10 Minute Tales

Mar 9

They set off, Queenson's watchful eye on Error the whole time. She spoke calmly with Avo, occasionally bugging out and speaking with that same, flirtatious tone from before. She even refused the name Error while bugged, sticking with Aurora. Queenson was worried that Aurora couldn't fly the shuttle as effectively as Error could, but thankfully he never had to find out.
"Re-entering atmosphere." Error warned. "Prepare for turbulence."
"Okay, everyone, listen up." Queenson announced, heading over to the console and leaning on it. His hand caught the PDA button; it would broadcast everything that was said.
"What is it?" Alyssa asked, oblivious to this button.
"We're heading back to a planet where the president of pretty much everything wants us dead and has already tried to kill us. If we're going to storm his office, it needs to be fast."
"We don't have a permit! If we step foot in that office, nothing we find can be used as evidence, even if there is something incriminating!"
"We can't get a permit from the guy we want to raid. Avo, you know the rules better than anyone, think you can-"
"Article 32581-C." Error suddenly commented. "Any member of au-au-au-authority that actively obstructs justice through harm or hindrance of security officers, attempted or otherwise, may-may-may be investigated and arrested without the requirement of typical warrants. A trial, however, must still be held."
"... convenient." Queenson muttered. Error twitched, becoming Aurora briefly.
"Thank Sentinel, he added that one all on his own." Aurora huffed, pouting. "About the only good thing he-" She twitched.
"Thank you for your input, Auror-Auror-Auror-Auror-Auror-Auror..."
"Damnit." Avo huffed, preparing to reboot her. The ship suddenly jolted as fire started to lick at the wind shield.
"Avo, you idiot! Don't touch her!"
"But she's locked! Just listen to her!"
"Give her time!" Queenson growled, staggering back to his feet.
"What?!"
"She'll figure it out. She's got to." Queenson grabbed Error's shoulder and looked her in the eye. "Listen, you damn robot, if you don't get that stutter fixed in time I swear I'm gonna take you apart and smelt you down. Got it?"
"Auror-Auror-Auror-Aurora." Error finished, blinking. "I... do not wi-wi-wi-wish to become scrap."
"Then get that tic fixed, and get us to solid ground. Safely."
"Ack-ack-acknowledged." Error returned her attention to the shuttle's flight pattern. Almost immediately, it settled down, the jostling becoming virtually null. Queenson huffed.
"That's it." He muttered, letting her go.
"Wha... I..." Avo muttered, astounded. "Queenson, how did you... do that?"
"I treated her like I'd treat Rex. She's not just a machine, she's intelligent."
"Her thoughts are just ones and zeros, I coded her myself!"
"What you did was give her life." Queenson sat on the chair again. "She's standing on her own now. She doesn't need you, but if she wants you she'll come to you. Same with Rex. A created mind is still a mind, right?"
"I... wow." Avo chuckled self-consciously, taking his seat too. Error, a person? He had used her before, but he hadn't even considered it. He fell quiet, leaning back in the chair as he considered. Had he made a robot, or had he made life?