Raptor One – Chapter 65
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.
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I wonder when...
When did i sleep, or, to be more precise, black out?
Because I'm feeling one hell of a headache, not to say my body is heavy.
I groan a little as i open my senses just to witness something strange, and that yet manage to surprise me.
I open my eyes and look at my stretched arms, Li’lak and Li’luk are sleeping using it, Zu slept on top of me it seen as i feel her light weight and small frame on top of my naked self.
Well, anything that counts as Avali is light and small compared to my 1,45Cm height.
And i wont start about my weight due to my mechanical parts.
I give a look around the pile of pillows and see a clear yet subtle distance between the group, to be more precise, the Su brothers are starting to be shoved off.
As i see no way of getting up and not get the girls awake i just gently wake the girls up, i need to do something about this not so small problem if i want to keep my pack in one piece.
“Mornin...” I hear Zu say a little sleepy
Li’lak gives a cute groan as she gets up while Li’luk stretch herself while not hitting anyone by accident.
“Privet to you girls too, let me get the boys and we are gonna have a very unpleasant chat for the morning.” i say as i stand up, my size almost being almost double of theirs.
“Huh, I'm feeling a little conscious about myself, wonder why.” i say and caress Lemi a little.
Lemi try to do something, but our connection say that she would give a rude awakening to the guys so i stop her by patting her head.
“Hey tovarishcham, get up and lets go, i have some talk to do about our arrival.” i say and give a light shake on both Su’ra and Su’zu.
After everyone got into their place in the low table i start talking.
“Okay, first, we are not eating before solving this problem, so keep your fluffy asses down and hear, if you got something to say, say it.” i start with a serious mood, the entire pack know this is serious because i normally do my systematic ritual before doing anything else.
“What’s the problem boss?” Li’lak ask me.
“Curious aint’cha, the problem is that a second rift is starting to appear on the pack... Again.” I say tilting my head as my white pupils pass by each one of my pack, my arms closed.
I’m received with silence as everyone starts to think about all that happened until now.
“I won’t be harsh like last time, why? Because this pack should never exist to begin with and i should be a broken puppet somewhere, but i did say i would give this pack thingy a try..” i say and sigh, i was harsh waisn't i?
The entire pack did not receive my words with good humor as their faces lowers, the silence predominant.
I sigh before continuing.
“You guys have a lot of different thought process to be on the same pack, you two.” I say and point at the Li sisters. “Both of you love being industrial and hands on, but reject direct confrontation.” i say and then point at the Su brothers. “You two love discipline and are ready to confront along with others, but reject acts that show traces of unloyalty.” i sigh.
“And you Zu, love, I'm sorry but i can’t let you off the hook... You are perfectionist to a fault, you somewhat get along with the sisters hands on approach, and with the brothers discipline, but then it ends there, and you being a brave person make you very hard to please as you WILL confront face to face...” I sigh again.
“I wonder what you all saw in a feral, broken and abnormal Avali like me... ” I say and recover after another sigh.
“I don’t like this at all too, if you don’t see, I'm trying to change, if not for the pack, it’s for one another... I’m exhausted of mending cracks with handmade tape when you five have the means to become a full fledged and harmonious pack.” i finish my words, my voice did not alternate even at the end.
“I see where all this come from...” Zu say, her words aimed at no one. “I’ll take note of this problem in me and correct it, after all, I'm part of the pack.” She finish with a smile.
“I approve. My way of doing things are too rough, if i think a little more bout it, everyone has a way to show loyalty.” Su’ra say and nod.
“*Sigh* What part did i get wrong? Discipline makes us whole, but it seen there are other ways of showing discipline and loyalty that i refused to acknowledge...” Su’zu say sigh.
The Li sisters stay silent, having trouble accepting this talk, i look their way, my white pupils focused on both, yet i say nothing.
While Li’luk stay silent for some time, Li’lak open her mouth to talk.
