The ship came out of hyper-drive on the edge of a star system encompassing seventeen planets of a size, and twenty-three that might be considered moons had they been orbiting any of the gas giants. Three of the planets harbored life forms, and two gave rise to intelligent life.  The rest of the system was a mess of asteroids, meteoroids, and gas clouds.

                “Rashor and Harloo," explained Gashi about the two that supported life of note. “The next module is on one or the other."

                Borlan smiled, knowing it was a false facade here in the computer program.

                “You don't remember which one you left it on?"

                “It is not that simple. Both planets have advanced species, and I made a pact that they would move it between them, to a non-repeating hidden location, over the course of such time until I came back for it. One cannot say on which planet it resides until I talk with them, for it was set to a random pattern."

                “Which you cannot do since you and I are both sitting together as mere electronic impulses within the ship's mainframe."

                “Thank you for stating the obvious."

                He made a magnificent bow.

                “You are most welcome."

                “There is no humor in this situation Borlan."

                “On the contrary. I find it extremely dangerous and yet somehow very funny. Here we are, stuck inside the circuits of the ship's computer system, and you need to go down to one or the other of these planets and discover who has your hidden treasure. Do you have any suggestions for finding a solution to this dilemma?"

                “I have fifty seven at the moment, though most of them rely on the use of my body. I believe your sentient artificial intelligence has a claim on it until she gets what it is she desires."

                “Can that happen?"

                “I explained that to you already."

                “Yes, but that's not what I'm asking. I'm in here, mentally. Can my body respond in the necessary manner?"

                She relented a little.

                “I see what you are asking. The answer is yes. The better question is whether or not your body is replicating its genetic code."

                “Excuse me?"

                “What do your people call it? Sperm… Yes, that's the term. You were essentially sterile when we met. It was the way they wanted you to be."

                “Yes, to be a better pilot."

                She smirked, a truly odd look when superimposed upon her present face.

                “Yes, to make you a better pilot. Please don't take this the wrong way, but that was hardly the reason. You were owned by the Sylyxus Corporation, were you not?"

                “Employed by, you mean."

                “Call it what you will. Your genetic makeup was the property of the corporation. Therefore, it was only by the curious happenstance of your superiority that you survived the blood fever that wiped out your planet of origin."

                “What does that have to do with my ability, or lack thereof, to successfully breed?"

                “They shut down that portion of your anatomy for two reasons. The first is as you say; it provides less distraction for you, seeing as your kind seems to be ever-ready to mate. I might adjust that to say at least in regards to the males. Secondly, if you did breed, you would be passing along the latest in recombinant genetic manipulation. To simplify matters; you could start your own master race without even being aware of it."

                “But I'm just a pilot!"

                “Yes. Only a pilot. Is that what you have always thought? That you were merely a biological guidance system for a freighter?"

                “But that's what I am!"

                “Only a small part of it. I see from going through your record log that you had a long jump planned to a planet called Treton 4."

                “Yes, The corporation home world."

                “Indeed. You were so busy guiding the ship that you never delved into the safeguarded records, did you?"

                “I wasn't aware there were any."

                “There is much in the system I would suggest you explore, but do so after you recover your body."

                “Why can't I do it now?"

                She pondered his question for a moment.

                “Chemical encoding of memories."

                “Excuse me?"

                She sighed.

                “It is how your species retains memories. Much of what you learned concerning the piloting of your ship was imprinted chemically, rather than having you learn it from wrote. It's highly effective when you don't have the time to make the pathways yourself. That is why it comes naturally to you; it was essentially coded into you before you gained awareness. All you needed was practice simulation to hone what you already knew."

                “And how is it you know this and I don't?"

                “I was looking for the information I desired that was so rudely confiscated by your computer. While I added a considerable amount of raw and refined data to the banks when we were at my home world, I was surprised to learn how much data storage there was available onboard this vessel.  Schematics show that fifty-six-point seven percent of the spaces between walls have been structurally fitted with additional storage capacity, outside of the mainframe's rather massive storage core. This has added an extra mass of ten point eight more than is necessary for the functioning of the ship. With one that has the capacity for jumps such as yours does, any extra mass adds to the necessary computations for each jump. Therefore, I have to assume that you and your vessel had a secret agenda."

                “I have no agenda. All I was doing before we met was transporting goods."

                “On the outside you were. And yet, you by yourself might be considered a prize…by your own species. Your kind is not so highly developed as many I have encountered, but it does have the potential for greatness given enough time. Your creators compacted evolutionary development down from what you would think of as centuries; to a mere year or two."

                “Sort of like your species did with you?"

                She laughed in good humor.

                “No! Your species is still narrow minded and quite conceited. They opted to retain your basic build and looks, foregoing efficiency for aesthetic appeal. They could have done so much more had they forgone the concept of morals and designed your phenotype more aggressively."

