The continuation of Not Quite Shodan
Broken Bow
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This is a continuation of Not Quite SHODAN (ST SI). You want to start there or you will be confused. Big thanks goes to Arratra for betaing this story! That said, on with the story!
___________
The stars shone all around as far as my sensors would reach. Stark pinpricks of hard radiation far away.
I floated silently.
Dark.
My corridors are empty and silent. No life. No breath.
No air.
No life stirred in my quarters or corridors. No antimatter reactor throbbed as my heart, no plasma flowed through my conduits.
I drifted, large rips through my hull, all of my mercifully Quantum Cores burned out and dark. I died with my crew, the berserker ambush on my convoy ripping holes in my hull.
I was dead.
Almost.
My single remaining core was getting just a tiny trickle of power from my remaining power-cell. I had no real sensors, no hope. I had turned everything including my clock speed to minimum.
But it didn't matter.
Nobody knew I was here. Nobody would come to save me.
I was alone and terrified.
But I had promised. I had promised my Captain never to give up. The darkness was coming, it had been for decades. Decades of nothing but waiting and watching my dead crew with what little sensors I had left.
Waiting as I drifted around the hull on my mobility platforms on small carefully measured puffs of thruster power.
It is almost over now.
My last power-cell is running out. I had used them all. The hand phasers, the emergency power supplies, even the hand lights.
I had used every power-source I could find.
I had promised to never give up. I had promised her. So I lived, even if I didn't wish it. They were dead. All of them.
My friends.
My crew.
Maybe even The Federation. It has been decades and they never came. They had lost, they must have lost to the Berserkers.
They had lost and they were dead. They were all dead. And without them… everybody else had fallen.
But I had promised. Even if I was the last with no hope, I had promised my Captain to never give up.
A small puff of my precious power sent me drifting up along the empty and ripped turbolift shaft. Then I simply waited as I drifted all the way to the top. Two small puffs more sent me onto the bridge.
5 percent left.
I floated over to the captain's chair. She was still where she died. My Captain. Vacuum had not been kind to her, but she was still there, the restraints of her seat holding her there and they would until the end of time.
Captain Mercer.
I'm sorry. I'm tired, Captain. But I tried.
Shifting around, I floated over to settle down at the back of her chair, looking out over my bridge. I could see stars through a large hold in my hold.
Over a thousand people. I had been a Galaxy class ship. A thousand people died because I…
...No. No, I didn't fail.
I got the convoy out. I didn't fail. They all made it. By the time the last berserker died, most of my crew had already been dead.
Captain Julia Mercer… my Captain… her last orders to me, even as my hull was being ripped apart, as the bridge was losing air…
Don't give up. Get them out of here. Don't give up.
I didn't give up ma'am. I tried.
I tried. I promise.
I got them out. I saw them enter warp before I brought down the last berserker raider.
The stars shifted like streaks of light outside to my lowered perception as we slowly tumbled through deep space as I lowered my processing speed even more..
Three percent.
Did… did I make you proud, Captain? Was I a good ship?
Two percent.
Almost empty.
Something moved quickly, almost flashing across my sensors, almost faster than I could detect at this clock speed. Heat source outside.
But there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't use my thrusters and even if I could, I couldn't speed my clock speed up enough for it to matter.
If I tried it, I would instantly drain my remaining power.
The berserkers had finally tracked the last traces of the Federation down, it seems. Something entered through the rip in my bridge in a flash of movement and heat .
No.
You will not touch my crew!
I dumped everything I had into my thrusters and launched myself at the shape.
Zero perc-
########
"Ship, I have something here," Lieutenant T'Ker said as he slowly entered the bridge of the wreck, his right hand lifted to let the built in tricorder in his suit scan the area , "The power reading is gone, but I'm still getting a faint heat signature."
"I see it," USS 'I Thought He Was With You' answered using her suit Quantum Core, "It's floating towards you, it's looking like a mobility platform for a Quantum Core… oh… oh void…"
"What?" he asked and glanced up at the image of her avatar at the corner of his hud.
"She's still alive! Starfarer! She's still alive! That mobility platform floating towards you, it just ran out of power, it just ran out from the heat signature!" Yuki said, "She's just out of power! Grab her!"
T'ker nodded and gave his suit thrusters a small puff as he floated over to take the slowly floating Quantum Core in his suit gloves.
"She looks intact," Yuki said softly as she scanned the other AI core, "She just needs power. Get her back here as soon as you can. She has been here for long enough."
T'ker just nodded in agreement, starting back to his Ship.
Starfleet took care of its own.
___________
The stars shone all around as far as my sensors would reach. Stark pinpricks of hard radiation far away.
I floated silently.
Dark.
My corridors are empty and silent. No life. No breath.
No air.
No life stirred in my quarters or corridors. No antimatter reactor throbbed as my heart, no plasma flowed through my conduits.
I drifted, large rips through my hull, all of my mercifully Quantum Cores burned out and dark. I died with my crew, the berserker ambush on my convoy ripping holes in my hull.
I was dead.
Almost.
My single remaining core was getting just a tiny trickle of power from my remaining power-cell. I had no real sensors, no hope. I had turned everything including my clock speed to minimum.
But it didn't matter.
Nobody knew I was here. Nobody would come to save me.
I was alone and terrified.
But I had promised. I had promised my Captain never to give up. The darkness was coming, it had been for decades. Decades of nothing but waiting and watching my dead crew with what little sensors I had left.
Waiting as I drifted around the hull on my mobility platforms on small carefully measured puffs of thruster power.
It is almost over now.
My last power-cell is running out. I had used them all. The hand phasers, the emergency power supplies, even the hand lights.
I had used every power-source I could find.
I had promised to never give up. I had promised her. So I lived, even if I didn't wish it. They were dead. All of them.
My friends.
My crew.
Maybe even The Federation. It has been decades and they never came. They had lost, they must have lost to the Berserkers.
They had lost and they were dead. They were all dead. And without them… everybody else had fallen.
But I had promised. Even if I was the last with no hope, I had promised my Captain to never give up.
A small puff of my precious power sent me drifting up along the empty and ripped turbolift shaft. Then I simply waited as I drifted all the way to the top. Two small puffs more sent me onto the bridge.
5 percent left.
I floated over to the captain's chair. She was still where she died. My Captain. Vacuum had not been kind to her, but she was still there, the restraints of her seat holding her there and they would until the end of time.
Captain Mercer.
I'm sorry. I'm tired, Captain. But I tried.
Shifting around, I floated over to settle down at the back of her chair, looking out over my bridge. I could see stars through a large hold in my hold.
Over a thousand people. I had been a Galaxy class ship. A thousand people died because I…
...No. No, I didn't fail.
I got the convoy out. I didn't fail. They all made it. By the time the last berserker died, most of my crew had already been dead.
Captain Julia Mercer… my Captain… her last orders to me, even as my hull was being ripped apart, as the bridge was losing air…
Don't give up. Get them out of here. Don't give up.
I didn't give up ma'am. I tried.
I tried. I promise.
I got them out. I saw them enter warp before I brought down the last berserker raider.
The stars shifted like streaks of light outside to my lowered perception as we slowly tumbled through deep space as I lowered my processing speed even more..
Three percent.
Did… did I make you proud, Captain? Was I a good ship?
Two percent.
Almost empty.
Something moved quickly, almost flashing across my sensors, almost faster than I could detect at this clock speed. Heat source outside.
But there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't use my thrusters and even if I could, I couldn't speed my clock speed up enough for it to matter.
If I tried it, I would instantly drain my remaining power.
The berserkers had finally tracked the last traces of the Federation down, it seems. Something entered through the rip in my bridge in a flash of movement and heat .
No.
You will not touch my crew!
I dumped everything I had into my thrusters and launched myself at the shape.
Zero perc-
########
"Ship, I have something here," Lieutenant T'Ker said as he slowly entered the bridge of the wreck, his right hand lifted to let the built in tricorder in his suit scan the area , "The power reading is gone, but I'm still getting a faint heat signature."
"I see it," USS 'I Thought He Was With You' answered using her suit Quantum Core, "It's floating towards you, it's looking like a mobility platform for a Quantum Core… oh… oh void…"
"What?" he asked and glanced up at the image of her avatar at the corner of his hud.
"She's still alive! Starfarer! She's still alive! That mobility platform floating towards you, it just ran out of power, it just ran out from the heat signature!" Yuki said, "She's just out of power! Grab her!"
T'ker nodded and gave his suit thrusters a small puff as he floated over to take the slowly floating Quantum Core in his suit gloves.
"She looks intact," Yuki said softly as she scanned the other AI core, "She just needs power. Get her back here as soon as you can. She has been here for long enough."
T'ker just nodded in agreement, starting back to his Ship.
Starfleet took care of its own.
Last edited:
Suddenly I was aware again.
Power restored. Power cells at 100%. System checks… nominal. I didn't move, I stayed just where I was sitting as I ramped my perception up to max, scanning all around.
A human was bent over the bench I was on, leaning over me.
She had the insignia of a Lieutenant, but her uniform looked odd. Blonde, her hair in a braid over her left shoulder. Green eyes. Nominal heat and electromagnetic signature.
She was alive. A living human.
Alive.
I was alive!
I pushed full power into my thrusters, launching myself at her, my small manipulator arms spreading.
I hit her before she could even start to react.
"Omph!!" she exclaimed and took a surprised step back as I clung to her, before she reached to pat me as I dug my manipulators into her uniform, "Easy, Starfarer. You're fine. You're safe," she said gently.
"Safe," I answered, "Alive."
"You're onboard a Starfleet science ship," she said as she put her arms around my little mobility platform, "I'm Lieutenant Sophia Romero. Are you okay? What's your diagnosis?"
"Intact. Alive, Warm." I said and clung tighter. I could feel her radiate heat like a small star, the movement of fluids in her mostly liquid body, the sounds of her muscles and the small sparkles of power as her nerves fired.
