Carpathia IV: Episode 266 - Neptunus
Bridge, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
Quantum engine noises turned to induction as the Shadowdancer slowed to its approach to Polaris Deep, its exhausted crew looking forward to some rest. As they drew closer, Aire couldn't wait anymore. He wanted to see their destination.
Aire: Put Polaris on viewer.
Amenaru: With pleasure, Captain.
The bridge crew gazed longingly at the viewer as Polaris Deep grew closer, as though this was their first time seeing it.
Aire: It's been a pleasure having you, Admiral, even if the missions were, how shall we say, unconventional.
Admiral Zhang: The very definition of exploring the unknown. If you don't mind, I shall visit Engineering before we depart. I would like to invite Cadet Vayhama for dinner.
Aire, far from being jealous or annoyed, beamed with pride.
Aire: Careful, Admiral. She might wet herself.
Admiral Zhang: Don't worry about that. I know how not to spring something on an unsuspecting cadet too quickly.
Nalma: In the corner of the viewer. Is that what I think it is?
Aire looked back to the screen, his eyes moving from corner to corner until he finally noticed something unusual.
Aire: Amenaru, isolate that ship in the upper left corner and magnify.
The camera swiftly moved and centered on the new ship.
The bridge crew took a moment to gawk before saying anything.
Baal: That looks amazing without all that Vashta trash on it.
Admiral Zhang: It wasn't easy. We gutted most of it. Not much original is left besides the hull and decking. Still, it was a great learning experience and the hull is very tough. Quite a challenge making a new quantum engine design that would work on that. We kept Sylvar's name.
Joust: He'll be pleased.
Teek: Any chance of a tour?
Admiral Zhang was already out of her seat by the time Teek asked. With at tug at her uniform, she made for the lift door.
Admiral Zhang: You'll have to ask her Captain. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to chat with Quenya before we dock.
Before anyone had a chance to ask anything else, like, say, who the captain was, the lift doors closed and Admiral Zhang was off to Engineering.
Aire: Right, then. Kit, send the request for permission to dock.
Kit: Yes, Captain. Sending request.
Polaris Deep
With Admiral Zhang not keen to leave right away, Aire casually strolled to the gangway by himself, making sure to greet the crew along the way. At the airlock, he met the station's investigation team, there to strip his entire ready room down to the decks. Not to worry, they said. Everything would be back to the way it was and they wouldn't be taking the credenza. Aire hoped all that was true and also took a moment to ask them to restock his liquor shelves. After a laugh and a hearty reassurance of no worries, both they and Aire continued on their ways.
After passing through the gangway, Aire spotted a familiar blue face at the end of it.
Alka: It's good to see you again, Captain!
Alka gave a grandiose, fingery wave and Aire couldn't help but think he appeared far more energetic than before. The way he waved. The way he lifted himself up and down, not quite hopping, but balancing on the balls of his feet. Almost Phobos-like.
Aire: Good to see you, Alka. You're looking very well. Did the Andrast water agree with you?
Alka: Sure did! We're still studying it to find out what the exact mechanism is for our health, but it's working! I haven't felt this good in... ever.
Aire: That's great to hear!
Alka: Oh, and it's Captain Alka now. Carpathia didn't have enough people to staff the Neptunus, so they're allowing us to use it under contract. You and your crew are quite welcome to come aboard and have a peek if you want.
An invitation? Perhaps, but Alka's springy body told Aire that he would be catastrophically depressed if he refused. Not that he would, anyway, since he was just as interested in seeing the new Neptunus as his crew.
Aire: Of course! We saw your ship when we came in to dock and several of the bridge officers already expressed interest.
Alka: That's great! Carpathia was kind enough to install some water tanks inside too, much better than our old ones, and filled them with Andrast water. Oh, but some of the things we learned from tearing the insides out. I wasn't there for that part, but I read the research.
Aire: Hopefully something of use.
Alka: I read about the time that ship started shooting at you. What's interesting was the sensor data. It was looking for anything that didn't match the shape and outer hull material of itself. It seems that Vashta sensors really aren't very good. Not as good as yours, at least.
Aire: Every advantage helps.
Alka: I think they're releasing a report of the studies of that ship coming out very soon. I would guess that it will be very interesting.
Aire: I look forward to reading it.
Alka: Shall we go see the ship? I'll have Cyn contact yours to tell everyone they can visit too.
Aire: Lead the way!
