A leader must be willing to make sacrifices for the common good, in her case the tribe. Shampoo's current lack of success had concerned the Elder, and not just in capturing the heart of Ranma Saotome, but in developing further as a warrior and potential future leader. Not that most of the current generation of Nichieju didn't seem a few bricks short of a load. (She'd decided this was evidence of too much inbreeding within the limited gene pool of the village when she'd noticed it a few years back.)
"Tell me, dear, can these female machines have children?"
"No, miss. That's normally not possible," Kumiko informed the old woman. "They're very good with children, most of them anyway, but to have children in the normal human manner requires very specialized equipment."
Cologne's disappointment briefly showed, but she cleared it. "Well, then, I manage a restaurant and could use a waitress... how very interesting."
Kumiko looked around but could detect nothing out of the ordinary.
Cologne was sure of it now. No ki but they had something else and all of these "corpses" were avidly paying attention to her every move and word. More, it was subtle but she was getting a feeling of "eagerness" as she had...
Spirits! Like Jusenkyo and some other locations, there was a certain feel to locations that had something similar to what she was getting. Well then, this was interesting indeed.
"So what of these contracts, show me the one on... that one."
Kumiko blinked as the cane jabbed out. "Uhm yes."
Cologne took the sheet and quickly went through it. A lot of legalese, but she got the gist of it. "No abuses or misuses, and if it doesn't work out the marionette can break the agreement with a full refund to the customer, they gain much of the privledges and breaks of a fully human employee, I see. Hmmmm. As close to human as they seem to be, it makes a degree of sense. What if one wanted to adopt?"
Kumiko startled at that and a few of the marionettes twitched in shock. It wasn't unknown for someone to get so attached to their android that they wanted to adopt or marry them but it was usually the result of long association.
"Well, that technically is possible, though the legal status is a little shaky at best," admitted Kumiko finally.
"What about this one," said Cologne. "Full martial arts skills downloaded and waitressing. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if she had some knowledge of Chinese cooking. There will be times when I might have to leave her in charge of the restaurant."
The unit in question went ahead and activated herself, curious and wanting to meet this ancient human.
"Very well," said Kumiko. "Perhaps you two should discuss this."
"A good idea," agreed Cologne. "I am Cologne, owner of the Nekohanten Chinese restaurant and elder of the Chinese Amazon tribe."
The unit bowed as the ancient bowed, not sure of this, but beginning to allow herself hope. "I am
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(Posted Tue, 10 Jun 2003 13:24)
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