Condition Evolution 4 by Kevin Sinclair (parable of the sower read online .txt) 📗

sure it's the smallest, shittiest ship you can find. Uhm, and no quarters either, with barely any blankets. Oh, and a bucket to use for the toilet that they all have to share.” I noticed Jezai was looking at me with a disappointed frown.

“What?”

“That seems unusually petty for you, Shaun.”

“Was the bucket too much? Ember hasn’t made her suggestions yet.” I laughed.

“I don’t even want to think about them. I might go walk with Elyek while you discuss it,” she said, and fell back with Elyek. I shrugged, and was about to speak to Jezai when I heard her shout, “No toilet paper! And limit their FSU to sprouts!”

Even Jezai laughed now. “I take it that sprouts are an unsavory food?”

“Don’t tell Ember, but I actually like them nicely cooked with some butter and bacon,” I made the chef’s kiss, saying, “Magnifico.”

“I want no part in punishing those I do not know. If you wish to do that, then you may deal with them yourself, otherwise we will provide an adequate ship, if basic for their needs.”

“Just tell me what we owe you,” I said, waving my hand in a dismissive gesture.

“I think we’re past that, don’t you?”

“Probably, but I still don’t really get how your economy works, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m taking the piss.” I shrugged.

“We no longer use a currency among the Apochros. We have access to so many resources, yet require so little that currency is meaningless. Most of what we do as work is purely for our own interest and cultivation.”

“Must be nice.”

“I have, at times, considered whether we lack a certain drive because we are not exposed to certain hardships. Although that is all about to change, I believe.”

We arrived at the docks while we talked. Jezai guided us to the Uprising.

“You know this is already our ship, right? You’re not trying to pull a fast one here, are you?” I laughed. “Come on, where's the ship?” I said, looking around.

“Did I not say? You will have to go up into orbit to collect it. The docks are a little busy to bring it down.”

I looked around at the docks. They didn’t seem to be overly busy. “This is getting weird, Jezai. I don’t know what you’re up to, but you better not be fucking us over again. Where is Ialos? She can fly up with us.”

“Ialos is already onboard. But do not worry, Shaun, all will be well,” he said calmly, but alarm bells were ringing.

“Jezai, you can’t tell me not to worry. We are literally miles away from ‘don’t fucking worry’.”

The others were already standing around me now, wondering what all the fuss was about.

“I am intending to fly up with you on the Uprising too. Will that ease your concerns? Besides, I would like to see your face.”

I eyeballed him suspiciously. “Okay then, let’s go.”

“You should just kill him now, Shaun,” Havok slid in. “I bet he's got oodles of Omni Energy.”

“Oodles? What are you on about, Havok? He helped me rescue you.”

“Okay then, how about one of his friends?”

“Seriously?”

“Shaun, you’re taking all of the fun out of this! I was convinced you’d be killing a shitload of Fystr when we met. So far, as much as I love you, you have been a massive letdown in that department.”

“Sorry, man, I’ll try better in the future.”

“Yes, please!” he said with enthusiasm.

“Shaun!” Ember called.

“Yup?” I answered, when I came back from talking to Havok.

“Were you talking to Havok again?” she asked.

“Ah yeah, sorry.”

“You should consider using your bond to help,” Jezai offered.

“It’s tough when you’ve got voices coming from everywhere, including my own mad rambling. I was better with it before I got my memories back. Must be a damn Clarity thing,” I said as we ascended the ramp of the Uprising.

Most of the crew would have to sit in the canteen or the cargo hold while we made the journey. The Uprising had never been so full.

On the bridge, Jezai gave Hwista the coordinates to our destination.

“Thank you,” they replied, entering them into the navigation terminal.

“You shouldn’t need them,” he said neutrally.

I watched him like a hawk and knew he was up to something. I just didn’t know what.

The Uprising’s engines came to life, and while there wasn’t any noise, or even notable vibration, I could somehow just sense them working. A second later we were off, shooting through the atmosphere like a bullet.

Once in orbit, we took a direct course to the coordinates. Up ahead loomed an absolute monster of a ship. It wasn’t the size of a Beler space station, but it was still bloody enormous. Elongated, coming almost to a point towards what I assumed was the bow. The hull didn’t have a smooth part on it, with weapons and god knows what else protruding at all angles. While not beautiful, it sure was a mean-looking ship. Jezai stood looking out the front viewing screen and I moved to stand next to him.

“That’s a fucking behemoth! You guys make some impressive stuff. Is our ship in there somewhere?”

“Not yet, but it soon will be.”

“What games are you playing, Jezai, I thought you said it was here already?” I quizzed him with a smile; I was beginning to suspect what he was up to.

His next words removed all doubt as he opened his arms to gesture at the behemoth. “What do you think of your new ship?”

I suspected it was coming, but I was still left speechless. He couldn’t be serious, could he?

Ember was not speechless. “It's a bit fucking big, isn’t it?” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, it looks bloody awesome!”

“You intend to expand your crew, do you not?” Jezai asked, still smiling.

“Yeah, but we can only put 100 on it, at best. We still have to man the Uprising too.”

“The Uprising will comfortably fit in the docking bay of your new ship. I am sure you will still find plenty of use for it. Perhaps you should take the tour first before making