“And why did you doubt?” I beamed. Having written a few basic core modules, the overseer quickly painted in details to the rough sketch of jump code on screen, quickly editing in additions to the broad strokes of driver software and interface middleware. I watched with rapt attention, nodding in satisfaction at similarities to current logic and noting down new variations of old code.

It felt strange to surrender control to the overseer, but it continued spewing out code with no discernible mistakes. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted the other bridge consoles dimming and simplified version floating into place around me, but they weren’t needed. The overseer took control of them, bypassing safety protocols and hard-wired barriers, but I wasn’t concerned – not even when it tentatively fired the thrusters of its own accord to manoeuvre us into a jump position.

My hands were shaking, my imagination insisting on reminding me that my actions now would probably be remembered forever. Breathe. Breathe.