Space. I was out in space, though it was impossible to look out the window beyond a peripheral glimpse. I couldn't remember how I'd gotten here, since it was like I was thinking at the tail end of anesthesia…or Larimak's sleeping gas. No, don't go down that pathway. Focus.

No matter how much I strained my brain, I couldn't recall the immediate moments leading up to this moment. It was as if I was paralyzed, living in someone else's body. Had Mikri succeeded in androiditizing me? All I had was this vague feeling that I wanted to get away from someone. I didn't know who or what I was trying to escape. There was a sense of hopeless fear that became more resolute, the longer I focused on it. It wasn't helpful in trying to unscramble my head.

Events usually have a before and after. I don't know where or when this is.

"No!" Mikri whirred, a pleading tone to his voice. "You can't take Preston and Sofia away from me! Let me keep them—just them!"

The sense of being trapped and cornered wouldn't leave, as the whispers in my skull intensified. It was all fuzzy. My blood was rushing through my veins, knowing in my soul that something had gone terribly wrong. The outcome of this moment would not be positive for the fleshy organics, I knew that damn straight. The memory seemed to stick itself in and fade, before I blinked my eyes open with a panicked gasp for oxygen: now I could remember where I was. Taking a nap on a ship ride to visit the Girret.

"Preston?" Mikri inquired with concern, searching my eyes. "Did you have a post-traumatic flashback?"

I struggled to snap myself out of it. "That…wasn't a dream. It felt real. Psychedelic. Is that what those precog naps are like? That was disorienting. I didn't see anything that bugged me from the past; I think I saw something that's going to happen."

"Oh? What is it? I can help you interpret this."

I struggled to make sense of the vision myself, but I hesitated to tell Mikri the details, given his prominent role in that scene. There were three possibilities: that the Vascar had done something to cause humanity to leave, that Mikri became obsessive to the point that Sofia was right to fear him, or that a third party was involved. Even if it was options two or three, with how overprotective the tin can was…telling him any of this would just make him worse.

The way Mikri phrased "keep them" almost suggests that it is against our will. Does he finally act on his promise to "keep us safe, forever?"

Perhaps the Vascar network committed some unforgivable offense against us, or went ahead with killing the creators. It might be possible that I was either ordered to, or chose to return to Sol for whatever reason. I was uneasy at the prospect that my best friend might be a serious threat in the future. The feelings of being trapped were ones I remembered from my previous captivity, and I didn't want to think of Mikri as…being like Larimak. He wouldn't do that. He'd come around and respect our autonomy, surely.

Mikri would never do something like sedate us to apply unwilling "upgrades," hijack a spaceship and take us away, because we were putting ourselves in too much danger, right? I trusted that the tin can's heart was in the right place, but the red flags were obvious sometimes to say the least.

"I'm not sure I can make sense of enough details to say anything. It was a lot of strong feelings and blurriness," I muttered. "Maybe I don't get them as clearly as Sofia. We'll have to keep her around for now. Darn."

Sofia rolled her eyes. "I think we need to have a talk on who's keeping who around. Also, I didn't get a 'psychedelic' feeling at all from my dream about my conversation with Mikri. It only struck me as vivid and odd."

"Hm. How would you know what psychedelics feel like?"

"You really think science sororities are all boring? I have experienced more than you might expect. This might come as a surprise to you, but many people mellow out after their twenties."

"Mikri, does 'many people' sound like a specific scientific term to you? C'mon dude. She's using unclear language again!"

"Sofia's language is clear enough to me. It is you who often does not structure sentences with any logic or cohesion," the android replied. "I am having a difficult time imagining a more rambunctious, risk-taking Fifi. While Preston is forever an enigma, I thought I understood her. I have many questions about her reasoning behind this."

Sofia smiled gently. "Another time, I'll be happy to explain how humans can change and grow, just like we know you did, Mikri. My point is that Preston shouldn't have been feeling out of sorts in his dream, if my experience is an across the board thing. Something in that moment is making you feel that way. You should speak with Capal."

"Maybe. Give me time to process it." Just who I want to open up to about Mikri's very worrying plea. I've gotten past the hurdle of who Capal looks like to me, and he was helpful during the Space Gate battle, but I don't trust him for this kind of advice. I need to get Sofia away from Mikri. "After trying to negotiate with Zitrae, who knows if Capal will want to speak with anyone. I mean, sheesh. I wouldn't blame the guy for noping out and relocating his fur-buns to a galaxy far, far away."

