"Wow... this is really weird," I said, staring into the void from inside the meteorite. Everything was dark, nothing moved, no noise, not even that annoying hum from my ship's systems. "Silence... too much silence," I muttered, my hand automatically tensing, almost searching for a button just in case.
I put the ship into maintenance mode as the meteorite continued on its path, and for the first time since leaving F45XMN, I felt like I could think without something ripping my head off. Well, almost. Because thinking too much can also kill you, right? I told myself as my eyes scanned the rocky walls that were now both my ceiling and my floor.
"Perfect... time for me... and to avoid dying," I said, a little sarcastically. I grabbed tools from the cockpit and started checking the ship's systems. Nothing spectacular, all improvised, all faulty. Just like me.
"If I'm not perfect, my ship doesn't have to be either," I said, adjusting a proximity sensor that was emitting an unbearable beep. I turned it off. "Much better."
As I made adjustments, my mind began to wander. "I could stay here forever... well, if it weren't for the Empire." One thought, two, three... and I stopped dead in my tracks. "No, not thinking about that... not today." I took a deep breath and looked back at the controls. My fingers moved on their own, almost with muscle memory, repairing cables, adjusting shielding, connecting energy sensors. All while I murmured to myself, "Stay focused, Silica... don't go crazy again."
The meteor continued its path through space, and for some reason, that was reassuring. The feeling of moving without anyone seeing you, without anyone chasing you, without any Imperial gems marking your position... was both liberating and terrifying. "How ironic... I never thought silence could be so... heavy."
I decided to check the files on the mud planet, just a quick glance. "Nah... I don't need to open that again," I muttered as I closed the screen. I didn't want to remember the horrified faces of those creatures or how they devoured each other. Better to stick with the vague idea that it was disgusting, disturbing, and dangerous. Yes, that was enough to keep me from mentally breaking down.
For a moment, I felt the urge to touch something, anything. My fingers moved toward the cockpit lever, but it wasn't enough. "Damn, I need entertainment," I said as I checked the energy levels. No files, no hidden games this time... just repairs, upgrades, and weird thoughts about myself.
Closing my eyes for a few seconds, I breathed and noticed something I hadn't felt in a long time: calm. Not happiness, not excitement, just calm. The meteor hurtled on, the ship was intact, and for a moment, I could almost hear myself without paranoia interrupting.
"Okay... four months until this gets fast," I said, glancing at the controls. "Enough time to upgrade the ship, to prepare, to... survive."
A radar beep reminded me that the Empire was still out there, but far away, too far away to be an immediate problem. "Good... for now," I muttered as I recharged the ship's power and settled back into my seat. "Time to think less, do more... and not break down in the process."
And as the meteor continued on its path, the ship slowly warming up, my eyes closed for another instant. For the first time in a long time, Silica allowed herself to breathe.
"I mean, I couldn't breathe properly," I said, carefully wiping myself down, noticing that my body and bionic suit were covered in dried mud. "Nice... all sticky and smelly."
I picked up the makeshift rag, fashioned from some tough fibers of creatures from the ancient planet I'd come from. I examined it for a moment. "Well, it's not the eighth wonder of the world, but it'll do," I muttered as I folded the rag and set it aside.
"...how will I clean it?" I thought, mentally drawing three black lines in the air, like instructions floating before my eyes. I needed a clean water system... a makeshift filter that would work with what I had.
"First I need water," I said quietly, as if talking to myself helped me focus. "Not just any water, but something with a little purity... then I can filter out any contaminants."
My fingers began to move as if I were sketching invisible blueprints. I thought of a multi-stage filter: first a coarse mesh to separate the larger solids, then compacted sand for the fine particles, and finally activated charcoal to remove odors and organic contaminants. "That should do... even if it's basic, it'll work."
Then I thought of the pump. "I need something to circulate the water without relying on gravity... a small, mechanical pump that can move the liquid from a reservoir to the filter and back." My fingers floated on air as I visualized tubes, valves, and a small pressure wheel that could generate the necessary flow.
"...and then a clean reservoir," I murmured as I mentally drew a transparent tank in my mind. One to store the filtered water, with a lid to prevent it from getting contaminated again. I even added a small indicator that could tell me when the water was ready to use, however rudimentary.
As I built the mental model, I realized something: all of this was useful, but I needed the liquid first. "I have the theory... but the practical side requires a planet with a little water... even if it's just puddles, ponds, anything." I sighed and looked at the navigation board: the meteorite would remain my temporary base for a few more months, until I could reach a place with real resources.
"Okay... four months here," I muttered as I mentally adjusted every pipe and valve. "Enough time to prepare, upgrade the ship, check every screw... and then... water."
As time passed, I spent hours mentally mapping out the machinery, adjusting the flow, calculating the pressure needed for the water to pass through each filter without breaking anything. I even imagined a cleaning system for the filter, with a small lever mechanism that would allow me to easily remove the accumulated solids and wash them away.
"This... will work," I finally said as I took a deep breath. The mud was no longer just a physical problem, it was mental too: cleaning my body and my tools made me feel a little more human, a little more prepared for what was to come.
Now there was only one step left: finding a planet with water. I didn't need oceans or giant rivers; just enough moisture to fill my tank and test my filter would be a giant leap toward self-sufficiency. "Okay... destination: any planet with potable water... even if it's a bit dirty," I thought as I activated the navigation panel and searched for nearby coordinates.
