The one thought that crystallized in my mind was that this might be my only opportunity to take Corai on a date. Even knowing the Elusian was interested in me, I was nervous about properly asking her out. I remembered what she'd told me about expiration dates on marriages, and who the hell knew how many people she'd been with; how could I impress her? What if she was always comparing me to someone better than me who'd had a fuck ton more to offer? Plus, I looked human now, and I had noticed that we hadn't done anything more than hand hold since I wasn't Estai anymore.

Which is normal because she was stressed being in jail and finding out that humans were behind her species' literal extinction, and you're a good boyfriend who doesn't want to force the issue. Corai needed her space, and maybe she still does. Maybe I shouldn't ask…

Corai narrowed her eyes, a smirk on her lips. "Preston, you've been staring at me with your mouth open for a full minute. Is something wrong?"

I jumped back on the couch, my shoulder blades crashing into the grooved armrests meant to have two limbs atop them at once. "Uhhh…nothing at all! Sorry, I just…I shouldn't have bothered you. You have a lot on your plate, and…"

"Ahem." Sofia cleared her throat. "Don't do that deer in the headlights thing. You broke her out of prison, but you can't do this? Women like confidence. Ask her out, you fucking dolt."

I smiled, straightening uncomfortably as sweat formed on the small of my back. "Would you…like to go on a date with me? I, um, don't have a lot planned, but we could tour the Fakra's complex or just spend some t-time together."

"Hm, I'll have to check my calendar. I've got a busy schedule today." Corai made a show of rolling her eyes back and tapping her chin. "I think I can fit you in. Seriously, that's a nice idea. It's probably about time that an Elusian cared and took an interest in what the Fakra have been up to. I haven't done that yet myself, and I know you can make anything interesting."

"Anything except Sofia's science," I added in the asterisk. "This'll be a good first date—exploring. That's what I do, right?"

Mikri pranced over to the door with excitement. "I love exploring with you, and keeping you safe. I'll come with you!"

I blanched. The tin can's trying to mess this up for me. "What? No, you won't. I didn't invite you, because I want to spend this time romantically, which means just with Corai."

"I can be romantic, if you'll teach me! Whatever my shortcoming is, I will work to learn and to fix it! Why do you not desire to spend time with me anymore? Why don't you love me?! Because if you do not love me in every way, then you do not reciprocate the deepest possible love. I know I am a machine, but I thought I was…worthwhile."

"Mikri, stop this! You are worthwhile. Just because I don't want to fuck you doesn't mean…anything other than I'm not attracted to…" I shot a desperate look to Sofia for help, who met my eyes, recalling my recent comment about her science. "Please help me. You explain things better to him?"

"Oh? Do I?" The scientist gave me a smug smile, before grabbing Mikri by the arm. She sat the robot down next to her at the table, where it seemed like she'd been journaling. "I said we were going to talk about this later. So I want you to stay here with me, and we'll have that discussion now. Okay?"

"Okay," Mikri beeped. "If you still want me."

"I do, and so does he. Go have fun, Preston and Corai. I've got this."

I grabbed Corai's hand with uncertainty, shuffling toward the door. "I don't want to ruin our date, but I want to make sure he's okay. He's taking our being together really hard for some reason. Maybe we should stick around and hear what they have to say?"

"Why don't I pull a page out of Velke's book and we spy on them with a well-placed nanodrone? We'll head back to my room, cuddle, and eavesdrop on them," the Elusian whispered in my mind.

"Oh Corai, I love it when you're unethical."

"Is it too soon to ask if you're into probing?"

"I, um, never—" I opened the door and strolled into the hallway, gasping under my breath. "Wait. Are…are you being serious right now?"

"I don't know. You'll have to find out."

I, Preston Myles Carter, was stunned speechless for one of the very few times in my life; Corai was the only person who could rip the words right out of my throat, and make me squirm with what she said. The air inside the Fakra compound suddenly felt quite hot. I tried to focus on the glares we received from the guards, walking the few steps over to her quarters—noticeably smaller and more devoid of furnishings than the ones left for us. The Elusian had politely suggested that it was because her inclusion was last minute, but we both knew better.

The two of us sat down together on a large armchair, and I was practically drinking stars to have a private moment in seclusion with her. I tried to stop myself from thinking, or at least focusing on, anything foolish; the tin can's behavior was really worrying. Under normal circumstances, I'd have faith in Sofia to slap some sense into Mikri, but I knew she wasn't holding up well herself. It did make me feel a bit guilty to leave her with that mess, and beyond that, I didn't want to run the risk of losing my best friend.

