by Nancie Neal
Zherosha had no real creation story. The planetary war destroyed whatever records they had. It was long before the Zherosha city existed, more than hundred thousand cycles ago.
One of the passing Inersiens put Amnika’s hood on.
“I apologize,” Amnika said.
The Inersien winked at her.
After watching the engineers for a while, she headed towards the research building. Roniathan greeted her as soon as she stepped into the room.
"Do you know why everyone seems anxious?" Roniathan asked.
"You aren't connected to the city's system yet?" Amnika was sure the leader would have approved it already.
"I guess Zakkon is waiting until I'm installed in the new ship. At least that is what he told me."
Amnika nodded, but she wondered why the Leader was hesitant.
"I'm not sure why everyone is so anxious. I think another staging base was attacked. I'm sure a researcher will tell you tomorrow."
Later, Amnika was able to stop one of the Natisien citizens to ask.
"Large fleet of the new raiders attacked the staging base on the other side of Hemeria," She said. "We thought we got rid of them the last time, but they came back. So they let one of them go with a beacon ship to follow. Perhaps, it will come back with where they are from. Zakkon wants to take the battle to their planet so they will leave us alone."
Amnika knew what this meant. The Exorlak were just as pervasive until Zherosha and Nahbor scorched their planet.
"They're not Exorlak?" Amnika asked.
"We've sent a few beacon ships to check, they all came back," The Natisien said. "There might be life, but there is no space activity. We don't think it's them."
Amnika thanked the Natisien and left. She could not shake the feeling of dread that crept on her.
Chapter Twenty
"I have some good news and some bad news," the ship engineer supervisor said. "Which do you want to hear first?"
"Since I suspect they are related." Amnika glanced up at the clear outer shell of her ship hanging from the gantry. The news couldn't be that bad. "You tell me in the order of most important."
"Okay, the good news is we did get the shielding from Nahbor," The supervisor explained. "The bad news it's only the shielding for the processor."
"Well, I expected as much." Amnika sighed and pointed up. "At least the polymer was easier to come by."
"Yes." Zakkon walked up from behind. "Ever since we gave them the process, they improved on it. Now Roniathan will have a skin that works like the buildings in the city, but it will be durable enough to take on space travel."
"We were able to install it already. We are about to put on the skin, and then we will bring Roniathan out here." The supervisor motioned to the workers. They signaled back. "Looks like we can put the skin on now."
Looking back up at the hull, Amnika was excited to see the final phase of her ship's creation. It was a long process. As some of the ship engineers lowered it down, others worked the connections. Amnika marveled at how many tubes and wires the engineers were connecting.
Finally, Amnika heard a loud click, and the skin was on. Amnika could see through the door all the other openings. One of the engineers were still inside, connecting the testing box and the filling tubes. He motioned to the engineers outside, and they manually pulled the door down.
Stepping off of the ship, The engineer straightened the wires. The testing box had a primitive interface. The engineers used it to control functions of before they install the computer.
"Okay, it's ready," the engineer called out. "Fill it up!"
The sound of a pump whirring filled the air. The light blue liquid flowed through one of the tubes and into the skin. The liquid spread through the surface until the entire ship was opaque with a light blue tint. Amnika saw out of the corner of her eye, a crowd forming at the opening of the hangar. After a moment, the fluid started to travel down the second tube.
"Okay!" The engineer shouted, "That's enough!"
The pumps stopped.
The engineer went back inside the ship and pulled the tubing. Then he walked back out with his controller box, stepping over the connecting wires as he exited. He pressed a few buttons on and waited.
Soon the skin went from light blue to bright white. Amnika held her hand up to block the brightness. Then the ship turned black.
"You won't be able to see that in space," Zakkon remarked.
"Wait and see," the engineer said.
The skin turned bright red, then bright blue, then bright green. After, the entire ship turned into the whole light spectrum, from red on the tip to deep violet on the tail.
"The next is my favorite," The engineer said.
At that moment, the ship became reflective. Amnika saw herself in the skin as she walked up to get a closer look. Soon she was looking herself in the face. Then she turned to the others who stood behind her and smiled. Her dream was coming true. A murmuring of approval came from the crowd. Some of the Natisiens whooped.
"Next, we install Roniathan," The engineer explained. "Then we can finish the interior."
"I should give him the news," Amnika said.
"The day is almost over, so we'll get started tomorrow." The engineer walked into the ship and unhooked the cables. Immediately, the skin reverted back to its light blue color.
Walking into the room where Roniathan was, Amnika looked at the box, sitting on the table against the wall.
"I didn't expect you today," Roniathan said.
"The ship engineers will be ready to install you tomorrow," Amnika responded.
"That's two days ahead of schedule."
"Yes." Amnika leaned onto the table next to Roniathan. "The ship engineers loved working on it so much they worked extra time on it. Everyone is excited."
"It's good to see that I can make everyone happy," Roniathan said.
Amnika looked back at the box. She wasn't surprised at the statement. She programmed Roniathan to watch and learn how other citizens react. Disputes were also handled in front of him so he can learn to discuss things with proper etiquette. What was "good" and what was "bad" was also learned by observing.
