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Ariane found herself fidgeting as she stood in the Mess hall. Great Revolutionary, she was so nervous! She'd used the terminal network to send a message to the flight deck as Elster was checking the autopilot rather than ask 'the question' face to face. She had detailed when she'd be around, but hadn't set a time for Elster to arrive. They didn't know each other well, and she didn't want to make a bad impression by making demands.
Previously she'd only talked with the Elster unit a handful of times- yes, Elster . LSTR felt too impersonal, and Ariane knew she was capable of emotional response, though subtly. Elster was happy when ticking off the checklist and tired as each day-cycle neared its end. She also gave a small smile each time she saw her. Ariane noticed. It was hard not to when Elster was the only other person on the Penrose .
And that was what made her nervous. Ariane did not really consider herself a social person. She had been close with her mother, loved the quiet days living at Station 06 with her mother- and hated the bustle and bullies of Sektor C and Mandelbrot Polytechnische respectively. Her comforts had included quiet train rides and the Itou sisters. But those times were nearly two years behind her now, traded for the quiet and isolating nature of the Penrose Programme. And the isolation had pushed her towards seeking out the company of the only other living person aboard.
She was nervous because Elster was the only chance she had for connection, and making a misstep could be detrimental to their roles aboard. Not interacting with her for the better part of the first year was hardly a positive start, which was why she had built up to this moment since Cycle 366.
So she fidgeted. Her evening meal of unappetising rations sat heavily in her stomach. Perhaps she should sit down instead of standing?
Elster walked into the small room, her right arm twitching slightly as she came to a halt. Ariane had quickly stopped asking Elster to salute her as a subordinate would an officer each time they interacted. It felt silly to her when it was just them aboard, though Elster did seem to want to follow protocol. Though she had respected Ariane's request.
"Good evening, Ariane." Elster said, her Vinetan accent reminding Ariane of her only friends- comforting.
"The same to you, Elster."
Pause. Silence. Ariane winced, but understood that her message had been a mystery to Elster. Her social skills had never been strong, but this was flustering. Trying to calm herself, she gestured to the computer console built into the wall. In standby mode it displayed various readouts, including the current mission date and time.
18:58, Cycle 730
"You see that?" She asked.
Elster glanced at it. "Yes. Two years into our mission."
"I know. I've invited you to celebrate the milestone." Ariane was thankful that Elster didn't bring up Cycle 365.
"That's kind of you."
Ariane tried to deflect. "It's silly, really." She turned her head away and fiddled with her hair. "It's not actually accurate- the date's technically already passed because the chronometer's running slow-
Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. Elster carefully set a hand on her shoulder. Ariane gasped softly. Whilst they'd exchanged tools and readouts, It was the first time Elster had initiated connection and then maintained it. "Because you set it to Vinetian time." She said.
"You noticed?" Ariane asked.
Elster nodded, gracing Ariane with the widest smile she had seen so far, flexing her fingers. It made Ariane's heart flutter, and she smiled back."'Two years into our mission' " she quoted. "I wasn't specific. I noticed my internal chronometer was out of sync from what had been the Rotfront cycle and made some calculations. I… appreciate the gesture."
Ariane was now feeling really flustered. "It's nothing."
"Even so, I'm happy to keep with this timing. It feels right to me."
"Good. Thank you."
"Has it been hard for you to adjust to?" Elster asked, gesturing to the readout with the hand that had been on Ariane's shoulder.
Ariane felt a rebellious grin grow on her face. "No, not really. I just lie-in with the extra time." She felt a thrill as she spoke, admitting that she was being lax, breaking Nation regulations.
Elster's raised eyebrow indicated the slightest hint of approval.
Another pause, but more of a lull than a halt. Friendlier.
"So Ariane, we have six hours to pass." Elster glanced at the table on the opposite side of the room, stacked with boxes of various sizes. "I assume those are there to help?"
