Terrans were hard to interpret.
"I have done what I can."
She waved her hand. "I know. I am tired. I apologize." She glanced around. "You didn't answer my question, though. About the difference between what is a cyborg and what is a humanoid with enhancements."
"Yes. Of course. Because a humanoid gets an enhanced part, whether to fix an injury or for reasons of vanity, they are still who they are if they never had the part. We, as cyborgs, are born with enhancements. If they are removed, we will not survive. We depend on both to live."
"So would any humanoid who has a vital organ replaced by a mechanical one."
"But they are not connected through their consciousness. We are."
She nodded. "A neural net connects you. That allows a group of you to pilot like you do, as a singular unit."
"Yes. We operate on the same system, through Master System. It programs our protocols and missions."
"You, however, seem like an individual, not part of a bigger unit."
"We have some autonomy. Some ability to express individual thoughts."
"Interesting that you would settle in a system that every cycle will block that connection."
"It allows us to be more independent of each other and reminds us that we are individuals as well as units. While Master System is our core system, there are times when we cannot communicate with Master System. We must understand how to function without Master System."
"You have to be able to be both," she said.
He nodded. "Function as units as well as on our own."
She smiled. "I can relate to that."
"How so?"
"As the Lady in Waiting, I am the Imperial princess's advisor as well as her friend. It is my job to tell her things she does not want to hear, but also to support the things she needs me to support.”
“I understood that in the Terran hierarchy, the Imperial family had the last say about whatever decisions need to be made.”
This did make her smile. “On the surface, yes, that is correct. However, there is much more nuance to it than a royal decree. Ultimately, everything is a compromise between the royal house and the Senate.”
"The structure is complex."
She nodded. "Like that station Disguised Serenity."
This made him smile. "They have maps."
"I would hope so," she said with a laugh. “You really do have to watch the pricing. Some of those vendors will take advantage of you.”
“I do not find that problem often.”
She twisted her hips and adjusted the way her legs were crossed. “I imagine that you would not.”
“Do you get intimidated often?”
She shrugged. “People assume I am not capable or not intelligent enough to know what I say because of my position.”
“Your size should have nothing to do with your intelligence.”
She smiled. Why did that expression feed the Craving so much? He would have to question Master System about that after the eclipse.
“My size, no. My position in the Empire, yes. How I got it, yes.”
