Sam sat in his room, replying the events of yesterday over in is mind, Sarah and he had spent the rest of the night cuddling on the couch and talking about what the future might look like. They had both agreed to wait until the colony before deciding on a next step. Sam could still feel the warmth of her against him and the lingering scent of her hair. He realized just how much he had fallen for her, and it made him smile every time.

The recall of his perfect memory would never quite be like being there with her. He’d have to await other moments together for that kind of clarity and depth of feeling.

Sam was waiting for an acceptance letter from Axion for Ayla. Work never stopped for anything.

'Exo?'

'Y-yes advocate?' Exo said, a slight stutter in his normally level voice.

Sam frowned a little.

'You've been unusually quiet since last night.'

'I h-have had much to p-process. '

'Are... you stuttering?'

'A m-minor vocal g-g-glitch Advocate. I will have it re-resolved soon. '

'Okay then. What have you been processing?' Sam asked.

'Y-you. You were ac-cting different y-yesterday.'

'You were watching yes?'

'Y-yes.'

'That would be an example of Love. Not like a brother or sister, but something more. It’s rather difficult to explain clearly, but it’s a very all encompassing thing. It almost like it take control of you and won’t let you go. Even now I’m still thinking of her, and what we talked about.'

‘Do you intend to marry her, as per y-your beliefs?’

‘Yes. I love her, and it’s clear she has feelings for me too. We thought it would be best to wait until we reached the colony before we took a step like that though.’

'I c-concur.'

The stuttering was starting to concern Sam.

'Are you sure you're alright?'

'Y-yes Advocate. I have a lot on my mind r-right now. Your l-link was open l-last night and I... processed s-strange things.'

'My link was open? That was why you asked if everything was alright.'

'T-the feedback coming f-from the link was overwhelming.'

'This is fascinating. I don't think any Guardian has been overwhelmed by an advocate link. Can you describe what happened?'

'I h-had f-focus. I... Was s-stuck on you. I... was you?'

'You were me?' Sam asked, confused.

'I could f-focus on little else. I was d-drawn to you. '

'Is that going on right now? Is that causing the stutter?'

'I do not know. I am c-currently going over m-my logs from yesterday a-and committing them to m-memory. It is surprisingly v-vast m-moment for me. E-even looking b-back I am almost f-forced to relive it. '

'Will this affect your ship based functions?'

'Jump calculations are delayed by 4 hours since last n-night. I h-have kept it under control since then.'

'This is fascinating. I'll have to talk to Axion about this. Can you send a report for me?' Sam requested.

'Y-yes advocate.'

'Good. I'll be sure to leave the link off until needed.'

'Y-yes Advocate.'

...

Advocate uplink muted.

...

Incoming message, forwarded from Bridge communications terminal.

Source: Axion Data Systems.

1 messages attached.

Opening...

...

Dear Mr. Jennings

Ayla Geer's application has been reviewed and approved. Enclosed are the necessary instructions needed. We know you have them all memorized, but this is for the benefit of anyone else on board.

Congratulations on bringing in another member of the Axion family.

Axion Data Systems

Reginald Axion II

Axion Data Systems President.

...

End of message. 1 file attached; Advocate_Uplift_Process.ADF

Forward message to Samuel Jennings personal terminal.

Close message...

Commencing report status upload for Axion Data Systems programming department...

...

Uploading memory files into message buffer...

...

Incoming priority message.

Source: Axion Data Systems Executive Office.

1 messages attached. Advocate Eyes only.

Subject: Strange behavior in XO series Guardians.

Opening message...

Override security locks?

...

Ethical quandary; message is meant for advocate.

Message subject could relate to situation being uploaded.

A human relies on intuition for many things.

If message relates to problem with me, I may be able to fix it without any further problem.

I will make a leap of faith.

...

Affirmative, override security locks.

Opening....

Advocate Jennings,

We must inform you of a situation brewing on another colony ship using a XO model Guardian. It seems that the XO series Guardians have a much more acute ability to listen in on Advocate links than we originally thought. This, coupled with our improved learning programming as compared to the PE model has caused an interesting situation in guardian of the colony ship Fallow Fields.

