Chapter 198 Quick, status report! (1/2)

[Crinis, could you come over here please?]

[Of course Master] the tennis ball of endless darkness responded immediately.

I get the feeling that she's able to sense where I am since she manages to roll towards me despite having no sense of sight. Once she reaches a s.p.a.ce just in front of me she unfolds a few tentacles and 'stands' up, holding her body up on a few slender tendril like limbs.

[How are things going Crinis?] I decide to lead with a general question.

[Well, Master!] she replies happily, [since maturing I've been able to gain levels and Bioma.s.s at an accelerated pace. It feels good to be useful to you Master]

[Yep, you've been a great help]

The little ball wiggles happily in front of me for being praised. Despite her image she really is quite weak to positive reinforcement….

[How have you found spending your skill points and Bioma.s.s Crinis? Has there been any issues? Do you need any help or advice?]

She pauses for a moment. [I've been a little hesitant to spend my points Master since I couldn't be sure my choices were exactly what you wanted. I didn't want to make any mistakes…]

What?!

[It's your skills and your Bioma.s.s Crinis, you spend it however you want!]

Just because they are pets I don't want to micromanage every aspect of their lives! I'm probably a bit naive about it but I like the idea of my pets making their own choices and finding their own way in life.

Is it because I'm lazy and can't be bothered going through all the menus and burning up my brains working out a balanced strategy where every member of our group functions as a cohesive part of a whole?

…

Maybe.

Still… viva la freedom! Viva la pet choice!

They can work it all out on their own! I don't need to get involved!

[So tell me Crinis ] I say cheerily, [how many points have you spent? What sort of skills are we looking at?]

[.... ]

What is this? … Somehow, even though she doesn't have a face, I can tell she's looking away from me.

[What's wrong? Have you got a few points stored up? I'm happy to give advice if that's what you want…. ]

[....]

Something is starting to dawn on me.

[Crinis … How many points have you saved?]

[.. All of them]

[ALL OF THEM?! You haven't spent a single thing?!]

[I'm sorry Master! I didn't want to spend them incorrectly!]

[It's fine if you just spend them however you want! Do what you think will work for you!]

[ but, but, but what if I make a choice that doesn't work out!? Or doesn't work with what you wanted me to do?!]

…..

Sigh. It's nice to have a pet that's diligent and thoughtful, a direct contradiction to Tiny, but she's TOO diligent and thoughtful. She's become paralysed by wanting to make the perfect selection. Unable to make a choice because she's preoccupied by what I might want.

It's time for me to show my understanding side and educate her, just as I educated Tiny.

….

WHAP!

Using my antenna I swing one in a wide loop and whack straight into the little ball suspended in front me.

[M m m Master?!] she cries in shock.

THWAP!

[Go spend your points! All of them! Right now!]

[But!]

THWA PAAAA!

Spinning both antennae I whip one from the left and the other from the right, timing it so that one strikes a moment before the other, cannoning the little ball into the second blow which sends her flying to the corner of the chamber.

[Every point! I'll be checking back on you in an hour!]

I turn aside from Crinis mental snivelling with a heart of cold steel. I know she's only trying to do what is best by me but if I relent and go through the process with her this time she'll come to rely on me even more. I want my pets to be more independent than that. If she can't even upgrade herself without consulting me just how independent could she possibly get?