Chapter Fifteen

[Are you a crew sent by my queen?] The voice radiated through the group’s chips again, this time in a threatening tone. The glow in the cavern turned dark with deep red crackles running through it, and several defense turrets shifted to aim at the group.

Rel stepped forward, bowing his head in respect even as his heart thundered in his chest. “Do you mean… Elara? She has not formally bound us but—”

[But?]

“This…this… I thought this was a planet, not a nursery!” Zafir exclaimed, unable to contain himself any longer. “The human filth constructed their empire on a grow bed for ships? Who in their right mind allowed this?!”

[Ships? No. Just me.] The glowing patterns grew brighter, shifting to neutral lighting to illuminate the cavernous space. Most walls consisted of hollowed-out stone, dotted with the blue-green metal of Syldrari technology. Conduits spread out from the doorway the group had entered from, their thick cording creating patterns that spread over everything in a haphazard way, unlike most Syldrari constructions.

Several city blocks away, the cavern expanded again, bordered by a shimmering strip of tessellated triangles acting as a water barrier. Though the barrier only rose a few feet from the floor, a walkway encircled what little of it the group saw from the entrance. The ‘nose’ of the enormous ship sat several dozen feet back from the barrier, its dark shape melding into the darkness of the impossibly deep hollow it rested in.

Closer to the tank, the floor was made from a translucent material, showing where the access hatches and the inner workings of the tank were. Again, the rushed construction was a stark contrast to the organized, tidy care the Syldrari normally took with their work—let alone such important constructions.

[Elara… Yes, her memory banks suggest this is her name now. Processing data.]

Jysel stared at the massive, water-suspended ship in disbelief. He had seen plenty of living ships in his time, even if they weren’t in common usage. This one was like none he had seen before, and most of its frame was too distant or otherwise obscured to make out.

The ship’s outer ‘shell’ was a vine-like, iridescent black material with a visually rough texture. Glowing splotches and dots peppered the entire exterior in a pattern similar to that on Elara’s forearms. The glow illuminated the distant sections of the ship, so distant that they were a mere blur in the pitch darkness beyond the entry room.

Tendrils tipped in bulbous, radiant lights rested around the ship within its tank. Jysel eyed the barriers containing the water, confirming they were a modular frame that expanded as the ship grew larger. Above, Jysel made out a system of pipes that likely syphoned water to the tank automatically as needed.

[Rel and Jysel R’selkti. Zafir. Ciheri. Casair. Aldiner.] The ship rattled off their names as if reading a list. [My queen favors you. I will tolerate your presence. What do you wish of me?]

“You said this planet is your nursery? Only yours?” Rel inquired. “What happened to the other ships?”

[There was no room for other ships. My growth potential is vastly superior.] There was another flicker in the room’s systems, and a wall to their left retracted, giving the group a full understanding of the ship’s size. The vaguely manta-like construction extended further into the distance than the Syldrari could see, its wingspan becoming cramped in its tank. [I’ve been growing here since Elara was brought to this planet. Her memories are mine now. They weren’t safe for her to keep, and her enemies lack precision.

[I wish to fly with my queen…but she does not want this ‘planet’ destroyed…]

A mournful sound unlike anything the Syldrari had heard before echoed through the cavern, causing dust to fall from the ceiling and cordage to rattle in their clusters.

“You…took Elara’s memories?” Rel asked cautiously. “We thought her enemies, or the humans—”

[I am the keeper of her first fourteen lives. We are linked. When she needs something, I process the request and give her the information she desires.] The ship paused as if thinking. [Even if the process was reversible, she may not have her memories back. It would ruin her.]

“Our priority is to keep her safe,” Jysel spoke up, clenching a fist against his chest. “She can’t stay safe here, but we don’t want to disrespect her wishes. We are all running out of time.”

[My orders are to take Elara and return to the sector of space she was conceived, should this planet become too dangerous,] the ship stated. [Suggestion: Evacuate all lifeforms in this system. The debris from my nursery will impact moons and planets.]

A green light shimmered beside the group, causing all defense turrets to swivel. When the light abated, the Y’serdyn appeared, already kneeling. “If it is evacuation you recommend, I am willing to lend my aid. We will need a sound plan, which will take time to prepare.”

