Project - Prometheus Ch. 14

Unlike the rest of the Artucian, who looked on her with suspicion and hostility, the Keepers were a more open lot. Of all things they valued, it was knowledge and logic, which trumped any of the legends and myths they had heard as children. Some men there eyed her in a more... appreciative way, which she came to enjoy. Considering that most of the Keepers were men, there were a lot of looks fired her way.

"Hello everyone! I have something for you all to study! Does everyone have their tablets?" Shazza enquired. Some Keepers bolted back to their new homes and rushed back with their tablets in hand. Seeing that everyone now had their machines, she uploaded the file that Taal'ani and Jaesa had crafted, which was the whole database on the plants that had been brought down.

The file took maybe a minute or two to upload, but once it was finished, everyone tapped on the new icon in the Keeper's mainframe. Their eyes widening, the Keepers looked over the buffet of information, each of them greedily devouring it. Some of them walked up to Shazza and hugged her, thanking the woman for the new information they were receiving. They then started talking amongst themselves, speaking about the plants they would grow and how they would grow them.

Shazza shook her head as she chuckled and left the Keepers to their own devices. As she walked away, she felt like she was being stared at and turned her head briefly. She saw a few Keepers look away from her and giggled. Shazza knew that they were staring at her ass and sighed as she enjoyed the attention.

Of all the things she had spent her time on while under her Lord's control, sex was one of the few enjoyable things. Learning about sex and her sexual proclivities, was the one thing that she didn't deem as a waste of her time. Sure, she had spent a lot of said times with the wrong people, but now, she had every intention of choosing the right ones. Though finding a way to express herself in that way might be a challenge, it was one she was willing to go for.

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Taal'ani was sitting inside the core room, a couple of levels beneath the dome floor. The upgrades that had been done to the core and the power relays, was a serious upgrade for the dome. Natalya had done a phenomenal job in redesigning and replacing the old reactor core that was powering the dome. The original was a good design, but there were several flaws in the casing that had led to its accelerated decay.

The Artucian reactor, despite its solid design frame, seemed to be hastily cobbled together. From what Taal'ani had learned of their history, plus the additional details she had pressed Luminia for, the Artucian had rushed in creating these domes. The snows were moving in fast and her people needed to work quickly, if their people were to survive on Talemkha.

So much had been lost in the process and everyone was focused on surviving the coming winter. They had no idea that it would turn from a rough winter to an ice age. Talon shook her head in disbelief, surprised that the Artucian lasted this long, despite everything that had happened to them. Though she wasn't a big believer in chance, it had been very fortuitous that everything had happened the way it did.

Running from the pirates, finding the Perseus, Pree getting blown out of the Perseus, the Darkstrider crash landing on Talemkha. All of it leading to the Artucian people and their slow extinction by war and starvation. Now, with the help of Commodore Tomisic and the newly remade Unified Systems Alliance, the Artucian would now have a bright future to look forward to.

Shaking her head, she did a final diagnostic on the core and all the systems that ran it. When everything came up green for the umpteenth time that day, Talon was convinced that it would hold this time. Unlike when the domes were first cobbled together, they would hold for well over several hundred years. That was Jaesa's estimate anyway, which she was sure the AI was correct on.

Getting up, Taal'ani rubbed her semi-numb ass before walking out, letting the systems do their thing. So far, the Artucian she had tasked to learn about them were doing well and devouring every scrap of information she fed them. According to Korsa, there was something about the way their brains were wired that gave such a voracious learning and retention capacity.

She climbed up the stairs, thinking Korsa may have been a touch too excited about this, but she was a doctor. Learning new things about a new species and the way their biology worked would have excited her. Talon supposed that she would have been just as excited, if she had discovered an entirely new computer system that was different from what she knew.

Then she remembered that she had such a thing, as Jaesa was still teaching her the ins and outs of the system on the Perseus. Sure, many of the systems and protocols were similar, but there were a lot of additional minutiae that she had to learn. Taal'ani was thinking about these very things and was looking forward to getting into them until she literally ran into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed as she fell back on her ass.