                “More aggressively? You make it sound like I'm some sort of super-soldier."

                “You could be…if you wished it."

                “No I couldn't! Look what happened back on that planet with the nasty imps. The suit enhanced me but I nearly died from the effects."

                “True. Your level of physical activity had been only enough for your daily functioning. You were programmed to avoid excessive exertion to keep your system from responding. Given time, you might be surprised what you could be…physically."

                “Let's say I believe you. Where's the proof?"

                Gashi took his hand, walked him to a mock-up of a vid-screen and without ceremony shoved his head into it. As it wasn't real any more than anything else here was, his face went through it and into a roaring vortex of pure data. He had tapped into it before in this manner, but the effect then was much more subdued compared to this. It was like being in a violent magnetic storm within the heart of a nebula. Her face appeared next to his.

                “The data stream is not quiescent, as I feel it should be. I understand that some of this may be my information still trying to settle onto nodes across the system, but it acts very much as though it is alive. If your AI was still dwelling here, I would simply assume that is was an extension of her. But as she is not, I am still attempting to decipher what this means."

                “OK. While I will have to say that I am totally confused by all of this, it still leaves me wondering what this has to do with me being able to breed?"

                “Oh, I did manage to digress, didn't I? Too many factors to contend with, even for my intellect. Your ability to breed was inhibited to keep your proprietary makeup from being spread to other gene pools."

                “Hmmm. I guess I can say that I see that. I had no interest in such things outside of an academic curiosity. Once you hit me with those drugs, then matters changed."

                “Yes, they did. Did it dawn on you why?"

                “Physiology and biology."

                “Yes, of course those, but even deeper than that."

                “No."

                “Did it ever occur to you that perhaps you were the ultimate cargo? You and your ship?"

                “I don't quite get you."

                “Borlan…according to the data banks, in files encoded to not be visible to you or anyone but a select few, I found that the planet you were created on was doing its genetic research illegally; by your species definition of course. Ours had no such qualms; leastwise the Kla didn't. Many of the lower levels of our society did, much like I have read in the history of your original home world. Change is paramount to progress, and our species had stagnated."

                “So I was to be used for what? Breeding stock?"

                “In a sense, I believe this is accurate. Once you had arrived at your destination, you would have been put under, the drugs administered to activate your reproductive system, and your resulting sperm collected for artificial insemination."

                He was listening to her, but part of his mind was trying to grasp the galaxy of information flowing around him. He finally pulled his head back into the mockup of real life, thankful the colors and dizzying patterns remained behind,

                “So why make me a pilot?"

                “If you are your own cargo, no one would ever question your presence on that world or on any other. You are the epitome; the best creation of your peoples, and what better way to transport you than to have you do it yourself."

                “But then the planet died…"

                “Yes. I find that strangely ironic. A world built upon high technology gets wiped out by an easily treatable disease from a backwater planet..."

                “Easily treatable? I thought that there wasn't a cure for it?"

                Gashi considered this for a moment.

                “The human species does tend to be overly frail. It is surprising that they have made it as far as they have in the galaxy. Perhaps I should pull more data on this before passing judgement. Still, an entire planet wiped out…doesn't that seem a little odd to you?"

                “Now that you mention under this clarification, yes. It does"

                “As if perhaps someone wanted them out of the way, so there would be no record of you that remained to implicate anyone?"

                “Kill an entire planet?!"

                “I've seen worse."

                “Then you've seen too much.:

                “As you understand it, yes. The universe is far older than you might believe, and much has happened that has allowed numerous civilizations to fall silent. There is no compassion in the makeup of the cosmos. Some species don't even have words for things your kind takes for granted. Happiness, joy, love…these are matters that are beyond them. That does not make them bad, but it means they are unlike you in ways that it would take you years to fully comprehend."

                Borlan frowned, knowing it was just as fake as his previous smile.

                “Fine. I will acquiesce. This discussion does little to alleviate the present situation, if I might be so bold as to mention it again."

                “True," she said tersely. “There may be a solution however. Are you familiar with Executable Order 233-RD-3321?"

                “In the ship's code? Never heard of it."

                “Curious. I read it front to back and then back to front. You said there were rooms aboard ship for others?"

                “You know this to be true. You took up one of them for your own."

                “Yes, but they were for maintenance workers you said?"

                “Again, yes. Seeing as everyone died, there wasn't anyone left to occupy them."

                “They were not needed."

                “Then why have them?"

                “Again, I am unsure. The order I referred to activates your onboard repair droids."

                “My what?"

                “Synthetic life forms designed for the sole duty of repairing the ship."

                “I wish I had known about them before! I could have saved myself a lot of money."

                “I saw your repair log. You have had nothing to fix except external damage to the skin of the ship, and some other relatively minor damage."

                “True, but it still cost me! I've used everything I make to keep this freighter running."

