So... I wrote this short story for the past 30 minutes to show the interactions of an LSE and an EII. The LSE is grumpy at the moment, and the EII is an A.I., but I figured some people might enjoy reading a narrative/screenplay version of the dynamic. Notice a similarity to any pop culture? Here ya go...
In the year 2108, the United Western Federation has begun its occupation of the Central Cathedral’s Southern Breach, under the CC’s request. During the period of unrest on the Southern Breach, the Corporal Administrator, Roger Kriner, has been tasked with overseeing the UWF’s attempts to set forward base on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores. The A.P.E., Artificial Protective Empath, assigned to him is known to him as Kristi, the name of a young woman who he met on the streets of Paris 15 years prior, and who warned him of joining the UWF. Ensign Matt Peringway has recently returned from salvaging on Corvo.
Roger: Marcus, are the provisions ready for tomorrow morning?
Marcus: Yes, sir. The provisions are ready, and all personnel have been briefed.
Roger: Thank you, Marcus. Get some rest tonight.
Marcus: Yes, sir.
Roger: (throws him a set of keys) And Marcus, get yourself a new jacket from the quartermaster. You’ll freeze with that hole in the back.
Marcus: Thank you, sir!
(exit Marcus)
Roger: Now, if only Peringway would return. I need him for this operation. If anything happens to go wrong with the launch skids, he’s the one who can fix it.
Kristi: Administrator, Peringway is 55 minutes late for report.
Roger: Yes, Kristi. I know.
Kristi: When Peringway is late by more than an average of 5.26 minutes…
Roger: (interrupting) Not now, Kristi. I need to check the sights on my scopes. They’ve been slipping after the first few rounds.
Kristi: (continuing) then he usually arrives within an average of 10.24 minutes of the sun setting, and by my calculations, the sun has set 9.48 minutes ago.
Roger: I said not…
(enter Peringway)
Roger: Peringway! Where have you…
Peringway: (interrupting) Sorry, sir. I was looking for copper screws in…
Roger: I don’t want to hear it, Peringway. I have been working since 3 AM to have everything in order for tomorrow. I don’t need to be keeping track of you as well.
Peringway: Sorry, sir.
Roger: Damn right you’re sorry. You’re lucky I’ve known you so long. Now go get cleaned up.
Peringway: But sir…
Roger: (interrupting) That’s it, Peringway! You’re staying here tomorrow. You have help me up on this operation far too long as is.
Peringway: …. Yes, sir.
(exit Peringway)
Roger: Damn Peringway…
Kristi: Administrator, we need Peringway for tomorrow’s operation.
Roger: No. We don’t. He has held me up enough as is. I don’t need him running around getting lost tomorrow at 0400 and delaying our departure. The launch skids are not that important.
Kristi: Ensign Peringway is one of your closest relationships on report, Administrator. He has been of valuable assistance on more occasions than his primary duty of launch skid operations.
Roger: Yes, Kristi, but he has a responsibility to be here on time, and I cannot keep jeopardizing missions for the sake of his wash-poor tardiness.
Kristi: But, Administrator, it is Ensign Peringway’s responsibility to maintain the launch skid operations. It is your duty to ensure his proper scheduling.
Roger: Well &*#^! He can’t do his OWN maintenance, if he can’t do his own scheduling!
Kristi: You need to request Peringway return, and apologize for your rash behavior.
Roger: I have more important things to tend to.
Kristi: It is your responsibility to Administrate the efficiency of the operations here. It is my responsibility to oversee the possibilities and probabilities of you Administration.
Roger: Then he should have…
Kristi: (interrupting) The probability of us requiring Ensign Peringway on this operation are 78.26%, the probability of you finding another friend to replace him on report is 11.25%, and the probability of the next operation to succeed, if my first probability is wrong and my second is correct, with an increased level of stress to you from lack of a human friend is 38.61%.
Roger: I don’t care about your damned!....
Kristi: (interrupting) It is your responsibility to Administrate the efficiency of the operations here. It is my responsibility to oversee the possibilities and probabilities of you Administration. We need Ensign Peringway on this operation, Administrator. His responsibilities will not render the operation a failure. If the operation is a failure, it will be you that have failed the report, Administrator, and it will be I that have failed you.
Roger: Kristi…
Kristi: We will fail, Roger. We will die.
(long pause)
Roger: (radio) Peringway, get back here.
(enter Peringway)
Peringway: Yes, sir?
Roger: I am sorry for my rash behavior. I value your efforts here.
Peringway: Thank you, sir.
Roger: We leave at 0400. Don’t be late!
Peringway: Yes, sir!
(next morning)
Roger: We depart in 3 minutes! (under breath) Where the ^&^$ is Peringway???
(enter Peringway)
Roger: Dag nabbit, Peringway! I thought I told you… Why do you have my rifle?!
Peringway: Sorry, sir. I saw you had trouble with your sights, so I went to Corvo the past 3 days to salvage for the copper screws I needed for the internals. Here, your sights shouldn’t slip now.
(long pause)
Roger: Thank you, Peringway. I knew there was a reason you’re my best friend here.
Peringway: (blushes) No problem, sir.
(exit Peringway)
(long pause)
Kristi: I told you.
Roger: Shut up… (smiles)