TRIGGER WARNING : Some viewers may find facts and reality offend them. They are advised to fuck right off. Go on then. Off you fuck.
Here is my offensive fact, based in reality. Did you know what every single rapist has in common? They had a mother who raised them to become a rapist. Make of that what you will. I don't really give a shit. Sorry the real world isn't anything like the simplistic fantasy your deluded mind has made up. Reality doesn't give a shit about it either. It just is. I know it offends you, but there's fuck all anyone can do about it. You'll just have to keep denying reality exists. Oh and bonus fact for you. The majority of child murder victims are killed by their mothers. Look at that, 2 undeniable facts that people will find offensive. Now all I can do is wait to see what irrational feelings and fanciful opinions they'll project at me from them. Welcome to the modern world.
(The copyright to this image is the property of workingmother.com.)
He'd spent a fair while coming up with a suitable explanation for why he'd drugged Pip. All prepared before he finally got to sleep himself. It was there all lined up in his head for when they awoke the next morning. Her voice loudly raised him from his slumber then the words began to fill his mouth. Only to remain unused. She wasn't there. The little hollow where she slept was cold already.
"Wakey wakey." Her disembodied voice called over the ships intercom. "Get yourself up to the control room. I think you'll want to see this."
Rubbing his eyes he clambered out of bed, reaching for his clothes. In a sense he already could see it. If only he knew what it was she referred to. Only the call to get him up? No mention of his dirty trick. He had to sit down to drag his trousers on. They were so tight. All of his clothes were too tight. His nuts felt like they were being forced up into his belly, while his chest felt constricted by the shirt. Had she shrunk them? An act of revenge for his duplicity. Ah, wait. Now he could see what the problem was. Nothing clothing related at all.
"Hermes? What's happened to my body? There are these bulgy bits that didn't used to be there."
The AI chortled.
"Those are called muscles. You've had an upgrade, you could say. You were okay before. Now you're what they call ripped. You've got a bod I'd love to go to town on. As long as I could cover up your face."
"What.."
Jake was interrupted by his guardian.
"Don't talk. You're spoiling the illusion. I'm admiring that physique and thinking what I could do to it."
Jake grinned, even though he didn't want to. It was pretty funny.
"How do you know what I look like?"
"I'm looking at you in the mirror. And as long as I don't look up the view is great."
Mirror? What mirror? He spotted it on the wall where no full length mirror had been before.
"Where did that come from? I'm sure it wasn't there before."
Hermes laughed.
"You tool. Pip wanted a mirror. Unlike you she has an agile mind and a more than passing curiosity. She asked me if this ship had mirrors so I told her how to make one. It's not a mirror really. It's a transposed video image that's projected onto a wall display."
"I see. I keep forgetting that when we're in a zone where technology works you can communicate via radio."
"I can indeed. So as well as building you up to your fighting weight I've been running errands for Pip. Why did you think you were so hungry?"
"I think on some level I already knew that."
It was an uncomfortable walk to the control room. His clothes digging into him in many unexpected places. They were intelligent so there was some room for expansion. The clothing would adjust to his dimensions. Over time that was. Generally people didn't grow as much as he had overnight. The collar was slicing into his windpipe. Jake was still pulling at it when he entered the room.
"About bloody time." She called, spinning her chair towards him. She laughed, slapping her thigh. "My how you've grown."
That explanation frothed up.
"About last night."
"We're cool. You were right to send me into the land of nod. It's cleared my head. I've been able to put things together and I'm working better. Get over here before you miss it."
As he approached one of her displays grew in size until it was at least two meters across.
"What the hell is that?"
It was still dark outside so the image wasn't entirely clear. There was a 4 story high structure with rows of lights along its sides and steam billowing around the foot of it. As that billowed he could see the building rising.
"It's Ugo's mobile palace taking off." Making a leisurely, almost lazy, climb into the air. "That baby must have some impressive anti-gravity engines. I've just seen a couple of hundred people filing into it, along with supplies. One thing's for sure he's going to make a hell of an entrance when he gets here tonight."
"So much for secrecy. Not that he could do much about it. Goes with the territory and as I understand it that thing is his territory. When he said he was bringing his palace I thought he meant something along the lines of a prefabricated building they'd erect when they got here."
"It's about 5 times the size of his actual home." She advised. "Right now he's a symbol traveling inside another symbol to meet a third symbol."
