The Road Ahead

I was lucky to get any rest last night, tossing and turning often. The burns still hurt as I sat on the cold rock outside the holding but it was much more tolerable today. Guess' I really needed that shuteye.
 
Saki approached asking me to come inside, the warmth was a welcoming sight but not all lasted, I caught Vae looking towards me which was a first in a while. I'm worried about her condition, as soon as we can find a place to stay with the facilities I can get to work on fixin' her up.
The Dwarf Thaunir stood up and started gettin' all ominous on us, he claimed a nasty' storm is approaching, he called it a Razor storm. Pointing to the icicles outside and describing just how bad it would be if we were caught up in it.
 
They were discussin' the weak links, I knew the obvious ones were me and Vae, Aria and Nelawe aren't as fit and the cold would encumber them if given a chance. Thaunir pointed out ditchin' Vae, I kept quiet as I was close to knocking him off his feet, although I'd probably bounce back with what little strength I already have, it didn't help that I was already weak due to the torture...
Saki stepped forward preparing some rope around Vae, said she'd carry Vae on her back as we walked, Saki'... Always there for us, reminds me of our journey on the boat, watching you become.. something that ain't you. I ain't sorry that I couldn't keep that promise we made.
 
We head out into the snow, coming across a run down holding, I'm just about keepin' up and then Saki approached me displaying a dagger, she found it laying out here? I could see why she was so surprised as she put it away, I looked past and saw the inhabitants of the ruins, exposure is a killer for sure'.
Jasmine, she wanted to give a Dwarven burial service to the dead here, I ain't against it but we were strapped for time already, she had asked everyone for something to give as a send off, I tossed a rand her way as I already had plenty. Maybe they will find a use for it', I doubt it.
 
Continuin' on we found wreckage, scrap parts salvageable, rummaging through I found a few things that could be useful, Nelawe called out to me and tossed something into the snow. She can be such a clutz sometimes. She jogged over to me and for the first time in a while she was happy, showing me a not too shabby gun part. It was actually pretty cute of her...
 
Thaunir called out as he found something, it was some sorta storage unit, I noticed heat signatures on the container, I guess they must have been cargo. Found out how to open the damn' thing where as Thaunir couldn't. Inside were some ancient construction supplies, another container held something nasty'. The last.. well, the poor fella didn't make it.
Rahim muttered something and set alight the corpse, Saki appeared melancholic, I wonder what was going through her mind?
 
We all got together as Thaunir had found a door, Nelawe was carrying more scrap parts than she could carry looking all happy with her haul. No one could find a way to open this damn' thing until Vae pointed out the door could be accessed through a panel which was buried beneath the snow. With a tug and click after burying my hand it opened.
Climbing down the slope we enter through and find another door, I tried the panel again but the door was stuck half way, Walker took it upon himself to free the door almost, where we all walked through and shutting behind us, at least almost completely. Seems like this could be a recurring thing wherever we are.
Inside we found a structure of sort, it weren't the most pleasant of places but it was somethin' that we could maybe hide out it, metallic floors, walls and the ceiling. Almost like'a tomb of sorts. There was a control panel next to the door where I accessed some information about the ship, discovering an A.I was in control of many things but having limited capabilities.
 
I took the time afterward to rest while Walker and Saki searched around the place, Saki grappled her way over some volatile lookin' wires outside the wall covering.
She could have probably left Vae here, I was thinking of taking a look at some parts against hers for good measure' but I guess she forgot.
Even though we're inside, I could still feel the cold against my body, we hadn't even thought about how to warm up in here yet. The scarring feels numb to the cold for the moment at least..
 
Moments later, Saki came over to everyone explaining that we all need to come and that we were actually on a ship, As I was getting up she decided to grab me and haul me to around the corridors. I know I'm a bit slow but it must have been an emergency.
 
Well it was an emergency, I laid eyes upon a console, holding the A.I intelligence. Corrupted over god knows' how many years its been here, Vae turned to me and explained that the A.I is close to self termination, and that her body is no longer capable of housing her A.I either, she would die if we didn't try transferring her into the main system grid..
I... there is no time to think at all, no time to convince her otherwise and everyone is looking at us.
 
I hate this, I hate it all...
 
Gritting my teeth I had no choice, I pulled what I thought to be the A.I 's core housing and out came a container holding a dull cracked red crystal, this must be it. Vae then opened her chest chassis to reveal the same crystal but a much brighter blue, I almost felt as if her personality was a bright blue in a sorts. Shaking my head I carefully took Vae's Crystal I felt a slight burning sensation in my hands as I handled it and swapped the crystal in the housing with Vae's core.
The dull red crystal now in my hand began to shatter and disintegrate in my hands, An A.I no longer existing, what if that were Vae's core...
 
It felt like time was moving at its slowest while waiting to see if it had worked, and eventually Vae appeared on the monitors. Relief washed over me but as I looked over at Vae's shell I could only feel sad. After checking out the engine room and watching Nelawe go nuts' over all the technology here, she called everyone to the bridge, as they headed around the corridor I took a moment the kneel next to the husk of Vae, almost tearing up..
 
Vae, this wasn't it. I promise I'll make it right.
 
To my shock she called over me explaining that everything is fine now and that she is free, I couldn't find any words and started heading toward the bridge, passing Nelawe as she appeared from Engineering. We spoke as we walked'.
 
At the bridge, Vae explained that she isn't fully autonomous and requires people at stations to fully operate the ship, I didn't really expect to call the shots here' but seeing as though everyone here had their own nack for things', Sakiran is a wiz when it comes to survivin' out there and navigation just seemed right' to me, everyone had their spot and Aria looked to me for hers.
I guess it doesn't hurt to have my own little second in command, maybe I'll buy her a hat when we eventually find civilization hah.
 
Afterwards we searched the ship, finding quarters, a Galley and storage with medical supplies, weapons and construction materials. Saki pointed out that the quarters closest to the Bridge should be mine so I have quick access, I accepted that offer.
I carefully carried Vae's body to my quarters and laid it out on the workbench before laying down on top of the covers of my new bed, What lies before us on the road ahead...