ᴜɴsᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴋɪss │ᴛᴋ [complete]

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The sealed gate vanished and the mysterious ship suddenly came back to life. Blue lights flickered on, leading the way into a spacious and spotless flight deck. Jungkook was having a hard time curbing his excitement, amazed that such ancient tech would still be operational.

He had already begun exploring the adjacent rooms, filled with containers of various sizes and shapes when the melodious voice spoke once more. "Zin, activate instant translation."

"Activated."

"What did she just say?"

"She was asking you to check on the gardens."

"The what?"

"The place where sapiens grew plants and comestibles."

"I know that gardens are. I just never saw a craft equipped with its own greenhouse before."

As if on cue, virescent lights bloomed at Jungkook's feet. He followed their path and soon reached a wide open staircase winding down toward patches of dried-up soil. "I don't think there's anything to salvage, unfortunately."

"She would like you to water."

"I did not hear her speak."

"We have established a direct liaison."

"Zin. I do not recall giving you permission to flirt with Rose, or whatever her name is."

"Aurora."

"What's that?"

"Her name, Captain."

"Well, you two better work together to get me what I came here for which, let me remind you, is not to play weeder."

"She would like you to check on the humans as well."

"Abort right now. I am not taking orders from this archaic AI."

"She may not have managed to save the greenery, but she did keep them alive for one thousand forty-seven years and ninety-eight days."

If the sweat pearling on his brows were any indication, Jungkook feared Aurora would initiate some kind of wakening protocol very soon. "Tell her to leave the humans alone."

"I do not have control over her."

"Oh I see she's got you wrapped around her finger already!"

"I cannot be wrapped around any finger, Captain."

"Yet here you are, taking her side like the whipped and useless system you are."

Zin did not comment, waiting for the next order.

"Upload floor plan of the craft, now," Jeon commanded. He needed to focus on his mission and stop being distracted by the novelty of this antique he had boarded.

"Upload complete."

"Locate minerals."

Several lights blinked on the 3D rendition that appeared before his eyes.

"What is it you're looking for," asked a deep, husky voice Jungkook had never heard before.