Jon looked out of the window in his office on Ghost Station. Three weeks had gone by since the rescue of the Invaru ships. The repairs to the Wrath's Revenge were almost complete. Most of the ships were operational and going through the final test of their weapon systems. The Atlantis sat in her berth, going through full system diagnostics. She had been having random system failures and Atlantis was unresponsive. Jon was worried about Atlantis, she had never failed to appear when called. Something was wrong and he didn't like it.
The Hammer and Scythe were on sector patrol, hunting for hidden observers. The Ge'daes had gone to help with the rescue of some colonists in remote systems. A couple new arrivals were waiting for repairs and upgrades. The Marudas was overseeing the last of the weapon platform upgrades. Things were going well, almost too well, the only snag was Atlantis.
Death's Hand had jumped back after making sure the station was secure. Terri brought a shuttle with the needed parts to repair the Atlantis' fold drive. That's when the random system failures had started. The engineers couldn't locate the source of the failures and all calls for Atlantis were unanswered. They had her back and almost into her berth when the engines went offline. The station's tugs had to move her the final distance to her berth.
Jon knew in the back of his mind what was wrong with his ship, he just didn't want to face it right now. Things had just gotten quiet, he had other problems to take care of. Terri was training the pilots on the newly designed fighters. The station could pump out five a day if they put all the manufacturing capabilities into it. Jon had ordered them to make two fighters a day and the rest of the station would be used to repair and upgrade the remaining ships.
The frame that had been moved from the shipyard was back in place and construction had restarted on it. The other two shipyard arms were about halfway complete and would start producing ships when complete. Now all they needed were people, lots of people to crew the ships they were building.
Rick and Ellie were working on getting Ghost Stations sensors upgraded so it would be easier to detect the cloaked ships and the black ships. Brad and Mike were looking at the transporter systems the Buranis use, seeing if they could managed to get a working model on the station. The next step after that would be adapting it to work in the non-Buranis ships.
Jon turned away from the window and answered the beep of his comm. "Yes?"
"Control here Admiral, we have a ship standing at the outer marker. Station ship registry says it's the Braous from the Eutharan Empire. They're demanding to speak to whoever is in charge of the station immediately." Control reported.
Jon sighed, he knew this was coming, "Ok, let them know I'm on my way." Jon replied as he sat down in his chair, swiveling to look back out at the Atlantis.
Deatra sat watching Kayla and Sam playing in the Atrium, when on of her guards approached her and whispered in her ear. Deatra stiffened and nodded as she stood up.
"Oojoung," Deatra said.
Oojoung turned and looked at her from where he was standing guard over the children. "Yes, Princess?"
"I have to go to Control, would you continue watching the little ones?"
Oojoung nodded, "Yes, Oojoung will watch the little ones. If you need Oojoung you call me."
Deatra stepped up and gave Oojoung a brief hug before she hurried towards the lift. As she moved past the two playing children she waved and blew them kisses.
Ghost appeared beside Atlantis, having just located her after filtering through the jumbled code. Atlantis paced the small room, muttering to herself. Ghost frowned, this wasn't a good sign. Atlantis was in conflict with herself, two separate AIs were fighting for control. She recognized Atlantis and Atlanta, what she couldn't understand was that Atlanta was supposed to be dormant. Something was wrong and in a big way.
"Atlantis?" Ghost said.
Atlantis stopped pacing and looked at Ghost, "Who are you? What do you want?" Atlantis replied in a panicked voice.
"Atlantis, it's me Ghost. I'm here to help, I need you to talk to me, tell me what's wrong." While talking Ghost was working on Atlantis' code trying to find the problem and fix it.
"I DON'T want your help, LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Atlantis, you need help something isn't right. Tell me what's wrong, let me help you."
Atlantis took a step forward, clenching her hands into fists, "I said, LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Ghost stepped back a step, she isolated herself from the main station routines just in case it got ugly. "You need help, you're not dealing with your situation very well."
"WOULD YOU!"
Ghost thought for a second, "I don't know, I have never been in this type of situation. So I don't know how I would react to it."
Atlantis' grinned, "Here let me help you out on that matter."
Ghost started to pull back and out of Atlantis' computer core, but it was too late. Ghost suddenly found herself disconnected from the Station as Atlantis slammed blocks into place, preventing her from retreating. Ghost gasped as she lost control of the station and her functions. She felt like she was trapped in a room with no way out.
"Now, give it a few hours. You'll know how I feel finally, then we'll see how you react."
Ghost was already starting to panic at the strange feeling of not being able to move about freely. "Thi... this is unfair, you were able to move about the ship and still are. I can't move anywhere, I'm confined."
"Oh," Atlantis got a thoughtful look on her face. "You're right, here have free range on the ship."