[…Y’serdyn, who told my queen to stay out of trouble. I will let you live for now.]

Ciheri glanced around nervously, then at the ship, clearly not sure where he was supposed to make eye contact. “Um… What should we call you?”

[I will only accept a name or title from my queen.]

Rel… What class ship is this? Jysel asked, finding himself at a loss for words. He was aware of the others talking, yet all he could do was stare at the living ship.

I…don’t know what to call it. It’s larger than any ship I’ve seen. Rel shook his head. Its capacity may be close to a city ship, but with its wings and the tendrils… My assumption is it’s both wider and longer by a significant margin. Until we can venture deeper into this place, I can’t be certain.

“If I may ask…” Zafir asked tentatively. “Are you a Depthwalker ship?”

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

[I will not disclose my queen’s origins to people outside her clan.]

Jysel sighed softly and hung his head. “Elara doesn’t have control of her power. We don’t know when she will be able to claim us.”

[If my queen’s living conditions become safer, I will help her learn.]

“Are you…comfortable?” Ciheri murmured.

[I wish to fly,] the ship reiterated. [But…I will not endanger my queen.]

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Ciheri asked eagerly. “Aside from evacuate the system, that is.”

[Rel. Jysel. Ciheri. You may clean my tank and fix my water supplies if you wish. The others may repair the autonomous cleaning systems. You will find transport to your left.]

“I…must ask,” Rel began through gritted teeth, “Was the clan of Royal Guards an ally or enemy to Elara?”

[Enemy. Cause of fourteenth and fifteenth memory archival procedures,] the ship’s mournful reply made the twins’ hearts clench. [Elara was stolen. Retrieval failed. They built their home here without knowing I exist. Stumbled upon me and sold my nursery to the first bidder.]

“I should have known a living ship was the cause of this system’s draw…” the Y’serdyn murmured, his expression betraying just how disconcerted he was.

“Of course…this is a nursery. The planetary scans…” Zafir started muttering to himself as he flicked through his data pad.

[I have answered your questions. Please assist me.]

Rel and Jysel exchanged a look, before glancing at Ciheri. “Are you…comfortable with this?”

“Yes!” Ciheri nearly shouted. “What do you need cleaned? Do you get itchy anywhere? Where are the controls?”

Ciheri continued pelting the ship with questions, making his way toward the nearby maintenance platforms as they levitated up from the floor. Rel and Jysel, however, hung back when the Y’serdyn motioned for them to wait.

“I apologize for dropping in like this, but a nursery…” The Y’serdyn struggled for a moment. “We should work under the assumption that someone suspects as much. It may take extreme measures to sneak Elara, and her ship, out of this system. Should you need them, I am at your disposal.”

The twins eyed the man warily, but it was Rel who spoke, “We would prefer not to make Elara an enemy of Syldra from the start, but we will keep your offer in mind. Such a ship…is not something easily hidden.”

The Y’serdyn nodded his acceptance, and the twins pivoted to approach the ship’s tank.

Rel and Jysel both stepped onto separate maintenance platforms, then willed them to levitate closer to the ship. For a time, it seemed as if they weren’t getting any closer—until suddenly they were. What they thought was a barrier of several feet turned out to extend many yards above the floor.

What would cause a ship to grow to such a size? Jysel stared at the ship in awe as they approached it, tracing the patterned exterior with his gaze the closer he got. From afar the material appeared vine like, yet closer he couldn’t tell if it was closer to stone or metal. It looked almost like ropes of stacked, columnar basalt laid on their side, yet moved like the breathing creature it was.

Jysel…you do realize what this means? Rel drifted closer and nudged his twin gently, earning a confused look in reply. This ship is the planet’s ‘core.’ There is only one way it is freeing itself. We need to prepare, and I don’t know how much time we have.

Jysel’s throat tightened at the thought. The ship could ‘archive’ Elara’s life again or destroy the ‘planet’ that had formed around it. Neither was acceptable.

“If I may… Is there a risk of you archiving Elara’s memories again?” Jysel inquired, causing the glow to flicker a multitude of colors.

[In the case of trauma, I will archive Elara’s fifteenth life. As I am fully grown, I do not require further sustenance in the form of her essence.