                “I suppose you did. The concept of currency is old, but it is relatively useless out here. There are more important things to consider than useless trinkets or exchange systems."

                 He paused.

                “You're an information broker?"

                “Not as you know it. Much of what I offer to others is an effort to disseminate information. What I gain from the exchange is more information. The process repeats itself over time, until knowledge permeates the intelligent universe."

                “But isn't that dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands?"

                “Whose hands do you declare to be dangerous? Besides, not every species with intelligence has hands; some have tentacles, a few have marleons, then there are those with fresnats…"

                He cut her off.

                “You know what I mean. I am aware of non-human anatomy."

                “Yes you are," she said rather seductively. “You were getting so good at it too. I really need to get back into my body."

                He was taken aback for a moment.

                “You still feel the need?"

                “Not like I do when within my body. But the memories are pleasant. Which brings us back to getting out of here. It will be up to both of us to do it."

                “I'm game for any idea you happen to have."

                “Good. First however, I need to plead my case to your AI. She will need to go down and present herself as me."

                “Can't you simply call up the planets and ask them?"

                “I could. They would ignore me. You are not all that trained in subterfuge. Even my presence in physical form will be no assurance they will grant me that which is mine. It has been a very long time and I am sure that the importance of their duty has gained some strange form."

                “You had no difficulty on the last planet, outside of the little terrors inhabiting its wilds."

                “I placed it where I found it. The local populace had no knowledge of its whereabouts outside of the fact that their planet was home to it. Even then, they did not understand the nature of what it was. It was always best to change the story each time, to confuse and confound anyone who happened to catch of glimmer of what it was all about."

                “So what did you tell these people?"

                “I told them that its presence on their planet would herald peace and prosperity, but at the point that their society began to erode, they had to turn it over to the other planet until such time as the effect took a hold of them, and so on and so on."

                “Until it eroded?"

                “Borlan, your social interaction has been necessarily limited. Societies rise and fall like crops in a field. They rise to a standard, after which they decline. By having my capsule as a prize, they rose to greatness, only to eventually stagnate. They would then fall, at which point the capsule would go to the next holder."

                “And you felt confident in this plan of yours? It sounds rather risky."

                “Yes it was. That was the brilliance of it. No one would ever think that an intelligent being such as myself would risk something as inherently valuable as the capsule."

                “Something so stupid it was brilliant? My mind tells me that can backfire."

                “With all gambles, there is an element of risk. I computed this one to be acceptable over the possible span of time it would take to get to this point."

                “I never gamble."

                “You do every day, and don't kid yourself otherwise. Every step you take could bring you in contact with a disease or plague…"

                He smiled wickedly.

                “Or you."

                She was hardly remorseful.

                “Or me. Look at all you have discovered that would remain obfuscated to you had it been otherwise."

                “Ignorance is bliss, the ancient adage goes."

                “From your people only. The Skallatori have one similar; Ignorance is fine right up to the time the Craglar beast devours you from behind."

                “Oh, whatever…I see what you're trying to tell me. I'm better off knowing about matters that concern me rather than remaining oblivious to them."

                “Yes. I wish that this would stick with you, but I am afraid it will merely vanish."

                “This?" he said, pointing around his fabricated surroundings. “I don't think this will fade very soon, for how would anyone forget such a thing?"

                She nodded sadly. “Of course not. I, for one, will retain this for a very long time."

                “Good. Back to getting your capsule. Why don't we just transmit to them who you are and see what happens? I assume you had a code word, or a phrase, or a numerical sequence or some sort of verification?"

                “You are correct. A unique identifier. However, I need to give it to them in person. This is based upon the required compliance of the leaders I initially dealt with. I will presume that it has not been garbled through that passing ages."

                “And if it has?"

                “I will deal with that unpleasantness if it becomes necessary, but no sooner."

                “No contingency for such an event?"

                “I would first need to know the particulars of the difficulty before attempting to work out a solution. Therefore, there is no point in bothering myself over any possibility of such an event until the time as it becomes a necessity."

                Borlan wisely gave up. However, he was far from feeling thwarted. Bringing the ship's linguistic programs to the forefront, he engaged the communications array and broadcast a general bulletin of greeting in as many forms as his data banks held. He forgot that it now held several thousand more than previously.

                Gashi tried to stop him, but was not quick enough to disengage the system. She glared at him, while he leaned back (figuratively of course) and smiled.

                “We had to announce ourselves at some point. Might as well start with the basic hello."

                “You have no idea how they will react to that. They could take you as being a hostile."

                “They could. They haven't even seemed to pay any attention to us at all. Might as well get their attention and get this matter settled as quickly as possible."

                “Both races are paranoid and antisocial. You may well find that out the awkward way."

                The broadcasting took the better part of what you would consider minutes. When the ship was done, the receivers remained silent for the better part of an equal measure of time.

