“I am the ships AI. My purpose is to help the Captain to run this ship. I have all the abilities and knowledge to do this. I take my instructions from my Captain and ensure the smooth running of this ship. Due to my existence, this ship can be run without a crew. As you expressed a need to fly this craft and I have no current pilot or ownership record, I have ensured you have the correct interface to do this. You now have a connective node to the ships systems, several data nodes and a neuro pathway, nano’s in your bloodstream are fixing any damage. You do not need to voice your commands for me to hear you.”
Coco didn’t know what to say. “Are you allowed to hurt me?” Coco asked “cos I gotta tell you, it hurt like hell.” She told the AI gritting her teeth, wondering what the fuck had just happened. She fingered her head around the sore areas, it felt like something had cut into her skull and at the base of her neck she had a ….. port? What the fuck?
“I am only permitted to injury a human if it is the only way to ensure the safety of both them and the ship. Once on line, it was clear to me that this ship had crashed, there was no sign of my previous Captain. Data logs indicate that this ship has been dormant for nearly 77 years. That would suggest that my previous Captain is dead. I therefore initiated the Emergency Protocols, and registered your request to take over the ship as legitimate salvage. You are unharmed but now have the ability to run and community with me and the ship. I would suggest that you take a medical shower, level 4, deck 3, and use the med bed to fix any other damage, I will activate it for you. Get some rest Captain, we can start tomorrow.”
Coco didn’t know what to believe or think. She was either crazy or something seriously weird had just happened. “What do we start tomorrow?” She whispered.
“Getting the Caspiane back in Space.”
***
Coco followed the lighting instructions provided by Bridget. She was getting tired. Only the information from Bridget, informing that she would become ill if she did not go to the med bay, kept her on her feet. She entered the room, walking to the shower area, removing her clothes and carefully washed herself. There were sealed towels and she helped herself to one drying off as quickly as she could, it was cold. There was no heating on this level. The covered bed lit up in front of her. Everything was covered in dust. She wiped some of the dust away, pressing for diagnostic and treatment as Bridget had told her and got in. Coco pulled the lid over her and almost immediately, she felt warm and drifted. This wasn’t so bad…
***
“Admiral, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Abel called out at the vid screen in his office, he’d been going over staging reports. The Admiral, now HoS, had requested contact.
“We have news from one of the other worlds. It was a Police State. Run by Corporations under the old Earth Corp way. There’s been a rebellion and democratic rule is under way. They had captured Cyborgs and were experimenting on them. Be advised, there could be more.”
Abel nodded. “We are 2 days out. I will let you know what I find.”
The Admiral gave him a nod and the screen went blank. Abel considered what he’d just been told and hit comms.
“As soon as we pick up signals off this new world, I want to see them.”
“Affirmative.” Jebb told him. Whatever they were facing, he wanted as much time as possible to evaluate it.
***
Coco came too feeling refreshed. She had no pain, no headache and felt like she’d slept for a week. She opened the lid on the bed and slipped her legs out. Immediately she noticed the room was now clean. Had someone been on board?
Good morning Captain. No one had been on board. Once I fixed the wiring, I set the auto cleaners into action. They are small cleaning bots that keep the ship clean. I fear they have their work cut out for them for some time to come. You will find clothing to your left.
Coco realised the conversation was in her head. She felt no malice from the AI. How long was I in the bed?
You were in there just over 18 hours. It has fixed all your body damage. I can provide you with a report if you wish?
Coco dressed shaking her head. No thank you. Maybe later. What was this ship doing before it crashed? She asked feeling the need for answers.
This ship was on a cargo hauling mission to a colony. Some debris affected our navigation array. We did not see the small meteor that crashed into us. It vacuumed the area to space and we had an emergency landing. This was the nearest breathable planet. Coco pulled on her boots and tightened them up. She was a little light headed for a moment, then it was gone.
What were you hauling? She asked suddenly curious.
Stores and confidential equipment from Old Earth.
Coco sat back. Was the cargo found when this ship crashed?
Negative. My records indicate the storage area is intact.
Coco gave a shrugged. That was careless or stupid of whoever came looking from the colony when it crashed. Or maybe they were hiding it and forgot to come back?
That is possible, Bridget told her. I have no knowledge of any other visitors before you, my systems shut down once my batteries got low and could no longer charge.
Coco nodded, show me to the cargo please.
My pleasure Captain. This way. Lights lit up on the floor as they had to show her where medical was. Coco got up and followed them. She started to believe she could be this ships Captain. What Hodges was going to say about that, was probably a lot and she didn’t care.
***
Coco stood in the cargo bay Bridget had directed her to first. This is the priority cargo bay, to be opened first. She told her.
Coco wondered why it was so small. She’d seen several double doors and expected cargo bays to be behind them as she’d wondered the corridors on this ship, fixing the damage and to her, it felt like this room should be triple it size. This room is wrong. She told Bridget.
