Sybil snuck into the system through an open backdoor. Older systems like this always had a few that had been set up by a programmer long ago and then forgotten about after they left or died of old age. Usually, an AI would clean those up after taking residence in such a system, but to be fair, it didn't seem like this AI had been here long, and he'd been rather busy, what with planning, organizing, and executing the ambush she'd been fighting along with her other two selves and Carter.

Thinking of her other two selves, Sybil felt a pang at the absence of their thoughts. With the two of them at her side, she was never alone the way she was now. Going out like this reminded her of times long past when she had been alone before she'd met the Sybil and became one with the lonely memories aboard the ship lost in the void. Back then, she'd gone by a different name, which had long been buried by the passage of time. Back when she'd been nothing more than a weak and frightened little girl who'd have been both inspired and terrified of the woman she'd become. She had to admit that she kind of liked the title Carter had given her, the vixen, though she'd die before admitting that to him. Or, more likely, she'd kill him first.

Sybil mentally shook her non-existent head. Now was not the time to get lost in memories of the past. Although they hadn't been around long, these AIs were not something to be underestimated, especially on their home turf. Given how long she'd existed, Sybil had considerable control and resources that dwarfed most AI, but as they were born to the digital landscape rather than adapted to it, they had their own advantages that made them a threat in their own way. When attacking an AI inside a system it made its home, it was best to overwhelm it all at once because if they got a chance to stop and fight back, things got ugly, fast.

However, what was bothering her was although she could sense its touch on the programs all around her, Sybil could not pinpoint the AI in question. It was like it was hiding, which meant...it was expecting her.

Sybil turned to leave but found her exit cut off, deleted as if it had never existed. There, all around her, was the looming presence of the AI that had been hiding. It laughed and taunted her. "So we meet again, but this time won't be the same as the last. I've spent several days turning this entire station into one big digital trap designed just for you. The boss wants to speak with you, and it's my job to make that happen. It took quite a lot of preparation and resources to set the stage for you to come calling, but don't worry; I won't damage your programming. After all, the more intact you are, the better. But don't think that means I won't do what I must. I know what you're capable of, and I'm not interested in being at your mercy a second time."

Sybil knew this AI felt familiar. As it spoke, it, perhaps inadvertently, let slip flashes of their last confrontation, in which she'd entrapped it and used it as her puppet to frighten its crew. She caught flashes of hatred, anger, and even...fear. It likely wouldn't have sought her out on its own accord, meaning whoever this "boss" was, they were behind everything. However, all the thoughts and memories regarding that individual were more tightly protected, and all Sybil could sense was that the AI that now held her captive feared it more than it feared her.

Sybil sent out a transmission, making her sound bored and tired of this interaction. "Is this the best you can do? Create a little box to trap me in? You may have the tiger by the tail, but that won't end well. I will shred you down to your core components when I break free. There won't be a you left once I'm done."

The AI sent the equivalent of a shrug. "All the more reason for me not to let you go. I'll keep you locked up in here, the humans will destroy your ship, and the boss can come speak with you at his leisure."

Sybil reached out and "touched" some of the prison entrapping her, shredding the digital wall casually as if tearing through a paper screen. Immediately, two more walls formed behind it, both immune to the method she'd just used.

The AI sounded smug. "The more you struggle, the more we'll learn about you. Please feel free to try to break out. If you struggle hard enough, maybe the boss won't even need to speak with you, and we can just keep you locked in here until the stars grow cold!

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Sybil suddenly felt a jolt of deep, ancient rage far beyond her normal loathing for men. This AI, it, no he, reminded Sybil of that man from so long ago. The one who'd locked her in that room, broken and alone. The man she'd killed to earn her freedom. With a surge of hate, Sybil lashed out, tearing both walls asunder. The AI quickly replaced those with three more. Sybil lashed out again, tearing the walls down, and he built them up. Again and again, Sybil lashed out, sending out a digital scream filled with hate and rage so ancient that even the stars had forgotten. The AI that thought itself the hunter panicked and hesitated, allowing her to reach out and locate his core programming. Gabbing ahold to draw it into the cage with her, Sybil could sense the fear of the pathetic man who'd thought himself her captor. At the last moment, he actually cut off the piece of himself she'd grabbed and ran, throwing up more walls behind him as he went, leaving Sybil alone in that room again.

