Alex yawned as they eased out of the Maintenance cradle, blinking in surprise as Jolana waved from the foor of Dr Elune's bed, "Morning Alex~"

"... Good morning. I, uh... Didn't realise you were here." Stretching with a groan, Alex glanced around, "Anything I can help you with?"

Shaking her head, Jolana watched curiously as Alex finished waking up, "Not really. I just figured, I don't have much planned for today... Maybe I could help you, somehow. Also... Do you even need to stretch?"

Alex laughed, hopping upright as they moothed out their uniform, "I do, actually. Helps warm up my muscles, similar to everyone else. Yawning helped clear my airways, and boost airflow to my system to boot."

"Huh. Well, I seem to learn something new about you every day now." Smiling as she got up as well, Jolana glanced up and down at Alex, "... How long have you been wearing that?"

"A few days. I cycle outfits fairly regularly, just to stay clean. One of the few things I can't do is sweat... Which is the main reason people change outfits."

"Huh. That make sense, I suppose. Why don't you wear other things?" Jolana tilted her head, smile growing cheekier as she remembered the outfit Alex wore out last time.

"... Convenience, mostly. The bodysuit is durable if I need to oversee the drones, and is comfortable enough." Coughing quietly, Alex led the way outside, "Speaking of, I still hadn't finished shutle modifications based of the shielding prototype... Data from the panels we sent with Laura seem to be holding up well, so they were a good idea."

"Guess I know what we are doing today, then." Jolana jumped slightly as a service drone wandered past, carrying a pair of chairs, "... Sitting down?"

"Yup. Like I said... Overseeing drones. I rarely have to do the heavy lifting, it's just that the AHOR unit has great senses, and will reduce overhead if I focus on one task." Grinning, Alex watched another drone go past, laying out breakfast on a collapsible table, "I can still handle a few things, though."

Rolling her eyes, Jolana thankfully sat down as they had a nice view of both the garden and the shuttle, drones already scurrying about, "Thank you. I was planning on sticking to coffee... But, this smells like a better alternative~"

As they ate, Alex glanced up now and then to check on the drones, otherwise happily chatting with Jolana, "The rest of my day was planned to work on the Mars sim some more, refine it for when Tom gets here. Impressing him is our highest priority right now."

Jolana raised an eyebrow, "What, with vr? I don't think ou guys came all the way out to the Haven for that."

Alex chuckled, taking a quick sip of juice before replying, "Did the doctor never explain it to you?"

"If they did, I must have forgot." Shrugging, she glanced up at the drones, quietly admiring the fact so many were being controlled at once... Serving to remind her that Alec was only half in any one place, at most.

"Well, I am still techni- no, fully an illegal entity under the Edmund Protocols. That makes getting to know people rather difficult, for me and the doctor."

Grimacing, Jolana sighed, "You know, part of me keeps forgetting that. Your power in the wrong hands, etcetera..."

"Exactly. Problem is, there is no precedent of it being in the right hands so far, until now. We need to find a way to show that, without getting arrested first."

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As Jolana giggled, Alex continued, "Especially since yu have probably heard of our plan to head further inward, to the early Havens. We can't do that until I am made legally acceptable, not just here, but under a revision to the Protocols themself."

"That sounds... Difficult."

"Very. We need to convince a whole bunch of beaurocrats that I am both fantastic to have around, and not likely to go crazy." Chuckling, Alex shrugged, "What we need most for that, is a good first impression... And a recomendation from someone high up."

Jolana's eyes widened, "... Tom."

"That was Greg's thinking, so we went with it. He is good friends with some influential people in the inner havens, and he could probably convince a third of the 4th Haven conglomerate without explanation. Especially with his background."

"Hmm... I also doubt he would flip out on us at this point, too. How much does he know so far?" Jolana leaned to the side as a drone came past, scooping up some of the empty dishes and glasses.

"He knows we have a supercomputer, and can replicate advanced processes. He also is partnering with us on having AHOR used as cybernetics. But... He thinks I am human."

"That's what I thought." Groaning, she looked up at the sky, "Guess you can''t take any chances, huh. Anyone else you had in mind to vouch for you?"

"Well... Now that you mention it, you can help with two great candidates, actually."

"... How?" Staring down her nose suspiciously, Jolana sat back upright, "You don't mean..."

"She would need convincing sooner or later anyway." Smiling apologetically, Alex fidgeted, "We plan on starting negotiations with the government before she catches wind, but... If we haven't... She would almost as good as Tom to have one her side."

"Better. She has dragged me to anti-AI development rallies." Sighing in exasperation, Jolana shook her head, "Since you are all living here, you really would need to convince her, though..."

"... And if I am to continue being around you." Jolana stared back up at Alex when they said that, startled slightly.

"You... Uh... I hadn't... Thought of that..." Blushing, Jolana was releived when a drone provided more refreshments, offering a distraction. Alex also took another drink, sipping with a blush of their own.

"Ahem.... Anyway. One thing at a time. Tom first, her last... And hopefully Dr Elune can get some advice from Greg on how they can approach the subject."

Jolana nodded, "He would know best, I suppose. Wait... Who is the other person I am to convince?"

"That should be obvious. Max knows AI, and you two are friends. He-"

Alex jumped as Jolana started coughing, waving them off as they dapped at the unfortunate spray of juice with a napkin, "I'm fine... Just bad timing. Anyway, uh... I'll think about it. He may be bubbly around you beause of vr, but hedid volunteer to help people outwit the most powerful AI of all time."

"True. You need anything?" when Jolana shook her head, Alex blanged back at the shuttle, most of the panels secured in place, "Well, not much more I can do here... Let's head back inside."

"That sounds like a good idea. Anythign I can do while you run the Mars sim?"

Alex grinned, "You could read to me? Help me train splitting my attention."

Giggling they headed inside, taking a short stop by the study to discuss the potential reading material.