Nothing was visible through the thick layer of water. No matter how long she stood with head raised, everything seemed so... So... Opaque. And she so wanted to see the Ancient ship depart! Several times she saw Wraith ships do it.
A dim glow appeared in the sky. Just for a short moment, but it was beautiful. True, after such, Kirik always said to hide quickly, for they'd come soon.
Now they were safe. He said so. And the girl got used to believing her savior.
On the balcony adjoining the city control point, it was cold. So to not freeze, Selise wrapped in a warm blanket. She didn't think Kirik would scold her for taking the item from his room. He rarely scolded her at all—only when her actions could lead to mortal danger. First for herself.
So he'd more likely scold for going to the balcony than stealing from his bed...
She didn't finish the thought—a door leading to the city control level hissed open behind. The girl, though understanding it impossible, couldn't hold back a joyful and hopeful cry:
"Kirik!"
However, turning, she understood she was wrong.
"Not quite," Chaya said, approaching the girl. The Ancient stood beside, mirroring her action.
Selise watched how the beautiful young woman she quietly admired now stood with head raised, just like Selise did a minute ago.
"When I was little, I loved coming here and looking at the night sky," the Ancient said unexpectedly. "Seems... What's unusual in that? Light of distant hydrogen and helium clumps compressed by magnetic fields, and endless vacuum... From physics viewpoint, admiring them is utterly meaningless. And especially enjoying them close without protective gear. In vacuum, you'll die from lack of oxygen, and stars... Approach without powerful shields, and you'll die faster from stellar radiation... But for millennia, they captivate inquisitive and passionate minds. I remember looking at stars on Proculus the day Lanteans came... I knew much about science, so wasn't too surprised when a pair of symmetrically placed 'stars' suddenly moved toward me, growing in size..."
Selise was silent, listening to the revelation. She didn't understand why the Ancient shared such info with her, but... Not even going to interrupt the story. And who would refuse to hear a story from an Ancient's life?
"They came to Proculus," Chaya smiled sadly. "I remember not being able to say a word. For I just assembled and launched a super-powerful transmitter—by my then notions, to contact other civilizations. I managed to connect to the Stargate in planetary orbit. As it turned out, that was exactly what they waited for to deem the race worthy of first contact. And so they came... Just like us. Led by General Hippaforalkus. He was so glad at what he saw. I remember how joyfully he told me our kind reached such development level that Lanteans wanted to meet us, accustom to high culture and knowledge accumulated over millions of years of development. Then the war with Wraith was in full swing, and... I didn't understand then, but Lanteans needed soldiers. And on my example decided we fit perfectly. And I... I was so impressed by his story of Atlantis, Ancients and such that didn't even think to explain how cruelly he was wrong. He wanted a whole highly developed race, but got only me... And deep distrust from other Ancients. I'll forever remember his words: 'You are my greatest achievement. And biggest mistake.'"
"Mistake?" the girl gasped. "But you're so... So... good! How could they think you're bad?"
"Good, bad," Chaya smiled sadly. "No difference. Important only who has the best technology. This rule held until the war. And became ironclad after Lanteans got burned on my people."
"Got burned?" Selise echoed.
"I was the first they met on Proculus," Chaya said. "General Hippaforalkus was so impressed by my knowledge, judgments, and views not only on science and surrounding world but human race spirituality that he immediately organized an outpost on the planet. He didn't listen to any subordinates, busy talking to me. We went to Atlantis, where to general rejoicing he told them of my achievements. He was their hero, best at everything. They believed him unquestioningly. No wonder they were inspired by his story then. For I was one of the first to join them among young races. They made me Ancient and expected more and more Proculians to join their thinning ranks... And how great their disappointment when of thousands of my compatriots, only I fit their development criteria. They were furious, but could do nothing. They broke their rule—not to interfere in primitive races' development, and couldn't take it back. Lanteans dreamed of an army, got only me."
"But... why were they angry at you, not themselves? After all, they were wrong."
