Singularity

Archive Log: 33

Two weeks may not have seemed like a particularly long time, in fact in any other circumstances, the fourteen days would probably flyby. But not while floating through space, surrounded mainly by darkness and far distant stars. The deeper into space they travelled, diverting away from their predetermined course, the darker things seemed to be. Yes, they would soon come to a system that had a star, something akin to the Sun back home, but until then, darkness.
It didn't give an accurate time of day, or night. Even if the clocks said one thing, it really felt like something else. It was clear to see that when travelling into deep space, people tended to be asleep. It was easy to see how cabin fever and other signs of potential mental problems could appear.
There were tasks to do, of course. The ship still needed slight repairs, Mother and Walter needed to calibrate and do some diagnostics, and the lost colonists needed to have their funerals. Despite Oram's apparent disapproval, or avoidance of it, the crew had bandied together and implored him otherwise.
It was only fair, they couldn't stay wrapped and onboard. For one that wasn't healthy for anyone, and two it was just the decent thing to do; to have a funeral for a lost life was something that shouldn't have even needed to be a topic of discussion.
So, gathering altogether one day, they had laid the bodies of the lost colonists out. Oram had said a small speech, an awkward sounding thing to everyone else yet he still went on with it anyway. He had almost fumbled with a tablet to read off the names of those that they were saying farewell to. Over all, it didn't come across wholly personal. There was something disjointed about the whole experience which made almost everyone feel a bit awkward afterwards.
Sure, none of them knew those lost souls personally, but there wasn't even a wake afterwards to dwell on the fact that so many had been lost already. Nothing. They watched the gauze wrapped bodies float in the blackness of space, and then they all parted way. This was how life was going on the ship. People interacted with each when and if needing to. Otherwise, everyone just got on with their lives. There really wasn't a whole lot to do in fact, once repairs were done and all.
Seeing as how he couldn't put the moment off for any longer, Walter sat down one day in the silent bridge and shut his eyes. It seemed with each day that had gone since everything went a bit chaotic, Oram had pulled Walter aside to question him on things. Things being whether he had resolved any issues with himself or Mother. Obviously, they were the two things in charge of looking after organic life onboard, if one or both went off kilter, there could be problems.
Walter, if possible, had and would've been offended. His face was neutral, blank even as he looked to the smaller male. His hands clasped in front of him as he tilted his head slightly, "No, sir. I haven't done any checks yet." Would usually be his answer, Oram would frown, his eyes would narrow and he would look fit to giving Walter a lecture. It seemed though that whatever he was penting up, would be let go with a sigh. It was clear Oram believed giving a lecture to Walter was a waste of time. Walter presumed this was mainly due to the fact he wasn't human. It would look a bit ridiculous lecturing a machine, especially when that machine knew what he was doing, when, how and why and would probably do the job better than a human ever could. Walter wasn't bragging, he didn't do that, but he was offended that Oram had this outlook about him.
So, after the fifth day of no longer being alone, Walter sat himself down and commenced internally working through his processors and general hardware. He could already say it was pointless, fruitless even. There was nothing wrong with him. He was fine, if he wasn't fine, then everyone would obviously know about it. As for Mother, likewise, Walter had done a check on her and there was nothing untoward. He didn't tell Oram he'd already checked over the AI, he figured it'd be easier handing over the report once he'd done his too.
From an outsiders perspective, it probably looked like he was meditating. He sat up straight in a chair, hands on his knees, eyes shut and just still. In fact, Walter wasn't too sure whether he'd switched off most outputs, he definitely no longer felt his chest rising and falling anymore as he retreated more into himself.
He was a huge step forward and an improvement from previous models. Walter had been told that for as long as he could remember in his rather short life. The fact that he could be self-aware with healing and would do internally without physically needing to do it with a hands on approach, was nothing short of a miracle really. Well, not a miracle, it was just something he was programmed to do. Like most things, all programming...