Also quick off the Shadowdancer were Phobos and Baal, who strolled hand in hand down the docking arm and now rounded the habitation pod on their way to the center rotunda. Being one of the first off the ship, the gangway and pod had not yet experienced the crush of a thousand people heading into the station. Still, it was more than crowded enough. This way and that, people went about their business, met with colleagues and friends, shopped at the stores, and entered the game rooms. If it weren't for the glass dome above, one could easily think they were in a massive public square.
Baal: Where do you want to go after your exam?
Phobos: Trying not to think about it. I feel fine, but if dad finds something, then I don't know what I'm in for.
Baal grinned, giving Phobos a hearty pat on the back.
Baal: You'll be fine! I've been with you every day and I'd have noticed if something was off. Actually, I did notice one thing. You didn't volunteer to drive one of the skiffs.
Phobos inhaled sharply and let out a long, slow breath, an action that Baal had witnessed before and never failed to delight him.
Phobos: I didn't think I was ready yet.
Baal: You're more ready than you know. Did you notice that you just sighed? You never did that before.
Phobos's ears shot up, the little bits of fluff inside splaying outward.
Phobos: I did? Wait, let me check my databank... I did! No! I'm doing things without noticing again!
Phobos started to flail, his tail spinning around like a motorboat propeller.
Baal: Take it easy. You're supposed to do things like that without thinking, like how your ears just got all perky. This is how people work.
With his tail slowing and finally going limp, Phobos relaxed, at least a little, but Baal took note of a slight vibration emanating from his middle and spreading outward. Again, normal, he thought, but still something to pass along to Artemis.
Phobos: You think so?
Baal: Of course Dr. Leingod will confirm, but I think you're experiencing what it's like to be one of us for the first time.
Phobos: This is normal for you? How do you put up with it?
Baal: We're born this way. I guess we're just used to it.
Before they knew it, they were at the station's lab door. With a tap of the button, the door slid open and they stepped inside. There, they found a vast room with computer consoles everywhere and engineers in lab coats darting to and fro working on their experiments. It was a dim room, most of which lit by the glow of computer displays. The only major source of light was in the center, where a vast piece of machinery lay on a pedestal. What appeared to be an induction engine, and the engineers scurried around it like a hive of bees. Smaller rooms lined the sides of the main room for those with their own projects. One of which was for Artemis, who already rushed over to greet them.
Artemis: Alright, this way! This way! You'll be in the way if you stay there.
Artemis, still halfway across the room, stopped and beckoned them to follow with his foot already turned back to his private lab. Phobos and Baal rushed after him, following him inside. When the doors shut, it was as though someone slapped the mute button on a television, for all the cacaphony outside instantly turned to silence.
Artemis: Whew, that's better. I can't hardly stand one minute out on the main floor. Phobos! How are you doing?
Phobos: To be honest, I'm a little out of sorts. Commander Calloway has been giving me my regular checkups and she said everything is normal.
Artemis rubbed his chin, scoping Phobos out from top to bottom.
Artemis: Hmmm... Out of sorts, you say. Work troubles?
Baal sheepishly raised his hand, as though he were a timid high school student.
Baal: If I may?
Artemis: Go ahead.
Baal: I think he's experiencing physiological reactions to his moods for the first time. I've been noticing them getting more pronounced as time goes on. He's becoming more like a nekohuman every day.
Artemis: It's a solid theory. Let's get you hooked up and see if we can turn theory into fact. Cyn should be here soon to help and things will go quicker if we already have the data.
Artemis lifted up a portion of Phobos's hair behind his ear, revealing a socket. Next, came a chunky cable, at least 10mm wide and covered in woven metal. Artemis leaned in close and gently inserted the cable into Phobos's skull, where it clicked neatly into place.
Artemis: And now we wait for the diagnostic. I like this new setup. Much faster than the old one.
Much faster indeed, as the percent analyzed ticked up quickly, like a vehicle's speedometer under gentle acceleration rather than a software install on an outdated computer. 100% would come in a few minutes rather than hours. As the counter neared a hundred, the door slid open and Cyn darted in.
Cyn: There's quite a buzz going on out there, you know. Lots of huddling near your door.
Phobos: Here? Why?
Artemis: Probably because of you. I wanted to get you in here quickly not just because you might get underfoot. The minute anyone recognized you, I knew we'd have a frenzy on our hands. I can't hardly leave my lab without someone trying to corner me with a million irritating questions. Seems I wasn't quick enough.
Dad kept this from him on purpose. Of this, Phobos was sure. Maybe the blessed day would come that he wouldn't be the object of fascination, but today was not that day. All he could do was slump and let out a cat-like growl.
Artemis: We're at 100%. Let's get started.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