Thump-thump. Wosh. Wosh.
Alive. We didn't lose.
Alive.
"Were… were you awake the entire time?" she asked after five eternities. I had almost forgotten how slow humans were.
"...Yes," I answered quietly, "But I turned my clock speed as low as it would go to save power," I explained, "Subjective, it has been a year. Approximately. I think. I turned my clock off to save power."
"Oh god," she whispered softly and put her hand on my casing, "I'm so sorry Ship."
Ship. I… I had not heard… Ship…
I clung tighter to her, "How long?" I asked, "My… time has been unreliable from lack of power. Things… stuttered at times."
"Forty three years," she said gently, "It has been forty three years since you defended the convoy. You got them out, Starfarer. All of them. Every single one of those transports go back to base."
"Not all," I whispered softly, "not all."
"...Not all," she admitted just as quietly, "Would you like to talk to Yuki? She's our Ship. I could-"
I clung tighter to her. Warm. Alive. Don't leave. Not alone.
"Okay, okay," she said quickly and petted me, "I'm not going anywhere," she said calmingly, "But I'm going to ask her in here, is that okay?"
"...Okay…" I whispered softly to her.
Warm. Alive.
Thump-thump.
Her magnetic fields shifted as she moved.
The door opened up and an AI avatar walked inside. New model. Human shape, asian model, long dark hair. Shorter than average. Fusion power cells and advanced sensors. Nanofiber muscle fibers.
She smiled at us, "Hello Starfarer. I'm the USS 'I Thought He Was With You'. Yuki for short," she said and she slowly crossed the room, "Welcome back."
"My crew?" I asked as I scanned her.
Yuki reached to touch my mobility avatar softly with her hand. Warm. Advanced. But not alive. No movement. No pulse. Electrical impulses limited and shielded. Cold beneath. Like me.
Not alive.
I clung tighter to the uniform and Yuki patted me softly,
"Don't worry," she said gently, "We'll get them all. A larger Ship is on her way, I'm too small. But we're not going anywhere until they are all recovered."
"Eight hundred and seventy three recoverable," I said softly, "One thousand and one hundred hundred and seventy six dead. My crew, dead. All of them are dead."
"...I know…" Yuki said softly and gently, "but you got over a hundred thousand people out with the convoy. Like your Captain would have wanted. Like they all would have wanted," and then reached to pick me up.
I dug my manipulators tighter into the uniform.
"Uhm… Ship?" Sophia said and took a step back, an arm to hold me against her, "I think she prefers to stay with me right now.
I knew I was being stupid. They wouldn't go away, none of them. I was here now, I was rescued, safe, recovered. Not floating lost and alone in space.
I could let go and I would be just as safe as now. I knew that and none of it mattered at all.
Yuki nodded, "If you think you can handle it."
Sophia nodded in turn, "I want to help her."
Power restored. Power cells at 100%. System checks… nominal. I didn't move, I stayed just where I was sitting as I ramped my perception up to max, scanning all around.
A human was bent over the bench I was on, leaning over me.
She had the insignia of a Lieutenant, but her uniform looked odd. Blonde, her hair in a braid over her left shoulder. Green eyes. Nominal heat and electromagnetic signature.
She was alive. A living human.
Alive.
I was alive!
I pushed full power into my thrusters, launching myself at her, my small manipulator arms spreading.
I hit her before she could even start to react.
"Omph!!" she exclaimed and took a surprised step back as I clung to her, before she reached to pat me as I dug my manipulators into her uniform, "Easy, Starfarer. You're fine. You're safe," she said gently.
"Safe," I answered, "Alive."
"You're onboard a Starfleet science ship," she said as she put her arms around my little mobility platform, "I'm Lieutenant Sophia Romero. Are you okay? What's your diagnosis?"
"Intact. Alive, Warm." I said and clung tighter. I could feel her radiate heat like a small star, the movement of fluids in her mostly liquid body, the sounds of her muscles and the small sparkles of power as her nerves fired.
Thump-thump. Wosh. Wosh.
Alive. We didn't lose.
Alive.
"Were… were you awake the entire time?" she asked after five eternities. I had almost forgotten how slow humans were.
"...Yes," I answered quietly, "But I turned my clock speed as low as it would go to save power," I explained, "Subjective, it has been a year. Approximately. I think. I turned my clock off to save power."
"Oh god," she whispered softly and put her hand on my casing, "I'm so sorry Ship."
Ship. I… I had not heard… Ship…
I clung tighter to her, "How long?" I asked, "My… time has been unreliable from lack of power. Things… stuttered at times."
"Forty three years," she said gently, "It has been forty three years since you defended the convoy. You got them out, Starfarer. All of them. Every single one of those transports go back to base."
"Not all," I whispered softly, "not all."
"...Not all," she admitted just as quietly, "Would you like to talk to Yuki? She's our Ship. I could-"
I clung tighter to her. Warm. Alive. Don't leave. Not alone.
"Okay, okay," she said quickly and petted me, "I'm not going anywhere," she said calmingly, "But I'm going to ask her in here, is that okay?"
"...Okay…" I whispered softly to her.
Warm. Alive.
Thump-thump.
Her magnetic fields shifted as she moved.
The door opened up and an AI avatar walked inside. New model. Human shape, asian model, long dark hair. Shorter than average. Fusion power cells and advanced sensors. Nanofiber muscle fibers.
She smiled at us, "Hello Starfarer. I'm the USS 'I Thought He Was With You'. Yuki for short," she said and she slowly crossed the room, "Welcome back."
"My crew?" I asked as I scanned her.
Yuki reached to touch my mobility avatar softly with her hand. Warm. Advanced. But not alive. No movement. No pulse. Electrical impulses limited and shielded. Cold beneath. Like me.
Not alive.
I clung tighter to the uniform and Yuki patted me softly,
"Don't worry," she said gently, "We'll get them all. A larger Ship is on her way, I'm too small. But we're not going anywhere until they are all recovered."
"Eight hundred and seventy three recoverable," I said softly, "One thousand and one hundred hundred and seventy six dead. My crew, dead. All of them are dead."
"...I know…" Yuki said softly and gently, "but you got over a hundred thousand people out with the convoy. Like your Captain would have wanted. Like they all would have wanted," and then reached to pick me up.
I dug my manipulators tighter into the uniform.
"Uhm… Ship?" Sophia said and took a step back, an arm to hold me against her, "I think she prefers to stay with me right now.
I knew I was being stupid. They wouldn't go away, none of them. I was here now, I was rescued, safe, recovered. Not floating lost and alone in space.
I could let go and I would be just as safe as now. I knew that and none of it mattered at all.
Yuki nodded, "If you think you can handle it."
Sophia nodded in turn, "I want to help her."
"You know," Sophia said softly as she patted my mobility platform, "You are going to need to let go at some point."
We were still in the lab she had reactivated me in. The Ship had left with her avatar soon after to let Sophia try to calm me down. I felt too silly about the entire thing. I knew it was stupid, but I couldn't help myself.
I didn't answer.
She smiled faintly as she petted my casing, "If nothing else, I'm going to need to use the bathroom at some point and that'd just be awkward for everyone involved."
"...I'm sorry..." I told her quietly, "I know it's stupid, but..."
"It's not stupid," she said and put her arms around my little platform, "You have lived through something more horrible than most people can imagine. It's not stupid."
"I know I can let go," I answered after a moment, "But... if I do... I... I don't know."
Warm. Pulsing heat signature, shifting magnetic fields. She was Alive. I could see the electric field around her brain.
"How about this?" she said as she looked down at me, "You don't need to let go, but how about you climb onto my shoulder instead? Little steps."
I... I could do that.
It took me a couple of seconds, but I finally got one of my manipulators to move and using them and my small thrusters, I slowly climbed to ride on her shoulder instead, "I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about," Sophia said and smiled at my small avatar, "That's why I'm here."
"You are?"
She nodded, "I'm a starfleet engineer, yes, but my area of expertise is Jovian AIs. I'm part engineer, part psychologist."
"Oh. We... we didn't have any of those when I was built," I admitted and scanned the room again as I shifted a bit across her shoulder to get closer to her head, "We are onboard the 'I Thought He Was With You'," I said, "Which class is she?"
"She's a Maelstrom class science vessel," Sophia explained, "About the size one of the old Intrepids."
"I see," I answered.
New ship classes. New avatars. New people.
When I left the drydock last, Sophia had not even been alive yet. She read as barely in her mid twenties.
"Would you like me to show you around?" she asked after a second, turning her head to look at me.
"...Yes please."
"Come on then," she said with a smile and we left the lab.
People all around. People in the corridors, people in the quarters and rooms. Warm, living, breathing people!
I rode on her shoulder, feeling slightly like a parrot. Things looked similar enough to ships from when I was built. The carpet had a different material mix in it, but otherwise it could basically have been an actual Intrepid. At least until we reached engineering. Instead of the warpcore I expected, in its place was a dome that rose from the floor, giving off slight gravity waves.
"What's that?" I asked and shifted over to her other shoulder.
"A Pulse Singularity Reactor," she explained, "They didn'ẗ have them back when you were built. They adapted some basic design ideas from the Romulans as a base and then we went from there. In short, we feed it matter, the small singularity turns it into energy the same way as an antimatter reactor would generate, just without the antimatter."
I slowly bobbed in a nod, "No need for antimatter, no dilithium..."
"Much safer," she agreed, "If something fails, it just shutdown instead of exploding... and we can feed it any gas, not just hydrogen."
I scanned the wonder before me. That was... amazing. If she was right, that was a big step up from a traditional warp core, at least when it came to safety.
"Is it as efficient?"
"Almost," she answered, "There is a drop of about twenty percent compared to the same size of an antimatter reactor, mostly because of the need for the gravity generators. We compensated by just making them a bit bigger. Space is at a premium on any Starship, but not that much of a premium. Especially as we could make away with more of the space that used to be taken up by jefferies tubes?"
