Stop #5: Kamino (Enigma)

[Slot 2]

It had been nearly three months since SARI had undergone the experiment. The children had been developing quite smoothly, and she was nearly ready to make the transition into the second trimester of her pregnancy. Already, a nicely sized baby bump was visible on her solid-state form. She was also having to get used to the fact that she'd have to stay in her portable projector before her babies were born to ensure they'd grow correctly. She stood next to the pilot's chair of Circe's ship and looked out the viewing window. They were nearing the next planet she'd chosen to visit. Kamino. Nothing but water for a surface and near constant rainfall. A sight SARI was intrigued to see.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

Prior to their landing on Kamino, Circe had made sure this time to waterproof the holoprojector. Having designed such - especially one that was both solid-state and mobile - the last thing she wanted was for the projector to be damaged by the water. Her time with Sari had been detailed by her blog, and it was, judging by the time of the first entry, the end of the first of three stages this digitized pregnancy would have occur. The proto-AIs had already acquired plenty of data from Sari via accretion, and now they were in stage two: stasis. Their neural pathways were being written, and in three months, stage three would begin.

The ramp on their ship lowered, and Circe moved out of the way to allow Sari to go first.

[member="SARI"]

 

[Slot 2]

SARI's bare blue feet touched the wet metal of the landing platform. She held out her hand as the rain poured down, catching a few of the raindrops in her hand. she couldn't really feel them like a normal person could, and the water wouldn't affect her form in any way. But she'd always wanted to see and experience it for herself. "It's beautiful. In a turbulent, dark and murky sort of way." She said.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

"I'll bet... it's unfortunate that I'll never be a digitized being like you. I've always wondered how the feel of water on that blued, holographic skin of yours feels." She smiled, walking with Sari into the nearest building. There a Kaminoan met the both of them, expressing surprise and awe at the mobile hologram. She redirected the pair of them to their room.

As Circe opened the door to their quarters, she motioned for Sari to, if she could, lie back on the bed.

[member="SARI"]

 

[Slot 2]

SARI looked over at the bed, and then at Circe. "You know that I don't sleep..." She stated. Something told her that Cassie was up to something. Nevertheless, she reclined on the bed. It was fairly comfortable. She placed both of her hands on the growing stomach and stared up at the ceiling.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"I know you don't." She smiled. "I just want you to enjoy the comfort of a bed - at least to a degree - before you get that human body of yours." She smiled, pulling up an incredibly fuzzy blanket and nuzzling it against Sari's side. "I'll bet you're wondering how this actually feels, don't you? How it would feel to have this gently running against your skin."

 

[Slot 2]

"Actually, I am. I can feel a bit of texture on things, but not warmth or anything else." She replied. It would be very nice to be able to experience the full extent of what sensory perceptions truly were. A new body and children of her own. It was every A.I.'s dream. How lucky she was, indeed.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"So you can feel how fuzzy this is?" She smiled, moving to wrap the solid-state hologram more in the fuzzy blanket. "I took the liberty of comparing your current processing power with how you were pre-pregnancy. You're at ninety-five percent processing power, with an average twenty percent lower response time. "

 

[Slot 2]

SARI nodded, holding the blanket around her. "I've deduced that by the time I reach the end of the third Trimester, my mind will work like that of an average person. For an A.I., that is incredibly slow."
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"Indeed." She smiled, wrapping an arm around the holographic form of the AI. "You know, I should probably mount your holoprojector somewhere where you can move around the entire room." She paused for a moment, then did something unexpected.

She kissed the AI.

 

[Slot 2]

Well that was unexpected. And surprising. SARI's eyes grew unnaturally wide as Circe leaned in and kissed her. She was so utterly shocked, she couldn't even move. When the woman pulled away, she just sat there for a moment in silence. "C-Cassie....... what........ why.........." Was all she could muster. What had just happened? One minute, everything was perfectly normal. The next, her close friend was openly and physically declaring deeper feelings toward her. She didn't quite know how to respond to that. For one, she'd never been kissed before or felt that kind of love. Then there was her uncertainty as to what this meant about their relationship. She wasn't in a state to know or understand what she felt, let alone if she felt it toward Circe. For the first time in her life, SARI was confused.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"Why not?" She paused, continuing with her smile as she looked over the shimmering blue form of the AI. "We've already established that you're a fully sentient being despite being one hundred percent digital - though I do intend to help rectify that sooner or later. Does this mean that no meatbag is capable of ever having any sort of attraction towards you?"

 

[Slot 2]

SARI sat up, trying to collect her thoughts. Finally she was able to respond. "No, it isn't that. It's just... I don't know what attraction is. I've never felt that way before for anyone. A.I.s are capable of romantic love, don't misunderstand. But... I don't think I'm ready to feel it yet. I'm not even sure if I feel it right now. For the first time, I just don't know."
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"Just close your eyes and think." She paused, gently running a hand through the simulated blue hair. "I've helped you with everything... I've helped you make children. And I'm going to help you be able to have real children, made of flesh instead of code." She paused, smiling and wrapping an arm gently around the solid-state image. "I care about you greatly."

 

[Slot 2]

SARI closed her eyes, though it did little good. Her thought processors were swimming with a million pros and cons to this situation. It was like a court hearing in a sense, and she was the judge. Each party presented their case. It was true that Circe had done many great things for her. Gave her a home, a new body, and a new future. She was SARI's only true friend, and she cared very much about the woman. But could she really call that love? Could she see herself with this same woman years from now, with her new body, living as a happy couple? As much as she wanted to make Circe happy, she just didn't share her feelings. Opening her eyes, she gently placed her hands on Circe's shoulders. "Cassie, I do love you. As a sister. A friend. I'm going to stay with you and make you a part of both my life and my children's lives. But I can't give you what you want. I wish that I could, but I can't. Please don't be sad." She said. Her smile was empathetic and caring.
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"I... I understand." She paused, frowning. "I'm sorry for the kiss and everything... I assume you've never read about the one thing notable I've done aside from rebuild a starship company from the ground up and become a powerful Sith Lord." She chose to wait for a moment, wondering whether or not Sari would be able to discover what she was referencing.

 

[Slot 2]

SARI took a few seconds to re-process saved data she'd acquired on Circe. All that she'd found were scattered records for heinous crimes, of which Circe had already told her were false. "I don't know what you mean. There was very little to gather when I searched for your information. The majority has been erased from multiple systems."
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

She paused, placing a hand on the AI's shoulder. "Sari... I suppose it's time to tell you a bit more about myself, seeing that most of my data has been erased from the public web: by Aynea, no doubt. Anyways... I'm a seductress. Over my time living and hopping bodies, I've seduced many people from all walks of life - Alli Wren, head of Baktoid. Kaine Zambrano, former Sith Emperor and current god-king of the Panathan Empire. It stems from a reaction to the abuse I suffered when I was younger, when I was a slave. I sometimes still go into full-on seduction mode whenever a handsome man or beautiful women shows themselves - especially when I've grown close to them over the past few months."

 

[Slot 2]

"So, you use physical pleasure and love to feel safe, but also because you're afraid that you'll lose what you have and be alone again." SARI hugged Circe reassuringly. "There's no need to worry, Cassie. I'm not going anywhere. I wouldn't leave my only friend alone. Besides, my kids will need an aunt, and you're the only person I'd choose for the job."
[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="SARI"]

"In a way, I suppose... though I do enjoy trying new things, and I don't think anyone's ever had such an experience with an artificial intelligence." She smirked. "I would be glad to help provide for your children. Perhaps we can make a multitude of them - but I'm not sure if your systems would be up to producing so many."