The time finally came for the Captain and the others to become untethered. The various wires and catheters withdrew from their life-collars, although the two civilian wolves still remained asleep. Akkers showed Tasha how to extract the folding wheelchairs from under the beds, and how to set one up. It wasn't difficult, and the chair was familiar – handles for pushing and rails on the wheels to move it by hand – but the materials made it incredibly lightweight. Then came helping Akkers to get dressed. The Captain chose a non-uniform 'ship suit' from the selection Tasha brought him, which turned out to be a pullover shirt and elastic-waistband equipped pants. There were even a pair of sock-like booties, all of it in matching gray and blue.

Most of the important things as far as personal effects and ID tags had already been packed up before the crew went into hibernation, all in the ubiquitous black boxes. But those were prepared with rescue in mind, when they'd need to be able to bring everything that mattered with them in a single box. The new situation required salvaging whatever might be useful and could be easily transported.

A tour of various storage lockers brought forth a treasure of survival gear: hermetically sealed First-Aid kits containing medicines that were meant to survive radiation and vacuum exposure, ultra-thin thermal blankets, toolboxes and emergency tents. Most of it filled up a single large storage bin taken from one of the workshops. The extra wheelchairs also went into the pile, since they'd be easily sold to older, wealthier people. What didn't go were weapons, at Akkers' insistence. There were plenty of tempting gizmos, but since they weren't likely to work at lower altitudes and there was no guarantee their batteries wouldn't explode, it was decided to leave them behind.

After an hour of scavenging, Tasha wheeled the Captain into the last chamber: the hardsuit storage area just next to the airlock. The doors had been kept held open, so it was possible to see clear through to the cavern beyond, illuminated by torches. The mobile bin, pushed by Euphrosyne, was left up at the top of the ramp in the lower hangar for now, along with the Warrior.

"Well, this is it then," Tasha tells the Captain as she wheels him down the ramp. "Jus' the 'ardsuit bay, an' we're done. I even 'ad those weapons locked up, an' the door busted, so no one could get inside. Added some dire warnin's about tryin', too, so they're safe. This migh' be the las' time we see The Fenris, so while we look 'ere, anythin' you'd like to say or do, Cap'n?"

The wolf just stares out of the open airlock for a few moments, smelling the warm air that comes in from the cavern. "I never thought about what to say when leaving behind a ship," the man admits. "I need to get this collar removed though, and have them taken off of the others once they've recovered. I imagine they make us look conspicuous. And then… we'll have to open the artifact vault."

"I'm goin' to 'ave to give that 'bot of yours a pat on in it's metal back. I'm feelin' a bit bad abou' rippin' its arm off, wha' with all it's done, an' it meaning well an' all," Tasha remarks, head tilting. She glances at the Captain and nods. "Well, at leas' you went down wit' your ship. No one can say you didn' do your bes', Cap'n. An' look at it like this: better late than never. You 'ave a whole new world to meet, too." She smiles a little, then nods again and says, "Best you remove tha' collar. Mos' who wear collars are slaves, an' you don' wan' tha'. An' I almos' forgot about the vault … " She glances back, towards the direction of the mysterious artifact vault. "I s'pose we'll be takin' them artifacts with us, to Sheol?"

"Yes, they're the most valuable items aboard the Fenris," the wolf says, and then adds for emphasis, "Far more valuable than us. The fact that nobody came to try and recover them worries me."

Tasha leans over the wheelchair and peers at the Captain intently. "They're no' more importan' than you are," she insists, raising an eyebrow. Of course, with her head upside-down, it's more of a lowering eyebrow. "An' I don' know 'ow they'd recover them, no' where they were. It took six thousan' years o' diggin'. Bu' don' worry, we'll get 'em. Now," she waves to the room, "anythin' 'ere you think we can use, Cap'n?"

"The suits aren't reliable," Akkers says. "Especially after they've been cannibalized over the years like this to keep Nora's working. We need to know what happened to her. MOTHER should know."

"Aye, MOTHER should know," Tasha agrees, although she doesn't sound like that's a good thing. "Les' get this collar off you, an' we'll assemble the Lapi to escort everyone ou'. You wan' to get the artifacts now, or wait until MOTHER is disabled?"

"We can unlock the vault now," Akkers says, then turn to look at Tasha. "Can we trust them around the artifacts? Or should they be kept secret?"

