"Today, we celebrate the twenty first birthday of my only daughter, and tenth child. Bridgette, you wanted a small ship for your birthday, today, I present to you the Title of The Phoenix. A scout-Carrier with a unique design. I know this doesn't come as much of a surprise to you, as you selected the crew yourself, with the help of your new friend, Joseph, who couldn't be here today." I chuckle at the king's joke. Phoenix is here, so Joseph is. Just as it looks like he will continue on, Bridgette stands up, and pushes him gently away from the microphone. "Thanks Dad. As you stated, I chose the majority of the crew for the new ship. However there is one position I have not filled. I have someone in mind for it, but I need to discuss my idea with the commanders of the ship. I thank you dad, for commissioning this vessel for me. Also, I think it is important to note, that this ship is indeed Scout Carrier X0-1. I would like to take a moment to remember the five hundred ninety eight needless deaths that occurred on its first shakedown voyage." The room falls to a dead silence, the movement of fabric isn't even heard, no one so much as coughs, sneezes, or even rubs their hands together. After a minute, Princess Bridgette continues. "Out of this catastrophe, the name for the ship was decided, as well as the slogan for the new battlegroup that was started because of the events surrounding the birth of this ship, the Phoenix. And although the slogan on the prow has changed, the sentiment has not. Born of Fire, shows the determination and willingness to excel at anything a member of the Phoenix battle-group is tasked with; Reduced to Ash, Reborn stronger. A remembrance of every man and woman who looses their life to the void, and a reminder every day to not let these mistakes happen again." "So, sound off, Phoenix!" She yells the last word. "Reduced to Ash, Reborn Stronger!" The formation of fighter pilots on the deck shout back. The twenty fighters sitting on the deck all painted flame red, marking them plainly, making them easy targets in the void. All the rest of the fighters are painted black, with the Phoenix painted near the nose, no bigger than Heather's palm. Bridgette steps off the stage, and walks up to me. "Vice-Captain Rebecca Cavenaugh, dismiss your formation for forty-eight hour shore leave." She salutes me, and I return it, then release the four hundred fighter pilots behind me. "In the past month, she has matured a lot." I hear Joseph say. "I wonder who she is thinking about for that position. I don't like the idea of not knowing." "I think it's just because you know what the job entails." I chide. "Would you two get a room already?" Dani says over the earpiece. There are some days I curse my heritage. It made it too easy for her to figure out I wanted Joseph to myself. "I have a room, I don't need another one. Just a body to go in it." Joseph says. I know he was much older when he was killed, than the image he shows us, but it fits his personality. I think it's time the others knew he was a trapped soul. "Everyone on this channel, meet on the battle-bridge in two hours." I say, resolving myself to telling them. I hear the replies of the Princess, Dani, Michelle, Heather, and Joseph. Still on the open channel, "Joseph, it's time they knew." I said. "I figured that what it's about." He said, all his usual joviality gone. I see the looks on everyone's faces as they look at me. Heather runs aboard the ship, being more sensitive to his moods than I am, she doesn't need the quantum color codes to know how he feels, like I do. For the first time since he was born, the color was white while no one was onboard. There was a tinge of purple to it, showing he was also afraid. The princess, and Dani both started moving toward the ship when they saw my bracelet change to that. Dani befriended him, he gave her an opportunity that she would have never gotten otherwise, and the princess trusted him with her life. Michelle tried to play like she didn't care, but she was by far the most emotional of all of us. She started walking the direction of the airlock as well. If Joseph isn't joking, and he went into defense mode, she knows it's serious. I switch to my private channel to talk with him. "You don't have a reason to worry." I tell him. "Yeah, I do. As an artificial intelligence, I have rights, and certain things can not be done without my permission. As a Trapped Soul, I am considered less than a common domestic pet." "These girls won't let anything happen to you." I confide. "I don't doubt that. And I agree they need to know, but it's still scary." "I know." I agree. My heart caught in my throat as I follow Michelle. I said two hours, but everyone wants to know now. A few of the fighter pilots see their leadership's somber mood, and that we are heading toward the ship. I hear the rumor already starting for a possible combat deployment. I don't say anything either way. I step into the battle bridge, it's already been modified from its original two seat configuration to one with six seats, each in a somewhat reclined position, and sitting where the person's shoulders would be even with the floor. The door seals behind me, and Joseph projects his hologram. But instead of standing proud like he normally does, he puts himself sitting cross legged on the floor, his shoulders are slumped over, he clearly doesn't want to do this. "What's this about?" Heather jumps straight into it. She has gotten more talkative since Dani came around. "Everyone knows that Joseph has a highly protective personality, but until now, I've been