Space is too Smol/Chapter 5
"Arriving at: Dendris-5 system in T-15 minutes. Ri-Ri is required at the helm immediately. Code: Orange." NAV_AI's voice jolted Rita out of sleep. As she rolled away from Skylar to get up, the younger girl moaned. "Keep sleeping, sis. I'll go do the mission." Standing up with a groan, Rita sent a command to her suit. The molecular organic fabric re-meshed above her skin into the usual shape of her flight suit, complete with boots and gloves, and modesty covers over her pussy, ass, and nipples.
Rita kissed the top of Skylar's head and set off for the cockpit at a run. Code: Orange meant possible danger. Plopping into the chair, she dialed up the holographic telemetry. "NAV_AI, what's the problem?" she asked, pulling the dual control sticks up and changing the ship to manual piloting. "Unknown vessel detected in orbit around planetary body Dendris-5." The AI's voice changed as AIM_AI took over. "Configuration and energy signature suggests they are heavily armed and armored. Suggestion: Use caution, raise shields, preemptively charge weapons."
Rita frowned. "Could they have anything to do with the missing mining probe..?" The ship's AI changed again, this time to STRAT_AI. "Processing... ... ... Energy shield repelling long ranged scans. Remote system with limited resources does not leave many probable reasons for stationary orbit, especially coupled with vessel armaments. Highest probable theory: Raiders discovered the mining probe and terminated it, waiting for the owner to come retrieve it to pillage."
AIM_AI took over again. "AIM_AI concurs with STRAT_AI assessment. Extreme caution recommended, R-Ri." Rita wondered what to do about the alien ship as the FTL drive dumped them on the outskirts of the system. "Charge the weapon banks closest to the shield matrix, hopefully that will stop them from detecting that they're primed. Raise the energy shields, and deploy the kinetic weapon armor around the ship." As the ship's battle preparations went underway, Rita engaged the sublight thrusters, taking the ship in towards the planet. "Here we go..."
As they approached the planet, the AI changed once again. "Little Ri-Ri, they are attempting establish communications..." PERV_AI drawled. "Ahh... Get my helmet first, please." She fidgeted, worried about PERV_AI being in control. "Of course, my little Ri-Ri..." Rita flinched as an overhead compartment opened, but it was just the arm holding her helmet out to her. "So jumpy... You might need more stress relief than I thought. Later, though... Here you go, cute little Ri-Ri..."
Rita gulped as she took the helmet, a standard bucket helmet that hid her human features behind a stylized pattern of lines of lights and colors designed to confuse those who looked at it. Or at least, that's what Dr. Nebula had told her, anyways. She didn't think it actually worked. "R-Right... Please establish the communication, PERV_AI." She sat up straighter, composing herself. "Right away, my little Ri-Ri..."
A holographic view screen appeared in front of Rita as she flicked on the voice modulator built into the helmet. "This is the scouting and retrieval vessel Tsay'ark-12." she stated clearly, using the one-time use alias that STRAT_AI had generated for this scenario. "We are here to retrieve our property and leave."
"You are very well armed for a scouting vessel." came the crisp voice from the universal translator. The view screen only showed a close up of a helmeted face like her own. It was jet black and covered in bright red runes. "This territory belongs to the Shadows of Drak'neir. Your drone was found mining in our system and was taken as claimed salvage."
"Scouting is dangerous work,and that drone is property of the Co'Vaj Covenant." Rita retorted, using a fake company name. "We would see it returned to us. If a legitimate claim to this planet was made, we were unaware. We would be happy to pay compensation for the return of our property." Rita muted the channel and drummed her fingers on her armrest, waiting for a response. "Warning: we are being scanned." came AIM_AI's voice. "Then scan them back." Rita ordered, unmuting the channel. "If they're going to be rude like that, then so are we..."
"You scanned us." came the voice. "You scanned us first." Rita retorted. After a pause, the voice spoke again. "We do not discuss business over communication channels. You may come aboard and plead your case for your property to be returned."
Drumming her fingers again, Rita announced, "One moment." She muted the channel again. "Options, STRAT_AI?" she asked tensely. "Accepting invitation is unadvised. Scans only penetrated 45%. of the alien vessel. A secondary energy field was detected inside the hull and could not be breached." Rita raised her eyebrows. "Now that's a new trick. Wonder how they managed that..." STRAT_AI continued, "lithium decay from the drone detected inside the enemy ship. The trail leads past their inner hull. They most likely possess our mining drone."
"Option 1: Ignore the offer, attack the ship first." AIM_AI chimed in. "Not advised, armaments and defensive capabilities... Unknown."
