#presaux

This may be the most important line in Exit Strategy. At first read, this may sound condescending or sarcastic, but I think it meant it literally.

Murderbot hacked its governor module, and still stayed in the company for around four years. It wasn't until after meeting PresAux, and Mensah bought it that it left.

It understood that it was safe, and it had options.

So.

Like one day they're having a watch party or something, and ratthi will look over, stare at murderbot for a second, then say in a surprised voice, "oh, i didn't know that secunits' organic parts age the way humans do!"

Murderbot is quiet for a few seconds as it studies itself from one of its drone cameras, sees the fine wrinkles starting to line the skin of its face. Then it says in a wondering voice, "I didn't know that either. We usually don't live long enough to experience significant changes to our appearance."

And then an explosion happens on the display and murderbot goes back to paying attention to its show while all the humans around it stare at each other in abject horror. Arada's on the verge of tears and wants to hug murderbot so badly. Instead, she just hides her face in Overse's shoulder.

murderbot | hidden place, bjork (capcut)