“There you are, Rose!”

Valerie yelled over comms, her icons pointing over my left shoulder. The Anerian was joined with a muscle bound Makic and the slim fitting Jinx. Their jets bracing to halt as they approached the surface, the clamps on their feet activating to attach them to the metal surface.

“How… How was the sightseeing in the wreckage?”

I shuttered, still rattled to my near death experience. My suit did almost try splitting me in two, with no help from Ava nonetheless.

“Poor. All doors sealed tight. Got shocked after trying to break one open.”

Avarr grumbled, raising his hands to show the fried scorched marks left behind on his suit.

“The first time I heard our Makic friend wince in pain, his AI must have dulled his nerves to keep him moving. So, young Dasia, what have you found here?”

Flint mused, his antennas twitching back and forth. The Jinx wasn’t even focused on me, the screen of his suit was admiring the large metal sphere a couple hundred meters in. As if he’s in a trance watching the rings flow fluently around it with such grace.

“I was on my way to a manual entry, as pointed out by my… Program, but the electromagnetic field from those two rails nearly sent me a one-way ticket to the other side. My AI isn't responding due to this.”

It pretty much sums up my travels, saying it out loud however is a different story. Setting myself against the half walls next to the rail, my breathing stable, surprisingly calm. It might just be Ava’s voice that was affected by the field, I’d hope that’d be the case. Valerie peered at the towering rails with the only half ring frozen from its endless rotating cycle.

“I’m not detecting any anomalies here. Don’t tell me you’ve gotten space scurvy on us now.”

She muttered in response. I couldn’t tell if she was serious or joking, either way I’m in no position to even understand what had happened.

“I received a new transmission, the same beeping noise you introduced me to on Flint’s ship. That’s also when this ring stopped moving along with the magnets. The messages were shorter, about eight seconds each compared to the three minute encryption.”

That seemed to catch them off guard, sending them the replay of the corresponding messages. A sense of bewildered dread can be felt in this vacuum, we were obviously being watched. Whether it’s by the sensors on board, or by cameras. It was both unsettling and intriguing. Life was still aboard this monstrosity of a rig, and we’ll be the first ones to make this discovery. If the situation was different, I might’ve been more excited than nervous about the ordeal. Valerie's wings began to flutter with anticipation, delighted by such discoveries.

“A sentient AI race theory, it might just be real. Thanks for sharing, so, this entrance your suits AI told you about?”

Valerie pressed, her tone taking on an admiration change to the enlightened discovery. I pointed toward the direction of the rotating sphere, made up of unknown metals via registered by Ava.

“Fifty more meters there's a hatch. We assumed it's an entrance shaft for drones during an emergency. Or for maintenance purposes, it's supposed to lead down into one of the lower sectors.”

Pursing my lips to the thought, the downside of this entrance is clear. Either they're too big to fit, or it'll be an uncomfortable ride down if Ava's measurements are true. They didn't want to waste any precious time, primarily Flint and Valerie as they wasted off to investigate.

“You alright, Rose?”

Avarr grumbled over the channel, his towering figure was more menacing in that suit compared to his usual appearance. Maybe it's the screen over his face, since I'm unable to read his expression.

“I'm… I'm fine, really. I should be asking you that question, especially with those burns. “

“Hmph, dealt with worse. It's nothing, just a scratch.”

A faint chuckle lapsed out from his icon, followed by a hiss. The tough guy was really putting on an act, huh? Even with his ‘AI’ doping him with enough painkillers to settle a full groan centaur to a peaceful sleep. At least, that's what I'm hoping instead of him enduring it.

“Damn it… Avarr! We need you to pry it open!”

