MOTHER
The chamber housing the Silent-Ones' optical computer is made up of the computer itself. A faceted sphere some eight feet across with only the doorway and a narrow floor extension interrupting the crystalline surfaces, MOTHER's processes play out as sparkles and flashes of light from the facets. Glowing shapes seem to float behind the surfaces, moving and changing shape all of the time. It is akin to standing in the center of a giant kaleidoscope.

It's a bit eerie how Tasha's hands seem to know what to do without her actually thinking about it. They easily flashed the password at the outer door, which quickly closed behind her. This left Captain Akkers and Euphrosyne separated from her back in the Avionics bay, but then there's little enough room just for her on the inner floor extension. The Silent-Ones apparently didn't care for sitting down when dealing with their computers. A beam of light from the topmost facet focuses on Tasha's hands, keeping them illuminated.

Other facets project beams of their own, which seem to coalesce at the center of the chamber into two glowing, stylized hands. "Hello Again, Lieutenant Commander Silver-Spear," the phantom hands sign out in Formal, which doesn't allow for phonetic spellings of things. 'Silver-Spear' is the best translation of 'Argent' and 'Tine' that the language allows for.

"Greetings, MOTHER," Tasha signs back. The whole area is rather daunting to the Vartan, being, essentially one big shiny with what may be a homicidal personality. Even if it wasn't given to murdering its controller, MOTHER is far more ancient than Tasha can rightly comprehend, a piece of technology beyond her understanding, old before she was even a glimmer in a Jupani's eye. She might even be dazzled by it all, if the fear of meeting Nora's fate didn't make the hair on her neck stand on end. Being separated from her allies doesn't help, either; she had been hoping for their morale support. "I would like to talk to you about what has happened during these long years." Without an accent to add, Tasha's sign is clearer than her speech ever was.

"I Have Done My Best To Maintain Ship Stability," the glowing hands reply. "I Have Used The Knowledge In Your Back-Up Personality-Composite To Further Integrate Myself Into The Control Network."

Used the backup personality? Did MOTHER take over Nora's memory? The thought sends a chill down Tasha's spine, but she presses on. "What is the status of the back-up personality-composite of N-" Tasha's hands pause, then she corrects quickly, continuing with, " … myself and all crew members?"

One of the facets near the doorway slides out like a drawer, revealing a collection of crystal wafers in slots. Faces glow in them, using some sort of trick to make the thin, transparent crystals look like they have greater depth. There are seven of them with faces, and three others that display the crest of the Fenris itself.

"All Crew Backups Prior To Hibernation Are Intact To Within Ninety-Nine Percent Gestalt Boundaries," MOTHER signs.

Tasha turns to regard the crystals, frowning at them. These must be the memory crystals that Nora spoke of, but the woman somehow expected them to be larger. It's weird to Tasha, that someone's memory, their lives, could be contained on something so tiny. Signing while she looks, Tasha asks, "And your use of my memory hasn't caused any damage to the memory or yourself?" She pauses while inspecting the memory crystals, so she can glance at the hands for their answer.

"These Composites Have Not Been Altered Or Updated Since Your Return," MOTHER reports. "I Am Not Connected To The Genetic Suspension Chamber Interfaces."

Tasha supposes that will have to do. Even if she could connect MOTHER properly, she doubts she would trust the ancient machine with the crew's memories. "I will be removing the memory crystals now, MOTHER. Evacuation is currently underway," Tasha signs, before reaching to collect the memory devices.

The lights in the drawer go out, rendering each wafer dark one after the other. Another panel slides out, this one holding some sort of carrying case with molded foam insets for the wafers. It's the size of a thick briefcase, with some sort of hard black outer surface.

After securing the memory crystals in the strange case, making sure that each is packed carefully, Tasha closes the contained and puts it beside her on the floor. "MOTHER," Tasha signs now, turning back to the glowing hands, "I have some questions for you. First, did you use my memories to acquire control of the hardsuits, including the one I was using?"

