Project Prometheus Ch 17

Inari woke up, stretching languidly as she came back to consciousness. Sleep was always good, but she knew that she needed to be awake. It had been a bit of a pain, readjusting to a more military lifestyle again, but she was glad for the routine. Despite her constant workout sessions, Inari felt herself getting fat and lazy, Well, maybe not fat, but lazy for sure.

She slipped out of bed and saw Priya stirring next to her. Inari knew that the East Indian woman would soon be awake and decided to get through the morning routine. After doing her business and brushing her teeth, Inari stepped under the shower head. Turning it on, it was soon giving off hot steam from the water falling down, a feeling she always enjoyed.

Hearing the pitter patter of bare feet, she glanced around and saw Pree walking over from the sink. She then wrapped herself around her lover, enjoying the warmth she was giving off.

"You're so warm!"

"And you're freezing!" Inari squawked as she fought to pry Priya's hands from her. Pree giggled as she leeched the warmth from her love before finally letting go. In response to her little stunt, Inari swatted her ass hard enough to cause the other woman to yip. Pree then fired a glare at her, which had Inari glare back. Finding she couldn't hold it, Priya broke first, turning away and focusing on the falling water.

"Damn it! How do you always win those?" Pree pouted.

"Force of will dear. Sheer force of will," Inari told her with a smile. Pouting that she'd lost yet another staring match, Pree's mood lightened when she felt Inari's hands massaging her sore butt cheek.

"Normally I wouldn't be thing about that, but it is nice," Pree cooed as she let herself be rubbed.

Inari purred as she did this, glad to see that her love was being less snarky lately. She could feel that the dynamic between them had changed, and she knew how it had changed for her. What she didn't know was how it had changed for Priya. She'd been more receptive to a lot of things lately, which had surprised the older woman in a pleasant way.

Inari lost herself in her thoughts, knowing the direction of where she was headed with them. It was something she had long given up on but was more than welcome to come back to her life. She sighed, letting the heat of the shower and the warmth of her lover next to her lull her into a place of safety, at least for a little while.

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Luminia was already out of her shower and currently brushing her hair, pulling out the kinks and snarls that had formed overnight. She was grateful to both Inari and Priya for showing her the basics of self-grooming. Sure, she knew how to do these things back on Talemkha but was limited in the manner of tools and techniques to do all of this.

The mirror itself was something that she knew many Artucian would kill to have. Able to see her own reflection, Luminia could see where exactly she had work on as far as her look was concerned. Her hair was completely straight and would fall down her back the way she wanted. She smiled at herself, her four eyes blinking at her beautiful reflection in the silvered glass.

She always knew that she had caught the attention of males and was considered pretty. But now that she could clean up on a regular basis, she was positively stunning. Though she wasn't vain by any stretch, Luminia could see just how much had changed in how everyone interacted with her. Being clean as often as she was, seemed to project the same radiance that her mother did.

Though her mother was considered a great beauty, she was certain that much would change. When she got the chance to go through the paces of a daily shower and clean up, she would be revered as a goddess. Lumi smiled at the thought of it and wondered what Sohlkris would think. No doubt he'd be drooling all over Valessa, given half a chance. He was probably doing that already, seeing how close the two of them had become in the past few weeks.

Luminia looked over her azure blue skin one last time, making sure that she looked and felt clean. Seeing and feeling nothing on her, she moved back into her room and started to get dressed. She went with a simpler set of attire today; knee high black boots and thick snowy white stockings that went up past mid-thigh.

Underwear and a bra of course, which went under a simple one piece, cream colored dress that covered her from the neck down to her knees. It wasn't very revealing, but the way it hugged her frame, left little to the imagination. Smiling at her look, she turned on her heels and left the room, following the smells that her nose picked up.

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"You sure that you're going to be OK?" Korsa teased as she watched Shazza walking around.

"Yes Korsa, I'll be all right! I've taken a pounding like that before. It might have been pushing my limits a little, but it was so worth it!" Shazza told the big woman as she dressed.

"It's good to know that I can satisfy the inner freak within you," Korsa stated as she pulled in her lover for a hug.

