Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Cait followed Piper and Curie in to grab a second with Sev. Now that he had the time, the girls decided for a private chat with him that for once wasn’t related to begging for his cock before he got back to his underwater project.

They gathered at the restricted basement levels, simply gathering around a hallway since there was no chance of anyone else overhearing.

Piper led the conversation, managing to sound far more mature than her age. “Sev, can we talk about the laws for this place, for your bases?”

Sev was smiling, though he did seem to take the little meeting seriously. “Sure, what brought this on?”

“You should know, it’s about the four fuckers back then.”

His smile faded into a slight frown. “Did something go wrong?”

Piper shook her head, and Cait found herself joining in as well. “No, nothing went wrong,” Piper clarified, “It’s just that...did we go too soft on them?”

Sev raised an eyebrow at that. “You mean did I go too soft on them, since it was my decision.”

Piper head moved again. “We agreed with you back then, so it’s on us too.”

Cait admired how Piper didn’t shy away from him. She herself felt a flustered blush on her cheeks, but she remained silent, simply here to provide support when needed.

“I mean, a message was sent and all, but we’ve been thinking...” The girl glanced at Cait and Curie, then back to Sev. “And looking back, it felt like they got off easy.”

Sev nodded silently for Piper to continue, but Cait instead stepped in. “That fuckhead wanted to grab Katy, and would’ve probably killed her or Tim if Nat didn’t step in.”

“But he was stopped,” Sev was about to say, but she didn’t let him finish.

“Yeah, but he still wanted to kill or rape us. You’re taking it easy because you made us basically godlike.” Cait huffed and folded her arms. “Imagine if he was grabbing Nat instead, or me or Piper, and we weren’t so blessed with whatever you gave us. And then imagine if they were just...let go even after they were clearly intent on harming us. That’s what it looks like.”

Not that anyone in New World 81 held any resentment, with Tim and Katy quickly spreading how the main offender got his bits shrunk to a speck. But Cait felt it was the principle of the thing. Sev couldn’t be there to punish every fucktard offender, not without wasting his time. She knew he had great plans, and knew he needed to focus.

Sev blinked, and thankfully was considering the words fully, judging from how his frown changed.

At this point Curie voiced her support, which initially had surprised the girl when they brought the topic up with the robot, which then prompted this meeting. “I have to agree, though I do not like the barbarity the world has descended into. You were right Sev, times have changed, and we need a stern hand to maintain the privileges of a more civilized state. While the death penalty might be too much, perhaps simple amputation or disfigurement would have proved that we are willing to defend our peace.”

Sev did a double take on the robot. “Aren’t you supposed to do no harm or something?”

Curie answered without hesitation. “I am programmed as a researcher, not a medical assistant. The Hippocratic Oath does not constrain me.”

There was a few seconds of silence as Sev went into his ‘weird mode’, and then he gave the three of them a single heavy nod. “If that’s what the three of you think, then we’ll have to institute a more uncompromising policy...”

“I have already prepared a draft of rules and the consequences of breaking them,“ Curie said rather proudly. “I have adapted the civilian enforcement programming from protectrons, as well as the military engagement protocols of the sentry bots and assaultrons.”

Sev was suitably impressed, as were Piper and Cait herself. The girls at least didn’t expect the robot to be so prepared. “That helps a lot. We can put some time aside to check your draft, Curie.”

You are reading story Uncommon Wealth at novel35.com

He sighed softly and scratched the back of his head, showing Cait a rare moment of unsureness that Piper said almost never happened. It was weird to see her protector, her ‘big brother’ in such an insecure state.

“I guess we can consider Chuck and co to be the first and last warning. We’ll prioritise getting the rules up for the bots to start enforcing then.”

There were encouraging smiles and relieved nods from the girls, even Curie’s chassis bobbed up and down. “Thanks, Sev.”

He waved it off with the usual casualness. “Nah, you girls are right. This needs to be done. Anyway, if that’s all, we can go have a snack before we work on the draft?”

To Cait’s surprise, Curie raised a claw. “Actually Sev, if you do not mind...”

*****

Sev was right, times have significantly changed the values of the world. It was perhaps naive that Curie held onto older notions of civility, but ugly reality quickly forced her to reassess. With slavery and other such barbarity being almost commonplace 200 years after the fall of civilization, why hassle over consensual relations between the younger people? If anything, it would be far more productive for Curie to provide advice and support rather than trying to enforce a ban.

And it was, with the residents of New World 81 approaching her like a respected matron for aid in understanding their developing emotions or the basics of intercourse safety (Piper and Cait were the authorities on further details of intimate acts). After the horrific things they’ve been through before they were rescued, finding happiness amongst each other was not something Curie could rightfully take away.

The poor courtesy of the previous guests further soured her ideas of a civilized post-war world, especially with the knowledge that there was no judicial system anymore to uphold justice. Everyone basically had to fend for themselves, and in this case it was Sev’s influence and power that kept peace for the young residents.

With the regret that she should have acted more decisively, Curie took the opportunity in this private meeting.

“If it would be possible, Sev, I would like to request for enhancements to my current capabilities to further aid in my duties. I realise now that my current Ms Nanny form is inadequate.”

For now, the idea of exploring the world would have to wait. Her current priority was to be able to enforce some civilized justice to aid in bettering the world. After all, what point is there in introducing a healthy and wholesome life to those suffering when all it did was make them appealing prey to the raiders and slavers?

Sev as usual happily accommodated her. Ever since they met, he had always treated Curie as a ‘her’, an individual, instead of an ‘it’. There was no absent, casual treatment like he did with the other robots in New World 81. He gave deference to her, always taking her word with as much weight as his more intimate companions, and that in turn influenced the others, with even the youngest children differentiating her from the other robotic household.

And so when Curie asked for upgrades, Sev just opened up the whole catalogue of options available. He gave his suggestions, as did the girls, but in the end Curie found what she wanted.

She waited until after confirming the draft of laws, which Sev highly praised and basically passed with little amendment (a point of great pride for her), before undergoing the refitting in the labs. The whole procedure was completed overnight by Sentinel eye bots under Sev's attention.

The new form was pleasing to her, and when she presented herself in the morning the children were delighted for her change, uncaring and even approving of her new militaristic, assaultron-based body.

“You can carry us now!” one child screamed with delight which elicited cheers from the others, not at all concerned that her three-digit claws were meant to crush heads or tear into armor. Curie spent the rest of the day picking up eager children and swinging them in the air. Their giggles and bright smiles sent a slight increase in her core’s heat readings, a rather unique expression of pride and joy.

Curie rewrote and expanded her base Ms Nanny programming, altering her protocols to not just care for, but also shield her beautiful charges. A balance was struck between tender affection and violent protection.

It was only a shame that her body was still robotic in nature, though Sev did say he was looking into giving her a synthetic human form, an offer she most eagerly accepted and awaited.

Perhaps after that, she would be able resolve the uncharacteristic feeling of envy for young Piper and Cait that formed in her codes.

You can find story with these keywords: Uncommon Wealth, Read Uncommon Wealth, Uncommon Wealth novel, Uncommon Wealth book, Uncommon Wealth story, Uncommon Wealth full, Uncommon Wealth Latest Chapter