"Yes." Ariane confirmed, picking up one of the stacks. "What do you want to start with- Chess? Weiqi?"
"I'm happy with either- which would you prefer?"
There were other games too. Ariane was fascinated by how quickly Elster picked up on them, showing not just an understanding of the rules and win conditions, but also displaying more of her personality; she preferred the diamond suit of cards, and aimed for the cheapest points of a longduan board- not for strategy, but because she liked particular colours. Most interesting was her ability to bluff and lie as dice or card games demanded. Ariane found that different from her teachers or the Protektors as they were so strict and formal. Surely all Replikas were capable of such displays- it was just their duties that required sternness. It made Ariane realize there was much she wouldn't know about other Replikas. The fact she hadn't bothered to read a fair amount of the Programme documentation would have little to do with it, there was only an envelope about Elster's 'known issues'. Still, she was getting to know Elster more in this one evening than she had for hundreds of Cycles.
The hours flew by. At first Ariane checked the computer screen frequently, afraid she'd miss time and the whole reason for inviting Elster here in the first place. But the more she relaxed and enjoyed the games, the less she worried. They continued to play and rematch each other. Ariane gave up on the tarot deck after continually drawing the same six cards every time, no matter who shuffled- Lovers, Sun, Moon, Tower, Star and Death. Setting the deck to one side and feeling her eyes ache a little from staying up late, a thought crossed her mind.
"You'll be fine outside of your Maintenance Pod? Don't you need that?"
"Ah, it's not that it's a Maintenance Pod, but a pod in Maintenance." Elster qualified. "I'm capable of going without sleep for days without impacting my functionality, but it's best if I can access the pod to refresh my systems."
"Have you tried sleeping outside of it?" Ariane asked.
Elster tilted her head. "No, but it's possible for a time. I have biological components that can manage- though you'd know this if you read the documentation."
Ariane blushed at that. "I like hearing it from you, though."
A wry smile tugged at the corner of Elster's lip. "You do need to do some reading, you can't just be a pair of hands to carry or pass me equipment when we do maintenance."
"Remind me tomorrow." Ariane said, fighting a yawn.
"I will- after you've enjoyed your lie-in tomorrow."
Ariane blinked. Had Elster just made a witty comment? Yes, she had, for the Replika's face froze, taking Ariane's initial lack of reaction as a failure.
Ariane giggled. She had found it funny, and Elster looked like a lost puppy- so cute, just like her accent-
Oh. Her turn to freeze- but then Elster chuckled with her, the sound of their shared joy heard for the first time since the voyage began, and then they were both laughing. Ariane felt lucky she could pass off her reddened face as due to mirth, and not the sudden and more complex emotions that had bloomed in her chest. Looking to distract herself further, she checked the chronometer
11:50.
"Ten minutes!" She yelped. The last hour had passed amazingly quickly.
Elster blinked, just as surprised. "I hadn't been checking my internal chronometer, sorry."
"No, there's nothing to apologize for, Elster." Indeed, Ariane felt energized. "It means we've been enjoying ourselves- though I would have wanted time to enjoy some tea."
"Can't you?"
"Sure I can brew it, but getting to enjoy it means dedicating time to it, like my painting."
"Could you show me?"
"Show you what?"
"How you make tea. I'd like to try it. And look at your paintings?"
"Ah." Ariane looked away, unable to meet Elster's intently curious gaze. "Maybe not the paintings- not yet. They're very personal to me."
"But the tea?"
"Yes, of course I'd be happy to share that with you."
After that, the time ticking down was too much of a distraction to focus on anything else. Ariane brought up the chronometer down to the second.
"What should we do?" Elster asked as the last three minutes displayed. "To celebrate the moment, I mean."
"Well…" Ariane faltered. "When it was my mother and I, we'd stay up late and count down like we did tonight- then I'd be shattered and fall asleep right after." She smiled, the expression shrinking as she continued. "But when I was in Rotfront, my Aunt held or dragged me to these noisy parties in our block. I got to see my cousins, but slept badly after all the noise and activity."
