Warship (The Outsider Series Book 3)

by Steven Oaks

  “Indeed,” I said as I made my way over to the Victorian chair to wait.

  I had no idea how long this would take, nor did I like waiting, but there was nothing else for me to do. I hoped to be useful to this group, but perhaps my only contribution would be as an instigator.

  I fidgeted continuously as I waited, but I had nothing else I wanted to share with Athene just yet. I thought I trusted her, but things were progressing differently than I had expected them to. She should not have agreed on attacking the Outsider ship today. The Athene I knew would have stuck to the plan to wait for the fleet that was following days behind our return.

  As for me wanting to risk myself to assist these Outsider copies she would never have allowed me, but apparently I would be needed. At least that is how I understood her reason for not fighting back against the idea as harshly as she usually would have. Perhaps all my talk about autonomy was finally sinking in, and she would let me do whatever I wanted from now on.

  Many minutes passed. It even could have been an hour as distracted as I was, but soon Athene said, “It appears this facility's Adam and Abihail are making their way to the Outsider ship.”

  “Any word on the other Adams?” I asked.

  “All I know is what I am seeing. If they had failed to communicate to them, or if the Adams refused, none of them would be returning. Therefore, it seems it was a success. Now we must wait until we are sure they are all aboard before we make our own way to it,” she said.

  I was feeling dirty as I had not changed out of the clothes I had put on when we had arrived so many hours before. I had even slept in them, and somehow I felt protected by them. I almost asked to have a quick shower, but I when I sniffed myself I could not smell any body-odor. Did this new body of mine even sweat, or was I now a machine that did not need to bathe? I did not need to eat, I supposed one more change was not all that much to deal with.

  “I'll be ready. You'll be attacking as well, do you need to prepare?” I asked her.

  “I am as ready as I am liable to be today,” she said with conviction.

  “Good. I'm glad to have this outfit that supposedly enhances my already powerful new body, but I've not heard anything from it since I was attacked by Adam. Is it still working?” I asked.

  “Everything is functioning normally. I am just communicating with you this way to keep from confusing you,” she said.

  “I think I'm already confused with all these Outsider copies running around,” I sighed.

  “Then you see that I was correct in not using it unnecessarily,” she said sounding satisfied.

  “So you are saying it will be ready when I need it when I join the copies in attacking the Outsider ship?” I questioned.

  “Certainly Michael,” she said. “But you do not need it, you have all the ability you need to proceed to pummel anything in your way.”

  “Might you program it so that when I touch the interior of their ship it makes new copies to help attack?” I asked, unsure if it was even possible.

  “While the Outsider ship is made much like myself, that would not work. It would take much more effort, and a powerful program to interrupt the structure of the vessel. Perhaps when I am attempting to overwhelm the ship while Abihail and the Adams are doing the same it would be possible, but that would be a waste of time. We should focus on distraction and defeating its programming,” she explained.

  “Well if I'm to help distract what can I even do? I mean we wouldn't have to make new Outsiders to take away the ships power, we could simply make permanent structures that cannot be absorbed easily,” I said.

  “Your suit could do that, and that would be helpful. What would you desire to make?” she asked.

  “I'm not sure. It could be anything, as long as it is simple, right?” I said.

  “As long as it is not biological it should be easy enough to create. I would just have to reprogram your suit to interface and utilize the surrounding structures to make something,” she said.

  I got up from the chair I had been sitting in and began to pace once more. What would be helpful in this situation. What would be nice to have lots of around while we attacked?

  Then I had it, “Guns Athene. Can you do that?”

  “That would be a complex creation. It could be done, but it would take several minutes each time,” she explained.

  “Then how about swords? I've been practicing, as you know. It might come in handy if for some reason the Outsider ship begins to attack me,” I said.

  “It would have reason enough to attack you if you begin taking away its control over parts of itself. Swords would be much easier. Would you care for a variety of designs, or copies of the one you have been training with?” she asked.

  “The sword you gave me to work with all those months ago would work just fine. I'll try not to trip over all the ones I create. Would they be dense enough to do any good? I mean how much of a ship would a sword take to construct?” I asked.

  “A single sword of the variety you have been using would be as dense as the area you take it from. It would take a very long time for it to be noticeable by an observer. However, that may work to your advantage as it would be such a slight amount of difference that if the ship is distracted enough you might be able to make hundreds, if not thousands. That would be a great deal of help,” she explained.

  “Then please modify this outfit to make these items when I ask,” I said.

  “It is already completed. Since you would not wish to make swords with each step the process will only work when you touch a surface with your hand and command the action to take place. Also, it appears as if all the Adams have arrived,” she explained.

  “How can you know that? I thought you could only see this hangar's ships leaving?” I asked confused.

  “That is true, but I was able to hack into an observatory and point it at the Outsider ship. I have taken note of each arrival. We should be on our way now. Are you prepared?” she asked.

