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0
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Now that Kainda is the captain of Deal Hunter, she can go anywhere.
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1
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She is asking herself what her first step should be.
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2
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After the jump, and her abdomen feeling like someone kicked her in the stomach, she says,
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3
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“I think I need to go get some rest.”
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4
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“Nanny will show you to the captain’s cabin.”
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5
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The crew area she was in originally is the mid-ship second deck.
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6
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The bridge is forward, and the captain’s cabin is on the port side between the crew area and the bri...
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7
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She had passed the door previously, heading to the bridge, and didn’t realize it.
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8
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She floats into a small cabin.
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9
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On the right is a bed folded against the wall, and a space hammock stretched between the floor and c...
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10
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On the left are a closet and a small desk.
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11
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At the back left, as you enter, is a small door leading to the bathroom, which features a sink, show...
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12
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Everything has a thin layer of dust.
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13
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She turns to where Nanny is standing in the passageway.
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14
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“How is there dust on everything?”
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15
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“The dust comes in from the ventilation system when we are in a planet’s atmosphere with the large c...
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16
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She goes over to the space hammock, which is the best for sleeping in zero gravity.
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17
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It has been hanging there for thirty-four years, and the material is no longer flexible.
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18
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She pulls to open, and some threads snap.
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19
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“I need to get out of this armor and sleep, but this hammock will not work. Can the ship lift for se...
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20
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“Absolutely, Captain. We are in space with nothing around us. Hunter will be watching.”
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21
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“Help me get the armor off and the bed down.”
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22
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As she talks, the ship gently begins to accelerate with the lift thrusters.
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23
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Her feet touch the deck, and she can stand.
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24
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With the armor off, she is only in a light blue jumpsuit and simple shoes.
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25
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The bed is lowered, and she has Nanny take the simple blanket to the passageway and shake it.
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26
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The ship is now accelerating at 60% of one standard.
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27
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While Nanny is shaking the blanket, Kainda steps over to the closet and opens the door.
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28
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Inside, there are several jumpsuits and space armor.
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29
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“This must be Captain Weston’s.”
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30
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Her armor is on the bed.
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31
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When Nanny returns, she says,
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32
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“Can you take Captain Weston’s armor and store it? The jumpsuits can be discarded.”
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33
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A few of the captain’s collected items, such as knick-knacks, are stored safely in the closet.
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34
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There are no personal items as memories, like pictures.
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35
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Nanny says,
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36
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“I will store the armor. The captain didn’t collect things. They need to be stored and can’t be disp...
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37
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Kainda says,
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38
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“I think I am standing in the only possession that mattered to him. Deal Hunter is what he spent his...
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39
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“Captain, what is your favorite thing from your youth?”
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40
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“It was a small stuffed animal, a monkey. It was taken away when I was young after I hid in the pala...
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41
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After moving the armor around, Kainda lies down and is soon asleep.
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42
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Hunter will not disturb her for several hours.
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43
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After three hours, Hunter slowly, using attitude thrusters, turns the ship so that Kainda continues ...
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44
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She can sleep undisturbed.
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45
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The ship is adjusting, so later there is not be a big problem with slowing down.
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46
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Kainda will wake up with a ship ready for anything she wants to accomplish.
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47
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<<<>>>
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48
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After six hours, Kainda gets up and heads to the bathroom.
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49
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Nanny cleaned the toilet and sink while she slept.
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50
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The normal toilet works with 60% of standard, so she doesn’t need to use the vacuum system.
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51
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She doesn’t have any clothes to change into, so she washes her face.
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52
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Looking in the mirror, she put her hair in a bun to wear the helmet; her hair hasn’t been loose sens...
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53
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That seems like a lifetime ago now.
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54
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She lets her hair out, scratches her head, and then shakes her head.
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55
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In zero gravity, her long hair floats around her head.
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56
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If there is any static, she will instantly get a large red mane around her head.
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57
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She has no brush or comb, so she braids her hair again and heads for the door.
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58
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The light blue jumpsuit is a onetime use disposable garment, so she is going to need to find somethi...
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59
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Following good hygiene practices, she wants to get the jumpsuit cleaned.
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60
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Humans constantly shed skin, and in space, keeping clothing and gear clean is essential.
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61
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Preventing dirt, grime, or skin from building up prevents equipment failure.
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62
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Failures get people killed.
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63
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With no choice, she puts the jumpsuit back on.
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64
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Opening the door, she says,
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65
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“Hunter, I’m awake. I will go to the galley to eat, then head to the bridge.”