Elster was looking at her with a pensive expression. "Something small, then?"
"If that's alright."
Elster smiled at her. "Of course. There's always next year."
Next year. Elster's commitment to doing this again (washed away) any negativity that had been linked to her recollection. Another celebration, tea… she could still enjoy the time to paint alone, but there were things she wanted to share with Elster. Her paintings included at some point too.
"Yes," She replied, putting a hand over her heart to show how touched she was, and noting its fast pulse. "Something small."
She remembered when Elster had put a hand on her shoulder. It had been the first time in a long time since Elster- or anyone before the launch- had touched her. It would have been saying her goodbyes to the Itou sisters. She found that she missed it.
"A hug?" She suggested, then repeated- "Just a small one."
The look in Elster's eyes made her relax- she'd found something that Elster wanted too.
"Last minute." Elster announced, standing smoothly.
Ariane followed on, feeling unused muscles move as she copied. She felt a tingle of anticipation as she side-eyed the chronometer.
Ten seconds.
Elster stood expectantly, looking at her, waiting for her lead.
Five.
She'd said she wanted to hug, so… she stepped up to Elster.
One.
Elster's arms smoothly enfolded her. Ariane registered a lot of input in the seconds they were close- how firm and strong the Replika's shell felt against her chest and arms she put her arms around Elster, how Elster was leaning slightly to make it easier for her. And she was aware of other senses she'd glossed over. Elster's body had a warmth to it. And how she also smelt not just of machine polish but whatever dry shampoo she used- Elster had never asked to use the tiny washroom in her quarters.
Ariane blinked. Had Elster polished her shell before joining her? Was that what had delayed her? Getting ready for the time they were spending together? The dry shampoo certainly smelt strong, as if recently applied rather than that morning.
Oh!
The hug ended just as soon as the thought blazed through Ariane's mind. Elster stepped away a little too quickly. She must have been as surprised as Ariane at the interaction as she saluted- and to further the comedy, Ariane found herself saluting back. Then she did a double take, staring at her raised hand- and started laughing again, abuzz with fatigue and the other emotion she couldn't bring herself to define yet.
"Sorry, I… I hadn't…" Elster's eyes flickered oddly. "The hug- that was good. I hadn't hugged anyone before."
Ariane understood the truth in that. If Elster had been activated for the Programme, she would have had no personal experience with that, even if she had a persona template. "Yeah." She said. "Could we…" Ariane swallowed, trying to move past the awkwardness. "Could we try again?"
Elster nodded as they lowered their hands. Even though the first attempt had gone awry, the second hug was easier and lasted longer. Long enough for Ariane to draw in a calm breath and enjoy Elster's presence.
"Happy New Year, Ariane." Elster whispered before she relaxed her grip.
Stunned, all Ariane could do was give Elster a grateful squeeze before stepping away. "You too."
Elster smiled. "I'll turn in now. Enjoy your lie-in tomo- well, later today."
"You should take one too sometime." Ariane nodded. "I can take up some of your duties."
"That's very kind of you." Elster replied, speaking over her shoulder as she reached the door. "I'd like that. Goodnight, Ariane."
"Goodnight, Elster."
Ariane stood in silence for a moment, letting the absence of their voices settle. Something she had been so used to now felt so odd. Her own throat felt sore from all the chatting and laughing, more than she'd done in dozens, if not hundreds of cycles. And being around Elster- there was more to her than she'd known.
She left the games where they were, resolving to tidy up once she'd eaten breakfast. As she made her way into the corridor to reach her bed through the dim night-cycle lighting and increasing need to sleep weighing on her, she looked forward to resting and letting her subconscious process what was happening.
But as she went through the motions of preparing for bed, a new thought firmly lodged itself in her mind:
On Cycle 1095 she wanted to dance with Elster.