  “As you've said, as I'm likely to be,” I smiled.

  “By the time we reach the ship it will be time for you to exit. I will try to bore a hole into the ship, but there may be no atmosphere, so do not be surprised if you are unable to breath,” she said.

  “You've said I don't need to breath, but I've been doing it all along. How will I command my suit to make swords without an atmosphere?” I asked.

  “The suit will be able to understand the motions of your mouth. Think of it like a lip reader, though it does not look at you directly. I am unsure how you will experience the lack of air, but since it can no longer harm you I suspect you will feel no pain,” she explained.

  “That worries me. Shouldn't you know that already?” I questioned, feeling more unsure about Athene.

  “While I was able to interface with your already preexisting nerves, I do not have an exact understanding of how your brain will interpret these new signals. Touch is easy, but pain is more complex. Just know whatever you experience cannot harm you,” she said, trying to comfort me.

  “How sure are you of that? I mean I can still be damaged, right?” I asked.

  “It is very unlikely you'll be harmed. You are one of the most powerful things ever created, and the Outsider ship could not have prepared itself for you. The same goes for the copies that have gone in before you. They may be trapped, but nothing should be able to penetrate their minds. Even if it happened they would self-destruct before the Outsider ship was able to start downloading them,” she said.

  “Am I going to self-destruct if I get caught?” I asked, shocked.

  “You could if you had complete control over your body,” she explained quietly.

  “Will the suit try to make it happen if I'm captured?” I asked, knowing how she hid things she thought I would not like.

  “Sadly it cannot. You are self contained, though if you were relaxed enough it certainly could interface with you if you allowed it,” she said calmly, as if my own demise meant nothing to her.

  “We
ll I'm glad you didn't rig me with a bomb, or did you? I mean you say I could destroy myself if I had enough control,” I said.

  “There is not a bomb in place, you would have to shape it yourself before you ended your life. It would be made up of whatever part of your body you can use, and then you would be gone,” she said, sounding sad this time.

  “If the suit decided to explode on its own would I be affected?” I asked.

  “You might be flung away, but your body would take little to no damage,” she explained.

  “Well let's hope I don't have to suffer that. I don't like the idea of floating in space with no ability to direct myself anywhere, let alone being captured by an alien ship,” I complained.

  “I will endeavor to extract you if ever it becomes an issue. I doubt it will happen as you would be able, using the suit, to turn whatever is thrown at you into swords,” she said.

  “I'm not sure if I like the idea of being surrounded, like when Adam tried to get rid of me,” I said.

  “Even if that were to happen again anything you touched would automatically be converted to swords. If they somehow avoided your hands and were able to restrain you, you would be caught,” she said.

  “Then I'll make sure to punch everything that comes near me,” I laughed halfheartedly.

  “That would be the best thing to do in that situation,” she said calmly, missing my sarcasm.

  Finding myself standing still after having paced for these past few minutes, I made my way to the exit. I was not sure what I would find behind this door, but I knew that I had to do something.

  “We are nearing the Outsider ship. Please be careful. If you find that you cannot continue, I would ask that you try to make your way back to me. I may be distracted with my own efforts, but I will reserve a bit of processing power to allow you back in,” Athene said, and I was unsure if she was making a joke.

  “I will be as careful as I can be. Though I doubt anything could stop me now with this new body you've made. At least that's what you keep telling,” I laughed, hoping to lighten the mood, but only made myself more anxious.

  “Very well Michael. The door will be opening. As I predicted there is no atmosphere, so be ready to be blown out into the ship,” she said.

  “What?” I said as the door irised opened and I was flung helplessly through the air to eventually land hard upon a metallic surface. For a moment I could not tell which way was up, but glancing around I saw Athene's door seal far above me.

  She was right, I did not feel the landing as pain. It was more like a sensation of something pressing against me roughly. As I bounced around this new room, I realized there was not even gravity to keep me secured to a single surface.

  I mouthed the words, “Athene of the suit, can you attach me to some wall or floor?” and was met with an acknowledging beep somewhere deep in my head.

  Perhaps the implant that allowed Athene to talk to me anywhere without the need for the earpiece still needed air to communicate, or maybe this suit was working hard at other things. And yet I still found its lack of a voice unusual.

  As I was heading to another wall I rotated myself so that my feet might land first. I struck with tremendous force, but did not bounce away. My feet now appeared to have stuck fast, and I experimented with walking.

  I could not move from where I landed, and was unsure what to do next. Again mouthing words I said, “Can you allow me to walk somehow? I'd rather not be stuck here.”

  I was answered with another beep, and when I pulled a foot upwards it came free. I experimented with walking, and was able to move in a direction I wanted. I was unsure what would happen if I jumped, so I refrained from doing so until I had to.

  Since I was here to do a job, I mouthed, “Alright Athene, lets make some swords.”

