Quoted By:
"Perhaps as a result of these difficulties, I have spent more time talking with MERRYGATE recently. She has no need for sleep, and I suspect that spending evenings hearing tales of old Earth and young Mars will remain novel for some time yet. There is a new...eagerness...to her that provokes guilt and enthusiasm in either measure. I know the reason for it:
We faced significant risk during the last engagement - a prosaic but necessary reminder of the odds facing our mission. There is a non-negligable chance that I am the last human she will ever talk to - her last living window to the novelty of human life. Best that she takes advantage of it. Best that I help her.
After a lengthy - and somewhat revealing - discussion on Martian fashion trends last night, she...updated...her avatar when I arrived in the bridge this morning. The alteration itself was relatively conservative, but the fact that she made it all was quite surprising to me. Surprising enough for the silence between us to become distinctly awkward.
"Greetings, companion..."
>COMPLIMENT?
>WAIT FOR HER TO SAY SOMETHING?
>WRITE IN?
- [UNSIGNED], EXECUTIVE AUDITOR, TRS NOVEMBER RAIN, AD. 2242, UNDATED, PERSONAL JOURNAL [RECOVERED FROM SECONDARY FILESYSTEM POST-DELETION]
