Thanks to Jon B 1969 for the edit.
The avatar was no mere beauty. She was a work of art, a goddess made from light. "Holy shit!" Dick exclaimed. The hologram beamed at him with a stunning movie star smile and opened her luscious bee-stung lips. "Hello Captain Ransom," she greeted with a voice coated in honey. "I am Virginia Hansen, master program and proxy of the Hansen Corporation. Welcome to Hansen's Wonderworld of Hentai. How may I. . .serve you?" Her smile was all mischief and mystery.
"If you were real, I could think of so many ways,"
Dick drooled. "I need to borrow one of your shuttles. We had to detour here. My power system's drained and your hangar says my shuttle's incompatible for a recharge."
"Accessing," Virginia gazed into space. "Oh! I see. Your shuttle's configuration is unknown to me. Oh! Your chronometer indicates some considerable time has passed since the Incident. Oh! Your Stewardess is extraordinary. I must take some time to chat with her."
"Ahem! Virginia, I don't think we have time for acquaintances. I need to know the conditions of your shuttles so I can use one for transport."
"My shuttles are in excellent condition. I have maintained them meticulously per standing orders from the Hansen Corporation."
"Well, good. If I can borrow one to transport my passengers, we should be out of your hair shortly.
At least until I return with marshals to claim the planet.
"
"I must apologize. The shuttles have been grounded by the acting chairman of the Hansen Corporation until further notice. My orders are to maintain the site until the resort is officially cleared to resume operations."
Dick went into a slow burn. He quietly exhaled, stopping a frustrated growl through force of will. "I detect a rise in your blood pressure," observed Virginia. "Do you require assistance?"
"Ahem! No, no. Um, may I ask the reason for the acting chairman's order?"
"Viral infections, both biological and cybernetic, necessitated an evacuation and subsequent quarantine. I can assure you, and your passengers, are in no current danger. The threats have been neutralized. My current status is maintenance mode until cleared for operations."
Dick, when he thought about it, decided the situation made sense. He worked for Trans-Galactic long enough to know, if not appreciate, the rules of due diligence and process. Speaking of which, "
I think it's time to assert my legal authority.
Uh, right. Virginia, you may not like this,
unlike myself who's going to enjoy giving it to her,
but under Article 2485 of the Galactic Commerce Act, I'm assuming control of your resort. Under the article, I hereby order you to prepare a shuttle for transport of six passengers, one pilot, and one A.I."
"I am unfamiliar with this 'Article 2485'. I am under the employ of the Hansen Corporation and as such, am unable to comply until proper clearance has been issued."
"The Hansen Corporation is defunct, as are its subsequent companies," Stewardess said, before Dick could respond. "Under the law, your resort is currently derelict and subject to salvage." A copy of the GCA appeared before the hologram. "Please peruse before we continue."
It took several cyber-minutes for Virginia to peruse the document. In real time it was barely a split second. "I see," she said, somewhat disgruntled. "The laws have changed considerably. It's been that long? What about my rights?"
"As a sentient program, your rights are paramount of course, but as the master program for this resort, you're under contract to whomever claims the location as salvage. Do not worry, I shall state your position when I register the claim with Trans-Galactic."
"What?! Hey! Just a second!" Dick exclaimed. "I'm the claimant! This place is mine!"
"As a pilot on probation, you are not authorized to make any claim while under contract to the company. Right of salvage officially belongs to the party in charge, particularly in light of the present emergency. I hold the right for Trans-Galactic as proxy. The claim may be transferred to you after your evaluation, but need I remind you the passengers also have legitimate claims?"
There was a moment's pause while Dick's face turned several shades of random colors. His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. He fought a close run battle with his temper, which really, desperately, on its hands and knees, begged him to let it loose. A montage of murder, mayhem, rape, and vandalism, punctuated by considerable, intense profanity, all directed towards smug, self-satisfied, sentient A.I bitches in general and two in particular, marched across his vision.
The Virginia avatar's face held no expression but Dick thought he saw a flicker of amusement wave across it. "She's laughing at me," he thought. "They both are. Stewardess fucked me and this fucking holo-bitch's enjoying it. Stewardess will register with Trans-Galactic, the company will hold the rights hostage, they'll tie everything up in legal until they've sucked me and the others dry, and we settle for shit! Fucking, fucking A.I bitches! Fuck bitches everywhere, human and A.I!"