Maybe not all things. Of course Walter experienced things outside the norm. But all that usually revolved around Onora. Walter felt his eyebrows pull together slightly, he dearly hoped that Oram wasn't hinting that because of their blatant closeness, Walter hadn't purposely slipped up. Honestly, if Oram was to be petty and put a ban on them two spending so much time together, Walter didn't know what he would do. He did not like distance from her. He had come to discover that quite rapidly. Distance didn't agree with him, simple as. He however could not go against an order, Onora however, could. Walter suspected she would too, if it meant seeing him. Distance didn't work for her either, it seemed.
But, as he suspected, nothing was wrong. All his hardware was up to date and fine, processors were acting as normal, readouts and diagnostics totally fine too. Nothing was different, nothing had slipped up within himself to be sort of accused by their Captain that this may have been a moment of disobeying, or going off basic instructions.
Regardless, he moved silently from his seat and set off to find Oram. The Captain wasn't hard to find, he was sitting in another small office room, looking over maps of the oncoming system. "Sir?" Walter's voice called out quietly, lowly and got Oram looking up startled. Walter was silent in his approach and the man clearly hadn't registered that he was now no longer alone.
"Yes, Walter?"
"I have run the checks you wanted on both Mother and I." Walter said, hands loosely by his sides. Oram just nodded and didn't move from the table, Walter blinked slowly, evidently this was how this conversation was going to go. "There is nothing out of place. Everything seems to be well and accounted for. No lag, no differentiating from newly calculated and manually placed orders." That was more Mother than himself.
"Very well. Thank you, Walter." Oram nodded, taking in what had been said to him. Walter still remained like a statue in the doorway. He hadn't been dismissed, and it seemed like Oram still had it in mind to say something. His dark eyes looked around the small room before landing back on him. "Can you please keep an eye out? Do scans regularly?"
Walter frowned slowly. "Sir, I have said nothing is wrong. Regular scans will just bring up the same results."
"You don't know that. It may, and it may not. Will you do it, or shall I get someone else to?"
"I am capable, sir." Walter's voice replied, flat sounding as his eyes hollowly looked at the man in front of him. Oram seemed satisfied with that, whereas a whole mixture of thoughts travelled through Walter. Predominantly the same shock, appalled and disbelief that he first felt when Oram presumed something had gone wrong within him.
"Good. Good." Oram nodded, "That's all, Walter. Thank you." Walter just nodded and stepped back, hearing his name again, he half turned and looked back at the Captain. "It isn't that I distrust you, Walter. It's just better to be sure, then end up getting surprised by another problem down the line."
Walter had nothing more to add, or say. With a quick bow of his head he turned and continued walking away. He wasn't very happy, and that much was evident when he came to a door and knocked gently. Onora naturally opened it and looked up at him with wide eyes. "Walter, what's wrong?" She asked, reaching out and grasping onto the sleeve of his hooded top and pulling him gently in. She could easily see on his face unrest, "Has something happened?" Not that she expected anything from the crew, they all liked and got along with him. But something wasn't right.
Walter paced away from her and turned suddenly. "I am in working order."
Onora's eyes widened, that wasn't what she was expecting. She wrapped her arms around herself, pulling her woolly cardigan closer so she could be comforted by the soft material. Her bare feet padded along the floor as she walked to where he stood motionless. "Right...well, even I could've told you that."
Walter tilted his head, his eyes staring down at her before Onora rolled her eyes and sighed. She waved a hand at him, seeing there was something he clearly wanted to get off his chest. "I do not believe that our Captain believes me fully. He wishes for regular checks, on both myself and Mother."
Onora raised an eyebrow, she reached up and ran a hand through her hair, ruffling it softly as she thought that through. She could see why Walter was so unsettled now. No one distrusted Walter, but this here seemed to be sowing the seeds of distrust. What made it worse was that it was coming from the man who was meant to be in charge, steadfast and sure on his actions to lead them to their new home. This didn't come across as any of that. This seemed partial paranoia that the AI would suddenly flick a switch within itself and turn glitchy. A lot had been done to iron out the problems of AI since older models. Onora knew in her heart Walter couldn't suddenly turn bad, it just wasn't within him; not because of programming, but because of who and how he was.
