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[mouthshut]

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Comments

[mouthshut]

[He shifts so it's his cheek is resting on her head.]

That she's nearing the operational lifespan of an AI of her type, that's all.

[How many things is he going to throw?]

[coffeebeforescience]

I made her. She's one of mine.

[Another deep breath.]

She's what's called a "smart" AI, of course.

[mouthshut]

[He nods, that makes sense. He's pretty sure Cortana told him similar but he can't remember.]

Of course, she can do anything, right? Not programmed for one specific task.

[coffeebeforescience]

[Forgive her for what she's about to say.]

Do you know how they're created?

[mouthshut]

[He tilts his head, thinking.]

Not really, no. I've never asked.

[coffeebeforescience]

Good.

[She'll leave it at that.]

[mouthshut]

Catherine.

[No, don't leave it like that. Spill.]

[coffeebeforescience]

I broke several major laws to create Cortana, from what I'm told. I cloned myself.

[A pause.] Or I will, at least.

[mouthshut]

[Wait wait, how would that...

Well no, wait brains. They were like, the only thing to be used for that, right? If so then...]

You...[He's not sure how to take this. He's tired from earlier and just can't comprehend it.] Why?

[coffeebeforescience]

Narcissism, perhaps? I'm not entirely certain. It won't happen for another several years.

[A shrug.]

Perhaps the situation made it necessary.

[mouthshut]

[He can imagine a situation needing it, in fact he's going to just assume that and hope it's the right thing. That a situation would require an AI based on her. Yes.]

I can believe that. [He's back to resting his cheek on her head.] You know how old she is then?

[coffeebeforescience]

She is approaching rampancy.

[She thinks on this for a few moments.] If she isn't there already.

[mouthshut]

I know she is.

[He doesn't know much about AI's but he does know that.] Rampant AI's can still be helpful, especially if they care.

[coffeebeforescience]

She seems stable enough, and she saved John's life, even in that state.

[She pulls back slightly to look up at him.] I'm glad we can trust her.

[mouthshut]

[He shifts so he can look down at her, nodding.]

I am as well, otherwise things would be far more difficult. [...Okay he can't help himself.] At least she's not flirting with your Spartan.

[coffeebeforescience]

[Were Halsey from later on in her life, from after Cortana's creation, she would have said something about the AI's preference of him. But she won't.]

They care for each other a great deal. They have a partnership.

[mouthshut]

[He could say something about her preference of himself too, Catherine's. If he were older that is, considering what she does.]

They do. Which is now being done in human bodies. [This is his way of asking if them being attracted to one another is possible. She's the AI expert.]

[coffeebeforescience]

[That takes her by surprise, making her chuckle slightly.]

Sometimes I wonder if AI aren't just as human as we are. [That's a yes.] She feels anger toward me, regret, I think, as well. She is willful and strong of heart. I can see why they would make a wonderful team.

[mouthshut]

[Look, it's like them. Looking at himself and Catherine, he wouldn't be surprised if this could be a thing. He and Cortana feel a lot of things, where she and John don't.

So he just grins.]

It wouldn't surprise me, before arriving here I met one, she took me by surprise sometimes. [Okay good, he wasn't just imagining things.] I can as well, and I can see why she would feel those things. In a way I'd like to see them in action, just to see what they can do.

[coffeebeforescience]

I feel the same way. I can't believe I created something so incredible. Each AI is different, with a different personality and a different set of wants and needs. I can only imagine how they worked together, both of them willful and quick on their feet.

[She's... drifting off into her own world, suddenly. This is a nice, safe topic.]

[mouthshut]

[It is, and it is also a nice topic to casually slide in something he can't help but commenting on.]

I imagine a lot like us when we were younger.

[coffeebeforescience]

We were quite the team.

[That lump in her throat is starting to recede, and she looks somewhat content, now. Settled, at least.]

[mouthshut]

We were. Even if the entire thing was odd at the time.

[His eyes are itchy, his nose is stuffy but he's smiling a little. This is easier, safer to discuss.]

[coffeebeforescience]

[She reaches up to touch his face.]

I have no regrets.

[About getting him involved, getting him promoted, losing him for a handful of years... Coming back to him, letting herself fall for him. Even Miranda, while a mistake, isn't a regret, not truly.]

[mouthshut]

[He closes his eyes at the touch, leaning into it and finally moving his other hand down and wrapping that arm around her too.]

I don't either.

[And he opens his eyes and is being honest about it. Having her here is just reminding him why he fell for in the first place. Miranda's not a regret, them getting involved...anything involving her isn't. Just what he's done without her.]