The bridge doors slid open on a soft hydraulic whisper. Immediately, a strange sense of contradictory authority struck. Something about the ship's meticulous design demanded order, yet Roy's discarded pants hung carelessly from one of the consoles, and a scattering of crumpled snack wrappers rested like debris around the edges of control panels. Mizzien hesitated just inside the threshold, uncertain if he should straighten respectfully or scold the messy inhabitant responsible.
Behind the threshold he saw the Presidroids standing with the kind of stillness that looked decorative until stared at for too long. Polished chassis, perfect spacing, and heads angled forward in patient attention gave an impression of restrained elegance. As the newcomers entered, the Presidroids subtly tightened formation, shifting positions slightly closer to the center console in silent, synchronized adjustment.
Closer to the center was Serenity's enclosure, itself a private room set within a room built for war. Its glass panels caught the bridge lights, turning them into clean reflections that danced across the enclosure's surface. Inside, Serenity sat composed, her tangled vine-form neatly shaping into the delicate silhouette of a small girl perched gracefully on the edge of a large flower petal. Below her, two smaller flowers bloomed, each holding a holographic figure—Tranquility and Harmony, quietly conversing. Holographic displays drifted leisurely past Serenity, who barely acknowledged them, absorbing their data without needing direct attention.
For Mizzien, awe landed first, followed by the realization that a legend had a face, and that face could look back.
Grifftin glanced around cautiously, shifting his shoulders uncomfortably. "There are so many damned light panels in this place. I'm half-afraid I'll break one. Or ten."
"Then don't touch them," Maelara said dryly, eyes forward. "Simple."
"I will do just that," Grifftin replied firmly. "You need not remind me again."
Moving carefully through the bridge, Siren noted how the Presidroids adjusted subtly as he walked, with every shift feeling clearly protective and purposeful. From a nearby speaker, Harmony's voice drifted into the space, warm enough to feel like a living person leaning close.
"Welcome back to the bridge, Maelara, Siren. And a first welcome to you two, Grifftin, Mizzien."
Adding a gentle undertone of humor to the conversation, Tranquility spoke up next. "Please mind the marked lanes. Wouldn't want you stepping on any of Roy's garbage."
Blinking in mild surprise, Grifftin took a moment to process the voices. "There truly are three of you. And you sound surprisingly…normal."
A short sound escaped Mizzien, halfway between a laugh and a nervous exhale. "Wait. You three really are little plant girls."
The temperature on the bridge shifted noticeably. Maelara instinctively took a half-step back. Harmony's voice tightened instantly. "A what?"
Realizing he'd touched something sensitive, Mizzien hurried to recover. "No, no, I didn't mean 'little' in a bad way—I mean, you're really there. You're actually people. It's just…it's kind of crazy."
Harmony didn't let him off so easily. "Awe is allowed," she said sharply. "Calling me a plant girl is not."
Grifftin tilted his head curiously. "Then what exactly are you?"
"We don't know for sure," Tranquility answered thoughtfully. "We only know that within this architecture are our minds and bodies. We're artificial intelligence integrated within biological forms. The figures you see on the flowers are holographic projections—"
"Hollow-what?" Mizzien interrupted, genuinely confused.
Tranquility explained gently, "Think of it like a spirit. The spirit of these flowers—that's essentially what we are. The ghosts in this machine."
Grifftin's expression tightened, slightly disturbed. "That sounds mildly horrifying."
"More like they're a salad that can aim missiles," Presidroid Hayes interjected casually.
"Stop. Talking," Harmony commanded, her voice abruptly sharp.
Presidroid Hayes straightened in an instant.
Mizzien raised both hands quickly, stammering through his apology. "Sorry—I mean, I'm sorry. Really. I didn't mean any disrespect. It just caught me off guard."
Finally, Serenity spoke up, almost bored by the unfolding drama. "Can we skip the friendly banter and get to work? Plus, you're scaring Mizzien. Roy wouldn't like that, so be nice to him."
Harmony promptly hopped from her flower, swatting Serenity lightly on the heel. Serenity grunted softly, clearly ignoring the provocation. She glanced toward Mizzien, offering a gentle wave that brought relief visibly washing over his face. Remembering himself quickly, Mizzien turned his attention purposefully toward the pulsing marker on the map display, seriousness resetting his posture.
As Siren walked slowly along the bridge, his gaze remained fixed on the Presidroids, noting their silent adjustments clearly designed for protection. "Understood," he responded evenly.
"Understood," Grifftin echoed with a firm nod.
"Understood," Mizzien said, swallowing as he forced himself to sound steady.
Harmony softened slightly toward Mizzien, her voice taking on a friendlier tone. "You're fine, Mizzien. But if you want to be useful, you can start by asking questions that aren't stupid."
Mizzien glanced again at the Presidroids' tighter formation around Serenity, something in him settling comfortably at the sight. It became clear to him just how valuable these three were to Roy, more valuable than he imagined he even was to himself. When Serenity caught his eye again, she noticed how his stance had shifted subtly. He'd subconsciously placed himself within their security detail, quietly committing that he, too, would kill anything that dared approach.