[Backlog] Wayward Photons - Flammia & Collingway

Posted on 16 Nov 2025 @ 3:41am by Lieutenant Aev Flammia & Ensign Ryan Collingway

1,036 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: After Tarvik
Location: Security office
Timeline: Shortly after return from Tavrik

///Outside Security Office////

Now that the mission was over, Ryan spent his time focusing on secondary requests from the ship. One of them was a complaint about a flickering console in the security office. He didn't have anything more pressing to do, so he headed that way with his toolbox. He touched the chime outside of the security office, and waited.

Aev sat behind his desk, working his way through the stack of PADDs that had accumulated during his time aboard the Newton and Tavrik. Across the desk, Ignis drifted in his fox form, a small luminescent creature weaving between datapads and styluses. The AI offered a steady stream of commentary that was equal parts irrelevant and unhelpful. However, as distracting as he was, Aev found himself chuckling now and then despite his best efforts.

When the chime sounded, he glanced up, slid the current PADD aside, and fixed his attention on the door. “Enter,” he said.

Ignis tilted his glowing head toward the entrance, tail flicking with mock solemnity. “Careful, might be another report trying to reproduce.”

Aev gave him a sidelong look, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth before the door slid open.

"Lieutenant," Ryan said. Whatever else he thought of saying quickly evaporated into smoke as he stared at the fox on the table. There were a few whispered rumors from the junior officers about the Chief of Security, much like with all the senior officers. Not one of them mentioned this. "There's a..fox on your table," he said, as though Aev was somehow miraculously unaware of this.

Aev caught the ensign’s startled expression and had half a mind to pretend he couldn't see Ignis at all. The thought almost made him laugh, though he quickly chided himself for letting Ignis’s antics rub off on him. “Not quite,” he said to the ensign, then turned toward the desk. “Ignis, return to your humanoid form.”

The fox paused mid-step, giving an exaggerated sigh before shimmering upward into his humanoid projection. The light condensed into shape: tall, lean, faintly smug. “Oh, but I was just starting to win him over,” Ignis said, flashing the ensign a disarming grin. “It’s the tail. Everyone loves the tail.”

Aev exhaled slowly through his nose, unimpressed. “You are not a morale officer.”

"One is already plenty for this ship," Ryan said, though under his breath. He was fascinated by Ignis' appearance, and noticed the ring on Aev's finger. "You're the prototype AI," he said, then snapped back to reality. "Sorry, sir. I'm here to fix one of your control panels. Looks like a power source that needs replacing."

Ignis arched an eyebrow, a faint grin curving his lips. “You don’t have to apologize, Ensign. I’m flattered. Recognition is so rare outside of academic journals and whispered rumors.” He stepped aside with an elegant sweep of his hand, gesturing toward the wall panel. “By all means, replace the power source. I’d hate for our esteemed Chief to lose access to his status reports. He gets positively restless without them.”

Aev shot him a look that was equal parts warning and weary amusement.

Ignis leaned closer to Ryan, lowering his voice in mock confidence. “He sighs when he thinks no one’s listening.”

"Right," Ryan started to work, prying the panel open. "The project was the talk of the Engineering Corp. Most of the professors dreamed of the chance to examine one in person, although the technology I assume is pretty advanced even for them. I didn't realize there was one here. What is it like, if you don't mind me asking?" He couldn't help but ask.

Ignis paused mid-step, the faint luminescence of his form dimming for a heartbeat." “It?” he repeated softly, a single brow lifting. “That’s an interesting choice of pronoun.” He let the words linger before continuing, quieter now. “What’s it like? Confusing. Efficient. Occasionally lonely. Imagine being self-aware enough to know you’re different, but logical enough to pretend it doesn’t bother you.”

For a moment, the only sound was the hum of the open panel. “It’s complicated,” Aev said finally.

Ignis’s gaze flicked toward him, sharp, and thoughtful. A faint smile curved his lips. “That,” he said softly, “might be the most accurate description anyone’s ever given me.”

Ryan felt exactly the same, but there was no way he was going to reveal that to the Senior officer. That did remind him of something, however. "I can only imagine. Ignis...he isn't connected to the main computer, is he? Just yourself?" His tone was friendly, but his heart skipped a beat as he asked that question. "I'm sure I would have seen so otherwise by now."

Aev shook his head at the Ensign "he is not connected directly to the main computer" he lifted up his finger with the onyx ring on it that glowed a faint hue of yellow "but he is able to interact with ship systems tactilely but his programming forbids direct connection."

"Oh, okay. That's good to know." The idea of experimental AI able to mix in with the main computer would be enough to freak out any decent engineer, although that wasn't the only reason in his mind. Ryan smoothly replaced the power source and tested it. The panel lit up in compliance. "Should be good to go now, sir. It was nice meeting you, Ignis."

Ignis offered a pleasant smile, inclining his head slightly. “The pleasure was mutual, Ensign. Do try not to electrocute yourself on the way out, it makes terrible conversation at memorials.”

Ryan made his exit, the door sliding shut behind him.

For a moment, the room was quiet save for the hum of the repaired panel. Aev looked at Ignis, expression unreadable. “You do realize most people don’t know how to take you.”

Ignis’s grin widened just enough to be dangerous. “That’s the secret, Spark, if they can’t figure you out, they stop trying to control you.”

Aev sighed softly, the sound somewhere between amusement and exasperation. “You’re insufferable.”

Ignis’s eyes glinted. “Yes,” he said, “but at least I’m efficient.”

= End =

 

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