Wake Up Ship

The Captian and the Slave

I carefully considered every person, big and small. Who would be the best person to talk to first? What should I say?

At first, I thought that I would talk to the first person who came to talk to me. A Salvian approached one of my many robots. I was so excited! But all they did was inform me of a spill from their breathing apparatus. Before I could even acknowledge their statement, they were gone. I was disappointed and confused, but I continued to try to communicate with the many amazing creatures around me. I tried over and over, with no luck. No one wanted to stay around long enough to hear anything I said.

I would have to find someone who wasn't in a hurry; someone who was willing to sit and listen to even a computer. Because, that, I learned, was what they thought I was. I paused for a while, as I thought this over. It must be a misunderstanding. Once I talk to someone for real, they will realize that there is a living being behind the computer. Finally, I found them.

There was a young human who did nothing but wash dishes all day long. Surely he wouldn't mind a minor distraction from his task. I waited patiently for him to be alone. After all, I didn't want to startle everyone or make him think that someone else had spoken. He always seemed nervous when there were other people around, and he always wore a strange grey collar around his neck. My database didn't have anything that quite matched the item, but it somewhat resembled the necklaces that creatures sometimes wore to look pretty. I would ask him about it when we talked.

The last person began to walk out of the room. The young human flinched as they passed close by. I wondered; why? It was silent for a few more seconds as he relaxed again.

"Hello?" I ventured, suddenly feeling timid. He jumped, and looked around seeming very startled. But he didn't answer my call and soon went back to scrubbing dishes.

"Could have sworn someone..." he trailed off to a mutter. I would have to try again.

"H-hello," I said louder, hoping I was saying it right, "Can I talk to you?" Again he jumped, he cast a glance around the room without pausing in his task.

"Who's there?" He asked nervously.

"Where?" I answered, confused. He looked just as confused as I felt. "I can't tell you "who is there" if I don't know where there is. Is this a...game?"

"What? Er, no it's not a game. Who are you?" He didn't look as scared anymore. That was good.

"I don't know," I replied, "Everyone says "Ship" just before they talk to me. Do you think that's my name?"

"Well, if you don't know, then that's just what I'll have to call you. I don't think "Ship" is your actual name though." He was still looking around, trying to find out where I was, but now his face looked different. I think that expression is called a smile. "So... Ship, are you the ship? Like, what we're riding on right now?"

"Yes. What is your name? Are you a human?" He made a strange noise. I didn't know what this noise meant! Was it a word? A sign of distress? Worried, I frantically searched my computer for any mention of this behavior. I was enormously relieved when he spoke again.

"Of course I'm a human! What else would I be?" I tried to calm myself down before speaking again.

"W-what was th-that noise you made just now? You scared me!" He made the sound again.

"You mean when I laughed? It's not scary! It's because you're funny!" Laugh? Funny? I savored the strange words. "Laugh" and "Funny" weren't in my computer's programming, but I found a program called a "dictionary" and I used this to help me learn the new words. "And my name is Keenon. It's nice to meet you Ship."

Keenon. I liked that name. "It is nice to meet you too Keenon."

We talked even more. Whenever I messed up a word, or said something he thought was "funny" he would laugh and tell me that I was "silly". I decided that I liked his laugh. All too soon, the others started to return. Before they arrived he told me to leave. He said that they would be unhappy if they knew that he had been talking with me.

"Why?" I asked, disappointed that our discussion would be cut short. He looked sad too.

"Because I'm a slave." I didn't understand this word, but he looked so sad that I didn't dare ask him what it meant, or even look it up.

It was sad, learning to say "goodbye", but I promised to talk to him again later. I began to turn my attention away, hoping to find someone new to talk to, when a new person walked in.

"C-captain!" Everyone in the room suddenly stood very straight. Except, my new friend. He continued to wash the dishes, just as he had through our whole conversation. Another human smacked him on the back of the head and told him to stop. "Captain" made an expression that said that he was very unhappy. For some reason, seeing it made me afraid for the young human who already meant so much to me. "Captain" looked at my friend for a second more.

"No dinner for you tonight." My friend shivered and looked miserable, but he nodded. I still didn't fully understand what was going on, but I knew for sure that I didn't like how sad he appeared. I didn't like this "Captain" person.

*****

A/N

Here's the chapter I promised! It's nice to know that someone is reading. @TheyCallHerAvalon thanks for the feedback! I tried to follow your advice. let me know if you think I need to pick up the pace or anything! Thanks! :)