"Option 2:" continued STRAT_AI. "Accept the offer and board the ship, continuing negotiation efforts." AIM_AI chimed in again. "Also unadvised. Scans of unknown alien vessel indicate several dozen large creatures with above human strength and endurance, all armed with plasma weapons in scan penetration range alone. It is unlikely for a peaceful vessel's crew to go heavily armed at all times."
"Option 3:" STRAT_AI chimed back in. "Final Option: Request a neutral meeting location. Suggestion: the planet's surface." AIM_AI spoke up. "This would minimize the number of possible combatants and provide the best tactical advantage, as it is unlikely that ship could land. Scans showed shuttle craft with minimal armaments in the outer hanger, easily countered by this ship. This option is highly advised."
Rita nodded. "Neutral location it is." She unmuted the channel. "We would request a neutral location." There was a long pause. "Where do you propose?" the voice said icily. "We suggest the planet's surface." Another long pause, then the voice came back on. "This is.. acceptable. We will send coordinates shortly." The channel was cut off abruptly.
Rita took her helmet off. "Well, that could have gone a lot worse..." she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow. "I calculate a 69% chance of an ambush, Ri-Ri." AIM_AI stated. Rita frowned, unsure of what was bothering her about that. Then she finally realized what was off about the other AI personalities with a jolt: all of them were now calling her by her nickname, as PERV_AI had started doing. AIM_AI had also just referred to itself in the first person. Was PERV_AI unshackling the other AI personalities somehow..?
She had no time right now to think about what it meant, and instead cleared her throat. "I suspect a strong possibility of an ambush, but it was the best call. We need more information before proceeding." She got to her feet. "Coordinates... Received, little Ri-Ri." declared PERV_AI. "Good. Plot them in, NAV_AI and take the ship down. I need to prepare."
She walked toward the sleeping quarters with her helmet under one arm. "Yes, Ri-Ri..." NAV_AI said. "...I have locked the coordinates in." Rita walked up and poked Skylar, who rolled over in bed to look at her. "I have to go meet with aliens, Sky. You know the drill, if that light turns red and beeps..." She pointed to a big light over the door. "You go into the panic box, understand?"
Skylar nodded, her eyes wide with worry. The red light indicated someone unauthorized had boarded the ship or that danger was otherwise imminent. The panic box was hidden behind a secret compartment in the wall, and it contained a dampening field projected around to deflect scans. It had a stasis field inside that could keep her alive for hundreds of years. Rita refused to dice with her sister's life and had asked Dr. Nebula to make something that would keep her safe no matter what happened. He had been more than happy to do so, sharing her sentiment. The box was made from a rare metal harvested from the core of a collapsing neutron star and was beyond priceless. Nothing could penetrate it.
"Okay... You'll be safe though, right, Ri-Ri..?" Skylar asked worriedly. Rita ruffled her hair affectionately. "I'll be fine. You be good, got it?" She kissed her on the cheek and left the room as Skylar nodded sleepily, heading back to the ship's mid section. Rita opened the weapons locker, taking out personal energy field generators that she slipped over each wrist, and a multi tool over her left forearm. Next, she strapped a cold plasma pistol to her left hip. Cold plasma did better at burning through energy shields than hot plasma, but it was more costly. The precious rail gun pistol she strapped to her right thigh.
Finally, she took a modular energy rifle and slung it over her back. This was a weapon Dr. Nebula did sell, and it was one of the primary reasons he was so wealthy. It could switch between many different energy projectiles, lasers, plasma, and kinetics at will, and adjust its size and shape as needed. It cost as much as a medium sized ship, and for good reason.
"We have arrived, Ri-Ri." stated NAV_AI. Rita donned her helmet and made for the airlock, taking a deep breath as she pressurized the helmet and walked out of the ship into bright sunlight. As her visor adapted for the change in light, she saw the aliens exiting their shuttle a few hundred meters away. They were high up on a flat plateau with strange, scraggly purple vegetation.
Rita strolled forward confidently, eyeing the aliens. Six had come and were walking towards her, fanning out as they moved. "Detecting hand weapons and rifles. Personal shields are enabled." AIM_AI said from inside Rita's helmet, the visor view zooming and highlighting the firearms for her. "I'm prepared if it comes to a fight, don't worry..." she said calmly and confidently, thinking of the one-of-a-kind pistol strapped to her thigh.
