3D6 and Nomi

A few days after the curious announcement by 3D6 about reproduction capabilities, Nomi Amersu heads to the cockpit alone.

"Manual and visual checks show everything is ship shape." Nomi crosses the cockpit and comes around to stand in front of 3D6, so she is looking it in the "face."

"3D6, I have been thinking about what you said the other day." Her eyes narrow and she leans forward, resting her arms on the edge of the navigation panel in front of her. "What gave you the impression that I would be interested in the reproductive capabilities of Twi'leks and Iktotchi? Do you make observations of the crew that I have not been informed about? Do you observe private interactions inside crew quarters or other places which might not be considered public?"

3D6 has one arm resting on the ship's steering controls and another on the throttle, making constant micro-adjustments to direction and speed as Rogue Ronto hurtles through hyperspace. As usual, Hapan cooking opera plays softly in the background - in this case, a baritone intoning a lament for a broken sauce. The droid's round head turns slowly toward Nomi and a pair of its photo-receptors focus on her.

"Distressed Reply: Oh, master, as I replay our earlier interaction from my memory banks I can understand how you came to believe this were possible! Please accept my humble apologies and my assurance that there are no surveillance systems of any sort aboard this vessel.

"Detailed Explanation: The ship's life support systems keep track of the amount of waste gases being produced in each compartment and alert me if their concentrations change substantially." Another one of 3D6's arms gestures at a particular section of the control panel which appears to be monitoring the performance of the air scrubbers. "This way I may keep the system operating at peak efficiency. In the event of a partial mechanical failure, it would not do to waste power on ventilating an empty compartment at the expense of another in which several organics had congregated. Seeing that your compartment showed a pattern consistent with the presence of multiple organic beings while your sister was using the bacta tank, Master Efnir's compartment was empty, and all other crew members were accounted for made it easy to deduce what had occurred.

"Sheepish Admission: Given your previous interest in matters of xenology, I believed you would find the information I shared to be useful and edifying. It appears I have misjudged the situation."

Nomi presses her lips together. "I can see why you would assume that, and I appreciate the thought. It's not something I was really considering at the moment and may be pertinent information for the future, I suppose. In truth, 3D6, I am very interested in xenological tidbits that you might care to share. I would just request that if it is something related to actions that take place in private you impart the data in private, not to the whole crew. And perhaps no further announcements pertinent to the amount of oxygen that is being used in my, Efnir's or anyone's bed chambers, unless you feel it has something to do with the safety and security of the crew or passengers. Sekar Mirah is to be considered crew going forward, to be clear." Nomi smiles.

"You are an invaluable member of the crew as well. Any time you are concerned or find something curious you may of course always bring it up to me as the Captain, just keeping mind if it might be a private matter or a public matter."

"Affirmation: I shall do as you ask, master. In the future I will take care to conduct myself with greater discretion. I have also updated my internal permissions database to grant Sekar Mirah the requested privileges. And I do appreciate this clarification of your preferences.

"Proffered Excuse: The timing of common milestones in romantic pair-bonding between organic beings is not covered in any great detail by my xenology database. Even if I possessed this data in the past, it must have been wiped from my memory banks before you and the crew took possession of Rogue Ronto. In Hapan opera I have noted that as soon as the lead artists have performed their duet, in the first ensemble piece after the intermission the audience is being introduced to their offspring. However, upon further consideration, this timeline hardly seems plausible."

Nomi barks a laugh. "No, that's - faster than the average real relationship, I think. While I am not the most experienced, I would have to say that the texts most likely don't have anything on it because it is more of a personal choice between partners than a biological mean. While culture, morality and familial rules are going to play a part, that advancement is going to vary relationship to relationship and person to person. I am sure advice columnists are constantly being asked this question and there are probably as many answers as there are people to give advice." Nomi stops talking, suddenly taken by the ridiculousness of explaining timelines of sexual relationships to a droid. "And as many variations on timing, duration and compatibility as there are people who have had relationships with each other." She shrugs. "Maybe it would be easier if there were a manual, but then again it would probably be impossible to write one." She pauses and then hesitantly adds, "any questions?"

"Answer: No, master. In the course of our travels together it has become increasingly clear to me how many things cannot be learned from a book. It is my sincerest hope that you and Master Efnir can be happier together than the protagonists of Hapan operas seem to inevitably become. There has been enough cause for sadness aboard this ship already."

"Thank you, 3D6." Nomi starts to leave and then pauses and turns back. "It occurs to me, if we ever have someone on board who is not a part of the crew and you notice some sort of unexpected use of life support or movements one might not expect, opening of hatches that are usually closed, access to places a guest might not usually access, that would be something I would be very interested to be informed about right away, okay?"

"Agreeable Acknowledgement: Consider it done, master."

3D6 turns its head back toward the viewscreen as one of its hands rotates a small knob on the control panel. The sound of Hapan cooking opera, now playing at an increased volume, follows Nomi as she leaves the cockpit.