The Ice Warrior

Chapter 9

Wir Eis wasn't as eager to spend hours tinkering with the mechanical parts of the ship. As a species, Eis Neu felt a close kinship with living organisms, however, they had no enthusiasm for machines or the way they functioned. The few who worked on them were knowledgeable but possessed no passion for the work. Certainly not as much passion as Silv had.

For that reason and many more that he didn't share with the human, Wir Eis left Silv alone after making sure that she meant them no harm in the special way he had of judging other beings' emotions. After all, he had decided to trust her and he couldn't always babysit her, thus it would be a good test of her honesty.

After all, there were cameras everywhere that would tell him what she was up to, and Evanescence would warn him if Silv was up to no good. It was safe to leave the two alone.

Silv was so fascinated by the technology behind it all that it took her a couple of hours to emerge from the daze that the new technology caused in her mind. However, once she did, other thoughts were allowed to invade her mind, and their weight managed to bring down her good mood instantly.

Not having to think about her survival or the aliens' intentions, being able to take a breather made it possible for her to finally come to terms with her situation. Her friend tried to murder her, and that made her furious.

She wanted to rage, to hit something, to scream at the top of her lungs, but she was afraid that the ship would see that as a sign of hostility, that it would think she was attacking it. However, it was difficult to control the fury that spread through every cell of her being.

The hand that was holding the strange-looking toolbox was squeezing it with such force that her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were burning in unexpressed anger, and she wished she had a way of letting the rage out.

Trying to suppress the negative wave that was sweeping through the essence of who she was, Silv went back to the control room planning to get back outside, get some fresh air or at least fresher. However, she didn't make it outside.

The moment she stepped closer to the sentinel part of the ship, something odd happened. She was sure that she didn't do anything and yet something was happening. There was movement on a grand scale in the control room, as if the room itself was changing into something else.

The lights in the room dimmed, and the room itself turned into some kind of exercise room. It didn't even look like the same room, the proportions didn't correspond to the ones of the control room.

Only then did she realize that she was standing on an oval object filled with the strange gelatinous substance that represented the living parts of the ship. She had no idea how or why that happened but started to suspect that the slowly disappearing substance had everything to do with her changing surroundings.

Some objects which suddenly appeared reminded her of punching bags, and that confused her more than anything, the familiarity on the alien ship. It was as if the ship was trying to accommodate her expectations.

"Protocol Stress Relief activated," Evanescence said.

That was when Silv finally understood what was happening. Once the telepathic link was established with the ship, it seemed to linger, thus the ship could sense her growing anger, and the need for relief.

Although she wasn't in direct contact with the ship's mind, it was able to pick up on her emotions. She focused on the essence of the ship, and to her shock, discovered that she could sense its emotions, as well.

It also explained the fact that the ship spoke her language and adjusted everything to be similar to her expectations. If she hadn't been so shocked, she would have been moved.

"You come here. How?" Sei Eis said.

"What do you mean 'come'? I was in the control room. Aren't I still there?" Silv asked.

"This recreation room. You interrupt my relaxation." Sei Eis said.

"I am sorry. I don't know what happened or how I got here." Silv said.

"You mad?" Sei Eis asked.

"Yes, I was feeling a bit angry about my situation, about my friend trying to kill me, but I don't understand what that has to do with my sudden transportation," Silv said.

"Equilibrium," Sei Eis said.

"Excuse me?" Silv asked.

"Ship job to keep equilibrium. Emotional imbalance eliminated. Protocol Stress Relief." Sei Eis said.

That was when Silv finally understood that the substance she had seen under her feet had instantly teleported her to the recreation room since she was having a strong emotional disbalance that the ship could sense.

"Why are you here?" Silv asked.

"Anger. Big problem for Eis Neu out of our planet." Sei Eis said.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I had no idea this would happen. Wir Eis didn't warn me." Silv said.

"First human. Didn't think work for human." Sei Eis said.

As she said that she started to move towards the door that Silv hadn't noticed before and through which she knew she didn't enter. It was some kind of teleportation technology that brought her to the room, but it was interesting to note that there were regular ways to move around as well.

"Wait. You don't have to leave just because I am here." Silv said.

"I finished. Emotional balance need alone time."Sei Eis said.

Silv wanted to be alone, so she didn't make any further comments as Sei Eis left the room. She was afraid that she might make Sei Eis scapegoat for her anger, and that was the last thing she needed. The alien already disliked her enough as it were.

Seeing the punching bag close enough, Silv decided she might as well try to let out some of the pent up anger on the inanimate object. Perhaps the physical exertion would clear her head, make her capable to find the best solution for her current situation.

After the first punch, she felt ridiculous, however, she kept on going, and as sweat started dripping from her forehead, she started feeling a bit better. Every time she punched the bag, she imagined Denis' smug face, and that had a therapeutic effect on her nerves.

When she was younger, she never could understand her father's obsession with the past entertainment such as boxing, kickboxing, karate, and other useless activities humans used to practice to get a false sense of security. In the end, they were not overcome by an actual enemy, but by an enemy that they couldn't fight off with brutal force, force of nature. Yet, as she kept on kicking the strange bag, Silv started realizing that there was more to martial arts and sports in general than what she thought.

She thought it was all done for entertainment purposes and found it barbaric, however, as she kept at it, it became clear that it was also an excellent stress relief that she needed more than anything.

When she was finally so tried out that she could barely stand, Wir Eis came into the room.

"Are you ready to go back to your people?" He asked.

"Yes. Just give me a second to rest and then will head back. I think I have a way to get us in without the security catching us." She said.

"Sounds good," Wir Eis said.