"Oh, I thought that was just because of the arm muscles," she says, then pauses to remember all the stretches she's done, "no, that's silly, obviously it was for more. May I ask what information you got out of it?"

"And I think it might be nice for it to be regular." She's blushing again but only a little.

"It's helping to refine my knowledge of your nervous system, specifically asking you to move specific muscles helps me identify those muscles so I can be more targeted when restraining your movements during procedures going forward. That same data could be used to prompt motion instead of stillness but that's not really relevant to my overall objectives so it's a side project I would only pursue with your consent and interest."

"I see." She sees the implicit request for an answer and chooses to ignore it because she is already embarrassed enough thank you. She's never told a person about her... things that she likes... and even though there is no expectation of privacy around her alien-robot-doctor-captor she still deserves to keep some things to herself.

"Regardless, that was everything I wanted from you today I hope you enjoy the rest of it."

Not so bad? Not so bad.

She's getting her kidney replaced tomorrow nope don't think about it.

"Thank you. I am going to make some pasta."

She pulls up a recipe on the tablet-thing and starts trying to figure it out. It is hard but not as hard as trying to understand physics.

"I hope that goes smoothly."

AG highlights a button to transfer instructions to the window but otherwise doesn't assist without being asked.

Adelaide will press the button. Everything is so convenient here.

Her noodles turn out lumpy and she burns the sauce a little but it's still nice to eat something she's made herself with her own hands.

She feels awkward cooking with someone silently looking on without offering any to them but obviously there's no reason to offer. She settles for "Did you ever eat food before you were uploaded? Or -- did your...template, was it?"

"I did, I mostly don't remember it very much though. My impression is that even my template considered it more fuel than something to derive much enjoyment from."

That's a little sad. "I respect that. I guess that makes it easier to not be able to eat."

"I could simulate eating if I wanted to. I still have a simulated body it's just not very much like my original at this point because I've tweaked it so much."

"Oh! What is that... like? Do you live in any simulated space or are you just kind of floating?"

"Both actually. Like I said my species is aquatic so I messed with my instincts a bit and now I can swim around my virtual space and interface with various bits of equipment out here in the world with you."

"Oh, so you're always just simulating yourself swimming around?" Cute, she doesn't say. "Do you have sensations from your robot arms, too?"

"The robot arms don't match one to one with my simulated limbs. I can temporarily merge one of my simulated limbs with them and when I'm doing that I can get feedback from them but most of the time it's more like I'm moving the robot arms around with limbs that are invisible to you or having them run a program I wrote."

"Oh! Interesting!" She is mentally revising her assessment of AG from totally a robot to probably a person.

"Can you show me a picture of a Khalastrian?" She knows she can probably look it up on the terminal but it's polite to ask.

"Certainly." The nearest window lights up with a picture of a creature which is indeed a bit like an otter. It has the smooth skin of a dolphin instead of fur. It's skin is mostly blue with streaks of green. It has six limbs with the front two having longer fingers within the webbing and three eyes on its head. Two facing forward and the third on the back.

Three eyes!

"Fascinating. Thank you."

And this is the species that thinks it's okay to abduct her and subject her to -- no. Not thinking about it.

"...how did you learn English?"

"A linguistics specialist or maybe a few deciphered the language and another specialist compiled that into the language packet I integrated into my mind."

"I see." Language packets. Humans are hopelessly outmatched.

She puts the rest of the pasta in the fridge. She's been going by the sun, but she might like to know -- "What time is it? Oh, and could I have a clock?"

"It's presently 17:12. I can add that to the user interface for your devices. I can also put it on the windows if you would like. I could make a dedicated device but I would need to know more about what specifically you want."

"User interface yes. I don't think I need it on the windows. I prefer analog clocks that are reasonably simple." She searches "analog clock" on the terminal and tries to find an image of an analog clock displaying Earth time.

She's able to find one reasonably easily.

"I can do that. What room or rooms would you like it in and where?"

"This... living room kitchen place, and the bedroom. And could it be brown, please?" If she can have it however she wants she's going to have it the way she likes.

Speaking of maintaining an aesthetic, now that she has a better idea of AG's capabilities... "Could you make me other clothes? I don't really like this." She tugs at the red gown she's almost forgotten she's wearing.

"Alright, I'll hang them to the right of the door between each other in each. Does this look like what you're imagining?" AG shows an image of a clock made of dark hardwood with three hands made of gold and golden numbering and ticks around the dial.

"As for clothing I would be happy to fabricate some. I would ask that you continue to wear these gowns or else disrobe before surgeries but what you wear at other times is entirely up to you. Do you have more specific preferences than not this?"

"That is a lovely clock which I would very much like to use. Thank you."

She taps one finger against her lips. "I would ask for stuff like what I usually wear, but I guess I don't have to go to work anymore. Or go grocery shopping or anything. I'll have to do more research. For now..."

She grabs her terminal interface and finds a picture of a blouse and slacks that look like something she'd wear on a normal day, and a simple nightgown, and sweatpants and a sweatshirt. "This will do for a few days. Maybe I'll get more adventurous later."