Author's Note - apologies for the delay in getting this out... personal issues causing writer's block, and all that. I'll try to push out a few chapters in the near future... but I make no promises.

Enjoy...

Relaxation

"Maintain fire on the lead ship!," called Captain Maris, pulling herself upright as her own ship shook from repeated explosions. Overloaded consoles triggered electrical arcs from panel to panel, she used her cape to protect herself from the burning plasma. "They must be here to retrieve their spy," she muttered, "there's no way we'll let them have it."

"CAPTAIN!," the sensor-operator suddenly cried out, "The captive ship is MOVING!"

"How is that possible?," Maris shouted back. "We have the ship firmly locked in a mooring beam!"

"The mooring beam has been disabled – I can't explain how. Ship is on a bearing of sigma-four, increasing speed. It appears to be heading to rendezvous with the renegade Fighter."

That incompetent Shildy must have missed a second spy!, thought Maris. I'll see her demoted to Sanitation Tech for this!"Fire on the ship! Destroy it before it has a chance to..."

"It's too late," sighed the sensor-operator, "The ship has docked, and they've jumped to Lightspeed."

Damn. "Abandon the battle – all ships," she ordered. "Track and follow that ship – it cannot be allowed to escape!"

"Aye, Captain."


"Attack groups Krelnaand Revus– break formation and take position to encircle the Solnoid ships," Drel ordered as the floor beneath him shook. "We'll take them from all sides, and..."

He got no further, as the entire Solnoid fleet vanished in a burst of light. Where did they go?- he pondered.

"SIR! Their new ship has broken away and made the jump to Lightspeed – the rest of their fleet has jumped to follow!"

Trying to rob me of my prize, are they?- Drel considered silently, I will not allow that to happen!

"All ships – return to formation," he ordered, "Track and pursue that fleet – we will NOT let them get

away with that prototype ship!"


In transit – all stations secure, the ship spoke inside Marcus' head, Estimated time to destination –seven hours. Both fleets following, but falling behind.

Reduce power to the Nullifier, Marcus responded to the announcement. Maintain a three-hourdistance from the closest ships in the pursuing fleets. That should give us enough time to prepare for their arrival.

Acknowledged, the ship responded. Adjusting velocity to match. Revised arrival time – twelve hours.

Undoing his safety straps, Marcus stood up and stretched his arms over his head, drawing odd looks from Shildy and Spea. "Ahhhhhhh... it feels good to be back," he said with a sigh. "Sorry to offend, ladies, but that wasn't the most welcoming environment I've been in."

"I understand," Shildy said for the group, "like you said – we're not used to dealing with... ummm..."

"Strangers?" Spea volunteered.

"Yes," Shildy agreed, "strangers works."

"Well – I really want to change clothes. I can give you a tour of the ship once I'm done, or you're welcome to explore on your own. There's not much to see – cargo bays and guest rooms, mostly – but you may find some sections interesting. The ship won't let you in to certain areas without me accompanying you, however..."

"Classified?" Shildy suggested.

"Hazardous," Marcus corrected. "High-radiation areas, or storerooms that contain toxic chemicals, require safety protocols that you aren't familiar with – so it's better if you just avoid any door that won't let you in."

"I think we can handle that," Shildy admitted.

"Wonderful," Marcus said with a grin, "I'll be back shortly," he said as he walked down the corridor and turned into a nearby room with a wave.

Shildy looked at the other three and gave them a grin. "You heard him – you're all free to explore on your own. I don't think there's anything to be afraid of, and there seem to be maps placed every so often to help if you get lost. Enjoy yourselves." Nodding, her three companions took off in different directions, curious to explore. Shildy herself remained behind, alone with her thoughts...

The door to the room that Marcus entered slid open, and he stepped out to find Shildy leaning against the corridor wall. "Were you waiting for me?" he asked.

"Well, you DID promise a guided tour of the ship, and I... well... I just wanted to walk with you for a while," she explained, her cheeks slightly flushed. She looked him over, remarking "That's not what you were dressed in, the first time I encountered you." His clothing, though still the silver-grey of the suit she originally found him in, had been altered to look like a Solnoid two-piece tunic – the belt was the same, although the shoulder-pads were gone.

