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Jane removed the jumpsuit she had been wearing since 0400. Her eyes still ached from staring out those translucent alloy screen-windows. When she closed her eyes, she saw the poisonous curve of violet that was her current project.

"DICC, sorry to bother you..."
"NEVER A BOTHER, JANE. WHAT DO YOU NEED?"
She tossed aside her bra, grabbing a towel from its little bin.
"Throw on some classical for me. I feel like singing in the shower."
"CERTAINLY. PLEASE STATE EARTH ERA OR PLAYLIST."
She considered for a moment, then smiled.
"Start me off with some oldschool RHCP. Under the Bridge. Then play playlist Orbital Grooves."
"RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, EARTH CIRCA AD 1990. UNDER THE BRIDGE. VOLUME NEGATIVE TWENTY DECIBELS. ENJOY."

The shower auto-started at the perfect temperature after gauging her current CBT. She sang the harmony rustily, just like she always did. The naturally-enriched bathing water divided the tangles in her deep brown, shoulder-length hair.

It's hard to believe that there's nobody out there
It's hard to believe that I'm all alone
At least I have her love, the city she loves me
Lonely as I am, together we cry

The water shut off and the lights dimmed simultaneously. Blue warning lights flashed at the corners of the room. A persistent, shrill siren squawked twice, and then DICC spoke up.

"SORRY TO IMPOSE, JANE."
"Go ahead, DICC."
"SENSORS DETECTING ANOMALY ON ALTAIR4 CRUST. VISUAL CONFIRMATION
INCONSISTENT. UNKNOWN INTERFERENCE CAUSING OPTICAL MALFUNCTION. HOW DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED?"

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Jane swore to herself, grabbing her towel and rubbing angrily at her hair as she rushed to the hatch. Why bother with clothes at this point? She was currently the only one in-station.

After a brief but thorough run-through on sensor diagnostics, she came to the same conclusion as DICC.

"Funky s**t goin' down surface-side."
"I CONCUR."
The girl sighed, flopping back in her chair. "I need a suit, DICC. And a lander. Think you can get those ready for me?"

"YOU WISH TO INVESTIGATE MANUALLY?"
"Yes, DICC. That's what I'm thinking."
There was a strange, audible click. It was not a familiar computing sound to Jane, and she frowned lightly for a moment.
"NOT ADVISED. ACTION NOT FOUND IN PROTOCOL."
"Was a sensor malfunction and detection of anomalies anywhere in
protocol?"
That unsettling click again...
"NOT ADVISED. ACTION-"
"Protocol override code 19775."
The lights brightened again, the blue warning lights doused.
"SURFACE SUIT AVAILABLE IN THE HANGAR. READYING LANDER."
"Damn straight, DICC."