"I think we both have inner freaks. The look on your face tells me that you're just as happy as I am today," Shazza said while looking to her.

"So true! Now let's get a move on! I don't want to miss breakfast!"

Nodding in agreement, Shazza was a second behind Korsa in leaving, the void in her stomach needing to be filled. Both women followed the aroma of frying pastries and cooking meat. They entered the Officer's Mess, to the smell of fried chicken and... pancakes? The moment Korsa saw the table, she knew who had been cooking.

"Nats made her famous chicken and waffles?" Korsa wondered with a smirk.

"Yup! She's just finishing the last batch of chicken now. Should be out in a moment," Inari stated. Sure enough, Natalya, Kasumi and Alex walked out of the kitchen, arms laden with platters full of deep fried chicken and waffles. Alex carried a tray loaded with condiments, such as syrup, jam, peanut butter and so on. Both women seated themselves as the platters landed on the table.

"Just one moment. Need to grab one last thing," Kasumi said before heading back into the kitchen with Alex right behind her. They came out once again, with pitchers full of coffee, black tea, iced tea and orange juice. Doffing the aprons they were wearing, the trio sat down and advised everyone to start serving themselves.

Not needing any further encouragement, everyone helped themselves to generous portions of breakfast. The crew smacked their lips in anticipation and were soon stuffing their faces. Shazza, never having had this kind of a breakfast, found it a bit odd, but enjoyable all the same! How flavorful the chicken was, when mixed with the spices that Nats used and how it came together beautifully with the waffles and syrup!

"Well, I think I should get this out of the way, by your leave, Commodore?" Korsa wondered.

"Speak your mind, Doctor."

"Now that there are some additional people who are manifesting abilities akin to your own, I would also like to start running the same battery of tests on them that I have on you. I want to see if any of the results that have come from you, correlate with what we've found with your results, sir," the doctor told him.

"Speaking of which, do you have the final results from those tests?" Alex wondered, curious if Korsa had any answers.

"I do sir, but I would like to lump everything in on one presentation, just so everyone is brought up to speed at the same time," she told him.

"Very well, Doctor. Preform your tests and take what samples you need, then inform us when everything is ready," the big man told her. "Anyone have any issues with these tests?"

The entire crew shook their heads, each woman now wanting the same answers that Alex sought. No one there was entirely sure how this happened, but anything that Korsa could dig up would be worth any number of tests.

"Good to see that everyone is being sensible. If we are to fully understand this... power... that we can wield, then we will be able to exert a measure of control over it. Without that, there is no way we will be able to proceed with our mission," he stated, and the ladies agreed with him.

Having no control over this power would not only endanger themselves, but others around them. That was something that no one would be willing to risk, no matter the gains they would make from its use.

"Here's hoping that you make some headway with the translations from those books, Talon. How's the copy work coming along by the way?" Nats asked.

"Nearly done, but Jaesa and I have made little progress in decoding it. A lot of stuff seems like it's in Artucian, but it's almost like it was another form of the language. I need a better baseline if I'm going to be able to decode it any further," the catgirl told the crew.

"Maybe we will find the answers in the Ark! You say it is like the runes of my people?" Luminia asked.

"Yeah. It's similar in some ways but deviating into an offshoot that I have no idea how to decode," Taal'ani replied.

"It is possible that such information lies aboard the Ark! It may not be much, but it could give you a place to start!" Luminia enthused.

"That would certainly give us something more than what we currently have!" Jaesa stated, popping in on a nearby holo emitter.

"I take it that you are having trouble with the translations as well?" Alex wondered.

"Yes, sir and I am afraid to report that things do get worse from there," she stated.

"Explain."

"I have performed a more detailed scan of all the wrecks that have crashed on Talemkha. My recent analysis has determined that there are not enough materials needed to repair the Perseus' hyperdrive. Most of the required elements and materials have become completely inert and useless to us. We will require a fair bit more than what lies on the planet below in order to restore the ship," the AI reported glumly.

"Damn it! I had hoped there would be enough to get us out of here. Finding a proper life bearing world is essential before we can wake those colonists," Alex grumbled. "Our sublight engines are fully operational, at least?"

