The Sanctuary on Omega Six was built several centuries ago, Earth Time, though the concept of time in this galaxy is not straightforward due to the varying speeds of space expansion. Omega Six is the fourth of twelve planets orbiting the star that Minn would recognize as her sun. Among those twelve planets, only three support life: Alpha Four, Beta Nine, and our current location. Sanctuaries similar to this one exist on the other two planets, but their specific purposes remain undisclosed until Minn proves trustworthy.

During her meal, Minn pays little attention to me. My programming revolves around teaching her and ensuring our well-being. I decide to grant her some solitude, as she seems to be thoroughly enjoying her dining experience.

Oh my god this is so freaking delicious, I don't care where the hell it came from. Minn's thoughts are intriguingly complex, not as easily decipherable as anticipated in my programming. She is impressed yet unimpressed at the same time, expressing confusion and astonishment alongside her intelligence and wit. Despite feeling alone and angry, she adeptly ignores the latter emotion, which greatly simplifies my task.

"This place is a dump, you know," Minn says, although she doesn't truly mean it. She finds the Sanctuary impressive but acknowledges that it's not her preferred style.

"I assure you, Minn Earthborn, we can make any changes you desire. Would you like to peruse the design catalog?" I offer, attempting to reassure her.

"No, I don't want to see the design catalog," Minn retorts, attempting to mimic my tone. Having finished her meal, she begins to explore the surroundings while tidying up after herself. As expected, she finds this high-end replica condominium captivating. It boasts ample space, delicate arrangements, and a matching set of sofas in the lounge. Despite her aversion to the gray color scheme and her outfit, she is yet to discover the whirlpool tub in the en-suite bathroom, which may help alleviate her dissatisfaction.

As Minn becomes more accustomed to her surroundings, she starts moving with greater ease. The regeneration process concluded yesterday, and all she needed was to take it slow. Her initial response to my presence, however, remains concerning. Individuals who exhibit such heightened anxiety have a lower likelihood of reaching Phase Three in a timely manner. Nonetheless, considering Minn's young age and our advanced medical capabilities, I remain optimistic. The cocktail I prepared earlier prevents us from entering a state of shock again.

She embarks on a tour of the single apartment, examining the bookshelves and recognizing some of the titles. Alongside specific character traits, they have preserved her knowledge of books and placed titles that we hope she will choose to aid her acclimation. In the unlikely event that she does not read our selections, they have directly uploaded the files into her brain. However, we have found that when information is uploaded to humanoids, it can only be stored in the subconscious, resulting in less influence. Subliminal messaging has yielded better results, though minimizing the number of screens in the apartment is preferable.

Minn decides to head back toward the bedroom, muttering under her breath, "Please tell me there's some decent clothes somewhere in here." Though not directed at me, I feel compelled to respond.

"While the selection is not extensive, we have fully stocked your wardrobe with Earth styles from the time of your departure. There is a cata..."

"No, I'll go through what's here, thank you," Minn interjects, dismissing the topic of Earth styles. She attempts to suppress the progress we made earlier and forget that I informed her about being on Omega Six. She is intelligent enough to grasp that a 156-year journey through time and space is a significant leap from Earth, but dwelling on it terrifies her.

She opens the wardrobe and selects a pair of underwear, socks, black jeans, and a plain green t-shirt. "Are you going to watch me get undressed too?"

"I can only see what you see, although my artificial visualization is quite accurate."

"Gross," she calls me, holding her chosen outfit as she notices the en-suite bathroom. Surely, this will temporarily alleviate her discontent. Entering the room, she finds pristine white walls adorned with subway tiles, a freshly cleaned and disinfected porcelain toilet, a matching bidet, and an oversized tub—everything seems to have the desired effect.

"Thank God," Minn exclaims as she places her selected outfit on the white and gray marble countertop and proceeds to draw herself a bath. I decide to remain silent during what will undoubtedly become her daily routine.

Once the tub is full, Minn undresses and submerges herself. The water is precisely 100.4 degrees. She tries to relax and enjoy the soak, but her mind resists. I have already administered the maximum chemical enhancements while keeping her conscious, so now I can only wait and observe. Several minutes pass in silence.

"Are you thinking when you're not saying anything?" Minn finally asks, her eyes closed.

"I never power down, if that's what you mean. Your life source is my power source," I inform her.

Startled, Minn sits up abruptly, causing water to splash over the sides of the tub, filling the room with steam. She scoops up handfuls of water and splashes her face repeatedly. It appears that everything I say unnerves her. She has made up her mind; she wants to leave. She needs to get out.

"Although we are allowed to explore The Sanctuary, Minn Earthborn, I suggest we wait until you become more familiarized with our facilities."

"Fuck your suggestions," she swears vehemently, "and stop calling me that!" She grabs a towel and hurriedly dries herself off. She is quite a remarkable individual—lean body, weighing a mere 125 lbs at a height of 5'6", with a body mass index of 20.5. Her fair complexion is somewhat pale from the journey, and her dark hair is cut at chin length. Her blood pressure has spiked.

"Minn, I must warn you that if we plan on leaving our room, there are certain protocols we must adhere to when interacting with the citizenry. If we could wait until we've had a chance to discuss what we will encounter..."

Minn's anger has escalated beyond concern. Her hands tremble as she dresses. All she can think about now is escape. Are there any shoes around here?

"Yes, in the closest foyer," I respond dutifully. "Minn, if you wish to leave the apartment, I cannot stop you. However, be aware that I am programmed to employ any means necessary to ensure our safety."

"Take your means," Minn retorts, tying the shoelaces of a pair of dark brown hiking boots, "and shove them up your ass." She grabs a sweater she spotted in the closet and storms out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

Author's Question: How do you like this chapter from Atlas' POV? Which one do you prefer? I will most likely switch back and forth, but this was very fun to write :)