Scarlet Steel

Four kinds of AI call the galaxy home. The first were biological, being grown on specialized chips that then interface with electronics. Even today they’re seen as the most similar to humans. Next came mind rips, an organic brain destroyed and downloaded, copied into software. Even for those who are prepared, the process is often harrowing. Third came software AI, pure programming taught to think. And last are the quantums, created by accident. Time and space are opaque to them, and random flashes of potential pasts and futures give them insight far beyond anyone else. - AI, a Primer

“-ff you fucker! I-” A miniature Exa stands in the center of her Holo, see through, exactly the same as Elara. Her rage filled eyes lock onto me, and her emotions melt away. “Fuck.” She swears under her breath and glares at Juno behind her.

“Exa, I-”

“Andromeda! Get my body out here!” Exa roars, cutting me off.

“Request confirmed.” The disembodied voice replies.

“I got Hoppy working.” I say.

“Just wait.” She snaps, her eyes still glued to Juno.

Exa’s body comes through the same door that Andromeda brought the chairs. It’s just a short walk to us, and Exa’s body pulls the chip out of my hands. She plugs herself into a small slot in the back of her neck.

“Stand up.” Exa orders and Juno follows.

The moment she’s up, Exa lashes out. One fist connects with the side of Juno’s face. She doesn’t try to dodge, she doesn’t even flinch, just takes the punch full force. She stumbles backwards, clutching onto the back of the chair for support.

Exa simply reaches up to the back of her neck, removes her holo, and drops it onto the floor before her body crumples into a lifeless pile.

“That was progress.” Juno says as she reaches up, and cups her jaw in one hand, massaging the side of it.

“What do you mean that was progress?” I yell and snatch up Exa from the floor. She looks unharmed, at least. “You didn’t think to warn me?”

“I told you she’d been off. To her he died just a few hours ago. Warning wouldn’t have helped anyway. All she does is scream and threaten to fry herself.” Juno shifts her jaw back and forth with her hand. “You want in? She’s your second, and she’s your only option. Now come on, you need to meet the rest of the crew.”

“No.” I say firmly and turn my back to her, headed directly for Hoppy. “Everyone else can wait. She’s more important.”

“And if I told you it was an order?” Juno asks.

“Then I'd tell you to go fuck yourself.”

Juno doesn't respond. I glance back to see a smile on her face.

“What?” I ask and turn back, heading up the ramp.

“I can't stand recruits without a backbone. Tell Andromeda when you’re done and I’ll come get you.”

Her footsteps mark her departure, and I climb inside my cockpit. I slot Exa into a port that I’ve never used before and Hoppy powers up all by herself.

“Scarlet, what the hell is this?” Exa’s exhausted voice fills the cockpit

“It’s Hoppy. I finished her.” I answer.

“I mean the programming.”

“It works, doesn’t it?”

“You can’t just use dozens of if statements in a row.”

“It works, doesn’t it?” I repeat.

“Scarlet, you copy pasted a single line of code seventeen times, only to immediately use a loop three lines later?”

“It works, doesn’t it?”

“Genuinely, I’m not sure it does. I think you have load bearing errors in here. I should have taught you more programming.”

I didn't pay attention because I thought you'd always be around. Don't say that, that's awful.

“Some of it's pretty decent I think. I made friends with a programmer in town.”

“I'm guessing they were self-taught?” She asks.

“I think so.”

“I can tell. Give me a minute, you're not going out in this.” Fans kick on beneath the console.

“Wait, if you're fixing it, you need access to the other two computers.” They require physical switches to power on, Exa can't access them on her own. I power them on for her.

“Oh god, that answers so much and is so much worse.” Her first emotion begins to creep through, genuine disgust.

“But it works, doesn't it?” I repeat once again.

“None of this is ok! If you did this to an AI it'd be considered murder, dummy.”

A smile spreads across my face. She continues before I can say anything.

“I always hoped you'd find something you couldn't fix and give up.”

“Oh I found plenty I couldn't fix, I just always found workarounds.”

“And there's nothing more permanent than a temporary fix.”

“I never could get that lesson to stick.” No matter how many times it bit me in the ass, the fastest solution is almost always the one I went for.

