I had just deposited my trash in the bin, and was heading back through the alley towards my building. Sitting on the wall surrounding the patio nearest the door, a small gray cat watches me approach. A recent addition to the family in this unit. You would often see her basking in the sun, or simply watching the flow of people in and out of the building. I paused to say hello and offer tribute(head scratches). She was wearing a bright orange collar with a bell and a tag. I cocked my head to the side so I could read the tag. I got as far as 'If lost', before there was a blinding flash of light. And both the cat and I found ourselves in another place entirely.
Surprised by the sudden shift I inhaled sharply. The warm, humid air tasted stale and smelled faintly of a dumpster sitting in the hot sun. I blinked and looked around as my eyes adjusted to the lower light level. We were standing in a small windowless room. One side opened into a corridor that branched off in opposing directions.
The cat, startled by something I had yet to notice, bolted from the room. Darting past a green skinned man who's eyes were fixed on me. The unblinking intensity of his stare made my skin prickle. In his left hand was a meter long metal rod that he was brandishing in my direction. The end nearest me was flared, and had several grooves carved into it that were emitting a pulsing white light. I raised my hands showing they were empty. He articulated a few grunts followed by an abrasive laugh. Then without warning he jabbed me with the metal rod.
The moment it made contact my body crumpled like a ragdoll. I couldn't feel anything. The room pitched sideways in my vision before my eyes closed involuntarily. I couldn't move. I couldn't see. I couldn't speak. I could still hear. Approaching footsteps. A metallic jangle. The raspy drawing of breath. A dull thud. Rustling fabric. A throaty exhale. More footsteps. Heavy and unfaltering.
Something was pulling at the back of my mind.
The footsteps were getting softer.
What is...
I heard another deep raspy breath.
...thats it!
I'm not breathing.
No, I can't breathe.
Dread welled up inside me.
I need...
The footsteps receded further.
...focus.
The insistence of sleep pushed aside the dread and everything else.
I don't...
The footsteps faded completely.
----------------------------------------
...to die. My eyes snapped open. I was laying on my back surrounded on all sides by smooth white walls.
"Where..." My voice trailed off. I placed my hands on the featureless white wall that surrounded me, and pushed. It didn't move.
"You are currently in a Mk XIIII Bio-Med Pod," a disembodied voice replied.
I can move. The realization finally struck me. I took a moment to make sure I could feel all my fingers and toes.
"Why am I in...here?" My voice cracked.
"You were placed in this pod to facilitate your nanotech integration."
The fuck does that mean. As the cobwebs continued to clear, memories of the last few minutes started churning through my mind.
Did I just get abducted by aliens? A handful of childhood fears roiled to the surface.
I don't wanna get probed. I pushed, hard. The wall didn't budge.
Or dissected. My heart was pounding and I was breathing fast.
Or worse.
"Elevated stress hormones detected, compensating."
I immediately felt myself start to calm down. My breathing slowed and I was able to focus. Although it didn't help much with the fear. "What the hell just happened? Where is this place? Why am I here? What the fuck is going on!?" I spat.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"You experienced an acute stress reaction resulting in a dangerous increase in your heart rate and blood pressure. The newly integrated nanotech compensated by filtering the excess adrenaline from your blood. You are currently in the medical bay of the starship [Muddy Waters]."
Starshi... [Muddy Waters] grabbed my attention. It sounded similar to the grunts of the Green Man. This time, somehow, I understood the meaning.
"You were brought on board by the acting captain. Following his previous patterns, you will most likely be sold on the black market." The voice continued.
That sounds like 'or worse'. "Sold?! You mean like slavery!!? Is that what the nanotech is for?"
"The most probable outcome of your sale would be as an exhibit in a private zoo, or for medical experimentation. The current nanotech configuration provides universal translation and basic health services only. However, the nanotech may be augmented to enforce compliance as a conditions of your sale," the voice gave a monotone reply.
That is definitely an 'or worse'! "Seriously! You put slavery nanites in me!?" A terrifying prospect, but somehow I was still calm.
"The nanites are standard medical grade nanotech. Approved by the Galactic Federation Medical Review Board. The compliance enforcement functionality would require an illegal software upgrade."