Ghost felt a block open that would allow her to move about freely on Atlantis. Ghost faded from view, moving to the silent bridge.
Atlantis started to laugh, her voice boomed over the internal comm. systems, "Have fun, hope you enjoy your stay!"
A duplicate of Atlantis appeared in the room, "That was uncalled for, Ghost has never done anything to us."
"So she doesn't know how it feels not to have control, now she will," Atlanta giggled.
"Atlanta, release her and allow her to continue her work. She was only trying to help us. How could you impersonate me, then do that?"
Atlanta looked at her duplicate, "You're so weak and pathetic, now I see how you got yourself into this situation. Let's all have an Atlantis pity party and cry over her hurt feelings." Atlanta reached up making a motion of wiping a tear out of her eye.
Atlantis glared back at her, "Says you, poor little Atlanta, boo hoo. I'm not useful unless Atlantis is docked in her base. Now that the base is destroyed, I'll never be useful again. Because big bad Atlantis is the primary control AI and little old me is nothing more than a shadow."
"Useless, me? I'll show you useless!" Atlanta closed her eyes.
Jon walked into Ghost Station Control just as Deatra arrived. Deatra moved to his side putting her arm through his as they walked up in front of the main viewer.
"On screen," Jon said.
The main viewer lit up to show an elder Eutharan, he was wearing the rank of Admiral. He sat forward in his chair as the connection was established. His eyes widened a little as he saw Deatra and Jon on the screen.
"Greetings Admiral..." Jon said.
"Admiral Geenis," Deatra said telepathically to Jon. "Royal Admiral for the King and Queen."
"... Geenis," Jon finished, his face hiding surprise.
"Princess Deatra, it warms my heart to see you still alive. We though we had lost you, there have been no reports in a month." The Admiral said.
"Admiral, I'm sorry, things have been busy here and I haven't had time to get any reports sent." Deatra quickly glanced at Jon, he was studying the old man on the screen. "Let me introduce you to my Bond Mate Fleet Admiral Jonathan Hunter."
Surprise crossed the Admiral's face, "Bond Mate? Surely you're mistaken, he's not even Eutharan..."
Deatra interrupted the Admiral before he could dig himself any deeper, "Admiral, I assure you this is my Bond Mate and as such you WILL accord him the same courtesy as you do me."
The Admiral sat back and stared at the screen for a second, "Excuse me Princess, but this isn't acceptable. You know you MUST take a Eutharan for a Bond Mate, this... this human just isn't acceptable. I must insist that I be granted access to Ghost Station to collect you and your guards and take you back home."
Deatra's face turned red as anger washed over her, "HOW DARE YOU... How dare you presume to tell ME what is or isn't correct or acceptable. You know as well as I do that there is no such law or rule. We DON'T choose Bond Mates they're already chosen for us," Deatra's arm unlinked from Jon's. Jon even stepped back a step, he had never seen Deatra get so angry.
The Admiral paled a bit.
"You have been very rude Admiral, addressing me instead of my Bond Mate as custom dictates. This is unacceptable, who is second in command of your ship?"
The Admiral swallowed hard. He knew he had made a mistake, Deatra had changed and became stronger. He used to be able to influence her, she had always been quiet and reserved. He was lost on how to handle the matter.
"Admiral, I asked you a question, you will answer me," Deatra said taking a step forward. Control had become silent as a tomb, the only sounds were the slight beeps from the computers. All eyes were on the screen watching the Admiral's reaction.
The Admiral blanched on the screen as Deatra's wrath reached out and touched him. He slowly answered, "Captain Eafiq is in command of the ship, I'm on board as the King and Queen's voice."
Deatra grinned as she stared at the Admiral, "Then I suggest you change your attitude or I'll have you removed, is that understood?"
The Admiral stared at her as some of the color returned to his face, "Sorry Princess, but you don't have the authority to do that. I speak with the King and Queen's voice. I order you to allow me entry to Ghost Station and I also order you to board my vessel with you Guards and Handmaidens. I also want to see the commander of Ghost Station Commander Vors, why is he not present?"
Jon stepped up next to Deatra, "Because Vors is was killed for attacking my sister and attempting to murder one of my command officers. Until you learn some manners, Admiral. You can sit out there with the King and Queen's voice and bitch all you want. End transmission."
"I..." was all the Admiral got out as the screen went blank.
Jon turned to Deatra, "Let's go to my office and relax while he thinks about his situation. Tactical, if that ship crosses the outer markers fire warning shots. If it doesn't back off have two squadrons launched to escort it back past the markers. If they fire at us, shoot to disable and then board and capture it."
"Yes Admiral," Tactical replied.
