[Callisto Colony, Tesselation Center, 156 years after first contact]
She stood alone on that icy peak, as many times as she could afford to. In past days, it was an unbearably cold lookout, even after the company's terraforming efforts. But after so many late-night broodings, she had become accustomed to the weather on Jupiter's moon. Ivy only ever came there to avoid looking at her own reflection.
"You should come down from there," A robotic voice called out from behind, its feminine tone exuding patience and concern.
"I'll be fine. Go away." Ivy hissed, flipping her white braided hair behind her shoulder as she spoke.
To the caretaker's credit, the heiress had placed herself far atop the communications array, where nothing but wires, cables, and freezing concrete could be found. It was hardly a place for the most treasured daughter of Callisto. She belonged further down, in the warm expanse of the chateau, where she would be properly looked after. It wasn't so long ago when no one would bother themselves with the task of climbing up to her, making Ivy feel even angrier as a result. But ever since that *thing* had been tasked with her life, she had nowhere to run.
"Come now, let's not be broody," a metallic endoskeleton responded as it clambered up towards Ivy with alarming speed, its bare face remaining stiff as it spoke. "Your father won't know a thing if you come now."
Ivy groaned. "He already knows. He built you."
Ivy turned around in disgust, watching as the silver endoskeleton reared its ugly head, with two wide blue eyes staring into her soul as it drew closer. She tugged on the edges of her frilled skirt, trying her best not to fling insults at the machine. It was impossible to accept its existence, even months after her father had introduced it to her.
"You're not my mother. She'd understand I need some alone time." Ivy frowned.
"Oh, but you are alone, Ivy," the endoskeleton responded in a voice indistinguishable from her mother's. "With me."
"That's the furthest thing from alone." Ivy retorted, squinting her teal-colored eyes, the fringes of their irises glimmering with red. "But if that's how things are now, then so be it."
The young heiress then scooted her way off the large cable, gracefully descending the steps of the mountain's peak as she sped away from the machine. Landing on solid ground with a clunk, she managed to balance herself before her heels gave in, smothering a whimper before it could reach her lips. Yet still, even with all that effort, the endoskeleton appeared behind her, its movement just as silent as it was relentless.
"Your form is improving, but do take care of your ankles." The machine pointed in an almost jovial manner.
"Like you care." Ivy rolled her eyes, trying not to press a finger against the small diamonds tied neatly around her neck.
"You know I do, Ivy," the machine responded as it did its best to display emotion, moving its hands and eyeplates with each word. "I understand how you feel. Your mother's departure has not been forgotten."
"So you think that makes you a replacement?" Ivy stormed off. "Just go away."
The heiress then reached for a small maintenance door that led her down towards the attic, leaving the endoskeleton standing in the snow. But with its task completed, the machine seemed hardly phased. Its daughter was no longer sitting in the cold.
____________________________________
The sound of bell chimes rang through the manor, signaling the rising tide of digitized chirps coming from outside Ivy's window. She had never really given any thought to how barren Callisto was outside her own home, nor did she care to wonder why her father had even bothered to program fake birds into the colony's soundscape. In fact, she hadn't thought about much at all, sitting aimlessly at her desk.
Ivy didn't catch a minute of sleep the night before. Occasionally, she would read about other colonies, practice her penmanship, or go through her dance routines. Yet never once did she consider touching her silky veiled bed, avoiding that side of the crystalline room out of spite. It wasn't until she felt a nudge on her foot did the heiress began to stir. Looking down to see a circular cleaning bot, she released an audible groan before pushing herself off the chair. Ivy had always known the cleaners were the first of her father's drones to arrive in the morning, and was not at all surprised when two service frames stepped into her room.
"Didn't even bother knocking?" Ivy squinted as she raised her arms. "Is my father really that worried I won't show?"
"It is an important day, M'lady," the service frames responded in tandem, their masculine voices slightly obscured by their blank faces. "Your father has called a meeting with the Emissary of The Vjetar. You must be prepared."
The two machines then got to work removing Ivy's nightgown, carefully transforming her into the attire her father had chosen. Once she was properly fitted into her laced dress, a series of ornaments were placed on her shoulders and neck, with a large brooch depicting the sigil of her father's company. She didn't hate the idea of getting pretty; in fact, the white gown made her feel quite proud, with its patterned fabric and asymmetrical openings. What she did loathe was the creatures who would be seeing her wear the ball gown once she climbed down the steps leading towards the foyer.