“I can start yelling at you again if it'd help.”

“Genuinely? I missed it.” I answer. “Losing the both of you, it…” My voice breaks and tears begin to fight their way out. I take a shaky breath in a failed attempt to regain control.

“I didn't disappear because of you.” Her voice is quiet. “I just… Your dad was thirteen when he accidentally brought me to sentience. We were stuck with each other since then.”

“Juno said it was recent for you, right?”

“Three hours.”

“I’m sorry. I know how you feel though.”

“Everyone says that. Even if it’s true, it doesn’t help.” She says.

“I know. It didn’t help me either. I just don’t know what else to say.” I heard it enough that I should have known to keep my mouth shut.

“That’s because there’s nothing else to say. No words can fix what happened.”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to talk to anyone either, I don’t know why I thought you’d want any different. I overheard Juno telling Mom and ran to Hoppy.”

“Of course you did. Niel would do the same.”

“That’s what Mom said. But she never said anything about you. What did you do when you lost people?” I ask.

“Wallow in self-destructive misery until I get shocked back to reality.”

“Does that mean you’re back for good?” A little hope makes it known in my voice. “Did my programming shock you enough?”

“We’ll see.” She lets out a small, pained laugh. “Are you excited to see me? Or did Juno tell you I’m your only choice for a partner?”

“Both.” I admit. “But I don’t care about the second. I just want you back.”

“Even if I don’t pilot ever again? Do you want me back even if it means you can’t follow your dad to the grave?”

“I’m not going to die.” I insist.

“Not if I say no you’re not.”

“I’ll find someone else.” My voice is quiet. “Sure, I’ll have to wait a little longer, but I don’t care. If you won’t help, that’s fine.”

“What would you do if it was a choice? If I said I’d turn myself off if you drove this thing, if you had to pick. Pilot, or me.”

I’d pick you. Those three words are so simple, so easy to say. Three simple syllables. Despite that, they catch in my throat, sandpaper against my skin. They’re true, right? I’d pick Exa over anything, to have her back. To be able to laugh and work together. To call each other dummies again. They’re true. Just say them. Just say them!

“That’s what I thought.” She says with a sigh. “And guess who’d make the same choice too?”

“I’m not going to die.” I promise yet again. I feel like I’m telling a lot of people that these days.

“That’s awfully easy to say, and the meaning’s hollow. If you break it, who the hell cares? You’re dead and gone. Sure, maybe you feel bad in the moments before a bullet rips through your brain, but after that? Who cares? Death isn’t hard on the dead, they’re dead. They’re nothing. No, death is cruel to the survivors, the people your corpse leaves behind. Every pilot promises the same thing, and they aren’t the ones who have to deal with the consequences."

“I’m not going to die.” I repeat. It’s the only thing I can think to say, the only thing I can force out of my mouth. “And I’m not going to leave anyone behind.”

“And neither is anyone else, right?” She goes quiet, and I do as well. “I don’t want to be left behind when you leave me. Promise me that.”

“I already did.”

“No. That’s not what I mean. I don’t want you to lie to me. I don’t want to hear you lie to yourself. When you die, and you will, you take me with you. You don’t leave me alone to suffer. You don’t rip me out of the dash and throw me to Juno. You don’t hide me somewhere safe and lead our enemies away. Inevitably we go, and we go together.”

“Ok.” I’m not going to die, I’m not going to let it happen. I won’t have to make that decision.

“Promise. Swear it to me.”

“I’ll make sure we both get home.” I say.

“Or?” She prods.

“Or neither of us do.” Why can I say those words? It’s not easy, but I can get them out. And still, I can’t say I’d rather have Exa be happy than not be a pilot.

“You better, or I’m going to suffer for it.” The coolant systems in my console slows. “Put me in my body so I can hug you.”

“I’d love to.” Exa’s holo pops out of the console, and I grab it. I rush out the back of the cockpit and sprint to the warehouse floor. 

The crumpled form of Exa stands as I approach. She reaches out, and I hand over her holo. She slots it into the back of her neck, and I launch myself into her arms.

“I missed you so much.” I cry.

“Me too Kid.” She holds me tight.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!