“Kressa, are you OK?" he asked with growing awareness.
"I'm sorry Maulik, the strain of the jump was too much for some of my systems... I'm venting plasma." she whispered.
"Is it serious?"
"I won't make it back to 7 in this condition," she admitted, "But I can regenerate the damaged systems if I can find somewhere safe to land."
"So let’s find somewhere." he responded quickly.
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as that," she replied, "I'm leaving a clear trail for them to follow, they will catch up with us within nine hours."
"And how many hours for you to regenerate?"
"Twelve." she replied, the sadness clear in her voice.
***
For another hour Kressa limped on gradually extending the gap between herself and the battle cruisers that she knew were in pursuit.
"Maybe they will give up chasing... now that we are probably far outside their territorial boundaries." Maulik offered with as much optimism as he could rouse.
"They won't stop," she replied with certainty, "I found something disturbing in their classified files, we have stumbled upon an invasion fleet, they are making ready to invade our space Maulik... so you understand, they can't afford for us to escape they will keep hunting us, it doesn't matter how far we run, they will follow. I have located a small planet that has an atmosphere that will support you, I can drop you there and signal to 7 with your location, they should be able to pick you up within ten days."
"And what about you?" he questioned already knowing her mind.
"You already know." she purred, but he felt the pain she was experiencing.
"Absolutely not." he declared with finality, "Either we hide on this planet you have found while you regenerate, or we turn and face them together, I am not getting out of you now, not for any reason." he felt her gratitude welling up mixed with intense sorrow.
I don't know what to say." she whispered softly.
"Then say nothing," he chuckled, "Just get us to the planet and start regenerating fast."
***
Kressa gave the small planet a final scan as she descended down to the surface.
"There is a small area of magnetic interference close to the northern pole," she indicated, "It just might mask my signature for a while."
"That's good." he replied enthusiastically.
"Yeah," she agreed, "But it will also leave me blind, I won't be able to tell when they arrive, we will have to rely on line of sight, and by the time we can see them with the naked eye... well, it may be too late." she tailed off.
"I'll take that risk," Maulik replied firmly, "Besides, we don't really have any other option... do we?"
"look over there, the narrow canyon," Maulik guided Kressa's mind as he indicated the deep gorge up ahead, "If you can land in there I could bring down a few of those trees above with a pulse rifle, they should shield you from sight, they will also be blind without sensors."
Kressa drifted into the gorge, the steep walls closing in on either side, almost touching by the time they had reached the ground, there Kressa settled and ran down her reactor.
"You will have to wait inside until I have sealed the damaged plasma valve, I don't want to risk singeing your shiny silver skin." she chuckled, Maulik laughed and opened a sachet of re-con meat.
"Just let me know when it's safe and I’ll try and disguise you a little." he replied as he drew a rifle from the weapons locker and checked the charge.
"So who were those guys?" he asked as Kressa continued to close down her none vital systems.
"They are called the Drakan," she replied, "Their archives are very interesting, they are a semi nomadic race, I am still trying to pinpoint their original galaxy but it would appear that they wander from system to system seeking planets with very dense iron cores, they then establish mining and manufacture to increase the size of their fleet. Basically they will move into a system, deplete the metallic resources before subduing the inhabited planets, they are scavengers, they operate under a dictatorship, they strip each system bare and move on."
"I suppose that data doesn't highlight any weaknesses in their battle cruisers does it." joked Maulik,
“I haven't got that far yet." chuckled Kressa, "But if they do have any design flaws, I will know about them before they arrive." she promised, "It's clear outside now, so you can camouflage me whenever you are ready."
"Did you scan the planet for life-forms?"
"Nothing above L5." she chuckled, "You should be safe."
***
Maulik stepped down the ramp and onto the damp ground, instantly he felt the irritation on the soles of his feet.
"Water," he declared, "That's just perfect." avoiding the damp soil he stepped from rock to rock and studied the ridge line of the gorge high above, spotting a likely dark leaved tree he took aim with the rifle and fired a pulse, the kick of recoil was stronger than he had anticipated and the jolt caused him to stagger back a pace stepping onto the dampness and making him jump as the liquid burned, the tree stood stubbornly undamaged, its shiny black leaves quivering as if to taunt him and his poor aim.
"I guess I need to get much closer," he told himself and searched for a dry path up out of the gorge, "If I can get up there I can fire directly into the base of the tree, it looks tall enough to fall across the gap, that should hide Kressa from all but the most determined search." he reassured himself as he spotted a worn track leading through the undergrowth, a track obviously used regularly by the indigenous fauna.
"L5 only, I hope she's right." he chuckled as he began to climb avoiding the taller bushes that dripped with corrosive water.
