who_is_she (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
who_is_she) wrote2015-07-20 09:15 pm
who_is_she) wrote2015-07-20 09:15 pm
(no subject)
Something wasn't quite right on the Tacoma.
Honestly, something had been a little fuzzy for a while, but it was only now occurring to Tony that it might be something other than a fried main frame or some crossed wires. There had been continued minor issues for the last couple weeks, since Roddie had taught Ajax to lie. It was little things, like a throttle on their warp core and the microwave suddenly refusing to work, but it wasn't until Tony realized his risk assessment software had been running around the clock that he realized it could be something else.
"Um, Roddie?" Tony said, knocking on the doorway of Roddie's quarters, "I, uh... I need to talk to you." He said, looking a little shifty, unsure if Ajax could hear him, and unsure if he should be worried about that.
Honestly, something had been a little fuzzy for a while, but it was only now occurring to Tony that it might be something other than a fried main frame or some crossed wires. There had been continued minor issues for the last couple weeks, since Roddie had taught Ajax to lie. It was little things, like a throttle on their warp core and the microwave suddenly refusing to work, but it wasn't until Tony realized his risk assessment software had been running around the clock that he realized it could be something else.
"Um, Roddie?" Tony said, knocking on the doorway of Roddie's quarters, "I, uh... I need to talk to you." He said, looking a little shifty, unsure if Ajax could hear him, and unsure if he should be worried about that.
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"Hey," he says, rubbing his thumbs over Tony's palm, "What's up? What's the matter?"
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"I, um..." he finds himself staring down at Roddie's hand, then has to shake his head and remember his urgent news, "I think... Something might be wrong with Ajax. I think all the little things on the ship going wrong are them. I tried to talk to him about it, but... I felt like you might have better luck." He shrugged a little, his expression grim.
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"Weird how?" he asks, but even as he does he starts to see what he means. Ajax had been a little off, lately, but Roddie had just assumed that it meant he was using all his processes, or whatever the word was, elsewhere. He did tend to be a little less on top of things when he was spending time with Elyta.
"Actually, hmm, yeah, I see what you mean," he says thoughtfully, tapping his chin, "All right, I'll see what I can do. Hey, Ajax? You listening, buddy?"
No response. Roddie frowns and steps towards the door to open it, wondering if he'd have more luck talking to him if he went into the AI core, but to his surprise, when he hits the button to open the sliding door, nothing happens. After punching it several more times, he bangs on the door with his fist.
"Hey, Ajax!" he says, more firmly this time, "Can you hear me? What's going on, man, what are you doing?"
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"You've... Revoked door access?" Tony repeats, eyes wide.
"Yes. To prevent injury," Ajax says, a little affronted that his intent wasn't obvious when organic beings were so fragile themselves.
Tony's incredulous stare at Roddie turns suspicious.
"What did you tell her?"
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"Well, actually...I mean, I dunno, you know I was teaching them to lie, right?" he says, gesturing vaguely as he tried to remember, "They weren't using their imagination, they said they didn't know how, so I said to think of it like how they think about risk assessment, where they can evaluate possible outcomes to scenarios and stuff. You know. And, uhh...well, I may have helped them along with a fake story about a zombie virus infecting the crew. And another one about a car crash. And...sharks."
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"Oh, is that all?" He said flatly, giving Roddie an annoyed look, "We need to use the doors, Ajax."
"Negative. I have been tasked with the medical health of this crew and this is the only way to ensure your survival. You will be administered proper nutrition and water at appropriate intervals."
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He heaves a sigh and shoves his hands into his pockets, pacing back and forth in front of the door.
"I mean, like...shit like that happens, and you just have to take it as it comes! You can't get the most out of life without taking some risks. Most situations probably won't turn into your imagined worst case scenario, and even people do get hurt sometimes, it's natural! Like time, or...gravity, you know?"
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"Gravity," Ajax repeated, and Tony felt cold dread sink to the bottom of his stomach, "Normal Earth gravity accelerates objects at 9.8 meters per second. According to statistics, millions of deaths and countless injuries are attributed to falling every year. I understand your meaning, Captain. Nature is inherently damaging and must be overcome."
"Oh, great," Tony groans, the sick feeling in his stomach growing, "Great work, Roddie, just fantastic. You taught Ajax about babyproofing."
Suddenly, the ship gives an ominous shudder and Tony's stomach lurches along with it.
"Oh, God," he says, reaching out to tightly grab whatever's closest, which happens to be Roddie, "Oh, God, what's happening."