[his grumpy expression and sharp eyes soften a little] Her name is Maria. She is-- ["is". not "was". still so strange to say] --a human, like you, but she and I grew up together on the space station where I was created. She is kind, and extremely intelligent. It is... incredibly fortuitous that she and I are here together. [maybe here, he can protect her. Have the lifetime together they were owed]