Raptor One – Chapter 63
.
.
.
Browsing and researching nuclear power source production on my tricorder i finally manage to get a breakthrough on my research and uncover the basic nuclear reactor and it`s ship based worse copy, i look up and see that the station is one hour away from the ship, the movement to and from the planet bellow the station is dense and packed with tanker class ships, all unharmed, maybe because the clouds can become a hell of fire or something.
Looking at the system clock i see that the waypoint marker shows that the ship will arrive in three middle cycles, looking a little deeper i detect some discrepancy on the cycle system, so i enter the settings menu...
“Huh, the cycle shows two hours per long cycle?” i ask myself and look at my tricorder cycle system.
*1 hour per long cycle, 10 minutes per medium cycle, 1 minute per small cycle.*
“Huh. This ship cycle is wonky, Sigma?” i call Sigma for a debriefing.
“Yes?” Sigma reply comes fast.
“Did you change the cycle system? Or was it already faulty?” i ask Sigma for some information on the situation.
“Checking... Complete. Cycle system normal, why?” Sigma ask me.
“Huh... Sigma? Are you on the planetary clock or universal clock?” i ask her, trying not to rub my head in confusion.
“I’m in universal clock, why?” Sigma reply worry me.
“Sigma, I'll be sincere, lets synchronize a little so i can take a look at your system, I'm worried that your damage last time affected you more than you think.” i say and put on my helmet again, connecting it with the rest of my power armor.
“Sure, i know i can rely on you when i need it, go on. Synchronization system started, awaiting user.” Sigma decided to use the loyalty card on me.
“Da, here goes nothing...” i mutter and dive into Sigma’s Alpha core.
*Synchronization complete. Detected extra consciousness... Scanning... Consciousness classified, Auxiliary: Lemi.*
I hear Sigma in a robotic voice and nod as i see Lemi on my left arm, forgot we had a connected mind.
I breath in and go directly to work as i manage to open and identify many errors, fragmentations, outdated system, and more.
I start working with some difficulty as the number of problems are more than expected.
“Sigma, how did you manage to pass the AI test with this much problem? You’re more broken than me!” i say as i fight a unknown viruses and clean some unidentified digital goo out of the systems.
“White, i was working on backup power and before all hell broke loose i was hit with a lot of cyber attacks, i was the only one to survive as my twin sister took the blunt of the attack and centuries later perished.” Sigma give me a snippet of information.
“Whoa.” i dodge the attack of a virus that appeared suddenly from the digital goo, i did not leave it like that however as i countered with my own punch of which the virus evaded, but Lemi extended herself and devoured the virus whole before returning to rest back on my shoulder.
“Ins’t this dangerous? All this virus let loose on you are wrecking you, I'll take care of it.” i say even thought i was a little lame on my fight earlier.
“Thanks, it’s evading my pursuit for a long time now, maybe a sentient brain can help me.” Sigma say with a hint of chuckle in her voice.
I start moving and cleaning all the mess this... Thing is doing, i manage to get a track as i clean it’s damage and destroy it’s minor copies, i look at the clock of my digital tricorder and see that a small cycle have passed, no worries yet.
A virus jump on me out of nowhere and i fail to kill it, as i was about to be hit, Lemi lunges like a loose chain out of my arm and bite the virus neck, after loosening her bite a second later i pull her back and watch as she coils again on my arm in reverse while the virus vanish in acid goo that soon disappear.
“Damn girl, you’re killing today.” i say and smile while i caress Lemi’s head.
Okay, this won’t jump out of nowhere with no motive, it’s lair must be close.
“Sigma eyes open, we are close.” i say and as soon as i levitate a corner i find a wall.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
“A wall? AI systems should never have a blocked path or it’s thought process may break and lead to error, so this is the one.” i say as i remember my research about ‘Artificial Intelligence’.
*Checking data... Error, nothing found. Deep scan started... Blocked path found... Breaking path blocker... Complete.*
I wait as the wall starts to dissipate into nothingness, so i pull my digital pistol and aim.
Just as i thought, a load of virus starts moving into my direction, so i unload my pistol, mostly headshots as the virus dissipates i levitate forward as i reload, i manage to naturally reload my pistol as if it was part of my hand, but as i was doing so a big version of the virus jumps at me, of which i manage to dodge and see the system damage it did as it hits a system wall, Lemi managed to unload a bite into it while i unload my pistol on it.
It tries to attack me again but i dodge and shoot it again, but my bullet is deflected by it’s blade hands, but Lemi took the opportunity to enlarge and constrict the virus, it tries to get free but don’t manage to muster enough force, not to mention that the reinforcement came and drones and more drones comes and help stun it in place as the others start to dismember it into pieces.
I just grin and approach the dying virus mainframe, lifting my pistol i shoot it’s head, it’s data dissipating into nothing.
“How’s the system now Sigma?” i ask Sigma as i lower my pistol into my holster and start caressing Lemi’s head as she returns to my shoulder.
