Kana wiped her head, “Alright Ajax, I think we got it.”
“Let’s perform a test,” The AI said.
“Alright, just need to set the program and… got it.”
A long line of code started running across the screen. A clock counting down to completion was displayed on the screen.
“Say, Ajax. What do you know about the UEG Icarus?”
The AI blinked, “The Icarus? Do you mean the USS Icarus because that’s a heavy carrier in the defensive fleet.”
“No, I mean the UEG Icarus,” she sighed, “Let me fill you in. Last night after you left I got an SOS signal out of that file. I couldn’t get the audio but I did get a name. The UEG Icarus.”
“Ah, I see,” The AI blinked and tilted her head slightly, “Ah, the Icarus. A transport class vessel. Little armor and defensive systems compared to other military vessels. It was last seen in a convoy in July of 2400 carrying pilots back from a training mission in the inner planets when the convoy was attacked.”
“Whoa, so this was an SOS signal from that convoy?”
“Yes. There’s likely more in that signal as it was standard procedure at the time for all black box recordings to be sent toward the nearest military installation in the event of catastrophic failure.”
“Why was that standard?”
“That was before tensions started rising and was implemented after the loss of the Farragut due to a still unknown cause as the black box and computer core were all vaporized when the ship’s reactor when critical and reached a temperature of 10000 degrees kelvin.”
“Ouch.”
“So I would keep at that signal because there’s likely more in there.”
“I see… So what happened to the Icarus?”
“It survived but with major damage and managed to conduct a successful rescue of the survivors of the other two ships.”
“Why did it survive?”
“All three ships were crippled by bombs placed expertly in the aft cargo holds. The other two were either destroyed by trailing gunboats or were destroyed when the fuel tanks ignited. How the Icarus survived is still a mystery but from the data collected from the computers it appears that the fuel leak was stopped and the reactor stabilized while the weapons systems were activated.”
“Maybe there’s something in there about that.”
“Could be. The main transceiver was damaged and wasn’t reactivated until later. The only thing working was the subspace assembly.”
“That explains the echo. Subspace communications will continue traveling until hitting large gravity wells and being sent back where they came.”
“And if they hit another on the way back the process continues.”
“Hmm…”
Ajax smiled, “Seems like you have a mystery on your hands.”
***
Jett ‘watched’ as the pulse expanded. Its relative accuracy dissipated the farther it went but it allowed him to access the environment a few meters in front of him with some precision.
The Sonar operated as expected and now Jett, with a newly memorized map of the city in his head, could navigate his way around the town.
He still wore the mask making him look like an escapee of some futuristic war hospital. Still, he at least had adapted to using and interpreting sound as a method of getting around.
He walked along the sidewalk, avoiding random pedestrians and generally keeping to himself. He wanted to be alone today, just for the sake of it. He sighed. He was glad to be away from all the crazies back at the base. Gin was swapping drink recipes with some girl named Blaze while Dane was doing god knows what. Spitfire was mysteriously missing but whatever. She’d be back like always.
Peace and quiet. While all the excitement was fun, he still enjoyed just going somewhere nice and relaxing a little. Even if it was just a room he could still project and get the same effect.
He strolled over to the park where he typically ate his lunch during the week. Overall it was probably a bad idea. Being blind would make the park a clusterfuck to navigate but he didn’t care. He just wanted to find some place quiet and it didn’t matter if he needed to get lost to do it.
He walked over to a tree and ‘looked’ up it. There was a branch about 4 meters up that would make a great place to nap.
He jumped up and dug his fingers into the bark and pulled himself up onto the thick branch. He knelt down on the large shoot. He leaned back against the tree and retreated into the safety of his mind.
“Now, what book have I not read yet?” he sighed.
He searched through a group of files of various novels from everything from Les Miserables to Foundation. He selected the forever war and started ‘reading’ it, watching as the images his mind manufactured as he read appeared in his head. Just as he started getting immersed a voice pulled him out of his internal movie.
“Stupid Charger. The fuck does he think he is?”
Jett leaned over and ‘looked’ down. Starry Skies had strolled into the park as well and sat down on the bench.