Something was pinching in the groin region. Jake had to adjust his equipment. Noticing as he did that Pip was watching him with amusement.
"Did you know anything about this?"
"Your tight underwear?"
"Ha, ha. Very funny. I'm all muscles now. Thanks to Hermes."
"One muscle in particular giving you problems I see." His look of mild reproach gave her the giggles. "I've used the replicators to make you some new clothes. They should fit if Hermes estimates were correct."
"Aw thanks. Where are they?"
"You're not getting them yet. Not until after you've had a shower. You stink."
"I'd need to go to the house."
"That used to be the case. Hermes and I have repurposed a decontamination booth in the hold. Don't use all the water. We've only got a limited supply for washing. And some of us like a shower every day."
"So do I, only I've got other priorities right now. Now do you want me to shower or not?"
She sent him off for his morning ablutions as the leviathan set out on its journey. Drifting upwards towards a few low clouds. The outline fading away until only the lights from the windows were visible. Hermes had to instruct him how to use the facilities. A trifle awkward as all the controls were outside the former decontamination cubicle. The water had a weird smell to it. His AI explained this was down to the chemicals that had formerly been in the tank. It was harmless at this concentration and once he dried off the odor would disappear. Scrubbing his body was an unusual experience. It didn't feel like it belonged to him. Its contours weren't those he'd become familiar with. jake jumped when he saw Pip standing there holding his new clothing. Decided not to cover up. She'd seen it all and after Ydrie there was nothing there that might scare her.
"That's a nice ass." Her eyebrows waggled.
He craned to take a look, only his muscles prevented him.
"In what way?"
"You've actually got one now. It's a little beauty." She handed him his gear as he stepped out. "The treacherous, bitch, whore is going to go crazy when Ugo gets here. I can't wait. I also understand why you've taken this path. It's because of her. Right now she's the one in control and the center of attention. That's how she likes it. You getting Ugo to come here will spoil her little paradise. If she'd known about it in advance she'd have done everything to wreck it."
"She still could." He warned her.
"There's an awful lot of chatter about the departure of the Grand Patriarch. It's even made their newscasts. Apparently he's going on a tour, stopping off at random locations. It's a pretty gnarly flight path he's filed. They're using the size of his palace to explain that. They've got no idea where he's headed. Not yet anyway. I'm managing to keep them in the dark so far. Got them checking out each other instead of looking for me. If they find out where he's going in the next 12 hours though we could be screwed. All of the rival clans we need to be aware of have assets a lot closer to here than Ugo will be. That ship of his is not the fastest mode of transport."
"I've got every confidence in you Pip.. It's just struck me. Is that your real name? I mean the one your parents gave you."
She stared at the floor.
"It's the one the crew gave me after they found me." Her sweet face became a scowl. "If I tell you what my parents called me you have to promise not to reveal it to a soul."
"I promise." He responded solemnly, as he straightened his outfit over his new curves.
"If you laugh I will kick your balls up past your ears. My actual name is... Athena." A long pause as she scrutinized him for any sign of mirth at her expense. His face was thoughtful though. "Does that mean something to you?"
"It might. I told you I use mythology to map out my memories. Greek mythology especially. Athena was the goddess of wisdom, courage, strategic warfare, strength, strategy and skill. Among other things. It actually fits you. You're not keen though."
"It doesn't sound right. Then again neither does Pip. I'm not a child anymore. Pippa and Phillipa don't feel right either. I always dreamed I'd go out there and make a name for myself in more ways than one. You're the Wanderer as well as Jake Halliday."
"It took a while for me to get that epithet believe me. You will make a name for yourself. I know you will. You're not child now. Still very young yet. You've got a lot of living and a mountain of achieving to do. While you're doing that you'll do more than make a name for yourself."
She smiled.
"Ah, you're full of shit. I'm used to Pip for now. It'll do. Now what are your plans?"
"That's easy. We're going to watch and wait. You and me together. Fingers crossed Fetu as well. We really could do with the big guy and his ax cannon. This is going to be exceptionally hard on all of us I'm afraid."
"As long as we avoid any problems in the run up we should be fine."
"Some problems will actually be good. Sitting and waiting is always the worst part. What would be really good would be a few nice hurdles to fill the time. Only that's not the way these things work."