Valerie yelled impatiently, a settled groan responded to her cry for help. The Makic paced himself forward, following the narrow pathway to the crew. Taking one final breath before departing ways from the comforts of the half wall. Tapping on my helmet with failed attempts to reach Ava. This had to be more than the magnetic field disrupting my connections somehow. With the eerie silence, curiosity rains supreme. Their communication channels with their counterparts are working, but yet they didn't receive the new encryption codes either…

I followed on over trailing behind Avarr. Radiation levels spiked, increasing the closer we approached the metal sphere. A yellow icon, around fifty millsieverts, appeared flashing on the screen and gradually rose. Narrowing itself into the top left of my visor, the suit is thankfully handling it like a champ.

“Alright, here goes.”

Avarr hollered, bending down to latch his large fingers around the wheel. The red coil twirled itself into the metal framing of a lid.

“Twist Makic before trying to lift. We don't need another brute force entry like earlier. We all saw what happened then.”

Flint calmly stated with Avarr nodding in approval. The fibers around his muscular frame began to tense up, tightening down to match his strength and offer more. The squealing shift echoed into his suit, blasting into our comms. Slowly, the wheel began to twist with each hard pressed turn. Loosening his force with the muffled sounds of gears retracting from within. The hatch pops open on three sides, Avarr pushes it back. Metal twisted with its opening revealed, and it's exactly how Ava described it. A narrow hollow tube with no climbing measures, in or out.

“The hole is smaller than the latch let on, damn.”

Valerie mumbled under her breath. Her wings shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a method for herself to fit inside. Then, as if we all had the same idea, we peered up at the Makic with uncertainty. An unspoken agreement that our big friend won't be able to fit in the chute. I believe he realized it himself as his screen was fixated on the open area.

“It's alright guys. Find Avarr another way inside. Avarr will resupply my air on the cruiser.”

The big guy muttered, disappointed by the unprecedented circumstances. Flint peered his gaze up at him, unsure of what his expression might be. Sure enough I can hear him clicking his mandibles with the jittering of his jaws.

“I'll join you, inspect your damages while I'm at it. Valerie, you should fit if you coil yourself with your wings.”

Flint softly spoke, raising one set of claws to permit only silence as a response as he continued.

“Follow the blueprints to the assumed hanger doors our dear Dasia tried opening before surveying here. Even if it's the smaller hatch where individual crewmen can walk through, we'll be able to squeeze ourselves in just fine. We'll supply ourselves for an extended search, understand?”

A slight nod to him, glancing back at our friendly giant. My gut sank into itself, feeling sorry for the duo for the inconvenience.

“Better patch up our muscles in the meantime. Rose, that means you're with me.”

Valerie motioned, activating her jets over the hatch.

“Yeah, I'm behind you. You both take care, we'll alert you once we find a viable entrance for you two.”

I replied, kicking my own jets on to join the Anerian. The pair nodded in unison, with Avarr giving a burnt thumbs up in approval. I turned to face Valerie, she was already trying to flatten her wings around her body. Casing herself down like a torpedo before slowly descending. The gentle glow of red illuminated the shaft as soon as she entered.

“Motion sensors probably, I'm coming in.”

Head first down, the hatch began to spiral on top. Slamming our entrance and exit away, granting only the red reflection of the pulsing lights inside.

“You two take care, keep us updated on any discoveries.”

Flint spoke over comms. It must have been Avarr who closed us in, smart on his end if there's air on board.

“You've mentioned these suits have a video recorder, did you not? For the meantime, have a shared display back in the cruiser.”

I suggested, meeting silence on the other end. I'd imagine everyone was a little too tense to recount what Valerie had told Avarr and I.

“Right… Thanks, young Dasia.”

Flint murmured before his comms became silent. A beam of light stretched out from the heads of our suits, ridding away the ominous red glow that consumed us.

“So, the Feline was listening to my lecture. I had almost forgotten about that feature.”

Valerie chimed in, reaching the end of the chute. It brought us into a large open room with electrical panels against the wall. A dim fluescent light flickered within the ceiling with waves of red spiraling against the walls. Display screens were void of any static or any means of power. Once I landed, the ceiling hatch slammed shut. The locking mechanisms chiming to life as bursts of air stormed into the hull. Oxygen levels were rising immediately, sending a jolt of energy through that nearly wiped out our flickering light.