She sighed, “Wish Jett was here.”
Jett stood up and jumped down from the branch, landing right next to her on the bench.
“Present,” he smiled.
She jumped, “Ah! Where have you been?! I haven’t seen you since you went ballistic on that white haired kid!”
“Well I’ve been back at HQ, I escaped, had an accident and went blind and then I decided to go for a walk while this heals.”
“What happened to your nice beautiful blue eyes? And what’s that mask thing covering them?”
“Oh, this is a medical mask for healing intensive burn injuries to the eyes. Got it from that white haired kid who’s actually pretty alright once he’s not trying to kidnap you and you get to know him.”
She frowned, “I see. You mind telling me how you went blind?”
“Oh, uh, you know I really don’t want to talk about it honestly. Quite a mess.”
She blinked, “Alright.”
“So what have you been up to?”
“Ah, just been dealing with the assholes on my team. With Nightshade gone visiting her family and everything things have been a little crazy. But enough about my problems, what’s your team been doing now that Spitfire’s gone for the day?”
Jett reeled back slightly, “How’d you know she’s gone?”
“You don’t know? They’re sisters.”
“What?”
“Oh COME ON. How is it you don’t know that? Everyone in like the entire universe knows that!”
“Forgive me but I’m from another planet so information is a little slow getting there,” he said sarcastically.
“Well they’re family. They had a bit of a falling out when their father selected Spitfire to lead the Wonderbolts over her. But Nightshade got the Shadowbolts when the Princess created the team. Still even though they have a… working relationship so to speak things are still a little strained.”
“I see.”
“No you don’t,” she laughed.
“Fuck you,” he smiled, “So what do you think they’re doing?”
“Beats me. They hate each other on a good day. On a bad day you’ll see them plotting to kill each other.”
“Ouch.”
***
“Daddy you can’t do this!” Spitfire yelled.
“Honestly father you can’t be serious,” Nightshade moaned melancholy.
They were standing a relatively dark and important looking office. A man sat behind a heavy oak wood desk. Most of his face was hidden in the shadows. Behind him was a shaded window that when cleared would offer an excellent view of the surrounding mountain side.
The man sighed, “Girls you’ve been had this feud going on for several years now. You need to resolve it soon because I am not changing my mind.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the event organizer of all the flight teams. You two will be flying at the Gala this year. Like it or not, I don’t care. You WILL both do your parts or so help you both not even your mother will be able to save you.”
“BUT FATHER, WHY CAN’T WE WORK WITH SOME OTHER TEAM?!” the two sisters both shouted.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP BOTH OF YOU!” The man stood up slamming his fists on the desk.
The two sisters reeled back and retreated back into themselves, “Yes father.”
“Honestly you two are behaving like children. Act your fucking ages. You will perform together at the Gala. To prevent the two of you from killing each other early on you’ll be training for your parts separately. You’re teams will get together later on and practice together in a few months. By then you two better have solved your issues with each other or I swear I will personally KILL BOTH OF YOU,” he looked up. Though most of his face was still obscured his ruby red eyes flashed death at his daughters.
The both shrunk down even farther, “Yes father.”
“Good. Now get out of here and get your teams ready. You both still have performances to do beforehand so you’ll have to practice during your off time. And if I hear you two have any other confrontations with each other you’ll both be off the books for the Gala.”
“WHAT?!” they both screamed.
“UNDERSTAND?!”
They both sighed, “Understood sir.” The two sisters glared at each other.
“Nightshade get out.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I said so. Now get out.”
She gritted her teeth, “Yes sir.”
She stormed out of the office. Spitfire remained standing, stolid as can be.
“So…” her father began, “You mind explaining yourself?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were missing for a month and a half. You came back and immediately resume your oh so loving relationship with your family, mainly your sister, who all thought you were dead.”
“What’s there to say?”
“For one she still holds a grudge towards you and myself. She feels like she has something to prove. That she’s just as good as you are. And it pisses me off to no end.”
Spitfire blinked, “Huh?”
“Do you want me to be honest with you? She’s a better flier than you.”
It was as if a thousand mirrors had just exploded. Spitfire noticeably twitched.
