Skyreign

45: Jumpstart

The eight of them then made their way to the same computer where the first four had stopped to turn around. That hall remained the only powered one at that point in time, yet Darrick, Elsie, Olsein and Savath were able to see the marvel of its construction for the first time, and experience the intuition of the one independent computer.

"Shit, that's something," said Savath, "The thing just pieced together Behraanese from us talking it for a few minutes!"

"The people who built this vessel were nothing if not very intuitive, themselves," said Grace, "from what I gather, the vessel was constructed by a number of races. Oasiians, T'pauzi, Noregaans, Behraanese, Khrynthoss, Kelviki and—I think Terraan. I may be misreading that."

"Noregaans? Really?" said Elsie aloud, "I suppose I'd have to see more of the ship to see how."

"Our resident Khrynthoss isn't here to vouch for his race," said Laura.

"I definitely get Oasiic," said Rose, "the structure itself is Oasiic in its shape. Most capital ships were similar to one another. The same bridge section, the same stem below the body, the same antenna array, the same configuration for docking, and the same wing config, just more of them. Six wings, altogether. Looks like whatever organization built this thing didn't skimp out on the details. But here's something I didn't see before."

"Manufacturing," said Grace, "I know. This ship can manufacture buildings. Fleets of ships, if it had the resources."

"No Behraanese ship can do that," Olsein scratched his chin, "but I bet if they could, they would."

"Well," said Laura slowly, tonguing at the words as she had built a habit to, "I want you all to realize, if you don't by now, that what we do here, now? Changes everything. Nothing will be the same after today. Not here. Not anywhere. I'm saying this, and I don't know the half of what this ship can do."

"With—how many—two million people," Janeth began, "by waking them, we will essentially be bringing an extinct civilization back from the dead. After...millennia."

The crew was largely silent for a moment.

"Strange," said Grace, "the computer says it will be able to transfer the power from our battery to the sections we enter, all the way to core. But it's asking for my permission to do so."

"Will it power elevators or lifts?" asked Laura.

Grace shook her head, "there isn't enough power for anything mechanical. Lighting, interfaces like this one. Little else."

"It'll do," Laura nodded.

"Then lead on," said Grace, "I should be able to guide us all the way there."

"Where to first?" asked Laura.

"Down to the end of the hall, and then right," said Grace, already beginning to walk in the direction needed.

"Better off you lead us then," said Laura, "since the ship's talking to you anyway. We'll keep you covered."

Grace simply nodded and began to look up as she walked, gently running her hand on the smooth, glossy walls as she looked about. There was almost a familiarity to her reaction to the vessel, as if she knew this ship already. Laura felt that deep connection. She felt a part of Grace that had come alive, that could not be detected before.

She then turned half an eye to Rose and Darrick, who instead of holding their plasmars, held each other's hands as they walked down the hall.

She paid it no mind.

"Bout damn time," said Savath, "you two been playing stupid since Elsie and I got on board."

"I can still squash you," said Rose.