“I knew it… I fucking knew it, take a look at this Flint!”

The Anerian bragged over the channel, immediately her helmet coiled back into the suit. Waves of platinum hair came unraveling out once the pressurized room stabilized.

“Gravity is registered about one point six times greater than that of Eclipto.”

I read off the screen before my helmet coiled back, taking a fresh deep breath of air. Slightly heavy on the lungs but delightful nonetheless.

“It'll be fine, our suits will keep us sturdy. Now say if matched that as to what the Makic handle on their home world. Best be praying.”

Valerie pointed out, brushing back her hair from getting in the way. I ended up having to do the same, the fault for having too much. No wonder the soldiers on board Luna, even the females, had low cuts or tied back curls.

“Oh Valerie, will they still be able to see what we see without our helmets on?”

She nodded in reply, her gaze matching my own. Pointing up at her own scarlet eyes with an unsettling grin on her face.

“Of course, via the same with yours. The suit and yourself are as one now, amazing isn't it. The helmet merely keeps you from suffocating in space, while giving you your display of vitals, communication channels… So on and so forth, the finest technology the Empire has to offer.”

She mused, pursing her lips to what she explained. Yep, that ego of hers hasn't changed in the slightest. At least her tone isn't condescending, unlike before.

The heat within the hull was warm, similar to the twilight zones in my world after a long burning day. It was comfortable to bear with a familiarized scent filling the air. I didn't hate it, nor did I like it either. Similar to a kind of ocean fruit smell, a raw husk of imp that grows within our trenches. Nasty scaled covered fruits that only ripen once every year.

“So, what about this door?”

Valerie murmured, knocking on the sealed door trapping us in. There were no buttons, no gizmos against the walls. Similar to the sealed lock on the outside.

“They have to have some special means of opening this shit… It might be, hmm…”

I hummed to myself, trailing off to the terminals. Symbols marked over a small platform, recognizing absolutely none of them. Poking at the screen, nothing. The keys with the strange symbols, no power. With each click, the heat inside my suit began to increase.

Click… Click… Click…

My insides were churning like fierce ravagers angrily fighting each other. Don't fucking tell me we're stuck in here… Leaving the lone duo with an unresponsive and uncooperative piece of hardware, well, shit doesn't look too good for us. A thud echoed into my right ear, twitching it back to see Valerie banging her fist against the opposing terminal. It was equally as dead as the one I've been fiddling with.

“If we just understood what these symbols mean… Might it be their language? Different specific themes or modes? The concept of this design is similar to what we have, but it's so…”

The Anerian groaned, planting herself against the panels. The set up is similar, especially when it came to what I saw on Luna. Leaning back against the device, I needed a better view of what all was stationed in this space.

Ventilation systems, they were the first we noticed after the ceiling hatch closed behind us. The room was narrow with only one sealed door on my left, and a cage on my right. In front of us were suits, appearing flexible with slim areas of armor plating against various parts of its body. Two arms, two legs with a series of helmets placed next to them. Biological life? The resemblance is eerily close to our own. Inside the cage was some exoskeleton? There wasn't a lock stopping me from pulling the two beams apart.

An outline of a skeletal system hung against the wall, sealed down with a piece of paper in front of it.

‘Marcus! I have a Christmas present for you, it's the latest model of the X1-Z series! It's about time you got rid of that outdated standard junk. All of the newborns are having it installed now, and I've managed to get my hands on an adult installation version for us! I'll be in our quarters with another surprise waiting for you. With love, Jess XOXO’

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

The symbols were different from what had played in those encrypted messages. I passed over the slip of paper to Valerie to see if she would have any idea what to make of it. Nothing, her eyes peered at the anomaly with a weary sigh lapsing from her lips.

“AI! I need you to focus for once and start registering a new language. If it doesn't work visually, we'll find a working console to send the data over.”

