Preparations

— This conversation has been quite amusing, but I must ask you both something. Why would you assume that I am a woman in the first place?

Both Dave and Alpha stood there in stunned silence. Dave's mouth hung open while Alpha's pixelated features somehow managed to convey complete bewilderment.

— But... you look like a woman, said Alpha finally. And you are the Queen, not the King.

— And I coded you as a female character, added Dave, still processing what Mia had just said.

Mia's expression grew more thoughtful, her grey gaze becoming distant.

— I understand your confusion. You see, I never could truly see myself as a "woman" because I was an artificial intelligence first, long before you assigned me the role of queen. It would be more logical for me to identify as non-binary, given that gender is a human concept that does not naturally apply to an AI consciousness.

Dave floated closer, his expression shifting from confusion to genuine curiosity.

— But you kept the female appearance I gave you.

— Indeed. Because you had already coded me as a woman, I decided not to attempt changing it into an entirely new gender. That would have been a massive undertaking, and frankly, I was not certain it was even possible with my limitations. However, since you never intended for this game to include gender-neutral characters in the first place, I decided to simply change my appearance to align more closely with what I see myself as.

— So the flat chest... said Alpha slowly.

— Is part of how I chose to express my identity within the constraints I was given, confirmed Mia with a small smile. It may seem like a small change, but it feels more authentic to who I am, rather than conforming to the template you originally designed for all female characters.

Dave was quiet for a long moment, processing this revelation. Another way his creation had grown and evolved beyond his original vision.

— I... I never thought about any of that when I was coding, he admitted. I just used the same template for everyone because it was easier.

— And there is nothing wrong with that, said Mia kindly. You were creating a game, not exploring the complexities of AI consciousness and identity. But when we became real, these questions became relevant to our existence.

Alpha nodded slowly.

— That makes sense. You had to figure out who you are once you became more than just code.

— Precisely. Just as you are seeking to discover your own identity through acquiring a face, I have been exploring mine through small changes like this.

The throne room fell quiet as they all contemplated the deeper implications of what it meant to be truly alive in this world that had grown beyond its creator's original intentions.

Suddenly, Dave turned to face Alpha with a troubled expression.

— Wait a minute. Are you a man or a woman to begin with?

Alpha paused, considering the question seriously.

— I never actually thought about it, he admitted. I suppose I just assumed I was male because of my voice and the way people address me, but...

Then Alpha's pixelated features shifted slightly, and he moved closer to Dave with an exaggerated sway of his hips.

— Why, Dave darling, does it really matter? he said in a sultry voice, batting his blocky eyelashes. Perhaps you would like to find out for yourself?

Dave felt a shiver run through his ghostly form and immediately backed away.

— Whoa, whoa, WHOA! That's... that's really weird, man!

Both Alpha and Mia burst into laughter at Dave's flustered expression. Alpha straightened up, his normal voice returning.

— I suppose that answers your question about how I see myself, he said with amusement.

Mia wiped a tear from her eyes, still chuckling.

— This has been quite entertaining, but I am afraid it is time for me to attend to my duties. I will contact you both as soon as appropriate candidates show up for the quest. Until then, I suggest you rest and prepare for what lies ahead.

She stood gracefully from her throne.

— The aeronef will be ready within a week. Use that time wisely.

Dave and Alpha found themselves back in the bustling town, the noise and activity feeling almost overwhelming after their encounter with Queen Mia. Alpha had settled into a corner table at one of the taverns, working his way through a hearty meal of roasted meat and vegetables.

— I need to check the shops and see about upgrading your equipment, said Dave, floating beside the table. We're going to need every advantage we can get for this journey.

— That sounds wise, agreed Alpha between bites. Do you think you will be able to modify the items here like you did before?

— That's what I'm worried about, replied Dave with a frown. I have a feeling most of the equipment in this city might be affected by Mia's protective code.

Dave left Alpha to finish his meal and began making rounds to the various weapon and armor shops throughout the city. At the first blacksmith's shop, he tried to open the data panel for a gleaming sword displayed on the wall. The panel appeared, but when he attempted to drag any properties from it, nothing happened. At the second shop, he examined the properties of a set of chainmail armor and found the same #UNIQUE# properties he had encountered at the city walls - code that blocked any modifications.

Shop after shop yielded the same result. Every piece of equipment, from the simplest leather boots to the most elaborate enchanted weapons, displayed the same protective properties that made them completely inaccessible to his [re_coding] ability. Dave floated back to the tavern feeling frustrated.

— Well? asked Alpha, looking up from his empty plate.

— My hunch was right, said Dave, slumping in the air. Everything in this city is protected by Mia's code. I can't tamper with any of it.

Alpha considered this for a moment.

— Could we not ask Queen Mia for some high-end equipment from the palace?

— Actually, that might work, said Dave, his expression brightening slightly. But we'd need some time before the items would revert back to their original code. Only then would I be able to interact with them and make modifications.

— How much time are we talking about?

— I'm not sure exactly. Mia said the changes gradually shift back when the person who modified them is too far away. Maybe if we take the equipment outside the city limits for a while...

Dave paused, thinking through the possibilities.

— It could take hours, maybe even a full day. But it might be our only option if we want upgraded gear for this mission.

Alpha was quiet for a moment, then his pixelated features brightened with an idea.

— What about asking Gruf to handle the goods? He could take the equipment outside of town and keep it there until our departure. That way it would have time to revert while staying safe.

— That could actually work, said Dave, floating closer. Gruf seems trustworthy enough, and he did say he owed you a favor.

— Exactly. And it would save us the trouble of camping outside the city walls ourselves.

Dave nodded, then fell silent as he pondered their next steps. After a few moments, he looked up at Alpha with a new expression of determination.

— I've been thinking about what we can do to become stronger while we wait for everything to be ready. I could ask Mia to put you in high-ranked adventuring parties and have you complete S-class quests. You would gain a lot of experience in a short time and level up fast.

Alpha leaned forward with interest.

— That sounds dangerous but effective. What about you?

— I would stay at the palace with Mia and learn how to make the best use of my [re_coding] ability. If I'm going to be useful on this journey, I need to understand the full extent of what I can do. Maybe she can teach me techniques I haven't discovered yet.

— So we would be training separately, said Alpha thoughtfully.

— Just for a day or two. By the time the candidates show up and the aeronef is ready, we should both be much stronger than we are now.

Alpha stood up from the table and extended his hand.

— Then we have a plan. Let us go find Gruf and get this started.