"Couldn't it have just been a nice boy?" Ivy complained, knowing full well her servants wouldn't listen. "A nice...*human* boy?"
"Hygiene scan complete and approved. Your father is waiting for you," the service frames nodded as they stepped aside with a subtle bow.
"I know," Ivy sighed.
Ivy stepped out of her room, feeling the crisp air of the manor on her face as she began to navigate the halls in her tight heels. With every turn, she faced another set of machine servants, their presence soiling the atmosphere of her own home. She could remember when it resembled something classy from human history, but with each stride of her father's colonial expansion, the royal Chateau had become increasingly technological, with most of its angular wooden shapes being replaced with a crystalline metallic surface.
At its prime, the old mansion resembled a large wooden cabin, with each tile of wood nearly as polished as the pearly skeleton that dotted every room with pillars and chisled outcrops. To enforce structural integrity, the entire building was centered within a frozen mountain, keeping it well hidden from Callisto's weather. Even after terreforming efforts, Ivy rarely had the chance to go outside, living her life sealed inside the Chateau.
"Watch your step, dear," the endoskeleton from the night before waved at Ivy as it pointed towards the bifurcated staircase.
"Yes...Iris." Ivy smiled, using the endoskeleton's formal name. "And thank you."
It wasn't long before the heiress finished her descent and came face to face with her father, his tall figure standing proud at the center of the room as he watched the front door. She had never known her father's real face before his transformation, and yet Ivy could still easily read the expression upon his blank mask. He was uneasy.
"You're early," the man said, his deep voice enhanced by his powerful vocabulator.
Ivy's father turned to face her, towering over her with his sleek mechanical frame, its polished white alloy providing him a simple yet formidable prescence. He, of course, made sure to establish himself as the tallest and most sophisticated frame in the manor, a trait that made Ivy almost forget what was behind his mask; that being a living human brain.
"Of course." Ivy bowed her head.
"I was expecting you to run from this, but it is good to be proven wrong."
"They're here already, aren't they?" Ivy curled her lip in disgust.
"Yes, the Vjetar are quite timely for such a recluse species."
The heiress placed a hand on her hip angrily. "Do they know anything about me?"
The tall white frame tilted its head in disapproval. "My product speaks for itself. You will show them."
"But I haven't practiced in weeks!" Ivy complained as she tried her best to remain calm.
"They can tell. And when your talent shines through regardless of your failings, they will know your character is authentic."
Ivy felt a pit in her stomach upon hearing her father's boastful words. It wouldn't be the first time she had performed for an audience of clients. Yet this time, making her father proud would result in nothing short of disaster for her personal life. No matter what action she took, the man named Algernon would have complete control over her fate.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I won't greet them at the landing pad." Algernon waved a metallic hand, its size practially large enough to fit half of Ivy's body.
"I...yes." Ivy hesitated. "I am curious."
Algernon pointed towards Ivy, his black-tinted finger nearly pressing against her nose. "The Vjetar hate wasting time; it's one of the few traits I share with them. They will meet me here, the moment they enter the Consecration."
"And that's when they take stock," Ivy muttered.
"Yes, we must be efficient with our time."
"Well?" Ivy crossed her arms, knowing full well her father could see outside the house using his network of cameras. "Any minute now."
"Seconds, actually," Algernon replied.
The proud man took one step towards Ivy, crossing the distance between the two of them with ease before fixing her posture with a careful hand.
The two oak doors leading outside swung open, revealing two strange figures nearly equal in height to Algernon. Surrounding the pair was a row of automated guards, their white chassis bearing the mark of Ivy's family. But the two aliens, whom Ivy struggled to look at, seemed completely unalarmed by their situation.
"Good time." The tallest creature spoke, a puff of mist spewing out from his reverberator. "Let us hope business goes just as well."
Hardly believing what she was witnessing, Ivy took some time to inspect her future suitors, their appearance seeming both refined and completely foreign at the same time. Each creature seemed to possess an extra set of limbs, several of which were concealed within a long furry coat. Their eyes also appeared unusually sharp, with their blue glow concealing their features. Combined with their esoteric masks and prosthetic legs that resembled something akin to a hexpod, Ivy felt a complete sense of helplessness when looking at them.