Tasha leans closer and whispers, "I trus' them. Besides, I don' know if Amazonians care abou' Sifran artifacts. Now, tha' doesn't mean no one does, it don't. Rephidim would take 'em, an' so would many others. They're somethin' o' a rare commodity, an' a lot o' governments consider 'em seizable. Diggin' for 'em's a black market." She looks up to Euphrosyne and says, "Push the supplies outside, then muster some o' your more trus'ed an' able Lapi. We're goin' to remove some sacred objects, then put this ship back to sleep. Might be dangerous, the ship doesn' sleep soundly."

The big Warrior nods, then pushes the bin out past the pair and into the cavern, where she talks briefly to Gyes, who has guard duty that shift. The Guardian nods and runs off into the mine tunnels. "He'll inform the others," she reports.

"Good," Tasha replies. She parks the wheelchair, then takes a moment to stretch. "Soon we'll be off. Once we reach Dianus, we'll see to your wounds, Cap'n, then we'll 'ead on out of Amazonia. I 'ave an airship waitin' for my signal, so we'll catch tha'. After tha', to Rephidim, then to Gateway."

"Hmm, I can't say that I'm eager to leave this world so soon," Akkers says. "But I suppose I can always come back to it again. Wheel me up to the vault and I'll open it up."

"Yes sir," Tasha says, giving a little salute. She turns the wheelchair around, then heads for the vault. "So, wha' do these things look like, anyway? Like the butt-side o' Rephidim?"

"The look odd," Akkers says. Once he's been pushed to the end of the lower corridor, he keys in the access code for the vault. The doors release with a hiss and a puff of stale air. "You'll have to push the door open yourself. We had to cut all the power lines to isolate the crystals."

"Right-o." Tasha pulls the wheelchair away from the door, parking the Captain where he can get a clear view of the inside. Then, after stepping forward, she braces herself against the wall and begins to push the door open. "You'll fin' … doors … are lighter … in our world," she wheezes.

"If you needed help with doors, you could have called," comes the quiet voice of Layth from behind Tasha and the Captain.

The doors eventually give, but let out a horrible squeal from long neglected lubricants. There are no lights in the vault save for what comes from the artifacts themselves: a liquid, multicolored shimmering. Behind Layth, Aaron says, "We heard the squeal. Ouch."

The Karnor in the wheelchair looks over the two bucks. "Alright, this is more like what I expected," he says in Standard when he looks at Aaron. "And the big fellow is at least fluffy."

Layth brushes his lop ears back. "Expected?" he has to ask.

"Pfah," Tasha retorts, straining, "I'm no' so weak. 'Sides, it's no' the doors tha' worry me." As rhe door slides in to the wall, Tasha winces at the sound, stumbling a bit before wiping her forehead and pushing her hair from her face. "These things need to be taken ou', an' none o' us are sure abou' them. Treat 'em with extreme care, an' watch yourself." Tasha looks back, then blinks. "Oi, righ': these two are Aaron and Layth. Big one's Layth, little one's Aaron."

"You aren't… " he starts to say, until he spots Euphrosyne coming back in, clad in her armor.

With a glance back to 'syne, Layth finishes the sentence, "Female." He walks a bit past the wheelchair now and peers in the room at the crystals. "Do you wish me to try to remove them, then? Or do you wish me to stand guard?"

"Tha' depends on the Cap'n," Tasha replies. "Cap'n, can we jus' step in there an' pick them up? 'Ow many are there, an' are they 'eavy?"

The artifacts are held in transparent cases with various glowing wires attached to the surface, all leading into a thick bundle that vanishes through a hole in the wall. The pieces themselves are each unique: one looks like a bumpy starfish, another like a vaguely formed ice sculpture that is half melted, and the third like a cylinder full of random holes.

"Wait, I see … three, aye. One for each 'o us to carry out," Tasha adds after a moment of looking. "Can we jus' take 'em? Nothin' goin' to leap out if we remove them?"

"Hmm, may want to have Dr. Zerachiel manage the removal," the Captain says after a moment. "Those glowing fiber optic leads connect to MOTHER. If we disconnect them now it might cause an alarm."

"Then should we finally kill this 'mother' before we remove them?" Layth inquires as he steps away from the door again, then looks between Tasha and the Captain. "I am tired of her machines attacking us."

"We need to recover her memory crystals," the wolf explains. "They'll tell us what happened to Nora, if we can ever read them out again."

"I was hopin' to do tha' las', bu' I'd prefer no' to get attacked more. I'm no' sure if anything's left to send at us, bu' I'd rather no' tempt fate." Tasha folds her arms, then tilts her head thoughtfully. "Do you think the Doc can 'andle the removal withou' disablin' MOTHER? I wan' everythin' out before we shut 'er down, she may be all tha's keepin' this ship workin'."