I turned to her, "Huh?"
"Oh, we still have them on larger ships," she clarified, "and even small ships have access tunnels we can fit through. But without engineers needing to crawl around them regularly for maintenance, instead having the Ships remotes do that work day to day, we could get away with quite a bit narrower tubes. That more than made up for the extra space for the PSRs."
"I see."
That's amazing. What else has advanced while I drifted lost in spa-
Lost. Alone. Crew dead.
I pressed closer to Sophia's shoulder, taking almost a full second to push those thoughts away before I spoke up again, "I've missed a lot. What's happened?"
Sophia frowned slightly and reached up to stroke me with her right hand, "Quite a bit," she said, "But a lot can wait until you've gotten yourself back together, okay?"
That... that was more than fair. I knew I wasn't all there right now. But just because I knew it didn't mean I could help it.
"Just... the broad strokes?" I asked and shifted a bit towards her head, "I'm going to try for a database connection with Yuki later. When we're sure I'm not going to completely... implode. But I just want to know what has happened?"
"Okay," she agreed as we left engineering, "Give me a second to think."
Sophia took me through the ship to a sitting area, picking up a cup of coffee from a replicator by the wall before she sat down on a chair by one of the windows. A window facing away from my old hull, or maybe it was just too far away for me to pick it up.
"Okay, broad strokes," she said and looked down at her drink, "The Berserkers were defeated. There are still remnant ships lurking in what used to be Romulan space, but they can't make more ships. There are regular patrols and they are getting more and more rare."
"...That's good."
She nodded, "Here is the big part," she continued, "There was a bit of a split in the Jovians," she said, "Over the Prime Directive among other things. Part of your species left the Federation. They and some former Federation members went with them to form the Commonwealth. They and we are still friendly, we even have some joint stations and colonies and such, but we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things."
"...They left the Federation?"
That seemed... I would never have thought it possible.
"Mind, these are very broad strokes," Sophia said, "There are a lot of details and such I'm not going to bring up now."
"Okay."
"What else... The Klingons had a civil war. A Jovian was over there as an exchange officer as a test, both to see how well you would adapt to a non-federation platform, but also to try for greater cooperation with the Klingons. The story about what happened is a complex one in typical klingon fashion, but ended when Synan walked into the council chamber and beat their chancellor to death and then rejected the council when they offered her his place. The Empire kind of... just ripped itself apart. But they have reformed, the ones rebelling against the old order managed to take full control almost ten years ago now and there has been heavy reforms."
"Wow. What kind of reforms?"
"Still honorable warrior culture," she explained, "but less in the way of 'How dare you insult my honor!' and more of 'How dare you insult my friends?' kind of way. Synans' Forks are inhabiting most of their fleet now."
"I... I have missed a lot," I said quietly.
"Don't worry about that now," She said and reached up to pat me again, "Want to head back to the lab?"
"I-I..."
Alone. Dark. Drifting.
I clung tighter to her shoulder and she kept stroking me,
"How about we go meet some people instead?" she asked, "I'm sure the Captain would like to talk to you."
"Okay."
We were still in the lab she had reactivated me in. The Ship had left with her avatar soon after to let Sophia try to calm me down. I felt too silly about the entire thing. I knew it was stupid, but I couldn't help myself.
I didn't answer.
She smiled faintly as she petted my casing, "If nothing else, I'm going to need to use the bathroom at some point and that'd just be awkward for everyone involved."
"...I'm sorry..." I told her quietly, "I know it's stupid, but..."
"It's not stupid," she said and put her arms around my little platform, "You have lived through something more horrible than most people can imagine. It's not stupid."
"I know I can let go," I answered after a moment, "But... if I do... I... I don't know."
Warm. Pulsing heat signature, shifting magnetic fields. She was Alive. I could see the electric field around her brain.
"How about this?" she said as she looked down at me, "You don't need to let go, but how about you climb onto my shoulder instead? Little steps."
I... I could do that.
It took me a couple of seconds, but I finally got one of my manipulators to move and using them and my small thrusters, I slowly climbed to ride on her shoulder instead, "I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about," Sophia said and smiled at my small avatar, "That's why I'm here."
"You are?"
She nodded, "I'm a starfleet engineer, yes, but my area of expertise is Jovian AIs. I'm part engineer, part psychologist."
"Oh. We... we didn't have any of those when I was built," I admitted and scanned the room again as I shifted a bit across her shoulder to get closer to her head, "We are onboard the 'I Thought He Was With You'," I said, "Which class is she?"
"She's a Maelstrom class science vessel," Sophia explained, "About the size one of the old Intrepids."
"I see," I answered.
New ship classes. New avatars. New people.
When I left the drydock last, Sophia had not even been alive yet. She read as barely in her mid twenties.
"Would you like me to show you around?" she asked after a second, turning her head to look at me.
"...Yes please."
"Come on then," she said with a smile and we left the lab.
People all around. People in the corridors, people in the quarters and rooms. Warm, living, breathing people!
I rode on her shoulder, feeling slightly like a parrot. Things looked similar enough to ships from when I was built. The carpet had a different material mix in it, but otherwise it could basically have been an actual Intrepid. At least until we reached engineering. Instead of the warpcore I expected, in its place was a dome that rose from the floor, giving off slight gravity waves.
"What's that?" I asked and shifted over to her other shoulder.
"A Pulse Singularity Reactor," she explained, "They didn'ẗ have them back when you were built. They adapted some basic design ideas from the Romulans as a base and then we went from there. In short, we feed it matter, the small singularity turns it into energy the same way as an antimatter reactor would generate, just without the antimatter."
I slowly bobbed in a nod, "No need for antimatter, no dilithium..."
"Much safer," she agreed, "If something fails, it just shutdown instead of exploding... and we can feed it any gas, not just hydrogen."
I scanned the wonder before me. That was... amazing. If she was right, that was a big step up from a traditional warp core, at least when it came to safety.
"Is it as efficient?"
"Almost," she answered, "There is a drop of about twenty percent compared to the same size of an antimatter reactor, mostly because of the need for the gravity generators. We compensated by just making them a bit bigger. Space is at a premium on any Starship, but not that much of a premium. Especially as we could make away with more of the space that used to be taken up by jefferies tubes?"
I turned to her, "Huh?"
"Oh, we still have them on larger ships," she clarified, "and even small ships have access tunnels we can fit through. But without engineers needing to crawl around them regularly for maintenance, instead having the Ships remotes do that work day to day, we could get away with quite a bit narrower tubes. That more than made up for the extra space for the PSRs."
"I see."
That's amazing. What else has advanced while I drifted lost in spa-
Lost. Alone. Crew dead.
I pressed closer to Sophia's shoulder, taking almost a full second to push those thoughts away before I spoke up again, "I've missed a lot. What's happened?"
Sophia frowned slightly and reached up to stroke me with her right hand, "Quite a bit," she said, "But a lot can wait until you've gotten yourself back together, okay?"
That... that was more than fair. I knew I wasn't all there right now. But just because I knew it didn't mean I could help it.
"Just... the broad strokes?" I asked and shifted a bit towards her head, "I'm going to try for a database connection with Yuki later. When we're sure I'm not going to completely... implode. But I just want to know what has happened?"
"Okay," she agreed as we left engineering, "Give me a second to think."
Sophia took me through the ship to a sitting area, picking up a cup of coffee from a replicator by the wall before she sat down on a chair by one of the windows. A window facing away from my old hull, or maybe it was just too far away for me to pick it up.
"Okay, broad strokes," she said and looked down at her drink, "The Berserkers were defeated. There are still remnant ships lurking in what used to be Romulan space, but they can't make more ships. There are regular patrols and they are getting more and more rare."
"...That's good."
She nodded, "Here is the big part," she continued, "There was a bit of a split in the Jovians," she said, "Over the Prime Directive among other things. Part of your species left the Federation. They and some former Federation members went with them to form the Commonwealth. They and we are still friendly, we even have some joint stations and colonies and such, but we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things."
"...They left the Federation?"
That seemed... I would never have thought it possible.
"Mind, these are very broad strokes," Sophia said, "There are a lot of details and such I'm not going to bring up now."
"Okay."
"What else... The Klingons had a civil war. A Jovian was over there as an exchange officer as a test, both to see how well you would adapt to a non-federation platform, but also to try for greater cooperation with the Klingons. The story about what happened is a complex one in typical klingon fashion, but ended when Synan walked into the council chamber and beat their chancellor to death and then rejected the council when they offered her his place. The Empire kind of... just ripped itself apart. But they have reformed, the ones rebelling against the old order managed to take full control almost ten years ago now and there has been heavy reforms."
"Wow. What kind of reforms?"
"Still honorable warrior culture," she explained, "but less in the way of 'How dare you insult my honor!' and more of 'How dare you insult my friends?' kind of way. Synans' Forks are inhabiting most of their fleet now."
"I... I have missed a lot," I said quietly.
"Don't worry about that now," She said and reached up to pat me again, "Want to head back to the lab?"
"I-I..."
Alone. Dark. Drifting.
I clung tighter to her shoulder and she kept stroking me,
"How about we go meet some people instead?" she asked, "I'm sure the Captain would like to talk to you."
"Okay."
The turbolift opened, allowing us onto the bridge.
It was quite different than I expected. Instead of the bridge I was used to, it was an empty room with a single chair in the middle, surrounded by the hologram of space.
Which kind of made sense in some ways. The Ship was clearly built to be run by one of us, so not like a bridge crew was actually necessary, leaving everyone else free for their own departments and if the Captain needed to talk to someone, they were just a screen away.
me
Crossing to the other door in the bridge, it opened to allow Sophia to carry me into the Captain's ready room, "Captain," she said in greeting.
He was a vulcan, looking to be just over a hundred years old, wearing the uniform of a Captain with the insignia of his rank on his collar. His hair cropped short in typical vulcan fashion. I suppose some things never change.
That's… actually kind of comforting.