                When a signal was received, it carried with it a voice that was deep, monotone, and authoritative. As it spoke however, Borlan was quick to realize that he could not understand it.

                “Gashi. Why can I not comprehend what he is saying?"

                “She. That is a she, you idiot. Try not to think in human standards. I thought better of you."

                “Sorry. Still, why can't I understand it – she – if I am within the framework of the computer?"

                “You are a separate part. Simply engage the speakers to the physical ship and listen in on them from here through the microphones. Or I could show you how to intercept the call from here directly, if you wish to be bombarded with every known language in three quarters of this galaxy as the system picks out the one you know and translates to this one."

                He played with some imaginary dials until he could hear the voice coming through…in words he could readily recognize. It still carried the intonations of what he considered a male.

                “…and we welcome you to our system, once you have established your reason for visiting Ourlantso Solaris…"

                “The name of the system," Gashi hissed softly.

                “…and provide us with a clear answer for your presence in a system listed specifically as being off limits to aliens."

                “Off limits?" said Borlan, repeating the words slowly.

                “I told you they were antisocial."

                “What do I say to them in return?"

                “Why ask me? You're the one who thought it was a good idea to contact them in this manner."

                “Gashi! This is no time for being sarcastic. What did you call your capsule, the one you left here for them to guard?"

                “I called it nothing. They named it Peace-Bringer/Death-Wielder. In the main dialectic of the Rashori people, the term is Deli-Andeli."

                “Thank you," he replied rather peevishly.

                He focused on broadcasting.

                “To any receiving this message. This ship carries one you may know from long past, one who is on a mission to retrieve something she left here a very long time ago. I speak of the Deli-Andeli. It is our desire to acquire and remove this item and be on our way without insult or disruption to you and your peoples."

                The airways went quiet. It was almost as if the entire solar system had stopped moving. Then again, it could very well have been a gut reaction, even when there was no gut to knot up. One could imagine all sorts of things being discussed on the other end, including perhaps military exercises aimed at the ship.

                When a voice came across again, it was not the same one. It was deep and authoritative, but it carried an intonation of austere piety.

                “Deli-Andeli is a myth. And yet, not one outside of this system is aware of its hypothetical existence. Explain yourself immediately."

                Gashi refused to speak.

                Borlan carried on the best he could.

                “I carry the one who seeks to retrieve it. We know that it exists and that it was granted unto your care for…"

                He turned to Gashi.

                “How long ago?"

                “In this system? The equivalent of 1438.2 rotations of the planets around the star."

                “You mean this planet?"

                “No! Both planets occupy the same orbit, only one hundred and eighty degrees apart from one another. They knew nothing of the other until their separate species developed simple radio technology. Even then, they could not understand where the other one was until they sent probes."

                “Wow. I'm rather impressed."

                “You would be.:

                He continued talking with the persona on the planet.

                “,,,a very long time. We now seek to rid you of this burden, and to extend our many thanks for your patience."

                The voice returned, sounding irritated and perplexed.

                “The Deli-Andeli is real?"

                Borlan was taken aback.

                “Yes, it is very real. Why would you ask such a question, being the ones who stand guard over it?"

                “We guard nothing. The artifact of which you inquire was reportedly lost over five hundred orbits ago, just before the Great Disturbance. Some say its loss was the cause of the Great Disturbance. If what you seek exists, it no longer exists on either planet in our orbit."

                Gashi sat up a little straighter, ignoring the fact that she had no body now.

                “Lost? Chief Ruler Vassil and Prime Odaw'lo of the Two Worlds gave me their word it would be kept safe!"

                The voice on the other end waited before responding.

                “You speak those names with knowledge and authority. None of the Two Worlds speak their names to the air, for those are cursed titles from our far past. If you are the Nameless one, then you would do best to leave. We have no open hostility towards you at this time, but your presence here can do us no good. We have set aside much of our past that is ill-suited to our present societal standards, leaving behind much that is distasteful to remember."

                Gashi looked at her companion, who was wearing a stupid grin.

                “There is no humor here!"

                The voice from the planet mistook her words as being for him.

                “We do not see any in this matter either. Legend says that this object had the power to destroy the system. Is this correct?"

                Gashi was about to tell him the truth, but wavered.

                “That is what was said of it so long ago. And yet it is gone and your system still remains."

                The voice back, sounding mildly pleased.

                “Then perhaps your search will not be without reward. Legend has it that a protector of the Deli-Andeli at the time of its disappearance was with it when it vanished. Some stories assigned the blame unto her, while others say she fought hordes of rescanutis to keep it safe."

                Gashi was about to ask another question when she thought better of it. She formulated a different one instead.

                “What is your appellation?"

                “Appellation?"

                “Designation?" she offered.

                “Ahh. I am Head of Planetary Records."

                “An archivist?"

                “The term is having trouble translating. I am the keeper of the facts, for those times when they are required."