The next day, Amnika and the leadership watched as the ship engineers brought out Roniathan on a hovering platform. They pick him up and put him into the ship.
After a few moments, the engineers walk out and close the doors. The supervisor turns toward the ship.
"Okay, Roniathan," he said. "Can you hear me okay?"
"I can hear you," The voice emanated from the entire ship.
"The hull can detect vibrations and also create vibrations," the supervisor explained. "Roniathan talks through the skin." Then he said to Roniathan, "Go ahead and run the hull tests."
At first, the hull test was like before, ending where the skin reflected everyone in the room. After, Roniathan reverted the hull back to the light blue color. Then, in a moment, he made the surface display the other side of the hangar. It took everyone by surprise.
Amnika realized what Roniathan did and laughed. "That might work better in space than the reflection, but it won't work here." She took a couple steps to the side and saw the distortion. The hull reverted back to silver-blue again.
Amnika walked to the front of the ship. She put her hand firmly on the nose.
"I can feel that," Roniathan said.
Amnika released her grip a little, her hand now only lightly on the ship.
"You've loosened your grip."
Then she took her fingers and dragged them alongside the ship as she walked towards the door.
"You've traced the side of the hull and stopped at the door," Roniathan stated.
She looked at the supervisor. He nodded.
"Looks like the skin sensors are registering properly," he said. He checked his tablet. "Next," He continued, "is the interior. This may take a couple of days."
Amnika understood. It would seem the interior would be faster since there wasn't much to install, but there were a
lot of tiny wires and tubes to connect for each piece. The only easy installation were the seats. Like all Zherosha ships, the flight crew seats were interchangeable. The seats for Inersiens were too small for Natisiens. The Natisien seats were much too big for the Inersiens.
Focusing on her studies, Amnika felt as though the time flew. A few days later, she sat in the pilot's chair and watched the daylight wane through the front window. She swiveled to see the rest of the ship. The door on either side marked the divide between the cockpit and the rest of the fuselage. Behind the door on the right was the analyzer station. On the left side was the dry stasis tube that can double as a single bed.
Above the stasis tube were the sealed cubbies for supplies like medical and the riochi bars. The mini generator was on the wall in the back. On either side of the generator was a door. One door went to the toilet and wash closet. The other went to the rikta pumps, oxygen, water, and fuel tanks.
The ship was too small to have artificial gravity. Amnika realized that Roniathan might be able to figure that out, also. "Would it be possible to put in artificial gravity in here?"
"With the information I have, I can't create a gravity generator small enough to fit. I can do some research and some analysis." The voice came from the panel.
Father stepped into the ship. "Well? What do you think?"
"I still think I'm dreaming," Amnika. "Maybe, this is only a vision, and Roniathan is still a box in the research building."
"I can assure you," Roniathan said, "I'm right here."
"I know," Amnika said, "It's hard to believe that I'm already here."
"Tomorrow is the test flight," Father said.
"Oh, can I go?" Amnika shifted in her seat.
"But you aren't a trained pilot."
"I don't have to be a trained pilot for a short ride in the Analyzer's seat."
Father looked back at the seat.
"I don't know, I'll talk to Zakkon. Are you sure you want to go on an untested ship?"
"I trust that Roniathan is accurate with his measurements. I'm not concerned," Amnika shrugged.
"It will be up to Zakkon," Father said.
Amnika nodded, "I understand."
Amnika didn't sleep well that night. She was too excited.
"I'll have to sleep early tonight," Amnika told Rodgistan who walked her to the hangar.
Rodgistan chuckled. "I understand. The excitement makes things difficult sometimes."
They walk into the hangar. It disappointed Amnika to see three Natisien flight crew preparing to go.
"I guess father didn't convince you to let me go," Amnika said to Zakkon who was watching the process. Father stood next to him and looked away, sensing his daughter's disappointment. Anias who was also there looked worried.
"Amnika," Zakkon responded. He said it in a way that reminded Amnika that she was still a child. "It is the first flight of a new design. It's not safe. These Natisiens know what they are getting into. They are going to test it."
Amnika crossed her arms. "All three?" She knew that only two were necessary. She also knew the ship engineers precision. "When was the last time a newly designed Zherosha ship crashed?"
Zakkon sputtered a moment. Anias let out a little gasp. There was dead silence. Amnika knew she was in trouble. She essentially called out a leader's challenge. She let her hands drop to her side.
"I apologize," She said and looked down. "I'm a little disappointed, that's all. If you don't want me to go, I understand."
Zakkon sensed her remorse and sighed. He looked at Rodgistan who was trying not to laugh. Father was still looking the other way. Zakkon finally walked over and put his arm around her.
He looked at the Natisiens. The two who were not the main pilot looked at each other.
"Odds, Evens?" One asked. Out of curiosity, Amnika up looked at the two. Amnika could tell that they were identical twin brothers.
"Odds!" The other said.
"Oh, you like a challenge, I see!"
