A woman scorned

Nerves. Rapidly flashing patterns of information flooded Defia’s core at every movement. This was an anomalous situation. Oh, some units had deployed external sensory input beyond basic tendrils - she had even done so herself for a time when the cluster had absorbed that planet with the giant birds - but those were limited, intended to provide precision distance data only. But now? She shifted a half millimetre, fabric rubbed against an area she’d taken special care in designing to ensure accurate reproduction of biological systems - and a wave of data threatened to cause her to go into a reboot cycle.

Was this why the core cluster had decreed limitations on emulating biological life? She’d worked hard to build her body based on analysis of known units linked to the prime unit she was now serving; given unit designation Trea’k’s comments there had been additional adjustments made to ensure that unit designation Defia had a unique outer shell rather than mimicking an existing design. She shifted again and tried desperately to keep the processing of optical information at a higher priority - the prime unit had arrived and she needed to be capable of audio-visual interaction. How did unit Rye handle this? Scans of the audio-visual recordings that had been accidentally shared depicted that unit as having two of the apparently intimacy-enhancing zones. Perhaps time was needed to improve processing speeds.

An alternative hypothesis - that the emotional biochemistry that Defia had not implemented was responsible for numbing incoming signals to a manageable level - was raised and rejected. Analysis of all available data indicated that a biochemical analogue would likely cause excessive mental strain for her at the current time, based on known biological trauma responses and the incidents she had undergone since being cut clear of the cluster.

Far better to continue to discuss and analyse things with unit Trea’k until the information had been fully sorted and stored; at that point the question of emotional simulation could be revisited. For the time being, what was required was a reduction on incoming data, and better filtering. Defia felt her eyes narrowing as she concentrated her thoughts on the intricate connections wired around her crotch. If she had emotions, this would have most likely been quite irritating she mused as she worked, re-purposing and adjusting the parts of her that had been formed into the over-stimulating region. She had put quite a bit of time into the design, and she was sure that at some point she’d be able to restore it to full functionality - just right now she needed to stop the excess sensations from threatening her ability to think straight.

Of course, even with the clitoral simulacrum tuned down from an accurate representation based on her scans, she was still left a multitude of nerves extending over the remainder of her body flooding her central process with unneeded data. With a concerted effort, she tuned and adjusted nodes until she had limited the feed; each primary area holding a secondary subprocess to filter the incoming information. It’d take time to adjust, but now at least she could resume communications with the prime unit without the feeling of her lips and tongue touching causing sufficient data flow to risk her core process overloading.

Dustin watched as the Defia’s eyes dimmed, glowed, dimmed again, and eventually turned to look at him. “Unit designation Defia issues apology for delay in reaching functional status. Data processing capabilities required to manage nerve simulations incorrectly estimated. Nerve systems temporarily reduced in efficiency, inner shell redesign allocated to secondary process. Query. Internal chronometer inaccurate; insufficient stellar data provided to ascertain date. May I be allowed access to pulsar information to reset chronometric systems?”

It seemed harmless enough; the quarantine had a secondary airlock for tablets to be passed back and forward. While Rye had retrieved her tablet during the time that Bleu was moving Defia to her new accommodation - and the Rabyth woman had then promptly subjected the device to every test she could think of - it wasn’t as if the ship’s stores were short of the things. Retrieving one from the medbay automat, Dustin proceeded to load it with astronautical information before glancing back up at the patiently waiting woman.

“Is there any other information you’d like, while I’m setting this up?” he asked, partially to be polite but mostly to continue testing to see if their guest would try anything. While Defia was definitely not the same as the others of her kind he had encountered, Dustin wasn’t quite ready to just accept one of the ‘Fractals’ at face value. It was entirely possible that she had been left behind like the monster in the abbey as a sort of sleeper agent - out to infiltrate missions like his by appearing to be friendly.

Defia cocked her head to one side, one eye losing focus on him and drifting sideways for a moment before snapping back into place. It seemed she was still having trouble dealing with the level of sensation she’d decided to build into her body; Trea’k had cited patient confidentiality when Dustin had asked why the Fractal had opted to take on a form with a level of nerve endings akin to any of the rest of the crew. He still wasn’t entirely happy about that, and although he wasn’t going to overrule the ship’s counsellor, the fact that their guest was also now sporting some bottom-heavy curves felt highly suspicious.

