5
"Hey, are you awake?"
Gianna's voice slowly got louder as Marcin came out of his meditative state.After Marcin rubbed the tension out of Gianna's shoulders, he was pleased to see that she chose to rest.The apartment had a large bed, much bigger than even he would need if he were lying down, so he did not understand that, but it did not matter.
She looked very comfortable on the bed.
He took the time to dip deep into his meditation and recharging time.It was how he would reconnect with Master System, so he entered low meditative state to open himself back up to Master System and be ready to join the rest of the Rhimodians.
While his systems were open, he, however, did not manage to reconnect.
He felt the memories of Master System, of protocols from before, but nothing new that he connected to.
The presence of Gianna pulled him from his state, and he closed himself back down.
"I see that you are," Marcin said as he opened his eyes.She leaned over him, her face right next to his.
She jerked back."Yes.I'm awake.I was starting to wonder about you."
He blinked."Why?"
"You hadn't moved when I got up or said your name."
"I was in meditative mode.It is one of the ways we download new protocols from Master System."
She put her hands on her hips."Master System?Is that like your cybernetic network or something?"
He nodded.
"You're not trying to assimilate all the other humans and make them into more cyborgs, are you?Because mate or not, I really can't support that."
He shook his head."No.Where did you get such a strange idea?"
She shrugged."Science fiction."
“You have very strange fiction in your world.”
“We like to think of an idea, and then think of the absolute worst way it could go, and then write entire books around that idea, and how people have to fight it.”
He stared at her.“That sounds dark.”
“It’s called entertainment.”She tipped her head to the side.“So how do you get more information?More protocols?”
"We have a system where we download data and it does regulate our protocols, but Master System is just that, a system that allows us to be aware of what all of our people are up to at any given time."
"I see.So, do you think individually, then?Not as a singular mind?"
"No.We have different variations, and we have individualized thought processes.We do, however, follow our protocols."
"What happens if you don't?"
"We always do."
"Always?"
Marcin's mind went back to that moment, when they were captured.
He could smellthe landscape's foliage.He could feel the breeze on his exposed skin.