Corai smiled with sympathy, leaning my head onto her shoulder. Without a word, the Elusian projected a video feed into augmented reality, and I focused on the screen. Dr. Aguado was taking her duty seriously, as she sat in silence and mulled over what to say to the currently sulking, doodling robot that was hunched over the table. I hated seeing Mikri like this because of me, but…I was so happy to have found someone special too. I wished he'd be excited for me.

Sofia pursed her lips, deep thoughts brewing within her eyes. "Mikri, you understand that I am not physically interested in you—or anyone for that matter. It's a sacrifice a lot of people who live this life make, accepting that we can never have a normal family and settle down. I'm perfectly happy with that. For better or for worse, I'm married to my research. Do you think the choices I've made are wrong?"

"No," the android whirred with sadness. "But my friendship was not enough for Preston. He will forget me."

"That's not true! Preston still loves you very much; his love for you and Corai just manifests in different ways. Do you feel overwhelming attachment for me, as well as Preston?"

"Of course, Sofia! I am sorry if I have made this unclear in any way; it is you who I trust to ask anything, and your sagaciousness has turned me into…what I hoped was a good person."

Sympathy caused her lips to curve downward. "I wasn't doubting that you did, and you know that I feel the same way about you. You're my shining joy, Mikri. The greatest achievement in my life was being a part of yours. My point was that your love for me doesn't diminish or negate your love for Preston, right? You can feel affection for multiple people."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Obviously, you are both special, but anything I would do for him, I would do for you—and vice versa. He does not have feelings for me that he has for Corai, which means that he loves her more. I mean less to him, even after everything—"

"Mikri, having a romantic type of love doesn't necessarily mean you love someone more. Families are one of the most sacred bonds in human culture, but that isn't based on attraction at all; the ferocity of love between a parent and a child runs far more unbridled than simple lust. That last word is what, bluntly, you're not comprehending."

"When humans feel close to someone, you want them physically. You perform bizarre animal rituals and want to spend constant time with this person."

Sofia palmed her forehead, biting down frustration. "Yes and no. When you feel close to someone and want them physically, then you would seek intimacy. However, the last characteristic has to do with…seeking out an ideal mate. It's our nature to find a partner who fits certain physical and emotional traits, since animals…want to continue our lineage with someone genetically compatible."

"I know I am not genetically compatible and am incapable of certain things. Preston has never spoken of wishing to reproduce, and seems to, in fact, make light of the subject regularly."

"I think that Preston thought that nobody would ever love him in that way for who he is, and he'd given up on romance. Perhaps he was okay with it, even, since he'd made his choices. I can't speak to whether Preston and Corai would want a family, but I, for one, think that would be adorable. Can you imagine raising Preston's son or daughter, watching a little one grow up? Being Uncle Mikri?"

The Vascar became locked deep within his calculation matrix, before his eyes softened. "I wish to protect anything that is a part of Preston. I do not know how I would handle a human…child, since Hirri is rather overstimulating. This is not the point. I am afraid that he will no longer want me in his life, and that I will be excluded, as I am from these relationship excursions."

"Let me phrase it in a way you can relate to, since I know you don't grasp different types of love. Who do you care about more: Preston or Capal?"

"Preston."

"I figured as much. But who would you pick if you need organic help with calculations for the network, between the two of them?"

"Capal, with one hundred percent certainty."

Sofia grabbed his paw. "That's because Capal has a trait that makes him suitable for a certain kind of partnership: his unique intellect. Choosing him over Preston for this role doesn't mean you stopped loving that goober. It means Capal fits this specific thing perfectly. Selecting Corai to fit a romantic role because her physical and chemical traits appeal to one of his biological drives—it doesn't diminish or change how he feels about you."

"I think I understand. His physical calculation matrix finds her to be the optimal variable for its purposes. This is why he will pursue this subroutine with her, rather than me. It does not define the quantity of love."

"You've got it! Thank you for bearing with me, Mikri, I know this wasn't easy without reference points. I just hope you won't feel jealous if they want to spend time together, even if it keeps Preston away from us a bit to follow this…physical pursuit that he wants."

"I will not be jealous or keep him from happiness. I will no longer try to be included, since I realize this is not his wish in any tasks related to this."