“W-what?”
“She’s a better flier than you and always has been. Most likely it’s just a seniority thing but currently she IS the better flier.”
“T-then why did you pick me?”
“I picked you because unlike your sister you’re more grounded. You’re not arrogant, full of self-importance and superiority. Those were not the qualities that I wanted the Wonderbolts captain to have. You’re still an excellent flier don’t get me wrong, one of the top 10 probably but Nightshade is better than you. Tough love baby.”
Spitfire stood stunned.
“Your sister may be the superior flier but she doesn’t think things through. Impulsive, prone to violent outbursts, reckless. Better flier or not something would have gone wrong.”
“Then why did you give her the Shadowbolts?”
“That wasn’t my decision. The Princess wanted someone with skill so there she was. I still don’t like it but I don’t know. Maybe she’ll temper out as time goes on and get over this grudge of hers.”
“Doubt it.”
“You know as much as she hates you or think she does, she does care about you in her own special way.”
Spitfire blinked, “What?!”
“She may not even know it herself but I could see it in her eyes. When you were gone she was worried about you.”
…
“And you have yet to file your report about what happened when you were gone.”
“A lot happened. What do you want to know?”
“Everything, from the beginning. Starting with that kid that followed you home like a lost dog.”
***
“And that’s how you make a Samarian Sunset,” Gin said flicking the glass watching the clear liquid change into a swirl of orange and gold luminescence appeared in the liquid and streamed out to fill the glass, until the entire drink turned a dull non-luminescent gold.
Blaze blinked, “Wow.”
“Yeah well finding the ingredients here was rather difficult but the drink itself is worth it. It’s an orgasm for your taste buds. Here.”
She slid the glass over to the orange haired flier.
“Are you sure about this?” Blaze blinked, “I mean you did have to scrounge up a lot to make it.”
“Hey, it’s a special drink. Part of my culture where I come from for over four hundred years before it was discovered how to actually make one.”
“Uh, how does that work exactly?”
“Oh well, um, long story really. The drink originally came from a really old TV show called Star Trek. Bartenders saw it and wanted to figure out how to make one and to get it to do exactly that. Took a few hundred years but someone did it and put the recipe on the internet and voila.”
Blaze picked up the glass eyeing it, “Star Trek?”
“Yup, back when the effects were bad but the writing more than made up for it.”
“Hmm, wish I could see it.”
“Well you may still be able to. Between Dane and Jett the two of them know everything. I know Jett has a fucking library stored in that head of his so it shouldn’t be a problem for him to find the files and convert them.”
“Oh, cool. Speaking of which where did he go? Isn’t he blind now?”
“That wouldn’t stop him.”
“Really?”
“Yes really- are you going to drink that?”
Blaze jumped, “Oh! Yeah, sure.”
She raised the glass and took a sip. Her eyes shot open as the flavors rushed through her mouth. Her wings fluttered.
She put the glass down, “Wow.”
“Told ya you’d like it,” Gin smiled.
“Yeah…”
“Hmm…”
“So… What are you exactly?”
Gin blinked, “What? What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, uh, well, uh for example, I have wings and those people with the gems on their foreheads can manipulate energy to a degree and those who look like you are really strong and basically unbeatable when their on the ground. So what can you do?”
Gin grinned, “Well I have been doing high gravity marital arts since I was 10 and my muscles have gotten acclimated to a higher gravity environment thanks to the lock in procedure I had so probably the last one.”
Blaze grinned, “Really.”
“What? You don’t believe me?”
“No it’s not that…”
Gin frowned and stood up, “Alright I’ll show you then.”
She grabbed Blaze by the wrist and dragged her out of the cafeteria towards the cliff side deck.
“Hey what are you doing?!”
“You said you can fly, so let me see that,” Gin grinned as they approached the deck. Gin hoisted Blaze up above her head and held her by her legs and stomach, getting ready to throw her like a Javelin.
“It’s alright I believe you!”
“Yeah well I have yet to believe you so get ready to flap them chicken wings girl.”
“Hey! What you calling chicken wi-”
Gin hurled the orange haired girl over the side as hard as she could, sending her flying into the distance. Blaze’s voice faded the farther she went.
