Home again. Arrival back at the ship

Helix, you go help Florence with the repairs.

What are you going to do?

Me? I'm going to watch T.V. and eat popcorn.

Hey, somebody's got to keep tradition alive.

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

This is going to be fun, Helix. You and I really haven't worked together before.

As well as fixing the port engine, we'll have the chance to talk and get to know each other.

I was here before you were. You're just hired help. Sam is MY friend, not yours.

Oh, yes. This is definitely going to be fun.

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

You just remember who's number two in charge around here.

Before me, it was just you and Sam, right? Just a couple of guys with him in charge?

That's right.

Then it's obvious. That makes Sam the alpha male, you the beta male, and myself the alpha female.

I outrank you, Helix.

Drat. I was hoping she wasn't familiar with the chain of command.

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

Helix, why are you acting like this? What's wrong?

Before you got here, Sam and I always watched T.V. together.

You think I'm getting between you two?

That's part of it.

And the other part?

We're repairing the coolant loop of a nuclear fusion reactor. This is women's work!

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

Repairing a reactor is woman's work?

Yep. Sam told me so.

Really? What else does he consider woman's work?

Basically everything except for eating, fishing and driving.

How convenient for Sam.

Before you came, it was “robot's work”.

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

Sam is going to …uhm… eat all your food! Bet you want to leave now, right?

No.

Would you like to look at Sam's computer records?

Already have.

What? You know what Sam's really like and you're still going to stay?

That's right.

Uh, Oh. I've heard about mad dogs, but this is the first time I've ever actually seen one.

SHIELD BLOCK 01

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

If you know Sam's not a good boss, why are you staying?

Helix, have you ever heard the Japanese fable of “The Loyal Samurai”?

Does he fight with Godzilla and Rodan over Tokyo?

No.

Then I haven't heard of it. I'm only familiar with classic Japanese folklore.

Rodan – is a giant pterodactyl character in the Godzilla films.

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

In the fable, there was a loyal samurai whose lord was cruel and beat him.

Another lord was impressed by the samurai's loyalty and offered him a position in his house, but the samurai refused.

“If I go with you” the samurai said, “who will take care of my master? Who would protect him and tend to his house?”

And so the loyal samurai returned to the lord who beat him.

Are you sure he wasn't just a masochist?

It seems that it was not about military leaders, but about daimyo – something like landowning governors with great power (Robot Spike)

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

You're missing the point of the fable.

“The Loyal Samurai” shows us it is easy to serve a good master. The true test of loyalty comes in serving a bad one.

Oh.

So what's this got to do with Sam?

*sigh* Never mind, Helix.

Repairs on the port fusion engine begin. How much trouble can it be to replace a section of pipe?

Wait a minute. You mean you're going to be loyal to Sam and stick to him no matter what?

Yes.

Even if someone else offers you a better job or more money?

That's right.

It's when she says things like that I realize how far from human she really is.