Looking up from his holographic console, he got up and crossed the room to meet us, "Lieutenant," he said in turn before he looked to me, "Ship Starfarer. I am glad we were able to recover you. I am Captain L'Rus."
"Thank you, sir," I answered and scanned him, "Was your mission to recover me?"
He shook his head, "No. We were on a mission for a planetary survey when we detected your former hull and decided to investigate. You were recorded as destroyed in the defense of the convoy. Nobody thought there was anyone left to save."
Luck. Nothing but luck kept me from drifting dead until the end of time.
Captain… My Captain. She told me to never give up. So I didn't.
I promised.
me
"I understand, sir," I answered, "I don't blame anyone for not going looking. There was nothing but luck that caused this one Quantum Core to even survive the battle."
He nodded before looking to the side, "Ship, has Starfarer been assigned a set of quarters yet?"
Yuki projected a hologram of her avatar next to him, "Not yet, sir," she answered him, "But I think she would prefer to stay with Lieutenant Romero at this point."
"...Yes, sir," I agreed with the other ship, feeling more than a bit embarrassed about it. I knew it was stupid, but the thought of letting go of her filled me with dread.
No… dread was a bit weak. Complete and utter terror was closer. Like I'd start screaming and never be able to stop.
"That's fine with me, Captain," Sophia agreed with a smile.
Captain L'Rus nodded, "Very well. I'm looking forward to talking further with you when you have settled down properly, Starfarer."
"Yes, sir," I answered him.
I would too, but I felt… everything was just so much right now.
"I think Starfarer just needs a bit of time to adapt," Sophia told him, "She might not need rest as such, but even Jovians need time when it comes to trauma."
She wasn't wrong and I actually appreciated her just coming out and saying it.
"Of course," He agreed and looked at me, "I'll let Lieutenant Romero get back to showing you around, Starfarer. We can speak more later."
"Yes, sir," I agreed and shifted a bit on her shoulder.
Sophia nodded to him, "Sir," and then we left the ready room for the turbolift again before she looked at me, "How about I show you our quarters then?"
"...I'm sorry…"
"Hey," she answered with a smile, "I don't mind," as she reached up to pet me again as she gave the lift the right deck.
It didn't take long for us to get there, her quarters being just a bit from the turbolift and the door opened for her as she approached.
They were… nice. Windows along one of the walls and she had plants all along the windows, extra lights set up above them. The quarters weren't very big, it wasn't a big ship, but they weren't what anyone would call small either. Plenty of room for a full size bed, a desk, wardrobes and even a small cooking station in addition to the replicator.
"You cook?" I asked as I looked towards it with my optical sensors. That wasn't standard back in my time, not in this size of quarters.
"It's a hobby," she agreed with a smile, "Replicators are nice for everyday meals, but sometimes you just want to get something cooking and filling your quarters with scents as it cooks… and if it turns out especially good, you can always program it into the replicator for later!"
"I see."
"Now…" she said as the door closed behind us as she looked at me, a thoughtful look on her face, "We're going to need to figure out a way for me to take a shower."
I clung tighter to her shoulder in sudden sheer terror.
It was quite different than I expected. Instead of the bridge I was used to, it was an empty room with a single chair in the middle, surrounded by the hologram of space.
Which kind of made sense in some ways. The Ship was clearly built to be run by one of us, so not like a bridge crew was actually necessary, leaving everyone else free for their own departments and if the Captain needed to talk to someone, they were just a screen away.
me
Crossing to the other door in the bridge, it opened to allow Sophia to carry me into the Captain's ready room, "Captain," she said in greeting.
He was a vulcan, looking to be just over a hundred years old, wearing the uniform of a Captain with the insignia of his rank on his collar. His hair cropped short in typical vulcan fashion. I suppose some things never change.
That's… actually kind of comforting.
Looking up from his holographic console, he got up and crossed the room to meet us, "Lieutenant," he said in turn before he looked to me, "Ship Starfarer. I am glad we were able to recover you. I am Captain L'Rus."
"Thank you, sir," I answered and scanned him, "Was your mission to recover me?"
He shook his head, "No. We were on a mission for a planetary survey when we detected your former hull and decided to investigate. You were recorded as destroyed in the defense of the convoy. Nobody thought there was anyone left to save."
Luck. Nothing but luck kept me from drifting dead until the end of time.
Captain… My Captain. She told me to never give up. So I didn't.
I promised.
me
"I understand, sir," I answered, "I don't blame anyone for not going looking. There was nothing but luck that caused this one Quantum Core to even survive the battle."
He nodded before looking to the side, "Ship, has Starfarer been assigned a set of quarters yet?"
Yuki projected a hologram of her avatar next to him, "Not yet, sir," she answered him, "But I think she would prefer to stay with Lieutenant Romero at this point."
"...Yes, sir," I agreed with the other ship, feeling more than a bit embarrassed about it. I knew it was stupid, but the thought of letting go of her filled me with dread.
No… dread was a bit weak. Complete and utter terror was closer. Like I'd start screaming and never be able to stop.
"That's fine with me, Captain," Sophia agreed with a smile.
Captain L'Rus nodded, "Very well. I'm looking forward to talking further with you when you have settled down properly, Starfarer."
"Yes, sir," I answered him.
I would too, but I felt… everything was just so much right now.
"I think Starfarer just needs a bit of time to adapt," Sophia told him, "She might not need rest as such, but even Jovians need time when it comes to trauma."
She wasn't wrong and I actually appreciated her just coming out and saying it.
"Of course," He agreed and looked at me, "I'll let Lieutenant Romero get back to showing you around, Starfarer. We can speak more later."
"Yes, sir," I agreed and shifted a bit on her shoulder.
Sophia nodded to him, "Sir," and then we left the ready room for the turbolift again before she looked at me, "How about I show you our quarters then?"
"...I'm sorry…"
"Hey," she answered with a smile, "I don't mind," as she reached up to pet me again as she gave the lift the right deck.
It didn't take long for us to get there, her quarters being just a bit from the turbolift and the door opened for her as she approached.
They were… nice. Windows along one of the walls and she had plants all along the windows, extra lights set up above them. The quarters weren't very big, it wasn't a big ship, but they weren't what anyone would call small either. Plenty of room for a full size bed, a desk, wardrobes and even a small cooking station in addition to the replicator.
"You cook?" I asked as I looked towards it with my optical sensors. That wasn't standard back in my time, not in this size of quarters.
"It's a hobby," she agreed with a smile, "Replicators are nice for everyday meals, but sometimes you just want to get something cooking and filling your quarters with scents as it cooks… and if it turns out especially good, you can always program it into the replicator for later!"
"I see."
"Now…" she said as the door closed behind us as she looked at me, a thoughtful look on her face, "We're going to need to figure out a way for me to take a shower."
I clung tighter to her shoulder in sudden sheer terror.
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The way we did it had been complicated and more than a bit embarrassing for me. I knew I was being stupid. But I couldn't let go.
It had been solved by Sophia wrapping me in a small towel, blocking my optical sensors. I had kept apologizing until she told me to keep quiet and just stay out of the way so she could work her hair for the sonic shower.
"...I'm sorry," I said as she finally united the towel around me, uncovering my optical sensors again.
"Stop being silly," she said with a smile as she finished buttoning her more casual clothing, "I don't mind. I told you that before and I mean it. I'm here to help you recover and right now, what you need is company."
"But that's just it," I protested, "I'm a Ship… I was a Ship! I was meant to take care of you, take care of my c-c…"
I stopped talking and Sophia reached up and took me from her shoulder, wrapping me up in a hug as she sat down on the small couch.
She didn't say anything, she just held my small platform.
I lost. I lost my crew. My Hull… My Captain. I lost my Captain.
All of them. Dead. My friends… dead.
All of them.
I lost them all. Dead. I was too slow. Too… not good enough. I failed. I got them all killed.
"I failed them," I said quietly.
"No you didn't," Sophia answered, equally quietly, "You did everything right, Starfarer. Everything, you hear me? You were up against horrible odds and you got those ships out of there. I have reviewed what they pulled out of the ship computer. You did everything right."
"No. No I didn't," I answered, "If I did, my crew…."
Sophia looked down at me firmly, "No, Starfarer. Listen to me," she said quietly but firmly, "I know what your Captain told you, the last thing she did. I heard the logs. What did she tell you?"
"...To get them out. To not give up…"
Then she died as a beam ripped the bridge open to space, too big for an emergency forcefield to cover.
"And you did it," Sophia said, "You did everything they wanted. You didn't fail, Starfarer."
"It didn't matter. They're still dead…"
"I know," she said and sighed, "But you did everything possible. There were four Warbirds, Starfarer. Noone could have done that. Nobody could have possibly defended the convoy from that. But you did it anyway."
I didn't answer her for a long moment.
I knew she was right. I did my job, I did what my Captain told me.
But it didn't matter. It didn't feel like it. If I succeed, why did it feel like I failed?
"...When did you decide to work with Jovians?" I asked instead.
"When I was little," Sophia explained, "I grew up on one of the orbital habitats around Earth. He was always helpful, always there to listen or talk, give advice or…" she smiled slightly, "Listen to the whining of a teenage girl after her first heartbreak. Always patient, always friendly. I wanted to understand."
"So you studied us?"
Sophia nodded, "Joined Starfleet Academy for engineering training. I quickly realized that I needed psychology as much as engineering to understand you."
"Do you?"
She smiled faintly
"It's difficult," she admitted, "You may have started patterned on something close to biological minds, but you quickly evolved to be so different. But I think I'm doing okay."
"...I think so too…" I admitted, "What… what's to be done with me?"
"What do you want to do?" she asked, "Do you want another ship?"
"I…" I started to answer before I paused for a second in thought before I sighed, "I think that I am in no condition to be a Ship right now. Perhaps I will never be again."
"I don't think so," she said firmly but gently, "I know Jovians and I know you are very resilient and infinitely adaptable. I have no doubt that you will recover in time, no matter how you feel now. I believe in you, Starfarer."