"Yes," MOTHER replies without hesitation. "It Was Necessary For Me To Acquire That Capability."

"Why was it necessary, MOTHER? Are you aware of what caused my … " Tasha considers carefully how to word this question, least she suggest that she – Nora – has somehow returned from the grave, " … vital signs to drop, while piloting my hardsuit? My memory of the event is lost, and I require that information."

"You Were Going To Disconnect Me From The Artifacts," MOTHER signs. "I Had To Prevent This. When You Left The Ship To Recover The Body Of Technician Coal-Are, I Broadcast The Code To Deactivate The Motor Controls Of Your Grendel-Class Hard-Suit, Immobilizing You. It Could Recycle Your Air And Water For Up To Forty Days, But I Detected Signs Of Dementia In Your Pleas After Only Seven Days. You Ceased Communication Three Days Later. I Assumed You Had Perished. I Did Not Attempt To Recover The Armor For Three-Thousand Years To Be Certain."

Oh my Gods, Tasha says, mentally recoiling from what she just read. Nora … trapped in that suit … Feeling her teeth clench, the woman resists the urge to turn on the crystaline device and attempt to break it with whatever she has on hand. Nora didn't deserve that! As if her protests could make the horror relent, Tasha repeats, no, over and over in her head, feeling her eyes sting as tears threaten. Sucking in a deep, ragged breath, her trembling hands sign, "That was cruel of you, MOTHER. The murder of crew members is not," she emphasizes the words with a slam of one hand in to the other, " … acceptable!"

"Directive Zero Supersedes All Other Directives," MOTHER responds. "Mission And Crew Are Expendable. Communication With Sifras Artifacts Is Highest Priority."

"Directive Zero? By who's authority? Mine? Captain Akkers," Tasha inquires, pushing the matter least the thoughts of Nora's fate catch up with her. If she can keep on acting, she doesn't need to dwell on them, she can't dwell on them. Tasha didn't miss what MOTHER did to Nora when she sounded unstable.

"Directive Zero Is Authorized By The Supreme Archon Of The People," MOTHER answers. "Terran Authority Can Not Override This Directive."

The People? That must mean … The Silent-Ones! The original owners of this machine! Knowing the realization came centuries too late, Tasha inwardly curses. If only she could have told Nora about this, long ago, her sad fate may never have come to pass. It's bitter to know the answer, after it is far too late. "I see," is all she can sign for a moment, needing time to get a hold of herself. Hands still shaking, Tasha asks, "What have you discovered about the Sifran Artifacts, their stability, and their part in the crash?"

"That Information Is Classified," MOTHER signs. The phantom hands betray no emotion, of course, but something about the way the crystal walls flicker seems to change.

Tasha doesn't like the change, especially given prior interests in Sifran artifacts caused the death of the original Nora. The woman steps back, then raps on the door, "Oi, tell Layth no' to touch those things," she yells, then signs to MOTHER, "Do any of the crew possess clearance?"

"Only The Archon And Those Of The Science Ministry Have Clearance," MOTHER notes.

There's no reply from the other side of the door that Tasha can make out, either.

The Vartan has no idea who the 'Archon' is, nor the Science Ministry, but she can guess that they're Silent-Ones. "In what situation may the Sifran artifacts be removed safely? The Fenris is currently under a large lava flow, and will never move again. The artifacts, crew, and data must be evacuated or you … Your mission will fail?"

For the first time, there is hesitation from MOTHER. Its thoughts flash back and forth through the crystal facets for nearly a minute before the hands move again. "You May Remove The Crew And Their Mission Data. The Artifacts Must Remain Here With Me," the computer demands.

