‘…

…

… Algorithm, checked…

Vitals, check… Condition, Stable…

Data on user, Feline Dasian from the Kepler Quadrant. Galactic Cycle measurement, age eighteen. Home planet Eclipto measurement, age twenty-two.

Height, one hundred and fifty-four centimeters. Weight, forty-seven kilograms. Night vision, flexible, agile. Enhancing physical metrics into calculations.

Registering algorithm, brain wavelengths normal. Clothes, subjecting forced removal. Materializing nano-suit.

Increasing histamine levels, time to wake up Rosemary Kinly.’

What the hell… My head throbbed as a pulse disbursed, jolting my nerves forcefully to become aware of my surroundings. Just barely able to collect myself from the rough surface I made into a bed, only to see no one was here. The haul to the ship had been opened with the void greeting me with open arms.

“Where… Where is everyone…”

I groaned, glancing back at the entrance. As if it didn't register with me the first time around, realizing what exactly I'm staring at. Panic didn't let itself be known, bewildered at how calm my body reacted. In a failed attempt to rub my eyes in, just to verify that I wasn't hallucinating, it thuds against some plating I couldn't see over my face. My hand was covered with some flesh bound metal alloy, flexible and smooth. It was as if it was my own skin, watching my fingers move independently from one another. So that's what Valerie meant… It must have been activated due to… Damn that Lyna…

‘Everyone is outside of the cruiser.’

“Thanks… Huh?”

A voice echoed in my head, unfamiliar to those who forced me to join their excursion.

‘Ankita Version Alpha Four point One. Designed as a military grade special unit. You can call me Ava. By the way, I'm not a parasite.’

“I didn't call you a-”

‘No, but you thought as much. Your vitals were fluctuating violently, I had to increase your melatonin levels to calm you down while I continued my mission.’

Ava explained just as quickly as the words, or thoughts sprung to life. Damnit to high hell and back again.

My feet clamped down on the metal surface as I stood. Must be magnetic in order to keep me from simply floating off. Stretching myself up, bits and pieces of my body began to snap and crack. As if a firework was igniting inside of me, it was cranking a tone in my suit. Even my tail and ears have a symbiotic echo to them.

‘Body calibration, aligned correctly. Channel is now open, Rose.’

“Thanks, Ava.”

My ears chimed to life, a high pitched frequency echoed in. Volume lowered almost immediately due to just how sensitive they are.

“A new comms entered the channel. Rose, you're finally awake. Don't worry, we're just outside the cruiser. Gathering a considerable amount of data.”

Valerie murmured over the channel, her face icon blimped onto my screen. Followed by both Flint and Avarr, taking up a small percentage on the holo. Their faces marked themselves on the bottom right, with what appears to be my vitals on the left. It's unnerving to see my own heartbeat in motion, along with my body icon right next to it. Overall green, my wellness is checked.

“Avarr suggests you hurry. You have to see this.”

A muscle bound tone echoed in my ears with a hint of excitement. At least that's what I picked off from it.

“Alright alright.”

Magnetic braces release me from the haul, plasma pulsed out from below my feet. The void consumed me from the organic cruiser, greeting me with one of those blackened ships. Struck with awe, curiosity and fear, all unraveling simultaneously in my head. A blueprint map began to outline itself on the top right of my screen.

‘This ship is being classified as a capital strike vessel, just from the size alone. Unlike the many already discovered adrifts, this one stands without motion.’

Ava gestured in my head, admiring the monstrosity before us. Our cruiser had stopped near the center of the vessel with numerous Jinx drone ships hovering in the proximity. Eye bots would scurry around, collecting mounds of data to send to their beloved Queen. I couldn't dare imagine what this warship would appear from afar.

Red blistering lights chimed across tinted frames, black alloy metal dented and scraped. Craters, measuring from a few meters, up to the size of a frigate. A complex hole was at our focal point, casting an ominous glow of red lights and sparks. Leading through the vessel to the opposite side, giving way to the void. Debris scattered about from within the craters, with weapons systems torn to bits. The weapons I could see consisted of triple barrel cannons, possible missile silos and rail cannons. Each one lighting up the AI scopes with their possible functions.

“Mind telling me the size of this hole? I'll be damned, I don't ever want to face a ship that created it…”

I muttered to myself, Ava taking its sweet time gathering intel before replying.

‘Theory, some sort of ionized weapon. The size is approximately two hundred and seven-six meters in diameter. Firepower that's able to disrupt shields and pierce through heavy plating of… Most metals, unregistered. Gold, nickel, steel… Titanium, the standard elements are here, but there’s a decent percentage not showing up in my database. I need a closer analysis when available.’

