[https://imgur.com/XY4oDMB.jpeg]

The steam cleared soon. Next, the lights in the room turned on and the alarms died down, almost in sync with the full stirring of the woman. Her eyes slowly opened, with mechanical precision that made me think of the Drones I had fought. As they took in the reality around her, though, they fluttered with a more natural rhythm adjusting to the light condition.

Her hands grabbed on the sides of her entrapment, pulling herself up and forward, stepping out of the cylinder and onto the floor on top of it. The impact of the heels on the floor betrayed a heavier person than her petite figure would imply: muscles, then. She stood straight and moved her head around slowly, observing the room and everything in it…

“I seem to have been awoken.” A natural sounding voice, if controlled, with no trace of hostility. Still, on a level I could attribute to professionalism or detachment. The patchwork appearance of her body and the large diodes sticking out of her hair betrayed an unnatural origin but her behavior so far was promising…

Also, for some reason, I could understand every word she said. Just like when I had engaged those guard drones earlier.

“Not a human but nothing like the Drones outside, either.” I said aloud, causing the lilac irises to settle on me. “What are you, then?”

“I'm designated as Support Type Unit Prototype Ingma-Dus. And I have no record of anything designed as a 'drone'.” She introduced herself and confirmed without a shadow of doubt that she was but another creation of whoever operated this facility. She then turned to face me fully, hands held at her sides, the metallic contraptions around her forearms shining in the artificial light. “Are you my master?”

…

‘Well, this is a convenient turn of events.’ “Interesting query…” I smiled, amused by the opportunity that seemed to have just fallen into my lap. “Why do you ask?”

“My primary directive requires to identify a master. I currently lack information pertaining to their identity.” She explained, her posture perfect and unchanging. “You are the only person in this room, so it is safe to assume you’re the one who awoke me. Consequently, I would positively argue you are my master.”

“Interesting.” I grabbed my left elbow with my right hand, the left to my chin. “And what will you do if I say I’m not?” She blinked slowly then tilted her head to the right, her gaze on the floor.

“I don’t know… I would keep searching for my master, I suppose.” She almost mumbled, breaking the character she had shown so far. As if I had presented her with a possibility she wasn’t prepared for. Still, she would not be hostile.

“I see… And what do you need a master for?” I asked, stepping closer to her. Her head straightened as my questioning brought her back to a familiar subject. “What is your mission?”

“I've been created to support my master in their efforts on the field of battle and all related endeavors which may prove beneficiary.”

…

I… This cannot…

“Heh…” My eyes widened, pure and sincere shock grabbing my being. Then laughter started rocking my body, which I barely managed to squash down to chuckles. “Heheheh…! Of course you are! Hahahahaha…” I turned around, a hand on my face. The woman looked at me with puzzling, unsure of what to make of my reaction.

Just as I was unsure of what to make of this situation. “Did I say… Something wrong?” She asked.

“No, no… It’s nothing. Hehe…” I said, shaking my head as I recovered, quite incredulous. My random action had earned me not just a positive development but something that seemed tailor made for me… “Do you also possess knowledge about our immediate surroundings? The world without it?"

"Affirmative..." She replied, still confused by my confusion.

"Very well, then... You are correct in that I am the one who awakened you." I nodded, making the final decision. "I knew not what boon laid inside your metal coffin but nonetheless: I shall be your master, woman.”

“Acknowledged. And how shall I address you, master?” The patchwork servant asked, and the instinctive reply died on my tongue. Now, that was the question, wasn’t it? Indeed, she seemed to be an existence tailor-made for the person I was… But I had vowed to tackle what was to come next as my dear friend would, who had moved his first steps from humble beginnings.

My friend would never have someone address him as master or treat him as one. He endeavored to treat anyone as an equal, no matter how inferior of an existence they were to people like us… And anyway, my reputation didn't precede me there. I would lose nothing in carving a new identity for myself.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

In exchange, though, I would bear his name so long as I walked this unknown star. “Jusso.” I answered the woman. “My name is Jusso Vachellis.”

“Understood. Master Jusso Vachellis.” She repeated. Hm, it seemed like I had failed to explain myself properly.

“Just call me Jusso.” She nodded.

“Acknowledged. Master Jusso, then.”

…

“No, uhm… Only Jusso.” I specified and was rewarded with an owlishly confused stare. “…without the honorific?”

