"An unfortunate side effect to the degradation of York's neural lace. I am able to witness his memories with clarity- but sensations are muffled, dull." A beat. "...I am fond of you as well. Aside from continuing to ensure you survive in the field and assisting you with Felix I do not know how best to. Express this."

There is no protocol for affection with AI in general, let alone fragments. Trying things the human way seems the most efficient.