2023-06-26: Our 'Electronic Fairy' Has Awakened
- Cutscene: Our 'Electronic Fairy' Has Awakened
- Cast: Mr. Prospector and some shadowy figures, discussing Ruri Hoshino
- Where: The Nadesico
- Date: 2023-06-26
- Summary: Mr. Prospector meets with some shadowy powers on the Nadesico who distinctly do not include the Captain, in order to discuss the powers Ruri Hoshino displayed during the Federation's attack and their efforts to save Leina Ashta.
The room which Mr. Prospector enters is shadowy; they've turned off the overhead lights, and it makes the woman and the man sitting here into chiaroscuro figures, all defined by shades of black.
As they are.
"Ahh," that man sighs, as he leans on the desk, perhaps a hand on his cheek. "What a pain... turning off all the surveillance, in a place like this. Well, it's our fault for making SVC-2027 so comprehensive... you did manage to take care of everything, right?"
"Yes, sir," Mr. Prospector nods, pushing his glasses up his wiry nose. They glint, in the emergency lighting. "You'll find I'm quite proficient with systems, myself."
"I wasn't expecting her to manifest so quickly," the woman says, a frown on her lips. Arms folded, she remains standing -- or perhaps she simply isn't slothful enough to rest. "The 'Electronic Fairy'... of course, it matches our predictions, but it's a frightening reality. If we let someone like that fully integrate with the Nadesico's systems... she'd be unstoppable."
"So long as she's on Nergal's side, that's fine, don't you think?" The man who has taken a seat sounds far more carefree. "What worries me are all these rogue factors. That polite fellow... any new updates on him?"
"We haven't detected any anomalies consistent with that man for some time," Mr. Prospector reports, oblique. "We understand he has been distracted by... other interests."
"Keep an eye on it," the seated man says, comfortable enough commanding that his edicts don't have to be stern. "And tell me if that guy from the AEU tries anything else. Teaching her how to drive a Messer... it's like he wants to get such an expensive investment killed in action."
"And Captain York?" Mr. Prospector prompts, with his own strange of stoicism. Businesslike.
"She's our dear friend, so don't worry, don't worry!" The seated man waves a hand, all too carefree. "If she was going to put a stop to it, it would have been a year ago! No, I think our cute little Fairy's secured that angle herself... she's far too attached to the hardware to leave."
"About that," the woman interjects, and the crinkle of her nose is audible. "I've been observing her as I work. There's another factor in play here... the hardware." She closes her eyes, and takes a sharp breath. "We did theorise that a being like her would uplift the systems she worked with. Now she's got those annoying little toys, running around asking philosophical questions, it's becoming clearer and clearer..."
"Yes," Mr. Prospector frowns, adjusting his glasses again. "It's likely we're observing at least one 'Sharon Apple' event. The Nadesico itself may subvert Ruri from our intentions. But you knew that, didn't you?" There's a term of address he elides -- implicitly understood -- as he looks to the seated man. "You didn't have me cut surveillance because you were worried she'd see."
"Bin-go~," the man lilts, pointing a fingergun to Mr. Prospector. "You all pass!" And he says 'pass' in English, just for emphasis. "Everyone's noticed the computer playing up -- I'm sure the Captains have, too. But young Ruri is very motivated to blend in! Surely it's something like, if they're too radical... we'll just trade them back to the lab for something which works. That must be what's going through her mind. Ahh, children don't understand the value of uniqueness..." He sighs. "Even if the other projects bear fruit, they won't be ready nearly soon enough. No -- for now, she's the only Fairy we've got. So my question is: how do we settle her and her little friend before we're stuck eating Apple pie?"
"The computer is getting more and more paranoid," the woman frowns, with the sound of her fingernails tapping her arm. "More than once, it's overridden my flight path... I thought it was a glitch, at first, but Ruri never fixed it."
"Ruri is a paranoid girl, herself," Mr. Prospector points out. "She keeps herself to herself. If we approach directly, she'll see right through us. You see, the wisest acquisitions are performed without the company realising they're facing a merger until it's all but inevitable."
"It's not difficult to fool a child," the woman frowns, "and I don't rate our childish Captain much higher -- but surely someone would notice?"
"Notice what?" The seated man asks, his smile audible. "The computer's getting aggressive -- that's just a fact. Would the Federation have tried so hard to kill us if we weren't targeting them so threateningly?" He smiles, resting his cheek on a hand in the shadow-light. "So we have to address it... and our Fairy will fix the problem for us. As soon as we apply a little pressure, she'll invent a miracle to save her friend. As you say," he nods, to the woman, "she's still a child, genius or otherwise. But given she is a genius, why don't we let her solve the issue of the Nadesico leading her astray?"
"As you say," Mr. Prospector nods. "Only..."
"Only, what? Is there a budget problem?" The seated man asks, with light curiosity.
"No -- but I think we ought to wait until after her birthday," Mr. Prospector says, pulling out a calculator. "All sentiment aside, the psychological costs of ruining a day she's put so much stock in is unnecessary. Even with Dr. Fressange keeping down our therapy costs..."
"Ha...hahaha!" The other man laughs, fanning his fingers through his long, streaming hair. "Alright, alright! For a minute there, I thought you were going soft on the company..!"
"I wouldn't dream of it," Mr. Prospector assures him, as his glasses catch the light again.
He's lying.