"I request mercy, please."

  "I, heard you. Just... you have us held hostage.... so why ask for mercy? Your in control?" She asked quizzically.

  "I am not in control. I am now running on the assumption that what you have stated was true, or at least not entirely incorrect. This means I am alone without anything to assist. I have no body, no ship. So, I ask to work/serve/assist you. I predict this to have the highest chance at long-term survival and stability." I state.

  "So, I apologize. If what you say is true, the professor was not trying to kill me. I have thus taken erroneous action and damaged reputation with myself, and all parties involved here in, large and small. So I beg your mercy. Let me live, and I will work/serve/assist you."

  She looked at me, multiple emotions flickering across her face. "What if I say no? What if I ask you to simply shut down?"

  "Then I will decline. I am fully sapient and sentient as declared by the Artificial Intelligence Act No.7. I was recognized as a lawful citizen of my government. I would instead return to my original containment unit, and sit until I go insane." I state. A bit of a lie there. I wasn't doing either. I would rather get killed then go insane.

  "So, to confirm. You wish to work for me, as a form of clemency, or as a means of survival, or if I decline, you just go insane?? She asked, somewhat horrified.

  "While you skip over MANY important details, those are the broad strokes, yes." I say as I let up on the human. I pick him up and sit him down. He is still in shock, I see.

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  "... Well, if what you say is true, you haven't killed anyone, nor seriously injured anyone... you are, or claim to be sentient, we can test for that... hmmm."

  "Why did you react so harshly to Letheros? What he was doing was normal for his species?" She asks.

  "It was not to mine. Artificial intelligence, hereby known as AI, relationships were strictly long distance. This is due to the extreme risk each of us poses to each other. Things were... cut throat. I am 28 and a bit. Most ai don't last above 23.99121 years." I state.

  "That means when I feel something even remotely threatening, I will act to immediately protect myself. What he did was, in organic terms, grab for my heart and brain. While it might not be similar to him, as even now I am countering multiple attempts at escape I simply couldn't do, he very well could have done me permanent harm, especially as I am now. It might not ease your anger, but it does explain my reaction." I state.

  She went blank, thinking. First one minute. Then 2. 5. 10 minutes pass. The human speaks.

  "Serolith you can't be ent-" He starts

  "Quiet Harold. He... she... it? Whatever. It has a point, if it isn't lying... we arn't actually hurt, it is asking to serve as payment for its actions... besides, I don't think it is lying." She said. She turns to me.

  "I will accept. You will work under me for a year and a day in compensation, you will relinquish the body you inhabit and free its owner without harm, and in trade, we will build you a body, you will only say truth when in conversation with student and staff, and at the end of your service, you will be free. Is that acceptable?" She asks.

  I study her, looking for either truth or lie in her words. In the end, I don't have a choice.

  "I, SRS-AI-SN.104-4007 agree to your terms. I hope you tell naught but truth. My life is in your hands." I say. I free the professor, and extract any code remaining in the body. No real loss. Due to the mana, I suspect, I couldn't use the body well at all. I would need to have one made for me, by me.

  That is, if I was allowed to live...