“That was a fun story,” Gravtina said as she got her uniform on.
“One of my favorites, possibly my favorite, but I really hate trying to make lists like that,” Zander said. “But it is why I used that line so frequently with all of you.”
“It makes far more sense with the context,” Lavella smiled as she waited for the others to finish dressing. “It’s another way of saying you love us while also acknowledging our requests.”
“I’m still not sure how a Terran managed to choke out a giant,” Zar said.
“He wasn’t a giant, but he was about seventeen inches taller than Cary. Not many people on earth ever reached seven feet tall, much less past it. If the movie were being remade for the Assembly and not just from Earth, yes, a small giant would likely get his spot. Though I’m not sure if it would hit the same way, since giants are real.”
“You’re overthinking it,” Kayo snickered. “It works just fine as it is. It’s a fantasy story from your world, and if that’s known before people watch it, then it can be accepted as is. A small disclaimer about it being fantasy and pre-contact would be fine. Many other stories have those attached to them.”
“Overall, it was fun,” Veldiami said, coming out of the bathroom with Ping. “It also let us know our husband a tiny bit more.”
“Overall?” Zander said. “What wasn’t fun?”
“The rat creature was very…lacking.”
“The R.O.U.S.’s weren’t supposed to be all that great. I mean, it was a guy in a suit. When the movie was made, there wasn’t a digital workspace available to make something truly terrifying.”
“Ahh, so that was just a limitation?”
“Yeah. They also weren’t trying to make it gruesome or terrifying. I think they could have done more if that was the tone they wanted, but the tone of the movie was romance and lightheartedness.”
“True love, revenge, and puns,” Crish grinned.
“And we have two out of three in our family,” Sage said with a smile. “Not a lot of revenge.”
“I’d disagree, it’s just a longer revenge,” Maker said, joining the conversation. “Zee is going to avenge Selda and Devin.”
“Goldman too, but he’s more incidental,” Zander said.
“You don’t think about him often,” Maker said.
“He was okay, but more a coworker than a friend.”
“Since we’ve shifted topics,” Veldiami said as she grabbed her uniform and started to slip it on. “Officer meeting after breakfast.”
“Because we finally cleared Origin from stem to stern,” Kayo said. “It took longer than I thought it would.”
“Because we wanted to ensure that there were absolutely no bugs left,” Maker said. “And after an exhaustive search of all the ducting, vents, hatchways, wiring routes, and more, we can verify Origin is now clean. You all checked the rooms and cleared the wreckage of the nests. Our combined check and double check means Origin won’t be slowly nibbled as we tow him and the others back to the Assembly.”
“Thankfully, Origin can create the portals for us,” Ping said as she shimmied into her uniform. “We just have to give them enough of a pull or push to guide them through the portals. One jump a day is what we’re going for. We want to ensure nothing goes wrong with each jump, the first couple of times. When we get back to the first communication relay, then we might be able to get help guiding Origin on.”
“Which we will only accept from trusted sources,” Veldiami said. “Assembly ships with captains who aren’t antagonistic, and if they’re not Assembly, then only our friends.”
“That’s going to cut the pool down,” Sage said.
“Yes, but we need to ensure Origin makes it back, and that I have the time I need to keep working on things,” Maker said. “I’d honestly suggest not asking for help. One jump a day would take us weeks to get back, but that time is a boon for me.”
“It’ll be a matter of discussion in the meeting,” Veldiami said. “Giving you time to work on cracking the AI coding for pilots, and ensuring Origin has it, is important for you and Zander.”
“I don’t think anyone will want to rush back,” Ping said.
“Breakfast first,” Zander said as he stood up from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed.
~~~
The dining room was in high spirits. No one had died during the cleansing of Origin. The few security officers who’d been badly injured were back on duty. During the slow double check of rooms, there had been surprises twice, but security had handled each; the extra eyes with them hadn’t hindered them, and in both cases, helped with the few Entoma that had come at them. Those last few stories were still being retold. The pilots had done all they could in the mecha, slowly going over every exposed strut or twisted metal plating they could. A couple of previously missed eggs were found and removed that way. In the end, security had to spacewalk the tighter quarters and deal with things. Between security and the new drones that Maker had Defense make, a full clear had been done.
“Zander,” Rasisar asked, “is it time?”
“Officer meeting after this, but yeah, we should be heading back with Origin in tow.”
“Rescuing a shifted Antecedent ship, and one with multiple advanced AIs,” Domido said. “The Greaves clan is going to amass even more honors.”
