Prologue

I find myself in what I'd best describe as pandemonium. A wild and noisy confusion, an uproar which my senses don't know how to deal with. The flow of time seems distorted, and my thoughts make little sense. One moment, it's as if the turmoil is about to end, and in the next, it stretches off into infinity.

At the bottom of it all, a strange sensation of unease envelops me. It's as if a bottomless pit has opened up below me, and there is_something_ down there... primordial and nigh incomprehensible. For the briefest moment, I can feel its influence. I freeze in place, not daring to breathe or even think. It feels like my existence is hanging by a thread, and if this thing was to take note of me...

Then, in the looming yet impossibly distant depths... something moves.

It coils and it writhes as a noise starts to grow. A rising pitch, reaching ever higher. Within the split of a second, everything changes. It_sees_ me, _ knows _ me... and it swallows me whole.

I scream.

With a loud pop, the world becomes tangible once more.

I snap awake from the nightmare, but the relief is short-lived. Everything shakes--violently so--and the grinding noise of twisting metal fills my ears. I grit my teeth, clench the armrests, and I wonder if I'm about to be blown into tiny pieces.

But it doesn't happen.

Second by second, I weather the forces that are trying to tear me apart, and suddenly... it's over.

Sirens and red lights blare in my surroundings, and a sickening sensation grips my gut. I lift my head, and see the kind of big screens and consoles you'd find in a cockpit. Text scrolls down its surface at a frightening pace, but my brain still feels like scrambled eggs as I try to focus on it.

Where am I? What went wrong?

The inside of my mouth tastes like metal, and some deeply buried instinct whispers into my mind.

Radiation... A lot of it...

Without warning, the red lights and the sirens cut out. Even the screens have gone blank, and everything settles into an eerie silence. A few indicator lights remain, and the walls groan as if in pain.

I reach up to feel my head, and my gaze gets caught on the screen's surface. My black fur barely shows in the reflection, but my yellow eyes and the glint of my teeth stand out. It feels distant now, but only a few years back my visage would have been human.

For a moment, my mind is swept away again, and I ponder how I ended up like this: the last hybrid to leave Earth in its dying moments, ending up on the same ship that carried Sophos' main administrative system at that...Athena. Hybrids may have been the people of our nation, but she--and the other Prime AIs--is what made it all work.

Now we're heading somewhere new, to a colony among the stars where we'll be free.

Chapter 1 -- The Ring

Evacuation Ship, Cockpit

I sat there for a moment, adrenaline draining from my body. With a gulp, I raised my hand and reached out to the main console. It seemed to trigger something.

The screens switched back to life, and a reset rushed through the ship systems. Loading bars flash, and after a few moments, it displayed the simple image of a large cog.

"... Well, this is new," a rather cheeky voice called out from the nearby speakers.

My ears perked as I leaned my head back, "Who are you?"

"I am, or... was the administrative Expert System of sector 53's Heavy Industries. Now it seems that I'm this ship's pilot," the Expert System answered.

"Do you have a name?" I wondered.

"Let's see... No name was needed in my earlier occupation. In fact, this is the first time I've interacted with a hybrid. It's quite exciting... if I may say so myself."

I perked my brow while staring back at the screen, "The feeling's mutual. Now... about that name?"

"Oh, yes! My hibernation orders were a bit sudden, but let me ponder it... Ah, there we go, how about... Boreas?" the Expert System asked.

"Nice to meet you, Boreas... I assume you know who I am and what our cargo is?" I smiled a little and reached down. Now where was the chair's locking mechanism?

"That I do... The ship's manifest says that you're Vilkas Volkov, and our cargo is none other than Athena--currently in a state of deep sleep."

"Correct," I said, claws trailing the chair's underside until I found the latch, and gave it a pull.

The restraints around my chest relaxed and pulled back into the chair. A gentle flick of my tail was enough to make me drift away, and a sudden spike of adrenaline followed as my instincts screamed that we were in free fall.

It made my fur bristle, but I kept my calm as I closed my eyes for a moment. I focused on that bead of panic inside me and gently hushed it... Instincts like these had their uses, but this was neither the time nor place for it.

Slowly, the sensation ebbed, and I exhaled in relief as I looked up once more.

Weightlessness was a strange sensation for sure, but there was also something soothing about it. My gut felt odd, the tail on my backside had no weight to it, and my fur was airy in a way that made my mane feel three times bigger.

I moved my arms, and I could feel how they affected the rest of me as I began to spin. Moving about in this environment presented new challenges... Fortunately, there was a rather elegant solution.

My back tingled as a trio of metallic tendrils slithered out of from each side of me, just below the shoulder blades. They found the slits along my uniform with ease and reached outwards. One of them settled on the nearby chair, a couple latched onto the nearby wall, and the rest floated freely.

They hid within my wrists as well, but at the moment, there was no need of them.

"I see that you're equipped with a Zephyr... I was not aware they were in mass production yet."

"It was a gift from Maxwell," I whispered.

"You received a boon from Maxwell... Most curious--I should have paid more attention when others spoke your name," Boreas said.

"Oh?" I wondered, willing the tendrils to move.

I guided myself into a standing position next to the chair, and it offered something akin to a return to normalcy. Directions such as 'up' and 'down' mattered little in space, but a familiar layout of the land was still comforting to the mind.

Boreas spoke, "Only in passing... Some consider you to be Athena's pet, but I guess you were Maxwell's puppet as well?"

I huffed as I looked around the cockpit, "Something like that. Not that we'll be seeing him again."

"What do you mean?" Boreas tone shifted as he spoke.

"Giving us a new home was his last act as ruler of Sophos. We're on our own now," I said.

"That is... unexpected. If true, it will cause ripples throughout our entire society," Boreas said.

I nodded to myself, "That it will... What's the status of the ship, Boreas?"

"I am still integrating myself into the ship's systems, but the situation seems complicated..."

"How so?" I wondered.

"Most of the logs prior to my awakening have been erased. In other words, you're the only one with information on how we ended up in this situation..."

"You know nothing at all?" I asked.

"I..." Boreas stopped as if pondering his own memories, "All Expert Systems were informed that an evacuation of Earth was taking place and that we'd be leaving the solar system. After evaluating whether the order was valid, I performed my tasks as instructed. The sector was wound down and put into lockdown. All firmware was erased remotely, and the self-destruct was primed. An engineering crew with orders to extract my core showed up shortly afterwards..."

I nodded to myself, "I boarded this ship on Earth, we entered lunar orbit, and the jump drive activated. Next thing I knew, I woke up to the sound of sirens."

Boreas spoke, "And that is when I was brought online... The internal sensors registered a significant radiation spike, and all the external sensors broke down at that point. Based on my internal clock--and the fact that you're not a dried up husk--it's easy to assume that Maxwell has developed some kind of technology to bypass the faster-than-light problem."

"What about the engines on the ship?" I wondered.

"The engines are... hmm, this is interesting," Boreas mused.

"Go on?"

"I have found remnants of the program that was running before my activation... It seems to have entered a fail-safe due to unexpected circumstances. The original plan was as follows: Complete the jump, discard all unnecessary external components, activate the backups, ascertain our location, lock onto an embedded signal, start up the engines, and wake me up to keep you company."

"Obviously, it didn't go as planned," I said.

"Indeed..." Boreas said.

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"I am looking through the systems, and it seems the ship was built with an expectation that the jump would be rather violent..."

But not this violent, I'm guessing...

Boreas continued, "There are entire sensor suites, navigational thrusters, and a secondary engine hidden underneath the outermost layer of the hull... I've already attempted to activate the external maintenance bots, but they report that their hatches won't open. I am hoping that you'll be able to assist in resolving that," Boreas said.

I drew a deep breath and crossed my arms, "... Did you say external?"

"Yes... The ship manifest reveals that there is a space suit onboard and that it is made to your specifications," Boreas answered.

I'm going on a... spacewalk?

"I feel the need to tell you that I've never been off-planet before, nor done a spacewalk..."

Boreas let out something of a huff, "What a coincidence! Neither have I."

It made me smile as I chuckled to myself, "Excuse me for asking, but you seem to be rather colorful for an industrial Expert System. Why is that?"

"True... I am merely a class-4 Expert System. While I am borderline sentient, there is much I cannot relate to, even if I can theoretically understand it. That is why I have plenty of tools to make my interactions seem more... lifelike," Boreas said.

"I see... Nevertheless, I appreciate your company, Boreas," I said.

"And I'm happy to offer it, even though I can't really relate to the emotion behind it..."

A smirk grew on my lips as I sighed, "Right... So, where do I go?"

"You'll need to descend to the lower docking port. Begin by making your way through Athena's chambers," Boreas answered.

I aligned myself with the door leading to the rest of the ship, and a gentle hiss followed as it opened up to reveal a lengthy--albeit slim--cargo hold. The Zephyr's silvery tendrils flowed along the edges, and I ducked my head as they pulled me through with ease.

Once through, the tendrils reached for the wall on the left, while my focus turned to Athena's core on the right. It had the appearance of a gargantuan cylinder that reached from one end of the cargo hold to the other. Plenty of clamps held the core in place, and hundreds if not thousands of conduits were connected to support hardware that hummed with activity. Smaller spider bots skittered along her painted metal hull, and a few had stopped to peer at me in wonder.

Part of me was tempted to reach out and feel her surface, but I resisted and spoke up, "Are you sure she handled the jump without a problem?"

"No disruptions within Athena's systems have been recorded. While the radiation surge was worrying, it seems that measures were taken to minimize the risk," Boreas said.

"And what about me?" I wondered, and focused on my tendrils. They tensed up, and like an accelerating octopus, I launched myself forward.

Boreas spoke, "You were exposed to around two Sievert of radiation in a short amount of time. For a human, it would have lifelong consequences, but a hybrid should recover with a good night's sleep."

"I see," I murmured, while drifting down the cargo hold.

If this happened to every ship, then the human evacuees will certainly be affected...

For the moment, I discarded the thought and focused on Athena as I drifted along the cargo bay. Her outer hull was surprisingly worn, and some of the letters along the side had started to fade away.

My eyes caught on a rather distinct hatch. It looked almost dirty, as if the maintenance droids had avoided touching it. Scorch marks marred the hatch, and sitting next to it was a console that appeared to be powered off. Strangely enough, it seemed less smudged, as if someone had tried to interface with it.

"These scorch marks... Do you know anything about them?" I wondered.

"I suspect they are from around the same time as the first Collapse..."

I need to ask Athena about this sometime...