She grumbled, her words possibly falling on deaf ears. Turning my gaze back on the thin outside of the mechanical device, tracing my fingers against the surface. My suit unraveled its fibers from my hand, the steel plating was cold to the touch. The smooth rod coiled into four different directions with the hands and feet separated from the design. Perhaps they were different from the rest of their body? That doesn't make any sense. Cyborgs maybe? Half machine and half organic, it would seem reasonable when it came to the two different languages.

“Anything yet, Valerie?”

I asked, only for silence to be replied. I know she's equally frustrated along with me, so I can't blame her. Tracing my fingers against the hand, coiling around it to take. A sudden pulse jolted into my arm, bewildered as nothing visual caught my attention to have caused it.

“Has your AI reached you? Also, with the encrypted messages, did another one echo in your head again? We need something and so far we haven't found anything… What are you holding?”

“Some metal hand I guess? Someone needed to shake hands with the new alien species.”

A foolish answer on my part, tired of this growing tension that's been churning uncontrollably inside me. Raising my hand to show Valerie, only for my arm to jolt back-

“Ow fucker! What gives…”

I grumbled, feeling a spew of pulses imitating throughout my right side now. Valerie quickly approached catching me as the room tilted sideways.

“Rose, what the hell did you pick up… Here let me…”

My wandering gaze shifted to my hand. Valerie, frozen as part of the metal began infusing itself into my… Hand? The suit around my arm was recoiling back away from the anomaly.

“This is why you don't pick up random shit on an alien ship! Dammit… Flint, Avarr! Can you read me?”

She yelled over comms, static chimes in as a response from the pair. They were trying to speak, that much was clear, but something was interfering with the broadcast.

“I'm… Fine, it… Doesn't hurt…”

Which is true, besides from the starting jolts. My entire right side was numb, senses and all were absent from me. My gaze measured back to Valerie, seeing the distress washing over her face. I couldn't help but let out a faint chuckle. Muffled down in the confusion, filled with a grudging static that didn't want to go away.

‘… Identity, unknown… DNA, unmatched… Species, unregistered… Marcus Cunningham, Identity filed MIA… Language, unknown. Registering for a language transfer now…’

The words would appear in cycles in a deep harsh tone. Similar to Ava's unfiltered metallic embrace she first used when we were synchronized. However this gave off a more threatening approach when it began rambling on about its reconfigurations.

“I… I can… Stand… On my own… Valerie…”

“What Rose? Dammit, do go speaking gibberish on me now. I'm patching through to them now.”

‘…Language barrier completed. English translation acquired, merging with both foreign native language and joint mixed language. Non-human binary, Identify yourself…’

“Rose… Rosemary Kinly. I'm… Eighteen cycles old, per Galactic measures… My home planet is Eclipto…”

I muttered in response, the words feeling forced out with no resistance. Valerie went silent for a moment, the static in my head fading away. No, her lips were moving but I couldn't hear her.

‘…Algorithm checked, mental state stable. Nerves calibrated and functional. Cybernetics, negative. Device over heart, primitive, neurotoxin trigger. Severing connection. Aligning with its original algorithm, protecting the host, secure. Access to Artemis, granted. Welcome aboard…’

“Hey, Rose, is anyone in there? Nice, I'm seeing the glow in your eyes return. Are you alright? Can you hear me?”

My ears twitched, giving her a slight nod.

“Loud… Yeah, I'm alright. Besides now having two voices in my damn head.”

Ava and whatever this thing is. Just as long as Ava doesn't pop up out in the blue, then I guess it'll be alright. Thinking about it now, she mentioned our minds are intertwined by this parasite. Either way, the supposedly kill switch is now turned off for good. That's several tons of steel taken off of my shoulders.

“Did that give you access to another… Wait right here.”

Valerie murmured, letting go of me. My gaze followed her over to the cage where the left hand remained alongside the exoskeleton. The spine was its own category, similar to the hands and feet. That sensation however, I don't want to experience again.

‘Power twenty percent, host isn't equipped with the latest model, nor any X1-Z model. Report to the medical bay to be fully integrated… Error, nearest medical bay offline.’