But if Oram commenced down this path, it wasn't going to lead to anywhere nice. Onora sighed and shook her head, "I understand, to a point." Walter's eyes narrowed slowly, she held her hands up. "Walter, I trust you. I know you, and I trust you with my life. I know, in my heart, that you couldn't go off the rails. Oram, well...he's been thrusted into a position so suddenly he doesn't really know where he stands still, does he? He's checking all avenues and that, doesn't make it right, I know. But I get it. I don't agree, but I get it, okay?" Onora said and asked softly and gently while looking up at him with a genuine expression of calm.
Walter sighed and looked around her room. "I'm offended."
Onora shouldn't, but she laughed. Walter slowly looked back at her. Onora reached up and stroked his cheek, "Walter, I would be honestly shocked if you weren't. But, nice to hear you're all in tip-top condition, even if your feelings are hurt." Onora said while moving her hand to pat his shoulder gently.
Walter thought over that, he lifted his hand up and slowly removed the one which was still on his shoulder. He turned her smaller hand over in his and looked down at it. Her skin was paler than his, her small fingers fidgeted a little in his hold, if only to stroke against his synthetic skin. She was fragile. Whether she realised it or not, to him she was so fragile. If something did go wrong, she wouldn't stand a chance. "How would you know if something did happen? With me, I mean?"
"Walter...you're thinking too much on a topic that doesn't need to be thought about. There is nothing wrong with you."
Walter's eyes slowly lifted to hers. "But-"
"There is no but, Walter." Onora cut him off, Walter just looked at her. There was, but fine, she just didn't want this topic of conversation. "You were asked to do a job, you did it. You're fine, you and Mother are fine. End of." Onora said casually with a shrug. "Plus, I would know because I'm sure you'd act strange...well, stranger."
"What is that meant to mean?" Walter frowned, to him he acted as he should.
Onora raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You might start singing and dancing, Walter. Thought of that? Or, on the flip side, you might get violent and lash out. Rather sure we'd all see something wasn't right then."
"I think it would probably be the latter. Studies showed what happened with past models-"
"The David line was glitchy from the start. You're different." Onora pointed a finger his way, her other hand was still being held by him. "Oram is just being cautious, Walter. I can't say anything else to ease you, other than that." She sighed, he looked a bit forlorn. Onora smiled slowly, she stepped closer to him and leaned up. The height difference meant she had to tiptoe only slightly, but placing her spare hand against the side of his neck, she tugged him down. Onora's lips pressed against his, she felt his lips react under hers and Onora pulled away with a smile. She lingered close though, "See. Nothing different. You're not broken, or glitching, Walter." She whispered, his eyes just blinked in response. Smiling again she pressed her lips back against his, Walter instantly responded again. "You're you. As you said, you're in working order. Or, do you possibly need more tests run?" Onora asked quietly, her voice low as her lips pulled away from Walter's again but stayed incredibly close.
Walter let her hand go, he felt her hand suddenly join the other and link behind his neck. Walter's hands came to rest on her waist, he easily lifted her and kept her to himself so she no longer leaned up on her toes. It was an action which took little effort and Onora just smiled at him, taking to combing the hair in his nape. "The Captain had mentioned perhaps getting someone to do such a thing. However, I do not think you and he are thinking in the same vein."
"Oh no, Walter. No, I'm really not." Onora shrugged loosely, shamelessly no, she wasn't. Walter just nodded, he was silent for a moment and she thought he was going to say something else, yet all he did instead was initiate another kiss. Whatever his previous thoughts and feelings were where Oram was concerned got quickly pushed aside.
They had only really been intimate once, Walter was going to rely on more or less the same actions from then. Yet, he looked a little wide eyed and confused when Onora seemed to have something else in mind. Walter watched her simply shed herself of her cardigan, a hand was placed against his chest and Walter got the hint, the prompt and removed his top. Onora was back within his arms again in a matter of moments, Walter's hands trailed down her back and her hands rested on the waistband of his trousers.
