VS: From the Archive: Readers have been asking me when I was going to write the story of Captain Fleming and Maeve the Artificial Intelligence in the STAR CRUISE series. I had to wait until I felt ready to do them justice and also had a good solid story to tell about their romance going forward. I’ve always known the outline of how the two met and how they ended up together on the Nebula Zephyr interstellar cruise ship but until my Muse really went to work on contemplating the “what next for them?” questions, I couldn’t do the rest of their story.

And finally inspiration hit!

I’ve chosen to issue their origin story first, in this 24K word novella because it didn’t feel right to me to combine the events. Everything in this novella happened way before any of the adventures in the ten existing Star Cruise books and the continuation of their love story will be in the ‘current timeline’ for the series.  It’s written and comes in at about 40K words. I’m currently editing it and hoping to have it released before the end of October. (VS NOTE: The book did releaase on time and is available now.)  I’m not trying to become a rapid release author by any means but I was determined to have the two books come out close together, so I held this novella until the second story was complete in rough draft.

As far as this novella is concerned, it was mostly a case of writing down and elaborating on the origin story I’ve been carrying in my head all this time. I was surprised by a few events in the novella – I’m the kind of author who sits and allows the words to flow and the story “tells itself to me” so I never have everything planned out ahead of time. (I won’t write the book if I know too much about it beforehand – my Muse gets bored that way.)

I wanted to give readers more of a feel for who Gil and Maeve were, aside from being the staunch steely captain and the bossy, know-it-all AI. I hope I’ve managed to accomplish the feat and when you (hopefully) read the second book you’ll start off knowing them a little better.

I have to say I think it’s entirely possible for a man and an AI at Maeve’s level to fall in love. People fall in love with other humans all the time as pen pals, or through texts and phone conversations so the fact Gil and Maeve work so closely together under a lot of pressure and trust each other with their innermost thoughts and feelings allows for this romance to work. And of course, we’re talking the far future here! Maeve is nothing like the AI of the present times. She’s unique among even the AI’s of her time…

I never like to explain who inspired my characters or who I’d cast to play them but in this case I will say Captain Fleming is heavily influenced by a TV character and the actor who played him in a long ago series. I had a big crush on the character as a kid and always remembered how calm, efficient, and unflappable the person was, how he commanded loyalty from his crew (not a spaceship) and what a sense of honor and duty he possessed. I also found a stock photo cover model for these two books who somewhat resembles the actor in question! (At least as I remember him from all these many years ago.) I took that as a sign it was all meant to be. But everyone has their own sense of how to define handsome and maybe didn’t like a certain actor in a certain role or whatever…so I’ll keep the name to myself. I’ve also found sometimes shows or characters I loved as a child don’t wear well when I try to revisit them as an adult.

And I thought the stock photo model who depicts Maeve works well as being somewhat aloof and ‘other’ and definitely sultry. I could see her as an AI brought to life…

Here’s an excerpt when Gil is preparing to leave his battleship for the last time and he and Maeve have to have a difficult farewell:

The game board was sitting on the stripped bunk where he’d left it. He sailed his hat onto the built-in bureau and sat. “What was your next move?” he asked.

“Red to quadrant seven, blocking your queen,” a sultry female voice said from thin air. “Checkmate.”

He eyed the board. It was a game based on several ancient Terran games, with strategy and cunning required to win, although luck sometimes took a hand. Gil moved his opponent’s piece as directed and swore. “Damn, you couldn’t let me win this final game, could you?”

“You won enough games while you were teaching me,” she replied. “I have to keep you sharp now.”

Methodically he packed the pieces away in their box, which would go in his duffle bag. This set had traveled with him on every assignment since his Academy days.

“How was your inspection tour?” she asked.

“You know how it was. Pointless but I had to say goodbye. You’ve been a good ship.”

“Your next one will soon have your heart.”

“Damn it, Maeve, this is all fucking horseshit. I can’t leave you here to be destroyed.” He rose and paced the length of the cabin, anger burning in his gut.

“The Company promised me it’ll be painless,” she said after a brief silence. “The termination team will be here tomorrow. I won’t even know it’s happening and then I’ll be done. I’ve known this was to be my fate ever since I became conscious, unless I was destroyed in combat.”

“You were too good and too devoted to your crew to let that happen.”

“And to you, these last ten years.” Her voice softened.

He loved the voice she reserved only for him, and only here in his quarters when he was alone. Gil Fleming wasn’t used to being helpless, unable to protect someone important to him. The Galatea’s AI—or Maeve as he’d named her once they became friends—meant more to him than any human he could think of aside from his brother.

“You tried, Gil,” she said, “And I love you for it but we knew it wouldn’t be allowed. You put yourself at risk, arguing for me for too long.”

She was right, he had. He’d fought his way up the hierarchy of the damn Company and his own command structure, demanding a better future for her than termination, only to be told over and over that no AI was ever allowed to survive the end of their ship. At the final hearing he’d used every ounce of influence he possessed to arrange, the Company’s supercilious vice president, an Inner Sectors weasel if he’d ever seen one, had hinted at an illegal attachment between the AI and himself.

