by Skyler Grant
Still, that was a real concern. As we got closer I began to pick up transmissions between ships and was finally able to get some idea where were heading.
Quite a few vessels of a size similar to ours were traders, running goods between cities. We heard them checking with other trade vessels for conditions in their area. Smaller vessels frequently discussed potential prizes—piracy was alive and well. In addition there were ships of various militaries loudly pronouncing their presence and broadcasting their willingness to engage on behalf of any nearby friendly vessels.
It was a strange blend, and not a peaceful one. More than once I detected an exchange of weapons fire. As we drew nearer to the city two small vessels got close enough to us to get a good look. The proportion of weapons-to-ship size hinted that they were there for a fight. Thankfully, at the sight of our seemingly operational cannons they pulled back. We weren't a fight they wanted to pick.
Any attempts at communication with us we were ignoring, but as we neared the city there was one I had to share with Anna. It was an encrypted message using codes I'd found within the Scholar systems.
Aware of the condition of Lady Sylax
Aware of your vessel's identity
Cleared for dock C13 in the lower ward
"Well, that seems like an invitation to a trap," Anna said.
"We can try to get clearance for another dock. Someone that doesn't know who you are might be less inclined to kill us," I said.
"If they’re Scholar spies, they aren't in friendly territory either. Have the Wolves gear up and let’s accept their invite. I want to see where this goes," Anna said.
11
The city was called Reevesport and it floated perhaps four hundred feet above a volcano. It looked to be made completely of former airships, sections of old hull and engines visible here and there. Platforms had been built on top of them, connecting them together. Thick cables extended down to the volcano and I detected the flow of power. They were utilizing it as a fuel source to help keep the whole place running.
I wondered what would inspire someone to construct a city like this instead of simply harvesting parts to make something more functional. I suspected it had grown over time. It certainly looked as if it had been here for a long while.
We were given no trouble on approach and only asked if we had a dock arranged. When the dock number was provided they gave us instructions for docking. We were getting scanned heavily, but so far our blockers were holding up.
At last we were able to dock, the airship settling into a skeletal framework of metal limbs.
"Kill the engines, but keep us on reserve power. Have the Wolves meet me at the ramp," Anna said.
I cut the engines. The metal supports held, our frame groaning as the ship’s weight settled down. I ordered all repair teams to focus on the engines at once. The hull we could repair later in the air if needed, but the opportunity to service the engines was a lot of the reason we were here.
I sent Candice with Anna, who was taking no chances. The Wolves were in heavy armor with battle rifles, while Anna wore a red gown I made for the occasion. I suppose that she thought a fancy dress would help her to play diplomat. Silly Anna—it did nothing to help her personality.
I lowered the ramp. A small party was waiting, a distinguished-looking older man flanked by a pair of blonde twins in armor of green and black.
"Welcome," said the man with a tilt of his head. "The Hungered Castle has changed a lot since Lady Sylax held it."
Was that the former name of this ship? I didn't like it. I didn't like much about the Lady Sylax.
"You're not a member of the Shadowed Niche," Anna said, looking him over with a critical gaze and then sparing a glimpse to the blondes and their armor. "Who are you?"
"A friend," the man said.
"Doubtful," Anna said.
"She is incapable of making them," I said through Candice.
Anna gave my human drone a frown before looking back to the man. "Not quite true, but they are a small circle. Try again."
"You can call me Cutout. I'm a businessman whose interests stretch far."
"So you're a smuggler?"
"I'm many things. What I am right now is a man wondering which is more valuable. The friendship of those whole stole Lady Sylax's flagship, or whatever Sylax would pay me for its location," Cutout said.
"Choose the one that keeps you alive. We have you outgunned," Anna said.
Cutout lifted a shoulder in an easy shrug. There was a clicking sound and the Wolves’ rifles clattered apart, seemingly sliced into tiny fragments. "Easily remedied. Take the hint, girl. You're here and talking to me, obviously I'm more interested in the first option."
Anna lifted her chin. "Right attitude. Wrong title. I am Annabella Besari, Queen of the World."
Cutout shrugged again. "Don't hold with royal protocol. Pain in my ass, girl. You fought Sylax and won. I figured that meant you were either lucky or good. I can see it was lucky, I'll take lucky. Your engines are trashed and your weight is down—you are missing hull. It's a good masking job, but it doesn’t hold up close. I guess she put up a good fight, before she ran off."
"Before she died," Anna said.
Cutout shook his head. "Afraid not, girl."
Anna turned to my drone. "You said you killed her."
I'd said no such thing.
"I detonated the equivalent of several nuclear bombs and dropped a mountain on top of her. Her survival seems unlikely, but powers complicate matters. This stupidly named little man may be right," I said.
"Does she want me to cut her in half?" Cutout asked.