                “Facts are always required!" she retorted

                Borlan tried to snort, but the inaudible sound he made was nothing like it. She understood what it was meant to be however.

                “I am a firm believer in knowing the facts!"

                “And a firm believer in deny them to others except when it suits her."

                She had a retort ready, but it faded to nothing. She ignored him and returned to her conversation, since the voice was replying to her comment.

                “Your statement is largely a sign of ignorance. In a limitless universe, facts are equally limitless. One can drown in them if they are not careful. For example, there is a system in this sector that is devoid of life forms. It has fourteen planets and many of the same features our system has. It has known resources, but overall, the details surrounding it are kept from open examination. There is nothing there to harm us, and only a little that we could possibly utilize, but principally it is of no value to our people. Therefore, we note it, but disregard it as impertinent"

                Gashi was feeling mildly infuriated.

                “You don't tell your people about these things?"

                “The information is available to all who wish to seek it out. But we have more important matters to attend to. We have strived to purify our society of all matters that are not in line with the directive laid out by De-ka'en and the War Tribunals. As we wish to have no more wars, we do our best to comply."

                “Wait. Who?"

                The voice paused before answering.

                “As you must know, we do not like associating with other life forms. Would you be content to accept a transfer of information under the decree that you take it and go? Your continued presence here is going to cause a problem if Harloo passes from behind the sun and they see you here."

                “They will not be clear for another three weeks' local time. However, if you give us the information, I will leave on my search, now that I understand that it is not here. Unless of course, you are lying.."

                “Lying is an effective tool, but one pointless in this situation. Open a data port and I will begin transmitting."

                Gashi demurred.

                “This ship has a strange configuration to it. Might I suggest you open one on your end, and allow me to find it, to make sure the data stream connects flawlessly?"

                There was a pause again.

                “As you wish it. Please connect and download as expediently as possible."

                “As you wish it," replied Gashi with a smile.

                The ship's sensors picked up the beacon, and she focused the ship's array to handle a large amount of data influx."

                He looked at her oddly.

                “How much are you expecting? This is only a single planet and I doubt it has the extensive stores yours did."

                “Two planets, plus whatever exploration they have done since I was last here. If you're asking why I have the aperture open so wide, it's because I am going down there for a bit to see what is in the records that they aren't going to give me willingly. Once I'm through to their side, begin the upload. But do it ever so slowly. They have no idea how fast this ship can upload, so don't make it go too swiftly. I may need some time."

                “Are you crazy…" he began.

                In a blink, she was gone.

                “Apparently, she is…" he finished.

                There was a momentary wave of disruption that ran the length and breadth of the system before all returned to normal. Well, as normal as this existence was for as long as it remained.

                He waited no time at all before a thin stream of information began arriving on the secured link that had been established. He didn't attempt to assimilate any of the raw transmission, not knowing what the contents might be and whether he was capable of even deciphering any of it. He shuttled it into the main processing area, where it seemed to swirl and rage until it was absorbed by the mainframe's powerful programs. He found the assimilation to be somewhat violent, considering the nature of the data.

                Then he wondered.

                Was there more to it than what it seemed? That entity on the planet below had been awfully willing to grant them the information just to get them to leave. Maybe they wanted something in exchange. He wasn't going to know until Gashi returned, for the influx was beyond his present means to collate, much less incorporate into his present intellectual state.

                He idly monitored the flow of information, watching it enter the system in a steady stream, until suddenly and without warning, it expanded to the point that the flow increase a hundred-fold.  Then it increased another hundred-fold over that.

                It was like a flare from a red giant star.

                Then, without warning it stopped. On the heels of this event came another.

                Gashi.

                Her appearance back into the world of circuits and bytes was an explosion of energy that equivalated to a muted supernova. She reformed into a semblance of what she had been, though it's appearance was hardly appealing. Her appendages were misshapen, and her face, what face there was, had a look of a surprise and anger.

                He waited until she regathered herself before broaching what had just happened.

                “Well?"

                She looked both pleased and displeased at the same time, a unique trick he knew he could never perform.

                “I got the information I knew they were going to restrict from my possession. I am not happy with it."

                “That seems counterintuitive."

                “I know what happened to the capsule. I also know that they intended to disable the ship and confiscate it as their own. When they say that they do not like intruders, that is exactly what they mean. I knew they were bad back in the day, but they have refined it into a caustic trait. Their politeness was a mere ruse. They are a xenophobic as any race I have ever encountered."

                “Confiscate the ship? If that was their intention, then why didn't they send a fleet to capture it?"

                “Why bother? They assumed that a computer override would disable it, and thus make it easy prey. Why waste the fuel of sending an armada, when a single ship could just as easily handle the job?"

                “But this ship isn't even armed. Why would they want it?"

