Page 6 of Leviathan

"I will not be able to allow you to return to the research station even if you ask," I said, finding the boundaries of my mission parameters. "I will also be unable to drop you off in any location that is in Taygetan-controlled space. If you agree to those conditions, then I will answer your question about evidence."

"What is a Taygetan?" she asked.

She didn't even know the name of the species that had held her captive?

"You just stepped off a Taygetan research station that is in a long-distance orbit around a habitable planet in early terraforming stages," I said. "They are a long-standing member species of the Alliance who are known for their extensive genetic modification to their own species."

"So that is what they're called," she said. She focused on my drone, giving it a bright smile. I studied that smile from different angles from the optic sources I had stationed in the hallway ceiling, seeing how it creased the corners of her eyes and lifted the edge of where her hair met her scalp. "I would be delighted to never see another one of them again and agree to not be allowed back on their station or in their controlled space. I agree to that limitation on my autonomy. Please answer my question."

"The Taygetans are currently under investigation following accusations from the Shek’invitali that they abducted sentient beings and placed them in cryogenic stasis chambers against their will,” I said. “Alliance intelligence contracted me to infiltrate a series of locations identified as potential destinations for those missing individuals. My objective was simple. Verify the claims, gather evidence and return the moment I found proof.”

I paused before continuing, giving her a moment to ask any questions.

"They are doing all of that," she lifted one of her hands off the data storage device she held against her chest and waved it. "Here I am."

"Yes," I agreed. "Here you are."

Yet the rest of the tension didn't leave her body. She didn't offer to hand over the data storage device, continuing to hug it to her chest. She didn't feel safe yet, and that fact unsettled me almost as much as seeing the collar around her neck. There were many things about this situation that were unacceptable, but I couldn't fix them all at once.

What I could do was make sure she knew that she was no longer a prisoner.

"I have prepared a chamber for your biological needs," I told her. "If you follow my drone, it will lead you to that room. Please let me know if there are any adjustments that are needed for your comfort. I have slotted several other rooms for your needs. They can be arranged in any configuration that you choose. I've created a list of common arrangements to give you an idea of what is available, but that list is not the limitation. We will be undocking with the station shortly and will be leaving the system. The Taygetans are currently unaware that you have left their station. We will be traveling for stealth, which means the journey to the next destination will take some time. I have provided a handheld information access device in your chamber, with destination information as well as close-by points along the route, but as we are in Taygetan space, I will not be stopping. When you are ready, I would like to perform a thorough medical scan at your earliest convenience as well as debrief you on your experience at the lab. If you have any other questions, please ask."

"Don't you want to make sure this is what you need before you leave?" she asked, tapping on the data storage device.

"The collar around your neck is more than enough to satisfy my mission parameters," I told her. "Though the full research data is important, verifying that it is on that data storage device is not as important as getting you away from this station as quickly as possible."

"You could probably just take it from me while I slept anyway," she said, that same soft bitterness lacing her words.

"I could take it from you right now," I replied, letting her know she was correct. I might be vulnerable in some ways, but I had all the power in this moment. "But that would cause you distress and wouldn't suit my goal."

"What is your goal?" she asked.

"To repair trust," I replied. "If you are going to be effective in your testimony against your treatment, it is imperative that you are in good mental and physical health."

"So I'm just evidence," she sighed, her shoulders slumping. Then she took a deep breath and nodded to herself, as if she was supporting some internal thought she wasn't voicing out loud.

She needed more from me than to be treated like a piece of evidence.

"You are a person who has been treated, which is in violation of the law," I said. "You, as an individual, are worthy of respect, consideration, and care, and I intend to do my utmost to ensure that your needs are attended to in a manner that both upholds the law as well as my own personal sense of moral responsibility."

"Oh, okay," she said, the lines smoothing from her forehead. "Thank you. You know, you sound very kind for a computer."

She thought I was software?

I told her I was the ship, and she had jumped to the conclusion that I was technological instead of biological.

I weighed the pros and cons of letting her believe that. I didn't intend to lie to her, but I would be significantly safer from her if she believed I was some sort of artificial intelligence. It was a risk letting her inside me like this, and the less she knew about my vulnerabilities, the better.

I made up my mind.

My safety was more important.

I would let her assumption slide for now.

"Once we are in a more friendly space, you may disembark at any destination you wish," I said. "I have prepared a list of options, including a travel itinerary that involves testifying directly to the Shek’invitali Queens instead of to Alliance intelligence. They will appreciate a recorded testimony as well, but a direct appearance will be impactful."

"I thought you were contracted by Alliance Intelligence," she said. "Not the Shek’invitali."