Aurelia woke up in darkness, her body feeling three times heavier than normal, and a haze over her mind as she regained her bearings. Rain cascaded off the skylight, the cool air and the sound of rain made it all the more difficult to find motivation to move.

“Good morning… or evening, Addison.” Aurelia looked up at the wall holo, and gasped in horror. 

“I was asleep for two days?! Addison, why didn’t you wake me sooner?”

“Because you had been awake for a longer time than recommended for most humans, and had I woken you up, you would not have taken more time to rest as needed.” Addison chirped back.

Aurelia suddenly realised that her bladder was not going to allow a sleep in, and it was back with a vengeance. She looked around for her cane, cursing herself as she figured she left it in the workshop. With titanic levels of willpower, she pushed the blankets off her, and heaved herself on to her feet. Grunting with pain, she made step after agonising step to one of the facility's bathrooms.

She washed her hands and stared at herself in the mirror, staring down her own multi-coloured eye. The longer she stared, the harsher her glare became.

“You never deserved success. Fucking monster.” She spat in anger at her doppleganger on the other side of the mirror. The redhead shakily raised her fist at her reflection, threatening to punch the mirror, before she lowers her hand in defeat.

She shook her head and offered a synthetic smile at herself. “No, this is a day for joy and happiness. I’m okay, I am good. I deserve nice things. 1..2..3… Two sinks, two taps, four mirrors, the hum of the air conditioner, the sound of drones working. I am okay.”

Aurelia drew in a long deep breath and exhaled. She splashed her face with water and patted her face dry with a towel. 

“Now let's see what Isobel is doing.” she reassured herself. With one last look in the mirror, she left the restroom. She was thankful for the rails all across the facility, otherwise she may not have been able to get to her workspace.

As she entered the workshop, she slapped her forehead. She could have just got Addison to retrieve it for her. A galactically renowned scientist and she forgets something so simple. She looked around and couldn’t see Isobel anywhere. She hobbled over to grab her cane, and sat on her desk.

“Addison, where is Isobel?”

“Hello miss! She is currently in the lounge making use of the wall holo there.”

“Thank you  Addison, could you please have breakfast number twenty four ready in half an hour?”

“Of course, miss. I would like to note that it is currently thirteen O'clock in the evening, which would make this a midnight snack.”

“Still technically morning.”

Aurelia made her way through the facility, and entered the lounge to Isobel staring at the screen intently on a video called ‘Servos, switches and Bitches’. The android turned to look at Aurelia, her face completely expressionless. Aurelia's gaze darted between Isobel and what was on screen. The android without breaking her violet gaze with the scientist.

“Did you sleep well?” She said nonchalantly.

Aurelia nodded slowly. “Uh, yeah, sure. Been keeping yourself… entertained?”

“Yes. I have just been educating myself on human culture.”

Aurelia nodded slowly. “Yes I see that.” She walked forward but tripped over her feet, managing to recover, but dropping her cane. Isobel quickly got up and made for the cane, but Aurelia held her hand up.

“Prefer to do what I can by myself, ya know?” Aurelia nodded her thanks, and bent down to grab her cane, wincing only slightly. Her thin, pale fingers wrapped tightly around her cane and the edge of her seat. As she sat down, she let out a sigh of relief, before noticing there was some rather explicit material on screen. One that was embarrassingly familiar to Aurelia.

“So, Isobel, what... have you been doing during my slumber?”

Isobel offered a deadpan look. “Addison said I should get familiar with human culture, so I thought it would be useful to have a look at your search history to get better acquainted with you and humans in general.” 

Aurelia cocked an eyebrow. “Please don’t tell me you spent the entire last two days browsing porn.”

“I was making a joke. I mostly browsed a variety of things, from GalNet broadcasts, news, social media. I thought it would be amusing if you awoke to see me watching such content, so I have had that tab open for the past 10 hours.” Isobel said with a blank face.

But Isobel did not spend that time looking at GalNet Broadcasts, news and social media and did, in fact, spend the entire time looking at porn. The incompatibilities of the milvine and raxth were utterly fascinating to her. She was thankful that incognito mode exists.

“Aha, you got me.” Aurelia said, offering a look of suspicion for a moment. “Do you mind if I run some tests on you? I want to make sure all of your senses are working.”

“Of course, anything you need, mistress.” said the very nude android.

Aurelia covered her face with her hand. “I’m too tired for this.”

“I was making another joke.” Isobel said with a slight smile. She noted to herself that the video she was watching was likely not a good reference to speak with other people.

Aurelia broke into a tired giggle. “Your deadpan delivery is honestly incredible. I couldn’t have even programmed that myself.”

“Ah, so the goddess cannot do everything it seems.” Interrupted the facility assistant.

Choosing to ignore Addison, she continued “I can’t wait to see what other changes you take on. Anyway, I can’t be bothered moving to the workshop. Addison, please bring the eggs here, and the packet of candies on my desk.”

“Of course, miss. Right away.” 

A few minutes later, a drone walked in with the requested items, handing the items to the scientist who eagerly brandished an egg.

“Isobel, please hold this egg.”

The android knelt down beside Aurelia and grabbed the egg. She looked down at it and noted the smooth texture, but looked back up at the scientist expectantly.

“Fantastic, you can give back the egg. You pass that one.” The android passed her the egg, looking very confused. Aurelia placed the egg back into the carton, and put the carton on the floor beside her.

“We had an incident when your body didn’t have as much, shall we say, finesse.” Aurelia held her crooked, scarred hand up and smiled sheepishly. 

“Crushed my hand pretty badly. It’s not anywhere near as bad now as it was, but that was painful.”

Isobel looked mortified, guilt written all over her face. “I am so sorry.”

The scientist waved it away. “No, don’t be. You weren’t even conscious at that stage, plus, that’s just part of being an inventor. Shit happens. Not your fault.” She waved Isobel to come closer.

“Now, I apologise for this one, but It needs to be done.” Before Isobel could respond, she pinched her on the arm, the android flinching away in shock.

“What was that? That was incredibly unpleasant.”

“Pain. It's a very useful sense, and will help prevent you from causing yourself unnecessary harm. As you can see, it is a sensation I am very much familiar with.” Aurelia lingered on the last words for a moment, before grabbing another object from the packet on her lap.

“You will like this one much more. Take one.”  She rummaged through the package beside her, pulling out two vibrantly coloured objects, both having wildly different shapes and colours. with different shapes and colours. She placed one in her mouth, holding the other up for Isobel. The nude android leaned over and wrapped her lips around the candy, not breaking eye contact with the scientist. Aurelia’s cheeks reddened slightly before she composed herself.

“A kawi jelly. Confectionery. This is to test your sense of taste, and to make up for the last one.” Aurelia offered a toothy grin. The android’s face contorted, offering a variety of facial expressions.

“It is sweet. It tastes like fr-fr-fr-oooooooooot” Isobel held her mouth agape, glitched noises escaping her mechanical throat.