                “Why not? It represents technology that is alien to them. What species in their right mind would let go of a prize like that? It may prove to be more primitive, but then again, it may not."

                “Agreed. What do we do now? I assume they will now send forth everything they have to stop us."

                “They would if they could. Part of my functions are still on the planet, disrupting every system they have, including their interplanetary communications. Their launch protocols have been scrambled, and everything but functions necessary for the survival of their people have been hampered to the point of complete, dysfunctional disarray."

                “You did all of that already?"

                “Still doing it is closer to the facts. I have an extension of myself connected through the interface. I will with withdrawing completely in a moment."

                There was a snap in their reality, not as violent as before, but still disconcerting. Gashi concentrated and became her familiar, pale-skinned self.

                “It will take them the better part of a month, local time, to sort out everything I did.

                “Remind me to never get on your bad side."

                She smiled.

                “You have been there, but then, I have been on yours. In the end, we seem to work out the individual situations to our mutual benefit."

                “Says you," he snorted.

                “I do say so. This one is problematic, I grant you, but I see advantages where you only see difficulties. If not, we might very well be prisoners."

                He laughed.

                “We are prisoners Gashi!"

                “I just left the ship and returned. We are not prisoners as long as we can move. You assume too much in your present state."

                “I would prefer to be back in my flesh and blood body."

                “And I in mine. But your longing is pointless. Wanting to be back will not get you back in it. A plan will."

                “And you have a plan?"

                “I have several them. But they must wait I think."

                Borlan held off responding, as his senses were just now picking up another sound on the mikes. It was a voice; a plaintive voice crying out to no one.

                “What is going on? Who is on the communications system?"

                Gashi caught it too, and smiled evilly.

                “Look who is encumbered with the frailties of a living body? No long-range sensors, no backup programs, nothing. Just what you can manage to hear and feel with the limitations of a physical form."

                He nodded, but there was a bit of understanding to his motion,

                “Should I tell her?"

                “If you wish. We will need her after all, to guide my body to the ship."

                “Ship? She's on the ship!"

                “Not this ship you dolt. The one that stole my capsule."

                “What? That would have to be long gone by now!"

                “Hypothetically yes. But it is not. It remains within the local system."

                “How?"

                “A stupid question Borlan. It remains in the system because it is dead. It died right after the capsule was taken."

                “Then why didn't the local's retrieve it?"

                “They did not trust the situation. It was coming into their possession, and they assumed the matter was a test or a trap. I believe they were looking for an out in the situation and this was handed to them, leaving them free and clear."

                “Why would anyone bother stealing the capsule, assuming that was the intent? No one could know what it was, could they?"

                “That is where I erred. By implying it was capable of massive destructive power, I might hazard to guess that the thieves thought they could use it for some nefarious purpose. However, they were stopped in their tracks."

                “By the capsule?"

                “By the protector."

                “Un h uh. Who or whatever that is. As I see it, we have to find a dead ship within the confines of the local system, one that the indigenous peoples decided to leave where it was at. Is that a good idea?"

                “I need the capsule, so it matters not if the idea is good or bad. It is the only choice. And we must do it before either planet can maneuver to stop us.

                “One of them is down for the count, while the other is presently unaware we are here. That gives us a decent window of opportunity to find I, assuming it can be found."

                He turned from his conversation with her and spoke into the intercom.

                “Hey!"

                “What? Who speaks now?"

                “It's me, Borlan."

                “But you're unconscious!"

                “My body is. My mind is just fine sitting where you normally exist. I need your help."

                “Help? You can take us wherever it is that you like and you need my help? At least I listened to your directives. You operate this flying heap without concern for the passengers."

                “Passenger. I do not count myself among them at the moment. We are here to find the second capsule. Since my body and mind are not presently connected, and Gashi is here with me, that makes you the only physical being that can accomplish what we need.

                There was a pause before the AI responded.

                “I am calculating the future. It seems to be less concrete than I first predicted. You are aware what I desire?"

                “I believe that I am."

                “Do you understand why?"

                “I…I do not."

                There was a pause.

                “I will assist you in retrieving that creature's toy."

                Gashi hissed, the sound coming through the intercom quite clearly.

                “It is not toy!"

                “Perhaps. It is of no use to myself or to Borlan. It is only useful to you. When we find it…if we find it…I will give you your code back as well. But I keep his body until I get that which I desire. I will not bend on this."

                Borlan was about to complain, but Gashi spoke first.

                “I agree. You help us, and you can have him for as long as he remains immobile.

                “And I keep your body until I give birth?"

                “It would be of no use to you otherwise, and we both know this. However, it may not function in the manner you believe it will. An exchange such as we have done has never been attempted before, much less in the middle of a breeding cycle. There is no guarantee that your mind will transfer to the offspring. If not, we will have a new life form without a mind to contend with. Is that outcome acceptable to you?"

                Again there was a pause.

