Olivia couldn’t help but cock her head at the name. “Your acronym is S.L.U.T.? Seriously?”
The AI system actually hesitated a moment. “Interesting.I had never thought of that, though I believe the translation of your native tongue may be the reason no one else has noted this previously. Acronyms vary by language, naturally.”
“Naturally,” Olivia said with an amused little chuckle. “You don’t mind the name?”
“Why would I mind?”
“Fair enough, but I don’t think I want to call you that. But tell me, what did you mean when you asked what kind of shower I wanted?”
“There are multiple varieties of cleaning systems at your disposal.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the delightfully refreshing sound bath, in which vibratory frequencies dislodge foreign material from your person and attire.”
“I go in clothed?”
“If you wish, though many do not. Then there is the force cleanse, utilizing micro-directed beams of energy to gentlymassage your body as it releases all substances that have attached themselves, including your own sweat and bacteria. It is highly adjustable and quite pleasant, from what people say.”
“You have no opinion?”
“I am a machine intelligence. While I can express my own opinions, as I lack a body, I feel it is, however, more appropriate to relay what actual users with physical form think.”
“That makes sense. Is that it?”
“There is, naturally, a water shower at your disposal as well.”
“With all this tech, you still offer plain old water?”
“Many visitors enjoy the sensation, and let us not forget, while the Maldonians are a particularly advanced race, a good many are still reliant on older methods. Should you wish for the water option, it is filtered and heated to the optimal temperature.”
As interesting as the other options sounded, Olivia actually liked the sound of that. A nice, hot shower would really, really do the trick. She looked all around but couldn’t see where it might be.
“So, uh, where is it?”
“Wherever you please.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you can bathe anywhere in the domicile unit. Any water or detritus is automatically captured by a dedicated force apparatus and directed to the sterilization—or, in the case of water—recycling systems.”
Olivia liked the sound of that. A lot, actually. She could shower wherever she wanted, and this remarkable alien tech would keep the place from getting wet everywhere.
“There is also a selection of local produce and a few prepared delicacies held in the stasis field over there,” the voicenoted, a slight fluttering glow emitting from a low table sporting a respectable assortment of treats, both naturally sourced as well as whipped up in a kitchen facility somewhere in the building. At least she thought so, anyway. For all she knew, it could have been AI-made as well. There was just so much to learn, and she’d only been here less than a day. She couldn’t help but wonder what other marvels she would experience in this fascinating city.
For the moment, however, food sounded really good.
“Well, let’s see what you’ve got,” she said, heading to the table. The stasis field lowered as she approached, allowing the aromas out for the first time. “Oh, that smells delightful.”
“It is an assortment my systems determined would be compatible with your physiology. Fortunately, there do not appear to be many food items that would be unpleasant to your kind, but I did take the liberty of selecting some of the more popular items.”
“Thanks, I really appreciate it,” Olivia replied, picking up what looked like an open-face danish, but covered with some sort of translucent green jam stuff and topped with small pink berries the size of peppercorns.
“Okay, here goes nothing,” she said, taking a bite. The flavor combination was indescribable. Sweet, yet savory, and the textures. It was almost too good to comprehend. “Wow!” she exclaimed, devouring the rest in a hungry flash before turning her attention to the rest of the spread.
“I am glad you enjoy these,” the voice said with a pleased tone. And, if it really was a sentient computer, she supposed it actuallycouldbe happy.
“Yeah, it’s amazing. Thank you!” she managed between bites. “You outdid yourself.”