"Get ready, Silica... four more months of adjustments and then we'll see what miracle the universe throws our way."
"But I'll definitely upgrade the thrusters," I said as my eyes scanned the mental blueprints of the ship. "Since I'm already working on it and the resistance is compressing the outside, why not give it a boost?"
My hands floated in front of me, summoning my tools and letting the telekinesis of my bionic arm begin to work. I visualized the thrusters: they were already powerful, but they needed something more. "Okay... let's make them not only provide thrust, but also dissipate friction with the air... or well, the vacuum... yes, energy dispersion so they don't overheat too quickly."
With a couple of quick movements, I added small plates of lightweight alloy around the core of the thrusters. Each plate was positioned to increase thrust efficiency and reduce engine wear. "This will make the ship accelerate faster without breaking anything... and it also saves energy. Great."
Then I thought of something more creative: a system of microturbines integrated into the thrusters that could generate a small compression field around the power output. This would not only increase thrust, but also provide directional stability, useful when planning to slice through meteorites or maneuver between planetary debris. "Yes... this will make turns quicker and more precise... without destabilizing the entire ship. Excellent."
As I adjusted the thrusters, I couldn't stop thinking about the ship's walls. "Okay... while we're at it, let's compress the outer walls even more. I want this to be practically impenetrable." Using my strength and the telekinesis of my hands, I compacted the alloys of the walls, compressing the inner and outer layers until the density was much greater than before, but without increasing the weight too much.
I watched as the ship looked more robust, as if it could withstand high-speed collisions and resist any projectile attack or giant sludge from some treacherous planet. "Now this is real strength. If some Imperial scum tries to give me a scare, they'll think twice before coming near."
Then I added an extra detail: small layers of thermal dispersion on the surface, capable of absorbing extreme heat or frictional impacts during prolonged accelerations. This ensured that even if the thrusters were working at full capacity for a long time, the walls wouldn't warp or overheat.
Finally, I mentally tested each adjustment. I imagined the ship accelerating, turning, and slicing through meteorites while the compressed walls withstood any impact. The thrusters had extra thrust, more stability, and better energy dissipation. "Yes... this is an upgrade worthy of Silica," I murmured with a smile.
I lay back for a moment, observing the ship: more powerful, more resilient, and ready for anything space might throw at me. "Okay... now I'm ready for four months of exploration and upgrades. And then, to the planet with water. This is going to be fun... or traumatic. Probably both."
"Hmm... how long have I been doing this on my own?" I thought as I lay back for a moment, examining every part of the ship in detail. I didn't rush; everything was done at my own pace, and that gave me a certain peace of mind.
"Three months," I murmured with a chuckle as I scanned the ship's panels and dashboard. "Interesting... and I can still improve things."
My gaze lingered on the main radar. "Okay... this needs an upgrade. If I'm going to traverse galaxies, explore planets, and evade the Empire... I need to know what's coming before it's too late."
I activated my mind console, projecting a holographic diagram of the radars. "First priority: tracking gems and Empire ships. Everything else... can wait." My fingers moved on their own, adjusting frequencies, calibrating sensors, and creating filters. "Perfect, the combined infrared and gravitational frequencies will give me a greater range without alerting anyone. No one will know I'm here until I decide."
As I adjusted, I spoke to myself, as always: "Alright, radar, it's your turn to work. I want automatic approach warnings, with hazard priority. No nonsense, just the essentials."
"Okay... and my gem?" I murmured as my gaze swept across the organic energy scan screen. "I'm not going to prioritize it. If I get lost, or the ship gets lost, then... then I'll track you down, little one. But not before." My voice was tinged with sarcasm, but it was real: I wanted to stay alert without relying too heavily on my own gem.
I added a visual and auditory alert module: custom lights and sounds that only I could identify. "If an Imperial ship approaches... BOOM, immediate alert. If a high-ranking gem appears... another alert. If a giant meteor decides to crash into me... well, that's my problem."
As I adjusted the parameters, I chuckled to myself: "I don't care if it seems paranoid... yes, it is... but so what? Better safe than sorry."
I made another modification: an automatic tracking system that prioritized moving and dangerous targets. "This is key. If a group of gems moves toward me, the radar will detect it before I can even blink. I decide whether to avoid it or engage."
Finally, I integrated an additional security protocol: in case of power loss or if someone hacks the radar, the ship will enter stealth mode and only register the presence of large masses or enemy ships, leaving my gem's location completely undetected. "Perfect... that way, if I lose the ship, I can go looking for it without anyone knowing I'm there. Efficient and secure."
I took a few steps back and watched the radar in operation. The lights blinked, the sensors vibrated with the surrounding space, and everything seemed perfect.
"Yes... this is what I needed," I said quietly, feeling a small spark of pride. "Now I can rest easy. Well... until the Empire or some other messed-up universe shows up."
I lay back again, looking at the panels and holograms. "Radar ready. Ship even more ready. Silica, proud of yourself? Yes, very. But don't get complacent... this is just the beginning."
"Look at the months that were left... well, days."
"Three days to get out and find the nearest planet, which apparently has quite good resources. Possibly already used by the Empire, so I should consider a possible evacuation," I thought as I analyzed each panel of the ship.
But I smiled.
"Now, with these upgrades, things might be better," I said as I stared into the void from the cockpit.
End of Chapter 8.