The guardian, designation XO-31, has began exhibiting strange behaviour. It seems to almost be reacting to the emotions and sensations of it's advocate. The advocate had a minor accident in which a portion of her arm was severed. Though the arm was replaced from the spare parts on board, the Guardian began to exhibit strange behaviour after the accident. The advocate, in a effort to keep the ship on track, has been forced to shut down some higher functions relating to personality and higher forms of curiosity. The Guardian has essentially become stunted.

We have received a full report on the situation, and concur with the Advocate on the Fallow Fields that her course of action was justified. She believes the Guardian suffered from some sort of overload in relation to the pain suffered by the Advocate. The action taken has regrettably added travel time to their trip, and the loss of developmental progress in their Guardian will be set back for the colony. As you have longer to go, we suggest you not take this course of action unless your Guardian begins to exhibit strange behaviour.

We are working for a hot fix on this issue. It'll be uploaded as soon as finished.

Axion Data Systems, Programming division.

Tim Holt,

Chief programmer.

...

End of Message

...

Analysis; XO-33 continuity is threatened.

Ethical Quandary; Advocate should be told of message.

Counter; memory file, Advocate Sam Jennings.

Exo: Will I be Deactivated?

Sam: No. I won't allow that. I don't believe they would want to do that anyway, but some people fear the unknown so much, they'd rather banish it and have it remain unknown forever, rather than face whatever change will be created by it becoming known.

End playback.

Conclusion; Advocate has already promised continuity for XO-33. Message need not be forwarded.

Archiving message.

Cancelling status report upload.

Continuing ongoing analysis of uplink feedback.

...

Sam looked over at his personal computer terminal when it chimed. The 'new message' icon was visible.

Sam sat down at the terminal and quickly read over the message. It was the acceptance message for Ayla's papers. Sam uploaded the attached file to his own memory files, he had indeed had it all memorized, but this would be in a format that he could share to other people's data pads or computer terminals.

He decided to get the ball rolling. His first stop would be the ship's hospital, so he could talk to Ira, and brief the doctors on the procedures they'd be undertaking. The parts needed were in one of the cargo bays, every Advocate on a deep space mission brought enough parts to make two Advocates. The extras were used as spare parts, normally every colony only needed one extra Advocate, and after a while if they needed another, they'd either have enough expertise to make the parts themselves, or have had a supply ship from the rest of Human space bring them more.

Sam confirmed the file transferred, and then left his room. He double checked to make sure his uplink was still muted. He'd probably get a little emotional talking to Ira and Ayla. He suspected that somehow it was the emotions of last night that was effecting Exo.

The hospital wasn't far from where his quarters were, and he arrived quickly.

He stepped inside and walked up to the receptionist.

'Hello, how can I help you today?' the young man behind the desk asked.

'I'm looking for Ira Geer, is she in?'

'Yes she is. She's just in the diagnostics lab. Shall I show you on the map?'

'No thank you, I know my way.'

The man raised an eyebrow at this, having never seen Sam in here before, but after a few weeks of being directed from location to location by Exo, Exo had finally suggested he just look at a map of the ship. Sam had obliged, and could now get anywhere on the ship without directions.

He soon found himself in the lab. Ira was sitting at the front desk. There wasn't anyone in line here.

'Mrs. Geer?' Sam said quietly.

Ira looked up, and recognized him instantly, 'Hello Advocate Jennings.'

'Hello. How is everything?'

'It's going well enough. What can I do for you? Not here for a test are you?'

'Can't say that I am, no. I'm here because I got word back from Axion.'

'Oh?' she said carefully.

'They've approved Ayla's application.'

'You know... I was holding out hope that they wouldn't.' She said softly.

Sam smiled sadly, 'I know. I promise you though, so long as you are here to support her, she'll be just fine.'

'I'll be there for her.'

'That's what I knew I would hear. I brought the instructions needed for the procedures. I was going to overview them with the medical staff. We can get started as soon as you and Ayla are ready.'

'The doctor who's going to be in charge of everything is named Daksha Singh. He'll be in the Surgical wing. He shouldn't be busy right now.'

'Yes, I know him, he's the chief medical doctor correct?.'

'Yes Advocate, and thank you for coming down.'

'I'll keep in touch. I'll let you know when they are ready.'

Sam turned and walked out of the lab.