluish hue from the ceiling.
After around five minutes of awkward silence, they arrived at the blindingly bright transport bay. Several small ships are docked with robots moving supplies in an out.
The two examiner exited the small shuttle first and went to register a flight. C5731A stared in awe at the sight. She usually didn’t have the clearance to ride the shuttle as it’s reserved for staff members only. This was her first time seeing the transport bay.
Massive, noisy mechanical arms were moving large shipping containers while small robots carried boxes, it was a hive network of bustling work.
“Soon, I will be at Gaia. I will see for myself, the utopia that the old man and I have been striving for,” The girl spouted her emotional monologue, “Just a little while longer.”
She clutched the USB on her necklace. The gear’s groves cold within her sweaty palms.