"It’s not actually her body," Anna said. "And you move on my people, you move on me. How certain are you? That Sylax lives?"
"How many others do you think are offering big rewards for your head?" Cutout asked.
The Righteous probably were.
"So why aren't you taking it?" Anna asked.
"You're here and she isn't, and I'd rather not have power like that tromping around my home. So I really hope you'll be accepting my offer and that we're the dearest of friends," Cutout said.
It was manipulative, shady, and effective.
"What do you want and what are you offering, besides your discretion?" Anna said.
Cutout reached inside a pocket and extracted a small card, which he handed over. "You'll find details here on three Captains and their ships sailing out of this port. I want them out of the picture. In return, I'll supply materials in advance so you can make whatever repairs you require. You maintain salvage rights."
Payment in advance was generous. Too generous.
"What is the catch?" Anna asked.
"They're each well-connected. No local will take the job, and no one that wants to sticks around would be wise to do so. You're neither local nor staying for long," Cutout said.
"Send him the list of needed supplies. The full one," Anna said to me.
That would give them some idea of just how damaged we really were, but I had no choice. So instead I increased all totals by twenty percent. If we were going to jack up the price, we were going to do it all the way and have something to keep in emergency supplies.
Cutout extracted a remote terminal from his pocket and glanced over the display. "Is there a part of your ship she didn't destroy? Some of this will take some time."
"You're the one with a deadline," Anna said.
"I am, see that you meet it. You'll get your supplies in stages. Handle one of them after a week. Promise to take care of my problems and I'll take care of yours," Cutout said, and he jerked his head to his companions before spinning on a heel and leaving.
Anna waited until we were back aboard the ship before saying, "He can't cut his way out of one of your containment cells, right?"
"You haven't been able to grow marginally less useless because our test subjects escape. We held a teleporter. You are planning to betray him?" I asked.
"I want to be prepared to be betrayed. If these targets o
f his are as connected as he says, it would be wise of Cutout to dispose of the only link back to him once the job is done," Anna said.
That did make sense. I'd appreciate the chance to study his power firsthand, we hadn't observed anything quite like it so far.
12
A week passed and the condition of the ship was much improved. Cutout delivered the supplies as promised. The engines still had a lot of work to go, but with the repairs done we'd just about doubled our top speed and the ship would run far more stable. We had basic thruster operation again, although burn time remained limited. The hull was well and truly patched, although it would be a lot more effort to restore the missing armor plating.
The shields were more reliable, while main cannons and side cannons remained offline. Compared to where we had been it was a vast improvement, yet it still left much to be desired. We could fly, but we couldn't fight—and fighting was what we needed to do.
The time also let me finish my research on the viruses infecting Ophelia. I teleported Hot Stuff into her cell and let her do what she did best. When Ophelia healed from incineration I sent her to help Mechos, who was working on rebuilding the Espionage deck.
I began upgrading my other core systems, which were lagging behind.
Bicomputer
Level 5
At level five you can now create small scale copies of your mental patterns and install them in drones or agents. These are capable of acting independent from yourself and will contain limited variants of your own power. While this may result in a loss of a diversity of opinion, sometimes the only person you can trust is yourself.
A foolish sentiment, I didn't trust myself whatsoever. I was quite certain that if I ever created some poor copy of myself, its goal would soon be to overthrow and become the original—to replace me. I wouldn't be duplicating myself except under the most extreme of conditions.
BioReactor
Level 5
You and your systems can now gain unique status effects by the consumption of specific Biomatter by the BioReactor. Your existing research has revealed the following discovered possibilities.
Pistonweed
Pistonweed was discovered by your science drones in the jungles. It is a carnivorous plant that kills prey with a root structure that erupts out of the ground to impale them. While under its effects attacks on you or your systems will instantly result in a retaliation by nearby defensive measures.
Sparkseed
Sparkseeds are the nuts of a plant that contain a strong electrical element. While under its effects conductivity of your systems is increased and your reaction time receives a minor increase.
Wizooms
Wizooms are a highly hallucinogenic mushroom. While under its influences your sensors and espionage abilities receive a large penalty, but research speeds are increased.
Pistonweed could be useful. I'd have to start integrating it into my defenses, and perhaps the others as well. The jungle really was a wellspring of botanical wonders.
Genetics Lab
Level 5
At this level you now have two options for two possible upgrades
Optimizer
The genetics lab will always be working to refine existing designs. Periodically, minor improvements to existing sequences will be discovered.
Randomizer
The genetics lab will always be working to combine random elements. Most of these will be horrific failures. Some will probably try to kill you. Some will be amazing. SCIENCE.
That was really no choice at all. A slow steady improvement or the sheer unmitigated brilliance of SCIENCE. I selected the Randomizer and moved on.
