“My analysis suggests that that was simply because you never had to choose whether or not to do so,” Owl corrected gently. “Although, I will concede that when you did choose to die, it was for something rather more important than an empty, self-serving political ‘principle.’”
“There wasn’t a great deal of ‘choosing’ to it, really. It was more a matter of automatic reaction.”
“And, looking back, would you have chosen any other way?” Owl challenged with a smile.
“No,” Nahrmahn acknowledged. He rested one electronic hand on the AI’s equally immaterial shoulder and shook him gently. “No, I wouldn’t have. So I suppose you win this one.”
“When it is a matter of logic and analysis, I almost always win,” Owl pointed out. “Unfortunately, dealing with humans, logic and analysis are usually the last resort of scoundrels.”
“A joke!” Nahrmahn laughed delightedly. “I’m corrupting you, Owl! Next thing, you’ll be producing puns!”
“At which point I trust Commander Athrawes will be compassionate enough to order a complete memory purge,” Owl replied.
EDITED to remove the loop effect!