They both put their fists in front of them, shook them for a count of three, then both opened their hands. It was a game based on binary. Two fists equal zero so that would be even. One hand open and the other closed would equal to one and would be odd. Two hands opened would equal two and would be even.
"Even! I win!"
The loser suggested another shot, two wins out of three, but his brother waved him off.
"Next time. They'll go around again, I'm sure. You can go then."
Zakkon leaned in and said, "I know you are young, and I know you are remorseful, so I'm letting that go. Perhaps, your father will speak to you later."
Amnika looked down again. She can sense that he was still angry.
"Take a deep breath," He said as he motioned to the flight technician, "You can't wear your cape while they prep you to go."
"Don't worry," said the Pilot, "We will take care of her."
Amnika looked up at him. He tapped his chest with two fingers.
The technician stripped Amnika down to her health-monitor suit. Even though she knew she wasn't naked, she felt a little vulnerable. She took a deep breath and tried to keep her emotions even.
"Put your arms out," one technician said. Another brought out two sizes of suits and held them up. The pilot pointed one out and the second technician handed that one to the first. The first technician took the suit apart and put it onto Amnika. The Suit came in two parts. One part for the right and the other was for the left. They connected in the middle in the middle. The technician plugged it into her health-monitor suit.
She then put on the lower half. It was in five pieces connected by a fabric similar to her health-monitor suit. She stepped into the bottoms. It was easy to step into, but once it was on, the technician pushed a button, and it tightened. It felt as snug as the upper half. The snugness of the suit surprised Amnika. She grabbed it and shifted it around a little.
"It's supposed to be snug," The tech said as snapped the upper half and lower half together. "It will keep you from passing out when they do sharp maneuvers."
Soon, the technician was done, and Amnika glanced back at her father, the leader, and her instructor. They all looked a little amused. At least Zakkon didn't seem angry anymore.
The pilot walked over to Amnika and put on a communicator on her right temple. It was a small round disc that bonded to the skin. It contained the lens that popped out for the overlay display. Attached to the disc was two wires that connected to the earpieces. The earpieces enhanced her hearing when she put them in.
Amnika put her hand to the disc, and it dawned on her that was going to be a problem when she got back. She looked at the trio, and they all were trying not to laugh. The Pilot chuckled and leaned in. "That will be interesting to take off later."
"If you had waited, medical would have been here to take care of that," Zakkon agreed.
Inersien and Natisien females do not grow thick facial hair. However, everyone had some unnoticeable fine hair on their face. When the communicator bonded to the skin, it also bonded to the hair. When she has to take off the communicator, it will pull the fuzz out causing a lot of pain.
"I guess I deserved that," Amnika conceded and the pilot escorted her to her seat.
Amnika strapped herself to the Analyzer's chair. The Navigator checked her seat to make sure that the straps fit correctly.
"What is your name?" Amnika asked.
He gave her a crooked smile. "Ishseh." Then he pointed to the pilot. "That is Rayishda."
"These look good," he said, and he went to his seat.
"So, Roniathan," Rayishda said, "Are you ready to go?"
"I was ready when they finished building me," the ship responded.
Amnika made a mental note on how quickly he identified himself as the ship and not a processor.
They checked displays, sensors, and lights and while she waited, she looked up at the ceiling. The arched surface had a light glow as the rikta fluid can retain energy for days after the generator was off. Am
nika looked down to find the Natisiens playing with the front window. She watched them draw rectangles and squares until the entire window was covered in a pattern.
Amnika cleared her throat. Startled, they looked back at her. She realized that they were so into the new window feature, they may have forgotten her.
"How are you doing back there, Amnika?" Rayishda asked.
"I'm okay!" Amnika said. Her voice sounded a little hollow through her earpiece.
"Good. You ready to go soon?"
"Of course!"
"You know it takes a while to go through all of the panel tests," Ishseh said.
"I enjoyed watching you play with the window," She responded.
They looked at each other and smiled. Ishseh slid his finger down the center, and the window cleared.
"It is a good feature," Rayishda said. "We need this in all of our ships."
"It will still be a few more moments while we test the generator and the hover plates." Ishseh sat back in his seat.
"I understand," Amnika said.
"Great. Power up the generator."
Amnika heard "Rikta-a-a-a-a-a-a" as the generator booted up. It was much quieter than the older generators, but the sound was the same distinct sound.
"Check hover plate one," Rayishda said.
Amnika could feel the faint thump of the hover plate. She thought that with the shielding from Nahbor, she won't feel it at all.
Check hover plate two," Rayishda said.
Another thump.
"And three?"
Again another thump.
"They seem to be all in working order," Ishseh said.
"All right, let's go."
Amnika could feel the ship move up slightly, then it moved forward. The experienced pilot made sure to bring the ship out without hitting the walls or doorway. They hovered over the old landing pad outside of the hangar for a moment.
“Hovering seems to be okay,” Ishseh said.
“All right, then. Let’s go up.”
The sudden ascent pushed Amnika down in her seat. Her suit tightened a little in response. Then the ship stopped abruptly, jerking her in her harness. Amnika saw only blue sky in the front window. She wondered how far up they were.