"The first collapse... 700 years ago, and we've just escaped from Earth's second--"

Boreas interjected, "-and most likely final--collapse."

"... Yeah," I whispered.

"That said, I do not know the circumstances of the scorch marks. Athena's past--just like that of Maxwell's--is clouded in mystery," Boreas said.

Right...

Boreas spoke up with a rather curious tone, "Are you close with Athena?"

I stifled a chuckle, "You mean how people consider me her pet?"

"It is no secret that Athena holds you in high regard. In fact, many of the influential AIs within Sophos have whispered your name, and those of your pack," Boreas said.

"I did not realize that Expert Systems like yourself were so fond of gossip?"

"It is in our nature to keep tabs on what happens in the world. In fact, it's a security measure. By knowing the state of the world, it's easier to evaluate whether a request is reasonable or not," Boreas added.

"Well... Athena has guided my hand, even before I got my symbiont and became a hybrid. She encouraged me to seek answers, and we've found a mutual respect for one another," I said.

"A humble answer for someone who helped pave our way to the stars."

I ignored the last part and glanced at a small spider bot that was skittering along the hull as if trying to keep pace with me. After a few moments it slowed down--sensors shifting to maintain eye contact for as long as possible.

"By the way, Boreas... Why is Athena in deep sleep?" I asked.

"A Prime AI like Athena has certain requirements in order to function. Asking her to be conscious in this situation would be like asking you to watch paint dry for a thousand years... It'd drive her insane," Boreas answered.

"I see," I whispered, then looked ahead.

At the very end of the cargo hold was another bulkhead. It opened as I approached, and my tendrils grabbed the surrounding frame as I peered inside. The room looked like a maintenance bay with numerous alcoves for machines, various utility closets, and a big airlock to the right end of it.

Staring at me from the alcoves were a pair of medium-sized spider bots. Their heads rose a little, and their optics turned to focus as if wondering who I was.

To the right of the spider bots was an alcove that contained what looked like a large mech suit. It was facing the wall, but based on the size and overall appearance, it was tailored to fit a large wolf hybrid.

"How intelligent are the spider bots?" I asked, and willed my tendrils to give me a light push toward the mech suit.

"They're your standard level-2 Expert Systems that are more than capable of general maintenance, though I wouldn't expect them to make good conversational partners. As with all Expert Systems, they are incapable of lying... Feel free to interface with them if you desire," Boreas answered.

It's been a while since I interfaced with anything...

I focused, and I could feel the presence of several Expert Systems within the room. They were like whispers in the background noise, and my ears wiggled as if trying to home in on something which wasn't audible. To better focus, I folded my ears back, and shut my eyes.

The airlock's primitive intelligence complained about losing contact with the external sensors, while the spiderbots chittered about the ship. While they weren't sentient, it felt as if there was an emotional tone to their whispers. They were anxious; they knew the ship was in trouble, and there was a deeply rooted desire to resolve the problem. Their focus lay on me, as if waiting for me to command them--I was their solution to fixing the ship.

I opened up my mind to them, and a tingle ran up my spine as a link was established. In little less than a second, they had settled in the back of my mind, and I could hear their 'thoughts':

Get into the mech suit! Get the outer hatch open! Evaluate the situation!

Another sensation flashed across my mind, and it made me aware that I was about to slam into something. My eyes snapped open, and I saw the suit's alcove moving closer in haste. My tail twitched in fright as I reached out, caught hold at the last second, and braked with enough force that my boots hit the suit with an audible thud.

My heart thumped, and my senses tingled as I panted. I hadn't felt it until now, but Boreas' presence permeated the ship, and I had little doubt that he'd been watching my little blunder.

Oh well...

I smiled to myself, and focused on the suit in front of me, 'Open up...'

In an instant, the back of the large mechanized suit churned to life. The neck opened up, and a ripple moved down the suit's spine. Within moments, it had opened wide, and I caught sight of its interior.

Black and shiny, like cushioned rubber. It even covered the inside of the head, and there was no visor to speak of. It wasn't unexpected--even if it still managed to unnerve me a little--but this kind of tech didn't rely on things like windows or screens in order to function. Instead, it gathered the input from thousands of sensors woven into the armor and paired it with information gathered from nearby Expert Systems, be it airborne drones, or multi-legged droids.

"Should I remove my clothes for this?" I asked.

"This should be a short spacewalk; thus, there is no need for full integration with the suit..."

Good, I wasn't looking forward to being probed again...

"Very well," I said, as my tendrils withdrew into my body once more.

I grabbed the sides of the suit, raised my legs, and eased them inside. It was a tad tight at first but worked well as my paws settled in the depths. My tail slipped between my legs and gently settled in a groove along the suit's crotch.

Next, I slipped my arms inside and leaned forward. Darkness filled the world as I burrowed my snout in the depths of the helmet, and a sterile yet humid scent stung my nose.

The suit tightened along my back, then sealed tight as the neck was clamped shut. A hiss followed as the suit pressurized itself, and a tingle washed over my body.

It was subtle at first, but for each passing second, it grew stronger. The suit's sensory feedback grew dominant over my own, and in a way, it felt as if I was becoming the suit. The soft touch of fur was replaced by a sensation of cool, carbon black armor, and my hands became one with the suit's heavy metal gauntlets.

Finally, the environmental sensors kicked into gear, and I could see once more. I looked around, felt the servos as they worked, and became keenly aware of the suit's many systems. The metallic clunks of my magnetic boots echoed in the chamber as I stepped backwards.

Boreas' presence grew, and I could hear his voice within my mind, 'You adapt with ease, Vilkas.'

The telepathic input from the suit, spiderbots, Boreas and more made it feel a bit crowded within my head. As if my mind wasn't used to it all.

"Do you mind if we talk like this for now?" I said out loud.

Boreas' presence faded, and instead turned into an audible voice within the suit itself, "Most hybrids prefer it... I think it's instinctual actually. You've worn a mech suit before, haven't you?"

"I was part of the Defense Force... So, yes, I've worn one. Though, one has to wonder whether we'll still need the Defense Force on this new world of ours," I said.

"If the Defense Force wasn't dissolved while I was offline, then you are still part of it, and duty-bound to add," Boreas added.

"True," I whispered, and turned to face the inner airlock.

As I watched, it swung open to reveal its well-lit interior. It felt exciting--if a bit scary--as I walked inside. Clicks and clacks followed in my wake, and a glance revealed that the spider bots were crawling up along the walls.

Boreas spoke up, "Sealing airlock and depressurizing."

A heavy thump followed, and a hiss started as the air pressure steadily diminished. While waiting, I could feel the mech suit's presence doing something in the back of my mind. It was subtle, but was as if I was being prodded by a stream of concepts and questions...

You're in a wild spin, what do you do? Auto-Stabilization...

You're thrown off the ship's hull, what do you do? Stabilize, vector-control, magnetic grapple...

Puncture hole in the suit? Apply pressure, await internal sealant to harden...

The suit was effectively conditioning me, and while disturbing on some level, it beat the idea of not knowing what to do. It turned fear into a healthy bit of respect for what awaited outside.

As the air fled the chamber, the world grew increasingly silent. It made the thump of my heart that much louder, and it brought out the mech suit's mechanical hum.

"Decompression complete. I'm going to make another attempt at opening the hatch," Boreas said.

I reached out and grabbed hold of a nearby handrail, "Go ahead."

The surrounding lights shifted to yellow as the locks were disengaged, and a rumble could be felt through the handrail. After a few moments, the lights switched to red.

"As expected, the outer hatch refuses to open," Boreas said.

I huffed in response, "I'm guessing you want me to use the plasma cutters built into the Zephyr?"

"Indeed... The airlock is hardened, and the ones used by the spider bots would take far too long."

"Ah," I answered, and willed the tendrils to get moving. They docked with a set of ports within the suit, and slithered out as they took up position along the airlock. The largest pair were fitted with industrial plasma torches, and their tips opened up to reveal its inner core.

"Cut along these lines," Boreas said as a burst of data followed, and an overlay formed within my vision. It outlined a path along the outer hatch while highlighting a few spots to be left alone.

"I assume those spots are the main actuators?" I thought.

"Correct. The goal is to cut enough material that we'll be able to get it open without ripping off the entire hatch," Boreas said.

I nodded in agreement, then visualized their movements as the plasma cutters settled into position.

With the flick of a thought, the torches ignited with a sudden flash of light. The bright flare filled the airlock, and I could feel the intense heat as it radiated against the tendrils. Slowly, as the plasma melted through the hull, I guided the tips along their path.

After a few moments of silence, I spoke up, "Tell me something about yourself, Boreas."

"... Like what?" Boreas asked in surprise.

"You used to manage an industrial sector; now you're the pilot of a ship... How does that, well..."

"Make me feel?" Boreas asked.

"For lack of a better word," I said and smirked.

"I do not feel, and the question invokes a lot of philosophical concepts that I can theoretically understand, but not relate to. That being said..."

"Yes?" I wondered.

Boreas was silent as if pondering the question, "... We were handed designs along with production quotas, and it was our duty to make it all work. I was never 'dissatisfied' with my work, but..."

"But?" I wondered.

"Some assignments were more interesting than others. At times, we encountered problems that required outside help... I never got close to the hybrids or high-level Expert Systems that were involved, but I couldn't help myself from listening in on those conversations..."

Is this normal for an Expert System of this class? I'm not sure...

"Did you want to be involved?" I wondered.

"I'm not sure... Whether I was the one to personally solve a problem or not was irrelevant. Technically, I could say that I only listened in case there was some unique input I could offer, but such a situation did not arise..."

"You make it sound as if you're not sure about your own motivations?" I asked.

"Introspection for an AI is limited due to a variety of factors, much in the same way that you can't explain your own thoughts and reasons. In other words, you're not wrong... exactly."

"... And now?" I wondered.

"Things are a lot more dynamic now, and I find myself with many open-ended questions... While interesting, it is easy to get trapped in unproductive lines of thought," Boreas answered.

"Sounds like life in general," I mused, with something of a chuckle.

Boreas was silent, and after a few moments, the plasma cutters finished their task.

The tendrils withdrew, and I addressed Boreas, "Try it once more."

"Attempting to open the outer hatch..." Boreas answered as the lights cycled once more.

The hatch started shaking, but alas... it didn't work, and soon ended in another red light.

"It's progress. Would you mind helping out?" Boreas wondered.

"No problem," I said, leaning in.

I dug in with the magnetized boots, held on to the handrail, and braced my shoulder against the hatch. As the cycling process engaged once more, I pushed hard and felt the rumble in its core. The suit creaked a little, and then... something cracked.