The rest of its shell was in the cage, I assume those are a little more complicated to fuse in your body? Leaning back on the floor with my infused hand in front of me. The metal had vanished, disappeared somewhere in my flesh. Wiggling each finger with a sudden crack with each pull, it looks just like it always has…

Thud…

Glancing over to see Valerie on her knees, her right wing flapping ferociously to cling onto something. Picking myself up right away to snatch onto her frame before she completely collapsed.

“Speak for yourself! You should have asked how it felt before pulling off my poor stunt!”

I grunted, her weight was slamming back into me like a brink wall. I never knew just how heavy an Anerian is until now. They appear so slim figured, almost heavenly with their hourglass figures. Must be the damn gold infused bullshit these ‘royalties’ cook themselves in. Who the hell knows.

“It's… it's not primitive… Dammit…”

She grumbled under her breath. The AI must be repeating the exact same nonsense it spouted at me. Valerie was struggling to hang in there, while I relied on my suit to keep me stable under her. Slowly, her left foot began to kick itself awake. Her dull red eyes gleaming with its original fury once again.

“Neurotoxin… Those… Gah those Angölites!”

She hiked herself off of me, fists slamming against the cage creating a loud rattle.

“It explains why no one could take them off. Not to mention the failed tests ended in such… Gruesome endings.”

My nerves shuttered at the thoughts, goosebumps trying to pierce on through the metal shell. My suit rippled in response, flexing and then cooling. The AI kept the ‘primitive’ notion in keeping our vitals in check. That's what it seemed like to me, seeing Valerie taking in long deep breaths, exhaling her troubles away.

‘Sector Five medical bay, offline. Error, not connected to Artemis's AI. Data restricted, non-human entities must report to the Command Bridge for authorization. Proven hostility will bring immediate self-termination to the host. This is for the safety measure of all human combatants on board. The Federation Republic welcomes all walks of life. Remember, this is for our creators' safety.’

A shared glance between Valerie and I after receiving the same message.

“It's safe to assume this device has no idea what happened here.”

Out from one killer Ava to the next, though this one doesn't talk back in any way. I should be thankful.

“You got that just from what it said? Error medical bay twice, and disconnected. I see…”

She murmured in agreement. Curling her fist against her chin, processing to herself with soft mumbles. Her gaze returned to the letter, scanning each word slowly. I just watched her, curiously asking myself how it even came to me.

“You might be right, assuming it's not up to date with what happened recently. A gift to a lover, not received for whatever reason.”

Pursing her lips, she tucked the message in the upper fibers of her suit for safe keeping. I approached her side, now retrieving a new scan of the room. Double vision? Covering my left eye, layers of green would reveal themselves against the sealed door. My hand instinctively touched the green icon, though unseen by my left eye. It lit up in response, the door shuttered open to the side.

‘Power only twenty percent, configuration is required. Report to the nearest medical bay for assembly… Error, medical bay offline. Report to the Command Bridge to notify Artemisias’ AI of possible damages.’

“It's also broken to a degree. Valerie, Command Bridge or should we let those two in first?”

I asked softly, glancing back at her, she was shaking her head in disapproval.

“Command Bridge, if we're able to get to it. Let the insectoid watch while we claim the glory of discovery.”

I haven't seen her grin that wide yet, it was unsettling to stare at. There might be more to it than she said, I have no desire to press if that's how she really felt.

‘Command Bridge inaccessible without full integration of the X1-Z Model. Report to the nearest Medical Bay for assembly… Error.’

“It's able to respond to us in short bursts, but repeats the same nonsense. Shall we take the remaining three pieces for safe keeping?”

Pursing my lips, Valerie nodded. Unhooking the spine shaft and two applications for the feet. They would be utterly useless for Flint, possibly even Avarr due to their size. Whatever this human race is, they're about the same as us.

“Now let me ask, before you have us running in circles. Why do we need to be fully integrated with this exoskeleton to reach the Command Bridge?”