"When you live a thousand or more years, hard to admit mistakes," Chaya sighed. "Especially when you're the most advanced race in several nearest galaxies. I tried to show them my people deserved to follow the path I trod... But nothing came of it. I did much to make them understand—low civilization development isn't a sentence. That other humans too deserve to join junior races. But they were unrelenting. Due to my insistence, I was exiled from Atlantis. I joined one junior race and until the end tried to show I'm not a black hole among young stars..." Chaya darkened. "But only made worse. I was exiled again, without possibility to leave Proculus. I could do nothing when Wraith came. And no one helped me stop it all..."
"And the general... Hippo... Hippa... Grippa..."
"Hippaforalkus died in the war's height. His ship was lured into ambush and captured. Thanks to that, Wraith got Lantean power sources, allowing new tactics. He managed to ascend, become pure energy. And helped me do the same when my world was attacked. I got power to destroy Wraith... And I did, though warned. I saved only a few... And was isolated from all. Exiled for the third time..."
"You remember this?" Selise wondered. "Kirik said you remember nothing since Ancients disappeared."
"I don't remember," Chaya admitted sadly. "But I can encrypt large data packets in seemingly simple text. Probably my fate—to create false impressions. Soon others will understand... And hate me."
"Not true!" Selise declared. "You're good!"
"Maybe," Chaya smiled, stroking her head. "But no matter how I try, it will happen... Soon other Ancients will arrive here... And they'll want to settle scores with me... Now nothing will stop them..."
"Misha will protect you!" Selise said confidently. "And Kirik! And Alvar!"
"Fear this will be the last they do," Chaya sighed. "Though I don't remember everything from Ascension, but... Some things unchanged. They won't forgive what I did. Then they spared me because war and needed scientists. But now... Against arrivals, I mean nothing. Mikhail and others simply won't have chance to save me. That's why I need to leave."
"Leave⁈" Selise rounded eyes. "No-no-no! You mustn't leave! Kirik said you'd take care of me!"
The girl rushed to the young woman, hugged her, and pressed with her whole body.
"Don't, don't leave! I'll tell them not to touch you! I'll tell how good you are!"
"My little one," the girl felt a soft warm hand pass over her hair. "In life there are moments when need to make decision on which others' well-being depends... Now I need to leave. Then Mikhail, Kirik, Alvar, and even you won't have to choose—future well-being or me."
"Don't leave! Promise, I'll never-never-never touch anything in your lab again! Honestly-honestly!"
Selise felt her hands gently but unrelentingly unclasped. Chaya squatted before her and kissed her tear-wet cheeks.
"Don't seek problem in yourself," Chaya asked. "You're not to blame. No one is, except me. Thought I could keep my secret, but... Turned out I'm not smart enough to overcome one man's stubbornness. So to avoid negative consequences, I must leave."
"I'll go with you!" Selise declared. Not so much from great love for the Ancient, but because staying alone in empty city scared her to animal cramps.
"Fear that's impossible," Chaya said.
"But I'll be alone!"
"Not for long," the Ancient assured. "I understand you're scared. But I'll make you strong and it will pass."
"Make strong?" Selise blinked.
"Exactly," Chaya straightened and offered the girl her hand. "Come. You need to learn much before I leave."
Kirik's ward, sniffling, grabbed the Ancient's hand like a lifeline. And silently trudged into the city that now seemed even more scary and repellent to her.
*
By the second day, all gloss and euphoria from hyperspace flight gone. Enthusiastic attitude to moving faster than light on a ship built by ancient civilization, in universe I still considered mere sci-fi invention, vanished.
And turned into routine.
Hard bunk in command cabin. Confined space, feeling like a sardine in a can...
Not how I imagined human star travel.
However, others didn't share my pessimism. Except Alvar for whom flights in airless space weren't out of ordinary, the crew didn't peel from viewports. Athosians argued what exactly they saw beyond ship: divine light or ungodly?
I preferred not to tell about Doppler effect.
The ship and its automation worked perfectly, and respect for Chaya's work arose inside me. Yes, Ancients too great, built wonderful ship functioning after ten thousand years. But thanks to Chaya's efforts, this battleship returned to life.