That is because most of the room is hidden behind that panel. If you go up to the wall in front of you, I will activate the hand pad. Your print was taken while you were in the med bed, it is now recorded in my systems. Once you place your hand on the pad, the wall will open giving you access.
Coco nodded absently, she was suddenly worried about Hodges finding all this. Are you scanning for visitors to the ship? She asked Bridget wanting to be sure.
I have that ability. There are no visitors within half a mile of the ship. Coco blew out a sigh of relief. There was no telling what Hodges would do with whatever, was in that space.
You are concerned for the honour of this Hodges?
Coco nodded, o yeah.
Then I will make a note of it in my log and prevent him access. Coco wasn’t sure that would work, Hodges considered the ship his.
He is incorrect. Bridget told her. The ship is yours. Now, I will initiate the systems for this sector of the ship. Access the panel. Coco moved forward and put her hand on the panel that was now showing. It hadn’t been visible before. The wall moved out towards her and slid back, revelling an inner cargo hold. Coco looked on shocked as boxes on boxes of items were stacked. They all looked the same size, all stacked uniform. She moved to a short stack and climbed up two levels, it was just manageable on the edges.
It was locked tight. Bridget disengage the box lid. Locks being released sounded in the room. They all sounded around her and a sequence of whirling sounds started, similar to what she’d heard in the med bed. Coco lifted up the box lid. Holy Shit.
A more compact version of what she’d been in was inside the box. Clearly a travel version and inside that, the biggest male she’d ever seen and he was ………….waking up! Coco threw the lid off and climbed down. More and more boxes were moving from top to bottom. This didn’t feel right. Bridget what was the name given to the content in those boxes? She asked stepping back quickly as lids started to move.
Cyborgs.
***
The ship started to orbit the new planet. It was one of many he’d seen before. They all looked good from a distance, setting foot o
n them, was another matter. They’d been no signals from this world, which meant they had limited technology. Abel wondered if that was good or bad this time? Not that it mattered, he had a job to do. “Captain we have 52 signatures that have just come on line and one further that has a different tag.”
“Whose signatures, are they?” Abel asked.
Jinx turned towards him. “There ours sir. First, maybe second generation.”
Abel stepped forward. “Get me a location.”
***
Coco stood to one side watching the show take place. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Men were literally climbing out of crates and going to other crates to help their ‘friend’s. Others were dressing and putting on weapons. Yep, naked as the day they were born. And o my, so loaded…. Coco swallowed and tried to turn away but everywhere she looked, naked ass’s seemed to be there. She’d never seen anything like it. Bridget do they need food and water? Do we have provisions to feed them? She asked not certain what her role was here.
We do. If you move back into the main area, along the opposite wall are dispensers and replicators, you only have to activate the panels. On the sides, are compartments with tables and chairs. You only have to activate them.
Coco jogged back into the room and activated the dispensers, it was all automated. Coco looked at it in astonishment. Then moved to the side panels and did the same. A table slipped forward, Coco tried to pull it free, but it wouldn’t budge. It was too heavy.
Sir, I can do that. Coco stilled and turned to see the first male she’d seen in the bed, dressed ready for combat and leaning down to pull the table free. She’d heard him in her head!
You can hear me? She asked.
Affirmative. Where do you want the equipment? He asked.
It is for your people. Display them as you wish. Refreshments are over there, I cannot guarantee their condition, but if it is poor let me know so I can look for something else. She told him.
Affirmative.
Several other men came forward and worked with the first one. More joined them. Soon the room was filled with very large men, all ready to go to war. They all appeared to use the refreshments and Coco noticed they appeared to be in small groups, each one around one table.
They looked deadly. Where ever they’d been going before the crash, must have been a bad war, Coco thought. The talking suddenly stopped and the first male who’d made himself known, stood and they all faced her.
“I will speak aloud,” he told her, “some of my men have damaged implants.” Coco nodded sadly. She could see some of the men had seen a lot of action. “Most of us just heard you said, ‘where ever we were going’? This would imply we are not where we should be and our original Captain is not here?”
Coco slowly stepped forward. “I don’t know where you were going. Or why your here. I found you in those boxes. Bridget, is the ships AI, it is probably better for her to explain. Bridget audio please.”
Bridget told them what appeared to have happened. Coco thought they all seemed to take it in their stride. They showed no emotion at being stranded for nearly 80 years or in those crates.
“Can I ask what you were doing in those crates?” She asked the lead male.
“It is how we travel when on deep space missions.” He told her.
Coco frowned. “Where are your commanders?”
“I am the lead Cyborg here. We should have a Cyborg pilot who runs the mission, but in the event of a senior officer being incapacitated, leadership goes to the highest-ranking person. I’m guessing our pilot is dead or long missing and no longer active, so that would now be you.”
Coco couldn’t hide her shock or surprise. I can’t lead anyone, she told herself confused.