“W-Without…?!” She gasped loudly, eyes wide and hair almost standing on end, a hand covering her mouth. “M-Master Jusso, I…! I cannot, that… That’s impossible!” She protested, her composure evaporating. She started pacing and I started worrying. “Unconscionable! Unthinkable!”

“…I am compelled to ask why.” I deadpanned.

“Protocol demands that I address my master as master, so if master Jusso is my master I need address him as master Jusso!” She let out loudly. Then, her eyes widened even further if possible, and her pacing speed increased. “Yet, not calling master Jusso master Jusso is a direct order from master Jusso, yet what would be a bigger breach of protocol, disobeying an order or…” Her voice lowered into an audible mumble and if she paced any faster, my eyes would start spinning.

“Woman, stop!” I needed to nip this in the bud immediately. She skidded to a halt and turned to me, bewildered. “Listen. Your devotion to protocol and your respect for your master is commendable. They are appreciated.” That seemed to calm her down somewhat, her body language softening. “But, as your master, I would prefer if you addressed me without the word master before my name.”

She looked at me, stared at my face. Then she glanced at the floor, hands joined together. Thumbs flicking rhythmically against each other. Then she looked at me again.

"Lord Jusso, then?" Cosarn-

'Why do I have the feeling I'm going to regret this?' "Sure. Lord Jusso... For now." I sighed, holding the bridge of my nose. I spied the ghost of a smile gracing her lips. "Changing the subject, how should I address you?"

"I'm designated as Support Type Unit Prototype Ingma-Dus." Why did I expect her to answer normally, I don't know.

"That... Won't do. It's way too much of a mouthful." I paused. "And the acronym is juvenile."

"If it displeases you, lord Jusso, you may address me however you wish."

"I'm to name you, then?" Two souls in such a short amount of time... They say the act of naming is powerful. That the meaning behind it can enlighten people to the hopes and wishes of the namer for the namee.

I never knew what the intended meaning behind my name was, as the one who chose it died before I was old enough to open my eyes. Nor did I have any hopes for this stranger, but her natural colors and those of her clothes did inspire. She reminded me of a flower... "...what about Iris?"

"Acknowledged." She smiled still and nodded, taking my choice in stride. I have a feeling I could have chosen literally any name. "I shall take the name Iris, lord Jusso."

"So, you will." And she would have protested none, and yet asking her to not call me master had almost sent her in a panic. Connection and nomenclature finalized, she stepped closer to me, bowing her head.

"Who is our first target, lord Jusso?"

"There's not really a target, right now. First, I would like to obtain a new weapon." I declared, glancing in the direction of the blade I had destroyed in the process of awakening Iris. "Then, I would much like to leave this place."

"Understood." She nodded. "I shall lead you to a more suitable battlefield, lord-" Alright, no.

"Iris, you do not need to finish each sentence with 'lord Jusso'." I reprimanded her, frowning. "It's a name, not punctuation."

"Oh." She said after a few seconds of evaluation. "My apologies, it's just-"

"Protocol, I assume... So? Are you able to grant my requests?" She paused and then nodded, her figure relaxing in the perfect posture she favored.

"I am. There's a small warehouse nearby where guard drones are outfitted and repaired. It should contain suitable equipment for the immediate need." She commented. "As for leaving the facility: this level houses a matter transporter which is used to receive cargo. We can override it and use it in reverse."

"And can you access the room where it's situated?"

"Affirmative." She replied. "I have access rights to the whole facility."

"Outstanding." I declared with a pleased grin. Seemed like my random interaction with my environment had earned me a particularly beneficial boon, that day. A lesson to keep in mind for the future. "Let us proceed, then." I turned, my eyes set on the door...

Iris has joined Jusso's Party!

"For the-!" Only for whatever augmentation had been imposed on me to make itself known again, this time with a musical jingle of some kind to add on top of the pop-up screen. I frowned and dismissed it quickly with a tap. "This thing has been useful so far, but it'd be better if I could actually control it."

"Would you like me to instruct you as to its workings, lord Jusso?" I froze. Then, very slowly, I turned my head around to look at Iris. What had she just...? "Your Arcano-Tactical Vision, I mean."

"...you know what this is? You could see it? Hear it?" Of course she did.

"Affirmative, lord Jusso." She nodded. "Shall I detail its functions as we proceed, as to optimize time?"