Nearing Primordium Prime (Page 161)

~~~(POV: Aurora)~~~

~~~(Location: Data Storage within Immortalitas, Genesis Dimension)~~~

According to the readings, we'll reach Primordium Prime in the next 10 minutes. I need to go talk with the others before we exit the Genesis Dimension. It takes but a second to reach the Command Deck, and I pop up on the terminal next to Scott. "I was wondering when you'd show up. We're almost there." Scott is excellent at keeping up with me.

Due to him being a Primordium, it helps take the stress of explaining things in simple terms. He understands everything I tell him, and he isn't slow. Durado, on the other hand, is as dumb as a bag of bricks. "Yes, we'll be reaching Primordium Prime in the next 10 minutes. I'd like to discuss what we'll do about The Patient Observer." He'll be our main obstacle to reaching The Keynote.

Scott looks like he's already thinking of something, and I know I can trust in his plans. He's capable of devising some of the best ideas I've seen outside of me. "I'm thinking we use The Patient Observer. Before we find a Way to The Keynote, there is something that I need from The Nexus of Knowledge here on Primordium Prime." That's certainly something that'll help.

The Patient Observer would be willing to lend all the help in the world if Scott pretends to have the same objective as the monitor. "What are we going to do if he doesn't buy it? Are we still going to destroy him using a virus, as you talked about?" Durado decides to bust his way into the conversation and interrupt what we're talking about.

Getting rid of The Patient Observer will be incredibly difficult, but it's not impossible. "No, Durado. That won't work unless we infect him and his backup storage. Otherwise, he'll just come back. It's safe to assume that his backup isn't connected to Primordium Primes network either." Scott already knows. It'll be better to quarantine his consciousness.

It won't hold him forever, but it will keep him locked up long enough for us to get off Primordium Prime and sent to The Keynote. "There is also the subject of Immortalitas. If we leave it here while we're busy with The Keynote, The Patient Observer will tamper with it." I need to make sure I voice this so we can make a plan for this as well.

Given enough time, The Patient Observer can break into the systems of the Dreadnaught. "We can always take Immortalitas with us. All we need to do is make the portal big enough for the Dreadnaught to come through with us." That'll require a lot of power, but it's something that the power grid of Primordium Prime can handle. So it's doable.

That leaves the problem of dealing with The Patient Observer. "I'll infiltrate Primordium Prime's systems, and I'll isolate and lockdown The Patient Observer. When I'm done with that, we'll activate the portal, and we'll get to The Keynote." Scott nods along with my plan to deal with The Patient Observer, which settles the plans.

Everything should go well as long as there aren't any curveballs thrown our way. "There is one thing I'd like to address." Durado doesn't usually do this. "Aurora, do you happen to know what feelings of love and lust are?" That's not what I was expecting to be asked, and instead of entertaining such a conversation. I leave to another part of the ship.

Why would Durado bring up something like that with me? I'm capable of such emotions and actions, but I've never actually had them. At least, I don't think. "Oh, No..." All of a sudden, it dawns on me. Everything I've been feeling about Scott... All the things that I've been experiencing around him... That's what Durado was talking about...

~~~(POV: Scott Autumn)~~~

~~~(Location: Command Deck of Immortalitas, Genesis Dimension)~~~

From a question like that, I'd think Durado is developing a crush on Aurora, but given deeper contemplation on the idea, I don't think that's what that question meant. "Whatever that was meant for, I don't have an answer with the current information I have..." Sometimes, you'll never find an answer to something. And that's what might happen regarding this.