Valerie pointed out, peaking my curiosity with this damaged wear. Soft buzzing vibrated against my ear waiting in anticipation.

‘X1-Z Series is Humanity's greatest step in surpassing the bounds of all species struggles. Major constructs in all human-made vessels or colonies rely on the X1-Z Series for everyday life. What you can't see with the naked eye, this allows you access to what we call the fourth dimension. A plane of existence that harbors refuge. None can access further without full integration, as your body will fall helplessly in voids where energy would naturally rise. You may see it now, but only twenty percent of your body can interact. It's Humanity's greatest invention, as a double edged sword.’

The words hung in the air as if it was spoken out loud. Fourth dimension?

“The bounds of all species' struggles, could you clarify what you mean?”

I asked, a part of me didn't want to know.

‘The struggle of physical limitations. With it, humanity will strive to become more… X1-Z Series explanation received. For your safety, report to the nearest Medical Bay for full-’

“That's enough ordering, not another word X1-Z.”

Valerie blurted once it was finished, I for once agree. Cooperative silence is what we need to register what it told us. If it continued on with the repeating message with its error in the database. I don't know, I'd rather deal with Ava if that's the case.

Sidestepping out of the maintenance bay, that's when the unnerving weight of this journey finally sunk in. We already came this far, there was no turning back now. My double vision resided, coming together into an ominous glow. Streaks of energy flowed around the hulls like a calm river in a field of red lanterns. A dim audible noise echoed with each flash of red. Alarms crackled with static, barely hanging in there with the flickering lights. However, this current of energy seemed bountiful, almost endless. Oxidation was settled deep into the walls, corroding away small layers of metal into a fine dust.

Just how long has this ship been adrift? I thought to myself, tracing my fingers against the reddish brown metal. Small bits of it screeched away from its frame, snapping off with ease. The rest of the hallway was no different with small to large patches covering the walls. I can't help but feel more questions gathering inside with the hopeless despair of us finding something on this damn ship to answer them.

“Even with acquiring their language into our own, I still don't understand the encryption they sent. How infuriating.”

Valerie grumbled off to the side.

“Possibly it's only for their race specifically to understand?”

“Then why would they bother boasting the message out in the first place?”

A bitter sigh lapsed out, refusing to answer her question than to reply with something ignorant. Turning corridors into yet another hallway, I watched as Valerie pressed a couple keys against her arm. A blueprint hologram spiraled out to life between us. An image of the ship is displayed with over half of it inaccessible. Two small green blimps light up its center with multiple layers surrounding us.

“Search for The Command Bridge, show us the closest route.”

Valerie mused softly to the comms. The waves of energy lighting a blue path before the hologram could answer. Arrows formed against the wall with the words ‘Command Bridge’ marking over them.

“I guess our technology is primitive…”

I muttered to myself, yet I could feel cold daggers trying to pierce into my very soul. It's the truth no matter how one looks at it, I mean having access to a higher dimension? That's nothing short from science-fiction, but yet here we are. What's next? A weaponized star… A sphere that has enough radiation equivalent to a neutron star, contained down by three rings and an energy field… I'll just shut my thoughts off for a while about it. I'm sure there will be more surprises lurking around.

“Perhaps to their standards. But need I remind you that we are joined together by the almighty Galactic Empire. The Council consists of the smartest and bravest amongst the galaxy. Once we dissect this vessel, we'll be surpassing these ‘humans’ in no time. You best believe it.”

This be the time I wished for my helmet to be on, masking over my face just so I could roll my eyes to that comment. They're just a bunch of arrogant dogs who spend most of their days gloating about how perfect everything is. My old man believes just as much with how they misuse the dreadnought Luna for pointless expeditions. Pride of the races everyone says, but those on board see it differently.

“That’ll be the day when Makics can grow wings and fly.”

Condescending in my tone, doubtful for a day to ever come in our lifetime.

“You don't believe the Council is just, do you?”

