“Let’s make something.” A little more time together, just the two of them. Because the new day dawning was a reminder of all the things he still needed to do and the threat that still loomed on the horizon.
With their breakfast consumed, Grady picked up their dishes and moved to the sink. “I need to test the weapons system. Make sure it’s fully under my control.” Rinsing the plates, he loaded them into the dishwasher.
Lark nodded. “What did you have in mind?”
“I thought I’d have Kong rush me.”
“Smart. If anything is going to set it off it’ll be nearly three-hundred pounds of giant gorilla man tackling you.” She grinned as she stood. “I’ll go pound on his door for a change.”
Pausing, her smile turned to a thoughtful frown. “Should it be planned do you think? Or should we have him surprise you?”
That was a good question. A true test would be to have an attack come out of nowhere. “Tell him to surprise me.”
When she nodded and headed for the door, Grady tacked on, “But relatively soon. I want to get this done.”
Another nod and she was out the door. As he continued to clean up he heard her banging her fists on the door repeatedly and Kong’s disgruntled shout of, “It’s open, for Christ’s sake!”
Grady quietly snickered. Those two…
“You wish to procreate with the female.”
He froze as that voice invaded his head. “ORION?” This was the first time the AI had made contact when he was awake.
“It is a logical decision. Her hybrid genetics will produce superior offspring.”
“Er…” Grady wasn’t even sure how to respond to that.
“My observation has made you uncomfortable.”
“Yeah, sort of.” He cleared his throat. “My relationship with Lark isn’t up for discussion.”
“Why?”
“It’s private. Between her and me.”
Several moments passed and Grady prompted, “ORION?” Had he lost his chance to talk to the AI?
“Yes, Commander?”
“Call me Grady.” If he was going to try to establish some sort of trust with the AI, that seemed a good place to start.
“Why?”
“It’s my name.”
“Very well, Grady.”
When Lark came back into the apartment, grinning, Grady held up a finger in a staying motion and she halted, her face alert.
“Thank you,” he told the AI. Now, to make ORION understand why it couldn’t stay inside his head. His mind scrambled for the best way to word things. He may not get another chance but pissing off an AI that currently had access to the chip in his head would be the height of stupidity. Carefully, he asked, “Do you understand why privacy is important?”
“I am familiar with the definition of the word and the importance humans place on it considering your inability to build adequate firewalls.”
Okay. That was a start. “If you understand that, then you understand why I’d appreciate it if you sever your connection with me.”
“That is not logical.”
“Why?”