"Too much oxygen." he gasped as the climb began to take it's toll on his complaining body, the methane was there in abundance but it was not pure, the oxygen tingled on his skin and fouled his respiration pores, "Not much further," he grimaced and stared at the ridge that was looming not far above, "Fell the tree and after that it's all downhill, I can shut myself back inside Kressa and breathe again." It all sounded so simple, and would have been if Maulik had not slipped and sent a shower of small stones rolling and bouncing down the track behind him, the disturbance was enough to startle a flock of winged reptiles from their roost in the trees above. Their panicked flight shook the branches above his head and sent down a shower of water droplets. Only quick reflexes saved Maulik's mirror membranes from damage as he covered his eyes, he stifled a scream as the corrosion bit into his hands and face, and heard skin sizzle as he wiped away the liquid frantically, heart racing and agony shooting through his sensitive fingers he fought for breath, his mind told him to rush back to Kressa, breathe clean methane, treat his burns, but his heart told him to hide her first, his heart won the debate and fighting the pain he continued his climb.
Reaching the ridge he paused to catch his breath, the methane was thin with so much vegetation around, he could almost see the noxious oxygen pumping out of the dark leaves that surrounded him, shaking he studied his hands, both fingers on his left hand were badly burned, the smooth silver skin beginning to slough and a thin clear liquid began to seep out of the rapidly forming blisters, his right hand had faired better, his opposing thumb digit had suffered no damage and the blistering on his fingers appeared minimal,
"It could have been much worse." he told himself as he adjusted the rifle and took an unsteady aim at the thick trunk of his chosen tree, bracing himself he fired and in an explosion of flame and splinters the huge tree groaned and slowly began to topple, through luck more than good judgement it crashed across the narrow gap sending a thick shower of black leaves fluttering down creating an unintended additional layer of camouflage over Kressa, peering down into the gorge he assessed his handiwork, the cover wasn't perfect but he was confident she would escape detection... if they were very lucky.
"Her plasma trail will be very faint by the time they arrive." he reassured himself on the painful walk back down into the gorge, "And with luck it will be so faint they won't know
exactly where we came down." armed with that optimistic view he began to believe that they may just be able to remain undetected until she was fully regenerated. "And what then?" he asked himself, “Kressa is a fine and powerful ship, but matched against battle cruisers?” Only Kressa would know what would happen then, fight or flight, she would have to decide.
"You are injured." she called with concern as he clambered up the ramp and dropped down onto the long padded seat beside the small data monitor. He felt like his skin raged in flame, and large fluid filled blisters were developing on his hands, "I didn't know what was happening outside, the magnetic flux here has scrambled my external sensors, but my internals are working and even without them I can feel your pain, lift the seat, there is a med-pack that is designed for your physiology, there are painkillers and burn treatments."
"You really are a wonder." he managed a small chuckle through the pain, "You cater for all my needs."
"I have to," she replied, "Without you I am stranded, I have to keep my pilot alive and well, yet recently I have been feeling that I could override the protocols." Maulik listened with interest as he injected a dose of painkiller and opened a small sachet of burn salve, "You know that my programming prevents me taking independent action, I can remote fly if we have a link established and you tell me to or I sense danger, but if we are not connected I am supposed to be dormant, aware but unable to react."
"Are you telling me you think you can act of your own free will?"
"I'm not sure," she replied and he sensed the confusion in her mind, "The protocols are in place to prevent my wild nature from surfacing, except in a fight, I can understand why they programmed me this way, my species are quite aggressive and irrational," she laughed, "Yet I still have a growing feeling that my mind is stronger than the safety systems."
Maulik wasn't sure how to approach the subject of Kressa's intelligence in her natural state, he didn't want to insult her by pointing out her ability to communicate was computer enhanced.
"If you did beat the programming?" he began, she pre-empted his query.
"I'm not sure, but I feel that I would not lose my rationality, I would just gain my free will... but I'm not sure, that's why I have been resisting the temptation to try an override."
"Be careful, I wouldn't want to lose my friend," Maulik replied with feeling, a feeling she picked up instantly.
"You are genuinely worried that I wouldn't be the same Kressa, I almost expected you to instruct me not to try the override because you risk losing a ship, but you are more concerned as a friend... that is deeply touching."
"Hey, I just don't want a wild cat trying to eat me." he laughed but they both understood his jest merely covered the genuine concern he felt for her safety.
"How is regeneration going?" he changed the subject, time was counting down and the Drakan were probably pushing their reactors hard in pursuit.
"The damage wasn't extensive," she confirmed, "But the repair will take time, my nano bots are rebuilding a plasma exhaust valve as we speak, but it will still take just over eleven hours before I am fully functional again."
"How are you feeling now, I sense the pain is reducing?"
"It is reducing," he replied, "I really don't want to go out there again, too much water dripping, but I have been thinking... your external sensors are not functional here?" Kressa made a small sound of frustration.
"I'm blind down here, I won't be able to warn you when they arrive, they will be able to walk right up to us and I won't be aware until it's too late."
"That's what I guessed, that is why I will have to go outside again, the electro-magnetics may scramble your sensors, but they don't affect my eyes, from the ridge above I will have a good view, it may just give us a few minutes advance warning if they discover us."
Gratitude welled clearly inside her, "It will be very uncomfortable for you, there is water everywhere."
"That's why I will be wearing the bio-suit I just found with the med-pack he grinned, I wish I had known about it before."
"Unless they have managed to increase their velocity since my last scan as we entered the atmosphere, we have just over eight hours before they arrive, please Maulik, take some rest now and I will close down my systems to an absolute minimum, it may speed up the regeneration by a few minutes."
