I Know Kung Fu
After that, there was an awkward tension between us. I really didn't talk much, and Gilda eventually left the simulation. She probably knew I needed some space to work out how I felt about finding out other humans had been abducted, even if it was the only way for those kids to live.
More and more, I'd become aware of my difference in values from my companions. I really didn't think any of them were bad people. But their ideas of how a person should act were fundamentally different from how I was raised. Sure, things seemed to work out for Gilda so far, but it wasn't always going to be that way. I was worried that sooner or later, she was gonna cross a line that she couldn't come back from.
I didn't want to become an enemy to any of them, but there wasn't any guarantee that wouldn't become the case. This situation with the kids was just the latest example. Out here, it seemed like my human ideas about morality were going to be an issue. However, I could set that aside for now. For the time being, I needed to put my focus on surviving the inevitable Demon Lord attack.
When it came to the battle, my mind kept going to extremes, coming up with either really small or really big solutions. An example of really small solutions would be something like a virus that we could release on the attacking ship. An example of really big solutions would be things like using the engine core as a makeshift nuke to blow them up. Honestly, it seemed like most of my ideas were coming from movies. Maybe I wasn't very good at stuff like this.
Also, part of me wanted to avoid violence. There was a nagging doubt that I might be able to convert enemies into allies, just like I had with Millie and Cordelia. It wasn't impossible, but Gilda and I nearly died in the process of fighting off that attack. By all accounts, we should be expecting an even more intense battle next time.
After the sun went down, I tried to lie down and look up at the stars like I had so often on Earth. The night sounds were so familiar, a coyote barking in the distance, chirping of crickets, the wind rustling through leaves. I should have found it relaxing, but instead, it all just felt so fake that I lost interest. I even started to think that I would have enjoyed myself more if Gilda was still here.
Maybe that was the truth. Gilda, for all her faults, was real. This was all just an elaborate illusion. Probably, somewhere in the back of my mind, I secretly felt like a painful reality was better than a painless fantasy. Either way, I wasn't getting anywhere thinking by myself, so I decided to log out of the simulation.
Once I came out, I found myself alone on top of my bed. I absentmindedly put my hand out to touch the side of the bed Gilda had been lying on. After trying and failing to come to any conclusions about how I really felt, I decided to just get up. I was only in the simulation for about an hour, real-time, so I wasn't sure if Millie and Cordelia would be done getting their technological upgrades yet.
After I left my room, I found Gilda watching over both of them. They looked like they were sleeping peacefully, and I couldn't see any evidence of the surgery. The technology used by Gilda's people was definitely user friendly and magical in its own way. That brought something to mind.
"Hey, Gilda..."
"Hello, Willie. They are currently recovering and should be awake soon. Please remember, there will be a period of acclimation to the technology, where it will be necessary to keep them from becoming overly emotional."
"Okay. I'll try and be nice to Cordelia for a little while then... But that's not what I wanted to ask."
"Oh? What do you want to know then?"
"I already know your people are part of the Alliance, but you never mentioned what you call yourselves. I mean, we call ourselves humans, so what do your people call themselves?"
"It is difficult to convey accurately because the translation function will automatically translate it to the direct meaning, which is 'the people of the world."
"The people of the world? That is a pretty utilitarian name."
"Well, yes. But bear in mind that 'earthling' also translates to something very close. A more accurate way of expressing it may be homo sapiens. However, that directly translates to rational man. As you can see, when dealing with translation, general naming can be difficult. Specific names are often much more direct to communicate because they are not translated at all."
"Yeah, I don't have much experience with different languages, so maybe I don't understand stuff like that very well."
"For the sake of ease, I can tell you that your people referred to my people as 'the Nordics."
"You mean like Vikings?"
"No, though yes, in a way. It was a comparative designation. The name was meant to describe how the humans that we came into contact with interpreted our appearance. More often than not, it is easier to just use the human equivalent name for a race. Much like there is another technological alien species humanity came to refer to as 'the Greys."
"Wait. Are you telling me those little grey aliens are real? Are they part of the Alliance too?"
She frowned slightly. I could tell she wasn't a big fan of the Greys.
"No. The Greys are ruled by a hive mind that is only interested in the accumulation of data. They believe that only information is real and pursue it with relentless zeal. They have no interest in the affairs of other beings and see us only as subjects to study, rather than allies or enemies."
"So, they don't fight the Demon Lords?"
"No. The Demon Lords are primarily interested in magical worlds. The Greys are content to watch those worlds fall to the Demons Lords without getting involved. Perhaps they see it as just another interesting event to study. On the other hand, we have long-standing relationships with many of those types of worlds. So we have made every effort to assist and defend them."
Cordelia started to wake up, so I walked over next to her. I leaned in to peer at her face with a smile.
"How do you feel, Cordie?"
"I know Kung Fu... "
I had a bit of fun reenacting a scene from a famous movie, so I chuckled while she got a little irritated.
"Wait. What? Why the hell did I say that?"
"Sorry, it's an Earth thing. I had Gilda put it in the startup sequence for a laugh."
She was still coming to, but she shot me an irritated look with her cheeks puffed out.
"If you knew what was good for you, you'd refrain from laughing at the expense of the future ruler of the galaxy."
"Yes. I'm very sorry, Your Majesty."
She looked pleased with that response. While nearby, Millie was beginning to stir as well.
