I skillfully hide the precious object where I kept its copy and slump back into the chair, just in time for Farid to find me half-asleep where he left me a few minutes earlier.
“Hey man, you dead?” he slurs.
“What? Oh... I think I'm done for!” I announce in a regretful tone. “I'm gonna head out...”
“OK. I'm going to bed too!” he says, escorting me to the access ramp leading to the spaceport.
We stagger to the exit, leaning on each other. At the bottom of the ramp, I turn to him, hesitating.
“Where'sh my bunk again?”
“Isn't it that one?” he slurs, pointing with his finger to the spaceship parked two spots to the right of his.
“You're right!” I confirm, looking surprised. “Farid, you're a bro! Thanks, buddy!”
“Shee you tomorrow?” he asks.
“Nah, I'm outta here ash soon ash I'm able.”
To be honest, I could leave CS-8 right now, but I have to keep up the act. So I'm going to do as if I'd really gone on a bender with a fellow smuggler, go and join SIL, my personal spationef, spend the night there, and leave without haste, after a good night's rest. IfFarid decides to check his secret compartment, which I doubt since I've left it a mess, he won't find anything strange because I've put everything back the way I found it.
At the foot of SIL, my flying home for the past two years, I activate the lowering of the access ramp using the control box built into my left wristband. I climb the ramp, but not too quickly, since I don't want to disappear completely from the outside world.
As soon as the airlock closes, my demeanor changes. Following standard procedure, I address the onboard AI, Artificial Intelligence:
“SIL, it's me! Any information to report?”
As expected, the AI responds in its standardized mechanical voice:
“Welcome aboard the SIL, how can I assist you?”
“Were there any visitors during my absence?”
“Welcome aboard the SIL. Would you like to initiate a departure maneuver?”
In reality, my AI has two levels of access: a generation 5 interface, outdated but the most commonly used in the Coalition. However, the generation 8 interface, the latest with the newest features, is accessible to only a handful of individuals, even within the Intergalactic Confederation. It can be activated with a single command:
“SILMAR, it's me, Pherebos, ID 215.”
The proper phrase combined with my voice print immediately validates this much more sophisticatedversion, unlike the decoy activated whenever I leave the ship.
My spaceship is a former smuggler's vehicle, confiscated many years ago by the Intergalactic Confederation and fully repurposed for infiltration missions. It may look a bit outdated compared to the latest generation of ships, but it is secretly equipped with numerous upgrades that are accessible only when I request them. This is why the procedure requires me to start by questioning the AI in a standard manner, in case I am being coerced or accompanied, before activating the special super-SILMAR code.
Once this process is completed, the familiar tone of my dear Silmarwen resonates in the cabin. I have configured my AI to use the beloved voice of my adoptive sister. I haven't seen her in over two years, and I miss her immensely.
“Welcome, Pherebos. How was your evening?”
“Long, but fruitful. Any news?”
“You've had three visitors, who made it all the way into the ship and gave it the once-over. Well, only the parts they were supposed to see, of course.”
“What species were they? Did they share any interesting info?”
“There were two Humans and a Vendor. They questioned me about your previous whereabouts and the location of Asgarne. I told them we came from CS-2, without mentioning our stops, of course. I also assured them that my internal memory had been reset when you took possession of the ship. I recorded theirconversations if you want to listen, but there's nothing particularly interesting that might concern you.”
“Okay, go to level 2 alert. I'm going to take a shower. That won't be a luxury.”
As I suspected, SIL, my ship (yes, I renamed it SIL after my dear Silmarwen, much more pleasant than its former name "ROVER" given by its previous owner) was visited during my absence. I'm not particularly worried about it; this always happens when I stay at one of the Coalition bases.