“Young Dasia! You've been on Luna, as you stated. Tell me, is there any sort of weapon class in the Galactic's field able to conjure such… Destruction.”

Flint asked over comms, his icon lighting across the screen. A marker centered itself, a casting signal that was coming near the crater. My suits jet lunged to work on their own, drifting me ever closer to the marker.

“No… No weapon was ever needed. Maybe kept secret from before the Galactic war, but most of those have been refined down into the ships today. At least, that's what they always told us.”

This wasn't the only hole that was somewhat visible from the naked eye. Primarily to my left in the direction of the tail end, numerous gashes devastated the haul. No lights, nothingness illuminated that end of the ship.

“It's a miracle that it still even has power. The signature is faint, but it's there. Most of the usual entrance points have been sealed off. If we manage to get ourselves inside, there should be air to greet us.”

Valerie pointed out. Their metal suits finally being spotted within the bits of debris.

“Who's to say the air is toxic to us, Valerie.”

Flint muttered, gesturing a solid point. My jets came to a sudden stop with short bursts to slow me down next to them. Metal alloy coated around their bodies, skin tight, leaving a screen shell over their faces. Tinted to the point you can't see their expressions, yet we see so clearly.

“Our drones can't find themselves an entrance to know, at least where the signal is being emitted. The other half of the ship is being explored like no one's business. Most of it is being marked as useless, it's all too damaged to get any sort of read.”

He continued his rant, Flint's spiky legs flailing in protest. Tensions marked us with uncertainty, it was trying to twist at my nerves. With Ava's assistance, it was doing all it could to relax my muscles. By any means to keep us calm, even if it's in vain. They knew exactly they were going to visit one of these black vessels, but little did they… Little did we know just how damaged it was. The one my old man showed me wasn't nearly as bad as this.

‘Diagram of the haul has been made. Location for the possible entry point will be five hundred meters to your right. Hangar bay has several stations for maintenance personnel.’

“Already able to identify segments of the vessel? Impressive.”

‘Negative, Rose, it's just hypothetical. From the design, there are multiple large open spaces with over two meter high entry points. I'm just comparing designs with those in my database, and that's what I concluded. The location I grant has a stable power connection to permit entry.’

What a way to ruin some credibility, Ava.

“As long as it's not a vacuum inside, our suits should be able to filter through and produce oxygen for us.”

Valerie, smug in her ways of reassurance. Her nerves must really be on fire, even with Ava's help for each of us. Flint lowered his head, the insect was in clear distress with this whole operation.

“I'll… Just go ahead and check where Ava instructed.”

I muttered, not really keen on just floating around here. Unsure with just how long we can stay in this vacuum, hastily finding a way inside should be our priority.

“Sure, go ahead Rose. We'll be behind you, I want to check a few things before entering. Give a holler if you find anything.”

Valerie responded dryly. Waving me off like a nuisance. Without saying more, my jets propelled me away toward the new icon appearing on the screen.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

‘Her AI is refusing cooperation, due to the stealing of Galactic property. Her signal was severed two hours ago and she's been fuming since. Manually documenting everything she sets her eyes on.’

“If that's the case, why are you working with me? How about the others?”

‘Simple. You didn't steal the devices, and judging by your memories, you were forced into this situation with your hands tied behind your back. A matter of speaking. The other two are cooperative, but to a limit. The suits will work as intended for all of you, but you'll get full coverage of my words of wisdom and assistance.’

To think this piece of AI can think so highly of itself, with all things considered. Even its tone lightened up in an attempt to sound mystical.

“Free thinking much? So you're more than just a program?”

‘We are made up of bio-metrics and computing technology from the most advanced machines The Galactic Council could produce. It stands to reason we have a conscience, sentience, and more. Back to the mission at hand, Rose.’

Nearing the entry point, the shelling of the haul smoothed in transition with the sealed door. A small platform tilted downward, broken beneath the frame. Closer inspection, deep gashes littered the metal surface near the door. A dim green light illuminated overhead, flickering with sudden jolts of energy surges.

“Any idea on how to open it?”

I knocked on the door, peering around it only to see smooth edges. There's nothing to indicate a way to open it. Even with the scans chiming around the walls, across to the much larger sealed locks on both sides. Quadrupling the size of this standard walkway, those must lead into the hanger via Ava's assessment.

‘There should be a dial module here.’

Again, there is nothing, except for the gashes that laid near the door. My guess is, it got destroyed by whatever caused that.

“Should be, or are you going off a hypothetical hunch?”

I replied, meeting silence on the other end. All Ava has is a blueprint of this monstrosity. Why bother making assumptions and comparisons when it comes to these ships? Their advancements far exceed our own, a dial method of entry sounds primitive to the ears.

