Curacao was as pretty as ever. Not a single cloud in the sky and the blue sun of Cortez lay a calming layer of light over the tropical islands. While the prominent REGENT-class Luxury Yacht remained parked at the mooring fixture, an OSC Ferry shuttle made its way through the atmosphere down to the space port near the Christoffel Beach, one of the smaller islands with less touristic attention. It was mostly used by the actual residents of the vacation planet, both the OSC employees and people rich enough to afford living here.
One of them left the shuttle. A short woman of 1.6 meters and wavy brown-ish hair. A black dress covered her body. Not matching the otherwise elegant outfit, she wore black sneakers. A Kishiro Service Robot followed her, carrying her handbag. Next to the robot, she appeared hilariously tiny as it was about to heads taller than her. However, despite her lack of height, she did not look younger than a woman in her mid-20s.
After a short walk along the colorful promenade and taking in the exotic breeze, she entered a café, sat down at one of the tables in the corner where she took the handbag from her robotic servant, retrieved a PDA and placed it on the table.
Stay outside and scan the area for Lieutenant Blake. Guide her here once you found her.
Nodding, the robot turned away and left the café. The woman took the PDA and recorded an audio message for the Lieutenant. Once it was sent, she leaned back in her chair and nervously looked out of one of the windows.
Don't make it awkward. It's just a normal meeting. Just pretend you didn't send her your ramblings. And stop talking to yourself in public areas.
The guardian of lieutenant Blake landed on the planet on the main island. For the occasion, she has brought some spare clothes. Something more civil than navy. After changing herself within her service ship, she was wearing a blue jeans and a white T-shirt. The woman was also wearing white shoes. Once outside, the lieutenant walked in direction to take a shuttle that will bring her to the beach in question that Lindsay mentioned earlier in a message. Victoria Blake was not the most shorter nor taller woman. Her height was 170 centimeters. Her hair was black her eyes brown.
After some minutes of walking, Victoria arrived at the place and was looking for a robot. Actually, it was easy to find the robot in question. That's what she thought. Once she was close to it, Victoria started the conversation. ''Are you the robot who will bring me to the Christoffel beach? If yes, I am Victoria Blake.'' However, Victoria began to have an idea of what kind of person Lindsay Castillo was. Someone rich. If she had a robot servant, she was maybe not an ordinary civillian of Liberty. That's what Victoria thought.
Having gotten fed the image that came with the message to Lindsay, the Kishiro Service Robot did not take long to identify the woman in question despite the casual appearance. It nodded.
After a short walk along the colorful promenade and taking in the exotic breeze, she entered a café, sat down at one of the tables in the corner where she took the handbag from her robotic servant, retrieved a PDA and placed it on the table.
My name is Vee Four El. For the sake of simplicity, you may address me as VAL. Mistress Castillo tasked me to lead you to her current location. Please follow me, if you kindly would.
The robot turned around to guide the way, however after a few steps, turned back to Victoria once more.
If you do not comply, I will be forced to carry you to Mistress Castillo. Please comply to avoid possible harm to your vulnerable fleshy body.
Victoria complied to follow the robot. But for an introduction, the lieutenant was concerned. Being forced to be brought to Lindsay if she was not complying was strange. Really strange for the officer. ''I will follow you, Val.'' She replied to the artificial being. The robot led the way and Victoria followed. Then, the last sentence of the robot ''I was tasked with not making this awkward.'' came in her mind. Then she said to herself mentally. ''Well, you failed...''
They walked down the promenade, and it did not take more than five minutes of pretty scenery until they reached their destination: Café Antonia. A small house with a wide and open veranda, providing shadow for the customers that preferred not to burn in the blue light of the sun. There were a few more tables in the yard, a few of them with customers enjoying ice cream or cocktails.
Mistress Castillo is inside the building.
Guiding the Navy Lieutenant into the building and over to the table in the corner, she would see the small woman. Apparently, she was absent in her mind and reacted with surprise as VAL returned with Victoria. In a quick motion, she stood up, her rear involuntarily pushing the wooden stool back with just enough force to make it fall to the floor.
Slightly embarrassed, she glanced at Victoria, smiled awkwardly and reached one hand out for a handshake.