"No, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have just walked into you like that! I thought I had your attention!" the woman said. Looking up, Talon saw that she had run into an Artucian woman, who had fallen back much the same way she did. She picked herself up quickly, then offered her had to help Taal'ani up. She took the offered hand and stood, getting a good look at the woman.

She was tall, for an Artucian, maybe just at six feet even. Her hair was more of a silver blonde and styled much like Luminia's. Her eyes were also yellow, but more a muted lemon in color. She had the same sky-blue skin and alluring figure, but she was hippier and bustier, almost like Valessa was. The way she carried herself, Taal'ani could almost tell that this woman was a mother.

"Again, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt the important work you are doing.... Taali?" she asked in an almost apology.

"It's Taal'ani. And what is your name?" she asked.

"My name is Jaiella, Taal'ani," the Artucian woman replied.

"Well, Jaiella, you didn't interrupt me. I was just on my way out, after making sure that the sensors and core were functioning properly. It was well done, but it doesn't hurt to be thorough when it comes to these things, right?" she responded with a laugh.

"I'm glad to see that you take your work seriously. Might I trouble you to help me with something?" she asked cryptically.

"What might that be?"

"I need your help, with my brother," the woman confessed.

"What is wrong with your brother? Is he in some kind of danger? If he is, you should really see..." Talon started.

"No, he isn't in any real danger. I'm just worried about him and I'm wondering if you might be able to help him with something," Jaiella clarified. "Specifically, with women."

"And how exactly can I help?" Taal'ani asked, confused.

"My brother was selected to become a Keeper here in the dome some years ago. He trained and learned well and had some brilliant ideas about how he could hope to repair the dome. He is only twenty-two and isn't a fully fledged Keeper yet, but he seems to have trouble with meeting women," Jaiella went on.

"He seems to grasp many things about the systems and everything else you have done here to restore the dome. There are days that he won't stop talking about it, but this kind of talk hasn't really endeared him to the fairer sex. I'm afraid that he won't find anyone who he could call a true mate and he's well past the age where he should have taken an interest in someone," Jaiella finished.

"Maybe he isn't interested in women? It's not a crime if he isn't you know," Talon suggested.

"No, I'm sure that he's interested in women. There were certain women in our village where he would get nervous and flustered about, whenever they were near. But after they mated themselves to other men, his interest in anyone outside of family waned. her loses himself in his work and no other women seem to catch his attention, but you have," the woman went on.

"Me?? How have I caught his attention??" Taal'ani asked, surprised.

"Well, you are a woman, who is also amazingly brilliant. Just like he is. You sound surprised."

"Well, I am! Your brother finds me attractive?" Talon queried, shocked but also elated that other men from other species found her alluring.

"Why should it surprise you? You are a very well formed woman, with... considerable assets, which has sparked the interest of many males. And some females," Jaiella admitted, giving her a telling look.

"Thank you, but what exactly is it you want me to do?" Taal'ani asked.

"Oh, I am sorry! I got a little distracted from the question. If you could help my brother, by teaching him the things he needs to do to attract a woman, I wouldn't worry so much. I have tried to talk to him, but being his older sister, he won't listen to me. It would also help if you were seen with him, as a means of making other unmated women aware of him. If they were to see you two together in public..." Jaiella let that tidbit hang there.

"Then other women would think there is something that draws me in and how it should draw them in. I know how that works. It is done all across the galaxy, by women of every other species," Taal'ani smirked.

"So, you'll help me then?" Jaiella hoped.

"Of course, I will! It not only would be fun to do, but speaking with someone who is just as brainy as I am? That's a win-win!" Talon enthused.

"Thank you! So, you should know a few things about him. His name is Tahral and though he is brilliant with these... computers?... he is oblivious to most everything else that goes on around him. Except for food, he always notices food," Jaiella said thoughtfully.

"That is also something that crosses species. Men across all cultures, often think with their stomachs," Taal'ani giggled. Jaiella joined her in her mirth, happy to hear that some things concerning men remained the same, no matter what species they were.