"Yes sir, but it would take a long while before we would find another system among the stars," Jaesa replied. "On top of which, with the tertiary Solaris reactor operational, power to the ship is at over seventy percent and holding. But we will require more than eighty-five percent power to activate the hyperdrive. So, we will also require additional materials to start up the primary Solaris reactor, sir."

"Speaking of which, how is the primary Solaris reactor Jaesa? I believe that it is close to ending its life cycle?" Natalya asked.

"That is correct, Lt. Commander Vostrikov. I would recommend that it be jettisoned today, so as to spare any issues with pushing it out as it enters its next phase," the AI remarked.

"Sir, permission to head down to Engineering to jettison the Solaris reactor, before its hits red giant phase?" Nats asked, standing at attention.

"Permission granted, Lt. Commander. Take Warrant Officer Taal'ani with you to help ensure the process is free of issues. Jaesa, assist them however you can. Keep me posted of your progress," Alex ordered.

"Aye, aye, sir!" the three women saluted before leaving the Officer's Mess. Stanley then popped up as Jaesa faded.

"Sir, is there any way in which I can be of assistance?" the VI asked.

"Yes Stanley. Assist Jaesa in whatever capacity she requires. The more hands on deck handling the Solaris reactor extraction, the better," Alex told the program.

"Sir, yes sir!" the VI said saluting, before he too faded.

"Nats, when you're done with that, head up to the Hospital wing as soon as you are able. I still need to run those tests on you, just like everyone else," she told her adoptive daughter over the comms.

"No worries mama! I'll be on my way up as soon at the old reactor is clear of the ship!" Natalya replied.

"Good girl! Be safe!"

"Always mama!" Nats replied before cutting the line.

"Anyone have any ideas on how we're going to get the hyperdrive materials?" Kasumi wondered.

"Well, as far as paying for them in concerned, I have an idea for that," Inari stated.

"Oh? Please, share it," Alex asked, as he finished his last bite of food.

"Well, this ship is a veritable treasure trove of items that came from Earth, before we were driven off it. Some of these things would be worth a lot of money, to the right buyers," Inari said.

"And I would guess that you know which buyers to speak to?" Kasumi guessed.

"Though we have been merchant traders as our official profession, we've also done a few black market deals. The people I know were trustworthy enough. Anyone who thought to cross us, spoke to the business end of our weapons," Inari said with a smirk.

"Good to know! So, I assume there won't much in the way of trouble when trading a few of these items?" Alex queried.

"Nah. They heard about what happened to the last guys who double crossed us. No one wants a repeat of that, especially anyone who employs or trades with us," she told the big man.

"What did happen to the last group who crossed you ladies?" he wondered curiously.

"I'll tell you about it later, sir. If I forget, remind me to tell you about our job on Tahrion V. One hell of a story, that is almost as good as the one we are writing now," she said.

"That good is it?" he smirked.

"Yes, it is! Now, how are we going to get out of the system, with no ship capable of hyperspace?" she wondered.

"I am already working on something, but I intended it to be a surprise. Seems like that cat's out of the bag right now," he grumbled as he stood. "Let's get everything cleaned up and then head down to the shipwright sector. There is something that you all need to see."

Everyone present quickly moved along, getting the whole room tidied in almost record time. Inari and Priya moved the fastest, both women eager to see what he had planned. He smirked as he witnessed the whole room getting cleaned in five minutes. He gestured for them to follow him and they boarded a cart at the nearby monorail station.

After instructing the cart to take them to the shipwright sector, the crew sat in silence during the ride. The women knew that they weren't prying any answers out of their commanding officer. All they could do right now, was wait until they arrived. Six minutes later, they arrived at the station and Alex led the way.

"You know, I've had to go through a lot of design ideas and the like, before finding something decent. With a few tweaks to the design, I settled on something that I thought would be fitting for such kickassitude women," Alex told them.

