The hidden facility of Queen Seraphi, Grey found, was more or less what they expected. It was the height of Entitled tech- two-hundred or so years ago. Gleaming, if a little dusty, equipment. Beautiful and functional, but more so beautiful. Metal a curious and delicate looking bronze instead of something more formidable and functioning, elaborate cuts in that metal that served nothing but adornment, precious materials gleaming even after two centuries of sitting unused. Curious shapes bent over the equipment as well. It was old, however, Grey knew. Even with their vague knowledge of medical equipment for Entitles, the things in front of them were old.
It was still, however, leagues above anything they had seen themselves, even before Balem had started to short supply the Earth.
The facility was smaller than they expected, however.
Discrete, no doubt, to hide it from any other Entitled but the dead queen. Exceptionally well hidden for its size. A simple hanger stashed with medical equipment and a single, low powered ship. The smallest ship that Grey had ever seen, meant to be manned by one person, and easily the oldest thing in the hanger. Judging from the propulsion system, Grey could cautiously estimate that the ship was as old as the Great Experiment, or older. It had probably not been changed since then because of the scrutiny that the Heart had received. The medical equipment was more modern because of the compact size, and easier to sneak onto the Heart. Grey was surprised if the relic could break the atmosphere for sitting so long without use.
The fact that the Great Queen had gone to such lengths to have this escape was… Unsettling to Grey. Grey had mixed feelings about Queen Seraphi. But the lengths of which the Entitled had gone to always have some sort of secret, some sort of advantage, even from her own younglings left them feeling… Pitiful. More thoughts of blasphemy, to consider the life an Entitled anything but a wondrous splendor, godhood. They supposed that was what they would become, following in the footsteps of Jupiter.
A heretic to the order of the Verse.
"It's gorgeous, " said Jupiter, her voice a strained relief, looking at the ship.
Her eyes were slightly hazed, and Grey hoped the memories that were coming to her then, from the Queen before her, were pleasant. Despite their own love of older technology, and curiosities, Grey found that the bronze-colored ship was dubiously useful at best.
"It is ancient."
"It's classic!" protested Jupiter, "Are you dissing that ship? It's what's going to be our ride. And you can't diss our ride!"
Grey gave a chirping, mirthful vocalization to the youngling.
"If it flies, I will call it the most beautiful thing in the Verse," they reassured her.