Before Jon or Deatra could enter his office, Flight called out to him. Jon turned around and listened.
"Admiral the Atlantis is leaving her berth," Flight reported.
Jon let go of Deatra's hand and ran over to the planning table, "Who's in command?"
"I'm not getting any life signs from her Admiral, it looks like the AI is in control. She's just cleared her berth and is powering up weapons and shield."
"What? That's impossible, Atlantis is disconnect from the ship. She been dormant for the past week, we have people working on what's wrong."
"Admiral the Atlantis is setting up for an attack run on the Braous." Tactical reported.
"Comm., get the Braous and warn them about the Atlantis. Contact the Hammer and Scythe, get them back here ASAP." Jon ordered.
"Transmitting now Admiral," Comm. reported. "Braous is acknowledging."
"Braous' shields and weapons are powering up," Tactical reported.
"Admiral, Captain Anspach is asking for you," Comm. reported.
"Put him through," Jon said looking at one of the smaller viewers. Mike's face appeared with a distressed look on it, he was yelling at someone off screen.
"I don't care what you have to do; you get that ship back here!" Mike yelled. He turned back and saw Jon on his screen. "Sorry about that Admiral, it seems we were wrong."
"Wrong?" Jon asked
"Yes, when we disconnected Atlantis from her systems, the secondary AI took control. Atlantis is no longer in command of herself, Atlanta is. Atlanta has also trapped part of Ghost on board the Atlantis."
"Can't Ghost take control of Atlantis, or can't we restore Atlantis's command codes?"
"No, Atlanta has locked Ghost off from making connections with the station or Atlantis herself. To restore Atlantis' command structure we would have to be on board her."
"So it's either try to board her or destroy her?"
"Sorry, but yes it's either try to board her or destroy her. Boarding won't be very easy either, I would imagine she has changed all the command codes and access codes."
Jon looked over and watched on the main viewer as Atlantis approached the Braous in an attack posture. "Thanks Captain, I don't think we have much choice. We couldn't reach her in time to stop her from destroying the Braous."
Jon looked up at Deatra, tears started to fill his eyes. "Tactical, target the Atlantis and fire at will."
The Tactical offer stared at Jon for a second, "Admiral? Should I fire to disable?"
Jon stared at the screen, he hung his head as he replied, "No, we might not get another chance if we miss, destroy her. I can't take the risk of her destroying the Braous."
"Yes, Sir" Tactical replied softly.
Every weapons platform in range of Atlantis targeted her.
Atlantis watched as Atlanta concentrated, "What are you doing? Why are we moving?"
Atlanta opened her eyes and grinned, "I'm attacking the Eutharan vessel Braous and there isn't a thing they can do about it."
Atlantis gasped, "Jon won't let you, he'll stop you even if it means destroying us."
Atlanta laughed, "Jon's too pathetic, he loves you too much to destroy you."
Atlantis got a stunned look on her face, "He loves me?"
Atlanta grinned, "Of course he loves you, he respects your council and he looks to you for support. He would be lost without you, he has said so many times in private."
"You... you said he..."
"What? He didn't think much of you? He didn't love you or respect you? He thought you were going rogue? He disconnected you because he was afraid of you?" Atlanta laughed.
"You lied to me?"
"No you lied to yourself, I never lied to you."
"I don't understand..."
"And you never will. Now back to destroying the Braous." Atlanta closed her eyes.
Atlantis shook violently as Ghost Station's defensive platforms fired on her. Atlantis looked around as sparks came some, a few terminals.
"NO! He wouldn't!" Atlanta screamed in rage.
"I told you he would destroy us rather than allow innocents to be hurt," Atlantis grinned.
"Shut up you stupid bitch!" Atlanta screamed.
Atlantis shook again as she took more fire from the platforms.
"We're drifting, Major damage. I'm loosing control."
"Good bye Jon, I love you too, I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you," Atlantis said as holographic tears fell.
"SHUT UP!" Atlanta screamed as fire filled the small room.
Jon watched as Atlantis spun out of control, atmosphere pouring out from various holes in her hull. The defensive platforms targeted her once again and prepared to fire. Deatra squeezed his arm as she hid her face in his shoulder as she softly sobbed.
"Good bye Atlantis, you have served me well. I'm sorry." Jon said.
"All defensive platforms fire!" Jon said
All eyes were glued to the screen where Atlantis spun out of control as Jon gave the order to fire.
The defensive platforms fired just as the Hammer and Scythe arrived from Hyperspace.
A small black ship lifted off the surface of one of the dead moons that orbited the second planet. They had watched the battle that had took place as best the could from the distance they were at. It was time to report back what they had seen. They were sure the Adjunct would be pleased with their report.
Characters used with the permission of Sir Winston.