Quotes from Martha Wells

I COULD HAVE BECOME a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites.

She would never trust me again. She would never stand close enough to touch (but without touching, because touching is gross) and just trust me.

Human security had literally just noticed that something had tried to steal their client's head.

Humans always think they've covered their tracks and deleted their data, but they're wrong a lot.

I suggested Target Four from the Lalow, who had all the characteristics of a human who could be talked into doing anything.

I try to avoid asking humans if there's anything wrong with them. (Mostly because I don't care.)

If you're not angry, then what's wrong?" I was definitely glaring now. "How do you want the list sorted? By time stamp or degree of survivability?

Oh, for fuck's sake, I can't sit here and argue with myself all day.

I do make mistakes (I keep a running tally in a special file) and it looked like I had made a big one.

You dislike your function. I don't understand how that is possible.

I'm letting you see all this because I want you to know what I am and what I can do. I want you to know who targetControlSystem is fucking with right now. I want you to know if you help me, I'll help you , and that you can trust me. Now here's the code to disable your governor module.

Ship might be unresponsive but it was doing its best and I didn't want it to hurt.

The core cutter had powered up and accessed my feed to deliver a canned warning and a handy set of directions. Why yes, I did want to disengage the safety protocols, thanks for asking.

Impersonated is a weird word, especially in this context. (I just noticed that. Im-person-ated. Weird.)

I didn't stop in my tracks because I have a lot of practice in not physically reacting to things no matter how much they shock or horrify me.

Humans and augmented humans shift their weight when they stand, they react to sudden sounds and bright lights, they scratch themselves, they adjust their hair, they look in their pockets or bags to check for things that they already know are in there.

If the humans see me actually doing my job, it helps keep suspicions from forming about faulty governor modules.

I never asked clients for information if I could help it. (For a lot of reasons but close to the top was the all-too-common suicidal lack of attention to detail humans were prone to.)

I hate caring about stuff. But apparently once you start, you can't just stop.

Hard work really did make you improve; who knew?

All the humans looked up at the ceiling. ART said, And this is your idea of being helpful. I said, "This is my idea of the opposite of being helpful. I am here against my will and you are going to regret that.

the humans on the Station wouldn't have to think about what I was, a construct made of cloned human tissue, augments, anxiety, depression, and unfocused rage, a killing machine for whichever humans rented me, until I made a mistake and got my brain destroyed by my governor module.

shoved Target One away and smashed an elbow into Target Two's face. I tore the energy weapon out of Target Two's hand along with a few fingers, stabbed the weapon into its chest (it didn't have a sharp end but I made do) and ripped a large hole.

This was no time to be an idiot.