On Trackless Seas

Chapter 07
***

“You claim you are ‘just a man’ and then you do things like this.”

 

I sighed, looking away from the group of a dozen rocks floating in the air before me and finding Nia watching from the doorway.

 

Telekinesis. Like flying through space on a ship, riding a hover bike, or swinging around the next best thing to a lightsaber it had been a flight of fancy since I was a little boy. In fact, I’m pretty sure everyone alive of Earth today has fantasized about at least one of those more than once. And now, here I was, living the dream.

 

Of course, the dream took a lot of work to actually achieve. I was practicing every time I got a spare minute, and yes I was making progress, but it seemed so slow. Well, as the saying goes, nothing worth it is ever easy.

 

Telekinesis was just scratching the surface of my newly awakened psyker powers, according to Alice. As I got used to them, I would gain more abilities, greater scope and versatility, and of course more overall power. As she put it, I was like a newly awakened child: I had to learn to walk before I could run, and the process typically took years.

 

The only difference here was that where children of her Empire typically came into their psyker powers around eight or so and thus approached them with the knowledge and will of a child, I was a mid-thirties adult, with an adult’s will, mentality, and desire for power. In other words, I should grow into my powers much faster than the typical child of the Empire.

 

So for now, I was practicing with what was available to me. There were suggested exercises available in my computer brain when I went looking for a way to train myself, so I was taking full advantage of the experience of a people who had been using these powers for something like twenty thousand years.

 

Of course, I had a lifetime of experience under my belt and that may have colored my view a bit. I knew that sometimes, the best way to learn something wasn’t the best way to learn it. You had to experience the ‘error’ half of the ‘trial and error’ formula in order to understand why some things worked the way they did and the consequences of getting it wrong.

 

Being able to focus on multiple training exercises at a time helped a lot, not just in training my psyker abilities but also my newly souped up brain and my cybernetic enhancements. My thoughts were coming faster and my memory and focus were improving daily. My ability to multitask was shooting up and I could even start to dip into the pseudo-compressed time of higher CPU cycles that my meat brain couldn’t keep up with.

 

And that was just the mental side. On the physical side, I was discovering my new limits on the sly and this body was, quite literally, super human. I could run faster, jump higher and further, lift, throw, and pull more, and my stamina was through the roof. As with my psyker abilities, I had dug into my computer brain looking for training routines. What I found was entire libraries worth of martial arts and training in various forms of armed and unarmed combat for beings of all description. Alice had, at some point, boiled everything that applied to humanoids down into a single cohesive package however—when she had been scanning Earth, to be precise. Dipping into compressed time to run through katas at the maximum speed and force my cybernetically enhanced, biologically improved over engineered body could produce and watching the replay from drone footage came out looking like something movie studios wished they could make.

 

I was learning new things about my improved body daily, it seemed.

 

So, I understood where Nia was coming from. From the perspective of someone coming from a pre-information age society, the things I could do probably seemed like magic. Hell, sometimes they looked that way to me and I was the one doing them. Especially when I started combining martial arts practice with psyker practice and started using telekinesis to lift and move myself and objects in my environment.

 

Didn’t mean I agreed with the whole ‘god’ thing. I had stopped bothering to correct the masses of Eru if it got them moving faster on getting ready for the exodus, but I didn’t want Nia or Visa to look at me like some infallible, unobtainable, perfect being.

 

I was thoroughly human and I owned that fact.

 

Nia seemed to be coming around, but then she went and said things like that. Visa, on the other hand, was thoroughly convinced of my divinity and took pleasure in twisting every argument I made against it around into more proof for her own argument. I would have brushed it off as her just being ridiculously thirsty, but I could tell she enjoyed the debates and arguments on their own—any heated exchange of opinions or ideas really, so long as it was a subject that interested her. I could relate, so I put up with it.

 

An idea occurred as to how I could fix that perception and maybe knock out a few other birds with the same stone.

 

Problem: I was stuck on a space ship with what was, boiled down, a yandere AI.

 

‘Hey! I resemble that remark!’

 

Case in point. She can’t resist the urge to dip into my thoughts. Privacy is a foreign concept to Alice. I can tolerate it for now and I know she means well, but eventually I’m going to get annoyed if I don’t have something to take my mind off of it.

 

Problem: Alice had pretty much come right out and said it, if not in so many words. She was immortal. I was her captain and she refused to allow me to die. She had gone so far as to seal away my real body, tie my mind and soul to her own ship body, and build me a new humanoid body to play with because she wouldn’t risk me going out and getting myself killed.

 

Old age was no longer an issue and if my body died, she’d just build another. The only way I was kicking the bucket for good was if something came along that got us both at the same time.