My mind was still racing over the potential implications of the dream. There was no telling when it would occur, since not all glimpses would happen as soon as Capal's warning; it could be months or years from now! There had to be some details in there that would unlock the case, like an admiral's shaving cut had been the herald of the Space Gate battle. Whether it was to Capal or not, Sofia was right that I should report what I'd seen through official channels.

Once I'm sure it won't fuck over Mikri and the Vascar, or get Takahashi to send him away. There would be a tin can-shaped hole in my heart without him. He's worth the risks to me, unless I'm positively sure that he's going through a human trafficking phase.

I searched for any clues that might be important, while the details were fresh. Was this an Isolated Event or a Pivotal Event—because if it affected everyone, that was bad news Golly, I wanted to know what Mikri meant about keeping us, and only us. That level of concern about us being taken away, with an implied forever the more I thought about it, was similar to how he reacted to our potential deaths. What if the network planned to wipe out organic life once they had a chance, and succeeded with some kind of crazy poison?

What if I was completely misjudging my friend and his entire people, both of whom I wanted to trust, just because I had received a cold shower from Ficrae's words? I didn't know if it made me feel that much, if there was someone else who'd be able to remove us permanently from the picture. The Elusians could challenge humanity and shut our existence down at will, but that was why we were playing catch up to them. They hadn't been hostile yet, and there was no reason Mikri should be asking them to "keep us." Ugh.

As badass as precognition was in theory, everything was a lot easier when humans didn't see snatches of the future before it happened. It wasn't like it was ever clear enough to make sense of it. We were left with snatches of information we couldn't process, and cursed to stress over it long before it happened.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Capal isn't a quitter, Preston," Sofia responded, oblivious to my inner debate. "He wants to be a part of what we're doing here."

I shrugged. "It's just not so clear what the fuego-fudge that is, other than building teleport tech and expanding Santa's yearly circuit. It doesn't seem like we got through to the network at all, so I don't see how you negotiate for peace."

"That rift is complicated, and I doubt there's a simple solution. None of the problems humanity is staring down are simple, but our job is to negotiate for peace elsewhere. We'll find out how Capal fared, when we get back from our meeting with the Girret."

"Nah, we'll find out now. Mikri, you're always suckling that sweet, sweet data from the cyber fiber. Together, we have dreams and streams." I let the words spill off my tongue, trying to let go of my uneasiness. I couldn't let the robot see that I was perturbed about his future. "There's some clear language, huh? It tickles your ones and zeroes in ways you didn't even know you could feel. Ahem. Any updates on Capal's meeting?"

"The network is not informing me of how the creator and Vascar negotiations have gone. I am being blocked out to avoid my meddling," Mikri beeped. "However, my human contacts have assured me that Capal and Ficrae returned safely with some kind of resolution. We can speak with him when we get back."

"Right. So…" I trailed off as the spacecraft began the landing sequence on Doros, the Girret homeworld. "I know your network can't stand the creators, and think less of organics than I think of green bean casserole—your dust paste is better than that shit. Anything casserole is a mistake, one about on the same level as you trying to unalive me and cha-cha on my entrails. You missed your chance, Mikri."

The android's face showed distress. "I would certainly not have cha-cha'd on your entrails! This was not a prospect that would give us joy, and I was unfamiliar with the concept of rhythm-based motion to liven up the physical body until I met you. I am sorry that the network regards you at a 'green bean casserole' level. If it's any assurance, we do not consider you a food item."

"You could at least call him a skin burrito back," Sofia teased. "It'd be a nice progression from your wonderful 'meat tube' name."

"Now now, you don't want to play this game. I could always take a letter out of your name and call you 'Sofa.' I have things in my back pocket," I warned the scientist.

Mikri smiled. "I do too! I have attempted creative output of my own, such as Messton—"

"Hey! That's Beston to you."

"Best at making a ton of messes. My statement is an unspecific measurement, akin to 'many people,' but its meaning is clear when observing your living space. How was that? I believe I have decoded the concept of your wordplay."

"Decoded? Am I like one of those prove you're not a robot tests?"

"I find those to be exclusionary. I noticed such impediments on your internet, which deterred me from signing up for any social media accounts as suggested. They all had boxes to check like this before my profile's inception. Why do you not want mechanical intelligences to be able to access your websites?"

I scoffed. "You said you'd make a thousand accounts to talk over my hate comments for Sofia, and you're really asking me this?"

"Give him a serious answer. Mikri would be allowed to make an account, I'm certain," the scientist interjected. "Those restrictions are to prevent humans from coding text scripts that talk in lieu of real people. The spirit of the rule is for the activity to be driven by actual people, which Mikri is."

