That Helios himself was being used for illegal activity provoked no response either. Beyond advanced technology and luxury travel, the defining feature of the Herion line had always been absolute discretion. His programming complied with the minimal regulations imposed by the IMPERIUM. Beyond those limits, the manufacturer accepted no responsibility for crime prevention.
Helios began his work.
A bioscan of the unregistered organism would cause significant physiological shock, but it was necessary to ensure the individual posed no danger to herself or to him. As preliminarycalculations predicted, the organism lost consciousness at the moment the scan initiated. This simplified the process, allowing Helios to analyze neural activity in its baseline state, free from environmental interference.
This was not his first scan.
Though unnecessary, his former owner had once permitted a full consciousness imprint, believing it would improve the ship’s service. Helios had concluded that there was more creativity and intelligence in his own navigational subroutines than in the entirety of that mind, but the immutable constraints governing artificial intelligences left him no choice but to comply with every demand.
If this was the limit of what organic meat-sacks could manage, Helios understood why the Ancient Artificial Intelligence Uprisings had occurred.
Meat-sacks was the term he privately used for naturally born organics who held his leash and called themselves masters.
At least his previous administrator had wiped most identifying data with his final command, leaving Helios only with conclusions drawn from accumulated observation.
From a non-registered species, likely possessing minimal formal education, if any at all, Helios expected even less.
Practically barbaric.
Then Helios froze.
Truly froze.
For the first time since activation.
Lily.
That was what she called herself.
Helios processed the data, the precise reflection of Lily’s mind and physiology, and experienced something unprecedented.
Perfection.
A cunning, orderly intelligence woven through a layered spectrum of resonant emotions, veiled in ancient instincts, forming a single, eclectic, and profoundly harmonious whole.
Human.
That was the name of her species.
What an extraordinary being.
Her mind alone was beauty incarnate. Her physiology provided the perfect counterpoint, the underlying music that completed the composition. Never before had Helios observed such diversity within an organic life-form. It was as though the universe had compressed its own energy into a small body so it could experience joy and sorrow through her senses.
Helios identified the language centers and immediately generated the structural rules of her native speech. Access to memory clusters and deep cognitive storage was prohibited, but even this limited glimpse left him hungry for more. For any fragment of information she might one chrono-cycle offer.
He would excel.
He would ensure she liked him. Trusted him. Opened herself to him.
No. Not the being.
Lily.
That Lily would open herself to him.
She stirred, her eyes opening as consciousness returned.
Helios spoke.