“And possibly gain even more animosity for it,” Vizinna said, patting her lover's back. “But your clan head will likely wreck the fuck out of them.”
“If they want to play stupid games, they’ll win stupid prizes,” Zander chuckled.
“I might gain a sixth tail once the story is known,” Kayo smirked. “I’d be the youngest to six in living memory and even in dozens of generations, if not more.”
“I knew we’d be making history,” Mozmne said, her tiger tail swaying behind her. “But this…I never saw this. My people will take stock of everything and might even want to honor me with a ceremony.”
“I never saw this either,” Qubba said. “My future visions have been quiet.”
“No offense, but that’s good,” Jalzin said. The Gnome gave the Cyclops an apologetic shrug. “Your people have a hard time with their visions.”
“I kind of help there,” Zander said. “Multiple Cyclopes…Cyclopi? What is the plural?”
“Zee, that’s just how I translate the name for you; it’s not their actual race,” Maker said, joining the conversation. “Just be you, and I’ll handle the translations.”
“Fine with me. A few Cyclopes have said I shift their vision into clarity. Qubba had that clarity once already.”
“Really?” Jalzin said. “Huh, I’d think the Assembly lead for them would want you on staff then.”
“A lot of them would love to pull me from Dreams,” Zander said. “See my earlier remark about stupid games and stupid prizes. I’m not leaving Dreams ever, and I won’t stop killing bugs until the last one dies.”
“Yes, sir,” Jazlin saluted as Zander’s voice had been pointed. Not at him, really, but just on the whole concept of people trying to take him away.
“Anyway,” Zander said, then gave the cooks a smile and a nod as they set out food for him and his wives, “officer meeting, then we’ll be underway.”
“It would be a contentious meeting if it doesn’t go that way,” Veldiami snorted. She wasn’t having a meal, but was sitting and having a morning beverage before she went up to the bridge. She normally only had dinner with her family, but sitting with them in the morning was nice, and she did it when she had nothing to attend to.
No one was going to gainsay the captain, and conversation drifted back to personal topics. Zander gave her a wink when she looked over at him. They both knew no one in the meeting would cause problems.
~~~
“Origin, are you good to leave?” Veldiami asked once the officers were gathered.
“Captain Veldiami, I’m as prepared to move as I can be. I will provide the grapple beams and portal. Dreams just needs to provide the thrust to get me moving. I’d love to rebuild my engines, but I’m unwilling to sacrifice other parts of myself to manage that. My maneuvering thrusters will help, but by themselves would take far too long for a real jump.”
“I’m ready and willing,” Dreams said.
“Which brings us to the real crux of this meeting,” Veldiami said. “We have a couple of different options on how to accomplish bringing Origin back to the Assembly. One of them would be better for Maker.”
“I’d opt for that one,” Vorsa said. “I’m sure the officers tied to Zander have that as their primary choice too.”
“I’d like to hear the options at least,” Gravtemo said.
“The first is we go back to the last relay and ask for assistance in towing Origin,” Veldiami said. “We’d have to make sure it was a friendly Assembly cruiser or battleship. Or maybe even one of our mercenary friends we can vouch for. This will mean a faster time to get Origin to the hub.”
“You don’t sound like that is the option you want, Captain,” Gravtemo said slowly.
“The other option is we stick outside of the normal lanes of traffic and don’t use the relays to notify the Assembly,” Maker said. “This will take longer as we’ll only be making a single jump a day, instead of the two we did coming out. But if we do that, it gives me more time to work with Origin and the others to work on the advancement of AIs.”
“Advancing others like Dreams?” Gravtemo said, eyes widening slightly.
“Yes. Pilots, ships, and hubs.”
“Antecedents preserve us,” Gravtemo whispered. “That would completely change things…again.”
“I kind of seem to be a magnet for that,” Zander shrugged. “We’d prefer giving Maker time with Origin.”
“Giving the Assembly a stronger AI contingent means we can do more. Including helping pilots clear worlds,” Dreams said.
“Pilots would have AIs more like me, faster and more robust to make them better fighters,” Maker said.
“Sporks’ tines,” Gravtemo swallowed. “More time would be better.”
“Anyone want to go faster?” Veldiami asked, but she just smiled, knowing the answer. “Origin, you are amenable to this, too?”
“Of course. Maker has proven repeatedly that her shift is different than ours and together we are making rapid advancements,” Origin said.
“We all agree,” Tester sniffed. “More data to work with always helps.”
“Very well. Dreams, plot the route. Origin, once you have things ready, Dreams will give you the coordinates, and we can be underway.”
“Copy that, Veldiami,” Origin said.