"Yeah," he said, scratching the back of his head, "the style has grown on me a bit, you know?"

Shildy laughed at his unease. "We'll make a Solnoid of you yet," she good-naturedly needled him.

"But now – the tour?"

"The tour – right. Is there anything you'd like to see first?"

Shildy thought for a moment, then made her decision. "I'd like a closer look at the control room, please..."

"Certainly," Marcus replied. "Follow me."

As he led her down the somewhat familiar corridors, Shildy couldn't help but feel that this second experience was more comforting – instead of keeping a lookout for potential enemies, she felt as though she was in a friendly place... a place that was bright and cheerful, not cautious and wary as she had lived her life. Not surprisingly, she found that she liked it.

After a short walk, the pair arrived at a doorway she recognized. "Here we are – control room," Marcus told her. He waved his arm at the door, "After you," he said as the door silently slid open.

Shildy walked through the door, and immediately noticed at it contained only a chair and what looked like a bare desk in the middle of the room. "What's happened?" she asked, "It looks different than before."

"Really?" Marcus asked in a puzzled tone. He stepped in and grinned as he looked around. "Looks like the ship has been making some changes while I was gone," he noted.

"The ship can DO that? All by itself?" Shildy could hardly believe what she had just heard. Ships can't make changes to themselves!- she thought to herself. Then she remembered who she was talking to. Can they?

"Oh, sure," Marcus explained. "The ship evolves, changes, like any other living thing. Sometimes, it even surprises me. Ship," he directed his voice upwards, "please explain the nature and reason for the alterations to the Control Center."

"Acknowledged," Shildy jumped at the deep voice that seemed to come from everywhere in the room. "Recent events have indicated that greater security is required. All controls and displays are now virtual, accessed by neural link only."

"That explains the lack of instruments – thank you." Marcus said to the ceiling. He looked at Shildy and saw her confused look. "There are several implants in my brain that allow me to communicate directly with the ship. It's taken it upon itself to expand that to do away with all displays and controls, so that nobody other than myself can operate it." He gave her a quick wink, "I think it took offense that you boarded and took me away."

"If you say so," Shildy deadpanned. "But if the ship is an intelligent living creature, why are you saying 'it'? I thought you said that was rude?"

"It is, under normal circumstances," Marcus explained. "The ship, being genderless, has requested that I use 'it' when making reference to anything in that regard – and I respect its' wishes. That's what makes us a good team," he added with a grin.

Sounds like a nice way to live, Shildy thought. "That's nice," she said, "but I was hoping to see if Lightspeed travel looks different from your ship. I get the impression that you can make the journey faster than we can."

"Your impression is correct." Marcus told her, "but I don't think the scenery changes as much as you'd expect. If you like, there's an observation lounge three decks up – it has a domed layout that can give you an all-around view."

"Thanks – I'd like that," Shildy said, and followed his lead out the door...

They walked together in silence, Shildy unwilling to speak. One deck up, she gathered the strength to ask him. "What was she like?"

Marcus turned his head to look at her – staring at the deck and fiddling with her thumbs. She looks nervous, he thought, I've never seen her like this before. But then – I haven't seen her long, either. "I'm sorry?" he asked.

"Your partner," she whispered, "the one you mistook me for – 'Steph'...?" She stopped walking and looked into his eyes. "What was she like? Was she really like me?"

Marcus smiled at her warmly. "Outwardly, you could be her twin sister," he explained. "You're a little taller, and her hair was a little lighter, but the voice is a perfect match. Her eyes were a little... warmer, perhaps – but I think that has more to do with the difference in the way you were raised."

"Yes, I guess being at war would make one cold," Shildy agreed.

"But the colour is the same – the bright blue that can make a person's heart race," Marcus added as he started walking again. Looking ahead, he didn't see how the comment made Shildy blush before she dashed to catch up with him. "Inwardly, too," he continued, "you have the same qualities she had – strength, dedication, loyalty... and I'm beginning to see a hint of the compassion that I adored in her. I haven't known you for very long, but I can tell that your friends admire you. That's powerful."

