AN: This chapter gets crazy, but it is without question my best work on this story...

Blue energy flowed from the AI core in multiple streams; arcing and twisting in air as they began to swirl in the open space before the teens. The cascades of light surged more quickly while wrapping around themselves, forming a vertical tower. Then suddenly the movement halted as the energy dispersed in a slow gentle wave of blue.

Where the torrent once flowed there was now a nearly opaque figure comprised of blue. Her long very light blue, almost white, hair cascaded down to the center of her back while two shoulder length spirals of hair fell on either side of the front of her head. Dressed in a long flowing light blue tunic the darker blue woman smiled sweetly at the group as she bowed,

"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Pure." Her voice was calm and kind, which very much matched her eyes.

"Beautiful isn't she?" Emp steps around her to face the teens.

"That's an understatement." Amy is the only one who can form the words required to speak.

"Elegance given form." Emp smiles as he praises the manifestation. The gang is soon joined by a tall woman, in her early thirties, of Columbian origin; her ascent is a dead giveaway,

"I prefer brilliance." As she approaches from behind Emp her short black hair catches a spark from the core, it causes her to grin slightly as her hair spikes; considering her hair was only about three inches long it wasn't terribly noticeable. Her slender body was hidden by her loose fitting white uniform lined with lime green, her insignias and rank were easily concealed by her lab coat. Though her name tag was rather clear.

"Ah, Dr. Vargas. And how are you doing on this fine Dooms Day?" As she rounds him to face all parties he turns to her and bows slightly.

"I could use a little scotch, but…I really can't complain." She shrugs and adds an 'eh' face.

"And how is the Bitch?"

"…Still bringing the systems online." Her jovial tone is rapidly replaced by a much more serious one.

"We still have time so I understand."

"You know I wouldn't be here if you hadn't placed our daughter inside this monstrosity?" She motions her hand away from the core to the rest of the ship as her voice takes on a sub-layering of anger.

"But the perfect mind requires a perfect body." He grins as he motions to the silent blue figure. Vargas pauses before,

"…I hate it when you're right." Her voice still holds its anger but she graces a smile.

"I suppose it's a good thing it doesn't happen very often then." His remark insights a chuckle before she turns her attention to the unexpected 'visitors',

"…So I see you brought guests."

"More like…stowaways." He eyes them with a light grin.

"Good, because we don't have much staff left."

"Are you the only one?" His voice bares genuine surprise.

"No, Sergeant Bacharach decided to join us."

"Interesting." His eyes narrow as he scratches his chin.

"He brought Sophie and Franz."

"Franz I understand…but why Sophie?" His face tightens with his deepening confusion.

"He said…she missed you. Speaking of which…" Vargas motions to the creature approaching from the other side of Pure.

The…raptor? …Yes it was a five foot tall, at the shoulder, dark green raptor crowned with a metal combat helmet bearing a red claw mark across it, which matched the one splashed across her left flank. She steps over and bows her head before Emp.

"It's good to see you too, Sophie." At his greeting she raises her head and looks him in the eyes. Her stare is brief as she turns and slowly strides over to the other side of Pure. Her tail flicks as she turns to stand beside the still silent hologram.

"Thththaah…that's aaaa…" Piper's grip on the English language is rather shaken by the sudden appearance of a prehistoric predator. Damian, Jacob, and Kiko's eyes are all rather wide as they simply stare at the reptilian huntress. Amy shakes her head lightly and grins while Kim and Marcus seem to have developed a nervous twitch. Julie promptly faints, lucky for her Amy catches her and eases her to the floor.

"Raptor? ...technically…" Emp's voice is heavy with his unease in using that term. Vargas comes to his rescue,

"That's a grey area. We took hawk DNA and…activated a series of latent DNA markers until we got…a raptor."

"So…she's more of a Super Hawk…with teeth and a leathery/scaled hide." Emp's usually reassuring tone has completely vanished for an apprehensive one.

"And a tail, a lack of wings, and…is about five feet tall." Vargas is rather amused by his attempt to describe Sophie and her jovial nature reappears to capitalize on it.

"So, raptor?" Amy taking a blunt tone simplifies their ramblings.

"I suppose since none of us are paleontologists…sure why not." Surrendering Emp drops his head at his concession.

"You created a raptor?" Recovering her ability to form proper words Piper rejoins the conversation.

"I figured we have the tech, so what the hell." His brief stint of apprehension has gone the way of the dodo in the triumphant return of his natural breezy nature.

"Is he always this cavalier?" Amy directs her question at Vargas as if Emp wasn't even present.

"How long have you known him?"

"Since Exodus started."

"Then that's long enough to already know the answer." She grins at the blonde.

"And how did he become…the head of TeraCorp?"

"He's…weird. And that was exactly what his predecessor was looking for." Vargas's smile deepens slightly.

"Heru was a strange fellow in his own right. I suppose that's what it takes to be in charge of TeraCorp, no normal person could handle the stress." Emp has taken it upon himself to reinsert himself though speaks as if he was always a part of the conversation.

"It's good to be a freak." Vargas runs her right hand through her hair as she leans back against the wall,

"Normal's boring anyway." Most of the group as well as Pure, Emp, and Sophie nod in agreement. Amy takes notice of Sophie's action,

"She can understand us, can't she?"

"We may have also dialed up her intelligence…a little." He pinches his fingers very close together at 'a little'. Vargas rolls her eyes,

"And by 'a little' he means a shit load."