“Much better! From here i can clean up back into 100%, thanks White.” SIgma say with a soft tone.
“No worries, Sigma.” i say as i caress Lemi’s head, she was of great help.
*Starting desynchronization process... Complete. Returning consciousness back to body... Complete.*
Is what i hear as my body jolts upright, my hand going for my pistol, while Lemi’s eyes starts shining red in alert.
“Huff.” i breath out as i relax a little, looking at the ship system i see the cycle clock is back to normal, only two small cycles passed on the small incursion.
I’m out of breath and tired, Neural sync cost a lot on the body.
“Ugh... Sigma?” i ask her as i look at the approaching station, it’s already after the time to call the station, after three small cycles the station defense turrets will go live on us if i don’t announce the ship.
“*Sigma under update, Please standby.*”
Alright, she’s on repair mode, so I'm alone...
As i was about to call the station i hear my pack walk in.
“Sup boss!” Li’luk say in her peppy voice.
The others nod my way before going for their stations.
I get surprised however as Zu jumps on me.
“Hey, White, how's the situation? I somehow felt you where down and decided to come.” Zu say as she sit on my lap and try to work from here, but the system block her attempt making her pout.
I can’t help but chuckle, so i enable her on my console and let her work while i keep a eye for anything out of place.
“Here’s Zu’rahir from ISS – Tenacity, station please respond.”
“Irradiated clown station defense officer here, identify yourself again.” She receive her answer.
“Radar girl Zu’rahir from ISS – Tenacity.” She reply back.
“Captain only response is needed for verification, please call your Captain.” The station reply while being a jerk.
“No need, Super Soldier Cpt. Alex ‘White’ Omega from clan White is online and responsive, what’s your status.” I reply with a very cold tone.
I hear a lot of noise on their side as someone is pulled forcefully out, because i hear someone crashing with the ground as the voice change.
“Here’s Station commander Sarah O’neil, sorry for the rudeness sir, what’s your purpose here on the irradiated clown?” i hear a female voice, the station commander.
“I’m here to deliver a cargo of refined material for you machines belly, requesting docking procedure and unloading crew, i want to be out of this station in less than two long cycles.” i reply, my voice still very cold.
“Sure, sure, docking bay one is free and have loading crew ready, sending data...” She say but i cut her off.
“No need for data. Docking bay one, full docking speed.” I say and cut the connection.
“”Understood Captain!”” Both of the Su brothers reply and the ship speeds forward, the docking bay on view.
With the change of speed i see that the cycle clock keeps changing, so i ignore it and wait to give further orders.
Approaching the open docking bay and it’s waiting crew the ship do a full out slow down cutting the ship speed from high speed to turtle speed in seconds as we land on the wide one ship deck.
I get up with Zu, take my helmet off for a second to give Zu a kiss before placing it back and giving hand orders for both Li sisters to follow, weapons ready as we jump down the ladder, closing the bulkhead and activating the depressurization protocol while i get into my Viking.
Seeing this lovely girl interior again puts a smile on my face as i hear her powerful engines roar.
Releasing the clamp i do a very tight ground transformation inside the small hangar bay, the landing releasing no sound on the airless space as Li’luk open the Small hangar door and i push my Viking forward, out of my ship just to spit on their faces, Drones outside and ready.
As soon as my Orange Viking appear i see the eyes of the crew widen inside their helmets as i stand guard, waiting for the responsible to come in and give me the digital signature of the delivery.
I have to wait for some long time as the resources are unloaded before the responsinble show up.
It’s a female human, i see her name tag, Sarah O’neil, walking to our ship, legs trembling.
She stops in front of Li’lak and open comms, i see Li’lak having trouble translating her normal words as my Viking Machineguns are aimed on her, my Cannons ready to fire as i open my cockpit and jump in front of O’neil, scaring her into falling butt first.
I open connection and take the slowly falling digital datapad before talking to her while reading.
“Is this the delivery mission log?” i ask her in a cold voice.
“Tha- Tha- That's ri- right.” she stutter out.
I nod in silence and finish reading before signing the data, after i got my own updated and checked on the universal datalink the logs i throw the datapad back to her and give hand commands to retreat and lift off before jumping on my Viking again and walking back, Drones flying alongside the ship with me as escort on my Viking as we take distance fast from the jerks station.
After some distance i dock my Viking and jump down as the drones dock one after another on the ship, me on the other hand closed the bulkhead and waited for the fast repressurization before jumping back into the middle deck and sitting on my Captain chair.
“Captain, where to?” Su’ra ask me.
I take off my helmet and sigh, my frown disappearing. “To Stratta VII c, Normal waypoint course.” i say and relax on my chair.
“”Understood Captain!”” Both brothers say.
“Solar sail deployed.” Su’ra
“Engine boosting us into cuising speed.” Su’zu.
“”Optimal cruise speed in one small cycle.”” Both say in sync.
“Good job guys, now lets relax a little, I'm torn...” i sigh and close my eyes.