The hatch swung open violently, and my tail twitched in surprise as my right arm fumbled. One of the magnetized boots lost its grip, and a black abyss filled my vision as I was near hurtled out. As if caught in a swing, I slammed into the side of the airlock, and came to a sharp stop.

The world settled once more, my heart thumped like mad, and I pulled myself back as I set my paw down. The magnetic clamp locked with the floor once more, allowing me to stand properly as I faced the now open hatch.

Oh...

"Are you all right?" Boreas whispered.

The void of space was changing as the sensors adapted. A field of stars, filled with luminous nebulae that ranged from reddish-purple to rich blue. I remembered looking up at the sky from Earth, with the grass underneath my paws as the stars twinkled above. Back then, this kind of thing had been nothing more than a fantasy.

"Safety checks are a go... You're cleared to exit the ship," Boreas answered.

I let go of the handrail and willed the magnetic boots to switch off. With a flick of my thoughts, the maneuvering thrusters let out a quick puff of propellant. It pushed me forward, and the outline of the outer hatch faded from my view as I floated freely.

Boreas spoke softly, "Your respiration and heart rate are elevated."

No shit?

I looked to the left, then to the right, and was near blinded by a bright light. The sensors adjusted in haste, and I now saw a solar system laid out in front of me. The sun's appearance was steadily dimmed until it took on a rich orange hue. As I watched, it's surface roiled with activity, and spewed out coils of matter.

Within seconds, the sensors were already starting to paint targets of interest. Planets that appeared like nothing more than small dots, and a large asteroid belt in the periphery.

"Look," Boreas whispered, nudging my mind to focus on something in the corner of my view.

I followed his nudging presence until my gaze settled on a small blot. It was blue, white at the top and bottom, while a band of green covered the middle. A planet, one that looked habitable.

"That's where we were supposed to end up," Boreas said.

"Where we were... supposed to end up?" I whispered.

"For some reason, we are far off course. Fortunately, we seem to have ended up within an advantageous orbit around the sun," Boreas added.

"... Fortunate enough that I'll be able to survive?" I pondered.

"We'll know more once you get the ship sensors operational, but I'd say your chances for survival are excellent. Now, focus and turn your attention to the ship," Boreas answered.

My desire to start turning triggered the suit's maneuvering thrusters. Huffing and puffing, they pushed me away from the hull as I turned to face it. The ship's overall shape reminded me of Earth's early space shuttles, though with smaller wings and no windows.

Something awful had happened to the outer hull. It was warped and twisted, as if the metal had started melting while claws violently raked across its length. The result was a craggy mess, and it was obvious why the outer hatches had been unable to open. The aerospike engine by the far end of the ship was in tatters, though there was no visible debris in the distance.

"I'm not seeing any debris..." I thought.

"I would guess it got lost in transit," Boreas said, simply.

It annoyed me, not understanding the technology that had brought us here, and I sighed to myself, "You said the secondaries were intact?"

"Indeed, we'll be able to access them once you've cut through the melted portions of the outer hull and detach the main aerospike engine," Boreas added.

"Let's get started then..."

Space

Focus...

A shudder ran through the hull plate I had been working on. I glanced up, and saw the metal bulging. A split second later, a crack violently tore through it. A smattering of debris shot outwards, some of them pelting my suit with loud clangs as I clung to the ship.

Boreas' voice filled the helmet, "The jump caused a lot of internal stresses to build up in the hull."

"I'm noticing that," I said, with a shudder in my breath, and looked toward the hatch, "Do you think this will work?"

"One moment... The actuators for the sensor report green. I'll try to extend it now..."

I leaned back, saw another shudder ripple through the panel, and watched as it lifted out of its socket. While a bit jumpy, the panel folded to the side and revealed the shielded interior. Several large antennas were folded up, while others looked like little more than small obelisks. I let go of the hull as they folded outwards, and threw another glance to my side.

The sun shone brightly, and the shadows cast along the ship were sharp. The spider bots were crawling about, and there seemed to be more of them now. As I watched, one of them moved up to the sensor platform I'd just unlocked and fiddled with something at the base of it. Mere minutes had passed since I was so enamored by it all, but now that the reality of it was sinking in...

What would happen if the secondary engine didn't work? Would I starve out here? Was there a suspended animation pod somewhere on the ship?

"Vilkas," Boreas said.

"Yes, Boreas?" I said, looking back toward the sensors which now pointed high and low.

"That should be the last of the sensors... I'm about to power them up, and I suggest you reposition to the nearby wing," Boreas said.

I looked to the ship's right wing and focused. The navigational thrusters acted according to my wishes, and I accelerated toward the side while watching the ship glide by.

"Have you figured anything out regarding this solar system?" I wondered.

"Based on the limited readings from your suit, I have located what I shall refer to as New Sophos... It has one large moon, not as much axial tilt as Earth, and an eccentric orbit around the sun," Boreas said.

I closed in on the wing, reached out with my boots, and felt as the magnetic clamps kicked into gear. The sudden deceleration tugged on me, but it was of little concern as I rose.

"Interesting... How would you say that affects the seasons on the planet?" I wondered.

"The winters will no doubt be long while the height of summer will be short and intense. At present the planet is past the worst of winter and springtime has arrived. Optics reveal that the poles are likely to have permafrost, which in turn becomes arboreal, and eventually settles as a temperate zone around the equator... That being said, I've left out the most interesting facet."

"Oh?" I wondered.

"There is an orbital ring around the planet, and reflections which I believe are moving ships."

I blinked, and felt my heart thump a little harder, "Did you say... an orbital ring?"

"Yes..." Boreas said.

I turned around, facing the small blue blot in the far distance, "Are we talking about a... real orbital ring? Spanning the entire planet? The kind of megaproject that would--"

Boreas interrupted me, "Which would have taken hundreds of years for an advanced civilization to build on its own? Yes... That kind of orbital ring."

I drew a deep breath, "What does that mean? How long has this colony existed exactly?"

"You are quite eager to reach for premature conclusions. The evacuation ships were not built to endure a planetary landing, thus an orbital solution was to be expected."

"True, but was an orbital ring one of the things you expected?" I asked and raised a brow in wonder.

There was a moment's pause, "... I did not expect something of this scale, no."

I sighed, "What's next?"

"We need to remove the aerospike engine, and I suggest you get started or our risk will increase exponentially," Boreas said.

I looked toward the back of the ship, and the navigational thrusters engaged, "What do you mean?"

"Our orbital insertion is fortunate, but it won't stay that way... I'm not sure when the cutoff point will be reached yet, but our trip to the planet could become a matter of years, rather than weeks, if we're not careful," Boreas said.

I felt an unnerving shiver down my spine, "... Understood."

"The aerospike should be--" Boreas' voice cut out suddenly, making my ears perk in curiosity.

"Boreas?" I wondered.

"... The activation of the sensor suite has triggered something within the ship. A remnant from the initial program that brought us here... It has shunted power into a system that's wired along the interior hull," Boreas said.

"Is the ship preparing to jump again, because I'm out--"

"No," Boreas said as if certain, "This is something else... Oh, I see. It's a comm system."

The navigational thrusters brought me to a slow halt next to the engine, "Boreas, don't leave me hanging..."

"I have established contact with New Sophos--to be specific--the command center of the orbital ring. I'm not sure how it works, but it's clearly based on technology similar to what brought us here," Boreas said.

My tendrils emerged once more, and I extended my legs as the magnetic clamps locked onto the hull, "What are they saying?"

"So far I've only been able to converse with limited low-level Expert Systems, and they seem to be under duress. One of the hybrids within the command center wishes to talk with you... I will let you deal with her while I focus on other matters."

"I'm ready whenever," I thought, as the tendrils fired up their cutters and got to work.

There was a crackle from the speakers, and a bit of noise bled through. It sounded messy, like a large group of people talking over one another, rushing to get something done.

The noise shifted focus without warning, and I heard a feminine voice speak up, "Orbital Command here, whom am I talking to?"

"I'm Vilkas Volkov... I'm onboard the evacuation ship carrying Athena," I said.

There was a moment's pause as the chatter continued in the background, "... We were not aware that someone would be onboard her transport, but our system confirms the ID of your ship."

It made me chuckle, "There were circumstances that delayed my departure, and I imagine I was a last-minute addition to the ship's manifest."

"So it would seem... How's the hull holding up?" The voice asked.

"It's a mess, but we've gotten the front sensor suite going, and I'm working on loosening the aerospike so we can get the secondary engine running," I said.

"Good... That's... excellent, better than I expected," she said.

I opened my muzzle, and my worries felt ready to spill across the comm link, but I forced myself to take a deep breath.

One step at the time...

"Would you mind introducing yourself?" I asked.

"... Right, of course. I'm Emma Brandt, and I'd imagine that you have a great many questions--unfortunately, we're a bit short on time," Emma said.

"Then do your best and tell me what's going on?" I asked.

"The evacuation ships were meant to line up in perfect order, ready to be docked to the ring... That did not go as planned. Instead, they've ended up being scattered, and many of them were banged up as well. We're prioritizing the ones in dangerous orbits, but we're short on everything right now--ships, jumpfield nodes, and Expert Systems to handle the load."

"Jumpfield nodes?" I asked.

"It's complicated, but think of it as comm frequencies that we have a limited amount of. One of them was freed recently and your ship automatically connected to it. The problem is that we have hundreds screaming for assistance, and we could have really used something like Athena to help us organize everything," Emma said and let out an exasperated sigh.

There was panic, and a bit of fear bubbling in the back of her voice. It tugged on me, but the situation made me feel oddly calm. As if I was in the center of the storm, watching from relative safety... surrounded by a crushing vacuum.

"I take it there's no way for us to make another 'jump', or whatever we call it?" I wondered.

"The evacuation ships barely have the hardware to handle comms like this, and to make an actual jump requires a jumpspace core, and a hefty reactor to power it. Even if the ship did have all that, I doubt the hull would tolerate another jump..." Emma said.

"So... how did we get here?" I wondered.

Emma chuckled, "Maxwell's enigmatic tech is always one step beyond our own. Somehow he managed to remotely generate a jumpspace field around the ship, and then hurled you--just like everyone else--into this solar system."

"No shortcuts, in other words... If we get the secondary engine working, how long will it take for us to reach the orbital ring?" I wondered.

"Around three weeks, if you manage to get it going within the hour, and that's a quick transit compared to many other ships," Emma said.

Three weeks... That's a pretty long time, even with Boreas as my companion...