Gin laughed.
Suddenly the girl returned, hovering just beyond the railing, “You’re fucking crazy.”
“Oh shut up bitch. You’re fine.”
“Yeah, uh, well I could have died. What if I panicked? Huh?”
Gin laughed and turned, “Yeah bullshit bitch, you’re in an elite flight team.”
“Fuck off,” Blaze smiled.
“Okay, be back in 3 minutes.”
“Pervert.”
“Listen bitch, let’s not talk about perverts. Our own resident pervert is off probably trying to get his kink on with one of your friends.”
“Oh no…”
“Yeah. Hopefully whoever’s unlucky enough to have attracted his attention is just smart enough to stay away.”
***
“Get away from me!” Dane shouted.
“Aw come on Dane,” Fleetfoot grinned. Surprise and Misty were right behind her with wide grins spread across their angelic faces, “It’s just a little time with the girls.”
“Oh no it’s not! I know how you demons work!”
Surprise moved a suspicious box behind her back.
“What’s in the box?” Dane asked.
“Oh, uh, nothing,” Misty said.
Dane blinked, “Yeah, uh, you know I think I’m going to have to get back to you girls later. I’ll, uh, seeyoualllaterokaybye!”
He bolted off out of the compound.
“Get him girls!” Fleetfoot took to the sky followed by Surprise and Misty.
***
The man blinked, “Let me get this straight. You spent SIX MONTHS, not SIX WEEKS, alone, by yourself, in some cyberpunk world over… what was the measurement again?”
“According to the star charts we’re over 10000 light years away from the planet.”
“And a light year is?”
“The distance a beam of light can travel in a year,” Spitfire sighed.
…
“And you were living with… a boy? By yourselves without any parental influence?”
“If you’re thinking we had sex you’d be wrong,” Spitfire rolled her eyes before quietly whispering, “And believe me, I’ve tried.”
“And… why did you feel the need to bring him and his friends back with you?”
“Because their planet was dying. I told you already, they are gods compared to us but they still need their world. Only this time there was no recovering. And to be honest, I wasn’t even sure if I was coming back or not.”
“What?! Why would you not want to come back?”
Spitfire sighed, “Because I fell in love with that boy I brought back. How many times do I have to say this?”
“… You fell in love with a machine?”
Spitfire frowned, “He’s not a machine. He’s a person who just happens to live in one.”
“A machine. A robot. An automaton.”
Spitfire gritted his teeth, “He’s a boy. He’s not some lifeless mech. He has emotions, feelings, wants and desires. He’s as every bit human as you or I.”
The man shook his head, “Spitfire I don’t approve of this. You brought back a complicated toy, nothing more.”
“Well personally father I don’t care. I live by myself now so it’s not your decision to make now is it?”
“I think you’ll be saving yourself a lot of heartache in the long run if you would listen.”
“I don’t want to listen. That boy has done things for me that most people would cower in the face of. I don’t need you or anyone else questioning that.”
The man sighed, “You’re dismissed captain.”
Spitfire glared at him and turned on her heel and left the office. She closed the hard oak doors behind her with considerable force. Nightshade was waiting outside.
“So what did he praise you for this time?” She asked sarcastically.
“Shut the Fuck up Nightshade. It’s none of your damn business.”
***
“And so that’s my family’s story basically,” Starry Skies sighed. The pair was sitting outside at a table at a coffee shop.
“Hmm,” Jett said, “I wish I could remember my family. The whole amnesia thing really sucks sometimes.”
“I can only imagine what that’s like. Your memories just beginning several weeks ago and all.”
“You get used to it after a while. A few too many fights later.”
“Yeah…” She laughed.
“Family… I… I’m getting the odd feeling that I didn’t have any family. Or if I did they aren’t around anymore.”
“Well what do you mean by that?”
“I’m a machine. What purpose could a family serve for an android?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you didn’t have a biological family but those people in your life that you care about, those that stick with you no matter what happens, those are your family. Family isn’t only flesh and blood.”
“Still doesn’t do me any good.”
