"Good morning, Grigori. Thank you for inviting us to your home."

Dr Elune settled in the armchair, Alex standing politely at their side as their host bowed, "The pleasure is mine. And please, Greg is fine. I am unfamiliar with the faces of your party... Who might this be?"

Dr Elune grinned, "This is Alex, piloting one of the completed AHOR units... Specially designed, at that."

Greg's eyes widened, "I had assumed they would be more... Different, I suppose." Wandering up, Greg peered closely as Alex glanced down at the doctor, "Wonderful craftmanship... And you can make more, with the facilities at the mansion?"

Dr elune coughed quietly, "Yes, but not quickly. I would suggest setting up a full facility first... Then you can pump out as many as you wish, should we have legislation. And please... We can hand over a unt for inspection later."

Greg blinked, smiling slightly as he retreated to his own armchair, "My appologies. I had heard from Ren that Alex is considered evolved, even dangerously so... But I am sceptical. It is no mean feat, after all."

Alex fidgeted slightly, "Doctor, if I may... Which unit were you thinking of having inspected?"

"Hmm? Oh, the Norman. We put him in storage, remember?"

"Oh, right." Hiding a nervous smile, Alex stared pointedly ahead, "As for my classification, I only wish to avoid trouble. Feel free to ask any questions you may have, our shuttle also has records on board of previous tests... Some manual, unseen by myself."

Greg shrugged as he chuckled, "Interesting, but another time. I shall try and by polite, and treat you as a human for the most part. Sound fair?"

Dr Elune nodded, "More than fair. Except one point, though... How much access do you wish for Alex to have to your systems?"

"Hmm, I don't think there is anything too bad there... And Ren trusts you, even with, uh..."

"His history?"

"Yes, that. You have full access, and as long as it is in the ranges, labs, or your bedrooms... You can modify the house as you please." Greg grinned wide, "I have seen your work. I doubt I would say no anyway."

Dr Elune grinned broadly, "Alex, please make a list of how many sensor arrays and HPBs we will need. Time to make this feel like home."

"With pleasure, doctor."

Greg laughed at that, before quieting slightly, "I am curious, though... Since your ship got hooked up to the main house, we have had a lot of energy drain. Is that seriously just Alex?"

Dr Elune nodded, "A lot of power is needed to run... Well, Alex. And once they really get started, we willl consistently be using a lot of power. I trust Ren breifed you on this?"

"Yes, yes. Just sceptical again. It is... Quite the wake up call, seeing the actualality of it." Greg leaned back, "... May I see the device?"

Dr Elune shook their head, "Some things need to be kept trade secrets. We will supply you with a few greyscale AHOR droids as thanks, and outfit your house for free... But Alex's br- Uh, proccessing center is a little too special."

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"Hehe, the brain of an AI, I suppose. And trust me, I would have settled for paying for the units, and getting the prototypes." Smile fading, Greg sighed, "Now, I'm sure Ren mentioned this... But while my servants are used to my... Questionables, and will be discreet, my family may not look past Alex should they be advanced as you say."

Dr Elune grinned, "Hide the power drain, and never say Alex is an android. Once we have the sensors set up, we can ensure one unit is hidden away as need be, leaving the impression Alex is human."

Greg nodded, "That would be for the best. My wife is not expected to be back home for a while, she is in the middle of a trip in the Belt."

"The Belt! Geez, she is far from home."

"Hehe, she grew up in the third haven. The Belt has always been somewhere precious to her... But I like the peculiarities of the fourth."

"Me, for example?"

"Exactly!" Beamign as they both laughed, Greg continued, "Anyway, Berta only comes around one monthe per year, by the standard calandar. She isn't due for a few months yet." Fidgeting, Greg shook his head, "My daughter, Jolana... She is another matter."

"I was unaware you had children."

"Three. The other two are out on their own, running parts of my business... I do pretty well in the ship and ore indsutries."

Dr Elune nodded, "I recognised the name from some of my own shipments. You have bought my ore before."

Greg blinked, "Have I? Small system!" Chuckling, he continued, "As I was saying... Jolana stays at home. She inherited our curiousity the most, and likes experimental physics... Something a bit easier to get away with, out here."

The doctor looked up ast Alex, "... We can get along with her, convince her that Alex is the best thing ever to boot. Where is she now?"

"On her way back from the relay rings, due to a discussion on black holes. She should be home day after tomorrow."

Nodding, the doctor grinned, "I look forward to it. For now, though... I have one question that has been bothering me."

"Yes? Only the one?"

"Only one. The armoury is quite the spectacle... But one I understand." The doctor leant forwards, "... Did you ever take part in the Mars incident?"

"... I supplied transport and resources to the armies. I know full well of the horrors..." Greg waved dismissivly, "... But, I am a realist. Most of the horror was the firepower. That could have been in human hands just as easily. Besides... That AI took years of research from teams of geniuses. Alex can't be that good. No offense."

In unison, Alex and Dr Elune answered, "None taken." As they giggled, the doctor mused quietly to themself. Greg's view was common on the fourth haven... But nonexistant on the others. Mars had been a slaughter, only one in ten encounters having so much as a single survivor. That was no simple matter. "Thank you again, for housing us."

"No problem. I look forward to your work!" Shaking the doctor's hand, Greg showed them to the door, beginning the official tour of their new accomodations for the forseeable future.