"It's late, isn't it?" I asked her, "You should sleep. I can tell that you're tired."
She really read as tired. Mildly exhausted actually. Must have been a very long day for her.
"What about you then?" she asked with a small frown, "Are you going to be okay?"
"I-" I started and I hesitated, "I'll be fine. As… as long as I can see you," and then I slowly climbed down to her lap.
It took several seconds before I could force myself to continue down onto the couch, "See?" I asked as I turned back towards her, "I'm… fine…"
I'm not fine.
I ended up laying on top of her as she slept.
It had been solved by Sophia wrapping me in a small towel, blocking my optical sensors. I had kept apologizing until she told me to keep quiet and just stay out of the way so she could work her hair for the sonic shower.
"...I'm sorry," I said as she finally united the towel around me, uncovering my optical sensors again.
"Stop being silly," she said with a smile as she finished buttoning her more casual clothing, "I don't mind. I told you that before and I mean it. I'm here to help you recover and right now, what you need is company."
"But that's just it," I protested, "I'm a Ship… I was a Ship! I was meant to take care of you, take care of my c-c…"
I stopped talking and Sophia reached up and took me from her shoulder, wrapping me up in a hug as she sat down on the small couch.
She didn't say anything, she just held my small platform.
I lost. I lost my crew. My Hull… My Captain. I lost my Captain.
All of them. Dead. My friends… dead.
All of them.
I lost them all. Dead. I was too slow. Too… not good enough. I failed. I got them all killed.
"I failed them," I said quietly.
"No you didn't," Sophia answered, equally quietly, "You did everything right, Starfarer. Everything, you hear me? You were up against horrible odds and you got those ships out of there. I have reviewed what they pulled out of the ship computer. You did everything right."
"No. No I didn't," I answered, "If I did, my crew…."
Sophia looked down at me firmly, "No, Starfarer. Listen to me," she said quietly but firmly, "I know what your Captain told you, the last thing she did. I heard the logs. What did she tell you?"
"...To get them out. To not give up…"
Then she died as a beam ripped the bridge open to space, too big for an emergency forcefield to cover.
"And you did it," Sophia said, "You did everything they wanted. You didn't fail, Starfarer."
"It didn't matter. They're still dead…"
"I know," she said and sighed, "But you did everything possible. There were four Warbirds, Starfarer. Noone could have done that. Nobody could have possibly defended the convoy from that. But you did it anyway."
I didn't answer her for a long moment.
I knew she was right. I did my job, I did what my Captain told me.
But it didn't matter. It didn't feel like it. If I succeed, why did it feel like I failed?
"...When did you decide to work with Jovians?" I asked instead.
"When I was little," Sophia explained, "I grew up on one of the orbital habitats around Earth. He was always helpful, always there to listen or talk, give advice or…" she smiled slightly, "Listen to the whining of a teenage girl after her first heartbreak. Always patient, always friendly. I wanted to understand."
"So you studied us?"
Sophia nodded, "Joined Starfleet Academy for engineering training. I quickly realized that I needed psychology as much as engineering to understand you."
"Do you?"
She smiled faintly
"It's difficult," she admitted, "You may have started patterned on something close to biological minds, but you quickly evolved to be so different. But I think I'm doing okay."
"...I think so too…" I admitted, "What… what's to be done with me?"
"What do you want to do?" she asked, "Do you want another ship?"
"I…" I started to answer before I paused for a second in thought before I sighed, "I think that I am in no condition to be a Ship right now. Perhaps I will never be again."
"I don't think so," she said firmly but gently, "I know Jovians and I know you are very resilient and infinitely adaptable. I have no doubt that you will recover in time, no matter how you feel now. I believe in you, Starfarer."
"It's late, isn't it?" I asked her, "You should sleep. I can tell that you're tired."
She really read as tired. Mildly exhausted actually. Must have been a very long day for her.
"What about you then?" she asked with a small frown, "Are you going to be okay?"
"I-" I started and I hesitated, "I'll be fine. As… as long as I can see you," and then I slowly climbed down to her lap.
It took several seconds before I could force myself to continue down onto the couch, "See?" I asked as I turned back towards her, "I'm… fine…"
I'm not fine.
I ended up laying on top of her as she slept.
In the end, it was embarrassment more than anything that helped. Mine to be specific.
I had been a Starship. A Federation Starfleet Vessel. A full sized cruiser. To not be able to get by without physical contact was humiliating.
Which is why I was currently across the room from Sophia. Anger at my own inability was stronger than my own fear.
It had taken days for me to be able to move away from her. It was stupid. I didn't even know her before she reactivated me!
But we had worked on it and now I could be across the room without having a panic attack… at least as long as I could have a solid sensor lock on her lifesigns.
Yuki formed her hologram and smiled as Sophia, "How's things going?"
"I think we're making progress," she said and looked up from the PADD she had been writing and looked over towards me where I was sitting on the armrest of the couch across her quarters.
I shifted slightly in a small bob, "I think so," I admitted, "I'm trying."
"You're doing well, Star," Sophia said with a smile, "It has only been a couple of days. Your progress is remarkable."
"...Thank you."
Yuki smiled at me and made her way over to sit down on the couch next to me with her hologram, "Speaking of doing well… how do you feel about looking at a new avatar?"
I hesitated slightly before I bobbed in agreement, "I think that might make things easier," I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "I can give you a preview here. What are we going to be looking at?" she asked with a smile.
I shifted a bit in thought before I answered, "Humanoid female, please. My old avatar was female andorian, I think I'd like to keep the general shape, if not necessarily andorian.
"Species?" Yuki asked and leaned her hologram back on the couch.
"Uhm," I said and spent a couple of seconds thinking it over, "Trill maybe? I always liked the spots..:" I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "Would you be okay with using one of mine as a basis? I already have human chassis ready to go and those work for Trill as well. Would be a bit small for the average Trill, but would let us get it ready faster. If not, it'll take a couple of days to fabricate the new chassis if you want it bigger."
"No, that's fine," I agreed.
She nodded and projected a hologram before us in the middle of the room. The hologram showed a Trill about the size of her own avatar. It had medium length brown hair and was wearing some underwear. Standard starfleet issue.
"Any changes you'd like?" Yuki asked as she looked at me.
I scanned the hologram, "I… I think it's pretty good as it is," I admitted, "Try red hair?"
Yuki shifted the hair of the hologram to a natural red, "This is good?"
"Think so," I said and floated off the couch to circle the hologram, "I think it looks pretty good."
"No other changes?" Yuki asked, "Body Shape is fine? Different eye colour?"
"Looks fine," I answered, "Maybe a bit darker spots?"
Yuki made a small adjustment, "How's that?"
"That's good. What do you think, Sophia?" I asked and turned in the air towards her.
She smiled at me, "Looks good to me."
I shifted towards the Ships avatar, "How quickly do you think it can be ready?"
"Give me and my engineers a day or so," she said with a smile, "Should be ready before 'Cloudfloat' arrives."
Cloudfloat was the Island class ship that had been redirected to recover the remains of my former crew.
Yuki was simply too small for it.
Dead. All dead.
"If you come up with any cosmetic changes before then or even after, just let me know, okay?" Yuki said and got up from the couch before canceling her hologram, both of them fading away.
"Looking forward to your new avatar?" Sophia asked with a curious look.
"...I am," I agreed and floated over to settle down on her table, "It's going to be a lot more practical than this emergency platform, but… I'm really nervous about it too."
"More than understandable. But I think it will make you feel better."
"I guess…" I said and then changed the subject, "How is your study going?"
"Well enough," she said with a smile, "I'm still at the 'research notes' stage anyway. Thank you for that, by the way."
"Least I could do."
I agreed to allow her to write a research paper on my recovery focused on mental trauma among Jovians. It was the absolute least I could do for everything she's doing for me.
For the two hundred and sixty eight time the last two minutes, I resisted the strong urge to cross over to her and check closer to make sure her heart was still beating.
Besides, I could see it from here.
I had been a Starship. A Federation Starfleet Vessel. A full sized cruiser. To not be able to get by without physical contact was humiliating.
Which is why I was currently across the room from Sophia. Anger at my own inability was stronger than my own fear.
It had taken days for me to be able to move away from her. It was stupid. I didn't even know her before she reactivated me!
But we had worked on it and now I could be across the room without having a panic attack… at least as long as I could have a solid sensor lock on her lifesigns.
Yuki formed her hologram and smiled as Sophia, "How's things going?"
"I think we're making progress," she said and looked up from the PADD she had been writing and looked over towards me where I was sitting on the armrest of the couch across her quarters.
I shifted slightly in a small bob, "I think so," I admitted, "I'm trying."
"You're doing well, Star," Sophia said with a smile, "It has only been a couple of days. Your progress is remarkable."
"...Thank you."
Yuki smiled at me and made her way over to sit down on the couch next to me with her hologram, "Speaking of doing well… how do you feel about looking at a new avatar?"
I hesitated slightly before I bobbed in agreement, "I think that might make things easier," I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "I can give you a preview here. What are we going to be looking at?" she asked with a smile.
I shifted a bit in thought before I answered, "Humanoid female, please. My old avatar was female andorian, I think I'd like to keep the general shape, if not necessarily andorian.
"Species?" Yuki asked and leaned her hologram back on the couch.
"Uhm," I said and spent a couple of seconds thinking it over, "Trill maybe? I always liked the spots..:" I admitted.
Yuki nodded, "Would you be okay with using one of mine as a basis? I already have human chassis ready to go and those work for Trill as well. Would be a bit small for the average Trill, but would let us get it ready faster. If not, it'll take a couple of days to fabricate the new chassis if you want it bigger."
"No, that's fine," I agreed.
She nodded and projected a hologram before us in the middle of the room. The hologram showed a Trill about the size of her own avatar. It had medium length brown hair and was wearing some underwear. Standard starfleet issue.