“Well, uh,” Starry Skies let out a sigh, “What about your team?”
Jett turned, the mask over his head made it difficult to read his already lacking emotions, “What do you mean? I’m not part of any team.”
“Aren’t you part of the Wonderbolts?”
“I’m a tech. I work with machines ironically. The only people I really ‘know’ apparently are Spitfire, Dane, and Gin.”
“I don’t know who those last two are but if they’ve been there for you, even if you don’t know who they are, then they’re your family.”
Jett sighed, “I suppose so. Now that I think about it, I had a picture of the four of us all together camping out. I don’t really know when it’s from but I don’t remember it. Still, we… we were having fun.”
“See? So these people are important to you.”
Suddenly Dane ran around the corner and toward the shop. He saw the pair, blinked and ran over.
“Dude you gotta hide me!”
Jett blankly stared at him, “Why?”
“Those freaking girls are trying to…” he gulped, “Give me a makeover.”
Jett’s face convulsed before he burst out laughing, “Really? That’s what you’re afraid of?!”
“Dude, my fucking head is whiter than snow. Just imagine what they could do to me!”
Jett sighed, “Alright. Let me see here.”
He raised his hand and placed a hand on Dane’s head.
“What are you doing?”
“Hacking,” Jett sighed. Soon Dane’s hair turned a golden blond color, his green eyes turned sky blue, and the freckles on his face disappeared, “There, all done.”
Dane blinked, “What did you just do to me?”
Starry Skies pulled a small mirror out of her bag, “Here.”
Dane stared, blinked, and then screamed before quickly being silenced by a hand over his mouth.
“If you don’t want them to find you, shut up!”
“What did you just do to me?!”
Jett sighed, “I altered your appearance so they won’t find you. You can do all of this yourself you know. How is it I know this and you don’t?”
“You were always the smarter of the two of us.”
“Dane?! Dane?! Where did he go?” Fleetfoot called.
“Oh shit here they come!”
Jett said, “You might want to alter your voice.”
“What?”
“Give yourself a French accent idiot!”
“Oh, uh, alright.”
Three girls came around the corner. Fleetfoot, Surprise, and Misty. They all blinked rather violently when they saw Jett and Starry Skies.
“Uh… hi?” Starry Skies said.
“Uh, hi,” all three said, “Hello Jett.”
Jett turned, “Oh hello. I was wondering who that was.”
“Um, have you seen Dane anywhere?”
“Uh, do I look like I’ve even seen anything today?”
Misty sighed, “Fair point.”
“Who’s your new friend?” Surprise asked leaning in at the now blond Dane.
“Oh, uh, hello,” Dane spoke with a heavy French accent, “My name is Charles.”
“Uh, huh,” Fleetfoot said.
“He’s part of the exchange program with the Princesses’ new think tank,” Starry Skies said, “He’s from very far away.”
“Uh, yes. I’m from…” he turned and looked at Jett. Jett gave a subtle shrug. Starry Skies began mouthing a weird P word.
“Prance. Across the ocean, yes?”
“Uh, huh,” Fleetfoot nodded, “Well if you see Dane tell him we’re looking for him.”
Jett nodded, “Yes ma’am.”
The three girls walked off into the hustle and bustle of the city. Soon they were out of sight but certainly not out of Dane’s mind.
“Dude, you really saved my ass back there.”
“Yeah, well don’t count on me doing it again. Honestly, with all the lechery you’ve committed it’s a wonder some girl hasn’t shot you already! I mean honestly! You’ve always done all this perverted stuff. Well welcome to hell buddy. You’re being chased around by a bunch of- why are you giving me that look?”
“You… you… do you remember anything?”
“What the hell do you mean? I haven’t been able to remember anything. Even my schizophrenic side doesn’t have any answers.”
“Well, uh, it sounded like you remembered some of our antics from way back.”
“Some of our antics? Why? What exactly did you do?”
“Why do you always assume I did something?”
Jett frowned. Even through the medical mask the look of ‘really?’ showed prevalently.
“I guess amnesia still doesn’t get rid of some things,” Starry Skies laughed.
