Space Royalty 5
Eight had been pretty quiet since splitting up with itself. Not that Sage really knew how to judge how quiet an alien nanomachine should be.
In the meantime, Sage researched. He memorized the list of alien races in their quadrant. He read over short descriptions of each one and their tech. He dug up a history of the galaxy and forgotten races from a download someone had made from the galactic 'net. One prominent creator of the highest technology were the Precursors, who had wandered the galaxy leaving interesting ruins and scary weapons behind.
"I don't suppose you're a precursor artifact?"
It seemed unlikely, because precursor artifacts were more along the lines of the most scary power armor in the galaxy, but it's not like any of the other races fit. Mysterious nanotech artifact of opaque design and purpose did actually scream precursor. It also, apparently, screamed 'leave it alone and call your local authorities.'
Sage had some very clear ideas about calling his local authorities and the Guild, which he was happy Colleen hadn't made him have a big argument about. He was staying far away from all of that.
It's not like Eight was doing anything except watching him read.
"Sorry if you're bored," he told the black sphere sitting in a cozy towel nest on his desk. It was a lot more adorably pocket-sized now that it had split in half and gone to hang out with Colleen as well.
I am not bored. It is interesting to learn about different alien races. Is this a particular interest of yours?
"You've got me interested in computers and technology, and all the good tech is alien. Ours is a mix of dark age stuff and clumsy reverse-engineering."
And your reverse-engineering would not be clumsy?
"I'm a long way from any engineering right now. I'd settle for being able to identify a gun or type of sword, and... I don't know."
The first step of learning computers?
"I know how to type and use programs. I guess programming would be the next step."
It would be convenient for my assessment if you were to work on programming this week.
"Yeah? What are you assessing?"
Your current state of learning.
"Lucky for you it's a school week. You can see my dismal state of caring about English Literature."
Language skills are not necessary for an interest in technology and computers?
"I can tell you're being sarcastic, you know. It's just we're doing Shakespeare, and I want Romeo and Juliet to die already. Ugh."
I'm afraid I lack context for this.
Sage considered this.
"How much context do you save between, um, games?"
Not very much. I have saved social, linguistic, and geographical context about your world.
"Right."
Sage considered this some more.
"Okay. Want to look at my school's curriculum? I'm kinda sick of reading about aliens, anyway. Not that we aren't aliens to you. Anyway, want to?"
Is this school also the one your sister attends?
"Yeah. We're both in track and fencing classes, too, because she thinks we should be fit for some reason."
Physical health is a solid basis for many intellectual activities.
Sage put his head in his hands and groaned for a minute, then pulled up his school's website to show Eight what they were studying. It was pretty basic stuff, English, Math, Science, History, extracurriculars.
Which of these are you taking or have you taken?
"Standard track," Sage points it out, "Plus I'm a theatre kid, so I've taken the drama classes and a costuming one. Plus theatre."
What does theatre teach?
"Tons of stuff! Acting. Public speaking. How to fake sword fight and be dramatic and glorious. Singing - I love singing, I was in choir as a kid. Shakespeare and tragedies are the worst because his comedies are so good and we could be singing Fiddler on the Roof right now but no, we have to care about kids too stupid to live."
Tell me more.
And Sage got very distracted for a very long time, rambling on to his new friend about the pros and cons of various theatrical productions, including their possibility of having interesting fight scenes and good songs.
He ended up laying back on his bed, looking up at the plastic stars on his ceiling, tossing and catching the ball. Toss and catch. Toss and catch. Toss and catch.
In the meantime, Sage researched. He memorized the list of alien races in their quadrant. He read over short descriptions of each one and their tech. He dug up a history of the galaxy and forgotten races from a download someone had made from the galactic 'net. One prominent creator of the highest technology were the Precursors, who had wandered the galaxy leaving interesting ruins and scary weapons behind.
"I don't suppose you're a precursor artifact?"
It seemed unlikely, because precursor artifacts were more along the lines of the most scary power armor in the galaxy, but it's not like any of the other races fit. Mysterious nanotech artifact of opaque design and purpose did actually scream precursor. It also, apparently, screamed 'leave it alone and call your local authorities.'
Sage had some very clear ideas about calling his local authorities and the Guild, which he was happy Colleen hadn't made him have a big argument about. He was staying far away from all of that.
It's not like Eight was doing anything except watching him read.
"Sorry if you're bored," he told the black sphere sitting in a cozy towel nest on his desk. It was a lot more adorably pocket-sized now that it had split in half and gone to hang out with Colleen as well.
I am not bored. It is interesting to learn about different alien races. Is this a particular interest of yours?
"You've got me interested in computers and technology, and all the good tech is alien. Ours is a mix of dark age stuff and clumsy reverse-engineering."
And your reverse-engineering would not be clumsy?
"I'm a long way from any engineering right now. I'd settle for being able to identify a gun or type of sword, and... I don't know."
The first step of learning computers?
"I know how to type and use programs. I guess programming would be the next step."
It would be convenient for my assessment if you were to work on programming this week.
"Yeah? What are you assessing?"
Your current state of learning.
"Lucky for you it's a school week. You can see my dismal state of caring about English Literature."
Language skills are not necessary for an interest in technology and computers?
"I can tell you're being sarcastic, you know. It's just we're doing Shakespeare, and I want Romeo and Juliet to die already. Ugh."
I'm afraid I lack context for this.
Sage considered this.
"How much context do you save between, um, games?"
Not very much. I have saved social, linguistic, and geographical context about your world.
"Right."
Sage considered this some more.
"Okay. Want to look at my school's curriculum? I'm kinda sick of reading about aliens, anyway. Not that we aren't aliens to you. Anyway, want to?"
Is this school also the one your sister attends?
"Yeah. We're both in track and fencing classes, too, because she thinks we should be fit for some reason."
Physical health is a solid basis for many intellectual activities.
Sage put his head in his hands and groaned for a minute, then pulled up his school's website to show Eight what they were studying. It was pretty basic stuff, English, Math, Science, History, extracurriculars.
Which of these are you taking or have you taken?
"Standard track," Sage points it out, "Plus I'm a theatre kid, so I've taken the drama classes and a costuming one. Plus theatre."
What does theatre teach?
"Tons of stuff! Acting. Public speaking. How to fake sword fight and be dramatic and glorious. Singing - I love singing, I was in choir as a kid. Shakespeare and tragedies are the worst because his comedies are so good and we could be singing Fiddler on the Roof right now but no, we have to care about kids too stupid to live."
Tell me more.
And Sage got very distracted for a very long time, rambling on to his new friend about the pros and cons of various theatrical productions, including their possibility of having interesting fight scenes and good songs.
He ended up laying back on his bed, looking up at the plastic stars on his ceiling, tossing and catching the ball. Toss and catch. Toss and catch. Toss and catch.