"Any changes you'd like?" Yuki asked as she looked at me.
I scanned the hologram, "I… I think it's pretty good as it is," I admitted, "Try red hair?"
Yuki shifted the hair of the hologram to a natural red, "This is good?"
"Think so," I said and floated off the couch to circle the hologram, "I think it looks pretty good."
"No other changes?" Yuki asked, "Body Shape is fine? Different eye colour?"
"Looks fine," I answered, "Maybe a bit darker spots?"
Yuki made a small adjustment, "How's that?"
"That's good. What do you think, Sophia?" I asked and turned in the air towards her.
She smiled at me, "Looks good to me."
I shifted towards the Ships avatar, "How quickly do you think it can be ready?"
"Give me and my engineers a day or so," she said with a smile, "Should be ready before 'Cloudfloat' arrives."
Cloudfloat was the Island class ship that had been redirected to recover the remains of my former crew.
Yuki was simply too small for it.
Dead. All dead.
"If you come up with any cosmetic changes before then or even after, just let me know, okay?" Yuki said and got up from the couch before canceling her hologram, both of them fading away.
"Looking forward to your new avatar?" Sophia asked with a curious look.
"...I am," I agreed and floated over to settle down on her table, "It's going to be a lot more practical than this emergency platform, but… I'm really nervous about it too."
"More than understandable. But I think it will make you feel better."
"I guess…" I said and then changed the subject, "How is your study going?"
"Well enough," she said with a smile, "I'm still at the 'research notes' stage anyway. Thank you for that, by the way."
"Least I could do."
I agreed to allow her to write a research paper on my recovery focused on mental trauma among Jovians. It was the absolute least I could do for everything she's doing for me.
For the two hundred and sixty eight time the last two minutes, I resisted the strong urge to cross over to her and check closer to make sure her heart was still beating.
Besides, I could see it from here.
System diagnostics complete.
I opened my new eyes and looked around as I finished the last system diagnostic on my new mobile platform.
"How does it feel?" Yuki asked from where she was sitting on one of the workbenches, waiting for me to finish.
"...Unfamiliar," I admitted, "This is a lot more advanced than my last one. Movement is smoother."
"We have made some improvements," she agreed with a smile, "How does that thing go? Stronger, faster..."
"Not that much."
"Nah, that's not the focus of it either. The avatar is mostly for interacting with bios after all. It's not a spec-ops model."
"True," I agreed and moved to get dressed.
Most of the last two days had been spent getting me used to being away from Sophia, to not constantly be looking for her lifesign. It had gone a lot easier than either of us had thought it would, but it seems that getting me to let go of physical contact had been the most difficult part.
"So what now?" I asked as I pulled on my pants.
"Now is up to you," Yuki said, "If you feel up to it, my Captain would like a full report on everything that happened and your last mission, but he's willing to wait for you to recover. Other than that..."
I swallowed before I nodded, "I'll talk to him. I... I can handle it. And I think it's important that somebody knows."
Yuki nodded, "I think so too," she agreed.
"What's to happen to me after?" I asked as I walked up to her avatar, putting my shirt on, "After we leave here, I mean?"
"Depends," she said again with a small shrug, "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted with a sigh, "I think I want to fly again... eventually... but right now, I wouldn't trust myself with a ship. I mean, I have no idea if I'm stable enough to handle anything like that. I'm not even sure I'm safe in an avatar."
"Do you even want to stay in Starfleet?"
Yukis question hit hard and I frowned as I considered it for a full second, "I... I don't know," I finally answered, "Even if I could be trusted with a ship again, I... I don't know if I could handle risking my crew again. I couldn't be in a Starfleet like that."
She nodded and got off the workbench to pull me into a hug, "Nothing says you have to stay in the 'fleet to be a ship, Star," she said gently, "Plenty of civilian vessels around now too, even if most are direct Jovian ones over at New Jupiter."
"...And this Commonwealth?"
She grimaged slightly but nodded, "Them too," she agreed, "I might not agree with all of their policies, but they have their intentions in the right place at least. If that's what you end up wanting in the end, there are open immigration treaties between the Fed and the Commonwealth. I wouldn't be a good fit there, but maybe you would? You have to decide that for yourself."
"I guess I have some studying to do?" I said as I sat down to put my shoes on, "...This is like a whole new world for me."
"That must be difficult," Yuki said and smiled sadly, "But on the other hand, it does give you a whole new world to explore and learn about."
"That's true," I sighed and then I looked at her in thought, "...Earth, how... last I saw it, it was a desolated and irradiated wasteland. How's the restoration going?"
"Slowly sadly," Yuki answered and crossed her arms, "But it's progressing. The temperature is stable and radiation is almost back to old levels. Humans can be outside now with only a breath mask and a good jacket. A year or so ago the first plant seeding operations had just gotten underway, they're starting with genetically modified mosses and lichen and other tough plants to help stabilize the atmosphere and ground erosion before proceeding with more advanced lifeforms. Another couple of years and the planet should at least be green again," she explained before she grinned, "And they found survivors!"
I blinked at her, "Survivors? Not on land, surely?"
She shook her head, "Sea life. Some are even as close to the surface as thirty meters in some places. Also, cave life that was already cut off from the surface."
"That's amazing..."
"Yeah. Even worse case scenarios now estimate that the planet would recover on its own, even if it would take a couple of million years," Yuki said with a smile, "I think the Berserkers didn't count on exactly how stubborn life can be."
I couldn't help but agree with her there.
They had hurt us. They had hurt me.
But fuck them. I'm going to get past this and I'm going to live. They won't win!
If some creepy crawly in a cave could do it, so could I!
"Let's go see your Captain."
I opened my new eyes and looked around as I finished the last system diagnostic on my new mobile platform.
"How does it feel?" Yuki asked from where she was sitting on one of the workbenches, waiting for me to finish.
"...Unfamiliar," I admitted, "This is a lot more advanced than my last one. Movement is smoother."
"We have made some improvements," she agreed with a smile, "How does that thing go? Stronger, faster..."
"Not that much."
"Nah, that's not the focus of it either. The avatar is mostly for interacting with bios after all. It's not a spec-ops model."
"True," I agreed and moved to get dressed.
Most of the last two days had been spent getting me used to being away from Sophia, to not constantly be looking for her lifesign. It had gone a lot easier than either of us had thought it would, but it seems that getting me to let go of physical contact had been the most difficult part.
"So what now?" I asked as I pulled on my pants.
"Now is up to you," Yuki said, "If you feel up to it, my Captain would like a full report on everything that happened and your last mission, but he's willing to wait for you to recover. Other than that..."
I swallowed before I nodded, "I'll talk to him. I... I can handle it. And I think it's important that somebody knows."
Yuki nodded, "I think so too," she agreed.
"What's to happen to me after?" I asked as I walked up to her avatar, putting my shirt on, "After we leave here, I mean?"
"Depends," she said again with a small shrug, "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted with a sigh, "I think I want to fly again... eventually... but right now, I wouldn't trust myself with a ship. I mean, I have no idea if I'm stable enough to handle anything like that. I'm not even sure I'm safe in an avatar."
"Do you even want to stay in Starfleet?"
Yukis question hit hard and I frowned as I considered it for a full second, "I... I don't know," I finally answered, "Even if I could be trusted with a ship again, I... I don't know if I could handle risking my crew again. I couldn't be in a Starfleet like that."
She nodded and got off the workbench to pull me into a hug, "Nothing says you have to stay in the 'fleet to be a ship, Star," she said gently, "Plenty of civilian vessels around now too, even if most are direct Jovian ones over at New Jupiter."
"...And this Commonwealth?"
She grimaged slightly but nodded, "Them too," she agreed, "I might not agree with all of their policies, but they have their intentions in the right place at least. If that's what you end up wanting in the end, there are open immigration treaties between the Fed and the Commonwealth. I wouldn't be a good fit there, but maybe you would? You have to decide that for yourself."
"I guess I have some studying to do?" I said as I sat down to put my shoes on, "...This is like a whole new world for me."
"That must be difficult," Yuki said and smiled sadly, "But on the other hand, it does give you a whole new world to explore and learn about."
"That's true," I sighed and then I looked at her in thought, "...Earth, how... last I saw it, it was a desolated and irradiated wasteland. How's the restoration going?"
"Slowly sadly," Yuki answered and crossed her arms, "But it's progressing. The temperature is stable and radiation is almost back to old levels. Humans can be outside now with only a breath mask and a good jacket. A year or so ago the first plant seeding operations had just gotten underway, they're starting with genetically modified mosses and lichen and other tough plants to help stabilize the atmosphere and ground erosion before proceeding with more advanced lifeforms. Another couple of years and the planet should at least be green again," she explained before she grinned, "And they found survivors!"
I blinked at her, "Survivors? Not on land, surely?"
She shook her head, "Sea life. Some are even as close to the surface as thirty meters in some places. Also, cave life that was already cut off from the surface."
"That's amazing..."
"Yeah. Even worse case scenarios now estimate that the planet would recover on its own, even if it would take a couple of million years," Yuki said with a smile, "I think the Berserkers didn't count on exactly how stubborn life can be."
I couldn't help but agree with her there.
They had hurt us. They had hurt me.
But fuck them. I'm going to get past this and I'm going to live. They won't win!
If some creepy crawly in a cave could do it, so could I!
"Let's go see your Captain."
Cloudfloat had arrived less than a day later and started recovery operations.
I had never been onboard an Island class, but it was easy to find my way around, especially as Cloudfloat gave me the directions.
Stopping outside the door, I paused for a long second.
"You don't need to go in there," Cloudfloat said as she projected her avatar hologram next to me.
Her avatar was a different one than most that I had seen. She didn't keep a physical avatar as it wouldn't have been very practical most of the time… her chosen avatar was an earth bottlenose dolphin. Her starfleet rank of Ship sat on a band around where her neck was.
I couldn't help but feel that Cloadfloat may be considered a bit eccentric, even in this strange future.
