Portals: Saving Earth (Into The Galaxy Book 2) by Ann Christy

Author:Ann Christy [Christy, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, YA science fiction, Friendship, cloning, artificial intelligence, female lead characters, teen fiction, interstellar travel, Space Exploration, adventure, colonization, action and adventure, hard scifi, teen science fiction, Family Life, strong female leads, Space Colonization, Action, future earth, LGBT, Science Fiction, female villains, clean reads, YA fiction, androids, AI, first contact, planetary colonization, Space Opera, Genetic Engineering
Publisher: Ann Christy
Published: 2018-07-30T22:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Six

Drives Too Hard is really doing his best to dumb down his explanations, but I’m playing catch-up no matter how hard he tries. When he uses the word quantum, I’m pretty sure I feel a tiny wet drip inside my ear as brain cells die and leak out.

Tapping at a tablet and turning it quickly to show us the diagram he’s brought up, Drives Too Hard explains, “Once we decouple this ship from access to the main computer, you’ll only have what’s onboard to work with. We must ensure we possess all the star charts you could possibly need. Normally, this is a constantly updating relay between this ship and its smaller vessels. Also, I’ll need to set up waypoints near high-energy and stable suns if you can’t directly return for some reason.” At my mom’s somewhat alarmed look, he adds, “A precaution only. What is that thing Lysa says?”

“Better safe than sorry?” I offer.

He points a finger and grins. “That’s it. I like it very much. And it’s true in this case. You will be on your own in a way you aren’t on this ship.”

Jack seems to understand what we’re being told, which is handy. He’s done stints as a Kassa before, and even worked on ships, so he has more experience in these matters. I’m grateful for it. Also, he asks smart questions that I didn’t even know should be questions.

“And Fluffy won’t realize there’s a problem because of the hard switch?” he asks.

“That’s correct. Fluffy won’t initiate a launch on a ship that’s not properly operational, so it must remain tied into the ship’s systems when we initially depart. Once I install the hard switch, you’ll be able to disconnect whenever you’re ready, and only what’s onboard will remain. I remain uncertain that you can operate the ship safely, however.”

I remain uncertain of that too, but I’d like to know his specific concerns. “In exactly what way, Drives Too Hard? I mean, what do we lack and is it something we can learn now?”

He tilts his head a little, considering the question. “This ship is not like Fluffy. It’s more like a bot. It can do many things, but must be instructed correctly. It will not suggest or correct or take unprompted action, except in very limited ways. Your decisions will be the final word, even if they’re wrong. I don’t know that you can learn this. Every biological being makes mistakes.”

Beside me, I can feel the worry radiating off my mom like a blue cloud. She’s terrified of doing nothing, but equally terrified that I’ll be harmed by attempting to stop what’s coming. She knows I have to, but that knowledge doesn’t assuage her worry. And I need her to stay here and care for the ship. She’s the only one I trust to do that, and with our changed plans, I must now join the expedition. She can’t take my place. If she’s worried to the point of feeling like she must personally protect me, then I won’t be able to get her to stay and do what needs doing.

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