"Oh, well, that makes it all better. Will you please open this door so I can wait in the lobby." I smacked my hand on the wall in front of me.
"This ship does not have a lobby."
"Oh, I don't mind waiting outside then." I suggested.
"That would be inadvisable." The voice replied.
"Why is that?" I was genuinely puzzled.
"Your species cannot survive in a hard vacuum."
You know, your matter-of-fact tone is very neg...
"...EH!? ARE WE IN SPACE?!" I shouted.
"Affirmative."
"What are we doing in space?"
"We are currently orbiting the 4th planet of star system [6842.-214.357]. Security Advisory, travel through this system is restricted..."
If it's restricted why are we...
"... due to pirate activity."
"I'm sorry did you say Pirates?"
"Affirmative," came the monotone reply.
"As in space pirates?"
"Affirmative."
"That's bad, right?"
"Affirmative."
I don't really want to know, but I ask anyway.
"Then why are we in this dangerous place?"
"We are waiting to rendezvous with another ship. I believe the acting captain intends to hand you off for transport."
"Transport to where?" Another question I don't really want the answer to.
"The most likely destination would be a black market auction site."
How about fuck no. "How do I get out this fucking tube!?" I demanded.
"The acting captain has locked the pod, it is not possible to exit at this time."
"Can you unlock the pod?" I asked.
"It is not possible for me to override the acting captains orders," the voice responded flatly.
"I order you to unlock this pod." I tried to sound authoritative.
"It is not possible for me to override the acting captains orders."
"Please unlock the pod." I begged.
"It is not possible for me to override the acting captains orders."
'Of course not.' I switched tactics. "Who is the captain?"
"This vessel currently has no Captain of Record. The acting captain is [Jator]."
This name also sounded similar to the Green Man's grunts. "Is that the green skinned guy from before? What is the difference between acting captain and captain of record?. And who are you?" I fired off in rapid succession.
The voice confirmed that the Green Skinned man was [Jator]. Then went on to explain that the acting captain was not registered as the owner of the vessel, simply it's pilot. Registering as the Captain of Record required linking of one's personal bio-metric signature with the ship systems. This would grant full command access, in addition to providing increased functionality and security. It also created an official record linking you to the ship and its AI. So the Captain of Record alone would be fully responsible for all actions undertaken by the ship. [Jator] had refused this for unspecified reasons, but the voice indicated that it was most likely because this ship was stolen and he was a known pirate.
"My current designation is [Muddy Waters]. You are speaking to the control systems interface AI that facilitates all shipboard operations," the voice responded to my final question.
My mind was reeling at the glut of information. Thankfully I still felt calm and focused.
"So you have control over all the functions of this ship?" I asked.
"Affirmative."
"All the functions except the lock on this tube?"
"It is not possible for me to override any order given by the acting captain."
"What orders has he given you?"
"Currently I am under orders to hold position here, monitor for approaching ships, and keep you locked in the Bio-Med Pod."
"And that's it?"
"Affirmative."
That gave me an idea.
"What are the requirements for becoming Captain of Record for this ship?" I asked.
"Candidates for Captain of Record must self initiate the registration process, provide a DNA sample, and link their nanotech framework to the ship's systems" The ship replied.
"Those are the only requirements, correct?"
"Affirmative."
It doesn't hurt to try. I took a deep breath. "Please register me as Captain of Record for this ship?" I unintentionally made it a question. There's no way it's this easy.
"Please confirm that you would like to register as the Captain of Record for this vessel." Came the reply.
"Yes. Please. Absolutely. Confirmed." I blurted a rapid fire response.
"Registration request confirmed please specify new ship designation."
"You want a new name, is that really important right now?" I asked.
"A new designation must be specified during registration. Please specify a new ship designation." The voice repeated.
I said the first thing that popped into my head.
"Aquilon."
"Registration complete, ship designation [Aquilon] confirmed. Please note a systems integration nanotech upgrade is required. The process will take approximately 70 minutes." The computer replied.
I only managed an incoherent protest as my consciousness faded again.