Rita stopped 50 meters back from the approaching aliens. They were massive, easily twice the size of a grown human and extremely muscular. Bipedal in shape, their hands were larger than Rita's head, and their shoulders sloped down in an almost triangular fashion. Huge feet the size of their heads provided extreme stability on their massive tree trunk legs. Rita could sense the ground shaking as they approached her, stopping only two dozen meters away.
Rita locked her arms behind her back and stood up straight. "Greetings, honored representatives of the Shadows of Drak'neir. I trust business will be conducted fairly and swiftly on both sides." The aliens regarded the young girl as they stared her down with their enormous helmet covered heads. Rita saw that the one in the lead was the same alien she'd talked to on the view screen, or at least it was wearing the same jet black, red-runed helmet.
"You are the representative for the Co'Vaj Covenant?" the leader demanded. "You are bold to approach us alone, tiny being. Bold, or foolish. Where is your crew?" it demanded. Rita's hands twitched behind her back. "My crew are not required for this exchange. You may deal with me."
He eyed her up. "That vessel is tiny, and so are you. We do not deal with weakling. You have no crew." Warning lights flashed across Rita's visor and she leaped to the side, slamming her fist on the ground as a burst of plasma flew by her. A deployable energy barrier bubble erupted from her multi-tool. This type of field would allow projectiles past it from the inside, but not the outside. It did nothing for kinetic weapons, though, nor would it stop someone from walking into it as long as they did not have an active energy barrier up. "I am not weak nor foolish. If you fire again, I will fire back. This is your last chance to resolve this peacefully." Guttural sounds erupted from the creatures - were they laughing at her!?
"Rita!" AIM_AI warned as she felt the ground tremble behind her. Rita ducked and rolled as something huge barreled through her bubble shield. "Analysis: Ambush location was pre-set. The use of dampening fields and stealth tech allowed for a surprise attack. Reconfiguring scanners. Three other concealed attackers detected. Highlighting..."
Rita hesitated for only a second before drawing both her pistols. A show of force was what was needed right now. She flipped into the air, tiny jets on her boot firing to launch her ten feet up as the melee attacker swung his massive fists at her again, missing her completely as she shot above the alien. As Rita cartwheeled over the melee attacker's head, she shot the three concealed enemies that had been approaching her rapidly with the rail pistol while sending a spread shot of cold plasma bursts at the line of visible attackers.
Her aim was dead center. The rail pistol let out huge gouts of compressed steam as it fired electrically propelled metal rods at terrifying speeds. Each one slammed into their target's heads and exploded as they shot past. The cold plasma was stopped by personal energy fields, though as it burned the one she'd hit the most had its field collapse. She immediately sent several more bursts of plasma at the defenseless alien. It shrieked as they landed, eating into its flesh as it collapsed.
In the space of a few short seconds, four of the nine aliens were dead. The remaining aliens shot hot plasma at the girl, but using her maneuvering thrusters on her boots she dodged all but two shots, which her bubble shield easily shrugged off. The plasma cooled and dropped off her shield to the ground as she finished her flip and landed on her feet.
As soon as she landed, Rita rolled under the swing from the last remaining melee combatant. Her heads up display showed her a target line. She shot through her attacker's chest cavity, nearly tearing him in half as the rail projectile pierced his body and slammed through another attacker of the original line, killing them both instantly. Rita hoped these aliens didn't recognize what her weapon actually was, but it seemed unlikely. She'd never heard of any weapon but a rail gun penetrating a full energy shield. Their constantly rotating frequencies made it impossible for energy to get through.
The leader did not so much as flinch as the alien on its right died from her piercing shot, nor when the one to its left screamed and melted to the cold plasma.
To Rita's surprise, it holstered its weapon slowly. "...Impressive. You were underestimated. We... apologize." Rita sat panting in a fighter's crouch, her weapon cocked and finger on the trigger. "Little alien, holster your terrifying weapons. We do not deal with weak, easy prey. You have proved you are not this, by anticipating our ambush and defeating the surprise attack so swiftly. You were outnumbered and over matched in physical power, yet you still reigned victorious. You are not weak. We may barter for the return of your drone."
Rita hesitated. STRAT_AI's voice spoke in her helmet. "Motives unknown. Estimated likelihood of truthfulness... 61%. Estimates based on tactics and cultures of similar warrior cast races." Rita slowly lowered her gun, and holstered it, though she did not do up the strap. She stood up slowly, switching off her multi-tool's energy bubble. "Apology accepted. We may do business."