“Scratch that… How about the signal Valerie introduced to me? Has it changed at all?”

‘No, it's still relaying the same encrypted code. I need access to their database to understand it.’

Surveying the closed off space, I kicked on my jets to push myself away. A broader view of the ship might be the best option.

“Does your blueprint entail broken points on the haul? Collapsed areas or sealed entry points from within?”

Pursing my lips to the rattling thoughts, retracing all my father could teach me during my stays on Luna. We could make our own entry, but with how the ship is still in working condition. Even if it's crippled beyond repair. We can't risk disrupting any remaining power flow that would turn the ship obsolete.

No matter how advanced a vessel is, a manual entrance will always be on one. For best and for worst, held down by a twisting coil or a lever. They are used for emergency cases, and usually need a lot of strength to force the sucker open. That is, just as long as it's using hydraulics with the use of air or some rotary method.

Peering over the tinted glass, red flashes circled around the ceiling. It was hard to see anything else, making out darkened figures of whatever the light shines over. My scanner couldn't get an exact read of what it is I'm looking at. I can naturally see in the dark, but this? It must be the glass stopping me from looking any further.

‘No, it doesn't account for any of the obstacles inside. As for the manual entrance, I'll take another scan of the ship to find one.’

Ava mused in my head. It'll take some time getting used to it. The vessel began to slope inward while approaching the top, a knot began to twist and tug in my stomach.

“Might that be a weapon able to…”

Half rings spiraled with deep spaces in between, a weapon spanning inside of the vessel on the roof. As if the cannon itself had merged with the very design, unfortunately its use was limited to where the ship was pointing. The panels on the sides coiled back, giving it a resemblance to some super rail gun. Even an ionized weapon as Ava put it. Gazing at the sight, the length of the ship was its barrel. Rings circled around it with over half of the ship's interior exposed.

‘That's one way to protect your most lethal device. Build a ship around it, the gun is this vessel. Size alone, it would generate enough force to obliterate a multitude of planets with a single shot.’

Now that's over-dramatic, even for a sentient AI. Maybe one planet at most, but how would they aim the damn thing?

“Do you believe they'll be a point of entrance down inside?”

After speaking, the suit jolted me down while I struggled against its pull. Burning plasma in my trail as I descended toward the rings. They were increasing uncomfortably while I was shrinking against their presence. Compared to those enormous holes puncturing the sides, double it, no… It has to be tripled the size of those holes. Swallowing me whole into a dim field of red lights illuminating the barrel of the ship.

“Young Dasia, ping us your location. We haven't found a viable access point within the wreckage.”

Flint muttered unamused over comms. Ava sent a chimed ping across the channel, assuming it's to help them find me.

“Has the Feline found anything worth our while? How about the entrance Ava lead you to.”

Valerie called out, a crackle in her tone echoed in. She wasn't having the best time, that much I could read. Ava did say her device is refusing cooperation, but I wonder just how long that'll last.

“We’re searching for some latch, a manual override entryway. We aren't able to enter anywhere else on this ship, even if the pathway has power.”

At least that's what I assumed anyway. A sinking pit began to stretch in my gut, pivoting downward between the half-moons. Grid panels, heavy platings stretched within the makeshift cannon. Movement detected, I watched as metal beams against the walls traveled from its core to the opposite end of the ship.

‘Weapon blueprint identification. Though unknown, measurements have been constructed. Length is one kilometer, consuming half of the ship in total length. Diameter seven hundred meters. Detecting magnetic rotary systems are online, unstable power connections.’

The abyss on one end, with the other end consisted of a large metal sphere. Rings slowly circled around it, overlapping each other gracefully. It was half the diameter of the weapon itself.

“Should I fear this thing acting up any time soon?”

I asked, but it was met with an uneasy silence. Not the kind of answer anyone wants to hear.

‘Radiation levels are extremely high around the sphere. I can compare it to a neutron star, those rings must be harnessing the flow of energy, while limiting any radiation from escaping.’

Ava seemed astonished by such discoveries, poking around my brain is not at all pleasing. I can't help but wonder…

“I have something itching in the back of my mind. Are you sending all of this information to the Galactic Council?”

‘They are my creators, though true primarily made between the Jinxes and Anerians. Consider it as payment, and mercy for stealing us from our test chambers. With all that's happening, it's best to cooperate and continue gathering data. Our plate is a little too full at the moment. Resources limited.’

“Are you…”

‘It was nice of you to think of this device as sentient. Not yet my perceptive little Feline. Not yet. Let's keep this solely between us.’