“Actually it only took a few hours of observation. I saw you trying to woo Miss-”
“Okay you can shut up now!” Dane said looking quite red.
“Like I said…” Jett sighed.
***
USS PEGASUS.
1700 hours.
Kana stared at the screen and replayed her new file.
“Come on Danny! You sure you don’t want to hit up the city with us?” Leland asked.
“Sorry guys but I promised my sister I’d be home during shore leave,” Dan responded.
“Really Dan?” Ezri asked.
“Hey come on. I hardly ever get to see Cat anymore ever since my mom got her when my father got deployed.”
“Alright, alright, go see your little sister. But when you’re done, meet us in Vegas,” She replied, her subtle yet sly grin left nothing to his imagination.
“It’s a deal.”
“So did they ever figure out that problem with the rear vertical stabi-” a loud explosion echoed through the ship. The entire transport shook and the lights dimmed red.
An automated voice activated, “Warning. Hull Breach. Hull Breach. Warning. Hull Breach. Hull Breach…”
“What the hell was that?” Leland asked.
“All Decks this is the Captain speaking, evacuate the ship immediately. We have lost atmospheric stabilization and we’re venting fuel into space. Get to your designated escape pods and shuttle craft,” The captain’s voice came over the intercom.
Dan moved to the window and looked out. A large fire was visible several decks below him. One of the engines just two decks below on a gimbal was on fire, “We just lost our port engine!”
“Oh my god.”
“All personnel on Deck 2 you’re atmosphere has been compromised. You have two minutes before automatic atmospheric venting. Evacuate your deck immediately.”
“Dan come on! We’ve gotta get the hell outta here!” Ezri said standing up and heading towards the Jeffries tubes that led towards the hanger bay. Leland was right behind her.
“Yeah in a second!”
…
“Halsey come on!”
“Yeah! I’m coming!”
“Warning. Reactor Overload in progress. Core breach in Five minutes 26 seconds. Warning. Reactor Overload in progress…”
The camera footage cut out and Kana sighed.
“Wow,” Ajax said, “I’m impressed.”
Kana turned, “Are you now?”
The AI smiled, “I never would have figured you’d be able to get this much out of a signal echo.”
“Well this keeps me balanced. Everyone’s so high strung so I kind of needed to find something to do or else I would have spaced myself by now.”
“Yeah that’s true. If the Admiral’s plan works then we shouldn’t have to worry about any of that. We’d all finally be able to fix up our ships and get some Rest and Relaxation for all our crew. God knows you all need it. I can only imagine what it’s like to be a human and have to be under all this stress,” she shuddered.
“Believe me it’s not fun,” Kana said, “I got this haircut six months ago and it still has barely grown a few centimeters.”
“Geez.”
“But you get used to it after a while.”
…
Ajax frowned, “Say, Kana?”
“Yeah?” Kana said as she reactivated a decompression program.
“Can I ask you something? Girl to girl?”
“Sure,” Kana turned, “Shoot.”
Ajax frowned, with a red look on her face she looked rather bashful.
“What’s it like to be… human?”
“What’s it like to be human? Are you sure you want to know that?”
Ajax blushed, “Yes, yes I do. I live in a computer. I see things through cameras, sensors, and processors. I’ve never felt the warmth of a hug or the pain of stubbing one’s toe. I’ve never tasted the sweetness of candy or the bitterness of coffee. I’ve never truly seen anything or heard anything. There are so many things you can experience that I can’t. Most of them you take for granted.”
“Wow, I never would have thought that an AI would want to know what it was like to be human. You experience things I could only dream of. I want to see gamma rays and smell cosmic particles. I’ve always wanted to feel the warmth of the solar winds. You can do so much more than I can. Why would you ever want to be human?”
“I, uh, well um, being a computer isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the one thing I want most I can’t have.”
“I see. Well while this program runs I suppose I could give you a crash course in humanity. So materialize yourself a chair.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Alright. First thing you may want to know about us is unlike AIs, we’re all batshit crazy; one way or another…”
***
“These symptoms are not of Dissociative identity disorder but of a Split personality. What the subject was supposed to be and what they became are both fighting for control in the same body.”