Gabatrix: Minerva

Chapter 11: The Next Day After

It seemed that a cheery wave of words began to spread around the ship about the actions of a supposed companion bot that managed to jump onto a spinning shuttlecraft. All the crew would get to know what Minerva was and what she had accomplished. Any fear or skepticism of the crew of the UHN Tyson ended then and there. Minerva existed, and she was a hero.

Ericson was awestruck. Minerva had essentially performed a miracle the day before. The Captain was impressed, and the UHN canceled sending a ship to help out the Tyson. The shuttle was brought back into the hangar, and the crew was sent to the medical bay to be treated. Thankfully besides some bruises and fighting severe motion sickness, the shuttle team that was supposed to go to Europa had returned to the ship safe and sound. The UHN Tyson had returned to the proper orbit around Europa to resume its never-ending scientific mission to search for life.

Many of the crew had a chance to meet Minerva then and there. Ericson tried to be careful with how Minerva would be introduced to the crew. Some were nervous and scared with the android AI wonder. Some were skittish but curious. Many were already used to seeing companion bots that the occasional person would have. Ericson had presented Minerva as an advanced android able to think for herself that he had been experimenting on instead of a super-advanced AI. It was a half-truth, designed to make sure the crew wouldn't be freaked out by knowing such a creation had existed. For the most part, the crew was beginning to hear about the new-fangled being. Only the few would know the truth. It was Ericson's job to ensure that Minerva's true identity and purpose were never revealed to the public until it was deemed safe to do so. Regardless, Minerva had made the correct action yesterday, and it was a good step in the right direction.

The captain was so impressed by her act of heroism that she was given the right to walk around the ship as long as she was accompanied by another person. This was no real issue since Ericson preferred to be by her side as she began to learn about her environment. The morning was only going to get better.

Minerva was walking down the passageway of the centripetal rotating ring along with Ericson. He seemed to be content. He wasn't excited or upset. The fact was that he was called to Akari's quarters for something special. It was something that he couldn't ignore.

"I do not understand why this is a surprise," Minerva said. Her body moved with simplicity and grace. Her torn arm and surgically cut side beneath her breast were repaired, and she seemed to be perfectly fine despite being in space and pulled around by the shuttle. Even her hair was free-flowing again, being inside an area where gravity was being generated.

"You will find out. Sometimes us.....organics like do something nice for people like you."

Minerva smiled, and Ericson saw it. It even made him happy to see her behave in this way. For the first time, things were truly going their way.

They reached the door that led to Jabr and Akari's quarters. Minerva walked up to the door panel and held her palm up to it. A small beam from her hand appeared as she interacted with the door control. She then disengaged the beam and backed away from it.

The door opened up, and Akari beckoned them to come inside.

"Come in! Come in!" Akari told both of them. Ericson gestured his hand for Minerva to enter the door.

After both had entered the door, they saw both Dulari sitting on a couch along with Akari. Both Ericson and Minerva stood together as they looked at the two women sitting down. Ericson already had a good feeling on what Dulari was going to say, but she wanted her to tell Minerva of her thoughts.