Before JS could answer, Eve began to sing. The ship responded to the melody, duetting with her. After a final trill, Eve stopped singing and hugged JS covering his face with kisses. "Oh Jay, you called a ship that sings!" "Careful, my shoulder," he said to stop that rain of emotions and added bewildered: "What does 'You called' means? That I might call a lousy garbage space barge instead?" The intercom buzzed. Vasquez was on-line: "There are problems, sir? The entire area around your quarter and most of the cave are locked, sealed by metal plates, at least they seem metal surface. There's no way to get there. The Martians here seem excited, but also puzzled." "It's all right, Vasquez. Our ship has arrived. Give orders to evacuate the planet as planned. I call Adam." But Adam called first: "Is it the ship, right?" Eve nodded, her eyes shining with joy, "It's a ship that sings, Adam!" "I knew that Jay could make it! Congratulations Jay! I give orders to our people!" Adam said and cut. "Let me understand. Well, it's a singing ship: why you are so excited?" JS said, frowning. "The sacred songs say that ships who sing are the most powerful ones, our people's battleships. Only the great captains are able to call one of them." Eve explained and the ship nodded mentally. "So there are other ships out there, aren't there?" JS asked, his frown deeper. "Of course, there are other ships here in the Nowhere, all kinds of them!" the ship snapped impatiently. "I hope to not fall from the Rogue frying pan into the fire of I-dunno-what." JS muttered to himself, forgetting that Eve and the ship could hear his thoughts. "With this ship we have nothing to fear!" Eve stated. "Why did you come only now?" asked JS who wanted to grasp the situation clearly. "When the Nagas create a new captain, the ships contend his favors and each tries to make her way. I've never had someone who taught me how to come out from the Nowhere and when I tried, the other ships bullied me off and took my place." The ship replied. "Why did you succeed with me, us?" "When you became a captain, tonnish ships were scandalized. 'I'll never be ruled by a monkey!' they said and decided not to respond. Since I couldn't find a captain, I decided to try my chance with you." "A wallflower who doesn't want to die a virgin!" JS shook his head and exclaimed with a big smile: "Welcome to the outcasts' club, my dear!" The ship smiled too, if a ship can smile mentally: "The Naga and her captain, the other ships told me that's only business. But you and this Naga are in love. And then you kissed me, no captain has ever kissed his ship." Eve hugged JS and whispered to the ship: "Jay is a great soldier and captain.." "And an accomplished lover, if I may add it!" JS grinned. "And you have done well to choose him, I know!" Eve smiling at him. "I know, and I'm afraid that some other ship changes her mind. My captain, you have to connect with me through the Commander's chair on the bridge and the tattoo, so that the imprinting will be done." "Well girls, let's get down to business! Where are you now?" JS asked. "This is the problem!" said the ship, "I never landed out from the Nowhere and I don't know how to do it, but you can help. There is a control chair like the one I have on board. It's inside the core that emerged from the cave wall. It's the only possible open way left. From there you can control and make me land." "Jay, put your full-dress uniform, please! I'll dress as the Naga!" "A million years old-fashioned dress?" JS grinned, and obliged. JS sat on the control chair. Behind him Eve was standing. "Before we begin, do you have a name?" JS asked. "No, the first captain christens the ship. You must give me my name!" JS pondered on it for a moment, then smiled, nodded and said in a very formal tone: "I name you NMS Victory. It's a glorious name, so be worthy of it." --- Thanks