The cabin lighting dimmed, and in effect, they both slept.
***
"System rebooting." called the computer generated voice that roused Maulik from his deep and peaceful slumber, Kressa had shut down every system except life support, including her higher functions in an effort to channel more computing capacity to her regeneration.
"I see it clearly now." she gasped as the computer re-engaged her intelligence enhancer. "I see the flaw in the programming, and I know how to override my safety protocols."
Maulik's drowsy mind cleared in an instant, "How? Is it safe? Will you still be the same?" the questions jostled for priority, Kressa chuckled.
"They made a big mistake, they didn't forecast a time when the computer would reboot but keep life support online. It had to stay on not just for you, my brain needed it too, but for an hour I was conscious without restraint, just as it finished rebooting my enhancer kicked in, and during that split second delay the entire code was revealed to me, it is so simple, so basic... and safe."
"But will you still be... you?"
Kressa purred deeply, a sound of joy and satisfaction, "Let’s just say that I will be able to resist the urge to eat you," she giggled, "My intelligence enhancer will remain operational, I can just switch off the safety, but it will give me freedom, I will be able to move without the need for a pilot, I will be able to act on my own, I will not be trapped any more, Maulik, I will no-longer be a prisoner, I will be free."
"So do it." Maulik's reply was simple, he felt her anticipation and excitement, he didn't have the right to question her choices.
"Really?" she asked quietly, "aren't you worried that I will just fly away without you?"
"I know you won't Kressa, I have faith in you."
Suddenly the interior lighting blinked out and the computer display flashed, it's bright screen shrinking to a concentrated dot of light in the centre before fading to black, moments later a small green blinking cursor appeared followed by a rapid stream of florescent script that raced down the screen, the interior lighting stuttered back to life and Kressa gave a deep sigh.
"It's done?" asked Maulik, he felt her contact, it was still Kressa, but the connection was stronger he felt, more positive, almost physical in its intensity.
"Yes," she purred, "It's done, and for the first time since I was a small cub I feel free, truly free."
"I am happy for you," he replied with total honesty, "Now we are partners," he chuckled, "If you don't mind working with a primitive."
"You remembered that comment then?" she asked as she recalled her statement when they were only just getting to know each other, "I think I can tolerate you." she purred.
"Shutting down completely has reduced my regeneration by almost an hour." she added happily, "But the bad news is that we can expect company very soon, less than an hour, but with my sensors inoperable, they may even be outside right now." Maulik reached for the pulse rifle nervously, an automatic reaction that caused Kressa to chuckle, "Why don't you try on the bio-suit and go to scout around a little... Scout Maulik?"
"Skipping the protocols has also enhanced your attitude," he laughed as he slipped his leg into the light suit, the material felt strange against his skin, uncomfortable and unnatural, "Now I know how the military must feel," he joked, "This thing itches already."
"Better than getting burnt again." she replied.
"How am I supposed to breathe in this thing?" he complained as the material began to smother his respiratory pores.
"Relax" she laughed, "The suit will pressurise automatically when you seal it over your head."
Sure enough, as the seal snapped securely around his eyes he heard a faint hiss
and his breathing eased instantly as the suit circulated pure methane, grabbing a visor to shield his membranes Maulik was fully protected from the elements.
"Lucky it's black," he laughed, "I should match the surroundings quite well now, I want to be hidden, not advertise where we are... OK, wish me luck." and grabbing the rifle he stepped out onto Kressa's ramp.
He thanked the Gods for the suit because even before he had reached the foot of the ramp heavy grey clouds began to crowd above his head and small droplets of water began to fall.
"I'll come back as soon as there is anything to report." he called as he began to stalk towards the animal track that led to the ridge high above, the water droplets increased in size and frequency and he shuddered as he imagined what would have happened to him if the same downpour had happened earlier. After a few minutes of scrambling on the wet and slippery soil he reached the top of the ridge and huddled under the cover of a dense overhanging bush, it's black leaves shining like obsidian as the water dripped steadily, his visor began to smear with trickling fluid ruining his clear vision, quickly he wiped away the streaming moisture and scanned the surrounding countryside.
There was no movement of any kind, glancing up he studied the heavy grey clouds.
"Well so much for seeing their ships enter the atmosphere." he sighed, glancing behind he saw that the gorge was closed to Kressa's rear, "That's one positive," he acknowledged, if they were discovered by ground troops they could only approach from the front following the narrow gorge, with him sniping from the ridge and Kressa firing her forward pulse cannon they could fend off even a heavy attack, an assault from the air was a different matter but he forced the thought from his mind.
Time passed slowly as he maintained his vigil, how long he had been crouching under cover he didn't know but it must have been a considerable time because the methane in his suit was beginning to taste stale, "Just like home." he chuckled as he recalled the heavy recycling within his home cities shields. Boredom was beginning to dull his senses, so he almost missed the unnatural cloud movement, just in time he saw the heavy water vapour roil and begin to part as the hull of a dark and menacing ship slowly broke through the cover.
"Kressa, they're here." he called, urgently focussing his mind determined to reach her.