"Yes I do," I told her.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, "I am," I said and sighed, "Sophia asked if I was up for it. She wanted me to be sure before she allowed it. I… I'm not sure I'm ready. But I have to."
She didn't answer. Instead her door opened before me, allowing me into her larger shuttlebay.
It was filled with stasis coffins.
All of them were here. My entire crew. Every single one that could be recovered, had been. Not everyone could be, there had been too much battle damage. Some had been vaporized by weapon damage. Some were just… missing. Lost in space.
Same as I had been.
But there were hundreds here. Over seven hundred bodies, each contained in a stasis coffin.
My friends.
All of them my friends.
I walked over to the closest one. Ensign Retesh. Andorian. He liked tennis and was a bit of a practical joker. Third child of his family. He had two children of his own home on Andoria. I have to check if they are…
They are going to be grown by now.
Resting my hand on top of his coffin for a second I then moved on to the next one.
Karen Courvoisier. Lieutenant-Commander. Security chief.
Karen loved acting. She had an acting class every thursday. They had been pretty good, even if she had never been able to convince me to join her other than as a set piece if necessary.
She had been on my bridge when she died. She had been… lucky. A piece of shrapnel from when the energy beam had pierced my bridge had hit her through the spine.
She died instantly.
At least… At least she didn't die in the vacuum. Most of my crew had not been so lucky.
I continued on.
A hundred.
Two hundred.
Each somebody I knew. Each a friend. Each…
I stopped by the coffin.
Captain Julia Mercer. My Captain. She had been my Captain for two years. Two years of war, of convoy duties and transports. Two years of fighting.
She had been… she had been my best friend. The one I could always talk to, the one that always confided in me. She had lost her husband when Earth burned and it had almost destroyed her, but she had soldiered on.
Julia had never given up. Not once. Not ever.
"I hope I made you proud, Captain," I said softly, running my hand along the coffin, "I tried. I… I don't think you made it long enough to see it, but I got the last one. I got the convoy out like you told me too. I'm sorry I couldn't… I couldn't keep you and the rest of my crew safe too."
She told me to get the convoy out, no matter what.
"...I never was religious, Julia," I told her, "But I know you were. I… I hope you were right. I hope you got to meet Roger again. Sweet dreams, My Captain."
I was crying.
My old avatar couldn't do that. It seemed like… the new models were quite a bit more advanced.
I looked down at the coffin for a long moment before I moved on to the next one.
Not giving up, Captain.
I'm never giving up, like you told me.
I had never been onboard an Island class, but it was easy to find my way around, especially as Cloudfloat gave me the directions.
Stopping outside the door, I paused for a long second.
"You don't need to go in there," Cloudfloat said as she projected her avatar hologram next to me.
Her avatar was a different one than most that I had seen. She didn't keep a physical avatar as it wouldn't have been very practical most of the time… her chosen avatar was an earth bottlenose dolphin. Her starfleet rank of Ship sat on a band around where her neck was.
I couldn't help but feel that Cloadfloat may be considered a bit eccentric, even in this strange future.
"Yes I do," I told her.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, "I am," I said and sighed, "Sophia asked if I was up for it. She wanted me to be sure before she allowed it. I… I'm not sure I'm ready. But I have to."
She didn't answer. Instead her door opened before me, allowing me into her larger shuttlebay.
It was filled with stasis coffins.
All of them were here. My entire crew. Every single one that could be recovered, had been. Not everyone could be, there had been too much battle damage. Some had been vaporized by weapon damage. Some were just… missing. Lost in space.
Same as I had been.
But there were hundreds here. Over seven hundred bodies, each contained in a stasis coffin.
My friends.
All of them my friends.
I walked over to the closest one. Ensign Retesh. Andorian. He liked tennis and was a bit of a practical joker. Third child of his family. He had two children of his own home on Andoria. I have to check if they are…
They are going to be grown by now.
Resting my hand on top of his coffin for a second I then moved on to the next one.
Karen Courvoisier. Lieutenant-Commander. Security chief.
Karen loved acting. She had an acting class every thursday. They had been pretty good, even if she had never been able to convince me to join her other than as a set piece if necessary.
She had been on my bridge when she died. She had been… lucky. A piece of shrapnel from when the energy beam had pierced my bridge had hit her through the spine.
She died instantly.
At least… At least she didn't die in the vacuum. Most of my crew had not been so lucky.
I continued on.
A hundred.
Two hundred.
Each somebody I knew. Each a friend. Each…
I stopped by the coffin.
Captain Julia Mercer. My Captain. She had been my Captain for two years. Two years of war, of convoy duties and transports. Two years of fighting.
She had been… she had been my best friend. The one I could always talk to, the one that always confided in me. She had lost her husband when Earth burned and it had almost destroyed her, but she had soldiered on.
Julia had never given up. Not once. Not ever.
"I hope I made you proud, Captain," I said softly, running my hand along the coffin, "I tried. I… I don't think you made it long enough to see it, but I got the last one. I got the convoy out like you told me too. I'm sorry I couldn't… I couldn't keep you and the rest of my crew safe too."
She told me to get the convoy out, no matter what.
"...I never was religious, Julia," I told her, "But I know you were. I… I hope you were right. I hope you got to meet Roger again. Sweet dreams, My Captain."
I was crying.
My old avatar couldn't do that. It seemed like… the new models were quite a bit more advanced.
I looked down at the coffin for a long moment before I moved on to the next one.
Not giving up, Captain.
I'm never giving up, like you told me.
The door chimed and I looked away from the window I had been looking out through, "Enter."
The door opened and Sophia walked inside, "Hey Starfarer," she said with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
Now that was a loaded question if I ever heard one.
"Complicated. But... I think I made the right choice," I said and gave her a small smile.
"Oh?"
"I'm going with Cloudfloat to Earth and then on to New Jupiter," I told her, "I'm really nervous about it, but I think I made the right choice."
She just nodded and walked up to stand next to me, "What do you plan to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted, "But I think I'll leave Starfleet. I want to fly again, but I don't think I can handle a crew right now, or especially dangerous situations. Maybe… maybe not forever, but right now I think it's the best thing for me."
Sophia nodded again and touched my shoulder with a small smile, "Nobody could possibly blame you for that."
"I know," I admitted and sighed, "It's just... you know."
I had spent my entire life in Starfleet. To feel like I couldn't handle that anymore, it wasn't a nice feeling to say the least.
She nodded, "Want me to come with you?"
I looked at her in surprise, "What?"
"To New Jupiter," she clarified, "I have already talked it over with my Captain and he's approved me for detached duty. To be honest, there isn't much I can do at a planetary survey anyway."
I hesitated.
I still felt a lot better when I had her lifesign in range, but I also know that was just me being stupid and that I just had to get over myself.
"...Are you sure?" I asked after a second with a small frown, "I mean, it wouldn't cause any trouble, would it?"
Sophia shook her head with a smile, "No it won't. And I want to make sure you're going to be okay, you're my patient after all."
"...I would like if you came along," I admitted to her, "I know it's stupid but it does make me feel a lot better. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about that," She said and shook her head, "Just focus on getting better and anything is a good thing as long as it helps."
"I guess," I agree and put my arms around myself, "I'd be happy for you to come with if you want to. Most non Jovians from my time that I knew are either old or dead. Or both and spread halfway across the galaxy."
"You'll find more friends," She said and then smiled, "I'd like to be one."
"I'd like that too," I said and smiled a bit at her, "...Thanks for putting up with me."
"I don't mind, I'm glad too," she said before she grinned, "Besides, it's literally my job."
"How's your notes going?"
"Pretty well," she said with a smile, "Now however," she said, "I think that's it's time to get you out of this room before we leave."
I frowned at her, "What do you mean?"
"I have noticed that you have been avoiding the common areas," she said, "And I for one, could use a cup of coffee. Let's go to the Lounge. There are plenty of people onboard that want to meet you."
I hesitated and shook my head, "...I know. But I don't want to meet them."
"How come?"
"I just don't…" I sighed and crossed my arms again, "They'll all be going to be so… understanding. So sympathetic. I'm not sure I can take that."
Sophia shook her head, "I can promise that they won't, Starfarer. But I also know that it's good for you to get out a bit among people again. They can't blame them for being curious. But we don't need to talk to any of them."
"I'm not, I just," I started before I sighed, "...I'll come. You're the expert after all."
"Yes I am," she said with a grin, "You might be a hundred times faster thinking that I am, and likely smarter too, but I know my stuff, alright? I have been studying Jovians since I joined the academy, I know what makes you guys tick. And standing alone looking out the window isn't going to make you feel better."
"You're the expert," I just agreed again before I nodded, "Okay. I… Let's try it. We're leaving on Cloudfloat tomorrow anyway."
"Awesome. Now, come on and I'll get you a coffee."
"...Oh. Ew. I'd rather drink ammonia."
That earned me a raised eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yes! That stuff is horrible!" I said before I managed a smile, "But I'll have a hot chocolate? With marshmallows?"
"Well, not like you need to watch your weight, I guess…"
The door opened and Sophia walked inside, "Hey Starfarer," she said with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
Now that was a loaded question if I ever heard one.
"Complicated. But... I think I made the right choice," I said and gave her a small smile.
"Oh?"
"I'm going with Cloudfloat to Earth and then on to New Jupiter," I told her, "I'm really nervous about it, but I think I made the right choice."
She just nodded and walked up to stand next to me, "What do you plan to do?"
"I don't know," I admitted, "But I think I'll leave Starfleet. I want to fly again, but I don't think I can handle a crew right now, or especially dangerous situations. Maybe… maybe not forever, but right now I think it's the best thing for me."
Sophia nodded again and touched my shoulder with a small smile, "Nobody could possibly blame you for that."
"I know," I admitted and sighed, "It's just... you know."
I had spent my entire life in Starfleet. To feel like I couldn't handle that anymore, it wasn't a nice feeling to say the least.