“I accept that my way of doing things are somewhat biased, i never was good with people in general, so i do find it hard to understand that my actions can break... I mean, hurt someone’s feelings. I’ll try to keep a look out for this type of occurrence.” Li’lak say with her small and shy voice.
We all nod in understanding, so the only one left is Li’luk, happy go lucky types do get it hard most of the time.
“I... *Sigh*” Li’luk try but fail and sigh before making her mind.
“I’ll do my best.” Li’luk try to say it in a serious mood and tone.
“This type of tone and way of talking don’t suit you at all, my peppy n jumpy ball of fluff.” i say and smile her way.
Everyone burst out laughing, making my smile become bigger.
As they talk, i get up and head to the kitchen area to make food, we must be almost on the planet and Sigma did not complete her repair yet, i look back at the talking group and see no rift, at least for now, let’s see if this approach was just another handmade tape or a full welding.
I start preparing food after sighing, my distraction made me mess a lot of things forcing me to remake the food into a simpler form, spicy tacos, some of the pack members won't like this that much.
I shake my head and take the spicy tacos to the low table before sitting beside Zu again, leaning on one hand while eating with the other.
Before i could place the non intentional extra spicy tacos on my mouth, Zu decide that her seat next to me wains’t enough and took my lap instead.
I look at Zu, her face slowly turning red as she fail to keep her embarrassment inside, yet don’t leave my lap.
Trying to eat my spicy taco again I'm disturbed again, but this time by a pair of brown twins.
The Li sisters took each my my side.
And i find myself distracted by the huge alteration in the pack parameters...
At least they aren’t rejecting each other... i think...
I again forsake my spicy tacos to give a very serious look at the table so i can be sure the pack is in harmony, after seeing the many differences in way of thought, reactions and the more friendly conversations all of which was analyzed with cold machine thinking i conclude that there’s no problem.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
I give a soft sigh and finally start eating my beloved spicy food.
I groan a little at the over spicy tacos and the derailed flavor, but finish eating anyway before resting, my hands curling Zu to appease her a little, i was focusing on eating so she became a little angry but nothing some cuddling can solve.
I chuckle as i see the obvious mood change, most markably by her twitching ears and slight swing of the head, as if she was hearing some music she likes, i chuckle again as the others understand why i was chuckling and start some harmless bickering.
As i was not in the mood for conversation, i just started to sing some tunes, slowly making some basic electronic music before inserting some rock in the mix, the entire pack can’t even find a opening to join due to the intensity of the music itself.
“It feels like he’s battling himself.” Su’ra comment on my music.
“Yeah, i feel it too, the intensity, the change of voice, the tone, the aggressiveness of it all...” Li’luk reply to su’ra.
“Tormentor is the name of the music.” i say as i finish the first music and start the tune of the second.
The second tune starts with a basic yet heavy electronic, before going directly into song overdrive as i sing along the sound of the heavy guitar, my cold and distorted voice dominating the music as my gentle tone of voice try to fight back and fail, ending alone as the gentle side try to sing out of it’s prison.
As the song reach a sad end i see the faces of my pack as they look, saddened.
“Neuroses, this is the name of the song...” i say before starting a third song, it’s start sad.
The song start tame, the gentle voice singing alone, it’s tune being only it’s voice, but it’s will can be heard as it sings, then the cold and heavy voice returns along with the sound of guitar, startling the gentle voice into silence before daring it to sing.
“you better Never give up” Li’lak manage to understand my cold voice’s side.
The song revolves around the two voices as they sing away, breaking the prison the soft voice was locked in, the soft voice taking a tone of desistence as the cold one take a tone of assurance before both sync.
“Wake up.” Li’lak whispers what my cold side said to the soft side.
The sound of two guitars resound on the room as i sing out, both voices in sync as they never give up, the song reaching a higher crescendo as both side of the voices alternate, the willpower oozing out of their voices as they sing up, the feeling of the prison being broken open can be felt as the song reach a end with a last strand of heavy guitar.
