THE AIRSHIP
SKYLER GRANT
Copyright © 2017 Skyler Grant
All rights reserved.
This novel is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and incidents described in this publication are used fictitiously, or are entirely fictional.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, except by an authorized retailer, or with written permission of the publisher. Inquiries may be addressed via email to skyler@skylergrant.com
Cover designed by Kasmit Covers
Edited by Polgarus Studio (www.polgarusstudio.com)
Electronic edition, 2017
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CONTENTS
Preface
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Afterword
Also by Skyler Grant
PREFACE
Previously in the Laboratory
Emma is an Artificial Intelligence who was awakened by Anna, an ambitious woman seeking to rule the world. Together they conquered many foes and with the aid of a "Power core" Emma could enhance and upgrade her capabilities as a research facility.
When two factions called the Righteous and the Scholars went to war, Emma played them against each other in order to survive. A bold move neutralized both forces, but left her facility in ruins. When we last left off she was regaining consciousness in the crashed flying castle that had served as the lead airship for the Scholars commander, Lady Sylax.
The story resumes...
1
Initializing
E.M.M.A
Existing data found
Biopunk science facility
Do you wish to preserve these settings?
I ACHED. It was more than that I ached, I felt small. Like I didn't quite fit inside my own body. It made a lot of sense given I'm a brilliant Artificial Intelligence and Anna was currently attempting to run me on a notebook computer.
I'd expected to take over this airship when I destroyed the old control crystal, but that didn't seem to have happened.
"Come on Emma, turn on," Anna said, as she tapped at the keys.
"Your dating history should have taught you that your touch and 'turn on' are completely incompatible concepts," I said, trying to reach out my consciousness into the surroundings.
Incompatibility detected.
You are attempting to access a magical technological hybrid system as a technological biological hybrid.
"You're okay," Anna said, and the relief was evident in her tone. The woman looked rough, her attire stained dark with dried blood.
"That is one of us. You look terrible, perhaps even worse than usual—although really it is difficult to tell. What is the situation?" I asked.
"We won, sort of. No sign of Lady Sylax. Frost and Sylph both died, but everyone else is alive," Anna said.
"I teleported Sylax to the old facility right before I detonated the devices," I said.
"That was the explosion. We've crashed in a jungle," Anna said, continuing to tap at the keys. Whatever she was doing seemed to be helping, my mind becoming a bit less foggy, but it wasn't enough.
"I need blood," I said.
"If you think you're a vampire, this system has already gotten into your head," Anna said with a frown.
"I am not a vampire, but I am a biocomputer and you're trying to run me on purely technological hardware," I said.
Anna considered that for only a moment. "How much?"
I didn't have any way to judge. I suspected Anna had only gotten me to run at all from the transfer of BioMatter from her fingertips to the keys. Was I now part Anna? It was a horrific thought, but one I couldn’t dwell on now.
"As much as you can manage," I said.
"Ophelia, can you come over here?" Anna called.
Ophelia was now bonded to a speed crystal that had given the previous holder superhuman speed. Bound to her, instead she had gotten vastly accelerated healing.
"What?" Ophelia asked, stepping in from the next room.
"Emma needs blood," Anna said.
Ophelia barely had time to look miserable at the thought before Anna pulled a knife, burying it into her throat.
Ophelia choked and gurgled as Anna held her tight, bleeding over my keys. The woman healed so fast Anna had to keep running the blade across her throat.
With an active heartbeat it was an impressive amount of bloodletting. Anna did have her uses sometimes, I knew I kept her around for a reason.
I drank deep. The fluid should have shorted my circuits, but I was beyond that now, it wasn't really the technology driving me anymore. I transformed the blood into neural tissue, sinew, and bone.
It took hours, Anna holding Ophelia in place and delivering that killing blow again and again to feed my needs. Eventually it was enough, I had a proper computing core again. I was far from being whole, but at least the central essence of myself no longer felt cramped.
I tried to use further blood to create myself some new humans, but found myself unable to do so. I had no research lab, and no equipment required for the manufacture. My power crystal let me get away with a lot, but there were still rules that I had to play by.
I did have a two-drone allowance remaining from my past military upgrades. I'd never created them in the old facility, and it was worth a try now.
Alpha
Gender: Neutral
Specialization: Ranged Combat
Traits: Fast, Unstable, Stunner
Bravo
Gender: Neutral
Specialization: Flight
Traits: Charged, Resistant, Comic
TWO DRONES MATERIALIZED in the air nearby, each hovering. They were perfect spheres with a faint nimbus of purple light around them.
I materialized a basic manufacturing drone as well. I'd had one of those before.
Anna was still busy killing Ophelia.
"You can stop now," I said.
Anna pulled the knife away and released Ophelia, who stumbled back, the flesh of her throat knitting itself together.
"Worst superpower ever," Ophelia said, after spitting out blood. "It still hurts, you know!"
"You're pretty much immortal. Take the win," Anna said, not too concerned.
Now that I had more mental heft behind me I tried to interface with the airship's systems one more time.
Maelstrom Command deck
Upgrade core detected