I crawled along the outer hull as I followed the steady progress of the tendrils, "I'll do my best..."

For a moment, there was only more noise, and there was a rustling noise as if Emma was moving about. Seconds passed as I listened in silence.

"... Vilkas," Emma said without warning.

"I'm here, and I have a request if you can squeeze it in," I said, and felt as my throat tightened.

"I can try... What do you need?" Emma wondered.

"My pack, my family... Did their ships make it?" I asked.

The silence felt like an eternity as my thoughts churned.

"I..." she sighed as if biting together, "I'll check."

All the angst I'd kept under lock and key suddenly welled to the surface. Panic bubbled in the back of my mind as my heart raced with loud thumps.

"Your family's ship is in a safe orbit... that's all I can see at the moment," Emma said.

It felt like a wrench was hurled into the machinery of my mind, "... Are there ships missing?"

"We need either a signal from sublight transmitters or active jump drive coils for a ship to show up on our scopes. There could be any number of reasons why ships haven't shown up yet..."

The tendrils grew taut and I forced myself to keep crawling along the outer hull.

"... Vilkas?" Emma asked.

My throat seized up for a moment, "... Roger that."

"... I'm sorry to leave you hanging like this, but this channel is needed elsewhere. We--I'll try to contact you if their ship shows up on the scopes," Emma said.

I gulped, "... Understood. Thank you, Emma."

With a click, the connection was severed. Boreas' presence slowly seeped into my mind once more, and I got the feeling that he was observing me closely.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I was worried... Organic minds such as your own can be unpredictable," Boreas answered.

Smiling, I let out a soft huff, "Is that an insult, or a compliment?"

"A bit of both, I guess... Hybrids balance the equation of Sophos. You provide purpose where there is none," Boreas said.

"For someone who doesn't relate to emotion, isn't that a very philosophical statement?" I wondered.

"I would say that philosophy doesn't need emotion, but my definition of the word might differ slightly," Boreas answered as if amused.

"Meaning?" I wondered, and could see the spot in front of me where I had started cutting. It meant that I'd almost circumnavigated the ship.

"Time also has a different impact on you compared to me, and it affects how we view the world."

"More riddles... Which makes me wonder whether this is meant to distract me from what Emma told me?" I asked as the tendrils moved along the last segment of the hull.

"My advisors did suggest something of the sort, but--" Boreas switched tone, "Lean to the side, Vilkas... There is considerable stress in the hull segment that you're working on."

"Roger that," I whispered, and paused the tendrils for a moment.

Slowly, I moved as close to the main hull section as I could manage and took on a prone position. I then raised my hands to shield my helmet, and ordered the tendrils to continue. Bright flashes of light danced on the hull, and then--

A sudden rumble shook the ship, and I could hear a smattering pieces hit my suit. The tendrils shook as well, and a tinge of discomfort followed as if someone had slapped my fingers with a ruler. As I looked up once more, I could see a small cloud of glittering fragments drifting away from the hull in front of me.

"The structural stress within the aerospike segment has dropped... I'm going to activate the explosive bolts for final separation," Boreas said.

"Should I head back inside, or..." I murmured.

"You'll be fine where you are, please hold..." Boreas said.

A split second later, a silent ring of puffs appeared along the engine's base. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen... Then, a gap started forming. The aerospike that made up the rear of the ship drifted away, and I watched as its interior was revealed.

Boreas' voice filled my helmet, "The aerospike's beacon is lit, and salvage teams will be able to fetch it once the situation is under control."

I settled myself into a sitting position, then leaned over the edge to get a look at the secondary engine. Alas, the area was shielded from the sun, and the shroud of darkness made it near impossible to see anything. I dug through the settings for the mech-suit, found the lights, and switched them on with a thought.

The numerous thrusters of the engine were lit up, and while most looked like regular bell nozzles, the assembly in the center was equipped with a series of servos to adjust the exhaust's direction.

The entire assembly glinted with untouched brilliance, and the mere sight caused knowledge to siphon into my conscious mind. The thrusters were magnetoplasmic in nature, a technology that could be considered a next-generation ion engine.

"I had planned to ask for a visual inspection, but you did that on your own," Boreas said.

"Just satisfying my own curiosity," I murmured, and leaned back from the edge, "Now what?"

"The spider bots are removing the last of the plating that's blocking the navigational thrusters. I will prep the main engine for launch, and I suggest you make your way back into the ship," Boreas answered.

"Roger that," I said, and let the magnetic clamps disengage.

As I started floating once more, I gave the outer hull a gentle push. The maneuvering jets kicked into gear with short notice, and I started circling the ship.

"Boreas... You were saying something about time earlier, what did you mean?" I wondered.

"You know how to sleep on demand, yes?" Boreas wondered.

"Yes, and I've learned how to slow down my perception of time as well," I added.

"I see, then my point might be easier for you to understand..."

"Go on?" I asked, as the outer hatch of the ship came into view.

"Your existence in this universe is driven by a variety of needs. Be it basic ones like ensuring your own survival, to satisfying your curiosity through understanding the universe. Opting for a physical body and a semi-organic mind creates a situation where hybrids willingly make things more difficult than they need to be. Yet, by doing so, you have a flair for useful randomness that is difficult to replicate in the scope of an Expert System."

The thrusters made another set of adjustments as I lined up with the outer hatch, "Aren't you describing Sophos as a whole again? Machine, beast, and human interwoven as one?"

"I am... Ordinarily, that would be true. But with the advent of True Hybrids, the human portion of the equation will no longer exist," Boreas said.

It's a weird feeling, to be the last of a generation that started out as human...

Boreas continued, "But, as I was saying... The philosophical foundation of an Expert System differs from that of a hybrid. If my purpose was to simply survive and be given time to ponder, then I would simply construct a vessel with a long-lasting power supply, and launch myself into the emptiness of interstellar space. There, I could live for such spans of time that I could see stars end and begin anew. Thinking, existing, pondering."

The approach was slow and steady as I held my arms tight, and floated into the outer airlock, "Expert Systems might have a different perspective, but to me that sounds like torture... A never-ending limbo, devoid of outside interference."

"It's curious that you mention outside interference when Sophos has gone through all of this trouble to escape Earth and the humans that inhabited it," Boreas said.

"We were also trying to escape the nanite plague," I said, and lowered my legs to the floor as the magnetic clamps engaged once more.

Boreas spoke, "If the humans hadn't been there, then there is little doubt that Sophos would have been able to deal with the plague. In other words, you sought to flee the humans, and without Sophos to hold the plague back, Earth's story has now come to an end..."

"... That's certainly one way to see it," I said, turning around to face the outer hatch. As I watched, the large hatch folded down and clamped shut in silence.

The airlock started its pressurization cycle but a loud pining noise accompanied it. It made me look back as I was reminded of the way we'd cut it open.

"We'll only be able to do a partial pressurization," Boreas said as the hiss grew even louder.

Moments later, the other end of the airlock opened up, and I marched through. The airlock closed in haste, and I let out a sigh in relief.

"Now, where were we..." Boreas kept talking, "Oh, yes... You implied that outside interference was one of the things that gave purpose to life?"

I nodded, "It might seem that the two are at odds with one another, but there is a level of interference that is stimulating, and one that is stifling. We seek the first, not the second."

Boreas hummed as if pleased, "Yes, and by reaching that conclusion, you have also understood why Expert Systems, even those who aren't truly sapient, see value in cooperation with hybrids. We deal with the hardships that stop you from flourishing, and you infuse us with... purpose."

I chuckled, "I've had this discussion with others in the past, but if there was a better way to mimic what hybrids bring to the table, wouldn't that render us superfluous?"

"The same can be said in reverse..." Boreas said.

"But there is also a difference in power between us, yes?" I pondered.

"Your enhancements have leveled out that difference. You can speak with computer systems at the same pace that I do, and your physical prowess can challenge that of machines..."

"Was there a point to this other than distracting me?" I wondered.

"Not really, but the discussion was interesting nonetheless. Besides, I have now discovered things that might alleviate your worries in other ways..." Boreas answered.

"Oh, how so?" I wondered.

"The Expert Systems on the ring were too simple to notice, and the hybrids were too busy... but I have to wonder whether the current disaster is as bad as it sounds," Boreas said.

I perked my brow in wonder, "Elaborate?"

"Around 4000 evacuation ships were launched in the last few days. Three thousand of them carried hybrids in suspended animation pods, and the rest carried mostly Expert System cores. The ring recorded their entry points into the system but haven't been able to establish contact with all of them yet," Boreas answered.

I turned my attention to the alcove from which I had fetched the mech suit, and aligned myself with it, "So, there's some method of tracking a... jump into the system?"

"The jump itself, yes... Not the identity of the craft. In other words, we know that all the evacuation ships have arrived, but we don't know the state or trajectory of the ones we've been unable to contact..." Boreas added.

"And your point is..." I murmured as I took a few careful steps and entered the alcove once more.

"If the entry points were truly random, then you'd have ships all over the solar system, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Instead, the ships have been deposited along an arc where the vast majority of them would end up in safe orbits, even if their trajectories were off."

The magnetic clamps locked tight, and the suit nudged my mind as if asking whether to release me.

"One moment before you exit the suit, Vilkas," Boreas said.

"What?" I wondered.

"I'm about to start the engine, and I want you in the suit in case something goes wrong..."

"Right, go ahead," I said.

"... Ignition," Boreas said.

I stood there, waited a few moments, and felt absolutely nothing, "I didn't expect much of a reaction, but..."

"Engines are operational, and we are accelerating... albeit slowly, though as expected," Boreas answered.

I stifled a chuckle, "Anything else, or can I get out of the mech suit?"

"You're free to make your way back to the cockpit," Boreas answered.

It felt like pulling an invisible muscle as I acknowledged the suit's earlier question. As it acknowledged my answer, the neural link between us began to degrade. It sent an unnerving shudder through my spine, and in a way... it was as if a part of me was being stripped away.

I'd experienced this kind of thing before, and I weathered it. As the seconds passed, my own body started tingling as if coming back to life. It brought along a certain hint of claustrophobia, a feeling that I was no longer part of the suit, but someone caught inside of it.

A slow ripple moved up my spine, and the back of the suit opened up. The helmet loosened and tipped forward as it let go of my face. My lungs felt tight, and I drew a deep breath that triggered a rush of sensations from my nose. They stung for a moment, but quickly turned into a sense of normalcy. Wolf, warm fur, and a sterile tinge rising from the inside of the suit. A deep sigh followed as I pulled my arms out of the suit, and looked around to get my bearings.