"Ah, you need to remove the mother's brain while she still lives. Are you a Necromancer, then?" Layth asks the Karnor.

"He set it all up, so he should be able to take it all apart," Akkers says. "So long as he remembers how."

"Err, I'm just a soldier," the wolf tells Layth. "I think he means the brain of the Fenris itself," Aaron explains.

Leaning over, Tasha whispers to Captain Akkers, "The answer is "no." Necromancers are mages tha' raise the dead an' make ghosts. Bad sorts, 'ope you never meet any."

Leaning back, Tasha nods to Aaron. "Aye. The ship's got its own mind, or if Nora's right, it 'ad two minds, an' this 'MOTHER' is the secon' one. The firs' one didn' survive bein' on Sinai."

Switching to Khattan briefly, Layth comments to himself, "Ships with a mind. That seems … dangerous and a foolish thing to give a vessel."

"MOTHER was our backup," Akkers explains.

"An' MOTHER may 'ave killed Nora," Tasha adds, glancing over her should as if the computer system might overhear her and take offense. Taking a breath, Tasha asks, "'Ow's the Doc fairin'? The way I see it, we either go get 'em now, or we disable MOTHER now. I need your input – all o' yours – before we move."

"I hope she is not like my mother once was; A vengeful and powerful warrior. We would not last long, if so," Layth notes. At the comment about killing Nora, he adds, "And that makes this mother seem like mine once was, yes. Worrisome."

"We should return to the Infirmary and check on them," Akkers suggests, especially as the rest of the Lapis begin to arrive. Being stuck in the chair probably doesn't help the sense of being loomed over much.

"Then if no one 'as a problem wit' it, let's 'ead for the Infirmary. 'Syne, assign some Warriors to keep an eye on this open door until we return," orders Tasha, who gives the artifact room another concerned glance.

"Do you wish me to carry your friend?" Layth asks Tasha and waves towards the Captain.

"I'll push 'em," Tasha answers, gesturing to the wheel chair device. Unlike the wooden wheelchairs Layth may have seen, this one is composed of an unknown material. "You'll 'ave to push one o' the others when they're up, Layth. I'm goin' to assign one o' us to a Karnor each, to 'elp 'em."

Layth dips his head. "As you wish," he tells her. "I promise to be careful with them. They seem … fragile," he assures Tasha as they enter the infirmary.

Gyes and Doreen nervously take guard duty on the Vault. Back in the Infirmary, both of the other wolves are sitting up, and drinking the nasty goo that the service cart brings them. "I monitored your conversations through the medibot," Dr. Caravelli says. "I think we're up to speed on the situation." "We need to take the artifacts with us," rasps the older wolf, Dr. Zerachiel, who still has a dry throat.

"They're the other treasure o' this vessel," Tasha tells Layth quietly, nodding to the men. "Don' forget they're our elders, more divine than I'll ever be." Speaking up, Tasha greets the two men, giving them a small smile. "If you're feelin' up to it, sirs, we'll get you in to your travelin' clothes an' on to a wheelchair, then we'll be removin' the artifacts and shuttin' MOTHER down."

The medical robot approaches the wheelchair, and begins to remove the collar from Akkers. Aaron turns away from the sight. "So we're heading out tonight then?" he asks. "There's something I need to see to on the way."

"What do you need to see, Master Lightfoot?" Layth inquires of the other buck as he looks to wolves. For a moment he looks a bit uncomfortable, if only for the fact he's not sure what do do with them. They are far more alien to him than those he has met traveling the world.

"We can wait until mornin' if you prefer, bu' I'd like to get the Karnors to Dianus while their 'ealth 'olds an' the weather is fair. I'll need to talk with the leader o' the village, too. 'Ave to tell 'er wha's what an' tha' 'er problem is 'andled. Also, to leave this shrine be, bu' tha' the cast off metal is fine to take," answers Tasha. Having seen the collars rmeoved several times now, Tasha just grimaces, rather than looking away.

"Something I… just something I need to pick up," the Lapi explains, laying his ears back. Once the collars are off, the Karnor all reach for their throats and have to force themselves not to rub at the exposed skin. "I hope your friends know what scarves are," Akkers comments.

"I'm sure we can get some from the village," Tasha assures the Captain. Then, glancing at Aaron, Tasha adds, "An' we're no' takin' tha' man's moving picture, if tha's wha' your after."

