So it won’t answer whether it released the lock on the Khul ship or not? Gehenna asked as she carried over the plate of pizza rolls.
Every single one had been speared through by a pincer. The red sauce looked like blood. It appeared like a pizza roll massacre had occurred, but Jace popped one in his mouth even though it was way too hot and he had to chug some Coke to cool it off.
No, it won’t, Jace finally said to her. Which is an answer in and of itself.
Would you have gone to address the Hive? The Osiris asked.
Jace’s eyes narrowed. He’d been ignoring direct questions from the ship for some time. But this question was like a red flag to a bull.
Yes, I would have. Which you would have known if you’d talked to me about it, Jace said, grinding his back molars together.
It had to be destroyed within a certain timeframe. I could not risk interference in this, the Osiris said in that sexless, nearly inflectionless way.
That’s not your call. I’m the Pilot. You’re the ship. You don’t get to decide things for me or Khoth or anyone else! Jace snapped. You did not just put me at risk, but Khoth and Gehenna too! You are not the boss of me. Nor of them.
The mission–
There are boundaries and limits. You don’t cross them, Jace said, and he felt that there might be a way to place those boundaries upon the AI.
Oooooh! You can! There are levels of permission! Gehenna nearly tossed the tray of Hot Pockets up in the air in her excitement. The Osiris has the highest level right now because you were just produced, but you can change that!
There was a yawning silence from the Osiris, which just like its previous silence, said quite a bit. Jace considered what he wanted to do. He could punish the Osiris and take away some of its freedom, but that would place more responsibility on his shoulders and, at the moment, he felt quite incapable of dealing with any more. Or he could forgive the Osiris this one time. Knowing the terrible things that were going on in the Hive, Jace could very well understand the Osiris’ need to get him on mission without delay or objection.
I’m going to chalk this interaction with you up to us not knowing one another, Osiris, Jace stated. I’m going to leave you with full permissions, but that will change if you act without consulting me on something like this again.
Understood, the Osiris said with more alacrity than usual. He sensed it was relieved he hadn’t bound it. Will you return to the ship now?
That was a little eager, too.
No, I’m staying here for the night, Jace said.
There was a long silence. He knew the Osiris did not like this. It wanted him on board, in his rightful place.
Do you not want to explore your quarters? The Osiris asked, and Jace’s right eyebrow went up.
Nice try. But I can do that tomorrow. I need… Jace popped another one of the skewered pizza rolls in his mouth, time. I’ll be back tomorrow. Now, I’m going to focus on Khoth.
That will not be possible, the Osiris stated.
Why? Jace frowned.
“What is wrong?” Khoth asked and immediately reached for his rahir where he’d laid it down by his side.
Khoth’s suit’s comm was already lighting up even before Jace could say, “You’re mother has arrived.”
A Pilot Without A Ship?
Khoth followed Jace outside with Gehenna trailing behind them. Despite Jace’s current exhaustion, he had perked up at the arrival of the Thaf’ell squadron headed by his mother’s Colossus-class ship, the Ashaton. The earlier heat of the day had retreated and the difference between air conditioned house and desert air was less abrupt than it had been when he’d arrived. Jace stared up at the crystal clear night sky.
“Will we be able to see the squadron?” Jace asked. His eyes glowed a brilliant neon blue and he cried out in delight, “Awesome! I actually have a HUD without the suit’s helmet! And I can–whoa! That’s one big ship!”
Khoth–who did not have a HUD without his helmet–quickly brought his helmet up and the Osiris–he presumed it was the Osiris–showed him what Jace was seeing. Apparently using a nearby satellite’s feed, they could see the long, rounded-rectangular body of the Ashaton, bristling with weapons. Alongside it were half a dozen Saber-class warships.
“The other ships look like babies around a big mama,” Jace chuckled.
“That is not altogether untrue,” Khoth replied. “The largest ship is the Ashaton. That is my mother’s ship.”
Jace flashed him a brilliant smile. “Your mom, huh? That’s going to be cool to meet her.”
