what do you remember?» Hunter offered her a cup of aromatic tea.
She took it, pressing her hands against the sides to feel the warmth coming from it.
«I don’t…» she flinched again, as if confused by all the memories that were implanted back into her head. «I don’t remember. I remember waking up on the ship… in the infirmary…»
«And Summers?»
«He had a team. There were seven of them. He…» the woman closed her eyes, recalling. «I can’t remember…»
«Allow me to help, captain.» the AI sounded from the dynamics on the walls. «First Pilot, Allan Wilkins, executed by John Summers at 11:44 on star date 15-23-3008. Co-pilot Ralinna Elefor, executed by John Summers at 13:55 on star date 16-23-3008. Technician Lee Plummer, executed by John Summers at 18:01 on star date 31-23-3008. Head of Security Innel Phaser, executed by John Summers at 17:07 on star date 01-24-3008. Medic Anna Tailor-Tehn, executed by John Summers at 03:41 on star date 05-24-3008. Engineer Finn Lordan, executed by John Summers at 05:00 on star date 06-24-3008.»
«It’s all…» Serena winced, feeling her head aching. «Scrambled… I only saw how the Ol’ Fart killed the tech.»
«Lyssa, how did John Summers become your captain?» Hunter asked, wondering of the strange period, during which John Summers executed his team one by one.
«After finding us, the technician, Lee, managed to overwrite the base systems, which led me to recognise John Summers as captain. Deep systems remained under my control, so they couldn’t use the ship to its full potential. This is the reason John Summers did not sell the ship, as I am assigned to Serena as her primary vehicle.»
«Wait… so there were certain systems asleep all this time?»
«Correct. Systems that are essential for military purposes were shut down and limited to the basic anti-meteor defences and a level one shield generator. For reasons of being under the radar while we were escaping Velutha, the ship also went through a reconfiguring process.»
Serena glanced up at Cipher, who walked into the dining room and heard their conversation with the ship.
«Lyssa…» Cipher looked at Serena, watching her flinch. «Name your full class, ship name and model.»
«You have no authority here. Only the captain can issue such an order.» the AI replied.
«Answer him, Lyssa.» Serena felt her heart stopping for a few moments.
«I am Military Star Ship Lyssandra, mark 13.»
Serena noticed Cipher becoming pale.
«Mark 13… the planet destroyer?» he asked.
«Correct. Small, but powerful.» the AI seemed to become cheerful. «I am an agile craft, capable of travelling through the wormholes by means of a quantum generator. I hold fourteen guns, each powerful enough to bring down a Mark 11 space ship. My force field is capable of reflecting most missiles, issued within the time frame lady Serena was living aboard.»
«Laithorian space vessels always were considered to be centuries ahead of time…» Hunter shook his head.
«Lyssa, I…» Serena grasped her head, not knowing what was happening to her. «I don’t remember anything.»
«To access your memories you need to get some rest, before your mind can process the data properly. For the past four years you haven’t slept much, and it affected your capability to process information at full capacity. Furthermore, John Summers implanted a muffler into your neck, which inhibited your capabilities.» the AI explained.
«My what?»
«Do not worry, the process of restoring your memories fried the muffler. I assure you, you will feel much better after some much needed sleep, captain.»
«I can’t… there’s…»
«The routine you got used to no longer applies, captain. I can take off and once we will be in outer space, I can start the process of re-configuration to make the ship take its initial form. Please confirm.»
Serena glanced up at Cipher, who stood deep in thought.
«Should I?» she asked the man.
«The ship is yours. Do as you wish. But if John Summers came here on a hunch, received from someone, we should make ourselves scarce as soon as possible.»
«If you fear that we will be found, do not worry, I am equipped with a military grade concealment field, which will make us invisible to most ships.» the AI replied.
«Lyssa…» Serena’s voice gave out for a second. «Initiate take-off, start up all your systems and start the reconfiguration process as soon as you are able.»
«Yes, captain.»
Serena took a few sips of the tea and felt the soft take-off. She remembered how bumpy and uneven the others were, when the Ol’ Fart was captain of the ship, and the first thought that came to her mind was that the ship’s AI didn’t like the man, and that was the reason for it being so slow and clumsy all these years.
The woman slowly stood to her feet, feeling her legs very weak.
«Lyssa…» Serena grasped the table. «I never thought of you as a rusty bucket.»
«I know, captain. I am detecting a significant drop in your physical state. You are close to fainting due to the emotional and physical stress you have experienced today. I would advise you to go to the captain’s quarters and get some rest as soon as possible.» the AI said. «However, a companion is highly advisable, as you seem to be unfit to take the long walk yourself.»
«I’ll be fine.» Serena growled, walking out and leaving the two men behind her.
When she was out of earshot, the men still remained silent. But the AI spoke out again:
«Mister Hunter, please make sure captain Serena reaches her quarters. I would not want her injuring herself in her current state.»
Hunter exchanged glances with Cipher and followed the woman, catching up with her in one of the corridors, where she almost slipped down the wall. Fortunately, he caught her in time, helping her stay up.
«I’ll help.» he whispered, noting how the woman tried to tense up to push him away. «Your ship’s orders, captain.»
«This way…» the AI flared up some lights, illuminating the path towards the captain’s quarters.
«We don’t have captains quarters…» Serena shook her head, when she suddenly saw the wall part and open up, inviting the two humans inside.
Hunter stepped in, helping Serena, and the woman gasped, watching how the ship reconfigured the place, widening the room and setting up a few partitions, dividing the quarters into four smaller rooms – a common hall, a small kitchen with a dining table, an office space and a bedroom. Hunter helped the woman walk through the luxurious quarters to a large bed. Serena noticed another door appearing on the wall and opening up to a comfortable bathroom.
«Welcome back to your private quarters, captain Serena.» the AI said. «I hope everything is to your liking, as always.»
The woman looked down at her dirty clothes and sweat-covered skin, and shook her head:
«I can’t…»
«Yes you can.» Hunter frowned. «These are your rooms.»
«Not that… I can’t sleep in such a bed… I’m… I haven’t washed in ages. Captain Summers…»
«Captain Summers is dead!» Hunter growled. «Whatever he did to you is over! The ship is yours!»
«Captain Serena, the ship’s water supply has been restored to full capacity.» the AI reported. «I suggest you and your new friends take a shower before going to bed.»
The