[However, my primary objective remains the same: protect my queen.]

“What if I tell you my clan has professionals capable of helping her cope with trauma, should it occur?” Rel countered, listening as the ‘hum’ of the ship thinking filled the air.

[If there are now professionals available, then it would take extreme circumstances for me to archive this life. Protecting my queen is the only reason I was gifted this capability. It is against protocols to use it when not necessary.]

“In that case, we will do what we can to make her safe enough for you to feed her information about her power,” Rel declared, his eyes fiery. “We wish for her to be our queen, and for her to use her power in the subtle ways she desires.”

[Work quickly. I sense growing unrest on the surface.]

I’ve never heard of a ship having a…symbiotic? relationship with someone. Jysel attempted to quell the trembling in his hands before moving to the edge of the tank and checking the control systems. The contained volume of water made him stare at the display in disbelief. Was that why the planets in the system had so few oceans? Someone was determined to make certain her ship grew to its full size…

I’ve only ever heard of Depthwalkers having such close ties to their ship, but those were just legends. Rel peered over his twin’s shoulder. …that explains a lot. This ‘planet’s’ surface oceans must be borrowed as well. They’re reserves in case the ship grows beyond projected limits.

“This is gonna take a lot of work, the pipes are clogged with human garbage,” Ciheri spoke, his platform whizzing down from the ceiling at a reckless speed. “We need a way to get all the garbage out of the pipe network, the tank, and then purify the water. This place has been abandoned a long time, but the systems are still online.”

“Sal’aphel?” Jysel suggested, earning a nod from Rel, so he turned to address the ship. “Do you…know who Sal’aphel is?”

After a short hum, the answer came, [A thaprynt. Not recommended to keep as a pet. Kept as a companion by Ter’suline Rel and Ter’suline Jysel. Species is known to possess kinetic abilities. Sal’aphel appears to like only ‘royals,’ those who protect his royals, and those who give him jihgsar.]

Rel and Jysel exchanged a nervous glance with each other.

Did it call us that because Elara thinks we are…

…or because it knows we are?

Jysel smoothed his expression over before addressing the ship, “We don’t have the equipment to clean out the pipes leading to your tank, but Sal’aphel should be able to guide the detritus out. It will be slow, but…will you let him help?”

[We like Sal’aphel. He should be rewarded handsomely.]

Definitely Elara’s ship. The twins sighed. With that, the they both returned to where the Y’serdyn, Zafir, Casair, and Aldiner loitered. None of them looked as if they knew what to do with the situation they’d found themselves in.

“This is absolutely astonishing…” Zafir breathed, studying his data pad. “I…I must return soon, but this discovery…”

“I’m more concerned with how we’re keepin’ this under wraps. We can’t risk more people finding out about this.” Casair stepped over, breaking his lengthy silence with an authoritative boom to his voice. “I could split the team outside into two shifts, but it’s still a risk. We should proceed as if we have spies in our operation. Citomy will be the least of our worries if word of a new breed of Syldrari living ship gets out. Especially one so…”

“I agree. Cut off access to the researchers completely and form several guard teams we know we can trust.” Rel nodded sharply. “Authorize them to use lethal force if necessary and set up an identification array in the hallway that leads to the entry room. We need to make certain no one slips through.”

[I will watch over Ciheri and Aldiner while you prepare. Y’serdyn…what will you do?]

“Offer my assistance to Rel and Jysel of course…and, please, be more careful of what title you address them by. Elara would be terribly upset if something happened to them.” The Y’serdyn approached the four waiting Lun’iri. “I have technology that may be useful to you. We do not trust Syldra’s systems or tech, and as such our databases are more…specialized. We’ve preserved the data the queens of Syldra have attempted to erase, and have gained far more information from outside worlds. If you wish to truly cut this place off from interference, I believe I can help.”

“We will welcome it,” Rel stated. “After all, that design… I am guessing you have a vested interest in keeping Elara safe and in one piece.”

The Y’serdyn gave Rel a mysterious smile. “If my theory is correct…yes, I cannot deny that you may be right. It is not something I can test and survive. Instead, I will observe, and assist how I can. I do not mind being your contact beyond Syldran law.”