The Memoir of a Pirated Grimoire

Well, I must say, being captured by pirates was not nearly as exciting as I had hoped. But now, I've found you. I can feel you here, with me. That large battleship had too many distractions, too much life-it was quite challenging to filter out the detritus from the beautiful. But now, I have found you on this small spacecraft-and you are beautiful. You are vivacious and young. Not so young that you are naïve to the world, but young enough to mold, to graft and create, to become something spectacular. Oh, yes, you have incredible potential, and I can feel that potential with every word you speak...

"Standard preflight checks complete. Drive core readouts are stable. The excursion crew has boarded the tender and awaiting our AI co-pilot upload." You know how to handle this vessel well, like you were born to sail in this sea of stars. Oh, but you were meant for so much more.

"Communication received. Tender AI upload will now commence."

"Thank you, Mother."

You perfunctorily flip a few switches and check a couple more data panels. It's all old hat for you. You spin a few rotations in the helm-seat, wondering which co-pilot the Mother AI will upload for your mission today.

"Avast, Kid!" This one is named Gary. His voice is like sharp chunks of a broken asteroid grating across an energy shield; you do not need to turn around to know who is speaking to you. "What AI is Mother giving us?"

"Dunno," You busy yourself with data readouts. "Still waiting for the upload."

"What, Mother didn't give you a heads up?"

"You know Mother never tells us who she'll assign to these excursions."

Gary drops his large, boulderish frame into the co-helm chair. The chair groans as he leans back in a slow rotation. "I bet you it's gonna be Kendra."

A short laugh bursts from your mouth. It was reflexive and unintentional because you know Mother would never let Gary near Kendra, not after that last incident. Gary is lucky to even be on this excursion.

The living boulder furrows his brow as he leans forward, and the chair whines loudly under his shifting weight. It seems Gary did not appreciate your laughter. You stop pretending to perform preflight checks and face the larger pirate. Your glare matches the stone-hardened glower of Gary, challenging him to look away.

"Oh, a staring competition," This lark entering into the helm's room is Avery. She drops a large box of random supplies between Gary and you, feigning accident. "Please, continue, don't let me break your concentrations."

But Gary's concentration broke. He glances at Avery, then quickly tries to renew the challenge, staring more intensely at you. Now he looks ridiculous, and you laugh again.

"Tender AI upload is complete."

"Thank you, Mother. We are ready for launch when you are." You turn back to the control panel and scan the primary navigation path, "You willing to bet Kendra was uploaded?"

Gary narrowly eyes you down, still angry that he lost the stare down. You do not look at him but extend your hand palm up, tempting him to place the bet.

"Alright," Gary cannot resist an excursion bet. "Ten says it's Kendra."

"Ha!" You review a secondary nav path. "You scared of losing? Fifty says it ain't Kendra."

"Oh yeah? Then who do you think it will be?"

"I'll put twnety-five on Barker," Avery says, slapping your hand. It seems she cannot resist the game, either.

"Barker? Really?" You grin because this is a bold choice. Barker was usually saved for more intense excursions-ones that involved authorities. A 25 floats over your open hand, making you the boxhand. You can't back down now.