*What you do for hope*

Just like a light switch being flicked Stella's crew turned back to her as if I was now just a ghost.

"The only thing I can think of differently is that this time we were given two specific containers to grab." I could hear Stella say as I slowly made my way around the group taking in the sight of their safehouse. This safehouse turned out to be a lot nicer on the inside. Now that I had a chance to look, it didn't resemble a warehouse at all. Instead it resembled a smaller loading dock that was encased in some sort of metal. I could see other crates stacked up in the smaller area secured to the floor.

"We should open them and see what we almost got caught for!" Arex stated as he took a step towards the crates.

"I wouldn't recommend doing that. These crates have seal locks installed and it would be known that we peeked inside. " Jazmine said scornfully as she examined her nails as if that was more important than anything else going on.

"Jazmine is right. We were tasked with getting these ones specifically and that means our client would expect us to treat them like any good professionals would." Stellas stated as she started to move them into an open spot on the floor to secure them. Milly and Veras went to help her get them into place and strapped like the rest of the crates.

"This was the last of what we needed right?" Arex said, looking over at Jazmine.

"That is right, our job here is done and we can get ready to move the merchandise. That is if Stella doesn't have any other plans for us." As Jazmine’s gaze fell upon me. I could tell she was not happy that I was here. Like I was going to be a thorn in her side.

"We leave first thing in the morning! I want a final check done tonight and then to be on our way back to the clan." Stella said with a huge grin. I could tell the rest of the crew were just as excited to hear the news as they all broke off.

It was interesting watching the crew go about their business. Everyone seemed to be focused and had something to do, that also left me alone and feeling so out of place. That feeling of being a lost puppy crept back up.

I made my way nervously over to where the group securing the crates was at. I seemed to become an instant ghost among them as no one looked at me as I walked. "Is there anything I can do to help?" My voice sounded like that of a lost little kid. I instantly hated myself for sounding so pathetic.

"I would like to help if i can." I stated with more confidence this time as I approached the group.

The group still didn't look up from what they were doing. "Have you ever secured cargo for long haul transport?" Milly said, sounding a little irritated as she tugged on one of the straps.

"No. . . . I am a fast learner though. I just hate being on the sidelines and want to be useful." The last part came out a lot quicker than I wanted it to. This whole situation just and everything that has happened tonight is just a reminder of how little I know and can contribute.

Stella finally looked up at me. An almost sad smile formed on her face. "I am sure you are, but we can't risk this moving during our long flight back to the clan. Don't worry though I haven't forgotten that I owe you."

"Where is Grace by the way? I haven't seen her yet." Stella said, looking around.

"She ran to get some last minute supplies and stock up for the long trip. Said something about being too low for our own good on nutrition supplements, biomass, metals, and a whole list of things I can't remember. You know how she gets when things are not up to her standard." Jazmine added, "We will be lucky if we make a profit for what she spends."

"Oh shut up you know you are the most healthy and fit crew in the Galaxy and it's all thanks to me." I turned towards the entrance and found myself staring at the newcomer. I have never seen a Dryad before let alone a cyborg dryad. She had olive skin that almost looked like bark, her hair was metallic pulled back into dreadlocks, she had silver eyes that glinted like her hair, and she wore a dark blue pair of scrubs. I was starting to think the dark blue color was something the crew liked. "Now how about someone come give me a hand with all of this."

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I took that as my cue to go and be useful. "Hi I am Elly" I said as I went to go and grab one of the six hover crates she had trailing behind her. These were a lot smaller than the ones the crew was just locked down. These were about 3 feet by 3 slightly floating off of the ground. "Where would you like these?"

Before the Dryad could reply, Stella came over. "Just the woman I was looking for! Grace this is Elly she saved my life during our escape. I owe her and was hoping you could help me. I would like you to work up on her and see what you can do for her."

That honestly took me off guard. How was seeing what looked to be a doctor a debt being repaid? I mean I know I am not in the best of health but I was surely looking for something more than that.

Grace looked me up and down with a puzzling expression. "Well Elly thanks for the help. Also what are you?" The way she sounded had me a little on edge as she had a wide smile as she looked me up and down.

"Honestly I don't know. No one has been able to tell me what I am or where I came from." I said with a little bit of sadness leaking into my voice.

"Well this is exciting! Here follow me with these crates and help me get them loaded into the ship supply system and we can get started." She grabbed my hand as we pulled me towards the interior of the loading area we were in.

"Wait, where is the ship?" I was confused as Grace led me to a wall where there was a door that automatically opened as she got closer to it. It led into what looked like a spacious hallway made interlay of metal panels. There was wire conduit and other mechanical support systems running crisscross along the hallway. I stopped in confusion.

"Good evening Grace." An almost robotic voice male voice. "May I ask who is accompanying you?"

I looked around and I could not find the source of the voice.

"Evening Gerald,” replied Grace. “This is Elly, she is going to be a temporary guest i think of Stella’s. Set her status to guest and we are heading to the supply distribution system, then to medical."

"Should I start preparing for departure?" The disembodied voice said again.

"No, wait until Stella gives the order. I am not sure if there is anything else that needs to be done."

Grace looked back at me as we went down the hallways taking a couple of turns and me now being completely lost. She smiled at me warmly for someone who has replaced some of herself with machinery.

"I take it you haven't seen too many cyborgs around?"

"I honestly haven't seen cyborgs, dryads, or succubus in person before. I am assuming Gerald is a ship AI and if that is the case somehow we are in the ship already? Is the shipped camouflaged to look like a building? How can a ship do that also what level of AI is Gerald? What parts have you replaced and why?"

Grace just chuckled. It was a warm and happy sound. It honestly took me back as someone who was part machine could make a sound that was so comforting and light. "How about this? After we get to my lab we can take turns asking each other questions. Let's get Gerald topped off and then we can make our way there. Sounds good?"

I just blushed and nodded my head. All of the new things going on bubbled to the top in an exciting barrage of questions and I had to laugh as well at myself. We kept walking through the maze of hallways wherever we were, it was a lot bigger than I imagined it could be.

Grace finally led me to a hallway that opened up as she got closer to it. The room we entered was strange; there were spots on the floor like the loading area to secure large crates as well as smaller ones like the ones we carried. There were massive containers around the wall each with different pipes leading to different areas. In the center looked like someone had taken a vacuum bot then made it ten times bigger and gave it a mouth like opening.

"Gerald here is the last of the supplies. I believe this will do more than top you off for our trip."

"You are correct Grace. This will have my backup reserves at a total thirty percent capacity. Please move them to the processing station and I will do the rest."

Grace must have known what it was going to ask as she just kept on moving to the huge center device. As we got closer I could see that it had two options for processing that I could tell. You could load things into the opening at ground level or you could lock them in place and one of the massive vacuum pipes could be maneuvered over a create and the contents sucked up.

"What all does Gerald have here? There are so many tanks here? How much can he hold?" I maneuvered my crates right behind Graces as her first one went into the opening and a whirling sound could be heard as it disappeared. The next one automatically went in right after as somehow the floor was acting as a conveyor belt.

"I have all the raw materials needed for long haul travel. That includes, gold, thorium, rubber, uranium, tungsten, carbon, and food material to name some of my primary needs to keep the ship and crew healthy." Gerald actually answered the question which surprised me a little.

Grace just smiled as the AI answered. "Well, next stop: med bay. Do you mind if we begin our game now as we walk?"