“Fenrir, jam all outgoing signals and patch that in.” The message started with the familiar Strix United jingle and the main screen on the bridge went blue.
“No! Kill the video feed, show me the transcript!” Captain Rains’ orders overwrote the AI’s standard routines, and it did as it was told. The message projected unto the analysis screen. It started scrolling down as he read it. “HA!” He slapped the console in a fit of joy. “Gotcha, Wong.” The AI encrypted the message again and took it from the screen.
The captain leaned back in his seat and was very much pleased with what was coming. He closed his eyes and started thinking of all the gruesome details of his revenge. A smile slowly sprawled over his face, like the legs of a bird spider.
“Fenrir, start recording the signals broadcasted on the designated frequencies. Bounce Paine out of his bunk, and make me coffee.” Rains yawned and ruffled his blonde hair. He started thinking that he’d never get the chance to redeem himself. “Revoke all level B 20 permissions for Brack’s ID. Remove his login-history and cancel his pending requests. I won’t have him butting in.”
“Yes, sir,” the AI answered in a flat tone. The coffee machine came to life snorting and gargling like a choking man.
Minutes later a tall shadow, Lieutenant Paine, appeared in the doorway bubbling drunken zombie words. “Swhyamupnwhuusresponsble.” Rains pointed to the brewing machine. “Thankgd,” he shuffled towards the coffee, arms stretched out to welcome the dark burnt scent.
“I’m bored.” Rains said, as if to himself. Paine turned around eyeballing his captain. “Aren’t you sick of being stuck out here, freezing your dick off? Wanna go for a hunt instead?” That got his attention, he forgot his curled fingers in front of the full coffee can.
“Any hook?” Paine swallowed, they were Sleipnir’s emergency backup, but he was definitely interested. The captain behaved quite unusual, for the first time in six months, he seemed genuinely happy about something. Never a good sign. He inched his way towards the captain’s seat. Being forced to tail Sleipnir for half a year has been agonizingly boring, he admitted. For the captain it must have been hell, shadowing and monitoring the man who destroyed his life. This was going to be fun.
“No hooks,” Rains smirked, “and no survivors…”
Only hours later, just before virtual sunrise on Fenrir, a distress signal reached the ship, triggering the alarm.
“This is Sleipnir. Fenrir, do you copy? This is an emergency!” The male voice came in over all frequencies.
Rains punched a button and the alarm died.
*
It was dark and cold on the damaged Sleipnir. The AI on the ship scanned the nearest area, tracing every course it would be able to take. It did its best to power the life supporting systems. Both of its humans were safe for now. It calculated the possible surviving ratios and decided not to show the results to its captain.
“They are receiving the message,” it said instead.
Captain Wong bowed his head, buried his face in his palms. This was the worst possible thing to happen.
“Doctor Wellington’s vitals are stable. No signs of internal hemorrhage.” The AI scanned for the other AI in the vicinity. It sat on the northern hemisphere of Vesta, waiting for orders. It would take two hours to get to its current location.
Wong coughed slightly, with the smoke filtering through the ventilation. At least none of them was dying.
Yet.
“C’mon!” He waited. “Mayday! We had a critical accident!” No answer. Where was the cavalry? Wong’s stomach froze to a hard icy ball. “We need emergency evac! ASAP!” He looked at the unconscious doctor. He hit his head pretty hard. “Our oxygen will last for three hours. Fenrir! DO YOU COPY?” The com remained silent. The instruments showed, that the transmission has been received.
“FENRIR! Dammit!”
*
Captain Rains sat alone in the dawn of the bridge, feet on the com console. He grinned and folded his fingers.
“What will you do now, Wong?” He chuckled softly. Behind him, a door slid open and closed. He felt someone, most likely Paine, move through the darkness. That was a man to his taste, a bad soldier but a good mercenary. Rains harrumphed and manned the mic.
“Fenrir here. That’s a no-can-do. Make yourselves comfy, cause that’s where you’re gonna stay.” Fenrir’s AI showed a simulation of Sleipnir’s position on the main screen. “We meet again, Wong.”
A gasp filled the air and the aether. “Rains? Is that YOU?!”
“Captain!” Brack shouted from wherever he was running towards the bridge. “Captain! Emergency!” His thumping feet nearly reached the doors. “Captain!” With a whoomph he seemed to collide with it. Rains rolled his eyes and sighed. The door skid open and a big hunched over shadow panted in the doorway.
“This is a distress signal. DAMMIT! MOVE YOUR ASSES OVER HERE!” Wong screamed.
“What did I tell you about second encounters?” Rains asked casually into the mic. Over his left shoulder Paine’s hand held out a cup of steaming coffee.
“Donno, I wasn’t listening. I was busy humping your mom!” Wong barked. The low growl in his voice couldn’t hide his despair.
“This is payback.” Rains shook his head. He took the cup and was surprised it was one of Paine’s.
“Captain, why are we ignoring emergency calls?” Brack breathed horrified.
“Stop pissing.” Rains stared into Brack’s confused face. Scans showed the vital damage to Sleipnir. Paine poked a finger at the analysis screen. “That’s their problem!“
pic: from movie: Prometheus
THE STORY HIVE 