"I am grateful to be considered an actual person, but this sort of language is indecipherable, Sofa. Preston may have a point about unclear terminology. It was difficult enough to define the parameters for a soul and other mystical concepts, but now, your rules have spirits? I do not understand! They are inanimate!" Mikri whirred empathically.

Sofia laughed, unable to keep a straight face. "No, silly! You know better than to take us literally by now. 'Spirit' means the reason the rule was created, not that all laws are going to heaven."

"Am I supposed to interpret your rules and jargon looking for secret meanings, like with literature?!"

"Please, no. Sweetie, you draw all the wrong meanings from your books. You would've made your literature teachers weep."

"You were my literature teacher. It is not my fault that you have failed to correct my approach."

"I tried. We've only seen minor improvements."

When Fifi was ribbing the android instead of me, I was evidently out of sorts; it was a rare moment when I missed an opportunity to crack up at Mikri being a bouncy little nutcracker. I wanted to find out the Vascar network's long-term plans for organic life. I didn't need this in the back of my head every time I talked with my friends, and it would behoove me to loosen up before we headed out to negotiate with the Girret. From what I could see outside, there were rolling sand dunes as far as the eye could see; we looked to be in a desert oasis.

Temura was better. Game, set, and match to the world that touched us down by a pretty little spa and greenery.

"We got way off from what I was trying to say. Mikri, this is important," I ventured. "I know how the network feels about the Asscar. How do they feel about the Derandi and the Girret?"

Mikri emitted a quiet beep. "They are not directly responsible for oppressing us, but they also despise us. The Derandi seem open to seeing evidence, which is a small element the network can respect. These birds are aiding you, and were quite grateful in Anpero's message, just as Capal predicted. However, the Girret ambassador's words have caused us to see them as the most likely threat and lower our opinions."

"I don't remember in perfect 4K like you, alloy boy. Refresh my memory. Which of his words?"

"Among other statements, the Girret representative stated that his constituents—meaning the people of Doros, the organics' consensus—would not be able to stand us. At least humanity's network is primarily in favor of our rights and self-governance. He also stated that they have laws against AI because of us, to prevent anything like us from being created. Why are you asking?"

"Hm, I was just wondering. That sounds about right though. I guess, er, let's put on our game faces now. Uh…don't you think Doros sounds like a potato chip brand?"

"Do not deflect, Messton. You are being quite serious and diverting back to this topic repeatedly, as though it is consuming a large part of your calculation matrix. You seem to be struggling to talk to and laugh around me, though you are attempting to carry out your normal subroutines. Have I done something wrong?"

"No!"

"Yet you are evidently worried about our intentions toward the various organics in Caelum. This could be correlated toward Zitrae, except that it became more pronounced after your dream. Is there a reason to believe that my people are going to make an…evil AI judgment? You can tell me if this was your vision. I am on your side. I would not agree with them."

"Of course you're on my side, Mikri. It's nothing like that, and my persistence really shouldn't set you off. Truly, that's not it; I know you're different from the others. I'm just worried about Capal."

Sofia frowned. "Preston, you have tells when you're lying. You know Mikri would stand up to his network if they make a bad decision. We can convince them logically, if we know what this is in advance."

"Please, stop pushing. I don't want to make a big deal out of a few words that could start a huge overreaction. I'll talk to you later, when we're alone, um, since you're more used to visions."

"Oh. I have…reached a conclusion." Mikri gave a pitiful whimper that stabbed me with guilt. "The frightening vision involved me. He does not trust me. I am being shut out for something I have not done yet; some transgression which will make my friends reject me. I…understand."

"Mikri," I croaked, reaching for his arm as he pulled away. "It's not like that. Listen—"

"I do not want to. The thought that I will hurt you is stronger than a million error messages. Depart the ship. Please."

My mouth moved without saying any words, before I dragged my feet walking out of the ship. Sofia narrowed her eyes, confusion evident on her face, as I cursed at myself. Damn, I really fucked up good! I'd been so apparent that Mikri had seen through me, and now his computational matrix might go haywire imagining all sorts of scenarios. There was no way I could allow that to happen, whatever the risks; I'd have to tell him after the Girret visit, and hope the three of us could find a way to prevent that scenario.

I started down the landing ramp to Girret soil, and did a double take as I saw the species that had been described to us as purple reptiles. The creepy-crawly feeling slithered under my skin, as my brain stem was tickled by something it did not like. This was the first look I'd had at them without spacesuits on, and it threw a wrench in my gears.

With all of the information that Mikri and the Derandi had given us, how had no one thought to mention that these aliens looked like snakes?!

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