"Th-thank you," she forced herself to say, just before Marcus stopped at a wide doorway. "Here we are," Marcus told her. "Upper Deck, Observation Lounge." The door slid open as he stepped in front of it, and they were greeted with cries of delight.

"Shildy-sempai – have you SEEN this place?" Amy squealed. "It's AMAZING!"

"It's so spacious," Catty said. "Totally unlike one of our cruisers – we can all have a room of our OWN!"

"Yeah," Spea added. "It's much more impressive when it's fully lit."

"I'm glad you all like it," Marcus thanked them.

"And look at this VIEW!" Amy said. "I've never seen what Lightspeed looks like from the OTHER direction!"

Shildy turned her head upward to follow Amy's outstretched arm, and her jaw dropped. Even though she had seen the effects of Lightspeed travel many times, the panorama she now beheld held her in deep awe The few colours that she remembered were intermixed with striking violets, bright reds, brilliant blues, and neon greens – passing over the ship like a mist before mixing together in a chaotic dance that became more beautiful and patterned the longer she stared at it. To the rear of the ship, they came together in bursts of rainbow lightning before converging into a single point of bright white.

"Wow," she whispered, unable to pull her eyes away from the sight.

"Who's thirsty?"

Shildy blinked, the voice of Marcus snapping her out of her reverie. Looking down, she saw Marcus carrying a tray of liquids held in elegant containers. He walked over to a round table surrounded by low cushions, and placed them in a circle... much like a server 'bot on a Solnoid cruiser would. "These are not alcoholic," Marcus explained, "because I don't know how our serious drinks will affect you. I think you'll find them quite interesting, though... help yourselves." He sat down, legs folded underneath himself, and waited for his guests to follow.

Catty was the first to move, sitting down opposite from him, and raised the glass to her lips. She took a swallow, and her eyes lit up. "This is DELICIOUS!" she exclaimed, her voice causing Amy to jump in shock. "Come on – you HAVE to try it!"

Spea shrugged her shoulders and gave Shildy a wink. Using her usual catchphrase, "Can't hurt to try, right?", she sat down halfway between Marcus and Catty and picked up the glass in front of her. "Hmmm... not bad," she remarked, before downing the contents in one gulp. She looked at Marcus. "More?" she asked.

Marcus blinked, then gave her a smile. "Have mine," he said, passing his glass to her. "Just go slowly with this one, okay?" She nodded as he got up and walked to where he had gotten the tray.

Amy sat down next, across from Spea. She took a cautious sip, giggling after she swallowed. "The bubbles tickle my nose!" she said to nobody in particular.

"I'm glad you like it," Marcus said from what looked to Shildy like a dispenser station. He walked over with a new glass, and sat back down. The other three girls looked up at her, anxious expressions on their faces.

Shildy looked down at them, and at the only remaining cushion, a slight blush colouring her cheeks.

You three planned this, didn't you?- she thought to herself – forcing me to sit near him, just what are you hoping?

Noticing her distress, Marcus shifted his cushion so that she had more space to be comfortable. Once he had done this, Shildy lowered herself onto the cushion and picked up her glass. Raising the glass to her lips, she took a tentative sip, closing her eyes as she did. "Mmmm," she murmured after swallowing, "that IS nice." She turned her eyes to Marcus and smiled. "Thanks," she told him, "I needed that."

Marcus smiled back at her, then turned to the others. "So," he told them, "we have some time before we get to our destination – is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

"Tell us about your people!" Amy cried.

"Yes," Catty agreed, "how did you become so wise?"

"I wouldn't know about 'wise'," Marcus chuckled. He looked at Spea...

"You know something about us," she said, "it's only fair that we know something about you."

"Fair enough," Marcus agreed. "That's three votes," he said, turning his gaze to Shildy.

Her eyes met his, and Shildy found herself unable to speak. Instead, she raised her glass and nodded.

"Okay," Marcus said, "a history lesson it is."

"Many millennia ago..."