“Whoo!!” i hear the pack cheering and smile.
“Discharge, that’s the name of the music.” i say and get up, placing Zu where i was seated.
“I’ll ready up kits, lets see each other in the bridge, we must be dangerously close to the station and the ice planet may not have a breathing layer, but it sure does have a gravity one.” i say with a smile.
“Sure thing boss!” Li’luk say with her hand up.
I chuckle as i see the pack ready itself before heading to the locker room for a shower.
As i get out of the shower, about to enter the crew quarter i hear Sigma voice.
“*System repair complete... Sigma booted up.*”
“Ey Sigma! My Tovarishch! Welcome back and privet to you!” i yell from the locker room as i dry myself.
“White, you ball of mischief! You have no idea how much i found your absence worrying.” Sigma reply with a laugh.
“Haha! Good to know i wans’t the only one!” i yell back after laughing, deactivating the drier.
Walking inside the crew quarter i find my power armor open and ready, a little focus show Sigma’s alpha core’s blue glow inside, i smirk before suiting up, the power armor sealing shut with a very loud hiss.
A plethora of new data start showing at high speed on my HEV helmet before going away and showing a small image of a 2d girl.
“Hello! Sigma here, ready and working at full power!” Sigma’s image say before showing a lot of new and better data for me to go over.
After a short look i see that she did a full overhaul of the power armor system, many weaknesses and faults are completely gone.
The most obvious was the need to take off the helmet, leaving the head exposed.
I sigh as my HEV helmet dismantles itself into my power armor, yet it’s sensor and data never fading from my sight as it’s holograms keep floating around my face while my neck sensor boots up it’s hologram mode and sync the visible visual data.
“Okay, I'm loving this so far, now let’s get into the bridge.” i mutter and start walking to the bridge.
“White, we are on the planet gravity territory, the station is two small cycles of distance.” Sigma say to me.
“Why are we not shot down yet?” i ask as i jump down into the middle deck and speed walk into the bridge.
“Captain!” My pack yell and salute my way.
I look over my shoulder after nodding and see a big holographic screen showing a cyborg human in military clothes, the station commander.
I just ignore him and continue walking to my chair.
“Reverse the sails, full speed stop.” i say before reaching my chair and sitting.
“”Roger!”” Su’ra and Su’zu say in unison.
My back brace for impact as the ship gravity distorts as the ship groans, it’s speed falling very fast before coming to a full stop five seconds later.
“Retract the sails.” i ask the brothers and focus on the silent cyborg onscreen.
“Understood.” i hear Su’zu say.
“And you are?” i ask the cyborg.
“Id-02-99, Rust, explain, trespassing.” Rust, the station commander say in a cold and very robot like voice.
“02-99, We are here for our objective, Sigma, give the code.” i reply back.
“DLR-01077-22091-1” Sigma give the mission code.
“Searching... Mission code found... Scanning ship signal... 75% match.... Detected restricted good onboard.” Rust say.
“Explain.” i ask further.
“Unidentified drones detected onboard, classification, Military grade, type: Flagship. No signal.” Rust explain and i sigh.
“So it was the drones...” I sigh and continue. “Sigma, the drones have basic delta cores. Seed it please.” i ask Sigma.
“Erm...” Sigma reply comes fast with a lot of blush in it...
“What?” i ask Sigma who appeared beside my head in her small human form.
“Sorry White, but it’s impossible to seed alone, I'll need another core for this...” She say with a red face.
I tilt my head and try thinking like a computer then converting it into sentient thought...
“You need to breed...” i say as my white pupils enlarge. “Or you can’t get pregnant.” i finish with a face of disbelief.
My pack look my way at the two of us, also in disbelief.
“You won’t go forward with this right? Is it even possible to start with?” Zu ask us.