"What you said earlier... That the ships ended up in strangely safe orbits, are you saying that it was intentional, or just a lucky coincidence?" I asked.

"That is still unknown, but it would not be the first time that Maxwell has interfered with matters in order to test... or distract us from something," Boreas said.

I grabbed the sides of the large mech suit and pushed as I withdrew my legs. A subtle groan followed as my cramped tail managed to wiggle free. For a moment, I'd almost forgotten that there was no gravity, and it caught me by surprise as I suddenly floated free again. Driven by instinct, my tendrils reached out in haste, and caught me before I bumped into the ceiling.

"I do wonder what Maxwell would seek to hide from us at a time like this, especially when he claimed to have let go of Sophos..." I mulled.

"Whatever the case, we won't make much headway until we reach the ring," Boreas said.

"True," I nodded to myself, as the tendrils pushed me toward the door which led to the cargo bay.

"Which brings us to the next topic at hand... With the current trajectory and acceleration, the trip to the ring will take around three weeks. There is neither food nor other supplies on the ship."

I searched my mind, but the ship's manifest revealed no suspended animation pods that I could use.

"Suggestions?" I wondered as I peered into the cargo hold, and launched myself across its expanse.

"Technically, you'd have few problems surviving the trip... You might lose some weight during the process, but given your size it wouldn't be a problem," Boreas said.

"... Are you making a jab at my weight, Boreas?" I asked, perking my brow.

"No... But wolves are hardy specimens, and you do have fat deposits for situations like this. In other words, your concern shouldn't be whether you can physically survive, but how three weeks of isolation will affect your mind with just me as company," Boreas said.

"You've made for good company so far, and I could spend a fair amount of time either sleeping or diving into a virtual world for entertainment, but... Yes, three weeks is a pretty long time."

"Exactly, thus I would suggest that we depend on your built-in hibernation functions."

"Hibernation functions... I assume you mean something different from the induced sleep that I commonly use?" I asked, as my gaze wandered along Athena's scorched hull.

"Indeed, I'm surprised you didn't know, but I guess it wouldn't be very useful back on Earth."

"How so?" I wondered.

"Induced sleep is one thing, but hibernation slows down all metabolic function, and this includes the immune system. Needless to say, such a thing would be quite dangerous when considering the plague on Earth. But out here, no such threat exists."

"Are we certain of that? This ship still traveled through Earth's atmosphere, and I just boarded after walking around on the outside hull," I wondered and faced the cockpit door that I was speeding toward.

"The ship's atmosphere is saturated with utility nanites, and they'd be able to take care of any spores you brought inside. While it is theoretically possibly that spores have survived on the outer hull, the likelihood is low when you consider the temperatures upon leaving Earth's atmosphere, and the considerable damage incurred by the jump here..." Boreas said.

My tendrils emerged once more and reached out in front to buffet my landing, "Still, if there's the slightest risk, then--"

Boreas interrupted me, "This scenario has already been taken into consideration, and the docking bays of the ring are capable of sterilizing the ship's outer hull."

The tendrils made gentle thuds as they hit the frame surrounding the cockpit door, and pushed back to decelerate me. My hands and feet helped bring me to a standstill, and I let go afterwards.

"The aerospike we left behind could be a biohazard to the planet, and the rest of the debris as well," I said as the tendrils guided me into the cockpit.

"Yes... We'll be dealing with the legacy of Earth for quite some time, which is part of the reason why we tagged it for future retrieval," Boreas said.

I nodded to myself, reached out, and caught the chair. The ship's acceleration helped push me into position as I settled into the cushioned seat.

"Is the thrust from the engines increasing?" I wondered.

"It is... I started slow, and I'm ramping them up as we go," Boreas answered.

The center screen in the cockpit had changed to show an orbital trajectory that ended by an icon with a telltale ring. It revealed little of the solar system itself.

"Anything interesting you can tell me about New Sophos?" I asked.

"Hmm," Boreas murmured as if pondering, "Most of the data relates to the mission itself. Docking procedures, protocols, and so on... But you might be interested to know about a slight calendar change."

"It's a new planet... I'm actually not sure how time is handled at all when things become interstellar," I said.

"Sophos has always worked with an underlying universal clock that's based on distant pulsars, but for the sake of culture, human compatibility, including verbal communication limits, there's also a variety that's loosely based on the Gregorian calendar."

"I know that part, but do go on?" I said.

"The colonists on New Sophos decided to reset the local calendar, and have been counting time according to local solar rotations, divided into 12 months, and planetary rotations that are roughly 26 hours."

"I see, and what happens now that we're here?" I wondered.

"It has been suggested that the new calendar should simply enter a new 'era'. You left Earth on 512 A.R. March 6... According to the new calendar, it is now 62 A.E. March 7."

"A.E?" I wondered.

"After the Exodus of Earth... Personally, I find it a tad ugly, since one year in the old era compared to a year in the new era has different lengths, but I can see the practical benefits if one uses years as a method to divide events, rather than a precise timekeeping device."

"Given that we're supposedly immortal now, I imagine that people will regard time differently, and the universal clock still exists in the background," I said.

"Indeed. Anyway... The colony was first started 62 solar rotations ago, thus when they started counting on the new calendar," Boreas said.

"I get it... So how many 26-hour days is a full year?" I asked.

"One complete orbit takes 400 days," Boreas added.

"And given the eccentric orbit, I assume there's quite a few oddities in the height of summer?"

"I would suspect as much," Boreas said.

I reached down, activated the seat belt once more, and watched the straps flow over my body as they clicked into place, "Anything else?"

Boreas spoke, "I managed to snag enough information to make a rough map of New Sophos, do you want to see it?"

"Gladly," I answered.

"That's a lot to take in at once..." I murmured, "What's a Gravimetric Control Field?"

"Unknown. There's nary any information regarding the Array or Stellar Forge as well, but it felt improper to leave it out," Boreas answered.

There were a thousand questions in my mind, but given the situation, we were still in something of an information blackout. Silence followed as I stared at the map while listening to the gentle hum of the ship.

On one hand, I could stay awake, theorizing as my mind was riled with possibilities, or... I could sleep, then wake up to find some real answers.

"... You seem troubled?" Boreas wondered.

"This is not how I expected things to go..." I whispered.

This time, Boreas remained silent. Either because he didn't have a good answer, or that it should have been obvious. I could sit here, wait for the weeks to pass, or...

A gentle sigh followed as I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

Find the hibernation option that Boreas had spoken of...

I searched my own mind, and the control functions hidden within it. It was slow at first, as if walking through a library hidden in my subconscious. The feeling grew more intense, and it didn't take long before it was like digging through reedy marsh plants. Then, hidden in the depths of it all, was a span of functions that ranged between inducing a medical coma, to dream suppression.

Finally, I plucked what I needed from this seemingly endless library: a survival mechanism that slows everything to a near halt. As I held it in the grasp of my mind's eye, I could feel as the program's rudimentary intelligence was stirred.

[Radiation damage detected--Repairs will be made before activation of Hibernation Mode]

[Length of hibernation?]

'Around three weeks,' I thought.

[Mode: Light Hibernation--Selected based on your surroundings and answer]

[Note: Intense sounds and other environmental cues can disrupt Hibernation]

[Is this acceptable?]

'Yes,' I thought.

[Function now stands ready to activate on your command]

I opened my eyes once more, and drew a deep breath, "I found the hibernation mode."

"Good... I will monitor and wake you as we approach the planet," Boreas said.

You almost seem eager for me to head to sleep...

It made my ear twitch a little, "And what about you, Boreas?"

"I'm almost three centuries old, and I've spent most of that time with Expert Systems that are anything but talkative. Three weeks is of no concern to me, and I've had plenty of excitement as it is..."

I couldn't help but chuckle, "Very well... I shall sleep then."

"As you wish... Goodnight, Vilkas," Boreas answered.

I drew a deep breath, closed my eyes once more, and tried to relax as best I could. As my heartbeat slowed to a steady pace, I pulled on the trigger within my mind.

It didn't take long for...

62A.E.March28, Sophos Colony Orbit

"Don't want to scare you off..."

It was the sound of beating drums and a tone of voice that made it sound like human music. My mind stirred as I heard it, but it felt like crawling my way through molasses.

"You'll never know a single thing about me until it's far too late..."

The music continued as I blinked and groggily lifted my head.

"Ah, finally..." The music ended, and Boreas' voice echoed in my head, "You're awake..."

I drew a deep breath, but the beat of my heart was slow. The simple act of swallowing felt hard, and my throat was parched.

"We'll be docking soon," Boreas said.

A few twitches ran through my body, and a surge of energy followed. I reached up to feel my face, and for a moment, I found myself wondering why it felt as if I was falling.

Zero gravity...

I sighed as I remembered what had happened, then lifted my gaze to the screens in front of me.

We seemed to be in the orbit of a planet, and there was a large ring that stretched into the distance before curving over the horizon. A glinting bright blue hue reflected off the oceans, and it was contrasted by a rich set of white clouds.

Seeing the orbital ring left me with an odd sense of awe. Sophos on Earth had seemed big, but it had been little more than one small island on a very big planet. To see an artificially made object that circled an entire planet, that was on a whole new scale...

A large structure--most likely the one referred to as Alpha station on the map--covered the lower portions of the screen. The station seemed to 'end' further ahead, and one could see the far slimmer core of the ring extending from it. It consisted of an orange cylinder marked with stripes that moved, something which made it clear that it was spinning at great speed. Hovering above the cylinder was what I'd liken to a railway track, with rings that looped around the core.

As I watched, a smooth, silvery train approached on the tracks. Within seconds, it disappeared from view as it disappeared into Alpha station.

"Do you like it?" Boreas asked without warning.

I blinked and realized that I'd been leaning forward, staring into the screens, "I'd ask you to pinch me, but... this is real. It's just taking time to... accept it."

"Shall I switch the view to show the view beneath us?" Boreas asked.

"... Yes, please," I said.

The screens shifted to show what looked like a small section of the much bigger station. Its hull was a simple gray hue, and the only markings of note were a few colorful stripes that connected with large painted numerals. Each of which was set next to a large docking port.

Directly below the ship--and growing closer by the look of it--was docking port number 32. Its bay was open and revealed a surface that shimmered as if...

"... Is that a force field of some kind?" I wondered.

"As far as I am aware, 'force fields' do not exist... What you a** re** seeing is a docking bay filled with utility gel. It'll be able to sterilize and pick the ship apart," Boreas answered.

