The day after Nana first tested her blaster...

Bob walked into the communal kitchen of the living area. Elise stood in front of the counter, a blender whirring in front of her. She was the only one in the room, as the others preferred to rely on the facility’s cafeteria for their meals.

“Elise, you’re coming with me to Tanifuji today. I’ve already informed Xiong Huang.”

Elise turned her head.

“Affirmative. Query: Does Commander Bob require organic refueling?”

Bob nodded his head.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Affirmative.”

Elise finished blending her breakfast, pouring the green liquid into two cups and handing one to Bob. Bob nodded and took a sip…

He nearly spat it out.

“Elise.”

“Response: What is it, Commander Bob?”

“What is this?”

“Organic fuel.”

“...is this what you’ve been eating every day?”

“Answer: Affirmative. This facility lacks a nutrient paste dispenser, so this unit improvised a solution for efficient refueling.”

“...do you like the taste of this?”

“Apologetic Response: I do not have the data for that question, Commander Bob.”

“No data?”

“Explanation: The sense of taste has been disabled as it provides inadequate tactical advantages for the amount of processing power it requires.”

Bob let out a sigh. One more thing to work on.

Back in the Tanifuji workshop, Elise lay on a table, eyes closed. Her core hummed and lit up, and her eyes opened up.

“Status Report: Maintenance cycle complete. All diagnostics returning normal. Elise ready for duty.”

Bob nodded his head.

“You have a new incognito protocol, why don’t you try it out?”

“Affirmative. Initiating Incognito Protocol.”

Elise’s headpiece and forearms began to light up, and then shimmered. Once the shimmering faded, the metal had been replaced with skin. Kanna and Klara took notes as they watched.

“Hmmm, well it won’t hold up to close scrutiny and obviously the jig is up if anyone tries to touch her. Sorry Bob, we’re still working on a more…realistic simulation.”

Bob shook his head.

“It will do for now. How’s the other project coming?”

Kanna swiped on her tablet.

“Hm, can you wait for a bit? We’re in the middle of some calibrations.”

Bob rubbed his chin for a bit then nodded.

“It’s a good opportunity then. Elise, put these on.”

Bob handed Elise a hoodie and some pants.

A few minutes later Bob and Elise left the workshop. Elise was now wearing a hoodie and pants, with her Incognito Imaging active. From afar, all her mechanical parts were now hidden.

“Elise, disable all extraneous protocols, assume non-combat scenario. Devote free processing power to organic components. Re-enable emotion processing and all organic senses.”

“Acknowledgement: Order received, executing. Query: Is this a training session for…organic processing capabilities?”

Bob nodded his head.

“You can think of it like that, if you want. Come with me.”

“Affirmative.”

The two walked along the sidewalk until they reached a local park. The two walked among the trees, Bob greeting other pedestrians as they passed by.

“Confused Query: Commander Bob, have we reached the training location yet?”

“We’re already in it.”

“Confused Query: But…this unit hasn’t received any instructions…purpose of exercise is…unclear…”

“It’s fine if you don’t understand for now. Just focus on the feedback from your organic components. Watch other people if you want. Consider it…a psychological exercise.”

“Psychological? Informative Statement: This unit has been programmed with psychological data.”

“Xiong Huang has been teaching you the difference between knowledge and experience for your combat protocols, correct?”

“Affirmative.”

“Consider this similar. You are not here to observe organic behavior. You are here to experience it with your organic components.”

“...Revelation: That seems…logical. This unit will devote efforts to data gathering.”

“...well, that will do for now.”

The two walked in silence for a bit, Elise turning her head this way and that to observe different people around the park. Eventually the two came to an ice cream truck, and Bob ordered two cones.

“Status Report: Commander Bob, this unit does not currently require refueling…”

“Just eat it.”

“Affirmative.”

Elise went and bit a huge chunk of the ice cream at once. She froze, a slight red glow to her left eye.

“Warning: Detecting potential toxic substance. Reporting minor damage to organic components.”

Bob let out a sigh.

“It’s not toxic, and the damage is just a feeling. You ate it too fast. Here, watch me.”

Elise watched as Bob licked his ice cream.

“Confused Query: Commander Bob, that method of refueling…seems inefficient.”

“Just give it a try.”

“Affirmative.”

Elise slowly brought her ice cream to her face and licked it.

“How is it?”

“Uncertain Answer: This unit…has no relevant data…sensations unclear…”

“What is the feedback from your organic components?”

“Answer: Organic components…requesting additional refueling. Reason is unclear, no nutritional deficit detected.”

Bob nodded, and went to purchase another ice cream, handing it to Elise. She stared at it as she licked it, her robotic eye blinking underneath the incognito imaging.

Bob and Elise continued their walk. Just then Bob stopped the pair, and walked off the path. He bent down, picking up a small flower.

“Here, take this.”

Elise took the flower, staring at it for a minute.

“Confused Query: Commander Bob, what is the purpose of this object? There is no data on any potential medicinal or chemical value to this plant.”

“Psychological training. Organics consider aesthetic value as well, and commonly consider that plant to have decent aesthetic value. Observe it, and consider your organic feedback.”

Elise stared at the plant a while longer. Bob let out a sigh and the two continued walking. Elise blinked at the flower a few more times, then placed it within one of her arm compartments.

"...Statement: This unit...does not comprehend. Storing for...additional observation."

As the two ended their walk and headed back towards the workshop, Bob turned to Elise.

“How do you feel?”

“Status Report: logging slightly higher levels of neurotransmitters and lower blood pressure in organic components.”

Bob let out a sigh.

“It’s a start. Elise, you can reactivate your protocols and reallocate processing power as needed. However, I would like you to leave emotions and organic senses enabled, except during real combat scenarios. That includes during the rest of your training.”

“Hesitant Warning: Commander Bob, projections report that order may interfere with this unit’s overall efficiency.”

Bob nodded.

“It will. But not everything is about efficiency.”

“Requesting Clarification: I do not understand.”

Bob just placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Eventually, you will.”

Elise stood for a moment, then slowly nodded her head.

“Acknowledgement: Order received. Reactivating protocols.”

Bob gave her a final nod, then turned to continue walking.

“We’ll repeat this training at regular intervals.”

“...Affirmative.”

NSLICE-000P ‘Elise’ status log: Scheduling additional training...registering response from organic components. Reporting slightly elevated heartbeat, increased level of neurotransmitters. Monitoring…no damage reported. Searching…cause undetermined, no threats detected in vicinity. Querying organic components…organic components are not reporting any damage or exceptions. Feedback is…positive, no obstructions to efficiency detected. Classifying phenomenon as ‘low-priority anomaly’, no response necessary. Resuming execution of Commander Bob’s orders.

When they returned back to the facility, Bob thought for a moment.

“Elise…do you have any…’organic fuel’ remaining?”

“Answer: Yes Commander Bob, a stockpile has been prepared and placed in the cold storage unit.”

“...please try it again. With taste enabled.”

“Acknowledgement: Order received.”

Elise walked over to the fridge and took out the container of green liquid. She poured herself a glass and brought it to her lips…

She froze.

“...Warning: Organic components reporting damage from toxic substance.”

Bob let out a sigh.

“Please rely on the cafeteria for your refueling from now on.”

“...affirmative.”