Adam wouldn't say anything to his slave as he rode Charles back to the living quarters, stuck in his own mind about how to handle things. Charles got a good view of what his master was thinking however as Adam brought out his bad tendency to think out loud.
"So I can be guaranteed that all four dislike me in some way. He let out a sigh. "Let's just hope that doesn't affect their projected progress too much, low loyalty can be completely poisonous for a team."
Charles for his part just listened silently, he had learned that it was good to let their master talk, and only give suggestions if they were in distress.
"Thing is how can I get loyalty in them? I'd really need to learn about them, and their schedules don't allow much team-building time... dammit have I forced them to bite off more than they can chew?"
Having heard enough of this, the slave took it upon himself to speak to his master. "May I speak master?" This brought Adam out of his thoughts.
"Sure, go ahead. unless I'm talking with someone or we're in a public place you can speak your mind at any time. I'm still not used to my position yet.' Adam admitted, he was getting a little uncomfortable riding on his slave's back, but he would get used to it. riding a mount usually chafed creatures with endoskeletons.
"Thank you, Master. I don't believe all this thinking is helping you. you're trying to gain control of situations you cannot control, nor can you plan around these situations without letting things progress. right now you're just needlessly worrying and increasing your own stress."
Hearing this Adam stopped once again to think. Charles was right. Instead of the calm, level headed nature he could display when he was on his medication, his mind was all over the place. He was more impulsive and stressed. "Seems I need to spend more of my money," Adam admitted with a disappointed sigh.
"Is spending your money that bad?" Adam's slave seemed to be far more level headed than his master, which was honestly funny considering Adam was supposed to guide Charles around.
"Well living a life where you had to be stringent with your funds and prepare for the worst. spending money on luxuries or things that aren't' necessary is just a foreign and stressful concept for me. if I need a lot of money for a crisis and I don't have it... I could lose everything."
"That's," despite the paternal instincts that his species developed when they changed genders, Charles was finding it difficult to help his master, but he would try. "Master that is a hard thing to think about. but do as you've done already. Look forward, you probably have another lesson soon. Focus on that instead of things you can't help and things to come."
"Yeah. Thanks for that Charles. I've been a bit out of wack without my medication. I'll work to make sure I get back into peak condition so that I can make sure I don't let you down either." He let out a chuckle. "With the amount of support you've given me so far, I feel like I have a duty to you, not just owning you."
"Do not put extra stress on yourself for my sake Master. I am your possession. and should be used by you to help you prosper. you have no duty towards me." Adam could tell through the translator that Charles was thankful but rejected Adam's desire to make Charles anything more than a possession.
"To think that I would find true loyalty in someone who only believes themselves as a possession. I'll make sure you don't regret refusing my offer, Charles." That was all Adam could say as he checked his pad, finding out that he was close to another lesson. "Seems you were right," Adam said, letting out a light chuckle. "I forgot about my lesson. take me to these coordinates." Adam stated, sending them to his slave so they could travel there on time.
As they arrived at the room where the lessons would start Adam would stop his mount from going near the door, where he started to take deep breaths. his inhalation was so slow that the only reason Charles knew he was breathing was when he exhaled. "What are you doing master?"
"I once talked to a human that said breathing techniques can help adjust one to their situation. so I am doing a calming technique. this one has some effect on me which is good." Adam didn't talk any longer as he finished his breathing technique and entered the classroom. The room was large so that the officers could bring any personal slaves they wanted with them. But as Adam looked at the subject matter of the lesson, his heart sank...
"Fuck it had to include engineering." Adam's expression dropped so low that even the unknowing Bunta could understand what was going on.
"What's so wrong about engineering master?"
"I have no skill in understanding the inner workings of machines. mathematics? fine. How do machines function? also fine, but trying to fit everything together so that they create the actual machine? I get hung up on so many details that I can't follow the lesson."
"Ah, sorry to hear that Master. If you desire I can try and help memorize things for you."
Adam was about to reply when he noticed the stares of the people around him, seems his conversation with his slave was highly peculiar, and he did not need more eyes on him than there was already. "Make sure you can follow along. I do not want an incompetent aide." Adam got back into character, stating commands to his slave instead of suggestions, though he wasn't sure how Charles took the change in attitude.
"Ugh, that was awful." Adam complained as he exited the classroom having no idea what was talked about. "I thought basic mechanics was hard but there was so much implied knowledge in that lesson that I couldn't follow along at all." He complained while almost lying down on his slave. He did so badly there that he was worried any chance of becoming CEO was dead in the water.
"If you're having that much trouble with it, maybe you can hire someone to help teach you up to that point so you don't fall behind everyone else," Charles suggested to the distraught Adam, causing the young man to calm down a bit.
"That's a good idea. I can bribe some of the engineers to help teach me. as long as no one notices I should be able to do it under the nose of the Vanid." Adam was already going down the conspiracy rabbit hole, trying to find ways to keep things secret despite how basic they were
"Or you could get a trained slave. I was there with you when the lady was talking about how you need to handle yourself as a slave owner. you can get used to the habit by getting a slave who can help you instead of someone who can teach you.
This caught Adam off guard as they were plodding along likely to the cafeteria as it was getting close to dinner time. Making him almost forget what he was planning to do, though he blushed in embarrassment, something no one understood, at the thought of it. "M-maybe. I don't want to become as exploitative as everyone else but it's a good idea."
"If you say so, Master." Adam got a deadpan reply from his slave. He honestly wished he could get a better idea of his slave's mindset at these times but the position they were in prevented that from happening.
"Oh yes. head to this location.' Adam said, pinging an empty meeting room as he got an audience with Alluris. "I need to organize something before we have dinner," Adam said firmly, he seemed to have a hard time giving concrete orders so far, usually making them suggestions.
As they arrived there they found Alluris in a position that could only be stated as impatience in Adam's mind. she was sitting down behind a desk just looking at him. she didn't react in any way as he entered and it was unnerving.
"So Why have you requested this meeting Recruit Blake? as the CEO's right hand I am very busy."
"It is because I need someone at your rank in the fleet to fulfill my request Ma'am. as I believe others would be bribed."
"That is a serious accusation Recruit Blake." despite Adam's straightforward answering with context, he seemed to get Alluris even angrier... dammit this would increase the cost.
"Ma'am I would like to inquire as to how much I would need to pay for you to personally handle my medication."
That was not something Alluris expected. In her mind, she was expecting a request for a reprieve or a way to handle his peers better. "And why do you need me to personally ensure your medication gets to you.
"Well, Ma'am. It's because it affects my behavior. I am more stressed and erratic without my medication. and the Vanid would use that to try and worsen my standings."
Alluris realized that he technically was doing as she expected, but also expecting her to be needed to be bribed to make it work, but it wouldn't be bad to follow along. if medication aided in his performance, all the better for her superior's plans.
"Well, you are correct that I am able to do that for the right price. I will ensure that you receive your medication without tampering and it will be taken out of your payments. but know after your wages begin you will need to facilitate funds transfer for all other transactions. we will not do it for you forever."
"Yes Ma'am, thank you." Adam simply stated, and as he was dismissed, left the room with a complicated sigh, he was satisfied that he'd be back on his medication, but not sure how much money he would lose from it.