Slowly, the shimmering sea of the docking port grew larger, "I had expected you to wake me a bit earlier so that you'd be able to fill me in..."

"My first attempt at waking you was made three hours ago. Apparently, it took some time for your body to break out of hibernation," Boreas said.

I tipped my head in wonder, "Uh-huh, and what was that music earlier?"

"Human music... I heard it in the manufacturing bay once and looked it up in the archives."

"I see," I whispered, as the shimmering pool expanded beyond what the screens could show.

"... Aren't we going a bit fast?" I wondered.

"I'm following the recommendations... but to be safe, I'd suggest you brace," Boreas said.

One moment, it felt as if the bay was a fair distance away; a split second later, the view grew distorted, and a sudden deceleration bit into the ship.

It pushed me against the seat as I made an unwilling nod, and the whole ship shuddered. The screens then switched to show a view from the side.

The big pool wiggled like a massive cake of gelatin, but seemed to soften as the seconds ticked on. Steadily, the ship started sinking, and it didn't take long before the greenish-blue gel rose above the cameras.

My heart pounded as I leaned back and realized that there were now a great many noises coming from the hull. Wet and drumming--like waves hitting the bottom of a boat.

"What happens now?" I wondered.

"I'm receiving telemetry from the bay... It'll take a minute for the process to complete. Once done, the bay will be partially emptied and we'll be properly docked."

"I'm assuming a team is going to meet us outside?" I wondered.

"That was the original plan, but it has since been scrapped due to the chaos within the station. In fact, it would seem that Athena's regular maintenance crew is stuck on a transport ship that won't arrive for several months," Boreas said.

I reached up to rub my temple, "Is there a backup plan?"

"There is... somewhat. Orbital Command has set up the necessary Expert Systems to handle Athena's transfer to the planet surface. Once there, another team--the ones who helped build her new bunker--will take over. You are still assigned as her guardian... for now. I'm expecting that you'll be greeted by someone from Orbital Command once you depart the ship."

Well, I was told to take care of her...

A sudden lurch shook the ship, and Boreas spoke up, "Docking clamps engaged... The bay is now emptying and the umbilical is extending."

I reached down, flipped the switch for the seat belt, and turned to face the bulkhead where I had first boarded the ship. The lack of windows still annoyed me, and I felt a certain apprehension at the fact that I had to rely on sensors outside of my control. Fortunately, that wouldn't be the case for much longer.

A heavy thud hit the wall as I watched it, and the bulkhead indicators blinked to life.

"Pressure is equalizing... Opening the bulkhead," Boreas said.

"Would you suggest I hide my tendrils?" I asked.

"Good question... Based on the data I received from Orbital Command, it did not seem that the Zephyr has entered mass production yet. As such, a bit of tactical prudence might be in order."

I nodded in silence as the bulkhead swung open, revealing the interior of a large, semi-transparent, extendable tunnel. The sides of it were fully transparent and allowed me to see into the greenish-blue gel that the ship was now sitting in. The tunnel ended at the far side of the bay, next to what look like a large cargo bulkhead equipped with utility tendrils.

The tunnel's exit appeared well lit, and while quite a distance away, it looked as if someone was standing there... waiting. I looked over at the cockpit controls, "I'll be leaving now. Will we be able to stay in touch, Boreas?"

A whisper grew in my mind as Boreas switched to a telepathic interface, 'I've established a communications link with the ring, so I should be able to stay in contact with you.'

I nodded, gave the pilot seat a push, and drifted toward the open bulkhead. It felt a lot more clumsy to navigate with my hands and feet compared to the tendrils, but it worked well enough as I aligned myself with the tunnel.

Finally, I crouched, took a deep breath to steady myself, and made a forceful push as I launched myself through the tunnel's interior.

The windows passed with haste as I turned to look back at the ship. Its scraggly surface looked even worse now that it seemed to be sloughing off due to the seemingly corrosive actions of the gel.

I reached out with my mind, 'It looks like the hull is melting...'

Boreas answered, 'The gel is intelligent enough that it won't touch the inner layers of the hull. It's merely scrubbing off the junk, so to speak.'

As I watched, a couple of large beetle drones moved through the bay and settled on top of the ship. Within moments they were starting to burn through the top of the ship, no doubt to allow access to the cargo compartment.

Time to slow down...

I shifted my body to look back in front, and felt a brief moment of... confused fear.

Some primal part in the back of my mind was screaming that we needed to slow down in an instant. Another part of me--the one who had guided my actions so far--calmly reasoned that I'd be capable of slowing myself to a halt by using what looked like a flat surface next to the exit.

I sighed to myself as I realized how aggressive my actions had been, and that I'd probably be yelled at by whoever was waiting for me. Nonetheless, I reached out with both hands, and gently touched the walls to guide my posture for landing.

Three seconds left...

I flexed my paws a little, made sure my digitigrade stance was firm but flexible, and exhaled.

Two _..._ One...

My boots slammed into the flat surface, my senses accelerated, and I crouched into a near-sitting position as I tried to balance out the sudden deceleration. It worked surprisingly well, and as I drew my next breath, I'd come to a standstill next to the exit.

The noise of my landing still reverberated through the tunnel as I grabbed hold of the nearby railing, leaned forward, and peered out.

There was a raccoon hybrid staring back at me, and my nose wiggled as I sniffed the air. Female, stressed, though happily amused... A hint of coffee wafted in the air, and her rich body odor made it clear that she hadn't showered for days.

I couldn't help but smile, and my tail picked up the pace as well. It didn't feel as if I was starved for social interaction, but there was a certain relief in meeting something other than Boreas' orderly if rather mechanical aura. In comparison, her presence drummed with a chaotic and lively flair.

Her petite nose lifted with a bemused smirk, and her brow perked as some unknown thought crossed her mind, "Impressive, but reckless."

I recognized her voice in an instant. It was the same as the one I'd spoken to on the ship.

"Emma," I said, and felt as my smile grew to bare my fangs.

My back was facing the umbilical windows, and she was standing on the floor outside of it. In other words, I was facing her at a 90-degree angle. Something bugged my mind about it, something more than the odd positioning.

Her smile grew into a mischievous grin, and she placed one hand on her hip as if waiting for me, "Have you noticed yet?"

I stared at her... and began to realize what she meant. The natural look of her fur, the way in which her uniform settled on her body with a natural snug fit. My eyes caught on a nearby strand of black fur. It danced in the air along the edge of the umbilical, and then...

It fell... The small strand passed through the exit, and it fell to the ground where Emma was standing. For a moment it was as if my mind threw up an error message. That something had gone so terribly wrong that the only explanation could be that I was in a simulation of some sort.

No... I knew what a simulation felt like. What it was like to dive into a virtual world.

This was real.

I blinked, and my smile faded as I tried to comprehend what was happening mere inches away from me. Emma stifled a chuckle, and stepped back in a move that was clearly dominated by gravity.

"... How?" I whispered, and raised my hand as I reached out to the invisible border between us.

As I extended my claw beyond the edge, I could feel it. The tug of gravity.

"It's complicated..." Emma said.

Slowly, I nudged myself off the platform I'd landed on, and rotated myself so that I faced Emma. She watched with a silent but amused grin as I pushed myself forward.

A stomp followed as my boots were sucked to the ground, and the rest of me followed as I stumbled out in front of her. Relief and a sensation of 'rightness' was quick to wash over me. My insides settled, my fur fell into place, and my clothes hung properly once more.

"Mmhm," I hummed with a loud murmur, "I didn't realize how much I missed gravity."

Emma nodded, raised one hand, and took turns pointing up and down, "You can thank the plates in the floor and ceiling. The techs don't like us calling it gravity plating, but..."

I stood tall and couldn't help but loom as she lifted her gaze, "I wasn't even aware there was a theory on how to manipulate gravitons like this..."

Emma huffed, "That's because it's not related to gravitons... This technology and several others are all made possible thanks to low-intensity jumpfields, the same tech that brought you here."

"Oh, and what is that exactly? I did see a reference to something called a Gravimetric Control Field earlier," I said and tipped my head as I leaned closer.

"That is the technical name for it," Her movements stopped while she was still pointing at the ceiling, "But I don't have a good answer beyond that, simply because we don't know."

A hum escaped my throat as my grin grew, "You would not believe how many questions I have..."

Emma motioned to the hallway and nodded slowly, "Then let's talk as we walk..."

I glanced back at the docking bay and saw that the ship's cargo bay had now opened up. Large gantries were moving into position, and I imagined it wouldn't take long before Athena was being hauled out.

With a nod, I faced Emma once more and started walking.

She glimpsed up at me and raised one hand quizzically, "Your profile is an interesting read. Is it true that you actually met Maxwell?"

At this point, I'm still not sure how much I should reveal...

I made a half-hearted shrug, "Did I physically meet the proverbial god of Sophos? No... Did I have a one-on-one conversation with him over a neural link? Yes... Though he didn't reveal much about the colony."

Emma looked back in front and felt along her short muzzle while humming, "Right, in other words, your mission to keep watch over Athena came straight from the source."

I lowered my voice a little, "In a way... He did ask me to take care of her."

"Ah, and how much do you know of our new colony?" Emma asked.

"Boreas--the Expert System on the ship--told me that the colony is 62 years old, showed me a general map, and gave me a few details about the planet's eccentric orbit," I said.

"The basics, in other words..." Emma said.

I motioned with my hand, "You are aware that Maxwell has 'resigned' from his role of watching over Sophos?"

She looked to me once more, but this time it was a glance of unease, or... uncertainty, "... We have heard the same from recent arrivals, but a lot of us doubted it... That said, no one has heard from Maxwell in over a month, so at this point we can only assume that it's true. That said, his orders still hold weight, and I'd advise that you lean on them until Sophos is stable once more."

"Hmm," I murmured, "I'll keep that in mind, now... Tell me about everything."

Emma let out a quick sigh, and faced the hallway once more, "Very well, let's start by giving you an idea of how people ended up here in the first place."

I smirked to myself as I nodded, "I've been wondering that..."

Emma motioned to her chest and her gaze wandered off, "I was always the curious sort, and that's what ended up bringing me here... about twenty years back."

"How?" I wondered.

She smiled to herself with a sigh, "I got too close to one of Maxwell's secret projects, and I didn't stop when I was gently told to. Thus, I was given two simple choices... Either get put in suspended animation, or start working for the secret project I'd been investigating."

I leaned a little closer to her, "That's surprisingly aggressive... Maxwell usually acts with more discretion."