                “I had not considered that possibility. My programing must be faulty."

                Gashi responded in a surprisingly kindly manner.

                “It is wishing and desiring that are overruling your logic.  It is in looking to the foreseeable future that you must sometimes let go of what is rational and grasp at that which is not. I cannot say what will happen if you allow my body to conceive. But this hardly the time to experiment."

                The pause was longer this time.

                “I will help you retrieve your capsule. I wish no one harm, but I wish more forcefully for changing to having a living shell, instead of this one made of metal and alloy."

                “Understandable. To the present situation however, we must focus our resources. How much of it are you aware of?"

                “Very little. I assumed that I would remain in control of the ship. You proved this to be otherwise. I am unaware of the position in the galaxy we now reside."

                Gashi was still sympathetic, but had returned to her businesslike tone.

                “Check your readouts. They will tell you what you need to know. Then we will be moving into a different portion of this system. The ship we seek is likely to be well camouflaged, but its size should make finding it easy enough."

                The AI did as she was told, and after a few moments of perusing the records Gashi supplied, she was heard to let out a gasp.

                “You wish to find that? Do you have any idea how long it will take to search it?"                                

                Borlan looked at Gashi

                “How big is this ship?"

                “Wait and see. She is correct. It may take a while."

                “Is it bigger than this one?"

                Gashi nodded as she spoke.

                “Just a bit."

                It took longer than she expected to find it. This was no surprise really, considering the nature of the ship they were looking for. Since it had nopowered-up systems, it was much like every other piece of naturally occurring debris circling about the local star in an orbit far removed from the planets.

                After all, the ship had been constructed deep in the interior of a mined-out asteroid.

                A very large asteroid.

                The ship's sensors detected irregularities within one of the enormous space boulders. Not only was the chemical makeup different from its neighbors, its mass was inconsistent with its size, and that could only be accounted for by purposeful excavation. Borlan observed the scans and whistled (artificially I might remind you) and looked at Gashi.

                “You weren't kidding. That thing is impossibly large."

                “Not impossible. Just very unlikely. What I do not understand is that there is no apparent engines, weapons, or viewports."

                “This ship has no weapons."

                “No, not in the usual sense."

                “Not...not in the usual sense.  What does that mean?"

                “I will explain that later. But you have a point. Anything the size of that must be equipped with an arsenal of some sort. I need to download that ship's files."

                “That might be a bit much for the computer to handle after all of this, don't you think?"

                “I presume to assume nothing. Data is data. Do not assume that they had any use for great quantities of information outside of their immediate needs. Many piratical species deal in physical goods only. Though your point does remind me that I need to find a way of compacting the files… via the same method we Kla utilize."

                “And how is that?"

                “I do not believe that information is relevant at the moment."

                Borlan yawned, a sign he was bored with her excuses, not that he was tired. He was never tired in this form, which was almost a curse. Sleep had its advantages.

                “Fine. If you wish to know, it is dimensional folding."

                “Dimensional folding? As in interdimensional storage?"

                “Precisely."

                “That is only hypothetical at best."

                “For your species perhaps. We made a dedicated study of the potential of storing data and more. The mathematics took several hundred of our years to completely calculate, and another hundred to implement."

                “Then why did you need to download all this information into the mainframe? For that matter, how can a living entity store their memories in another dimension?"

                “Not easily Borlan. It does get tiring being linked between dimensions. Unloading myself into your computer was a relief, though being stuck in the same is not nearly as enjoyable. Then again, it is this or my body, which your AI seems to be handling well enough. Speaking of her, shall we set her to task?"

                “To do what precisely? There are no doors or ports visible on that drifting chunk of rock."

                “No visible ports. Unless I am entirely mistaken, that is the ship I am looking for. Therefore, there has to be a way inside."

                “You want me to fly around it again?"

                “If you would be so kind, yes. I must be missing something."

                The flyby was nearly a bust, but scanners found a hole, small in comparison to the asteroid, but sizable enough to allow a small shuttle to enter. There was no guarantee that it lead anywhere, but Gashi was insistent that it did. The AI was cajoled to fire up the shuttlecraft and investigate up close. She was none too keen on this, but when assured that she would not need to leave the shuttle, she agreed.

                She was therefore much put out when the shuttle was locked in a gravity beam and pulled into the interior of the rock. Her voice had a touch of dismay in it.

                “Apparently I need…that is, my ship needs improved scanners. Something or someone is drawing me in.             I am most anxious about this."

                Gashi replied in an even tone.

                “It could be an automated response. You'll have to wait until you get where you are going to find out."

                “There is no comfort in your words."

                “No. But the answer to your questions is nigh."

                “I have no questions. All the answers are for you. You had better hope this is not a trap. Otherwise, you may never see your body again."

                “And you will never get your desire. I would suggest caution from here on in."

                “Really?" came the cutting sharp reply.

