Page 46 of Swept By The Alien Pirate Prince

“Before I knew better, I might argue with you on that front, but now I realize just how true that statement might be,” Silver acknowledged.

I offered a sentimental smile to Silver. “I’ve been pouring over this stuff for a while, trying to make sense of it. Maybe I should call it quits for now. Or at least take a break and move onto something else. All this stuff is starting to bleed together and make my head spin.”

“How is the progress coming with the stealth unit?” Silver asked.

I blew out a puff of air through my parted lips, then brushed a finger through my mop of auburn curls.

“To be honest, I wish the progress was a little faster.” I pointed at one of the sheets and puckered my lips with a pout. “This doesn’t help.”

“I can try my best to decode or decipher some of it,” Silver said, a note of eagerness in her voice.

I gave her an encouraging smile. “If you’re up for the challenge, it would be awesome.”

“Is this for Cyburn?” Silver asked.

“Is what for Cyburn?”

Silver gestured around the room. “All this work you are laboring over. Is it to impress him?”

I laughed. Silver didn’t have a filter setting tuned in right now to her control panel, and often times she didn’t realize the impact of what she was saying. I knew she didn’t mean it as an insult. The A.I. was genuinely curious about my motives, and about everything in general.

I’d been diligently trying to make amends with Cyburn, to impress him in any way I could, and not only maintain his trust but earn the trust of the crewmates as well.

I had a long road ahead of me. Everyone was in this sort of emotional recovery, floating along in this limbo of sorts — where progress seemed few and far between.

“Amada really did a number on the people of this ship,” I admitted.

“This is a different topic,” Silver noticed.

I nodded at her and gave her a smile of endearing chagrin. “Yep. You’re right, it is.”

There was something wholesome about Silver that drew me to her and blossomed our dynamic.

Of course, I was a sucker when it came to robots. Sometimes I felt like I could relate to robots better than I couldpeople. I was grateful to be restoring a friendship with Silver.

I chipped away at her defenses one block at a time, and I was beginning to see a difference. She came around me a lot more often, and she seemed eager to be in my company.

Little by little, she was starting to trust me more, and I knew it was because I was giving her reason to do so.

“I’m determined to make a positive,lastingimpression,” I admitted.

“On Cyburn?” Silver asked.

I chewed on my bottom lip and traced some of the words on the paper scribbled by Amada. I avoided eye contact with her on purpose. “On everybody.”

“Even me?”

“Especiallyyou,” I appeased with a gentle smile aimed in her direction.

Silver grinned. “Thank you. That makes me feel good.”

“I’m glad. It’s supposed to.”

“I think I could offer some assistance,” Silver mentioned, her voice perking, her eyes electrified with excitement.

“Oh yeah?” I turned to her and gave her my undivided attention. “Let’s hear it. I’m open to anything, really. I just want to make some headway. It’s getting frustrating just spinning in circles like this.”

“Allow me to take some of that frustration away from you,” Silver mentioned.

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