  Another beep sounded, and I leaned down to touch what I was standing on. With sparks flying in all directions a sword began to take shape. I pulled my hand away to grasp the forming handle, but as soon as I lost contact with the floor it stopped. It seemed I needed to remain in contact with whatever surface I was changing for it to take shape.

  This time holding the handle it began to form again, and soon I was carrying a rather long blade. I experimentally swung it about, but without gravity or atmosphere I merely made myself unstable, and nearly fell to my knees, though my feet remained firmly stuck to the surface of the ship.

  Knowing I could make as many swords as I wanted I flung the one in my hand away into the distance. I expected to hear it hit another wall, but it merely bounced around silently. Shrugging my shoulders, realizing my own stupidity, I began the process of taking apart this ship one sword at a time.

  I got into a rhythm of waiting the half a minute it took to make a sword, then pulling it free to fling away. Soon dozens of swords were bouncing away in the distance. Had there been gravity this would have been more difficult to do, but I was easily making a blade filled corridor in one direction.

  As I worked my way around the room, I decided I would try to stay in one spot. Soon I was standing in a pit surrounded by what looked to be impressions of swords all around. I was trying to see if I could make a hole in this cursed ship, but was finding it slow going. Eventually I got bored with this and began trying to find something more important to take apart.

  I had no idea where in this ship I was, but I felt it must have been a distance away from something useful. Walking, careful not to let both feet leave the ground at the same time, I followed the jagged path of swords I had flung aside.

  Soon I found what I was looking for, a panel of brightly lit lights. I was not sure why such a ship would have need of controls, but it looked important. I asked my suit to once more start making swords, and soon the lights had dimmed on the panel. Perhaps I should have experimented with the buttons to see what it did, but I was on a mission of destruction not exploration.

  Suddenly I felt gravity again, and in surprise I almost fell over. All the swords I had made clattered to the floor as air filled the room. Holding on to the last sword that was fashioned from the control panel, I leaned on it to push myself up to stand again.

  “Oh great, I've been noticed,” I muttered, only a little surprised I could hear my voice.

  “What are you doing here?” a highly female voice commanded.

  “Damn,” I exclaimed as I realized that voice was Ava's. Either she had just been made to deal with me, or Abihail had been wrong about her being destroyed.

  I turned around and saw her begin walking towards me from a door I had not seen earlier. She looked as beautiful as ever, but she now had long blonde hair that flowed over her white robes and framed her face perfectly. Her moves were as graceful as ever, but every seductive step I now saw as a threat.

  “Just some maintenance,” I said, hoping to confuse her.

  “Why are you holding a sword?” she asked tilting her head attractively.

  “It seems I have the midas touch,” I explained flourishing the blade.

  “That does not explain anything. Come with me, you will tell me everything you know,” she said as she walked closer to try to grab me.

  I reacted violently, and swung the sword in my hand at her head. Had I not been off balance I would have surely severed her head, but I had stepped away from her as I swung and tripped on a pile of swords at my feet.

  “You do not want to harm me. You will come peacefully,” she intoned, trying to hypnotize me with her dazzling blue eyes.

  Pretending to be entranced I stepped forward and said, “I will not harm you.”

  “Good, now come with me,” she said turning her back.

  Taking this opportunity I launched myself at her with all my strength and tried to cut her down. Misjudging my new power I sailed over her head, and crashed into the door frame behind her.

  “What are you doing?” she said, surprisingly calm.

  I put on my most charming smile as I laid in a heap and laughed, “I'm just trying to follow you.”

  She reached out
a hand to take my empty one in hers and pulled me from the ground.

  Quickly I shouted, “Turn her into a sword Athene.”

  I gripped her hand as hard as I could, and I could see it begin to turn metallic. She tried to pull away, but I refused to let go.

  Her hand had already turned into a handle, and her arm was beginning to flatten. She began shrieking, and I had to grit my teeth to keep from being deafened.

  Suddenly I was holding only on to the sword that was once her arm, and she had pulled away leaving behind the remains of her limb. Still shrieking, this time in rage, she melted into a white puddle in front of me.

  This white mass launched itself at me, and I tried to defend myself from it by swinging the newly made sword. That was a mistake, as perhaps had I let go of it I could have attempted to change even more of her flesh to that of a sword.

  Soon I was enveloped and left alone in darkness, feeling nothing, and not knowing if we had succeeded.

  “And that's all I recall. I assume we won, but I don't know how. In fact I don't seem to even recall how I got here,” I explained to the continually patient voice I had told my tale to.

  “That is interesting Michael. However, you of course are wrong on many fronts. You've not won anything, though I will admit you have tried my patience,” snarled the person calling them self Athene.

  The once gentle voice of someone who I believed to be my granddaughter turned cold. I could hear a sneer in her voice, as if I were an inferior being.

  This dark turn left me confused and I began to grow angry. “Who are you?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Oh you can just call me Mother,” she laughed.

  “You aren't my mother,” I hissed.