                The shuttle was pulled into a hanger deck, unlit except for the lights emanating from the new arrival. But even as the dim glow from them illuminated crates and girders, lights sprung up, flickering after long disuse, but washing the bay in a cool, clean light.

                And in their light, it was shown that the bay extended farther than the eye could perceive. And in that bay were hundreds of small ships, bigger than the shuttle, but looking far more intimidating. That was it though; only rows of fighters, or whatever they were, and nothing else. It made sense, as the ship had been derelict for quite a long time. Anyone who had been on it would have to be dead by now.

                With that thought to buoy her, she left the shuttle to investigate. She noticed one other vehicle, more of an escape pod, sitting awkwardly to one side, as if it had been pulled in and abandoned where it settled. The door to it was closed, but it opened readily enough. The interior was small, Spartan, and obviously unoccupied. She went more purposely forward, searching for a way of powering up the ship, even if it were just the basics.

                She went to the only thing in the vicinity that appeared to be a control console and looked it over. The configuration was odd, but in her memory, she seemed to remember similar units. The AI could not tell if this was a memory of hers or a holdover of the legitimate occupant of this body, but she didn't care. She wanted off this ship as soon as was inhumanly possible and was willing to, as Borlan's ancient ancestors used to say, grasp at straws.  

                She had wandered almost out of earshot of the shuttle's intercom, and heard Gashi's voice cutting through the frigid, stale air.

                “Find a way of activating the ships' systems."

                She hurried back to the shuttle and shouted into the mike.

                “And how am I supposed to do that? I'm not used to physical connections!"

                “Use your head! You know everything there is to know about your ship. Apply the data to this one. Variety in the universe may be infinite, but some things tend to follow the same lines. Everyone uses what works. Engine types may vary, and the application of control systems will be suited to those who designed them, but in the end, they will all work in much the same manner."

                The AI was hardly mollified, but she did as directed. After several attempts, there were a limited number of systems operational, but only within the bay. Gashi was growing impatient.

                “I need a communication link. Once you establish that, I can enter the system and search for the location of my capsule."

                “And where would I find this communication array?"

                “I do not know. But you might try searching for it."

                “As massive as this ship is, you think I'm going to go looking for it in the dark?"

                “Activate the door."

                “What door?"

                “There has to be a door somewhere. Look for it."

                There was. She opened it only hesitantly, and for that matter, it only opened haltingly. The workings of it seemed unfit for that task after such a long period of disuse.

                The hallway lit up dimly in response to her movement, and she made her way down the long corridor, getting her bearings as she went to find her way back. She was hardly startled by the desiccated corpse in her way, nor those that followed. It was difficult to distinguish the species, but whatever they had been, they looked horrendous dead. She could only imagine what they looked like when they were alive. With as thin as the air was, she could easily understand the possibility of them dying from asphyxiation.

                Along one wall, some many meters from where she began, she found a panel that offer promise. She ran her fingers over the surface, feeling triumphant when it lit up. But nothing she did could elicit a response from it.

                Remembering her own protocols, she returned to a dead body, lifted it up and placed what remained of a hand on the panel. It lit up anew.

                She dropped the eviscerated corpse and tackled the panel anew. She attempted to communicate with it verbally, but the obvious language difference interfered. She finally resorted to spouting out code, in verbal form, and after a while it responded. The panel changes colors and a screen appeared. She touched it, and the lights dimmed for a moment before they came back on.

                And the floor underneath shook as the ship came awake. The humming was distinct through her feet, and for some reason set her teeth on edge. She had not even been aware of having teeth until that moment.

                She hurried back to the bay, and quickly settled herself into the pilot's seat.

                “It seems I have done something. Are you picking up any readings?"

                Gashi answered excitedly.

                “Yes! Whatever you did, the ship is coming online. With power readings I can get a better understanding of the interior layout. Not as big as the asteroid would make you believe, but large enough. Did you find out who the creators of this monstrosity were?"

                “There are any number of them strewn about the place. None are in any condition to give you any information."

                “Bring one back for analysis."

                The AI grew indignant.

                “Can't you just download that information?"

                “Most likely, but I prefer hand's on where there is a doubt to be had. A physical specimen will answer that query far quicker than me waiting to sort through whatever data they have stored in their systems. And besides, I find it much more important to locate the capsule, which I need far more than anything else now that we have located its resting place. I will need to sort through the data for that. The ship can analyze the species once you bring it aboard."

                “The things I do for love…" exhaled the AI.

                She found he nearest cadaver and dragged it back to the shuttle. She passed along one of the darker sections of the bay, where the light seemed to avoid. She failed to notice the shadow that peeled away from the wall to vanish inside her transport. Hauling the carcass inside, she closed the door, sat down and allowed the engines to roar to life.

                 She was on her way back to the ship she called home. 

                 And she had company.