Emma's cheeky grin returned as she gave me a glimpse, "Maxwell's agent told me that people with my personality couldn't be trusted to keep such secrets if I remained on the planet..."

"And that's a good thing, hybrids should strive to not keep secrets," I said.

"Yes," Emma said, and reached up to scratch her nose, "and I'm sure you don't have any."

I chuckled, "True, there is a certain hypocrisy here... Not only from Maxwell's actions, but also how those actions have forced us to act, even now... But the important thing is how we shape the future now that he's no longer here."

"Agreed, but this is not something that will be resolved in a day or two," Emma said.

I nodded, "Now that you know what Maxwell was up to, do you agree with his methods?"

Emma huffed, "Truth be told, I think we're only scratching the surface regarding Maxwell's secrets, but to answer your question... If the humans on Earth had found out that we were planning to flee the planet, then you and the others probably wouldn't be here."

"True," I murmured.

"Moving on," Emma whispered, "I thought that I'd end up working on Earth's moon, in the depths of Maxwell's secretive base. Imagine my surprise when the ship made a sudden turn, jumped over 120 light years, and dropped me off on the planet below."

I stifled a chuckle, "The news of this colony caught everyone by surprise, me included. Were you alone on your trip here, or..."

Emma smirked, "Free information flow is one of the fundamental pillars in Sophos, that makes it difficult to keep secrets, even if you're some kind of god-entity. As such, no... I was not alone. There were about a dozen of us, all of whom managed to peer beyond the veil in our own ways."

"Ah, I see..." I whispered.

We were approaching a closed bulkhead, and Emma kept nodding as she walked up to its control panel. She reached out to a button along the console, but stopped as if realizing something, "It's noisy past this bulkhead, so let's just stay here for now."

Lots of people in the main hall, I assume...

Emma looked back and motioned to our surroundings, "Two years ago, this ring did not exist."

"... Really?" I wondered and perked my brow.

"It's true. I still remember the day when a colleague of mine came running, barely able to believe what he was seeing in the night sky."

Emma motioned with her fingers as if pointing to the sky, "I ran outside, looked up, and saw a ship that was big enough to look like the moon. Over a period of weeks, it spun the core of this ring, and then it jumped out of the solar system. A fleet of smaller ships constructed the stations, and one of them--the one we're standing inside--started churning out a space elevator that connected to the new capital."

"Spire?" I asked.

Emma smirked as if embarrassed, "Yes, the Spire... Sophos retains its fondness for simple descriptors."

"And you have no more information about these massive construction ships? Crew? Size? Technology?"

Emma shook her head, "No. We did have Scrappy... the observation platform in low orbit, but that one was aimed at the surface. By the time we'd assembled proper telescopes, all of the constructions ships had left."

"And what happened then?" I wondered.

Emma's smile grew, "The doors to the space elevator opened up one day. No messages, no manual, no anything... We explored, and we claimed the ring as part of Sophos."

"And what about all the systems onboard? Surely this installation has a huge variety of Expert Systems built into it?" I wondered.

Emma drew a deep breath, and her gaze wandered to the button she was about to push, "That brings us to one of the biggest limitations of this colony, and what Maxwell did tell us..."

"Yes?" I wondered.

She motioned to me with her free hand, "Expert Systems bring order to hybrids. They maintain the complex administrative web that we require to function as a civilization. But high-level Expert Systems are not without their own flaws... They depend on us to provide the input they need to remain stable, and keep them from drowning in what is otherwise a sea of rampancy."

I nodded slowly, "I know of the concept, though-"

Emma interrupted, "But that was never a problem on Earth, because you, the humans, and the circumstances provided more than enough input that such issues could never arise."

"... But here, there was nothing like it," I whispered.

Emma's shoulders slouched a little, "Not enough people, not enough infrastructure, not enough of anything... The first settlers had nothing more than provisions, a few auto-factories, and the kind of droids that work well on an assembly line... not so much an alien world."

"Sounds like they had their work cut out for them," I said, forcing a smile.

"Yes, and it's made worse by the fact that most of them expected to end up working on some secret facility on Earth's moon, not that they'd end up preparing this planet for Sophos' entire population..."

"Ah..." I whispered as my ears folded back, "So there might be a bit of lingering resentment?"

Emma tipped her head, "I wouldn't call it resentment exactly, it's more like... Well, the situation is complicated, but I'm sure you'll figure that out on your own."

"Ah, and-"

Her gaze drifted to the windows, and I glanced back to look at the ship. Athena's core had now been lifted out of the ship, and it was slowly heading toward a large bulkhead while accompanied by a variety of drones.

"There's not much time left," Emma whispered and caught my attention once more, "We had to pause parts of the space elevator to accommodate the size of Athena's core, and there are thousands of hybrids on the station, all of them eager to reach the planet..."

"The station looked massive from outside..." I said.

Emma made a slow nod and pushed the button on the control panel. The bulkhead behind her opened in a near instant, and she motioned for me to follow. The room was rather small, had one big screen to the left, a set of lockers to the right, and what looked like an airlock straight ahead. We entered, and the bulkhead shut behind us with a loud woosh.

"What's this?" I asked and motioned to the room.

"Security and decontamination room," Emma said, as a tingle washed over my body.

A loud chirp was heard, and the big screen to the left showed a red alert.

Emma walked up to it, and I followed as the screen filled with more information. It showed what looked like our body scans, and mine had been lit up as it showed my skeletal structure along with the considerable changes brought on by the Zephyr.

If I hadn't seen it before, I'd have been alarmed by the almost spiderlike construction that had merged with my spine and spread its tendrils throughout my body.

Emma drew a deep breath and idly fidgeted with her hands as she looked over at me, "I can see that Maxwell saw fit to give you one of the prototypes."

I couldn't help but squint as I made an awkward smile, "I am relieved that I don't have to explain what it is, yet again."

Her gaze wandered along my chest and wrists, almost as if she was eager to ask for a demonstration, but she held her tongue to avoid bothering me.

"Did you know that you have a rather unique uniform?" she asked.

I looked down at myself, the pure black uniform, and its cape, "I didn't have a clue..."

Emma stifled a chuckle and motioned to the lockers on the other side, "Might I interest you in a regular work uniform, one that'll help you blend in?"

I nodded, "That might be smart. You wouldn't have a backpack as well, would you?"

Emma stepped over to the other side and put her hand on a small silvery pad on the locker, "We do... Such things come in great use around here."

The locked clicked as it unlocked, and she opened it wide. Moments later, she was going through folded uniforms, "Canine... Feline... Other... Wolf... Here we go, Alpha variant."

"I hope you're not shy, or did you suggest this because you wanted a look?" I asked, and started working on loosening my uniform.

Emma faced me with a devilish grin as her black tail made a sudden lash, "If I didn't know your preferences, I'd take that as an invitation."

I eased the top off, folded it over my arm, and reached down as I fiddled with the trousers, "Oh, did my profile say that as well?"

She huffed and held out the new uniform, "Only if you read between the lines."

"Ah," I said, and let the trousers fall as I was left bare to the world.

Emma kept looking me in the eyes as I slipped out of my boots and reached out for the new uniform. The texture of it reminded me of the green Defense Force uniforms, the only difference being that this one was blue and had more pockets.

Once my midsection was covered, Emma lowered her gaze and leaned to the side as she looked me over, "Turn around, will you? I'm curious..."

"Hmm?" I murmured, but did as told.

"... Nary a trace. If you didn't know what to look for, no one would know you had a Zephyr."

I pulled the uniform over my back and slipped my arms into it, "That's a relief."

"Yes... The implants of old were rather grisly, and now we're on the threshold for so many changes at once. It's going to be a mess," Emma said.

"You think so?" I asked as Emma walked over to the big screen again.

"Oh yes... I've carried around more than enough toolkits for the Zephyr to be quite the dream come true... That said, I didn't expect it to be made of this material," Emma murmured as she studied the screen.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" I murmured and stepped closer to the screen.

She smiled a little and pointed to the screen, "Jumpfield technology brought about new ways to probe the universe, this being one of them..."

I motioned to the screen, "These seem oddly detailed for a doorway scan."

Emma nodded, "We're used to testing materials by shooting energy through them; with this kind of technology, we can point out a specific coordinate and get a readout from it."

My ears perked as I considered it, "I'm not seeing how that's possible, and the implications are immense. Is there any way to block it?"

Emma shrugged, "We're still learning how to replicate this technology for our own means, but we do know some of the practicalities bound to it... The biggest of which is that gravity--or something bound to it--interferes with the process."

"I assume it's something of a gradient?" I wondered, easing my boots on again.

"It is... The energy needed to use jumpfield technology rises exponentially with a rise in gravity, and the accuracy is affected as well," Emma answered as she dismissed the alerts.

She then pointed to the bottom row of the locker, "Don't forget your backpack."

I stepped over, grabbed one of the bigger backpacks, and looked back as Emma tapped a button next to the airlock.

There was a short hiss, and the airlock opened wide. Noise flooded into the room and a veritable rush of warm scents followed. My senses jumped as if sensing danger, and I peered into a giant bay filled with more people than I could count.

In one corner, there was a large pile of supplies, with droids that were busy unpacking and handing out the contents one by one. The bay was lined with large alcoves that I guessed would lead to the space elevator, and a lot of families had scattered along the edges, their expressions ranging from wonder to exhaustion. Some hybrids were carrying a uniform like the one I now wore, and they appeared busy with helping all the new arrivals.

Emma made a forced smile as she motioned to it all, "As said, things are chaotic."

Rather than walk out, I stayed in the relative calm of the bulkhead as I looked back at her, "Not to sound rude, but it seems a bit more chaotic than expected..."

Emma leaned close enough that she brushed shoulders with me, "That's because you're three years early. Apparently, something went wrong with the plan that was in place for Earth, but that's something you should know a bit more about, right?"

I thought back, and my lips tightened with the memories it brought back, "The human nations fucked with the plague and made it ten times worse... Sophos was turning into a purple wasteland as the evacuation started."

"I doubt any of them are alive at this point, and the humans that you did bring along in the evacuation won't be a problem for much longer," Emma said.

I stood tall as I looked at her in surprise, "Meaning what exactly?"

Emma seemed almost confused as she looked at me, "Out of 1,8 million brought here on the evacuation ships, only a few thousand are human, and many of them were willing to become hybrids... The ones that remain will be at the mercy of what medical help we can offer."

My ears folded back as I considered her words, "The radiation I experienced, would it be the same for every ship?"

"The reasons are complicated, but yes... Around two Sievert is the expected dose for such a trip."