"No, just something I had the smiths work up," Aaron mutters. "So, any more of those wheelchairs?" he asks, changing the subject.

Layth gives Aaron a sidelong glance, noting, "Indeed. For yourself, I assume." To Tasha, Layth says, "It would depend on the type of scarf they would want. I doubt we can obtain dancing scarves here."

"Un'er the tables. Go ahead an' set 'em up now. Layth, see to the medical Doc. Aaron, can you 'andle Doctor Zerachiel?" Tasha blinks at Layth, then punches his arm lightly. "Oi, no. Cold weather scarves. It's goin' to get chill before we leave this mountain."

"Sure, he'll probably have a million questions anyway," Aaron notes, and heads over to help the older wolf off of the bed. Then there's the matter of finding clothes that fit, but the Lapis already got into the supplies of those before, so it wasn't that long.

Layth rubs his arm and deadpans, "Good. You would do better with a dancing scarf, anyway." Under the table Layth goes to fetch one of the odd chairs. Once found, he heads towards the wolf he assumes is the medical doctor. Once certain this is the one to help, he goes about finding him clothing as well. At least one thing of his background comes in handy, he knows how to dress those seriously injured without inflicting too much pain. Their condition isn't so dissimilar…

"Thank the Maker for small favors," Dr. Caravilli says as Layth helps him. "This world's gravity is lighter than we're used to… and are you a nurse by trade, sir?" he says, directing the question to Layth.

"Bodyguard, Honored Doctor," Layth answers honestly, "But such has often required knowing how to deal with injuries while in the wilderness. My own and others. In your case … the best I can relate your condition to, is of someone who has had a limb in a cast for a long time. Everything is weak and cannot be stressed much, but must be slowly worked back to its former shape. Otherwise, you'll just worsen the injury."

"Oi, 'bot. I wan' to thank you for your 'elp. Now, it's time for you to res'. Return to storage, an' prepare for a long sleep," Tasha instructs the robotic medical doctor.

The big machine glides out of the Infirmary to the Mech Lab. Endre jogs up to announce that the Vykarin are ready outside the mines. "We'll need stretchers to get them out through the tunnels," Aaron notes.

"We could just carry them," Layth suggests. It would be slow, but possible."

"Then lets 'ead for the artifact storage room, an' see to movin' those crystals out 'o 'ere," Tasha directs. She turns the Captain's wheelchair around, and waves the others to follow. "Keep an eye out, it's no' safe until we're all out an' done. An' even then, it's not safe for long."

"Easier for the Amazonians to manage too," Aaron agrees. "We can just fold up the chairs and bring them along."

Layth makes sure Dr. Caravilli is seated comfortably, then eases his wheelchair towards the door. "What are we to do should this Mother decide to attack us while they are busy removing things? Should we prepare a defense?" he asks.

"Aye, prepare a defense. Layth, you wan' to get ready for a fight, or 'elp me an' Aaron wit' the artifacts? 'Syne will direct the others – expect machines," Tasha answers.

"MOTHER… attack us?" the doctor asks. "How could… oh, right, she controlled the hardsuits somehow. But they don't function any more, and we're using outside air already. I don't see what it could do to us now."

"I don' see either," the Vartan woman agrees, "bu' tha' doesn' mean it's no' there. I'm no' takin' chances."

"Making such a statement tempts fate," Layth observes quietly. "It could use the suits to stike down people with lightning. The suites are made of material similar to this ship. Could she not possibly attack us with lightning through it as well?"

"That would be unlikely," Akkers answers. "The walls are not conductive inside."

"Still, we could evacuate everyone that's not needed first," Aaron suggests, looking to Tasha.

"I agree. We'll retain only the people we need – the res' will wait outside in case 'o emergency," the Vartan agrees.

"If the ship was boarded by raiders, Captain, what would be the standard way of dealing with them?" Layth inquires as he rubs at one of his ears. "What would this Mother normally do?"

"Raiders?" Akkers asks. "MOTHER was not the primary control for the ship, so it shouldn't do anything."

"Isn' it from a Silent-Ones ship? Wha' would it do in one o' those," inquires Tasha as she pushes the Captain's wheel chair down the hall.

"Given their military bent, probably destroy the ship," Akkers says. "But we don't have a self-destruct system on the Fenris. None of the Terran ships do."

"Surely if you give a ship a mind, the ship would defend itself. How would it normally try to do so?" Layth says, trying to rephrase the question as he follows after Tasha, Dr. Caravilli being pushed along before him as well.

