Old, New Home

The intercom hadn't been used in a long time, if at all other than being tested; it was more than obvious when it emitted a high-pitched screech before Jesse had even started to talk, like an unintentional warning that a voice was about to be heard by all. Though he apologized when he realized just how agonizing it was; if even for just a moment. 

Kaori, on the other hand, despite his apologies, was far from feeling forgiving. She was jolted awake by the eardrum busting noise; her pillow saturated in sweat? Tears? Both? Nonetheless; annoyed. 

She wiped her face with a stiff hand as she sat up. "What is it, Jesse?" She asked, trying to hide her annoyance. Kaori appreciated everything about him, but she loved her sleep more than anything. It was the only time she didn't have to be bothered by anyone, typically. 

And now? She was able to see her friends in her dreams. How could she want to miss that? 

After a few minutes ticked by, Jesse started talking again, realizing she had no clue how the com systems worked inside ships. "Er, I don't know if you're trying to talk, but um, if you're in a bedroom, you have to push the intercom button. It should be by the main door." 

Kaori huffed as she threw her blankets off while simultaneously swinging her legs over the side of the small bed; the heels of her built in shoes clicking gently against the metal. 

As she let out a soft yawn, a fair mixture of sleepiness and hate for this body's fashion sense, she made her way over to the intercom that was right next to the door. She didn't need a code, but in order to connect to the cockpit from her room, she needed its permission. 

A bit crankily, she navigated through the menu trying to find the right option, before, after a couple minutes of searching hundreds of room names, she found it; quickly sending a request to communicate, which was almost immediately accepted. 

"I'm sorry if I woke you," he began, noticing that her request had come from room 15. "But we're only about 30 minutes from mounting the Accular, I'd suggest you come see this- it's something you will never forget." 

Kaori paused, lightening up just a bit, "are you alright?" 

"Yes," Jesse responded without hesitation. "I have no choice but to be, but let's not talk about that. No offense, but it's hard enough as is seeing your living yet dead fiancee every passing second." 

"Fair enough," Kaori agreed, apologizing. "I'll be there in a moment." 

Since she had picked a room somewhat close to the cockpit as is, it didn't take her long at all to get back to it, with the only thing holding her up being herself; dragging her feet as she realized she needed more than just a cat nap. 

"If I'm not already in a coma, I'll definitely need one soon." She said to herself, yawning like she has had no sleep in the past year. 

By the time she had reached the blast door of the cockpit, Jesse had already walked away. She rolled her eyes while knocking on the door, and after only a few knocks, it opened, revealing Jesse back at the wheel having put manual steering back on. 

"My Kaori has seen this a million times, but you?" Jesse pointed out the window at a large, black metal ship that was quickly becoming bigger as they flew closer to it. The systematically lined, lit up windows almost made it look like a cruise ship out of water, and with the backdrop of an infinite number of stars and other numerous lit up ships, it was magical. Kaori was speechless. 

She pinched herself, hard. "How do they stay in place?" 

"Ships have an anchoring mechanism that triggers fan like contraptions on each side of a ship simultaneously, holding it in place. They're slightly raised, but lack blades so it's harder to be damaged." 

"How are you supposed to park this thing?" The idea that the ship was so much bigger compared to the size of the window they were looking out of, frightened her since the blind spots were astronomical. 

"A couple cameras and a screen," Jesse nonchalantly informed her with a smirk. 

"2070's and ships can't park themselves?" Kaori quipped with a sly smile. 

Jesse chuffed; his eyes unmoving from watching where they were flying. "Not yet, but..." he quickly clicked a few buttons, each one making a semi-different sound from one another like a tune, before a small robotic eye emerged from the ceiling just in front of the large window. 

As it stretched its metallic neck from its spot, rotating by its 3-part neck in a 360 motion, it began to scan the room with its singular, circular, illuminated, blue eye at the center of its rotating ball-like body. "Identify yourself." Its robotic voice commanded them, while locking onto the two. 

When Jesse didn't say anything, Kaori identified herself instead, before the robot relaxed itself. "Identity confirmed. What can I do for you, Princess Amano?" 

"I'm not sure. Jesse can tell you," She shamelessly told it. 

"What is Jesse's last name?" 

Kaori opened her mouth to speak, before muttering nothing in particular when she realized she didn't know. 

Am I considered a ho for sleeping with a man that I don't even know, yet engaged to as well? She wondered. Despite being so famous, she never did have a typical ho phase like others her age, or even like others in her wealth bracket. 

She shivered at the thought of parties focused solely on orgies. 

"Wallace," Jesse's deep twang informed it, interrupting Kaori's train of thought. 

The Ai took a moment to process it, before confirming his identity. "Access granted. What can I do for you, Mr. Wallace?" 

"Mr. Wallace is my father; names Jesse;" he sounded a bit offended, but proceeded on with his request. "We are about to mount our ship in a couple minutes, can you kindly engage the outer screen, please?" 

"Of course, sir." 

The robot then retreated into its little home slightly, before pointing its eye to the ground, creating a screen which effectively became as big as the window, blocking it. It allowed Jesse to control the ship like he was simply playing a video game, however; he was controlling them in 3rd person. 

"How?" Kaori muttered, completely fascinated. 

The Ai, despite her voice barely visible, had still picked up on her question; unable to sense the odd nature of it because it wasn't entirely too intelligent. "The entire ship is covered in cameras to allow a full view of itself and 100 feet around it in every direction. This is to ensure no crashes occur when navigating tight spaces." 

"Thank you," Kaori awkwardly replied. 

"My pleasure, princess." 

Jesse smirked, "you better take a seat, milady. It gets a bit bumpy." He began to press a few buttons, which activated the ship to slow down. 

Kaori listened, making her way towards her chair once more while watching the screen. For a brief moment, she had a sense of being back home; watching him steer them like he was playing a simulator. 

When he was only feet away from a hanger, he started rotating the RV to be perpendicular to it, while simultaneously extending a metallic sky (space) bridge towards the monumental ship. 

Jesse refused to blink, and he began to sweat as he focused on the screen, controlling the ship with extreme precision; Kaori could sense the tension, quieting herself completely, including holding her breath. 

The couple of minutes it took to attach to the Accular were nerve wracking. But when he successfully attached, the Ai informed them that the anchors were now engaged and that the space bridge was successfully sealed; they were safe to exit. 

Jesse let the wheel go, "mission successful. Welcome to your old, new home."