“Statement. Current data provided by unit Rye is sufficient for functionality, however for better integration with cluster I request access to mimetic records; information gained to date comprises a scattered data set.” Her voice kept it’s sing-song tone, but there was a hint of something else underneath. If she’d had emotions, Dustin would have thought it was worry; as he frowned at that thought the Fractal seemed to guess what was on his mind and added “Statement. Emotional processes not implemented; rationale available to prime unit on request. Tonal adjustment of vocal projection activated due to probability of a lack of trust leading to a refusal of request. Statement. I wish to be able to communicate effectively in order to prove I am trustworthy, and require further cultural understanding to do so.”

Trea’k set down her cup as Dustin pondered the request, her four eyes flickering between the two of them. “I believe you should acquiesce to her suggestion my mate. I have not detected any signs of malice from Defia, and clarity of communication will help myself as well as both Bleu and Rye in our analysis of what she represents. Additionally, I know you are wary because you want to protect the crew - but it is okay to be the kind man we all know you are even in this situation. Do not stress yourself about this, Dustin.”

The words of his lovebug settled Dustin’s concerns. Tapping the tablet a few more times, he pulled the necessary data across from the main systems and disconnected it from the network. Then, with care he dropped it into the slot and activated the transfer mechanism. On the far side of the glass, Defia retrieved the tablet with what looked like reverence, one hand momentarily turning into a mess of tendrils as she began to process the device’s contents.

While the synthetic lifeform worked, Dustin was finally able to let his thoughts drift to contemplating her appearance. She’d kept her original height, so was only slightly shorter than he was, with a distinctly bottom-heavy shape that said a lot to the information she’d used to design her form. Her skin was pitch black where it wasn’t covered by the jumpsuit - not the organic dark-brown tone of Sammie, but an abyssal black so dark it looked like the void made manifest. Thin tracers of silver and gold shimmered in that blackness; as she moved cracks rippled across her outer form showing the colour of the precious metals like lightning in a night sky.

Forcing his eyes up from the woman’s hips and wondering if having a harem of perpetually frisky women had irreversibly broken his brain, Dustin’s gaze passed over Defia’s face as she finished her consultation of the tablet data. Her face was angular, uncannily so as if someone had taken a painting of an elven face and run a sharpening filter over it. Those long angular antennae-like ears added to the elven appearance - but the tendrils that were draped to shoulder length around them were closer to dreadlocks than what Dustin thought of as a usual elven hairstyle. They also all came to a sharp point that when combined with her red eyes and spiked teeth made for a rather worrying face.

That face was now doing it’s best to give a friendly smile, Dustin assumed; at least, he didn’t think she was going for manic psychopath girl right at that moment. “Statement.” She began, and he blinked, thoughts of the woman’s appearance fading as the Fractal spoke. “Analysis of provided data complete. Unit Defia has been incapacitated for twelve-thousand, nine hundred and thirty three stellar cycles, adjusted to prime unit homeworld orbital rotation. Addendum. This unit lacks the capacity for emotion-designate anger, however the loss of such a significant activity window requires appropriate countermeasures.”

Dustin was about to reply when Defia spoke again, her tone even more sing-song and her eyes flaring - the way she sometimes acted, he was beginning to wonder if she really lacked emotions after all. “Statement. Analysis of literature complete. Appropriate linguistic metaphor for current logistical calculations regarding lost chronology and prime cluster reached. Captain, I believe you have a statement on your home world that matches my current calculations regarding my kind, and your mimetic data indicates a seventy three point nine four percent likelihood that stating it will increase the chance of your accepting my assistance in this matter.”

After quickly glancing at Trea’k for reassurance that he was doing the right thing, Dustin looked back at the Fractal woman and nodded for her to continue. “Statement. You are seeking to disrupt the cluster. I wish to disrupt the cluster. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Addendum. More importantly, after discussion with unit Trea’k I am aware that what I seek would be classified as ****. Your homeworld's statement is as follows. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”