Do AI Get Breaks?
Posted on Mon Mar 16th, 2026 @ 6:15pm by Ensign Connor Turner & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Wed Mar 18th, 2026 @ 8:16am
1,355 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Main Engineering - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD024 1500 hrs
The encounter with Rommie was still running through Connor's mind. He marveled at how the AI thought and behaved. He wanted to know more and Rommie did not seem adverse to telling him much of it.
Of course, that led to an idle thought. What did Rommie do in her off time? Certainly she had to do something more than work, right? A perfect excuse to open a discussion, Connor tapped his commbadge and said, =^= Warrant Officer Rommie, this is Ensign Connor Turner. I was wondering when you might be off work today. =^=
From the nearest data feed, a pair of dark brown eyes flecked with gold appeared, blinked twice and Rommie's voice answered over the comm badge. "I am scheduled for all shifts, Ensign so technically I never get off work. However, I can split my attention. How may I help you?"
"That's not right. You're entitled to time off. That's regulations," Connor protested.
The brown eyes frowned slightly and the AI said, "Ensign, what do I need time off for? I can be in multiple places at the same time if needed and there is always work to do." While she was aware and understood the idea of down time, Rommie decided to not make it that easy on the engineer.
"You require time to yourself. Time to enjoy things that you enjoy. Life is not just work. Even I play video games to relax. Why not explore something that you are personally interested in?" Connor considered that for a moment. Was she interested in anything other than work. Certainly she had to be, didn't she? "There's something you must like to do other than work."
Rommie activated the data stream and emerged in her typical working skant and boots, the piping on her uniform the usual marine green with gold twists. "Ensign, AI's are not persons," Rommie said to the engineer. "I'm not programmed for down time really, doesn't exist since I do not require rest. Nor am I a cybernetic creation where I exist as part of the crew and try to understand the condition of life." She smiled at him, and slipped into parade rest.
"But it is kind of you to ask after me. Have you sought me out because of your affinity towards computers, so to speak, makes you feel more comfortable?" Rommie let her gaze flicker over Connor and bit the inside of her cheek lightly, as if she were studying him.
"I do like computers," Connor freely admitted. "However, you are different. Most of the time, computers understand me. We communicate, but I cannot talk to them in the way that we can communicate. However, whether you are an AI or not, does not take away that you are an officer and there are regulations on how much an officer can work."
"Warrant Officer," Rommie gently corrected. "A bridge between enlisted and officer ranks, denoting specialized knowledge. Being allowed aboard the Pioneer, since she testbeds many questionable programs, is just that. A test to see if an interactive AI, which has some independent functionality will have a positive impact. Toward that end, now that the Commodore has approved my access to most of the ship, I Can interact more with the crew as duty allows. My work hours match those of the Colonel's and when he's not on duty, I slip into standby and monitor mode." Rommie processed slightly, her large brown eyes going distant for a few seconds.
"Not working... not being aware of well, everything going on aboard the ship, for me, would be similar to animals that go dormant for various periods. That notion is slightly distracting."
"Warrant Officer or not, the regulations apply equally," Connor countered. "So you should take the time to standby, monitor, or even socialize. Would you not like to increase the possibilities of your programming?"
Smiling, Rommie tisked and said, "Ensign. I can do all of that at the same time. I'm capable of splitting myself as needed, since I don't use a physical form unless required. I am limited to only three physical iterations of myself due to safety protocols. My programming and sense of self don't stop learning because I am not physically present or otherwise occupied. To that end, very little stresses my personal bandwidth. She let the skin around her eyes crinkle with humor. "All of my protocols are within baselines. By those standards I am content. Can you say the same? You do seem distressed."
"I am concerned for you," Connor admitted. "Your programming may make you this way, but I have to believe that we can exceed the parameters of our programming. The simple performance of what we are programmed to do, does not have to define us. For example, my girlfriend got me to dress up and go out in public to the Neverwinter Nights. I would not have done that before she encouraged me to do it."
Keeping her smile, Rommie replied, "Ensign..Connor if I may, AI's and biologically challenged life forms are very different. Sentient life forms are generally products of your life experiences and learned mechanisms. I applaud your relationship and the choice to put yourself into new experience. Willingness to do so means you're growing as you are supposed to."
Subtly, the gold barber-polling around Rommie's marine green uniform piping blended to medical green as she continued. "For AI's such as myself, the term learning-AI's does fit in as much as if there is something new for us to accomplish, we gather available data, process it and then do the work. In a sense, it is the same as what you must go through, just faster. There is a tremendous amount of data out there on almost every subject. People love to share their experiences and record their accomplishments so that others can learn from them. I do the same thing and can apply it, just as you might. I'm fortunate that the majority of social cues I need are in my base programming from materials provided by Federation, Fleet and Corp protocols, although my author did add some quirks and coding so that I hopefully do not present as a non-thinking automaton."
Her head tilted again and her eyes widened just slightly, "I do very much appreciate your concern for me."
Connor was immediately enchanted. "Of course, you can call me Connor. Tell me more about your quirks," he encouraged Rommie, while leaning in towards her.
Rommie processed the request and the Ensigns mannerisms in the time it took for one of her dark brown eyes to blink once. Her counseling/social programming offered up several solutions and recommended replies. Those were weighed by her projected age and rank versus his and the propriety that should accompany interactions. Connor was obviously infatuated with her and she was aware, through the Colonel's links to personnel files, of his struggles with his own social programming.
Smiling, she said, "Connor, a girl does need to keep some secrets and I have some duties that will require my complete attention. I will tell you that I was composed while my author listened to Islamey and Pogorelich and when we spoke of musical theory, he directed me to Yuga Wang. Perhaps next time we speak, you can share a quirk of yours, but for now you'll have to forgive me." Her image began to fuzz and withdraw back into the data stream.
Connor made a mental note of this information. He would have to research it. Music was not his strength, but if Rommie was interested in it, he had to know more. The fact that she considered herself a girl was promising, too. He would get her to see that she was working too hard if it was the last thing that he did.
A joint post by:
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Ensign Connor Turner
Computer Systems Specialist, USS Pioneer
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