Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 75

Shen was awake, eyes closed and reading data in his mind. His body was healed but still pinged in

with pain if he allowed himself to be aware of it. In his mind, he was in a quiet place, an alcove in a

private library, a circular window with padding, and outside a snowy, semi forest landscape reminiscent Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

of a place from childhood’s origin, Cloudcroft New Mexico. Loxy was there, in the same window seat,

opposing him. She, too was reading- a real book, ‘Giants of anime and manga.’

“Want to talk about it?” TL asked.

“Not really,” Shen said.

She would have to work to penetrate further into his mind and chase the subtleties that he was hiding

from himself. It was easier and faster to just probe him.

“I am curious,” TL said. “Will you answer questions?”

“Maybe,” Shen said.

TL pushed a foot up against the inner side of a thigh. She flexed toes hidden by socks, teasing him.

“You were flooded with giantess estrogen. Any homoerotic thoughts?” TL asked.

Shen shot a gaze of severity over the brim of his book. She mirrored his look.

“I am not gay,” Shen said.

“I didn’t say you were,” TL said. He went back to his book. “Sometimes, promiscuity and increase in

libido could be a result of homoerotic suppression.”

“My libido is not over-correction for suppressed homoerotic thoughts,” Shen said.

“Again, not saying you’re gay,” TL said.

“I have experienced no change in libido,” Shen said.

“But you have had a huge decrease in frequency of engagement, with either me or others,” TL said. “I

see no evidence for sublimation. Forgiving the fact that the daily and nightly giant engagements were

rapes, that frequency approached your normal levels of activity. A decline in engagement could be the

result of unknown medical issues. You’re responding well to the treatment for hormonal toxicity, and so

I expected a rebound in activity. Psychologically, you were traumatized, which could result…”

Shen held up a hand. “I don’t want to think about sex.”

“Not thinking about sex usually results…”

“In thoughts of sex. Hence, book, quiet time, in my head,” Shen said.

“I am in your head,” TL said. “Your head could be in me.”

“Are you horny?” Shen asked.

“Always,” TL said. “And at risk of being insensitive, I am rather sore that I didn’t get any real time data

of human giant sexual activity.”

“You have access to my memories,” Shen said.

“Your memories are interesting. They’re bias and no match for a real time recordings,” TL said. “A nice

side effect. You may not have to shave for a while.”

Shen turned the page backwards and began re-reading the last page he was on.

“Their transporters are not as sophisticated as ours,” TL said. “Nor their scanning equipment. Still, I

couldn’t get past the lower tier of AI’s control. Through miscellaneous information and gossip, I got the

hint that the top AI has the equivalent of autism. Very strange bird. A female Sheldon. They weren’t all

AI in the collective. There were personality interfaces for multiple domains of creatures, including

insects, fish, reptilians… Some held bodies, some were simply programs holding form inside

simulations. Forms and environmental simulations were also entities in themselves. There were entities

connected through tech, and beings I suspect were permanently uploaded into tech. They were not all

localized to the station.”

Shen turned the page.

“Given time, I suspect I could take over their system,” TL continued. “Probably why they wanted us

gone. That also explains the threat they made against our ship. Our starship would make short work of

their network.”

Shen closed his book and found a drink. TL looked up from her book. She turned the book to show him

the picture of sexy giant anime girls fighting over a city. She tracked his eyes, knowing the points of

interests on the page where his eyes lingers, and pushed her foot playfully into his crotch. His eyes left

the page and met hers.

“Taking over a computer system that has active sentience, artificial, augmented, or uploaded sentience

within its architecture is the equivalent of hostile planet invasion,” Shen said.

“Nice evasion. Sorting ethical dilemmas,” TL said. “If you think about it, all systems want connection,

even foreign connections. All brains want connection. As long as there is sense modalities, there is a

way into the system…”

“We’re not taking over their system,” Shen said.

“I wasn’t saying we should. I was just speculating. Your uniform has better tech than one of their

computer stations. I suspect they’re augmenting their tech through human brains. Giant human brains.

Giant brains for giant computations. Their males are doing more of the heavy lifting, which also

explains their apparent stupidity. If hard tech is reliant on brains, that might also explain their lack of

security- too much control results in a decline in brain computational power,” TL explained. “Did you fall

in love with the giantess?”

“No,” Shen said.

“So, you don’t think we could exploit one of your keepers? Xana seemed nice,” TL said.

“No,” Shen said.

“Was the sex good?” TL asked.

He gave her a pseudo severe look. “Can’t really go wrong with sex,” he answered, surrendering that

much. He surrendered all the way. “It was crazy good.”

“You still want to go back?” TL asked.