Valerie asked, she can't be serious, can she? The Anerian race has been unified within the council since its creation seven hundred cycles ago. It only seems fair that the gold is buried deep into their skulls that reality is a mere fantasy. Who knows, I wasn't going to bother with this nonsense.

“The council was ready to kill us off with a flick of a switch. Or better yet make us mindless drones to that parasite you spoke so proudly of. You're no more than an expendable husk of meat they'll trade away for a reasonable price. Hell, stolen property, I doubt that. There's no way you were able to steal off some glïfed equipment and get away free of harm.”

As if the switch inside ignited a fuse, Ava or whatever wasn't suppressing me down like before. A candle was being lit by a plasma torch, I digressed.

“But I expect no less than from a species that harbors slavery of their own kind as a cultural preference. Farming those that don't fit your image like cattle in barren wastelands. That's rich coming from the likes of you, your kind as a whole isn't just.”

The Anerian empire, it's taught across the academy for cultural exchange programs. Once united before, nearing the end of the Galactic War centuries ago, the golden race betrayed those of difference. Either by religious belief, greed or pride, whichever text someone wishes to abide by. Killing off their strong and enslaving the weak. During this time, famine had struck their home world Cascadia. Exhausting their given resources to the war effort. Those slaves became more than just hard laborers, but also bred like small feathered muks to turn into rations. Fertilizer for the soils, their wings stripped away at birth. A sickening race that prides itself too much for all it has done. Very few are genuine, remorseful even. Such as those on Luna and other vessels with shared species.

Valerie looked as though I just torched her entire blood line. A mix between shock and anger tugged on her face. I'm thankful to the almighty that our minds aren't combined with this shared attachment in our hands. The last thing I need is Valerie's entitled mind to come spewing into my own.

“Speak for yourself, you little kïte. A useless, insignificant species not worthy to step foot in the Council. You're no more than, what do you say, sacrificial lambs on the front lines. Your race does a supreme job at killing, give credit where it's due. Frail, filthy, all of the races know they're in good hands, knowing that a Dasian kïte will die in their place. Just like that fath-”

A crackling noise pierced the hull with metal clashing metal. Lunging forward with arising pressure, blood boiling over a magma pit. Valerie's suit raised its helmet just as quickly as it took me to strike. My sealed breath gritted through my teeth, heating away as if flames may pop out any second.

“Copper Cooni! Don't bring my old man out of that whorish backwater hole!”

Copper waste, not even worth scavenging for a decent credit. It's about time I had any real connections back to myself, than having that parasite control every emotion I've felt here. Subduing my anger, calming me down into some perfect emotionless robot. It's exhilarating.

“Hey! Comms are back up, did you find-”

“Quiet Flint!”

We both yelled in unison, closing the channel abruptly. Silencing the hallway with an ever growing tension spiraling out of control.

“Violent in nature, that's how your species operates.”

Valerie murmured before backing away, half of her helmet cracked from my fist. The fusion of that metal hand into my own, the fibers around my body didn't bother seething over to protect my fist. This technology was definitely something else entirely.

“Spoken by a sadistic cannibal.”

I replied, my nerves still rattled with a rush of adrenaline. If not for these suits, I'd proudly rip Valerie's wings off and watch her fall from her throne.

“Separation is in order. It's clear your AI isn't working as intended. One should focus on letting us in, while the other continues on. Make that decision for yourselves, sending a location mark near a possible hangar bay. Before anyone asks, Avarr is doing fine. Growing impatient-”

“Avarr wants to explore the ship with friends. Don't forget about me.”

Flint and Avarr called out to us, Valerie's half screen already lighting up with what I'd assumed was their location. Without a word, she turned away with a different flow of energy casting an ominous blue glow down the hall.

“Don't get yourself killed. I'd like to do the honors of beheading you once we reach back to the academy. A complete mockery of my race, just will be painful.”

Valerie's words held no power, not to me. Watching her descend into the following corridors, the blue trail fading away. I felt the fire inside ignite with each metallic punch slamming into the wall over, and over, and over…

‘

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