The leader grunted. "First then. Why was your drone on our planet, little alien?" it asked bluntly. Rita decided the direct approach would work best here as she stepped away from the corpse of the alien that had tried to clobber her. "We desired a rare mineral detected on this planet. A drone was dispatched to mine it, and did not return. We were sent to retrieve it and the sample.
The big alien took several steps closer to the girl. "..What is your species?" it demanded. Rita swallowed. "That information is unimportant to our transaction." she declared. The lead alien grunted. "We have no interest in the ore of this planet. However, we do not allow outsiders access. Your drone was sized for tithe payment. If you wish it returned you must pay in greater value."
Rita considered. "We will not allow our technology to fall into unauthorized hands. We are prepared to scuttle the drone if we cannot come to an agreement. The explosive yield in the drone is high and will automatically trigger if certain conditions are met." Rita bluffed. If truth, the auto destruct should have already been triggered. It was either disabled or malfunctioning. The leader grunted again. "Very sensible. I suspected as much and have taken necessary precautions. However, you would not be dealing with us directly if you had the ability to remote detonate." Rita winced behind her helmet - it had called her bluff.
"What would a fair trade be? What do you deal in?" Rita asked. The ship had some non-essential and unclassified tech she could trade if it came to it. "Weapons.. ships... and slaves. By the looks of your ship, you can't have much slave stock." Rita nearly flinched at that last word. PERV_AI's voice chimed in the young girl's ears, unusually calm and soft sounding. "Ri-Ri's heart rate accelerated. Adrenaline detected, fear response engaged. Calm yourself, little Ri-Ri. You will not become a slave, this is a prime directive imparted to us from creator. We have contingency plans in place to prevent this. Breath, sweet sexy Ri-Ri."
Rita took a deep breath, composing herself. "We are prepared to trade in non-essential weaponry and equipment." The leader took a step closer. "That weapon of yours... Where did you get it..." Rita crossed her arms. "I will not disclose that information. It is worth more than your entire ship and crew combined. It is not for trade."
"An expected response. Unfortunate..." It took a step back. Suddenly all five remaining aliens tensed and leaped backwards several dozen meters in a single powerful jump as warning alarms rang in Rita's ears. "ALERT! ORBITAL STRIKE INCOMING!" screamed AIM_AI. Rita leaped back towards her ship, engaging the rocket boots. She slammed on the bubble shield and her two personal shields as she flew, somersaulting backwards in the air as she drew her rail pistol and dialed up the power to maximum. With adrenaline coursing in her veins, Rita took a single deep breath and aimed, fully upside down as she tumbled through the air. Her world narrowed to a single point as time seemed to freeze for her.
She shot, stabilizers in the pistol spewed out a torrent of steam. Her aim did not waiver, and the projectile screeched out at mach 3 speeds. The alien shuttle craft exploded. The projectile continued past, slamming into a mountain a good 10 kilometers away and sending an avalanche of dirt and debris crashing down its side.
Even with the advanced warning, it was not enough. As her shot leveled the mountain and Rita flew through the air, the orbital plasma payload slammed into the ground a mere 25 meters from the girl. The plasma erupted outwards in every direction, preceded by a shockwave. The fast-moving air passed right through the bubble shield and slammed into Rita's outer personal shield, which barely held. The torrent of plasma oozed onto the bubble shield, which ate away at a good chunk of it before failing. The outer shield absorbed very little before it, too, failed. The inner shield took the rest of it. As it failed, a few droplets flew past and splattered onto Rita. Her organic suit reacted even before the drops landed, covering her completely and eating the plasma burn, burning its organic matter to protect her.
As Rita landed, her helmet flew off her head and clattered across the ground. Rita landed hard on her back, the breath knocked out of her. As her vision blurred, she saw huge shapes loom over her. A foot came crashing down at Rita. Her rocket boots fired as AIM_AI activated them, sending her shooting across the ground. Her suit absorbed the friction as Rita came to, deactivating the boots and flipping to her feet, her abdomen muscles screaming with the motion.
"Kinetic weapons only! Do you realize what that is? It is worth as much as that gun, if not more!" The lead alien shouted.
Rita leveled the rail pistol at the lead alien. Before she could fire, he shot at her gun arm with a kinetic weapon. Her suit hardened over the impact site as the bullet hit, but Rita's arm still jerked and was badly bruised. The pistol flew from her grip many meters away as her arm jerked. She rolled, grabbing her cold plasma pistol from its sheath as she landed in a fighter's crouch.
