Now he’s just being annoying on purpose, VIFAI grumbled.
“No, I’m not,” Yan said triumphantly. “It’s just my nature.”
Shit, VIFAI and Iris thought simultaneously.
“Vessel, you might wish to do some of that breathing meditation,” Yan said. “You are growing flustered for no apparent reason. I am only spying on the movements and actions of your AI; I cannot read your thoughts.” Yan paused. “OrcanI?”
Jesi and Tev were both leaning over Yan’s shoulders, staring intently at the computer screen. Ishtan and Eli instead focused on Iris’s face, which flustered him even more and deepened his already growing flush. Besieged on all sides, Iris had no choice but to follow Yan’s suggestion. He closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and followed the oxygen as it flowed from his lungs to his heart, to his arteries and veins, until it tingled through his extremities and filled them with vitality. Once he was calm, VIFAI projected the three-dimensional map of theNicaeato the forefront of his mind.
“Thank you, Mr. Vessel’s AI,” Yan sang. “Now I am going to ask you to trace the entire map, pixel by pixel, if you would. I know it sounds awful, but it’s the only sure way to get an accurate rendition. Don’t worry about slowing down; my machine over here can handle your speed.”
The map ignited with a pulsing light before Iris’s eyelids. He focused on his exhale. Out went the used-up air from his lungs, from every last nook of his capillaries, from the veins, and the arteries. He finished his exhale and held it. By the time Iris breathed in again, the flashing had stopped.
“Perfect,” Yan exclaimed.
“You’re finished?” Iris asked, rubbing his eyes.
I can work much faster when I interface with something electronic,VIFAI explained.
“Yeah, my computer works faster than your brain, Vessel,” Yan said.
I’m still not fond of you.
“I’ve been nothing but a gentleman.”
It was disorienting, to witness a conversation that was happening without him, between VIFAI and a stranger, a jarring reminder that the construct was separate from him, able to interact with others without Iris’s intervention. Iris extended his thoughts towards the inorganic consciousness, wishing to hear what the AI and the engineer were discussing, but he was met with an impermeable wall. The realisation that his companion’s thoughts would forever be protected while his own were there for the taking left him feeling exposed. If his mind was there for the taking, there were no more places left to hide.
When Iris finally looked at the computer screen, he saw an identical map to the one in his mind traced in white against the black of the background.
“I can’t believe that worked,” Jesi breathed.
“And that’s why I’m the second youngest person to ever get tenure in my faculty.”
“Yet, not the youngest,” Jesi said, sotto voce.
Ignoring her, Yan asked VIFAI, “Can you trace the most direct path from where we are to deck ten and”—Yan traced the air with his index finger, as if following some unseen guide—“deck eight, segment nine, unit six or seven, I can’t remember. You’ll be able to tell on the map.”
The pulsing flashing returned, and Iris lost his vision for a moment while VIFAI traced the path, pixel by pixel. Blinking furiously, Iris said, “I would greatly appreciate it if you would warn me, engineer Yan.”
“Here’s your warning. Can you mirror the path?”
The flashing continued, and this time, Iris failed to focus on his breathing and blankly watched the cavalcade of lights as they danced and flickered behind his eyelids. Despite their superficial beauty, he still felt used. His mood soured substantially.
“And done,” Yan said, clapping his hands together with a satisfyingsmack!“Now if everyone would just hold their applause, I present to you, our own, perfectly translated map of theNicaea.”
“That piece of the wall didn’t render,” Tev said, pointing to the screen. “And I think this is supposed to be a staircase.”
Almost perfectly translated,VIFAI said, and Iris shrugged it off, more irritated than he would have liked to admit.You’re jealous.
How long have you been shutting me out?The irritation and confusion carried through Iris’s thoughts.
As long as you have. Or did you think you were the only one allowed secrets?
Iris didn’t have an answer. He wanted to think of himself and VIFAI as partners—equals. Yet, it was always him sendingthe AI to the background, shutting down its speech, and deciding when rest would come. This skewed partnership, which he could no longer call that, had served him well. Iris couldn’t say the same for VIFAI. He concluded that silence and space would do them both good, and turned his attention towards the computer screen instead, deeming the conversation over.
The path his AI had outlined was simple enough. They would climb their way to the tenth deck using the staircases on the opposite sides of the corridor that ran along the communal space. Then they would track towards the center of the ship, where most of the electrical pings had been originating from, according to Yan’s work. Iris remembered the burning ache in his brain stem when his AI was pinged at the orchard and winced internally. Another such interaction was guaranteed.
“What happens if the path is blocked? Iris’s AI can adapt, your map can’t,” Ishtan asked.