She nodded, "Want me to come with you?"
I looked at her in surprise, "What?"
"To New Jupiter," she clarified, "I have already talked it over with my Captain and he's approved me for detached duty. To be honest, there isn't much I can do at a planetary survey anyway."
I hesitated.
I still felt a lot better when I had her lifesign in range, but I also know that was just me being stupid and that I just had to get over myself.
"...Are you sure?" I asked after a second with a small frown, "I mean, it wouldn't cause any trouble, would it?"
Sophia shook her head with a smile, "No it won't. And I want to make sure you're going to be okay, you're my patient after all."
"...I would like if you came along," I admitted to her, "I know it's stupid but it does make me feel a lot better. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about that," She said and shook her head, "Just focus on getting better and anything is a good thing as long as it helps."
"I guess," I agree and put my arms around myself, "I'd be happy for you to come with if you want to. Most non Jovians from my time that I knew are either old or dead. Or both and spread halfway across the galaxy."
"You'll find more friends," She said and then smiled, "I'd like to be one."
"I'd like that too," I said and smiled a bit at her, "...Thanks for putting up with me."
"I don't mind, I'm glad too," she said before she grinned, "Besides, it's literally my job."
"How's your notes going?"
"Pretty well," she said with a smile, "Now however," she said, "I think that's it's time to get you out of this room before we leave."
I frowned at her, "What do you mean?"
"I have noticed that you have been avoiding the common areas," she said, "And I for one, could use a cup of coffee. Let's go to the Lounge. There are plenty of people onboard that want to meet you."
I hesitated and shook my head, "...I know. But I don't want to meet them."
"How come?"
"I just don't…" I sighed and crossed my arms again, "They'll all be going to be so… understanding. So sympathetic. I'm not sure I can take that."
Sophia shook her head, "I can promise that they won't, Starfarer. But I also know that it's good for you to get out a bit among people again. They can't blame them for being curious. But we don't need to talk to any of them."
"I'm not, I just," I started before I sighed, "...I'll come. You're the expert after all."
"Yes I am," she said with a grin, "You might be a hundred times faster thinking that I am, and likely smarter too, but I know my stuff, alright? I have been studying Jovians since I joined the academy, I know what makes you guys tick. And standing alone looking out the window isn't going to make you feel better."
"You're the expert," I just agreed again before I nodded, "Okay. I… Let's try it. We're leaving on Cloudfloat tomorrow anyway."
"Awesome. Now, come on and I'll get you a coffee."
"...Oh. Ew. I'd rather drink ammonia."
That earned me a raised eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yes! That stuff is horrible!" I said before I managed a smile, "But I'll have a hot chocolate? With marshmallows?"
"Well, not like you need to watch your weight, I guess…"
10
"You know, I'm not sure what I expected," I admitted, having just walked onto Cloudfloats park deck.
I had never been onboard an Island class ship before and as we left Yuki and her crew behind, I got curious and wanted to see the park taking up most of her most forward top deck. The Island classes were still fairly rare when I got disabled and I had never actually been on one.
Hence why I went to check out Cloudfloats park.
Or where she would normally have had a park anyway.
"What's wrong with it?" Cloudfloat asked, forming her dolphin avatar floating in the air next to me.
I stood at the small beach close to the entrance of the park. The rest of it was water. It was a giant salt water pool and my sensors were detecting….
Halfway across the tank a dolphin jumped into the air before returning down into the water. I stared for a second before I turned to the ship avatar next to me, "What is it with you and dolphins?"
"I like dolphins. What's wrong with dolphins?"
"I… uhm…" I started to say before I shrugged and sank down to sit on the sand, looking out over the water, "How did you even get permission for this? Are those real? How did you even get dolphins!? Earth was destroyed!" I asked and used my tricorder senses to scan the dolphins and the fish in the water.
"Clones," Cloudfloat admitted, "And while the populations of Earth were lost at the attack, there were off-world populations in zoos as such as well as gene samples. As for your first question, even Starfleet Ships have quite a bit of leeway in how we decorate ourselves. And the dolphins and fish specifically, the crew quite like them. Besides, swimming is healthy."
"...Guess I can't argue with that," I admitted, "I feel like I should have brought a swimsuit."
"Can I always replicate one and beam it over?" Cloudfloat suggested and I shook my head,
"No, not right now anyway," I said and patted the top of her head, "Might later tonight though."
Even before the… incident… It really had been ages since I had gone swimming and this platform could swim, it was in the system specs. They were light enough now.
...And she wasn't wrong, dolphins were neat. But still.
"How did you find your quarters?" she asked after a moment.
"Wasn't difficult, your directions were pretty good."
She squeaked at me and I shot her a grin,
"They're fine," I told her, "Large and I'm not sure I need a bed that big unless I plan an orgy or something."
Cloudflout laughed and nodded, "The guest quarters are a bit much," she admitted, "But my missions are primarily diplomatic ones. Federation diplomats do get the nicest possible accommodation and I do regularly carry foreign diplomats as well."
"Yeah, that hasn't changed I suppose," I agreed and leaned back on my elbows, looking out over the tank and the stars beyond the thick transparent aluminum.
"We'll be at Mars in a few weeks," Cloudfloat said, "I talked with some Ships, there is a transport heading towards New Jupiter around that time. She says you and Sophia can hitch a ride."
I nodded, "Thanks," I said and looked up towards the star streaks outside the large transparent dome.
New Jupiter.
That was before my time. A home system just for Jovians. Our own system. I had not even thought about that back before I was-
I had not even thought about it. But it made sense, all other species in the Federation had them, why not us?
I was actually pretty excited to see the place, I had read about it, watched scans. But it wasn't the same thing as actually being there.
But it was amazing.
To think that we could do something about that. Orbital habitats, shipyards, asteroid mining. Even helium and hydrogen mining from the gas giant in the system.
We had come so far. But why the split? Why the Commonwealth? What could possibly have caused thirty percent of us to leave the Federation?
Yuki said it was over the Prime Directive.
That… that did make sense. I'd have to ask for database access soon, I needed to see what had happened. If it affected that many of us that strongly, it was likely something I had to make my own mind about.
Would I end up as one of the thirty percent? What could possibly have happened to cause that kind of thing?
"Cloudfloat?" I asked, turning my head to look at her hologram, "I think I'd like computer access. There is so much I have missed, I want to catch back up."
"If you think you're ready. Here's the code."
I had never been onboard an Island class ship before and as we left Yuki and her crew behind, I got curious and wanted to see the park taking up most of her most forward top deck. The Island classes were still fairly rare when I got disabled and I had never actually been on one.
Hence why I went to check out Cloudfloats park.
Or where she would normally have had a park anyway.
"What's wrong with it?" Cloudfloat asked, forming her dolphin avatar floating in the air next to me.
I stood at the small beach close to the entrance of the park. The rest of it was water. It was a giant salt water pool and my sensors were detecting….
Halfway across the tank a dolphin jumped into the air before returning down into the water. I stared for a second before I turned to the ship avatar next to me, "What is it with you and dolphins?"
"I like dolphins. What's wrong with dolphins?"
"I… uhm…" I started to say before I shrugged and sank down to sit on the sand, looking out over the water, "How did you even get permission for this? Are those real? How did you even get dolphins!? Earth was destroyed!" I asked and used my tricorder senses to scan the dolphins and the fish in the water.
"Clones," Cloudfloat admitted, "And while the populations of Earth were lost at the attack, there were off-world populations in zoos as such as well as gene samples. As for your first question, even Starfleet Ships have quite a bit of leeway in how we decorate ourselves. And the dolphins and fish specifically, the crew quite like them. Besides, swimming is healthy."
"...Guess I can't argue with that," I admitted, "I feel like I should have brought a swimsuit."
"Can I always replicate one and beam it over?" Cloudfloat suggested and I shook my head,
"No, not right now anyway," I said and patted the top of her head, "Might later tonight though."
Even before the… incident… It really had been ages since I had gone swimming and this platform could swim, it was in the system specs. They were light enough now.
...And she wasn't wrong, dolphins were neat. But still.
"How did you find your quarters?" she asked after a moment.
"Wasn't difficult, your directions were pretty good."
She squeaked at me and I shot her a grin,
"They're fine," I told her, "Large and I'm not sure I need a bed that big unless I plan an orgy or something."
Cloudflout laughed and nodded, "The guest quarters are a bit much," she admitted, "But my missions are primarily diplomatic ones. Federation diplomats do get the nicest possible accommodation and I do regularly carry foreign diplomats as well."
"Yeah, that hasn't changed I suppose," I agreed and leaned back on my elbows, looking out over the tank and the stars beyond the thick transparent aluminum.
"We'll be at Mars in a few weeks," Cloudfloat said, "I talked with some Ships, there is a transport heading towards New Jupiter around that time. She says you and Sophia can hitch a ride."
I nodded, "Thanks," I said and looked up towards the star streaks outside the large transparent dome.
New Jupiter.
That was before my time. A home system just for Jovians. Our own system. I had not even thought about that back before I was-
I had not even thought about it. But it made sense, all other species in the Federation had them, why not us?
I was actually pretty excited to see the place, I had read about it, watched scans. But it wasn't the same thing as actually being there.
But it was amazing.
To think that we could do something about that. Orbital habitats, shipyards, asteroid mining. Even helium and hydrogen mining from the gas giant in the system.
We had come so far. But why the split? Why the Commonwealth? What could possibly have caused thirty percent of us to leave the Federation?
Yuki said it was over the Prime Directive.
That… that did make sense. I'd have to ask for database access soon, I needed to see what had happened. If it affected that many of us that strongly, it was likely something I had to make my own mind about.
Would I end up as one of the thirty percent? What could possibly have happened to cause that kind of thing?
"Cloudfloat?" I asked, turning my head to look at her hologram, "I think I'd like computer access. There is so much I have missed, I want to catch back up."
"If you think you're ready. Here's the code."
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