The Ship Who Sang

She speaks - the ship - or rather the shell person who is the brain of the ship. Her voice is soft, melodious, welcoming you aboard. This ship is truly "she," for it is guided by a female brain. You know her 22 kilos of body and mind are contained in the highly protected main control shaft that is centered in the pilot's cabin, though her voice and her "eyes" can be anywhere she chooses in the ship. Suddenly, a hologram of her face is flashed on the main desk, and you can see her for the first time. She is lovely. Black hair that curls and tumbles around her oval face with charming, elfin abandon - jade green eyes that sparkle with warmth and humor, a generous - almost sensuous mouth. She is young, but her life span will cover several centuries. She is incredibly intelligent, or she would not be the "brain" of this BB ship. She may someday have the faster-than-light capability to go all the way to the Horsehead Nebula and back - the dream of all spacers and spaceships. And if she picks you as her partner - her "brawn" - you may go with her. Adventure, danger, and the excitement of space lie before you. She is Helva. And she is The Ship Who Sings.