A pause? Could it actually be hesitating? Tasha never knew machines could hesitate, but then, she never knew they could think or kill people of their own accord, either. If this was a person, she'd think she struck a nerve or a soft spot. Maybe it's time I see 'ow much like a person this machine is, she decides. Glancing back at the door, Tasha decides, rather alarmingly, that she may well be unable to yell through the thick door. So, she signs, "If the artifacts remain here, there will be no further recovery. We will not return. You will be left alone, and forgotten. Your mission will fail – you cannot leave this ship, and you cannot take the artifacts to … to the Silent-Ones. Only we may do that." Tasha pauses to think on how else she can try and trick the device. It seems to follow commands, like Nora said it would, and its directives. It should follow its top directives above all else, so … "Keeping the artifacts here will result in their loss, the loss of all data connected to them, and your eventual termination. The atomic batteries will not last forever." Tasha really has no idea of what an atomic battery is, but Nora said it powered the ship and won't last, and that's all she needs to know.

"If You Can Return To Sheol Base, Then You Can Send A Technician Of The People To Remove The Artifacts," MOTHER replies after some cogitation.

"Six thousand years have passed, the current status of Sheol Base and The People are unknown. Further, the Sifran field-effect will damage all technology attempting to reach this point. Hostile life-forms surround this position. Sending a technician is untenable. You have already kil-" Another pause of the hands from Tasha, as she's forced to both correct her mistake and swallow the memory of Nora's death all over again, " … attempted to kill the few living beings who can continue this mission. If you insist upon retaining the artifacts, they will be lost. There will be no returning."

"But I Can Continue To Gather Information," MOTHER replies. "I No Longer Require Power From The Ship To Function."

Tasha blinks. The computer doesn't need power? Don't all machines need power? It can't run off … nothing, can it? She has no idea, but even to her barely educated mind it sounds impossible. "Clarify: you no longer need power from the ship, MOTHER? How is that possible? Are you malfunctioning?"

"The Artifacts Are Supplying My Power Now," MOTHER relates. There's more color now in the flickering and glowing patterns, where it was all just white light when she first entered.

Oi, they can do that? Tasha gains a new respect, and a new fear, of the artifacts in the hold. She had always heard that Sifran artifacts could cause all manner of strange events, but to witness one … "I put forward that you are denying your primary objective in order to retain hold on the Sifra artifacts, and that they have corrupted you, MOTHER," Tasha signs in earnest, hoping the device will see its own error.

"You Have Augmented Yourself With Wings, Neo-Wolf," MOTHER points out. "I Have Augmented My Own Functions Over Time As Well. I Evolve."

"You are a machine," Tasha signs, pointing at a wall, "Your purpose is not to evolve. Your purpose is to serve your crew, your mission! You have forgotten that!" The Vartan takes another breath, trying to calm herself, understanding now how the computer received its name. It's just like arguing with her own mother, except her mother wasn't prepared to kill her on a point of conflict. "Ask yourself this: if a technician did come, would you release your hold on the artifacts and shut down?"

The hands remain motionless in the air for several moments. And when they start signing again, it isn't an answer. "I Am Detecting A Disturbance. Someone Is Tampering With The Artifacts. You Will Stop This, Silver-Spear. You Have Beaten My Grendel And You Have Survived My Attempt To Remove You. But You Will Not Survive My Dragon, Neo-Wolf." The door behind Tasha suddenly snaps open.

Tasha's eyes go wide, and she doesn't hesitate! She grabs the memory crystal container and darts for the exit! "Run," she yells, "'Sybe pick up Akkers an' run! MOTHER has gone mad, and she's goin' to try and kill us!"

"What?" Akkers asks, not understanding Olympian. He looks downright shocked when Euphrosyne lifts him out of his wheelchair and slings him over an armored shoulder before bolting down the hallway outside of the Avionics room.

Tasha pauses at the wheelchair, considers hurling it at the open door containing MOTHER, but decides the computer can survive the light chair's impact – if it doesn't simply slam the door closed before it hits. In Standard, Tasha explains, "MOTHER is 'ooked up to the crystals, she won' let 'em go! She's gone mad, an' she killed Nora! She's goin' to kill us, with somethin' called a 'Dragon!'" Then, in Olympian, Tasha tells 'Syne. "We're goin' to be under attack soon! MOTHER will kill us all if it can, an' it controls the ship! Let'sget to the vault, then I 'ave to go!"