I pulled my finger from the disc, though the little blue lines remained. In fact the blue light seemed to be getting stronger. Yes, it was. But the light wasn't coming from the disc. I raised my head and felt my eyes go wide, all around me lights were springing to life among the wreckage. Right in the center, about five feet ahead of me the air crackled to life with a large holographic blue cylinder.
"Xyrhs jisofk sokld iuhskla." The blue cylinder pulsed with light as the jibberish sounds come from seemingly all around me.
I spun around, still gripping the blue disc as I looked around for someone, anyone, who could be responsible for starting up the ship, or speaking nonsense. "Hello?!"
"Hiojos uoisl ojkaspls..." The cylinder flared in blue light, I could feel it washing over me. For the briefest moments all my nerves seemed to unwind, I felt calm and at peace. As soon as the light faded, my jittery fear returned with a vengeance. "Psychic patterns, analyzed. Language added to database: Earth English - American Dialect. Beginning repair cycle. Ship will be operational in approximately 4 standard rotations."
"Standard rotations?" I spoke before I could even stop to consider that that was hardly the most important thing at the moment.
However, the hologram flared with light again as it responded to my question. "A standard rotation is one day on this ship's planet of origin. One standard rotation is equal to 1.25 rotations of the current planet. Ship will be repaired in five Earth days."
Emboldened by the hologram answering one question, I immediately jumped in with another. I held up the panel, "What are these?"
A pulse of blue light, followed by, "Transporter panels."
D'uh, but, stupid question stupid answer. "Why are they so small?"
"They are samples."
"Samples?"
"Correct. Samples are used for demonstration or as blueprints for larger fabrications."
I turned the panel over in my hands, looking at it with a smug grin crossing my face. Perfect, a few of these and I could quickly replicate their technology. Well, maybe not quickly, but even barring that, I could sell it and live comfortably the rest of my life. I ran over and picked up a few more panels, making sure I had matching pairs. Blue light continued to swirl around me, bathing the pieces of the ship in an eerie glow. The sooner I could be out of here the better. I looked around quickly, and noticed something more like natural sunlight coming from one end of the long open room. Tucking my loot under my arm, I quickly made my way in that direction, only to be brought up short as bulkheads slide from either side of the corridor, sealing me off from my one exit. I turned around, shouting at the hologram. "Hey! Let me out."
There was a moment of dull glow from the hologram, almost as if it was thinking. "Cannot comply. Ship will be operational in four standard rotations."
"So, what, I can't leave until you're done?" I gripped the panels tighter, hoping it wasn't keeping me here because I tried to steal. I had no clue whatever this ship might consider stealing, or punishment for stealing. Chances are it wasn't good.
"Ship will be operational in four standard cycles. Ship will require minimal crew of three to return to base. Alpha member of crew will be operational in one standard cycle."
This hologram was starting to get on my nerves. "What's that got to do with me? Just let me go, I won't stop you, or your crew. Here..." I set down the panels. "I'll even leave these, just let me go."
"Cannot comply. Alpha member cannot leave until Alpha is operational in one standard cycle."
"Wait! Me? No, I can't pilot this ship! Just let me go, besides, I'm operational. See? Everything working!" I flailed my arms and legs a bit to prove me point.
"Correct. Alpha member cannot pilot ship. Alpha lacks proper genetic key. Genetic key has been implanted into Alpha. Alpha will be operational in one standard cycle."
I leaned back against the doors that sealed me off from my escape. "Genetic key?" That did not sound good.
"This ship has been installed with the Genetic Key Security System. All flight functionality is restricted to those with the proper genetic key. In an emergency, this ship may implant the genetic key in another being in order to return to base. Genetic Key takes one standard cycle to overwrite alien DNA."
I slide down the bulkheads, my ass landing on the floor as I stared stunned at the hologram. Did it really just say what I thought it had said? I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I buried my face in my hands and tried to think of a way to escape. There had to be a way. I couldn't let this psychotic alien ship take away my DNA then force me to fly it off to another planet. I just had to think..