She considers - rubies weren't particularly valuable on Fle, which was why they were on this thoroughly undistinguished hat. "They're big rubies, too. Mind those front edges, they're sharp. You could probably cut off half of each one, leave the rest still attached, if you weren't selling it in one piece." She snaps her fingers. "You know who knows gems? Maridian, here on board. Armored fellow, great sense of humor, long ears - he can probably cut them if you want."

A baby in a box. She hadn't thought of it that way, but it could hardly turn out worse than any of her other babies. And unlike a real baby, she could tear it down again and again if it wasn't working, and just restart it.

"Well, if I was going to make it fully sentient and insist that it do nothing but watch hats, that would be cruel. But I'll enhance its senses, jack up its computation speed and processing volume - probably give it some limbs too." She regards the box critically. "Let it see the world, explain what is happening and how it can help. It has very deep programming that will make it want to," she stops and touches a spot on the top of the box, then cups its sides as though covering its ears, "make it want to help restore the universe it is from," she whispers.

The box only knew that it was alone, in a non-thalient environment. Time to explain the destruction of the Ninth Empire, later.