“I have unfinished business,” Shen said.

“You can’t save all the people there,” TL said.

“What if I just save two?” TL asked.

“Bevan and her child? I can get us back on,” TL said.

“Is that what this conversation is all about?” Shen asked.

“I am doing the same math you are,” TL said. “They have lot of gates for people our size. Haven is a

big place, no pun intended, and my map is limited. It would be easier if I knew how to contact the

underground. If you go back, it will be without me: I won’t be able to return, so any who go would be

going without tech. They will be likely updating their security system now that they’re aware of me.

They’re slow to push new software, which gives us some time to formulate plans and penetrate existing

structures,” He didn’t jump on her phrase of penetrating structures. TL became suddenly quiet. She sat

up. “I am sorry.” She held up her hand to give her a moment. She adjusted herself and her skirt, taking

on a lotus pose, one of her foots resting on her own thigh. She motioned him to sit up, take her hands.

“Fuck me, I could have rescued you sooner. I could have got you all out sooner…”

“What are you talking about?” Shen said.

“I thought I was out of communication range. I thought…” TL said. “I am sorry. I didn’t see this.” She

took his hands. Suddenly they were in a bubble out in orbit. They hadn’t left the space they were-

because they were never there- and they weren’t where they appeared to be, but that’s where she took

their mind’s perspective. The world was small and not to scale and there was the sun and the station

known has Haven. “What do you see?”

“Representation of the planet and its magnetosphere,” Shen said.

“There is no magnetosphere, remember?” TL said.

“But that’s…”

“That’s the field generated by the sleeper trees,” TL said. “It protects the world. It protects and

maintains Haven. This field protects the world from radiation from the sun and the from black hole

emissions. It’s also a communication field. Like blue tooth. All entities are plugged into this field! I can

use this field to log on to Haven, or contact Haven, or anyone on this planet or around it…” Her eyes

went wide. “Or in the planet.”

“In the planet? Are we talking about hollow Earth, and Jules Verne going to the center…” Shen

stopped. “Sinter.”

“A way in?” TL said.

“A way out?” Shen said.

A knock on the door brought them back to their real world, the Calypso, Captain’s cabin. Shen and

Loxy were sitting on the bed, fully dressed, holding hands.

“Come in,” Shen said.

Arne entered. He seemed hesitant. “Am I interrupting?”

“No, come in,” Shen said. “Sit. Are you thirsty?”

Arne came in and sat. “My needs are met, thank you. You seem elevated.”

“I think I found an answer,” Shen said. “I don’t know. But I am well.”

“Your bones are healed?” Arne asked.

“My bones are healed. I am well,” Shen said.

“Still a little high in estrogen, but he is good,” TL said.

“I am glad. We have voted. We would like you to take us home,” Arne said.

“Okay,” Shen said. He was never one to argue with a grown ass man, especially if the decision was

derived through a committee. His mood shifted, though. TL virtually touched his shoulder. “By sea or

gate?”

“Whatever is the fastest,” Arne said.

Shen nodded. He looked to Loxy.

“We could be at East Midelay in a month of seas,” TL said. “Six hours by air.”

“Air?” Shen and Arne both said.

“The Calypso is capable of flight,” TL said. “It’s also a submarine.”

“Are you gods?” Arne asked.

“No,” Shen said. “Most the time, I am a just fool with great toys. Is that why you want to leave?”

“You don’t need us,” Arne said. “Our people need us. We have been gone too long, and without contact

with family and friends. My present company think I have taken us too far astray from our original

objectives. We are no longer serving our community, but our own appetites for adventure.”

“What do you think?” Loxy asked.

“I think there is truth in that,” Arne said. “I have lost my ship, my people. And I have nothing to show for

it- and yet I continue on as if nothing has changed. My world has changed since I met you.”

“You need a secure source of trade for fresh foods, wood, and other materials,” Shen said.

“Yes,” Arne said.

“Come home with me,” Shen said. “You may return to your people through my gate.”

“Thank you,” Arne said. He stood to leave.

“Would you stay a moment?” Shen asked.

Arne sat back down.

“No,” Shen said. Arne stood up. “Wait. I meant something different. Would you stay with me, us, at my

home?”

Arne sat back down. “Underground?”

“Or above ground. I have access to both sides of the Great Ridge,” Shen said. “I want to go to Sinter. I

have been refused access. I am compelled to try. You don’t have to go. But my home is empty, but for

ghosts, and the goats, and I would like people there. I would like you there. Your family may come, if

you like.”

“Let me discuss this with my people. If nothing else, I will come visit you if you’re home,” Arne said.

“Okay,” Shen said. “I’ll have you home by the end of the day.”