Of seven flight days, last five turned into torment for me. Rise, hygiene, run decks of Hippaforalkus, thoughts that this long and hard-to-pronounce ship name got to me, push-ups, jumps from deck to bed edge, another run... Never thought I'd start exercising just because bored.
By fifth travel day, it bored everyone except several Athosians. With me on runs now were both Runners, Teyla... For variety, I learned fighting techniques Kirik and Alvar could show me.
Tried doing Athosian folk martial arts with Athosians. Something between demonstrative-ceremonial Japanese duels and aikido. Don't know why they thought in real fight piercing gaze and full detachment from emotions valued, plus ritual circling with opponent, but each goes crazy his way.
Much closer were Kirik and Alvar's skills. Strength, agility, strikes to pain points, one hundred seventy-five ways to break opponent's arm and kill with own fingers. Short and man-simple. Like sambo or karate I did in childhood and youth. Just without "ki-ya!" yells and leg strikes from which daddy's drool into boots.
Closer to flight end, I even started doing decently... falling to floor without hitting head on bulkheads. Though Alvar said against unprepared human I have good chances. Kirik less abusive in teaching, focused, so in his martial arts resembling sambo close in spirit to me, I succeeded a bit.
Sound signal of approaching destination sounded just when I almost caught the Runner and threw him over shoulder. But distracted—result, threw me over shoulder.
"Siren," Kirik determined, freezing with fingers pair before my eyes. By his philosophy and experience, these organs regenerate slowest in Wraith. And in humans—don't regenerate at all. So, whatever, "finishing" with blinding universal technique. "Something broke?"
"No," I rose and arched my bruised-from-fall back. "We arrived at Aurora. Half hour—and exit hyperspace."
"Need to prepare," Kirik said.
Agreed.
I managed to tidy up and change before second siren—five-minute readiness. By then, I occupied command chair place on bridge.
Located on small podium, towering over other workstations, it gave great view through viewports. And from here I could launch almost any Ancient combat ship systems.
But first interested me scanners.
Long-range like on Atlantis or Taranian outpost absent aboard Hippaforalkus. But detect objects in good radius from self ship could.
And... Chaya was right.
No smell of Wraith ships here. Can relax and not prepare for sprint to compartment from where can launch self-guided projectiles.
"Exiting superluminal," I reported a minute before it should happen.
Besides Kirik, Alvar, and Teyla, all Athosians gathered in main bridge. Thanks to ship systems, I could track Koschei's location aboard starship. And thanks again to Chaya—his life sign excellently differed from human. As far as remember, neither scanners nor similar systems on Ancient starships in known events could boast such quality.
Slight hull-wide tremor hardly felt. But it, and white-green energy cloud appearing on our path at tunnel end, became indicators Hippaforalkus finally reached goal.
Hippaforalkus exits hyperspace.
The battleship returned to real space several tens of thousands kilometers before target. Must assume Chaya specially programmed ship so it wouldn't "dock" already beaten-by-life Aurora. But think she well understood I couldn't dock ships myself without one crumbling from collision with other.
Caring lady...
"Something I see nothing," Kirik admitted.
"As do I," Teyla almost jumped out of boots trying to discern something against impenetrable black space. Unfortunately, Athosian unaware ship not star, and can't simply spot in open space.
"We're still far from it," I explained, mentally commanding small map to screen. True, wanted on nearest to other sentients monitor, but worked only on one built into wall near auxiliary panels. "We'll close in ten minutes. Launching approach program."
Display didn't abound in big details. Something like radar screen, just without sweeping clockwise trace. But space between center Hippaforalkus mark and approaching small icon labeled in Ancient as Aurora divided into squares.
Hm... Saw radar screens couple times. Very similar. Coincidence our tech so similar in embodiment and design to Ancient, or proper considering humanity created by Ancients?
Hippaforalkus moved toward Aurora. Mind recalled problem about two cars rushing at each other at different speeds. In our case, maximum sublight ancients engines could squeeze powered only by ship generators. While Aurora flew by inertia. As got movement impulse ten (or so) thousand years ago, so didn't manage to brake. And how, if ship uncontrolled by crew, and medium resistance in vacuum so negligible can neglect?