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"... so by our estimations, it would be maybe another twenty to thirty days to rebuild the next quarter of the dome. Maybe another thirty to forty days after that before the dome is complete," Alex explained to the Assembly.

"It would be done that soon?" Khaltani asked, all four eyes wide in wonder.

"Especially once we have a proper salvage frigate built. It would bring up more salvageable material for us to process and we could have the superstructure for several domes ready to go within a few months. The only impediment is the rate at which the Glaug'kha produce the crystalline compound," Alex replied.

"We all have our own stores of Glaug'kha. If we were able to bring you hardened crystal, would that work?" Hahrdok asked. Alex looked down at Natalya, who responded.

"Hardened crystal would work. It would take more time, as we would have to heat it up liquify it, then add the needed compounds to strengthen it, but it can work," Nats replied.

"That is good news! Now, if we can get all of this crystal transported in your ship Commodore, we could..." Valessa began, but then, the ground began to shake and tremble. Everyone in the area shouted and gasped and a few even screamed at the disturbance. Just as quickly as it had happened, the tremor subsided, and everything was stable again.

"Report in! What the hell just happened?" Alex demanded, opening up a comms line. Jaesa was the first to report in, her holographic image coming through on the Commodore's communicator.

"It appears that the tremor was caused by a collapsing ice wall on the south side of the living dome, Commodore," Jaesa reported.

"How are you aware of this Jaesa?"

"I have patched into the Sentries network and found that several of them had recorded the event as it happened a few minutes ago. Several Sentries were buried in the collapse, but no living beings were seriously harmed, sir," the AI told him.

"Good work Jaesa. Can anyone else confirm Jaesa's intel?" Alex asked over the comms.

"Lt. Commander Vostrikov and I are right by where the wall collapsed. Jaesa is correct sir, when she said that no one was badly hurt. Most folks here are shocked and surprised by what happened and a few were struck by flying ice, but nothing serious," Korsa told him. "But there is something else that everyone here should see."

"What is it Doctor?"

"The ice wall collapse revealed a massive cavern behind it. The size of it is huge! Easily large enough to fly a destroyer through it!" Korsa responded.

"She's right, sir!" Nats chimed in. "The whole thing is beyond massive and it looks like it's part of something bigger!"

"Copy that. See to anyone who needs the assistance and clear the area immediately. We don't want anyone wandering in and disappearing. We don't know what's down there and given how dangerous Talemkha has been, there might be something in there that might look at us as its next meal," he ordered.

"Understood sir. Clearing everyone out now," Natalya responded.

"Alpha Company, activate combat readiness, but maintain Sentry mode. Stand guard by the cave entrance and hold position until instructed otherwise," Alex called out over the comms. He heard the chiming pings, letting him know that Alpha Company had heard and acknowledged the orders and were moving to position.

"Where is this cave entrance?" Sohlkris asked as he fingered his weapon, wondering if he'd have to use it.

"Just there," Alex told him as he pointed.

Korsa and Nats hadn't been lying about the size of it, as it reached up well past the halfway mark of the dome. Everyone had turned to stare at the large hole in the ice wall, its inky blackness threatening to swallow everything. Alex looked about to the people around him and saw two emotions crossing people's faces.

The first was curiosity, as places that anyone did not know of, often elicited such an emotion. The other emotion that it was mixed with, was fear, which was warranted. Places like the cave, with it dark foreboding secrets, would often craft feelings of dread, mainly of the unknown. If you didn't know what lay ahead of you, you would often assume the worst.

"Jaesa?" Alex called out.

"Yes, sir?" the AI chirped.

"Any ideas about what caused the collapse?"

"Let me patch into the Sentries' sensors and I should have an answer for you in a few minutes. Standby," Jaesa stated before vanishing. Alex saw a bunch of Sentries amble about, like they were looking for something. There was several minutes of this going on, before the robots stopped moving and returned to their posts.

"After gathering the raw data, analyzing the fallen ice and the surrounding area, the wall collapsed because the ice was weakened. This was due to both our work on carving away the excess and the heat from the dome. Because of the excess heat it bleeds, the carven here is warming up and anything that is ice or snow is melting," the AI informed him.

