Harvester 7 by Andy Lang

open
with a rush of atmosphere and deep metallic clanging, the shields
flickered across the growing opening and arrested the rush of vital
methane that was venting into space.
    "What do I
do?" he questioned and heard a deep and throaty purr.
    "Nothing." she
sighed, "Just hang on tight." The interior cockpit lighting dimmed
as the reactor in the rear began to hum as it built power. Suddenly
Maulik understood why the seat moulded so completely around his
body as Kressa shot forward through the still opening doors and in
a split second jinked a 90° turn that crushed him into the
cushioning and made his head spin.
    "By the Gods."
he exclaimed in awe.
    "You've not
seen anything yet." she purred and with a burst of acceleration
that crammed him down further into his seat and blurred his vision
she leapt instantly past the speed of light.
    "Where shall
we go?" the delight clear in her voice.
    "Anywhere you
want." he grinned as his body settled into the acceleration.
Suddenly a star chart appeared in his mind.
    "Pick one."
she offered.
    "Do we have
enough fuel?" he asked with concern, he recognised the chart and
all of the systems were many hours distant.
    "I make my
own," she laughed, "So don't worry about that, now choose your
star."
    Maulik
selected at random and braced himself, Kressa was having fun after
being idle for so long, she had also determined to show him her
full capabilities and he knew the ride was going to be
interesting.
    "OK, that's
good," she signalled, "Now prepare yourself for the ride of a
lifetime." and as the words entered his mind she accelerated.
    That was a
moment in his life that Maulik would never forget, he also
understood that he would never let Kressa go, he wasn't sure if
Go'an would want her back after the mission or not, but at that
moment he knew he wouldn't let her go regardless of the
consequences.
    "She is your
ship now." answered Go'an as he entered Maulik's mind
uninvited.
    "Do I ever
have a thought that you don't monitor?" he snapped feeling more
violated that usual.
    "I do give you
some privacy... occasionally," chuckled the Chancellor, "But that
was a question that I thought I should answer directly. For some
strange reason which I admit I do not fully understand this Kressa
unit appears to have developed a very deep bond with you, sometimes
it happens that way, and in such cases it is best not to break that
bond, it is distressing for both ship and pilot."
    For the first
time since their introduction Maulik felt a genuine gratitude
towards the Chancellor.
    "You do not
have to thank me, thank Kressa." replied Go'an as he picked up
Maulik's emotion, "look after her, and she will look after
you."
    "Where next?"
purred Kressa as she decelerated and hung in the gravity of a small
moon.
    "You can't be
serious," gasped Maulik as he stared through the front screen at
the green and blue globe that filled his sight, "It can't be?"
    The throaty
purring returned and he felt a wave of pride welling up from within
the living ship around him, "It would have taken your harvester
three hours to arrive," she chuckled, "It took me six minutes... I
told you I was fast."
    Maulik's
stunned silence spoke volumes.
    "Well, I shall
take that as a compliment," she teased, "look at that asteroid,"
she guided his vision, "Now you see it," she laughed, "And now you
don't."
    Maulik barely
felt the pulse as Kressa fired, yet the charge was so strong that
the small asteroid disintegrated before his eyes leaving little
more than a cloud of dust.
    "Did you enjoy
that?" he chuckled as he struggled to comprehend the power she
possessed.
    "Not as much
as I would have if it had been moving," she laughed, "I feel like
hunting."
    "Well what do
you suggest?" he replied, relishing the thought of experiencing her
abilities matched against a live prey.
    "I don't think
it is a good idea to go looking for a fight," she laughed, "Just
let me play for a while so that I can burn off some of this
frustration, I have a feeling when we meet