In Silent Dreams

CHAPTER 6 - Estimated Perfection

Eva: Beth, I have been taking care of the Qing blossoms in our micro-botanical pod station. I noticed that the flowers themselves seem to require a lot less hydration and artificial sunlight than I observed with other species of plants. This is peculiar coming from a flower that has been evolved to live on a sunny planet such as Qing.

Elizabeth bent down and looked at the pod station. It was a small cylindrical pod with a glass window for viewing, and small panels on the side which can be wirelessly routed to a console for analysis. Several tubes from the ship's wall were connected to it, providing a water source. Eva added an artificial sunlight generator into the machine, though projecting light much weaker than that of most suns.

Elizabeth: "Such as with the city itself, the plants seem to behave a lot differently than expectations from the surface."

Eva: That sounds like an apt description of you, Beth.

E: "Even I have difficulties understanding myself."

Eva: Remember the use of the Ygvar runes on the planet Jukker, where you hunted the outlaw who hid in the cave and fortified his position?

E: "All entry points into the cave were guarded by Hand Class Seven Turrets and motion mines. Entry was impossible. We were lacking explosives and breaching tools to break through the cave walls."

Eva: Correct. But you were thinking of something else instead.

E: "I cut my leg with a hunting knife."

Eva: A sacrifice of stability. The entire cave system collapsed on our target.

E: "I could not get an ID tag on him to claim the bounty."

Eva: You didn't need it. Beth.

E: "It was not as though I could just walk over and take it!"

Eva: You don't look crazy, but I believe you're actually really insane.

E: "It seems that I have a demon inside of me, and it comes out to hunt each time we are fighting against a bounty target. I feel a raging fire of vengeance, and I am afraid I do not know what can extinguish it. I might actually go insane one day. I am scared, Eva. I'm afraid that one day I might end up hurting innocents."

Eva: Not hurting people can wait another day. I am picking up visual activity of multiple unmarked vessels approaching our craft. I have been trying to contact them on the inter-ship communications systems, but nothing has come back so far. The messages have confirmed delivery. Caution is advised.

E: "Arms are operational. Engage Fighter mode."

Eva: Noted. Guns are still operational. Missile pods have been armed. Our ship speeds have been adjusted for combat. I am running a cross-sectional chassis scan of the vessels. They appear to resemble hybrid fighter and cargo ships. Weapons layout is extensive. Prepare yourself.

E: "Those crafts don't look like civilian transport. Pirates? Murderers? Revenge crafts sent by Tenerys?"

Eva: We have too many enemies. Who they are may not matter at this point.

E: "Six of them. How many missiles do we have?"

Eva: Four Class V Eagle missiles. Two under-bay Retaliation Torpedoes. Three micro EMP parasite drones.

E: "Flares?"

Eva: Twenty EM flares, Ten reflective. Targets are approaching fast. Contact range in approximately two minutes.

E: "Unknown vessels on course, please state your business. All arms are operational. Lethal force will be used if needed."

Eva: Still no response. One minute.