Barbarian's Bookworm

Chapter 3

The Elder Ship is nothing like Hermione expects. The sa-khui all call it a cave, so she had expected a cave, something rugged, something... not spaceship-like. Instead, what she finds is a giant oval, metallic, with an opening that leads to what she assumes must have been the cargo bay, but is more like a giant warehouse. There's a firepit in the middle, and as soon as they enter, Draco begins building it up. There is no longer ice on the walls, as it had been when Georgie had first visited, however, something tells her that she'll only be warm while near the fire. The ship is far too large for one fire to keep it warm.

Why oh why did Georgie set the temperature control for Sakh settings... it's warmer than outside, yes, but she's still cold.

She wants to explore all of it, to go down each hallway, to look in each dining hall and in the state rooms, but she's here for a reason - the computer. She looks along the walls for the flashing button that Georgie had told her about, and when she finds it, she pushes it. It takes a moment, and then the computer whirls to life, asking if she would like to continue using English.

English. The computer knows English. It feels absurd to hear the word coming from an alien spaceship, but there it is. She knows that it works, that the other girls have used it, and some of the aliens as well, but to hear it, to confirm it...

"Yes, yes," she confirms. "English, please."

"Please wait while the system finishes coming online before stating your query," the computer says.

Looking over her shoulder, Hermione sees that Draco has a fire going, and is watching her curiously. He says nothing as he approaches, and his warmth presses against her backside. She leans against him, tired and weary, but... his closeness gives her comfort as the whirling continues, more and more screens coming awake. It's as though the wall is covered in panels, all of them coming to life, with buttons and sensors...

It's amazing, and she could spend decades here exploring it all. She very well might - it's not as though she has anything else to do with her time.

"Please state your query," the computer asks, bringing Hermione's attention back to the main panel.

"Yes. I would like to receive a linguistic upload," she says clearly, repeating back the request that Georgie had taught her. "I would like to learn the Sakh dialect of the planet, which you have recently uploaded to other beings."

The computer whirls for a moment, pondering her query, and then tells them to step closer - first in English, and then in Sakh. Hermione does so, and she feels Draco move with her. His hands settle onto her shoulder, and she prepares herself, knowing what to expect but still uncomfortable.

He speaks, suddenly, and the computer shifts languages. They speak back and forth, but she does not understand - what is he asking, what is the computer saying?

The computer whirls, as though processing a request, and she speaks up.

"What is happening?" she asks the computer. "What has he requested?"

"The Sakh has requested that he receive the download first," the computer answers. "For your safety."

She wants to argue with him, to stop this, but... he wants to learn her language. Not just her learning so she can communicate with the tribe, but him wanting to learn English? English, so that he can talk to her?

There's no point in both of them receiving the download, not really, but...

"Alright then, I'll go second," she confirms, and she turns to look up at him.