 

I was going to be alive a long, long time. I needed someone to share that time with outside of the mildly yandere shipgirl.

 

Problem: smart as I was, both before and after my upgrade, I was not a people person. Nor was I a politician. There was, in fact, a whole list of things I wasn’t and only a few I was or wanted to be. Or had the patience to try to be.

 

I couldn’t and didn’t want to do everything myself. That, and it would be more fun for me to watch the action sometimes than be the one in the middle of it. For instance, I absolutely loathed sitting in on the various meetings we had to deal with on a daily basis. On the other hand, I loved watching Nia get all hot under the collar when someone said something stupid and pissed her off. Or watching her school some king or queen on just who ran the empire. She was a little spitfire. But I only enjoyed those times when she let loose. The rest of the time, even though they served her, Nia was the one kissing ass to get things done instead of the other way around.

 

I understood why that was, but it grated at my pride because I hated the idea of having to kiss anyone’s ass. It made me angry for her sake, that she was forced to come to these people with hat in hand when they should be jumping to do what she asked of them.

 

As Nia put it, “A ruler is but a servant to the people. The more power or authority the ruler has, the more people they must serve, the more they must do to keep their people happy. A ruler only rules as the pleasure of the people and a poor ruler will soon find themselves separated from their power, and likely their head.” In other words, she could just brute force it, but would wind up pissing off everyone and do more harm than good in the process.

 

Back to the subject at hand, I didn’t envy Nia her job and I didn’t want to be the one doing it if it was necessary in the future. I could do it. I had the skills for it, tucked away somewhere in my computer brain. Even just thinking about it brought up references to a ‘social knowledge suite.’ A lot of that was running as background processes, active all the time and expressed unconsciously without my having to even think about it, but if I wanted to I could actively tap into it and do all of the political smooth talking crap. It just didn’t appeal to be, beyond the basics I was already using to not come off like a social retard.

 

In short, I needed other people around. A ship needs a crew. Yes Alice, even a ship that can run itself.

 

 

‘I could, captain. Is that what you want?’

 

 

I focused on Nia, letting the rocks I was juggling telekinetically fall to the ground. “You could too, you know.”

 

“Eru don’t possess such abilities, Kyle.”

 

Grinning, I asked, “But would you want to? I could make it happen.”

 

Nia considered it for a moment before nodding once, hesitantly. “I believe so.”

 

“On a related note,” I stood and stretched, working out the kinks from where I had been sitting so long. “When this is all said and done, how would you feel about not going to sleep with the others? With your people asleep you wouldn’t exactly have much in the way of pressing things to do. I know you’re an empress, so it’s probably beneath your station, but would you be interested in staying on the ship as part of the crew—”

 

“Yes!” The answer was immediate, decisive, and enthusiastic.

 

I blinked. “That was easier than I’d thought it would be.”

 

Nia looked puzzled. “Did you expect me to say no? To the opportunity of a lifetime to travel the stars with you?” Chuckling quietly, she added, “I had hoped to bring up this subject when we left and the people of Eruvia were safe. I had an entire list of arguments prepared and examples of how useful I could be for you, and you just tossed them all out by asking me yourself.”

 

Sending the small woman a smile, I said, “If it makes you feel better, I could sit and listen to you explain them all.”

 

Shaking her head, Nia sighed. “No, no. This is fine. Though I do have one request. Well, a few actually.” I made a rolling ‘go on’ motion with my hand. “While I could do the job alone, I would prefer to have assistance. For that, I would request to have Inumi by my side.”

 

“Done. What else?”

 

At my easy agreement, she beamed. “Visa as well. While I will act as the go between for you and my people, Visa will be needed to handle religious aspects. Additionally, she is quite adroit politically as well and would be as invaluable as Inumi in different ways.”

 

I nodded. “Sure. Visa’s fun and I can see where she’d be handy.”

 

“‘Fun,’ eh?” she murmured, raising an eyebrow. Deciding to let that one lie, she continued. “Also, staff. Perhaps ten people to act as assistants, servants, handmaidens, chefs, and what have you for the three of us. When they aren’t otherwise occupied with those duties, they would be happy to take care of whatever needs you had around your ship—be it cooking, cleaning, and so on.”

 

“Alice takes care of the Whisper herself, using drones when the task is too big for the wildlife to handle. If you want people for that sort of thing, I’m not against it, but I don’t really need it personally. I can cook my own food and clean up after myself, but I have no idea how to cook Eru dishes so be my guest as far as the kitchen is concerned.” Heading for the door, I said, “I’m going to go find a place to do some physical training for a while. You want to tag along?”

 

Nia considered it for a moment before shaking her head. “No, thank you. I’ll wait for Visa and tell her the news. I will see you at tonight’s meal.”