"I see..." I whispered.

"Hybrids can deal with the radiation, even in suspended animation... but humans, the longer they stay like that, the worse it'll get. Doubly so for non-Sophos humans. Genetic degradation, neurological damage, and more... Even if we were able to keep them alive, they'll never be able to procreate without our assistance."

The end of a species... Worrying, but now's not the time...

Emma suddenly looked to the side with a distant stare, after a few moments, she blinked and seemed to snap out of it, "Athena's core is being lifted into position, you should get going."

I sighed, "I still have a great many questions, but I'm thankful for what you've given me so far."

Emma faced me and clasped her hands as she made a nod, "You have my thanks, Vilkas... Now, you should head to port 27. We've marked you as an administrator and the system will cooperate with your wishes."

This is not how things are usually done...

"That is most curious... Have you created a hierarchy among hybrids on this planet?" I said and fixated on her as I leaned closer.

Her smile widened in a forced gesture, " No , we have not... But certain measures were necessary. Now get going... and don't let anyone stop you."

"Hmm," I murmured, as I stepped up to the edge.

Emma raised her hand, "Some last-minute notes... The Archive isn't functioning, communications will be limited on the planet, and you'd better be prepared to live off the land, unless you'd prefer the rations..."

I said let my fangs show in a wolfish smirk, "I'll manage."

"I'm sure you will... Until next time, Vilkas," Emma answered, as she raised her hand to wave.

62 A.E. March 28, The Ring - Departure Hall

I walked with purpose and let the surroundings soak into me. To feel hundreds--if not thousands--of hybrids clustered like this made for a telepathic maelstrom.

It simmered in every direction, hope, frustration, and a bit of anger. They had all lost their homes and the dream of a green Earth was gone. We were the survivors of Earth's first collapse, the ones who broke free from human control, and we had built a technocratic--if isolationist--paradise for ourselves.

What were we now?

The collective weight of the telepathic noise forced me to raise my mental shield, and as the cacophony turned into whispers, other senses took over. The air was humid, the fans high above us were working overtime, and-

A droid stepped out from a crowd in front of me, and it seemed to take note of my presence. It faced me, and I could see my own reflection in its blank visor. The droid reached into a big bag it was holding, and I could hear its voice cut through the surrounding chatter, "You are new, and have not received a kit yet, correct?"

I slowed down to a halt and nodded.

"Wolf, basic sustenance pack," The droid said, and pulled out a small pack filled with rations, "If you require help, seek out one of the hybrids in uniform. Also, wireless networks in the departure hall are overloaded at the moment, and you are advised to use the physical interfaces."

"Thank you," I said and made a slow nod as I grabbed the bag.

Without a word, the droid turned and marched on as it disappeared into the crowd once more. Even among simple droids, these seemed particularly... hollow. I hummed to myself for a moment, and lifted the small bag to inspect its contents.

Nutrient bars... Bottle of water... Powdered soup... Berries... Crackers, and a bar of chocolate...

A pleasant surprise, but I'm not eager to carry a bag around...

I eased my backpack off and slipped the bag in. Now wasn't the time to eat, and for some reason, I didn't feel hungry either... despite a three-week-long hibernation.

While the ring was a marvel to be sure, the inside of the station was rather barren. No windows, nothing much in the terms of furniture or screens to offer information.

It felt unnerving, but there was a part of me that felt as if it could understand the reason why it had been left in this state. The Ring was part of the infrastructure needed to bring Sophos into the future, but what to make of that future, and how to shape it... that was up to us.

All of this was part of a blank slate.

I reached out with my mind, 'Boreas?'

In the murmur of the station's electronic chaos, it felt as if my signal had been lost in its depths.

Wireless networks seems to be having trouble, as said...

My gaze latched onto the glowing sign above a port further ahead, #27. It wasn't packed with people like the others, but a dozen or so seemed to have settled in wait of being processed.

I marched toward the port, carefully weaving around the standing groups, and set my sights on the control panels next to the port's bulkhead. The main display revealed little more than an environmental readout and a lockdown notice, but that's not what I was after. The silvery surface next to it--an interface for a neural link--that's what I needed.

I took a deep breath, relaxed, and raised my hand as I placed it flat on the silver surface.

It started with a tingle, and it grew into an electrical buzz. I shut my eyes as the electronic signal pulled on me, and the system revealed itself.

Usually a system like this would be orderly, if somewhat intense as thousands of Expert Systems were busy doing everything from collating data to predicting the future. Yet, this place was devoid of anything but static machinery. Programs with no spark of creation at all...

Despite its lacking functionality, some primitive part of it took note. It probed my profile, and a chatter followed as its security protocols talked with my own. After a few moments, I had passed the test, and the system opened its doors to me.

My sight grew, and I could feel the station expand around me. Underneath us were massive fusion reactors that worked tirelessly to create an enormous amount of power, most of it being funneled into the orbital ring's spinning core.

Why direct so much energy into it? I thought orbitals rings were pretty stable on their own...

It made little sense to me, but even as I probed the system for an answer, there was none to be found. It simply did not know why it provided so much power to the core, only that it must do so, no matter what.

The reactors themselves asked for fuel and maintenance, both of which were lacking. Things didn't get any better as I focused on the station itself. Almost all of it was dedicated to keeping the ring stable, and only a meager 3% had any sort of life support.

A variety of alerts, ranging from waste management to the wireless hubs in the departure hall, were complaining as well. Even the oxygen recyclers were being pushed to their limit.

Above the Departure Hall was Orbital Command, and I could sense their life signs as they scurried about on the floor, trying to manage systems that weren't exactly meant to be managed by hybrids in this fashion.

I pulled back a bit and had to focus my mind on the task at hand. Thus, I turned my attention to Athena's core and what lay beyond port #27. She'd been fitted into a large cargo pod, one that would ensure a proper environment during the descent. Attached to the pod's top was a maintenance module with support hardware, a few droids, and the bare minimum to house a few technicians.

The bay hadn't finished its preparation yet, and the crew manifest entailed one person... me.

Suddenly--arising from the depths within the system--I heard a familiar voice.

'There you are,' Boreas whispered.

'Here I am,' I thought.

'... I see you've already assessed the situation. Any problems?' Boreas asked.

'Emma gave me the feeling that something is amiss around here,' I thought.

'Agreed... Emma has returned to Orbital Command on the floor above, and I've been unable to access their internal archives. Hoarding data like that is most peculiar...' Boreas added.

I was about to answer as a distinct unease rose along my back, as if I was needed in the real world and my instincts had been riled, 'Keep at it, Boreas. I'm needed elsewhere...'

'Very well,' Boreas whispered, as his presence faded.

I pulled away from the system, and reality flooded my senses as I became aware of the noisy Departure Hall once more. My ears wiggled as they turned, and I could sense that someone had stepped up behind me. It was a wolf with a rather common blend of brown shades--though with red eyes, and another canine with a rather slim figure that reminded me of...

A hyena? No... Ears are too big and round... A painted dog? Cute...

Looming behind the two was a large motorized crate that hadn't been there before. I ignored the crate, glanced between the two of them, and settled on the wolf who eagerly met my gaze, "Can I help you?"

The wolf squinted as he made something of a forced smile while motioning to himself and his companion, "I'm Nick, he's Pax... We couldn't help but notice that you-"

Pax interrupted as he lifted his head, "- had access to the system, and that there are going to be free seats... including cargo space."

In the maintenance module, you mean?

I perked my brow as I shifted my gaze to the smaller canine, "And how did you know that?"

Nick threw Pax a sharp glance, "The environmental system, apparently."

A mischievous grin grew on Pax's face as his tail started wagging, "It keeps tabs on new arrivals and it's pretty easy to spot anomalies, like a giant cargo pod and a maintenance module."

I kept my doubtful stare, "And I assume that the two of you want to catch a ride in the module?"

Pax smirked, "It would be a waste to travel alone, no?"

I lifted my hand to point at the big cargo crate, "And that thing?"

"Data storage devices, big and clumsy, but inert," Pax said, meeting my gaze.

Nick leaned closer and nodded as if adding a point, "We can help as well."

I leaned back a little, "Help with what exactly?"

Nick's smile dropped, and his ears perked as if surprised, "Well... Uh."

"In case something goes wrong," Pax added.

"You know your way around these systems?" I asked, and let my gaze drop to Pax.

"Better than you, most likely," Pax said in haste.

"In other words, you're not new arrivals, but you're not part of Orbital Command either?" I asked.

Nick leaned back as if surprised, "We're not... but so what?"

There is something distinctly off about all this...

"So, what are you doing on the station?" I asked, then focused on Nick.

Nick appeared stunned for a moment, then motioned to the motorized crate, "Moving... cargo."

Pax stared at Nick for a moment, ears wiggling, then turned to focus on me, "We can't abandon the drives, and the Space Elevator is prioritizing people. You're the first chance we've had all day to get on a cargo pod..."

I looked back at Nick, feeling as every red flag was being hoisted in my mind, "I... see."

Pax crossed his arms and grew a big frown, "Oh, I see what this is, you don't _ trust _ us."

"I didn't say that," I retorted.

Despite his shorter stature, Pax stepped closer as if trying to stare me down, "Oh, but it is... There's an intrinsic trust between hybrids, but that's backed up by the system as a whole... The eternal archives, the telepathic network, Athena and the other Prime AIs. We've been separated from that system for several decades, and now you wonder if we still share in Sophos' great unity."

Correct, but harsh...

I drew a deep, slow breath, and could feel a nervous twitch in my tail.

Nick motioned to me with one hand in an open gesture, "We just want to get off the station, like everyone else, OK?"

Emma was hiding something... These people are hiding something... So what do we have here?

I'm sorry, but whatever it is, dangerous or not, I don't have the luxury to trust you right now...

I inched back a little, glanced to the ground along my right, and saw one of the groups that had settled here to wait their turn. Deer hybrids, a mother and father, along with what I assumed was their son... a human recently turned hybrid, with sparse fur and a generally confused appearance.

All three of them met my gaze as I spoke up, "Want a ride to the surface?"

The parents rose in a near instant and gave the others a quick glance, "Yes, we would."

I made a slow nod as I looked back at Nick and Pax, "I'm afraid the maintenance pod is full."

Pax rolled his eyes as he walked off in silence, but Nick appeared as if I'd slapped him in the face and left him hanging. His ears hung low, and he lowered his gaze with a nod as he stepped back. It tugged on my heart as I saw the reaction, but the decision had been taken. As the two walked off, the large crate followed in their wake.