"Could it have built one while you were asleep?" Layth inquires.

"Wha' about the Themis-Skoll? Could MOTHER try an' use it? make it … self-destruct," asks Tasha. She carefully helps the Captain down the ramp to the first level, now, proceeding towards the artifact chamber.

"It must have been doing something with the hardsuit," Akkers admits. "Otherwise it wouldn't have had to replace parts. The only weapons are the missiles carried by the Themis-Skoll though. After so long, the isotopes should have decayed beyond the point of critical mass though."

"What does that mean?" Layth asks.

"The Titan is still in training mode though, right?" Aaron asks Tasha in a whisper.

"The explosives will have aged to the point where they might not explode anymore," Akkers says.

Tasha nods to Aaron, bit then shrugs. "It should be, bu' 'ell if I know 'ow it really works."

"I assume you have more than one explosive thing? If each have decayed to where they couldn't explode … could they be combined together into a single one that could?" Layth asks curiously.

"The 'ardsuit did talk to us," Tasha says suddenly, remembering their encounter with the first one. "It said it was tryin' to do sonething abou' 'ull integrity needin' to be restored. I asked it to stop, an' it refused."

"It must have been trying to protect the artifacts or us," Akkers guesses. "Nora could have given it some final directive, but there's no way of knowing. We could try asking MOTHER, of course. Whatever else is going on, it shouldn't be able to lie."

"That would probably be worth asking, yes," Layth agrees.

"Tha' means we 'ave to decide if we wan' to talk to MOTHER firs', or no'. The bay where MOTHER is 'oused is nearby. If we mus', I'll communicate with MOTHER while the res' o' you remove the Karnors an' the artifacts," Tasha suggests. "'Ow do you feel abou' tha', Cap'n? Oi, an' remember, the ship thinks I'm Nora Argentine now – it ought an' answer me as to wha' Nora wanted."

"It's a plan," Akkers says. "We can't examine the whole ship for a bomb."

"'Eere we go then. Layth, Aaron, take the Doctors to the artifact chamber an' work out 'ow they might be removed. When I give the signal, take 'em an' get out. If you 'ere me tellin' you to run, take the Karnors out – the artifacts are secondary. 'Syne, Akkers an' I will see to MOTHER," Tasha directs.

Layth nods a few times, then pauses to rub his chin and ask, "What will be the signal?"

"A howl of pain?" Aaron suggests.

"I'll 'owl. Any bun should 'ere tha'. O'course, screams o' pain an' terror are the other signal for gettin' out 'o 'ere," the Vartan answers.

Again, Layth nods, "Understood." He pauses, the asks, "Are you certain you do not wish for me to come help should you be in trouble… ?"

"Let's make sure the doors are all jammed open too," Aaron tells Layth. "Having them lock us in would be bad."

Layth nods to Aaron firmly, his lop heard flapping forward. "Good suggestion," he agrees.

"I need someone with a level 'ead tha' won' panic in the face of lightnin' storms or worse, Layth. You're stron' enough to carry an artifact an' a Karnor, an' I really need someone to 'andle this. 'Syne'll be with me, in case I'm disabled, an' the Cap'n needs to be evacuated, or I do. The res' of the Warriors an' Guardians will 'elp remove the artifacts an' support us, if we need 'elp, an' especially if we 'ave to fight," Tasha explains.

"I … cannot argue with that," Layth has to admit with a frown, "Just … be careful, Tasha. Remember, be calm and slow. Do not let your fire rush you. If the worst happens, I will see the others back to Dianus and find them aid."

"Tha's why I picked you, Layth. Only you an' Aaron know wha' to do an' where to go – an' who to talk to. Aaron's the only one who can 'elp get them through Gateway. Only I can shut MOTHER down," Tasha agrees. She then pauses, patting the bucks arm, before giving him a hug. "You take care now."

Layth willingly returns the hug. "I will. If anything, I always survive," he notes quietly. Releasing her, he then pats Aaron's back, saying, "Let'sgo secure the doors out, then move the Karnors down to the artifact room. Time flows ever on and we must ride its current."

Aaron gives Tasha a hug too. "Don't do try to tell the machine you're on a mission from a god either. I doubt it would understand," he advises.

Tasha returns Aaron's hug, as well. "I'll 'ave Cap'n Akkers with me – he should know 'ow to talk to it. He needs answers, at any rate. Don' worry abou' me – I'll be fine, aye?" She then rubs up Aaron's head hair, and steps back. "Well, let's get to it then!"