 

“Okay then,” I agreed, before leaving my room in the latest castle we were visiting and heading out into the courtyard to find my bike so I could fly out of town a ways and practice in privacy.
***

Nia waited for the door to close and the sound of Kyle’s boots on the marble floor outside to fade away completely. As soon as that was done, she threw herself down on the untouched Eru-sized bed in his room and squealed into the pillow, her arms and legs thumping the bedding as she allowed herself a momentary lapse in control.

 

Rolling over, she was sure her laughter made her sound like a madwoman. Her face hurt from smiling so much and her eyes leaked tears, but she didn’t care.

 

She must have lost track of time, because in seemingly no time at all the bedroom door opened and Visa let herself in. Looking around, the dark haired woman raised an eyebrow at Nia’s flushed, teary, smiling state. “Ara ara. Did our Lord husband finally take you to bed, Nia?”

 

Normally, Nia would have fired back with some witty retort, but today she just couldn’t find it within her to care. “Not yet, Visa. Perhaps soon.” Visa blinked at that, looking suddenly on the back foot. Nia took the opportunity to make a follow up blow. “Also, Kyle has asked me to join him on his Last Whisper as part of her crew.” Visa’s left eye twitched minutely but she otherwise didn’t display any outward sign of displeasure. “Don’t worry, I made sure to secure a place for yourself and Inumi as well, along with a handful of Eru staff.”

 

Huffing out an annoyed sigh, Visa stomped across the room and plopped down on the bed beside her friend. Crossing her arms under her large breasts, the black haired woman’s purple eyes turned a glare on Nia’s blue. “Congratulations, Nia. You’ve won. And robbed me of my attempts to pay you back—”

 

“You’re still going on about that? Give it up, Visa! It’s ancient history. We were just children. You were in pain and I represented everything you didn’t have. I forgave you years ago!” Scooting over, Nia pulled her oldest friend into a side-on hug. Visa resisted for a moment before eventually going limp and allowing herself to be handled, leaning her weight against Nia’s side. “You have already done so much for me. Far more than a little fight was ever worth.”

 

“That’s easy for you to say,” Visa grumbled.

 

Nia squeezed her friend and rolled her eyes. “Visa, I love you, but you are the most stubborn person I know.” They sat in silence for a few moments as Nia thought before finally, the blonde’s lips pulled into a devious smile. “Do you want to pay back that debt to me all at once?” Visa nodded her head.

 

“Eruvia is going to die. Our world, our empire, our home. Only our people will remain. Let this be a fresh start. Clear the ledger between us. Be the friend I made when I brought you into my home and help me with what is to come.”

 

Visa turned an annoyed look up at her friend. “That doesn’t repay anything.”

 

“Shush,” Nia commanded imperiously. “Now, help me plan how to best get us into our Lord’s bed. It’s driving me crazy! If he doesn’t ask me soon, I’m going to die.”

 

“Fufufu.” Chuckling, Visa wrapped her arms around Nia and squeezed. “Push forward, little Nia. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Our dear captain admires you. He admires your decisive nature. Do not ask, simply do, as I have been.”

 

Nia hummed. “Tell him I would like to court—”

 

“No,” Visa denied. “More forward than that. Saying you would like something leaves a way out. Tell him you will court him.”

 

“He could say no.”

 

The Popess shook her head. “He won’t. Our God likes his women to know what they want. As much as I love and honor him as our God, it’s clear that he doesn’t want worshipers—especially in women. He responds better to me not as the Popess but just as Visa. He wants a woman who will approach him as an equal, even if we are not truly on equal ground. Kyle is not like Eru men though. Do not be overbearing. He will respond poorly.” Considering Nia, she smiled. “But I don’t see that being a problem for you, given your disposition.”

 

“I see,” the blonde murmured. “I will have to think more on it. Now, I suppose we must get to business. Tell me, how did your meeting go?”

 

Visa groaned quietly. “The usual. More offers of virgin brides, can we tag along, and so forth. I shut them up, but I think the entire clergy is one excuse away from excommunicating me and just doing what they want where Kyle is concerned. The only thing holding them back is the Pilgrimage.” Chuckling darkly, she added, “Too bad for them, I never explained that they would be going to sleep along with everyone else. What about you?”

 

“More of the same. This one wants us to construct a new castle for her and give her her own continent, essentially.”

 

Visa turned enough to meet Nia’s eyes. “It is ‘us’ now, isn’t it? I like the sound of that. So, how did you deal with the uppity little brat?”

 

Nia smiled. “I very politely told her no and changed the subject. Then I added her to the list of royalty who will be having their titles stripped upon resettlement.”

 

“Ouch,” Visa winced. “Well, she should have thought about that beforehand. Long live the empress.”