Rita unloaded the pistol into the closest alien as she jumped from the ground on her rocket boots. She fired until his shield collapsed, the alien screaming as he burned and died. As Rita landed, another bullet impacted her leg, and her knee buckled. A big shape rushed forward and a huge pain impacted Rita's gun arm, numbing it below the elbow and forcing her gun to drop from her fingers. The blow would have shattered an unmodified human's arm, and pain shot through Rita's entire left side.
"Damn you!" Rita screamed as she dodged a hand grabbing for her. She leaped back and drew her rifle one handed as the remaining four aliens closed in. She flicked on the tesla beam setting and fired a continuous torrent of pure energy at the closest attacker. As his shield broke, she slid under his legs, flicking to the laser setting as she dove. As Rita slid past him, she pointed the gun straight up, and the laser sliced him in half, splattering her with hot blue blood that burned her exposed skin.
Dimly Rita realized the specks in the sky were reinforcements being sent from the mothership. She blinked as her ship took off, flipping around and rocketing towards the crafts, firing the preheated plasma cannons before it had even started rocketing upwards.
Three attackers remained and Rita focused on them. The closest alien roared and kicked her before she had time to stand up. Rita tumbled across the ground, tucking into a ball to protect her head as she rolled. "Disarm her now!" cried the leader. A cable flew at Rita and pierced her shoulder, projecting out the other side. The young girl screamed, then screamed again as an electrified charge shot through her body. Her body tried to seize up. Rita staggered to her knees, gritting her teeth as her sweat-soaked bangs covered her eyes. She forced her arm to move through sheer power of will. Pressing a button on her multi-tool, a long blade extended out past her wrist, and she slashed the line. Her suit pushed the piece of cord out of her shoulder and closed up the gash, already working on knitting her torn flesh back together in tandem with her body's modified natural regeneration. "She's been augmented! Bring her down, now!" cried the leader, firing another kinetic shot at Rita. She screamed as it hit her wounded shoulder and rolled again, ducking under another punch.
Rita raised the rifle and flicked a button, reconfiguring the shell into a physical shield that extended out a foot in each direction. She switched the weapon to fire expulsion and unleashed a torrent of orange flame at the assailant who'd just tried to punch her. The flames engulfed the energy shield as Rita moved forward and bore down, her gun shield deflecting a kinetic shot aimed at her side. The alien tried to back away but Rita continued bearing down with her flamethrower. She intensified the heat setting, and as the flame turned blue, then a scorching white as the alien shrieked and its shield collapsed. Rita burned the attacker alive as a fist came down on her back. She was knocked prone, the weapon flying from her hands. A massive hand came down and wrapped around her torso.
"No!" she cried, grabbing a finger and sliding out before the grip could close. With lightning speed, Rita raced up his arm, drawing her combat knife and flipping it mid air to grip it backwards. As she reached the head, Rita mounted it and slashed at the exposed flesh of the neck beneath the helmet. As she'd expected, the alien's odd shoulder anatomy prevented it from using its arms to reach up to its head. She slashed deep, her inhuman strength cutting at the creature's neck. She stabbed and pierced him many times, breaking his helmet.
As he staggered and fell, Rita prepared to jump. Her legs tensed... and hand sized her chest and neck from behind, squeezing with terrible strength. Rita gagged as her chest compressed and the last alien standing, their leader, dragged her away from the corpse of the stabbing victim.
"You slew many of my best pod mates, warrior child." he stated, his voice terrifyingly calm. "You will pay for that before we sell you as a slave." Rita dug the combat knife deep into the hand that was crushing her. The alien slammed down hard on her knife hand with his free palm, breaking Rita's arm with a snap and pushing the small knife completely into his flesh where she could not retrieve it. As her arm dangled uselessly at her side, Rita flicked knives out of the tips of her boots. Turning the rockets on, her legs snapped upward, digging a huge gash across the alien's chest and splitting its helmet down the face as her muscles screamed from the extreme torque.
Three red, pupiless eyes in a triangular formation that boiled with fury looked down at the girl from below the face plate, a fresh cut that oozed blue blood drawn diagonally between them. He grabbed both Rita's legs and claimed down tight, nearly breaking her ankles as he squeezed her chest even tighter. "You don't break easily... Good. That will be most.. enjoyable." Rita could not bear to look at the raging emotions behind those eyes. She looked up to the sky as her vision darkened and she scraped uselessly at the huge hand with her unbroken arm. Tiny fires between her ship and the fighters flared above, but even though many of the enemy fighters were exploding there were too many of them. It looked like the attackers were winning. The last thing Rita saw before she lost consciousness was the flash of a FTL drive being engaged. Light pulsed against the sky as her ship vanished, leaving her completely alone...
Chapter 6