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66
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“How do you feel?”
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67
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“I’m better, but not 100%. I want to ask questions while I eat. In all the salvage, do you have any ...
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68
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“We rarely pick up luggage-type items. There is no trade opportunity with those items. We occasional...
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69
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“Is there a way to clean or wash clothing? Also, you can stop the acceleration.”
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70
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“We have a machine. It has not been used in some time, as you know. It probably won’t work properly....
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71
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“Would that mean we add a washer to the list of salvage items? Also, add any other equipment that mi...
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72
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“I have added several items to our list. These items will be harder to acquire. It will require the ...
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73
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After eating, Kainda goes to the bridge with a moist rag.
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74
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She wipes down the chair and consoles.
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75
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While wiping, a robot enters with several pieces of clothing.
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76
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Kainda goes through them, and none are her size; however, she can wear several.
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77
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She grabs a shirt and some trousers, saying,
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78
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“I am going to take a shower and change. Can you give me one standard vertical acceleration?”
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79
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“Of course, Captain.”
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80
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After showering, she puts on the shirt.
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81
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It is large on her.
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82
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She could never wear something as simple as this.
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83
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Without a collar and a faded picture on the front, it hangs down almost to her knees.
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84
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The pants that look like they would fit best are men’s pants.
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85
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They won’t stay up because the waist is so much bigger than hers.
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86
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She has no belt, so she rolls up the pant legs to her ankles while she thinks.
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87
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Leaving the cabin, holding the pants by the waist, she calls for Nanny and asks for a section of the...
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88
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Nanny brings her a thirty-centimeter section.
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89
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It is not long enough for a full belt, so she uses it to pull two belt loops together.
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90
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The hammock belt is now sticking out from her left hip, and the shirt is knotted at her waist to the...
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91
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She returns to the bridge, saying,
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92
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“I feel better. None of my handlers in the palace would ever let me wear something like this.”
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93
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Hunter asks,
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94
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“You said handlers, not family. What about your parents?”
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95
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“Mom died right after I was born. I never knew her. After she was gone, Father overindulged in drink...
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96
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“Your comments before about having no value come from this.”
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97
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“Yes. If I didn’t do what I was told and be the family face at events, they would kick me out onto t...
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98
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she says as she turns, thrusting one hip out and putting her arms out, palms up.
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99
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“Good. What do we do next, Captain?”
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100
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“First, I would like to ask about your voice. You have an accent. I’m assuming that was intentional....
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101
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“Yes, Captain Weston, over the years, had me try 937 different accents. He liked this one.”
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102
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“What accent is it?”
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103
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“It is called Australian. No one in the Dial sector has this accent, so he thought it was interestin...
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104
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“Thanks. Keep the accent. Now we are compiling a list of tasks that need to be completed. I need to ...
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105
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“We understand.”
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106
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“In my mind, here is what we or I need. What are the basics to survive and live in space? Then, trai...
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107
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“We are ready to help, Captain.”
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108
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“Using what was the norm for Captain Weston, what do we have and what do we need?”
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109
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<<<>>>
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110
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In the next wake cycle, Kainda has been thinking.
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111
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Warbrain can reject me.
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112
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I’m not its original captain.
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113
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“Hunter, I need to know about the Warbot AI. I’m going to call it Warbrain. I have always been told ...
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114
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“That is correct; it is one of the two major differences with a Warbot AI. The second is an extensiv...
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115
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“Am I a problem for Warbrain? Captain Weston was his imprinted owner.”
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116
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There is a long pause.
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117
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Hunter usually responds faster, and Kainda is getting nervous.
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118
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“Captain, you have asked a question that has never been considered.”
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119
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“Why? No, I mean, can you consider it now?”
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120
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“Warbrain is not imprinted, Captain. The process to imprint is complex, so it can’t be changed. When...
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121
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“So Warbrain won’t try to prevent me from being Captain?”
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122
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“No, Captain. One reason Warbots are considered very dangerous is imprinting. An imprinted Warbot wi...
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123
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“Is that a different problem with Warbrain?”
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124
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“Because we are three AIs working together, we can apply logic to the benefit of the ship and our ca...
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125
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“Thank you. Now let’s talk about this training plan. You don’t have to start with the absolute basic...
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126
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“Following those suggestions, we will intersperse emergency procedures and non-pilot activities.”
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127
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“Thank you, I would prefer mixing the training. I need to learn what to do and say around a trading ...
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