Compatibility Revisited: A Nindroid Romance

A Rough Patch

Zane has started his training at Sensei Li's dojo. The courtyard is equipped with a training course not unlike the one where he and his fellow ninja once learned Spinjitzu, with the difference that the obstacles are arranged in a long line as opposed to a circle. Sensei Li uses it to teach her students Zigjitzu, a technique to sidestep opponents rather than immediately fighting them.

Zane (frowning at the course): How can this be so hard? I've been training for several days and still struggle to get to the other end, while the Sensei ... (He recalls Sensei Li's demonstration on his first day of training: with a swiftness that makes it impossible to observe her actual movements, the small, gray-haired woman wearing sand-colored Sensei robes seems to be teleporting in a zigzag line through the row of obstacles until she gracefully jumps off the last pole.) Find your rhythm, she said. Swing left and right, but never forget to focus straight ahead. Surprise your opponents by getting behind them before they have even noticed you. (He sighs.) I think I'll leave it for now.

He is about to turn away, when Pixal joins him at the course.

Pixal: How is it going?

Zane: There's a lot to work on. But it's good to see you recovering and regaining your former agility and sense of balance. Sensei Li was right in suggesting that you exercise on the course as well. Your progress exceeds my expectations.

Pixal: Are you joking? Zane, flipping over a couple of poles still makes me feel dizzy for minutes, and I'm unable to get past the first half of the course. I have no idea how long it will take until my body is fully functional again. (She lets out an exasperated sigh.) I wish I had my Samurai suit so I could feel at least a little bit like myself!

Zane: You and I both know that the suit wouldn't solve your problem. Your systems are still adjusting to the new chip.

Pixal (defiantly): The suits and mechs I build work. That new chip doesn't.

Zane (trying to stay calm): When a nindroid's gyro unit is equipped with a new chip and reconnected to the pre-existing software, the system is set back to a basic configuration and only improves with training. And patience. (He gives her a glance.) But why am I telling you? You knew that already.

Pixal: So did you really have to replace the chip? Was there no way of saving the old one and fixing it without resetting the whole unit?

Zane (now struggling to keep the annoyance out of his voice): No, there wasn't. I've explained it to you before. But ... Fine. I suppose you are going to talk to Nya on the holocom later today, so just ask her. She saw the fused chip, and she completely agreed with me that the unit was beyond repair. We were lucky to get all components for a new one so quickly. (He turns to leave, glancing back at her with a look of mixed anger and sadness.) There was a time ... when you trusted me.

Pixal: Wait, Zane ... (She stares after him with an unhappy expression on her face as he walks away without looking back.)

***

Pixal and Zane avoid the topic – or, in fact, most conversation – for almost a week. Yeah, nindroids can sulk, too ... But one day, Sensei Li summons Pixal and Zane for a joint lesson on the Zigjitzu course.

Sensei Li (with a cheerful voice): All my students have to work in pairs at some point. Let's begin. (Zane and Pixal reluctantly face each other.) No, no, no. I don't want you two to fight. (She smiles.) You will train on the course. (They start walking towards opposite ends of the course, but Sensei Li calls them back.) No, you're starting on the same side. And at the same time.

Zane (bewildered): This doesn't make sense. The chances are 87% that we collide before we get past the third obstacle.

Sensei Li: It is up to you to disprove this calculation. Please try.

Pixal and Zane exchange a glance. On Sensei Li's command, they run towards the first obstacle, but both are forced to jump off after few seconds.

Pixal: Sensei, Zane's objections were justified. We have trained on this course separately, but it isn't made for two contestants. We get in each other's way.

Sensei Li: As iron sharpens iron, ninja sharpens ninja. (She looks at Zane.) You've heard this before, haven't you? (He nods at the familiar sentence, which Sensei Wu often cited to his group of young ninja.) Try again.

The lesson continues without either Zane or Pixal making much progress. They find it impossible to race against each other on the Zigjitzu course without constantly hitting either an obstacle or the other runner. When Sensei Li eventually leaves them, they are exhausted.

Pixal: I'm sorry, Zane. I think I hit you really hard that last time I bumped into you ...

Zane: No, I'm fine. But I forced you to backflip over that pole, and I'm worried about your gyro. How do you feel?

Pixal: I couldn't have done that a few days ago, but it's ok now. (She gazes after Sensei Li for a moment.) I really don't understand her intentions with having us race on the same course. How are we supposed to find our rhythm when we constantly get in each other's way? Besides ... (She drops her gaze.) I don't want to compete against you.

Zane (with a brief smile): For fear of losing or for fear of winning? (He becomes serious again.) But you've got a point there. What if Sensei Li never meant us to compete? What if this is really about us mastering the course together?

Pixal (thoughtfully): She never said it was a race. Yes, let's try a different approach tomorrow.

They turn towards the house.

Zane: Shall we have dinner together? We ... (He looks away.) We've hardly spoken to each other for days.

Pixal: It was my fault. Regarding that gyro chip ...

Zane: Ah, yes. Did you talk to Nya?

Pixal: No, of course not. Zane, I do trust you. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for what I said.

Zane: I am sorry, too. I talked to you about it as if it were just any electronic device I replaced. But this was about your body and you feeling helpless and dependent. I should have been more understanding.

Pixal: And I should have known how much I hurt your pride. I've been inside your head long enough. (She lightly touches his arm.) Come, let's go inside.