They walked past several quiet workshops, until they approached one that was active, as indicated by the holographic panels displaying its status. The doors parted as the approached and the ladies were transfixed by what was happening. In the construction bay, they were watching a frigate being assembled. The superstructure, the wiring, all of it was being put together with what seemed like brand new pieces.

"Say hello to the new and improved Darkstrider ladies!"

"That's the Darkstrider?" Inari asked, incredulous at what she was seeing.

"At the very core, yes. Once all the weapons and personal effects were removed, I had the whole thing taken apart. From there, everything was melted down and recast into new parts and substructure. This is me, giving you your ship back, but a vastly improved version of it," Alex told her.

"The computers, containing everything? Talon's personal rig?" Inari wondered, hoping that those weren't recycled.

"Those have been set aside, until Taal'ani can come on up here and go over everything, making sure that the ship is up to her specs. I won't pretend to know anything about how the ships systems are supposed to come together. That's the realm of Jaesa and Talon, who are assigned to handle that," the big man stated.

Inari walked forward, looking over the various bots and mechanized arms reassembling her ship. Though she was saddened by the Darkstrider being dismantled and melted down, it made sense. The fact that the new ship was being rebuilt with the old, made Inari smile.

"Thank you, sir! I greatly appreciate this! We greatly appreciate this!" Inari enthused, tripping over her words a little. The rest of the crew was likewise enthusiastic in their approval, several of them walking forward to get a closer look.

"With your new ship, I've spared no resource or expense for it. I've upgraded the weapons on it, so taking on bigger ships, such as destroyers, won't be much of an issue. Added in torpedo tubes, four facing forward and one facing aft, along with close range repeater cannons. Your new main weapon is the pulsar cannons, designed to wear down enemy shields quickly," Alex started.

"Pulsar cannons?" Inari asked.

"A unique weapon that we had developed before the Prometheus vessels launched. Very much like laser cannons but modulated to short out the shields of a ship. Once the shields are down, successive hits would start shorting out the electrical systems on a ship. The cannons can also be attuned to deliver standard laser energy bursts, which can melt the armor of most ships," he explained.

"Shields?"

"Yes. Upgraded shield systems, designed to stop soft and hard ordinance, Updated armor plating, making hits on any wiring or critical systems a thing of the past," he stated. "You would also have updated flight controls, along with a better ship design, making your ability to dodge incoming fire much easier," Alex went on.

"This is... amazing! You are outfitting us with a state of the art ship!!" Inari squealed joyously.

"Well, as state of the art as these old foundries are, which I would assume isn't much," he said.

"Actually, sir, this ship is far more advanced than most of the ship that most races have out there!" the Iranian woman told him.

"You're bullshitting me, right? The Perseus isn't outdated?" he asked.

"No sir! In fact, it's easily one of the most advanced ships that I know of! Few spacefaring races have even reached this level of tech, much less surpassed it!" she told him honestly.

"How is that possible?"

"The Black Crusade of the Xuul'khan sir. So much was lost during that conflict, that the galaxy as a whole is still recovering," she told him matter of factly.

"Hmph!" he grunted, thinking back to when humankind had first discovered that ship back on Earth.

Alex was certain that there were other races far more advanced than humanity was, but they were not. It was surprising to him that they had lost so much during the time when he was asleep. He wondered what would have happened, had there been no Black Crusade. There was no sense in mulling over the past, the 'what ifs' and 'what could have beens', got no one nowhere.

"Well, I suppose that this ship and everything it has will be a game changer. You are certain that no one knows about this system?" he asked, his face going from pensive to worried.

"When we jumped into it, we did a scan for any trace of gas trails and came up with nothing. This sector of space is considered wild space, sir. If it hadn't been for the sensor grid that was built on the Darkstrider, we probably would have been dead," she told him seriously.

"That's good news! Speaking of a sensor grid, we have crafted a new one for the Darkstrider. This one is now capable of scanning at least two point seven three parsecs of space at any given time," he told her. "And, we have taken apart and are rebuilding your hyperdrive and your power core. It's not a Solaris reactor, but it will provide you with enough power to jump start a heavy cruiser, if you need that much power."

"Sir, I..." Inari began, just overwhelmed by how much she was getting for her new ship.