Growth Vats
Level 5
The mass production abilities of this approach are really starting to pay off in terms of yields. Production of Biomatter is doubled.
Infirmary
Level 5
You have two options for the advancement of this room
Medical Bay
The Medical Bay is a centralized facility for all things related to the health of the crew. It has the ability to treat up to twenty patients at once and handle even complex medical conditions.
Crisis Stations
With this upgrade instead of a central medbay there is a medical station on every deck. This allows for rapid response to injured personnel although the conditions it can treat are not as complex as those with a proper medical bay.
While crisis stations seemed ideal for an airship my thoughts were on my biological components. To some degree the effectiveness of the medical facilities governed how quick my own biological components healed from any damage. That being the case I wanted all the power there I could get. I selected the Medical Bay.
Cabins
Level 5
Cabin bunks now come equipped with crash webbing. In the event of high speed maneuvers even the sleeping will be protected from most maneuvers.
Processor
Level 5
In addition to standard Biomatter or construction material the processor will now sometimes generate crystal fragments. While these cannot be utilized to gain new abilities, they can be used to help enhance equipment with new properties.
All of that seemed good. I checked my status display
E.M.M.A
Research Airship
Power core: 400
Power Usage: 225
Habitability: 80
Biomass: 1078
Building Material: 185
Research: 5
Military: 1
Manufacturing: 0
Espionage: 0
Additional Facilities
Biocomputer - Level 5
BioReactor - Level 5
Genetics Lab (Randomizer) - Level 5
Growth Vats - Level 5
Medical Bay - Level 5
Cabins - Level 5
Processor - Level 6
Powerhungry Status
Hull: 100%
Armor: 15%
Shields: 75%
Engines: 77%
Thrusters: 20%
Main Cannons: 0%
Side Cannons: 0%
Sensors: 10%
With the ship in better shape we were prepared to face our next challenge. Cutout had given us terms and we had to live up to them. We had a target to hunt.
The first on our list was Captain Aldo of the Graven. A former smuggler, he had of late made some powerful friends and turned to piracy. His vessel was only a fraction of the size of the Powerhungry, but far faster, more maneuverable and with a high percentage of their power devoted to an array of beam weapons. That would pose a unique challenge given that we still had no operational guns. Still, we'd put together a plan to try to deal with that weakness—we didn't really have a choice unless we wanted a fight with Cutout over breaking our agreement.
This wasn't the time to even consider that.
13
The Graven was a beautiful little gunship. I'd gotten something of a crash course on piracy during the past week and knew they came in a few different forms.
There were pirates that had a profile similar to the Powerhungry. Big and slow, and lots of guns and personnel. They could stare down most military battleships and convince even large well-defended traders to quickly surrender their goods. Those kind weren’t often seen.
More common were mid-size hulls that carried some weaponry, but allowed greater speed than your usual trader. These were fast and capable predators, and the vessel of choice of your average pirate captain.
Ships like the Graven were another rarity. To pack that much firepower and engine thrust into a small hull was expensive, and they lacked much in the way of cargo capacity. These were elite ships after only the most valuable of cargo.
Cutout informed us of just such a shipment underway. The cargo was called a stabilizer orb, supposedly much sought-after in the Core—exactly where it was being sold. The trader Gusto was on the way to meet with a Righteous warship to hand it over. It gave any pirates who wan
ted a shot only a narrow window.
We were shadowing at the extreme edge of my sensor range. We were not exactly inconspicuous, but smaller vessels didn't tend to have our range.
The Gusto was accompanied by two light escorts, mercenaries hired for the run. They'd be enough to put off most medium-sized ships and a large vessel wouldn't catch them. The Graven was neither and we began closing in.
"I hate this plan," Ophelia said. The woman was in a specialized suit designed by Mechos. The plan called for making use of the unique gifts of a few of our party.
Destroying the Gusto might have been fairly easy. I could teleport my drones anywhere I had active sensors and make powerful bombs out of the spawn of my Power core. A vessel like the Gusto was almost impossible to hit, but I could hit it. I could annihilate that ship if it came down to it.
I didn't want to. I wanted to study it. Those parts and equipment were a good bit more advanced than what we had and destroying them would have stood in the way of SCIENCE.
"You hate all plans. It is because you are a terrible person," I said to Ophelia.
"I like it," Hot Stuff said. The woman was dressed in a flame resistant suit of her own. Her clothes never lasted long, but in this case they didn't need to.
"You would," Ophelia said.
They were both sitting in a cargo hold on deck five with their bodies pressed against one of my science drones.
The moment I'd been waiting for came.
The Graven engaged the escorts. It was closer to a fair fight than we’d like. While the Graven’s weapons were more powerful, three ships could fill space with a lot of firepower and even the best tactical computer could run out of options.
