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I'm not even really sure why I agreed to this. Ratthi has a way of convincing me to do stuff I don't want to do, and ART had been pestering me “to get out of my comfort zone more”
So that's why I was here. In a crowded ballroom on Preservation. It was some banquet or benefit (I don't know what the difference is) that was honoring someone, I'm not sure who or what they did. But Mensah and Ratthi knew them and had a bunch of extra tickets. I don't think they expected me to say “yes” to coming.
A few of my humans were here. I was keeping a close eye on them. ART, the asshole, abandoned me. It apparently had more important things to do and dropped me off here and said it would be back in a few cycles.
I mostly stood in the corner and just observed. There was a lot of touching going on and I wasn't about to be part of that.
I just wanted to go back to my room and sit in the bed and maybe just stare at the wall, but Mensah looked like she was having fun with Farai and Tano and while I know that Preservation is “safe” it was safer with me watching her and the rest of them.
Ratthi was dancing with Tarik. Overse and Arada were giggling in one of the other corners. I didn't bother to listen in on what they were saying.
I missed ART. At least we could have stayed in the corner together and watched media. Pin Lee came up and stood against the wall next to me.
Not going to dance? She asked with a smirk. I didn't look at her but cast a look in her direction that made her snort. Relax, I was only kidding
You can leave any time you want, Sec Unit. Mensah had sent me a private message. I looked at her through my drone and she gave a little wave. Pin Lee must have told her I was hanging out over here.
I am fine. I sent back. And I was mostly fine. I guess I could keep my drones here and leave but what if something happened? I couldn't get back here in time. And there was a lot of important people here tonight. My threat assessment module may be borked but even it could understand that this event was a prime target for trouble.
Still, I wasn't going to dance or partake in any of the other activities happening around me. Pin Lee was still standing next to me and pushed herself off the wall. I'm going to go mingle, ping me if you need something
Nope. No thank you, I am perfectly fine here in the corner.
The night dragged on and some of the humans became quite intoxicated which offered a whole new level of obnoxious. Including my humans. I had considered leaving several times. That's when it happened.
A drunk human stumbled up to me and leaned against the wall.
“I've been watching you all night, what's an attractive person like you doing hanging out in a corner like this?”
Oh NO. Ok, look it's not the first time someone has made advances. I accidentally overheard Ratthi one time describe me as “conventionally attractive” when he thought I wasn't listening. But I still didn't appreciate it AT ALL.
They were still staring at me. I pinged Mensah, Ratthi and Pin Lee all at the same time but I didn't know where they ran off to and… I think I would have to deal with this myself.
I mustered up my best sec unit neutral face and said “I’m fine in the corner by myself. I am going to ask that you please leave me alone now”
They smiled and said, “but you're here all alone... what? Your partner couldn't make it?”
I didn't have a partner per say but I did have an ART (?) and media suggested that I could derail this conversation by bringing it up.
“It would be upset if it caught me talking to you”
“I won't tell if you won't” they chuckled “you're kind of an odd one aren't you? I see that you have a lot of augments, maybe I can convince you to show me if you have more” and then brushed up against my arm.
Nope. Nope nope nope.
The sudden touch almost made me deploy my arm energy weapons in panic but I caught them in time. I didn't want to ruin the jacket that I was wearing despite my threat assessment spiking. Also the whole “freaking the humans out thing”.
I pinged Mensah, Pin Lee and Ratthi again but still no response.
“I am leaving now” I announced and began walking when they grabbed my arm.
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NO. JUST ALL THE NO.
The look I gave them must have been enough of a shock because they quickly let go of my arm and shrugged, then walked away.
I was not sticking around a second longer. I really was leaving this time. I sent a message to my humans and they responded quickly.
Sec Unit! Are you alright!? We just got your pings!
The person may have been wearing a feed blocker. That concerned me more than anything. They were technically illegal on Preservation.
I am leaving. I recommend that you do as well or please stay with at least one other trusted person.
What happened!? Do you require assistance? That was Mensah. I knew that she wouldn't just not respond.
I am unharmed. I didn't say that I was emotionally compromised or that my performance reliability decreased by 11%. I am sure she would ask later but I wasn't ready to talk about it right now. Like I said, I am leaving.
I think that's not a bad idea for all of us. Ratthi is pretty wasted. Pin Lee replied.
I walked out with my humans and they kept giving me the side eye, checking to see if I was actually ok. I just continued to look straight ahead at nothing in particular.
We all said goodbye further down the street. Everyone had someone to help them get home safe. Mensah hung back and told Farai and Tano to go on a little ahead.
Are you sure you're alright? You can come stay at the farmhouse tonight if you want. You of course don't have to.
I'm fine Dr. Mensah. And I mostly meant it. I didn't want to ruin her night either.
Ok. Please contact me if you need anything. Any time. Even if it's the middle of the night.
Crap. She was worrying about me. I really am fine Dr. Mensah. Farai and Tano are waiting for you
She gave me a sideways look and gave me a small smile. Ok. Have a good night Sec Unit.
I began walking and came up to the park that I sometimes walk through and took a detour. It was late now so the lights were on and there was barely any people around. Perfect.
The cool air felt good on my organic skin. It was nice to be out of the stuffy ballroom and the air didn't smell like dirty socks out here. I would need to deal with what happened eventually but I was content to put that into the “never open again” file. I'm sure ART would pester me about it.
Fuck, I really missed ART. It would have ripped that person a new one for even talking to me. I was going to see it in a couple of cycles, it wasn't that big of a deal but I always felt safer with it around.
Your performance reliability is at 82%. What happened?
I sat straight up. That was ART. What was it doing here?
ART? What are you doing here? I asked dumbly
We got done with our mission early, and came back. What happened?
It's nothing ART. I was just around a lot of people tonight.
It radiated skepticism in the feed. I knew it would make me talk about it. I sighed, look I'll talk about it tomorrow but I'm in no mood to talk about it tonight.
It backed off a little. Did you enjoy your time with your humans?
I had actually, especially before the incident. We spent a lot of time on Mensah’s farm and as far as planets go, this one wasn't terrible. I even got to see Amena who was on a break from school. Ratthi had taken me to a play which was decent.
I did. But I'm ready to get out of here.
Perfect. I was thinking the same thing.
I smiled and made my way to the lift for the station.