Tevat was the find of a lifetime for NUMA. After 8500 years she was discovered in the ice by Oregon and recovered by Macedonian. And now in the backwaters of New York, she was brought back to life by Arleigh Burke. Thawed out over several months, she opened her eyes to a brand new world.
The voices were unfamiliar, the language odd. She didn't know what to say in reply. Dark gold eyes peered out through thick lashes, staring up at a large ashen colored vessel who was staring down at her with eyes as blue as the sky. There were odd markings on her bow and upon her fore-deck was this odd shaped contraption with a long barrel in the front. There was the strange language again. Tevat didn't recognize the words but the tone was clear. She nodded crisply. The other ship seemed relieved and went chattering away in that odd tongue of hers again. Now another ship joined them, this one clearly made of wood. She spoke a few words with the odd vessel and then turned to Tevat.
"Can you understand me?" She asked. Tevat blinked when she recognized her tongue. Could this ship really speak her language as well? Slowly, she nodded. "Can you tell me your name sweetheart?" Tevat didn't recognize the word, but she knew the soft tone. It was almost, motherly. Any misgivings she had instantly went away. "Tevat." She answered. "My name is Tevat." "Do you remember what happened to you Tevat?" The motherly ship asked. "There was a rush of water. My people, they were frightened. They created me to help them escape. So I took them far away, and we lost sight of land. For days we, drifted. There was no wind to fill my canvas. And then the world became cold and unwelcoming. We found land again and the people went ashore. I stayed in a small cove but the weather got colder and colder and... that's all I remember. I thought I had died. How did-how did you find me?" Tevat asked. "By sheer accident. We had no idea you even existed. Well, there were rumors. Legends for centuries that circulated but few of us ever... well, we know better now." Tevat frowned. "How-how long has it been?" She asked. "By your calendar, a little more than 8700 years." The motherly one replied and Tevat was speechless with shock.
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, NEW YORK CITY
The old freighter was a bit of a standout amongst the behemoth tankers she was surrounded by. But if she thought she was a standout, the golden hulled transport beside her was even more so. Oddly enough, she looked a little familiar. She turned a dark golden gaze on the freighter. "I believe that it is you I owe my new life to." She said in halting, accented English. Tevat had picked up the new language quickly but sometimes she had trouble with her pronunciation. "Why is that?" Oregon, for her part was half confused, half wary. This stranger obviously knew who she was and as she didn't have the same information, she instinctively was on guard. "Oh put your hackles down, Oregon." Tevat continued, adding a smile into her voice to reassure her wary companion. "I can see you don't recognize me but I'm a friend. And I must say, I look a far sight better in the sun than I did in an ice block." Oregon blinked, then blinked again. "You- you're..." She stammered. "Tevat." Tevat said, holding out a rigging line. Oregon took and shook it with one of her own. "You had me at a disadvantage." She admitted. "Not for long I'm sure. Given the work you do." Tevat leaned in with a knowing wink. "And regarding that, I have a proposition for you." Now Oregon was curious. "I'm listening." She said. "I'm old. My only use is to tour but doing so means I have access to many ports. Most of them in the far east where many Western ships cannot go. And I have spent the last several months listening to every language my ears can pick up. So I am very lingual as well." "Where's your next port of call?" Oregon asked. "Tel Aviv." Tevat replied. "You'll have information on how to contact me when you arrive." Oregon replied and just like that she gained another valuable informant. Although she had no idea how valuable Tevat would turn out to be!