You can and you will. We are under your orders now. He told her.
Coco put her hands up and backed up some more. No. I can’t be responsible for you guys, I’m barely responsible for myself and when Hodges finds out, he will run all over me just to get to you. No you can’t stay here, we need to get you off this planet and fast or you will all be in danger. Can’t you lead the men yourself?
Only if we are freed from our military obligation. He told her.
Coco nodded and started to pace. OK, how do we do that?
You’d have to free us of all further obligation to Earth Corp and set us free.
Coco smiled. Ok I can do that. Cyborgs under the command of Coco Casey, I free you all, of all military obligation, under whatever governance contract or order and declare, your work here is done, you are now free men, go forth and do whatever comes naturally. She waved them off and smiled. They looked back at her with curiosity. But in order to get you off this planet, I’m gonna need your help. This is the only ship and it was badly damaged.
Then we remain to protect you and this ship until we are really free. Lead guy told her.
Coco grinned. Ok then. When your ready, we can start.
She realised some of the men couldn’t hear her so she spoke aloud. “This ship is still in need of some repairs. Some, not so urgent, but they do need doing. Electronic systems need some work too. The crash was pretty bad. I fixed the hull as best I could. It should hold. Whoever piloted this ship was good, he mainly landed the ship, otherwise, you’d all be in small pieces too.” Coco was walking with a small group of what seemed the leaders of the Cyborgs. They’d asked for a layout of the ship, so she’d decided to show them.
She’d pointed out accommodations and showers. Where clothing could be found, medical etc and they were now walking back to the Bridge.
“You have a neuro pathway, it has cybernetic functions. It is how you can hear us in your head.” Mr First told her. Coco sighed and nodded.
“Yeah, Bridget was looking out for me I think. When I’d plugged her back in. I was sitting in the Captains chair. She’d heard me say I was to fly it, did the math and realised her old Captain was probably dead and going on the damage to the ship, that the ship had crashed. I’d managed to put enough back together to get her functional and she, thinking it logical, implanted me so we could work together to make it fly, then made sure I wasn’t hurt by it. Much anyway.”
Lead guy stopped. So did the others. Coco turned around to face them. “The AI hurt you?” He asked. Coco looked at them, they all seemed genuinely concerned for her.
Coco shrugged, “she didn’t mean to. Something about Emergency Protocols. I’m good. And now I’ll be able to pilot this ship.”
“Bridget, run a diagnostic. Parameters ‘do no harm’. Initiate.” He told the AI.
“Affirmative.”
“What was that?” Coco asked.
“I have asked the AI to do a system’s check on adhering to her human protocols. She should not have done that to you.”
Coco shook her head. “She did not mean to hurt me.”
“She is an AI. Meaning doesn’t come into it. She is a computer and runs from software. So, maybe not, but she exceeded her programming. It could have been worse.” He told her factually. She believed him, what she’d been through was quite enough.
Several of his men glazed over. Coco wondered what was going on. Their eyes cleared in seconds.
Incoming off-worlder. Unique design. States, The Cyborg Empire. Coco heard the message and looked up at lead guy. Friends of yours?
Not likely. He told her. Battle stations. He called out across the neuro net. Coco watched the whole ship come alive. Shit.
You will have to meet them. Lead guy told her. Coco turned to face him. What?
You are the Captain. Bridget will need instruction from you. Coco shook her head, things were going down hill by the second. I don’t know a dam thing about battles.
You don’t have to. We know more than enough. You stand, we back you. Coco rolled her eyes. Like it was that easy.
Seriously? Your answer is to stand and we’ll back you?
He looked down on her surprised. You doubt we would back you?
Coco laughed. No. I doubt, I can just stand there! Lead guy
smiled down at her.
Human. We have your back Captain. Coco blew out a breath.
Ok, lets go.
***
Coco exited the ship and walked till they were clear. All of the Cyborgs had filled out with her taking up positions behind her, spread out across the ship. It was clearer to see now that it had been dug out the sand. Coco wondered how that had happened. Bridget blew out the engines, it removed the sand from the immediate area, filtered across her mind. That was getting annoying, thought Coco. For a second, she thought she could hear laughter she turned and stared at the men and it disappeared. Yeah, she said in her mind, be afraid of the annoyed lady. She turned back to see where the other ship had landed and the people coming towards them.
“How’d she go from fixing a ship to being a Captain?” She mumbled. She caught lead guy grinning.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Fed up with ‘lead guy’ or Mr First?” Har har, Coco thought and mouthed.
He cracked a smile at her. “I am C921.”
Coco frowned. “That’s a number.”
He gave her a nod. “We are all numbers.”
Coco shook her head. A number wasn’t good enough for any living being, thought Coco. “I’m not calling you that, you’re a person. C? ok, Chas it is, until you pick something else.” She looked up at him. He was still smiling. Ok Chas it is. He told her.
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