"How fast is it melting?" Valessa asked, worry creasing her face.

"Difficult to say, but at the current rate of the melt and the constant heat of the dome, I would say we have three, maybe four weeks," she replied.

"Before?" Alex wondered.

"Before the roof cracks due to the heat from the dome, sir," Jaesa informed him.

"Our homes are right above us! Are you saying that they will be gone?" Valessa asked.

"More than likely," Jaesa told the woman.

"Sounds like you will have to move your people down here much sooner than expected. That was the plan, yes?" Alex asked.

"Yes, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. I thought there would be more time before everyone would have to move," Valessa lamented.

"Better to know that it's coming, rather than have something happen that you could not stop," Korsa told the woman gently.

"I suppose you are right," Valessa admitted. "You said that we have maybe three to four weeks before the ceiling cracks, Jaesa?"

"That is correct, High Chieftaness, but it could happen sooner. But I can't give a concrete answer until I have more data," The AI responded.

"Speaking of data, Jaesa, Alpha Company is equipped with the new recon drones, correct?" the Commodore asked.

"Yes sir. The upgrades suggested by Captain McKenzie, Lt. Commander Vostrikov and Sergeant Shazza were placed into Alpha Company first, as part of the refit," Jaesa replied.

"Excellent. Have the recon drones head into the cave and map out the immediate area of it and any adjacent caves it leads into. Report any significant findings immediately," Alex commanded.

"Very good, sir. Drones have been sent, and the cave is being mapped," Jaesa replied before fading away. The rest of the crew walked up to where he was with the chiefs, each one of them looking concerned.

"You think something might be down there sir?" Kas asked him.

"It is possible. Posting the Sentries for guard duty is the prudent thing to do, in case there is something like the Tashkuun Alpha down in those caves," he responded with a grimace. "Either way, a network like this one bears investigation, especially since it is in the direction of the Dead Snows."

"You think the network would go that far?" Priya asked.

"The only way to know would be to have a look down there to see for sure. If it does, then it would save us weeks of work excavating the Ark," Inari stated with a smirk.

"That is a sound plan, but there is no way that we are exploring it now. The recon drones will do a proper assessment and sweep before we proceed. On top of which, the hour is getting late and we've done a lot today," Alex told his crew.

"Agreed, the cave and anything attached to it bears investigation, but you keep yourself out of harm's way, sir! I don't want you pulling another stunt like you did at the Dead Snows," Natalya told him in a do not argue voice.

"The Lt. Commander and I are in agreement on that assessment sir. You are the face and voice of the Alliance and we would not lose you over anything stupid or reckless," Kasumi agreed, standing next to her friend in a show of solidarity.

"Me? Reckless?" he scoffed. "OK, maybe just a little," Alex relented, catching a look from both women. "Rest assured that I don't want to turn into something else's dinner, so I won't be going on point on this one, but I am going."

"Never said you shouldn't sir. By the way, I think the Phalanx chassis may need an upgrade or two," Nats told him with a smile.

"Oh? Do tell!"

"Spoilers!" Natalya teased with a grin.

"Tease!" he groused.

"Oh, she knows. We both do," Kas said with a pump of her eyebrows.

"In that case, I think we should call it a day. High Chieftaness, I would suggest that you don't go about moving your people until tomorrow," Alex told the woman.

"I agree with your suggestion, Commodore. Moving them now would be pointless, as everyone is getting ready to turn in for the day. I will make the announcement tomorrow for everyone to head down here. The old settlement will be large enough?" she asked, curious if there would be enough room.

"More than enough for your clan and your guests," Jaesa interjected. "Though your ancestors rushed in their construction, they made each dome large enough to accommodate populations of several thousand."

Relieved to hear it, both Valessa and the chiefs that had remained smiled, glad that they would soon move into better homes than what they had built topside. With the day's work done, Valessa called for the Artucian working to stop and call it day and everyone headed up topside. Alex walked hand in hand with both Kas and Nats, both of which were whispering in his ears. Some Artucian men, including several chiefs, shook their heads at the display, wondering how Alex had gotten so lucky with two women willing to share him.