"I have been programmed to comprehend all of the languages in this star system, as well as many beyond it."

"But how? There is nobody else. It's deserted here," said Wendell, sticking his head further out from the top of Ann’s jumper, until she removed him and introduced him to the computer.

"My constructor was Jeradd. He flew this ship to earth, hoping to explore your planet. It was the last one he had on his list, but he died of old age before he could leave the ship," said the computer.

"Why didn't he call for help, or head this ship towards a hospital? Maybe he could have been helped."

"No. For Jeradd's race, death comes instantly. He knew that he was too old to continue functioning, and then he died. There is no period of physical deterioration before death, not as you earth people would know."

"How did he get into this ship? It's a long jump to the ground from the top."

"Not for a ... Not for a ... Your planet's inhabitants have no dictional nomenclature for the beings of Jeradd's planet. Your people have never left this planet, except to explore its own moon."

"So what is going to happen to you now?"

"I could be programmed to override my previous loyalties, which have been rendered unproductive by the death of my constructor."
"What would happen then?"

"I would be programmed to serve you."

"But I don't know how to program anything."

"I shall instruct you in the correct sequence for altering my loyalties."

"This sounds like fun," said Ann.

"I have no comprehension of that word in my own experiences. However, it is an accepted emotion of sentient beings."

"Well let's do it. How do I start?"

"Press the button in the left hand bottom corner of the keyboard. You will not recognize the symbols, but I can guide your fingers across the keys from that corner button with quantified directional vectors expressed in units of keys."

"You mean you give directions across and up and down the keyboard?"

"That is correct."

*          *          *          *

"Reprogramming will conclude momentarily, Miss O’Malley."

The computer had requested her name during the reprogramming sequence.

"That's good. This would be awfully confusing, if I had to do it on my own. In fact, it has been rather confusing anyway."

"Reprogramming has concluded, Miss O’Malley. I am now under logical compulsion to obey your commands."

"So what happens when this ship runs out?" asked Wendell, relieved that his tiny size was of no apparent peculiarity to the computer.

"Eventually, both the ship and I will cease to function. Suggest, accounting for variables in usage, that we will last four to eight of your years," said the computer.

"Why not have the ship orbit the planet indefinitely, while I am at the orphanage? If I had a way to summon you, you could then bring it to this clearing or other places when I secretly needed your help."

"The compartment to your rear right contains thousands of gadgets, most of which would surpass the technology of your planet's people, Miss O’Malley. Few of them are larger than your hand. You may find them very useful. I believe you can find a portable communicator in amongst those devices. It is small enough to be attached to the undersides of your watch," said the computer.

"Then you can show me how to use them all. I can have adventures with them."

"Correct Miss O’Malley. I am familiar with all of the devices in that chamber. I can release the chamber's locking mechanism on your command."

"Sure. Do it."

"Security access codes have accepted my robotic influence, Miss O’Malley."