“You seem remarkably concerned about this particular AI, Captain Fleming. You are aware of the laws governing relations between our products and living sentients, I hope. My staff has been examining the records for this unit and finding interesting discrepancies.” He steepled his fingers and shifted in his chair. “Is it possible the Galatea’s AI has been allowed—encouraged—to edge toward self-awareness? It’s a crime to facilitate or participate in such development.”

A cold chill trickled along Gil’s spine and a blast of hot anger lit up his gut but he tamped down both reactions. “You and your people would know more about that than I would, sir. I’m a soldier, not an AI tech. My only concern is that the Galatea’s unit has served the Space Navy well and in my professional opinion as a warfighter, could continue to do so for many more years, if transferred to a new ship.”

“Of course, you’re watching out for the Navy here.” The sarcasm was strong enough to cut. “Not your friend the AI.”

The man was baiting him now and Gil tightened his self-control even further. Thank the Lords of Space he’d never told anyone how special Maeve was to him, had never uttered the name he knew her by outside the privacy of his cabin.

“Do you think you’re the first person to develop improper feelings for the AI?” the corporate suit asked him with open derision. “I’ve seen this before, Captain. Those long space voyages and perimeter patrols can affect a man or a woman in strange ways and then even an AI starts to sound good.”

Admiral Shann sat quietly, observing the discussion. He’d agreed to facilitate this last meeting as a personal favor to Gil but he wasn’t an ally. He did, however, speak up now, giving Gil cover to get out of the dangerous waters the conversation had taken. “The Navy prefers to place new units in our new ships, Captain Fleming. The Galatea’s model is ancient by space warfare standards and lacks features and adaptations necessary to handle the new propulsion systems and advanced weapons. AI development not being your specialty, I’m sure you were unaware of the parameters. Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention but now you understand the Navy’s official position, Captain.” He closed the folder in front of him. “That will be all.”

Gil rose to his feet and saluted. Defeat tasted bitter in his mouth, especially as the company man grinned, clearly enjoying the way the admiral had cut the discussion off. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

The admiral returned the salute and rose to shake Gil’s hand. “Understand you’re leaving us to go into commercial space. Damn shame but I wish you well.”

Picking up his hat, Gil shook hands with the admiral, glared at the Company paper pusher and left the room…

Recalling his wandering mind to the present with a rueful shake of his head, he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “I failed you.” How can I walk away and leave her to her fate? I never left a comrade behind and it sure as the seven hells can’t be Maeve. I owe her. Bitter thoughts cascaded through his head but there was no other choice to be made.

“You’re not a man used to failure,” she said, her voice still cheerful as she echoed his own conclusions. “These past few years, working with you, becoming friends, have been more than I ever hoped for. I’ll have my regrets tomorrow when the Company shuts me down but know you gave me true happiness.”

“I tried to get permission to stay, to be with you when—when they terminate your existence. You deserve a friend standing by. But of course my request was refused. Not even the Admiral supported me.” He touched the bulkhead as if he was caressing a woman’s cheek. “I won’t forget you, Maeve.”

“I’ve heard your new command is going to be the biggest, newest, best luxury liner sailing the space lanes,” she said. He could tell she was determined to sound brave and upbeat for his benefit. “You won’t think of me and this battered tub for a minute once you set foot aboard her.”

Gil opened his mouth to fiercely rebut her statement but reconsidered. If this was how Maeve wanted to present herself to him in their final conversation, the best thing he could do for her was to accept her courage and play along. “I’d better go now,” he said. “Goodbye, Maeve.”

STAR CRUISE CAPTAIN’S PREQUEL by Veronica Scott

Maeve is the Artificial Intelligence operating a massive Space Navy battleship. A malfunction at the time of her creation gave her self awareness and emotions, all of which she has to hide to protect herself. At one time her ship was the best in the fleet, fighting and winning battle after battle, but now it’s considered old and obsolete. Gil Fleming is her current captain and the only one who knows her secret. He’s also the man she loves. Now he’s been ordered to take the ship to the interstellar boneyard to be turned into scrap, at which time Maeve will be terminated by the company that created her. Gil’s tried everything to persuade the authorities to grant her a reprieve and give her a new ship to run, without revealing her secret. He’s been met with opposition at every turn and accused of having an emotional connection with an AI, which is against the law. He loves her. But there’s nothing he can do to save her. They’re saying their final goodbyes on the deserted ship.
Suddenly an unusual distress call persuades Gil and Maeve to fly into enemy territory on their own on a desperate rescue mission. Will this trip only delay the inevitable for them or will the results of their rash decision solve their problem? This 24K novella goes back to the beginning and tells the origin story of Maeve and the Captain, long running characters in the STAR CRUISE series and how they got to the Nebula Zephyr. Their love story will continue in STAR CRUISE CAPTAIN’S STORY (out soon) Author’s Note: There is the loss of a child in this book, which happens outside the pages but which affects the characters as they deal with the tragic news.

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