"Sure why not. Make one of history's deadliest predators even more dangerous. I'm sure nothing bad could come from this." Piper's sarcastic discourse garners her a…smile from Sophie.

"I think she likes you." Emp smiles as he motions to the huntress.

"Yeah, with a side fries smothered in ketchup." Piper's half serious joke elicits a light laugh from everyone including the reptile.

"Actually she prefers mustard and spicy ranch." From behind Sophie a light German accent was easily discerned.

"Ah, Sergeant." Emp turns to greet the lean muscled man, who seems to be in his forties, of average height with a rather deep scar down his left cheek that begins just below his eye. His narrow deep blue eyes can barely be discerned from beneath his Australian explorer's hat, which matched his olive drab fatigues nicely. Though once he snaps to attention they do shine against his tanned face in the ambient light of the core,

"Yes, mine Kaiser."

"Bacharach, may I inquire why you and the raptors are here?"

"Well…she missed you and you ordered me to keep an eye on her." Bacharach pushes up his hat slightly to scratch his head. This reveals his full head of short dirty blonde hair.

Knowing full well that that was as far as the sergeant was going to go in terms of an explanation Emp opts for something more constructive,

"…is all the cargo loaded at least?"

"A few more of your party favors need to be loaded, Kaiser." The sergeant grins at the mention of the special cargo. Emp turns back to the teens with a more serious tone, one actually befitting an emperor,

"Damian, Jacob, Marcus, and Kiko, please accompany Jorge to the hangars and assist him with the loading." Kiko snaps a salute and stands by the sergeant. Jacob and Damian follow suit and Marcus meanders along minus the salute.

"At your will, Kaiser." Jorge salutes then departs with his new assistants, who also salute, in toe. At their departure Emp turns to the remaining teens,

"Piper and Amy, please go with the good doctor and help her with the system startups."

"Hierarch." Somewhat unexpectedly Amy salutes as she stands near the doctor.

"Sir." Piper mimics the action.

"We'll get her up and running in no time." Vargas throws a cavalier grin as she turns toward the engine room.

"You've had eleven days and she's still grounded." His words cause her to pause and turn,

"But that was without you to inspire me."

"You mean crack the whip?" Rolling her eyes without a word Vargas throws a wave and heads out with her helpers. The group has become rather small with only Kim and Julie, who had just recovered,

"…And as for you two...stay here with Pure." Despite how amazing she was, he had become quite used to her and had nearly forgotten her presence. But now he turns to face the blue girl,

"Pure."

"Yes, your grace." Her voice bares an incredible amount of respect as she folds her hands in front of her.

"Find something for them to do." But as he takes a more relaxed tone so does she,

"It shall be done." He turns to leave with Sophie but pauses,

"Just…nothing dangerous, they are still civilians."

"Understood."

"Good luck, ladies." He waves as he exits through the door behind the girls. As Sophie's tail disappears the door closes leaving the two unlikely deckhands alone with the 'perfect' AI.

Pure remains silent expecting the two girls to make a proper introduction. Unfortunately they don't seem to get the message. The continued silence irks her a little,

"It's customary to introduce yourself to someone you've never met."

"Sorry, I'm Kim Benson." Feeling incredible stupid Kim shakes her head as she makes her introduction.

"I'm Julie Fern." Julie doesn't seem too phased by not remembering, or not at all as if she actually didn't forget anything. Her introduction does insight a snicker from Pure, much to Kim's surprise,

"What?"

"Sorry, Julie Fern, Jules Vern. He's my favorite author." She smiles lightly at the…play-on-words? Not finding it funny, or at least not admitting it, Kim moves on,

"Right, well…?" Shaking her head Pure brings herself back to the task at hand,

"Of course, assignments…do either of you possess any skills?"

"…You mean that would be useful on an experimental interstellar warship?" Kim's biting tone is not taken as insulting by Pure,

"...well, not all of my systems are online yet, so I could use someone to inventory our supplies and equipment"

"What does that mean?" Julie confused tone and facial expression insights light ire in Kim,

"How stupid are you? She wants us to check to see if the things onboard are supposed to be here and to make sure the stuff that is supposed to be here is actually on board."

"How long is that going to take?" Julie's whining voice forces Pure to force down a laugh and provide a less calculated answer,

"All things considered…awhile." They both sigh in response so Pure tries to lift their spirits,

"When Dr. Vargas finishes bringing my systems online it should make your job much easier, but I will still require manual assistance in checking the older crates in the hangars."

"I hope she hurries." Kim groans out her prayer.

"As do I. I don't like having so much of my body detached from my mind. It's unnerving." Pure visibly shudders at the thought.

"So we're in your body?" Remembering earlier conversations from her leader Kim dares ask. Pure displays a delightful joy at being asked something about herself,

"…Yes, this ship is my body; the sensors my eyes and ears, the hull plating my skin, the engine my heart pumping energy, and this core is my brain."

"And we're parasites."

"Or white blood cells."

"…So where do we start?" Not wanting to continue talking, or more accurately listening, to someone who's very clearly smarter than her, Julie returns the subject to their work.

"I would suggest the medical bays; there's two on the forth deck and one for each hangar. I'll use my running lights to guide you." She motions toward a row of lights along the floor leading out of the room.

"Thanks…to work we busy cells go." Kim sighs again as she follows the lighting out of the room. Not fully understanding her, Julie trails her anyway.

AN: That was wonderful wasn't it? :)