Backtracking to the bed, Walter kept her close, but with each step closer to their destination, more items of clothing disappeared. This was definitely different than the last time, not that this wasn't as methodical and loving, each touch and kiss conveyed the feelings well enough, but this was just another new experience for Walter basically.
Picking her naked form up, Walter easily placed her on the bed. The covers sinking as their weight pressed downwards. Walter was pushed back, Onora's cheeks were dusted pink, her pupils dilated and her breath rapidly coming from her. Walter thought she just needed a break for air, yet looked confused again when she pushed at his chest. He simply watched as she basically straddled him, she leaned her chest against his and kissed him softly.
Walter kept his hands on her hips, he felt her shift, raise up and then lower. He felt her tense slightly in his grasp as a contented sigh came from her. She lowered her head to his shoulder, her hands raking slightly at his chest. Onora's nails dug into his skin, and Walter simply motioned her hips slowly. She was adjusting, but Walter took over the moment and listened to the muted moan that came from her.
Onora pushed against his chest, sitting herself up, her eyes shut as she bit into her lip, trying to keep herself from being too loud. Feeling Walter's muscles shift under her hand, she felt him move. He sat up, and that if anything had her letting out a surprised, yet pleasured noise. Everything changed then, and Walter pulled her body close; likewise, Onora's arms wrapped around him, her hands clinging to him, or running through his hair as her lips pressed repeatedly against his.
Walter held her tightly, even tighter still when he felt her rocking pace fasten drastically, he watched her hang her head back as her mouth opened and a pleasured whimper seemingly came from her as her body stilled against his. Coming down from her high, Onora stroked her fingertips over his face before leaning her forehead against his, nuzzling against him she tilted her head and kissed him softly. Walter's eyes slid to a shut, for perhaps the first time throughout all of this; he couldn't help but watch, utterly enthralled by the smaller human female who bought so much to his life, whether she knew it or not, Walter didn't know. But he knew that life without her in it, just wouldn't be the same, the prospect seemed bleak; and the fact that Onora found pleasure in him, honestly although he found enjoyment in moments like this, it wasn't a ruling factor.
Walter felt her move, felt him leave her and he laid back. His back hit the headboard, and he bought Onora with him, keeping her laying against him; her chest still against his as she stretched her back out in the new position. Walter ran his hand down her back, the other tucking hair behind her ear.
Eventually, after a few moments of silence, Onora lifted her face. She kissed his cheek, Walter's eyes fixed onto her. Her cheeks were still reddened and she still seemed to be recovering from this moment, yet she smiled at him happily. Walter's lips slowly pulled upwards too, Onora nestled against his neck, her arms latching on as she sighed heavily. Walter held onto her in return, feeling her sigh again as she clearly felt comfort and content from this.
"You're definitely in working order, Walter." Onora spoke up quietly, she giggled quickly and yelped and squirmed when Walter glided his fingers over her ribs. "Walter! No!" She laughed and pushed at his chest, she laughed happily and loudly. "Sorry! I couldn't help it!" Which she couldn't considering their last conversation, the pun seemed too good to not bring up. She couldn't escape his grasp, but she soon found herself being laid down and the assault lessening as she breathed heavily, she opened her eyes and looked up at Walter as he leaned over her. "Sorry." He nodded silently, Onora reached up and stroked his cheek again. "I do love you, Walter." Onora said, her eyes looking widely and innocently up at him as her cheeks turned pink again from this. They had had this mentioned before, but this was the first time where she openly said the phrase.
Walter brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. Onora leaned against his hand, a smile still on her face as she looked up at him. Walter opened his mouth, only to shut it and lean down and kiss her passionately. Actions seemed to speak louder than words, and Onora's arms lazily enveloped him again as she felt him fully lay and press back against her. She didn't mind he didn't reply with words, she knew how he felt anyway.