Red Eagle: ones and zeros

Targus honestly found it astonishing. In as little as 4 days this new team had managed to “adjust” the 5 simple rules they had been given. A new record, and, admittingly, a rather impressive sign of silent communication. Bribery was obviously. And fairly simplistic as Renee had never been to “sin” before, which for some reason had included eating candy. Sara persistent in leaving the strange graffiti outside his door was almost as impressive as consistently on going prank war. Comm communication was definitely not in one language despite operating smoothly. Problems to be addressed another time. Assuming they even survived the second test.

“Pylooon” Renee’s voice project into the main bay as well as everywhere else a board the ship. “Could you open a portal? Let me know how this reads.” she stately rather proudly as two math problems appeared on the screen. Undoubtedly unsolvable to most, but then an A.I based alien hardly qualified as most.

“Coordinates receive. Portal drive running, aaanndd… can’t get through. The charge won’t make it through that gas storm.”

“Well that’s complication number 2 at least.” Renee stated. “Delma, I’ll need a quality boost over here the power seems fine, for now”

“You really want me on deck for a test gas storm?” Sara stated. Reporting to a station she was not called to.

“Better power your area down, Pylon. If I have to pick an area to fry, your is the last on the list.”
“Were way too close, something is gonna be here and-” That sounds of Renee adjusting just about everything she could could be heard for several minutes. “And now we can’t see it. Wonderful.”
 “Strange…” Delma stated. “That didn’t help at all?”

“It’s pretty much all colors and fuzz, right now. The power is holding, but seems like it’s going through a lot.” 

“Cuz it is.” Damian stated. “Lower your base setting. I’m gonna have to adjust this before it blows” Renee comply, and Damian did his best to work around the main cables. “How much power is a portal gonna need?”

“You gotta compact pistol, a machine gun, and wild spark to drain.” Pylon stated. “But we’re not getting out of here with any less.” two tubes clunked as Pylon finished. Pylon scanned his item.

“Make that two machine guns, and a hyper spark.” Random light flickered for a bit, but eventually Renee was online again.

“Alright so…” Renee’s eyes went wide. “Full side turn! Max thrust in the vents 2,4 and 7. And really up some fire. Targus was actually a bit impressed. He had expected a quarter side turn in the other the direction. But this alternative opened up the mobility of several more weapons, which appear to be where Sara shined. It did not however prevent somewhat serious hull damage, so Targus withdrew his hand from the button he was about to press. He looked over the map as Renee was doing her best to chart some kind of path of this gas storm. Which despite her failure, was a far better attempt than most could ever have given. After several hours though, there was still no solution to be found. “Ugh..” The sounds of Renee pounding the keyboard could be heard. “Come on! Isn’t this part of the test?”

“Probably” Pylon stated as he finally finished his typing “Ah well. About time to get out of here.” Everyone perks up, but for once Delma was the first to speak.

“Pylon, no!” Delma shouted. “Who’s gonna fire the portal?”

“Damian.” Pylon stated. “It’s all set up. He just has to electrify the by-core.”

“You won’t survive that.” Damian stated. “Memories or otherwise.”

“They’re backed-up for a reason, aren’t they?” Pylon replied. “It’ll be fine, it happens all the-” The console, and with it the running program powered down as did a few of the weapons. “-time”

“So what are we actually doing?” Sara asked looking over the weapons still on.

“I’m still working on it, buuutt…” Renee paused and typed some more numbers in and sighed. “We’ll need a lot of highly accurate, on point, correct-” Renee fought to override some commands as they were sent in. “Pylon!”

“Quit over complicating this!” Pylon shouted back. “You can’t out work me, and you can’t just take nonsense routes just to-”

“You’re a robot!” Renee replied. “A quaternarial series of 1s and 0s, and a series of highly responsive programs. What the hell does your species know about sense?!” There was a rather long silence for the rest of the crew, and even longer one from Renee. Very few words were exchanged, but Sara eventually got the gist. The ship was in slightly worse conduction than the others would’ve been, but they made it through. All that remained now was the leftover questions. Renee was, probably for the first time in her life, the last to walk in. Pylon looked up at her as she approached. “Pylon I-”

“You know, a lot of people-” Pylon interrupted Renee’s attempt to interrupt. “A lot of people. Dismiss a lot of bolts over their lives.” Pylon modified his voice as he quoted each sentence. “Just throw the robot in, and break the things. So? Just rebuild him later.” He gave a few more and then stopped himself looking back up at Renee and talking normally. “Anyways. I’ve had plenty of people call me plenty worse things. No one has ever done it over mine.” Renee still seemed to feel pretty bad, but nowhere near as bad as before. “And while I am still due for that growth upgrade, there’s apparently something here to learn about first.” Renee perked up.

“And all you’re rule breaking?” Targus stated.

“All? We only ever broke the one.” Sara stated. “Not all fault a bunch of puritans never feed a girl candy before.” 

“You painted every wall.” Targus stated.

“I paint 25 out of about 346 surface.” Sara rebutted. “With ONE symbol, which does not count as ‘customizing’ certainly not where I’m from.”

“There was an on going prank war, and several forms of communication.” Targus replied.
“Which was another form of communication.” Damian stated. “Testing out escape routes, gadgets, and several science experiments. None of which were aimed at you, or myself.”

“And the rule as is written is actually all conversions must be in a single language.” Delma stated. “Sara understands sounds and echoes. Pylon knows numbers and math, Damian knows power supplies and various electronics, and Renee and I just need to know what we need to do.”  Targus paused considering everything he had heard.

“Rule 3, broken. Rule 2… debated. Rules 4 and 5.” There was a rather long pause slowly building suspense. “Rule 4, acceptable. Rule 5… why?”

“Because you were the first of a solid 20 captains to take us a board. Damian is gonna out rank whatever you do, and is normally in the place powering everything this ship does.” Renee lastly gestured to herself. “And because one these days, and one of those pranks someone is gonna screw up everything about the only room that can get you out of danger.” Targus stood a little straighter and responded looking down curiously. “And you don’t start a fight you can’t win.” 

Thus began the adventures of one of Alchano's most unique, and rag-tag crew. Something they became rather proud of. A standing testament to the success of everything their culture stood for, and one of many to come.

END OF ‘PILOT EPISODE’
To be continued?...