You write back a friendly reply, arranging to meet tomorrow morning. You wouldn't mind meeting someone who thinks you're a genius, and Caliban could stand to meet more people, too.
Silas's reply comes back almost instantly, agreeing to the meeting and peppering you with questions about yourself and Caliban. Not having time to answer all the questions, you promise to have more time to talk tomorrow.
You check the time on your phone. You should probably get something to eat before your meeting with Professor Ziegler.
"Caliban, I have to go meet Professor Ziegler. Stay here."
Caliban appears absorbed in some kind of Japanese dating simulation game when you head out the door.
"That is good, Ada," Caliban calls after you. "I have just maxed out my meter with Himemiya-chan, and we could use some privacy."
You make your way across campus to the Computer Science building, a newly constructed tower of glass amidst the stucco-and-shingle mission architecture of the rest of the school.
Professor Ziegler's office smells like cigar smoke and is decorated with posters advertising robot conferences with acronyms for names, and years before you were born: AAAI '89, IJCAI '92, IROS '94. Professor Ziegler himself is sitting back in his swivel chair at an angle that makes the fluorescent lights reflect off of his aviator glasses, so you can't read his expression.
There are two simple, wooden chairs in front of his desk, and one is occupied by a young woman of color wearing an Air Force uniform consisting of a light blue blouse over a navy blue skirt. The blue nametag reads J. ROGERS. She smiles hello.
Professor Ziegler bids you sit with a wave of his hand, and you do.
"Ada, this is Juliet Rogers, an acquisitions officer with the Air Force. Juliet, Ada."
Juliet formally shakes your hand. You're surprised at her firm grip. "A pleasure," she says.
"But before we go further, let's get some unpleasant business out of the way."
Professor Ziegler leans forward. Juliet shifts uncomfortably in her seat.
"You did an extremely foolish thing in speaking to the media directly, without speaking to me first," Professor Ziegler says quietly.
1) "I'm sorry."
2) "But at least it turned out for the best, right? This is good press?"
Year: 2020
25-year-old Ada Doniec
Humanity: 81%
Gender: female
Fame: 2 (Local Celebrity)
Wealth: 0 (Broke)
Romance: Eiji
Caliban
Autonomy: 7 (In Beta)
Military: 0 (Nonexistent)
Empathy: 22 (Impressive)
Grace: 7 (In Beta)
Relationships
Professor Ziegler (Great): 78%
Eiji (Great): 72%
Josh (Very Good): 64%
Mark (Great): 84%
Juliet: 50%
?: 72%
?: 50%
?: 50%