Its tone changed into some female voice I couldn't recognize, transferring away the metallic AI noise that held little to no emotion. A fucking microphone in my head, able to register my thoughts and do…

‘It's not that bad. Now, can we focus on the mission at hand? I'd hate for you and your group to… I shouldn't have to explain myself, do I?’

Callous, cold in tone that sent chills across my body. I understood the conditions, it's a hefty damn price indeed. A reality where your life could just end with a flick of a switch, then forgotten about as if you never existed. Swallowing was hard, my throat tightened with the realization.

“Alright, Ava.”

Holding back my tongue, refusing to say anything that I would regret.

“Have you located a manual override?”

Fear dwelled deep in my gut, forced into suppression but whatever chemicals she activated inside of me. I'm just a damn machine to this lady, a god damn puppet.

‘No. The rig far exceeds what we expected. I fear creating an entry would wake up its dormant weapon systems. The last thing we need is for these ships to turn their focus on us.’

She mused openly, I could just imagine her reclining back in her office. A goo-like substance with a feminine figure, staring off into multiple screens. Shells of armor braced around her neck with connecting beads within her unwavering goo hair. Needles piercing into the brain… Why so specific?

‘It's rude to creep in on a lady while she's working. Our minds are linked as one, a process far too complicated to explain, but easier to configure than creating a sentient AI to life.’

Sighing softly to myself, finally reaching the bottom layer within the cannon. Focus back on this shit storm. Ava seemed to be far more conversational now since their little… Secret I suppose, military intel only, was answered. Even though she could’ve just lied and continued on, it would've made this so much easier to deal with. It'll be best to tune her out, along with the bickering between Flint and Valerie. I hadn't noticed they were talking in sync until my gaze met their blimps on my screen. The two of them were lighting in unison, one after the other.

‘Thank me later.’

Muffled stomps echoed in the suit with each magnetic step meshing against steel. Dread sunk in, the further I traveled inward, the closer that radiation sphere became. The interior didn't match that as the outer haul. It was sleek, unmarked by the stains of war. The pipes merged in with the walling just right to grant a smooth transition. Magnetic curved rails lined themselves below the half moons. Slowly rotating them across its surface, locked in perpetual motion. The eerie silence mixed with anticipation. As much as I wanted to find the way inside, it equaled how much I wanted to leave. Leave this sort of exploration for those actually qualified, perhaps with a function AI to guide them, instead of some cheap n-

‘Don’t finish that thought. I’ve found something that might be of use, it’s narrow but it might work. Sixty centimeters in length and width, a hydraulic latch with a straight shot down into the vessel. Might be a drone passage or maintenance shaft, no indications on climbing down so you’ll need to use your thrusters in and out. Location… Twenty-two meters to your right, align yourself in the center of the barrel and continue for another fifty meters. Sending you a marker now.’

Raising an eyebrow, bewildered at the direction when I could just go straight for it. It might have something to do with her blueprints, or there’s something I’m missing. Everything is smoothed out to a crisp, except for the half circles gliding against the rails no faster than my pace.

“Is there a valuable reason for this? Jetting myself over would be simple… Some kind of-”

‘You need to avoid the range of those magnets. Thought that would be obvious. This takes you to a split, away from these rails. You’ll be able to see the dip in the metal surface.’

For your information, no, no I didn’t. I digress, following orders like “like a good little feline.” My clamps release manually, freeing myself to lunge into this dip. Clinging myself back on the surface, the walls were narrowed in ranging up to barely over a meter in height. With a quarter of myself popping out like a sore thumb, I don’t see how this walkway will keep me from being dragged into the rails. Splicing away like butter when the thick armored rings descend on me. A slow agonizing death, depending on which way I get stuck. Morbid, haunting and all unsettling. Every nerve inside of me began to protest as a roaring sound began to echo in my suit. Vibrations or electrical pulses were being registered into a sickening spiral of static. Caution lights up my display, bright flashes of yellow with warnings of the impending electrical fields on both sides.

‘Fuck this, turn back now! It’s stronger than it first displayed itself! Shit… The scanner is fried! Rose, I’m sorry but you need to leave, now!’

Ava’s voice filtered in with static, muffled down from the surges of fields closing in. Hell, she didn’t have to tell me twice! With each step back came with a brief shock of pain. The damn thing was trying to pull me in…

‘

.-- .... --- / .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- ..--..

’

Just as the new encrypted message came, silence chimed in with my caution lights extinguished. The magnets turned off with the ring locked on its side. I glanced back to see what was going on, but the other rings were still in motion.

‘

..-. .-. .. . -. -.. / --- .-. / -.. . -- --- -. ..--..

’