"The two of them will still spend time with us and include you, Mikri. They'll just spend some time alone figuring each other out too. They'll need that. But I have no doubt who Preston will ask to be the best man at his wedding—so perhaps you should research that."

"I would love to ruin his wedding!" The machine crumpled a ball of paper in his fist, a symbolic gesture of his intent. "Thank you for the suggested area of research. I will devote my full processing faculties to this query. And Sofia?"

"Yes?"

"You should not have had to sacrifice having a family. You would be a wonderful mother. Netchild, or a human child, would have been lucky to have you. Te amo con toda mi alma."

"Aw." A deep blush formed in her cheeks, hearing the robot use her native tongue—I didn't know that tin can could actually speak Spanish, the way he went around calling everything fuego. A genuine smile, full of warmth and wonder, spread across Sofia's face. "La vida estaría vacia sin ti, Mikri."

I nudged Corai. "What are they saying?!"

The Elusian scoffed, closing the feed on her nanodrone surveillance. "Preston, you could download any language packs you want and understand her. While she's quite fluent in English, it might be a nice gesture for Sofia to be able to speak in her native tongue with—"

"Nah, too much effort. I speak it enough. Chalupa, fuego, baño…yeah, I'm good."

Corai snorted. "A chalupa could definitely put the fuego in the baño. It does mean a lot to someone to speak in their own language; that's part of why I choose to for you. You should be a little interested."

"Hey, I'd be interested in learning your language. Especially your curse words."

"Turn the translation off for a second." She smiled, waiting. "Pze lai tever d'fan valk. It means, 'Go fuck a star's molten core' or thereabouts. We have some interesting curses."

"Sounds awfully human of you. Always go fuck something this, go fuck something that. Alright, now I'm interested. What did Mikri say? What did Fifi say back? Was she telling Mikri to go bang a recycle bin?"

"I believe Mikri said that he loves her with all of his soul."

"Ah." My eyes watered. "That has a deeper meaning than you'd think. He didn't believe in souls. Not until he talked to Sofia about it, apparently."

"I see. In response, Dr. Aguado said that life would be empty without Mikri, but I find it curious that she didn't note the Vascar's word choice, rather accepting it. It makes me uncertain he'll ever fully grasp the difference. 'Te amo' is the deepest expression of love, but it's reserved almost exclusively for romantic partners. Mikri doesn't distinguish, and Sofia goes with it because she understands the nuance is lost on him."

"Huh. Well, I do understand the difference, so: te amo, Corai."

"Jan t'nai lorb, Preston. And yes, that means I love you too. Why don't we put all other concerns out of our minds now, and go enjoy a stroll through the Fakran complex?"

"Okay. Just need to do one little thing first."

I had to know if she still desired human Preston, and whether the chemistry would flow the same through my veins in this form. I rose from where I was snuggled up against her, and turned to face her despite my thundering heart telling me to bail. Steeling my nerves, I pushed her back with the gentlest force, mindful of my Sol strength; Corai moved her head slightly, and our lips crashed together. This time, it was sweet, like being wrapped in a silky blanket as a beautiful melody floated through the air.

Corai pulled back and pressed a finger to my lips, smirking. "Preston, can I make a request of you and your Sol super strength?"

I flexed my right arm and winked at her. "Anything."

"A stylish ride goes a long way toward selling a first date."

"Riiiight…you want a nanolimo? A tricycle with a battering ram?"

"No. I thought you might carry me around. Perhaps your effortless super strength, and a selective display of super speed, would win a lady's heart…and humble the Fakra."

"Certainly." I scooped the Elusian's lithe body up, not hesitating to find out if she was ticklish; I smirked as Corai laughed and protested. She definitely was. "Would it win your heart because it humbles the Fakra?"

"Now, now…purple?"

"You can't steal Mikri's line."

"Jambalaya."

"Oh no. Plagiarist! That's it. I'm taking you out of here!"

I bolted toward the exit at Sol speeds, barreling through the door like it wasn't even there. The Fakra were not happy with me disintegrating their barriers, but they could go fuck a star's molten core. It wasn't like I was going to let my girlfriend sleep in this dingy room anyway; the door deserved to be broken for giving her inequitable accommodations. Corai was beaming in a way I'd never seen before, her arms wrapped around my neck and her eyes staring up at me with adoration.

The nerves could begone. I felt assurance that we'd have an excellent time on our first date, running roughshod through the Fakran installation.

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