Already in nine and half minutes, close enough to see ship in all its "glory."
"Oh, ancestors!" Athosians exclaimed almost simultaneously. But to their men's credit, only Teyla covered face with hands.
"What happened to it?" New Athos leader squeezed out.
"Battle it escaped clearly hot," Alvar said with admiration tint. "So much destruction... And it didn't fall apart over all passed time."
"And keeps flying," Kirik added quietly. "Ancestors knew how to build!"
Can't disagree—despite frankly pitiful look, Aurora impressed. Ten thousand years ship moved through space and time, damaged in fierce battle. But as far know from known events, continued holding hundreds of its aged crew in stasis. If pull from stasis pods, they hardly even understand what happened over that time.
"It differs greatly from our ship," Teyla said, looking at me.
Well imagine, Captain Obvious in action. Add "Duh!" at end. And straight close to original.
"You figured that from Aurora lacking front part entirely?" Kirik asked. "Or because our ship intact, and it," he jabbed at mangled giant, "not?"
Teyla, dark eyes flashing, silent. With Alvar she has good relations, but with other former Runner... Yeah. Though girl good in all senses. But sometimes seems she secretly sips brake fluid.
Fine, later. Now more suitable task for us.
Aurora... Can't look without tears. Combat ships built with pre-planned strength limit. And it's orders magnitude higher than research ships. In this starship case, more than sure no one remade it after redesignation to combat ships.
Nose part of this type battleships like angular ball or drop adjoining main ship part. On Aurora... Yeah, no living place! Nose part absent, as if big angry child tore from hull! Hull plating torn, many places holed. Some places even noticed through holes. Sticking all directions construction farms and metal beams turned it into ugly flower. Like those armature sculptures and compositions I saw in previous life.
Some places on hull preserved dark-red facing. As far as managed familiarize with Ancient fleet data, so colored ships with military purpose. Well, as colored... Simply hull metal had reddish tint. And used where needed to armor most important ship places.
Neural link with Hippaforalkus systems gave idea docking basically impossible. Tried launch Chaya-written algorithm, but onboard computer refused. Good at least performed approach maneuver and let ships lie on parallel courses. Well at least didn't tell to fuck off while I tried launch docking five times.
Simultaneously hard and easy live in times when spaceships smarter than crew. On return need quit this. Period. Enough ballast in team for me.
And least I want is be it myself. This expedition already showed best I can hope if not shooting— "cut tasks" to Chaya. Only now realized how stupid it all looked.
I more genetically developed than her, but girl knows and can more than me. And simply obeys me as representative of less developed, junior race, Lantean. Kind of genetic authority.
Soul soured. Leader should be best among his people—at least in my understanding. At least in something. And not only because his genetics better than others.
"Docking impossible due to Aurora damage?" Teyla clarified.
"Yes," didn't go into details.
"Need contact Chaya and ask advice," Kirik suggested.
Ancient battleship Aurora.
"Not bad option," approved, pondering in mind how better realize my idea. "Just subspace link will give us away immediately. We can fend off one wave, maybe second. But what then? We have tasks here not for one day, so no need attract Wraith attention early."
"So what to do?" Teyla asked. "Return to Atlantis and ask Chaya solve problem, then return?"
Exactly what I pondered. Too much I offloaded on sole Ancient's shoulders. No wonder she snapped. I treated her not as comrade, but subordinate to execute orders and not ask questions.
Girls they are even among Ancients. What she told—about other Ancients' rejection, plus my consumer attitude. How long she got used to thought as soon as other Ancients appear in city, she'll be "erased" and sent somewhere to Athos deal with remaining outpost there? Or further to Wraith on outskirts?
"No," I replied after pondering. "We don't have much time to buzz around galaxy. Ship can be discovered. Problem solve independently."
"Interesting how, if can't even dock to Aurora?" Alvar asked.
"Well, and EVAs for beauty what?" I asked. Judging by Ermenian's face, I planted in him not most positive thoughts.
More to come...