Feeling the Sybil as it unleashed its devastating barrage against the battleship, Carter couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. It was as if his sense of self was momentarily threatened. It would be so easy to lose himself in the sheer scale of this monster of a ship, but with a sensation similar to a myoclonic jerk, he snapped back into himself.

The girl, who in some ways now surrounded him completely, also stood before him. "I thought we lost you there for a second. However, I'm glad you've got more mental fortitude than that. If you were able to withstand that, you might not need to be babysat in here anymore!"

Carter, still getting over the sensation, looked over at the girl. "Wait, that's possible? To get lost in here? And what do you mean babysat?"

This time, the vixen who was controlling the ship's movements answered. "It happens to small-minded individuals from time to time. But we can usually pull you out again...so long as we get to you fast enough. Hence the 'babysitting' she mentioned."

Carter glared at the girl. "That would have been nice to know before it happened! What other existential risks am I taking here?"

There was a shift as power was routed from some of the guns into shields and thrusters, and the Sybil was repositioned to begin its attack and run on the next destroyer. They were turning to flee, and Carter could feel the Sybil's blood lust as she targeted the thrusters. What he found somewhat disconcerting about that was he wasn't sure if the blood lust he felt came from the vixen...or the girl. At times like this, he missed the more cheerful, if still somewhat insane, presence of John.

The girl shook her head. "Can we have this conversation later? With one of my selves missing, this is more demanding than usual..."

Carter wanted to protest further but decided arguing with the ship's personifications while it was still in combat wasn't a great idea. Instead, he just shook his head and contented himself by sitting back and watching her work. Although watching was a somewhat inaccurate description of what was happening. It was more like he felt it. It was like he was sitting in the backseat of his own body as someone else was walking around in it, except his body was now the size of a small city block and unimaginably complex. Honestly, in many ways, it felt like a dream, chaotic and incomprehensible, though now he felt somewhat worried about the integration and wondered if this place was affecting him more than he realized.

That was when a message came through from Alen. While he was hooked up to the system, it was a simple matter for Carter to open a window to speak with the kid. Though that made him wonder, was Alen watching a digital representation of Carter while they talked, like one of the Sybil's avatars? Could he make it do other things? He shook his head and refocused his thoughts. "Carter here. What's up?"

Alen seemed a little off-put by the casual greeting but got over it quickly enough and started speaking. "Uh, yeah. Just a thought, but could we take that ship intact once you take out its shields and thrusters? I have an idea."

Carter looked over at the girl, who looked thoughtful. "Well, we can keep from damaging it too much easily enough, but I don't know if Erik and Vanessa are quite enough to take and hold an entire destroyer on their own."

Alen smiled. "That won't be an issue. Commander Ried was hoping to get in a little more direct action, so he'll lead over a few squads, and I suspect we might be able to get a little more backup once I tell them my plan."

The girl nodded. "Fair enough. One sitting duck, coming up!"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

As the call ended, Carter opened a comm to Erik. "Hey, we've got a destroyer we need you to clear. You'll be getting backup, but you'll be the vanguard. Think you're up to the task?"

Carter could see Erik through one of the Sybil's many cameras, even if the alien couldn't see him. The large man jumped up, clearly ready for a fight, as he answered. "I'm always ready to get mixed in, you know that! We've even got the shuttle all fueled and ready to go!"

Carter shook his head but grinned at the infectious nature of the alien's bravado before responding. "Well, about that... I kinda had a different idea in mind. One that is both a little safer...and a little more dangerous."

Even with the alien physiology, Cater could tell Erik was interested as the large man answered. "You've got my attention..."

-

Vanessa watched as Erik approached their method of transportation as if a human child were approaching a candy shop. She'd seen her mistress show all sorts of excitement, but this was the first time she'd describe her oversized companion as 'giddy.'

Erik's eyes were actually dilated as he walked up to it. "Oh man, oh man! I've always wanted to try one of these! Oh, smell that? That's the smell of rapid delivery death!"

Vanessa shook her head. "I believe what you are smelling is industrial-grade fuel and lubrication. The Sybil could have cleaned it up a little more for our use."

Erik shook his head. "No, this is perfect! It might just be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen..."

These devices were typically designed to hold an entire squad in battle suits, but the Sybil had apparently designed this one with their exact physiology in mind. However, Vanessa was not about to agree with Erik lest that encourage her companion to continue extolling its virtues. "It's crude but functional. It shall serve our needs well enough, but I would in no way call it beautiful."

Erik hopped in and strapped himself in, looking like he getting ready for some sort of roller coaster ride. Vanessa shook her head and secured herself in the position meant for herself. Once in, Carter spoke with them again. "You all ready to go? Remember, you'll be on your own for a bit, but keep an eye out for the friendlies you'll be running into."

Erik shook his head. "Yeah, yeah, we know how to board a ship! Let's go already!"

If Carter was taken aback by the response, he didn't show it. "Alright. Hold on tight. Your ride might be a little bumpy!"

With that, Vanessa and Erik were both pushed back into their supportive seating as the inertia dampeners could not fully compensate for the forces of the assault pod launching out of the ship.

-

Murphy was running through the hall toward the armory. The enemy had taken out their shields and thrusters, and that could only mean one thing. However, his forward charge was halted when an explosion rocked the corridor, the reverberations of which knocked him from his feet as debris rocketed into the hall from a direct hit.

In the chaos and confusion of the moment, Murphy wondered if maybe the enemy had decided to just take them out after all, but rather than get sucked out into the void, the dust settled just in time for Murphy to see an odd protrusion into the hallway as it opened up, launching some sort of monster out into the unexpecting crew.

The monster was a whirlwind of destruction, tearing apart anyone who so much as drew their weapons with its twin axes. This wasn't a fight. It was a butchery!

Not wanting anything to do with whatever that nightmare was, Murphy turned and ran, not looking back at the source of the gunfire and screams behind him. Judging by how fast the sounds of gunfire dropped off, he'd made the right decision.

Finally having a moment to stop and think, Murphy decided the ship was a lost cause. No amount of reward or punishment could make him face whatever that had been. Instead, he ran forward, looking for a hatchway he must have walked past hundreds of times without paying it the slightest bit of attention.

Just ahead, he saw what he was looking for. He grabbed the bright red handle and twisted it, causing the nearby hatch to open with a hiss. Inside, there was room for maybe a half dozen people, but Murphy wasn't about to stop and wait. He climbed inside and turned around to slam the door shut, only to see an even greater nightmare rapidly approaching. It was like some sort of giant bug or spider, and its movements were impossibly fast.

Murphy didn't stop and think. He slammed the door shut and smashed his fist into the red button next to it, only remembering to breathe once the escape pod launched itself into space.

True, the odds were pretty good that whoever found him would either imprison him or have him put to death, but that was infinitely preferable to whatever it was he'd just escaped from.