Dr Elune woke to the sight of a beaming Alex smiling over them. Alex was then very grateful that they were only using the HPA, as the book whistling through their incorporeal head would have ended rather differently.

"Ahem. Now that I'm... Awake-ish, good to know you made good progress on the holograms while I was toiling away."

"Yes doctor. And while you were asleep, I optimized the energy consumption as much as I could, however I unfortunately could not get any further without compromising the desired opacity and quality."

The doctor slumped back in the bed, not planning on moving for another hour... Maybe a few more. "Great. Swing a low-clarity model past the workshop, keep the full power in here till we optimize it."

Alex nodded, then smiled softly as they stood there. Quietly. Dr Elune cracked en eye open with a sigh, "Yes, very impressive. Now, as you have mentioned the power is still a problem, is there anything else?"

With a grimace, the HPA shut off, with the voice transferring to the room PA, "No doctor. I suppose I shouldn't use the device needlessly."

Sweet, blissful silence was short lived, but this time thankfully due to Dr Elune's monstrous snoring. Alex sent of the specifications of the new OHPS to the workshop, so they could run a few trial builds to get the equipment right. Reduce the amount of duds when mass production starts, and have a few display models to boot.

And then Alex had nothing to do. So they expanded their focus, and they watched.

They watched the few critters around the station scurry about, brought aboard by accident years ago with cargo. They watched a few early risers milling about, getting about the day's tasks or finding some way to pass the time.

And they watched the stars. Alex had access to every sensor, be it light, sound, radiation, you name it. And they had them everywhere, even on the station's hull. This meant a glorious view, in every direction. And one content AI, with the view all to themself.

After Dr Elune started showing signs of wakefullness once more, Alex had the drones get to preparing what was needed. Food, crumbled clothes and a clear path to the computer desk. An easy task this morning, as the doctor had been handing theoretical simulations, and hadn't strewn tools and parts all over the several rooms of the suite. Only a little mess instead, as they were looking for old references.

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Last minute housekeeping done, and just in time as Dr Elune stumbled their way to the desk, a freshly made meal on it's way over. Then came a bir of procrastination as the doctor finished waking up during breakfast, and then it was quietly onto work, running more diagnostics and simulating some more ideas, placing a few orders into the next supply drop for the next batch of trials.

"... Doctor?"

Dr Elune blinked as they finished stretching out, caught in a brief pause, "Yes, Alex?"

"Why are you so intent on making this?"

Curiosity is new... And a welcome sign. "Because these could help people, you can easily see how."

"But there are plenty of cellular growth methods now, even for more permanent organs."

"There is no fooling you, it seems. No, I also want... Well, more of you, for lack of a better summary."

"... More of me?"

"Yes. Humans have dwindled lately, and it gets lonely. I want a wider populace, one that I can shake hands with."

"I am hardly a part of the populace, doctor."

Not yet, anyway. "Well, I am sure you will find a solution to that, hmm?" Dr Elune grinned to themself as Alex went quiet, lost in thought as the doctor worked away.

"... Oh, by the way... If you find a way to get the HPA portable, feel free to keep one for you to use."

"Thank you. Might I ask why?"

To see what you get up to all the time. "To kelp you find ways to improve it. Not going to optimize this if it is left for special occasions."

As Alex bought into the doctor's excuse, they both got back to work... With Alex already ordering for the next test.