"Aha, here we are! Cargo bay." Ishie had been doing the navigating, struggling to read rusted-through ship maps and taking leads from the computer screens randomly interspersed next to doors. Two heavy metal doors, edged with dirty and faded yellow and black paint marked the entry, had to be forced open by the computer.
"Not your fault my good... er, machine. Say, what were you decommissioned for? Seems like you could have a few good years left if properly cared for." Ishie asked congenially as Goran, Baha and Ogdru searched the rows of crates for their belongings.
The bear-shifter blinked. "But... I thought all ship computers were supposed to be self-aware to assist the crew."
He nodded sagely as he wandered the bay, not continuing the conversation because there were no more view screens visible. Meanwhile, Goran and Bahasa had found the crates of their personal belongings. Ten of them, barely up to their knees. (Though the Xhosa had two, and her second was almost as tall as Goran. Neither of them had to speculate what was inside.) Each was marked with the corresponding soldiers serial number, and tightly sealed. Goran made quick work of all the tops and soon nine of them were open. They avoided Xhosa's second crate, deciding she could open it if she needed what was inside.
Ogdru was in the process of digging out something to wear for each of the women "They won't mind, they'll be grateful! And of course they'll need a pair of underwear..." when a cry and a loud crash came from the far end of the bay. In an instant, Goran was a bat and flying over the rows of boxes, trailed by Bahasa and a reluctant Ogdru. They found Ischyrio on his knees, practically weeping with joy. In front of him were stack upon stack, row upon row of crates, all with the word "SPIRITS" blazoned across the front in warning red. "Thank you, sweet, sweet Council! This is the best thing you've ever done for me!" he cried, and attacked the nearest box in his bear form. He broke it open in two powerful swipes, letting the metal thermos-like containers fall to the floor around him.
Bahasa rolled his eyes. "Damn fool. Last thing we need to do is get drunk." Back in his half-form, Goran agreed. "Not now Ischyrio. There's too much to do. We need to remain lucid." The bear gave an unhappy whuff then returned to his human form. "Aw... but it takes a lot of alcohol to get me drunk, honest!" But Goran stood firm, all four arms crossed and scowling. "Alright... but when we get to where we're going, the first place I'm heading is here." He sloped off, kicking one of the thermoses out of his path like a rebellious teenager.
The girls were finished showering and were indeed grateful for the men bringing them clothes and towels. Izzy passed them the clothes, to Ogdru's frustration, and they let the guys have their turn with a hot shower. "Let's go find the rest of our stuff in the bays, I need more than this to wear." Xhosa muttered, hands traveling to hip and thigh, then to her breast. All places where she would have weapons strapped if she had them.
"Well one of them got something right and brought my belt, I'm going to the bridge. Let's see if I can restore the ship's vocal program." Noni gestured to Sidda. "Would you like to help me? I'm sure I'll need your mechanical prowess." The ocelot-shifter nodded eagerly, fishing in her pocket with a cybornetic hand to find her electrical tools.
Izwara clicked softly, gesturing with her pink scythes as she spoke.
"Indeed. I'll come with too, being the navigator and all." Sev said, and the group minus Xhosa followed the orchid mantis again, this time to the bridge.
They spent hours working on the computer, Sidda under the vast console and Nyrugake with a cord trailing from her temple to a port. She did the programs work while Sidda did the physical. Sev watched it all a little impatiently, joined by the freshly washed men and Xhosa before long. "We've almost got it, and I've updated the navigations programs as these are quite outdated." A sudden crackling sound filled the bridge, followed by a voice that sounded warped. It muttered incoherently until Sidda slammed something hard with her fist and crawled out.
"It is good to not have to resort to a screen any longer." The voice was tinny and genderless coming from the speaker, but true to the program's specifications. "It's good to hear you, Singularity." Noni was beaming as she removed the plug from her temple and helped Sidda up. "I am grateful to you, Sidda and Nyrugake. Thank you. I have only one other favor to ask you." Sev, who was being instructed by Izzy as how to punch in the coordinates, said absently, "Name it." A moments pause, then, "I wish to be freed from this ship."
Ogdru blinked, "But I thought you were the ship?" "Not entirely. I am but a program in the ships computer. Yes, I consider the ship my "body" but it does not lend itself to the kind of exploration I wish to do." Sev was expertly guiding the vessel through space, and called out a warning that she was going to take it into hyperdrive. Izwara clicked speedily after her, closing her scythes around a rail beside the navigator's console. Singularity voiced what she was saying, "My inertial dampeners have been scavenged, so she recommends you all brace yourselves."