Lieutenant Blake, it's a pleas-
Mistress Castillo, I have accomplished all mission goals. I am hereby handing
over Lieutenant Blake into your hospitality.
... a pleasure to meet you in person. Please, sit down with me, have a look at the menu card. I recommend the Banana Split.
Being a formidable servant, VAL moved over to Lindsay and picked up the stool to place it behind their mistress.
Victoria smiled a bit akwardly but it vanished when Lindsay took her hand to do a handshake. ''It is a pleasure to meet you as well.'' She said while she was going to sit in front of the other woman. She looked around to see if the robot wasn't here and simply let the sentence going out. ''That... Val.. It wanted me to comply or he would bring me here by force... *sigh* She pauses during the sentence. ''It was weird.''
She finally grabbed the menu card to see what would be good to eat and her choice was already made up after some minutes. ''I think I will take the sea food pasta. And the Banana Split.''
Good! Good, now VAL was the weird one. What a relief!
Good choice. She herself already knew she only wanted that delicious Banana Split. Who would't like a dessert that sounds like a man gets a kick in the dick.
VAL can't be blamed for that, really. I sometimes forgot how literal robots take orders, and how they will do anything to accomplish them. In this particular case, I've told him to bring you here, instead of telling him to ask you to follow him. My apologies for the inconvenience. For a moment, she eyed the robot, who was currently a few meters away from them, inspecting a bird frolicking and hopping around in the yard. He also likes to remind non-synths of being non-synths.
You are a considerably vulnerable, fleshy finch.
The chonky finch, however, did not acknowledge the robot and kept hopping around, occasionally twitching as it looked around. Lindsay decided to shift her attention to the woman at her table. While the chance was not entire zero, she felt like VAL would not go rogue and start a murdering spree today.
So, Lieutenant Blake, uhm... looks like you were quite eager to have a little break from duty there, today. Can't blame you. I thought those three Rogue Gunboats circling around Manhattan yesterday were stressful, but, my god, Ego slinging mud at literally every single Navy officer at every single opportunity... I envy your patience, to say the least. Trying to keep everyone save while salty misanthropists are around and try to be as noisy as possible... let's just say I hope they pay you enough for that.
Her nose began to itch, but she tried her best not to sneeze.
''Don't worry about the robot. It was also my first experience talking with a robot.'' She explained in calm. Victoria was calm though. Not stressed for this meeting. After some seconds later, Lindsay broke the silence and her attention was on the woman before her. After she listened her, the lieutenant took a moment to find a good answer. ''Well, about those gunboats you mentioned, I was not able to go in space and fullfil my duty. I was occupied with important matters.'' She pauses a moment thinking what to say about that Ego. ''About what Ego said or other people might say the same thing, I don't really pay attention. Not that I agree or disagree but I think everyone should be allowed to say what they think. Again in moderation of course.''
Victoria Blake looked at the window next to her. She seemed to enjoy to see other people having fun. Then, she looked at Lindsay. ''Lindsay... You told me you came from Curacao, right? She said just to launch a discusion.
Freedom of speech, definitely something not too free in the House of Freedom. At least, that was the impression Ego and Kimiko had given her at Ames. Maybe it was not like that at all?
I'm from Curacao, that's true. My parents are both from Liberty, although I guess we have some hispanic blood somewhere down the roots, because of the name. Not sure about it, though. It's just a name. Definitely not something she had ever cared about. The only issue with the name Castillo was that people loved to butcher it, or mistake it for Callisto. That annoyed her.
Some people don't believe it, but some babies are made here.
''Yes, Castillo sounds hispanic. But I find it fits well with your first name.'' Said Victoria while she smiled to Lindsay Castillo. The server finally arrives and brought what the two women ordered earlier. A Banana Split for Lindsay and sea food pasta and another Banana Split but for the lieutenant. She did not eat since the morning so she was hungry. She attacked the pasta and by her face, she was like in heaven. ''HMMM! It tastes so good!''
After another bite, Victoria was curious about what Lindsay said. ''Rea.. really? Babies are made here? I never heard such thing before.'' Then, she attacked again her meal.