“Alex ‘Omega’ White brain works due to the Gamma core inside, that make him a organic AI, thus enabling reproduction...” Sigma say the last part in a small voice, but our acute hearing catch it all.
I look at the cyborg and ask. “Can this be circumvented? I can disable the drones and allow a full scan and registering.” i try to bargain.
Rust seen to think about it as i see his red robotic eyes flash. “Negative, after scanning host ship the detected drones are too dangerous, further approach without certified signal will be met with force.” Rust say after some time of calculations.
“Are the drones itself the problem?” i ask Rust further question about the hostile approach.
“Negative. Drones AI signatures are deemed corrupted and hostile. Danger to station and personel calculation are higher than 25%, thus denied.” Rust explain.
Zu looks my way, wanting to deny and ask for another way, but sighs and just sit on my lap.
The Sisters don’t look happy at all that too as i hear the girls murmuring about me having a child before they had one.
I grimace a little before talking. “Pack? Remember that i have a kit somewhere? Your choice of words don’t match my situation... And it’s not helping!” i almost tear a feather off me because of the situation.
“High increase in stress detected. White, we can find another way...” Sigma say, but i manage to detect sadness in her voice.
“*Sigh* Can’t i think a little? I’m already guilty enough for using your sister as mind template for my own...” i say with a sigh to Sigma.
“So you used Beta as template....” Sigma say with a gasp.
“Da.” i say and sigh. “Want to continue? I don’t mind having more child, heck, i want a full clan of it.” i say with a sigh and end with a laugh. “Not that this abomination have a chance...” i say laughing.
Zu place both hands on my face and stare angry at me because of my words.
“I don’t see why your existence, body, race, nor anything that match with the word abomination.” Sigma say first as she tilts her head, a finger close to her mouth as she do so with a thoughtful tone.
“Nor do i! Stop thinking like that just because you’re made of nanites!” Zu reprimand me hard.
“Ugh... Touche.” i say and lift both hands in defeat, a smile back on my face, my pupils regaining its tone of white.
“Sigma, begin the wipe!” Zu give the order.
Sigma don’t move nor act, but looks at me.
“Do it.” i nod as i embrace Zu.
“Wiping corrupt Delta core data... Complete.” Sigma say and look at me.
“What do i need to do?” i ask Sigma.
Sigma’s face goes red before saying. “Le- Leave it to me, JU- just open a full connection with me.” Sigma say with a stutering voice.
“Rodzher.” I chuckle as i follow her words.
*Full connection achieved.*
*Initializing data share.*
*Detected Delta core 1,2,3 and 4.*
*No AI detected, start Seed protocol?*
Yes.
*Seed protocol started. Bearer: Sigma Scarlet.*
*Birth complete.*
My mind refocus, my limp body stretch and contract it’s muscles again as i sit upright from my non ideal posture.
“Ugh, the feeling of disconnection always make me feel weird.” i say out loud as i shake my head, Sigma, that is on my side have a face that is red from the neck up, this make me remember the sensations.
“Feels like i just had real sex...” i say out loud and the girls face becomes red, specially Sigma.
“Dad!” i receive comms from somewhere.
I blink a little. “What? Dad?” i ask surprised before remembering the four Delta cores on the hangar.
“Uh, things just got more awkward...” i say and sigh as Sigma refuses to open her mouth.
“Is this okay now?” i ask rust, very annoyed, because of him i became father of more than four in seconds!
“Affirmative, docking allowed, All signal matching safety rules.” Rust say.
“You better not appear before me Rust, for you safety rule.” i say annoyed and cut the connection.
I look at my pack and they look back at me in awkward silence.
“So? Forward.” i say, trying to defuse the awkwardness.
The entire pack start working, and soon the awkwardness is gone like it never existed, in it’s place came enthusiastic conversation about my four new girls while the girls in question chat with my pack.
Me and Sigma keep our silence as we wait for the ship to dock...