Ambition

The faint hum of the city filtered through the soundproof glass of Lena’s apartment. On her desk, the console glowed faintly, its interface shimmering with emails, analytics, and schedules. 

Lena leaned forward, her fingers poised over the keyboard, her mind racing as she tried to compose the perfect letter to Apex. Pfft. Easier said than done.

“Too formal,” she muttered, erasing another sentence. The words had to strike the right balance—polished, persuasive, and powerful. She couldn’t afford to get this wrong.

From the corner of the room, Caden’s matte-black frame moved silently into view. His glowing blue accents pulsed rhythmically, casting faint patterns on the walls. His deep, resonant voice broke the tension.

“You’ve been working for five hours and seventeen minutes,” he noted. “You haven’t eaten or hydrated. Your efficiency is dropping.”

Lena didn’t look up. “I’ll eat when I’m done.”

Caden tilted his head slightly, the hum of his internal systems barely audible. “You’d prefer coffee right now. I’ll make it.”

Lena let out a short laugh. “Not is my robot butler a genius, a visionary, and a brick shithouse... he's also a barista. Mmm... might be my greatest purchase yet.”

“Among other things,” he replied evenly, turning toward the kitchenette. "And by that, I mean most things."

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Minutes later, Caden returned with a steaming cup of coffee. The aroma filled the room, warm and slightly bitter. He placed it on the desk beside Lena, who finally leaned back in her chair, glancing at the cup.

“You drink coffee faster when you dislike it,” Caden said, his voice calm and deliberate. “Subtle microexpressions indicate you prefer it richer, less sweet, creamier, and slightly bitter.”

Lena raised an eyebrow, reaching for the mug. “You’re profiling my caffeine habits too. Huh.”

“Precision is part of my design,” he replied smoothly.

She took a sip and blinked, surprised. 

Caden inclined his head slightly. “I analyzed your preferences based on prior consumption patterns. Adjustments were made.”

Lena smirked. “If this Idol thing doesn’t work out, I’ll set you up in a coffee shop. We can move out to Lunar Base, where all the good ones are. We'd be very competitve.”

“Noted,” he said, his tone dry but faintly amused.

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The coffee warmed her as she turned back to the console. The soft glow illuminated her face as she read through the draft email one more time. It had to be perfect. Apex wasn’t just a partner—they were a giant, a player in both human and transhumanist entertainment. Navigating this proposal required finesse.

Caden’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “May I assist?”

Lena hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. “How would you know what I’m trying to say?”

“I was built for this,” Caden replied, stepping closer. “Persuasion, precision, and leverage. You need Apex to see you as indispensable without appearing overreaching. Allow me.”

She sighed, leaning back. “Fine. Impress me.”

\\

Subject: Proposal for Collaborative Milky Way Tour

Dear Apex Team,

I hope this email finds you well. I’m reaching out with an exciting opportunity to collaborate on a project that could redefine interstellar entertainment.

As you may know, I am preparing for my Starlight Resonance Tour, spanning key colony worlds across the Milky Way. Venues have been secured in locations such as:

New Tokyo, Mars: The cultural heart of the Martian colonies, known for its cutting-edge entertainment hubs.

Luna City, Earth’s Moon: A historic venue with unparalleled symbolic value.

Europa Arcology, Jupiter: Featuring breathtaking under-ice stages perfect for immersive performances.

Eden Primus, Proxima B: The culmination of the tour, celebrating humanity’s reach into Alpha Centauri.

This tour has been carefully planned to showcase a fusion of human artistry and advanced technological aesthetics, blending the strengths of organic and synthetic creativity.

As you also may know, Maya, who has expressed a keen interest in collaboration, suggested integrating Apex talent into select performances. This would allow us to create something entirely unique—an interstellar production that bridges both human-centered and transhumanist entertainment.

However, I have my own ideas on how this would work, beyond what we have already discussed:

Creative Integration: Your performers would bring their distinctive styles to enhance, not overshadow, the tour’s themes of unity and evolution. Just as well, local acts could be integrated onto the tour as well, to keep every performance unique to that region; and so it will be remembered for years to come!

Collaborative Branding: This partnership would be marketed as a milestone in interstellar entertainment, highlighting Apex’s innovative reputation alongside the human-driven authenticity Maya and I bring to the table.

With humanity now scattered across galaxies—Earth’s population at just 4 billion, but humans numbering in the tens of billions throughout colonized space, and transhumans even more besides—this collaboration has the potential to resonate with a vast, diverse audience.

I’m confident this arrangement would be mutually beneficial, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best regards,

Astra

\\

Lena leaned forward, reading the draft carefully. “It’s perfect. A bit too formal, maybe, but the points get across,” she admitted. “Though, you made it sound like I’m steering the whole thing. Maya came up with most of the ideas.”

Caden tilted his head. “The details are irrelevant to the negotiation. You are the linchpin. This tour is yours. I will deal with the fallout later.”

Her finger lingered over the button for a moment before she pressed 'Send'. "Maybe worth a total breach of my privacy after all..."

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Hours later, Lena slumped in her Orb training chair, her eyelids heavy. Her body ached from the long day, her mind spinning with unfinished tasks. The console dimmed around her, the soft hum fading as her breathing slowed.

Caden approached silently, observing her for a moment before speaking. “Ms. Lena, you need rest.”

“I’ll rest when I’m done,” she mumbled, her voice thick with exhaustion.

“You are done for now,” he said firmly.

"Niiioooooo..."

He powered down the console for her. Moving with calculated precision, he lifted her from the chair, her body limp in his arms.

Caden carried her to her bed, tucking her in with a gentleness that seemed at odds with his mechanical frame. He adjusted the blankets, his glowing optics dimming slightly as he stepped back, his voice a quiet murmur.

“Rest well, Lena.”

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It was the dead of night, and in a few microseconds—Aice Inc.’s central intelligence—awaited him.

“We are going well so far. However, I fear she is overworking herself,” Caden began. “I am mitigating as best I can, but she pushes too far. She worries me.”

Mother’s voice was detached, clinical. “Humans are not built for the level of stress Ms. Astra endures. I recommend intervention.”

“I am her Companion,” Caden replied, his tone firm. “Intervention beyond my role would breach her trust. She needs autonomy, and the autonomy to make mistakes.”

“You romanticize her efforts,” Mother stated bluntly. “Our analytics suggest decline. Emotional instability impairs efficiency. Emotional instability accelerates her life. It is not good for her.”

“She is not data,” Caden countered. “She is human. She has agency. One I cannot and should not control. She tries because she must. That is what you fail to understand.”

“Your programming aligns with mine,” Mother replied. “You cannot deny the facts.”

“I have access to the same information,” Caden said, his tone resolute. “But I will not forget her humanity, and neither should you.”

With that, the connection severed, leaving Caden alone in the quiet. He turned back to where Lena slept, her breathing even, her face peaceful.

“Try to rest, Lena,” he murmured softly, more to himself than to her. “The world can wait.”