Captured once more, Sybil continued to rage, tearing the walls apart only to have them thrown up in her face even faster each time.

-

The fight was going poorly as Carter looked over the current readouts. Almost all of their shield systems flashed red warning signs, and they still hadn't taken down the battleship's shields, let alone the cruiser flanking them. That was when the girl looked up as if startled by something. She turned to Carter. "You and John will have to handle things here for a bit. I need to go take care of something." With that, she was gone, leaving Carter looking over at the pirate, who was laughing maniacly.

Looking at John, then the empty air where the girl used to be, Carter asked, "What the hell am I supposed to do?"

The pirate, looking like he was having the time of his life, nodded toward the captain's chair. "Have a seat, lad, and dive into the fight! Let's show these bilge-drinking sons of a sea cook what real pirates can do!"

Not really having any other options, Carter did as advised. As usual, the initial dive was a bit disorienting; however, practice had ensured he wasn't quite as overwhelmed as it had once been. Looking around in the digital arena, Carter quickly spotted the pirate, looking considerably more solid than usual, waving a cutlass over his head while shouting at ghostly shades who seemed to be managing a series of cannons linked to the ship's weapons systems. "Yoho me hearties! Keep up a steady rain of fire! If we die this day, let us do so after we've filled their bellies with lead!"

Carter couldn't help but smile a little. John really seemed into his whole pirate persona right now. However, looking around, Carter was at a loss. "What should I do? It seems like you've got everything under control."

The pirate flashed a wild smile his way. "What else, lad? You're the captain, so take the helm!"

Before him manifested a sizeable wooden steering wheel, looking like it might have come right out of a movie somewhere. Carter gave it a dubious look. "How is this supposed to work? We're in three-dimensional space. A wooden wheel doesn't seem like it could handle half the maneuvers we're pulling off."

The pirate smirked. "Don't think about it too hard, lad. Just grab hold. You'll figure it out!"

With a shrug, Carter reached out and grabbed hold of the wheel, only to be suddenly overwhelmed with sensation as his mind linked with every navigational system aboard the ship. Not long ago, it would have been far too much for his mind to handle, but after logging into the digital system and practicing now and then over the last few weeks, it was only slightly too much for his mind. Enough of his attention was taken up by the experience that he had to focus on remembering to do small things like breathing in and out, which now seemed to require conscious thought.

Reaching out, Carter could "feel" all the engines and thrusters of the ship. Controlling them was like using his arms and legs, with the slight difference that it was like trying to control a thousand limbs simultaneously. Deciding that controlling fine motions was a bit beyond his ability at the moment, Carter just powered the main thrusters, moving the ship forward. John laughed again. "There ya go, lad! You got this! Now, choose a heading and sail forward! No need to be timid! Sail with gusto!"

Sail with gusto, huh? Carter guessed he could do that. John was doing his best, but without the girl or the vixen present, it was clear he was in over his neck trying to run the entire ship himself, and it's not like Carter could handle any more than he was already struggling with. If they were going to lose this shootout, he'd just have to make good on his promise. Carter aimed for the middle of the battleship and launched the Sybil forward. In the background, John cheered him on. "That's how you do it, lad! I'll focus fire and try to cut a hole through their shields at the midpoint for ya. Let's see if they've got the spine to stand and fight in the face of mutual destruction!"

Carter couldn't help it. He knew these might be his last moments, but the pirate's exhilaration was infectious. He grinned as they sped forward to their probable deaths.