The Birth of The Unity (sequel to Chronicle of Nautilus)

Chapter 22: The Final Chapter

Aboard Hope, a week passed without any incidents. Adam assisted in the reconstruction of the control room and made many small improvements. He added more lighting to the equipment which was used the most and moved the inventory of little importance to the far edges of the room. Then, he focused on the work as a captain devoting all free time to study the peculiarities of ship controls.

Jason was about to finish the report on all incidents. He wrote thoroughly so that his counterparts in the far future would have a data source if they ever faced similar powers. After his questionings and work on the subject was over he would return to the boring duty and investigations of insignificant issues. Jason both hated and missed the tough opponent. The dark magic and mystery looming above the ship for the last few months gave life more charm.

Even though they differentiated the companions during the dinner, today Adam and Jason shared the same table.

Adam said, "You know. Deep inside, I miss him. He was, perhaps, the worst thing that had happened to the ship. But his existence gave our lives a meaning. We were not dull robots following commands or protocol day after day. We needed to think out of the box, out of predefined boundaries. Protocol did not anticipate such cases. Fighting someone abnormal, in a way, defined us as humans." He shook his head and continued, " Isn't it strange that losing someone terrible could feel so bad? Perhaps it's only his face and voice that had deceived me into feeling such way. He was, after all, a copy of my friend."

Jason said, "I partially agree with you. Even though I wanted to remove him out of the equation with all my essence, I had never felt livelier than during the fights. Now that he's gone I am sure I can live without that feeling. Feelings are overvalued, Adam. That dullness, I believe, comes with age. As year go by, people get used to being robots."

"Don't you think, he might come back?" A hint of nervousness flickered in Adam's eyes. "Don't you think his spirit might have survived?"

"We both saw him fall. Didn't we? In the worst case, if he shows up, we will know the symptoms. You should stay calm. Focus on your work, while I keep an eye on everyone else. After finishing the report, I thought to investigate our crew, look into their habits, background, search for suspicious behavior."

"Is it because of what he said? That we have scums aboard?"

"I checked databases on the crew for psychological profiles, for biographies of the originals. There is nothing but general information available - family status, life's achievements, nothing else. We never made a thorough investigation of anyone aboard. We are strangers living among strangers. And that just doesn't feel right. I will give you access to all gathered information and in turn, I will ask you to give me access to all cameras. Is that fine with you?"

"Yeah, it is. You know, I kind of envy the variety of activities you experience. All I have is the routine. The next turn will happen in three years and it's minor. Even the last one wasn't much of a work. The old man had served it to me on a plate. I just followed his instructions. We did not have any major malfunctions besides the 113's screw up on Haas."

Jason asked, "Only a screw-up, you say. Isn't it strange that even though he was a menace, I never felt he intended to harm the ship? He messed with people but his victims weren't that significant as if he knew he could screw up."

"During the last weeks, I thought a lot. About him, about my dreams, about what he wanted for me to understand. I believe that now, I can glimpse at the world from his point of view. The time of the attempts, I think, was poorly chosen. We were doing just fine. Why not start this crap once we get on the planet? Did he know something we don't? Did he foresee a danger for which the crew needed to be united at some point in the future? Or was he only a nut?"