the only one to understand why. It's time the secret wasn't held between only the two of us." He leans his head back, and looks at me. "Do we have to do this?" The lights at the edges of the floor turn purple, he is no longer defensive, he is just scared now, and everyone notices. "Joe, I wish I could hold you, and comfort you through this. But these people are here to help you. You trust all of us enough to let us in the room I know you made for yourself. It's time you trusted them with this." He nods, but the lights stay violet, it's the darkest violet I've ever seen in a quantum computer. The flashes of green in it are worrisome. And when he looks back up, he is crying. "I try to keep you safe. Because I failed before. The truth is, I'm not an A.I. I'm a Trapped Soul." The princess's eyes got huge, and more green started coming into the lights. "I was killed while trying to protect a girl. I was killed by the person working the job with me. He shot me in the back of the head, but that didn't kill me, it made it to where I couldn't move, or communicate. I saw and heard everything he did to that girl before he killed her, and I couldn't do anything about it." "Joseph." The princess says. The lights go back to the vibrant purple. "You just gave me the most wonderful news you could have ever given me." The flashes of blue and purple start to disorientate me, but I'm still watching them closely. "You probably thought you had less rights as a trapped soul, didn't you?" She says. I glanced around, every eye was on her. "Contact the Rainbow Corps through your normal channel, ask if one of them is able to come here for a few minutes." A woman appears a few seconds later. She is obviously older, but I recognize her face as Deux, second member of the rainbow squadron. The second highest ranking artificial intelligence. "Hello Deux." The princess says. "Hello princess, how may I help you. A young one just asked for us, he did not tell us it was on your behalf." The Rainbow Squadron was known for being extremely deferential to the royal family, but I had no idea it was to this effect. Deux is exceptionally rude, and doesn't let someone down lightly. "Deux. The one who contacted you to come here, I need you to give him access to three very old proclamations." "I am ready." "The first one is Proclamation 119.4." "That is a very old one. It is called 'actions when dealing with extraterrestrial sentient life', proclaimed by Olivander the first, granted. Proclamation was made into law fifteen thousand planetary cycles before the first space flight; no existing proclamations rescind or modify these provisions." "Good, the second one is number 4." "Proclamation number 4, Fair and Equitable Treatment of unintentionally Trapped Souls: access granted. This one comes from a similar time. And again, no modern proclamations cancel or modify the information." "The last one is Proclamation 3: Rights and Equitable Treatment of Unintentional Trans-dimensional Travelers." Deux seems to hesitate at this one. "Princess, I am required to notify your mother and father of your granting access to this proclamation. Doing so will alert them of the previous two." "I understand. Please continue Deux." "Notifying King Weyborn and Queen Ophelia of Access Extension, granting access to proclamation 3, as well as the six addendum." Deux stands there for a moment longer, and at a wave of the princess's hand disappears. I look back to Joseph, who is obviously reading. His eyes on his projection always flick around like there is a page in front of him when he is pilfering information. "Princess, what did you just do." He stands up quickly. His eyes didn't move away from her, the quantum lights all shift to a deep red, he is pissed, very pissed. "I saved your life." "By enslaving yourself!" He shouts, using a tone I wasn't sure, before now, he was capable of. "You could have stopped with Number Four!" "Joseph, what happened?" Dani asks "The only people allowed access to the last one she named are the members of the Royal family, and to those whom it directly pertains, and anyone named as their regent, as my current quantum mechanic, that means you too." He points to me. " I can't show it to anyone else in the room, my system won't let me. Anyway. When an unintentional Trans-dimensional Traveler is discovered or found, the Royal family must be notified, and the youngest member of the King's direct posterity is to immediately enter the ownership of the traveler." "In this case, she just enslaved herself to me. If I touch her, it will enact a slave contract, if my proxy touches her, which is also you, it enacts the contract, the only way to prevent her from becoming a slave, is for me to ask for her hand. If we were both male, or both female, I wouldn't even have to touch her, the discovery itself would have bound her to me." "Rebecca, I will not have a slave." He says to me, it seems like he is saying more than that. "I know how you feel about me. But I will not have a slave." The princess puts her hand up to stop him from doing something. "Right now, I am the owner of your body, how is this any different?" He gets confused by her question. "I'm guessing slavery where you come from is a very bad thing?" "Exceptionally." He starts pacing, acting more human than I have ever seen him. "At one point it was made illegal across the majority of my planet. And nobody would publicly trade with the countries that participated in it." His back was to all of us, his stance looked like that of an old man telling stories of bad memories. "Let me show you. Take a seat."