J-71 flipped a switch on the floor and in response, the room started to emit a low humming sound, and soon after a holographic console came into existence in the direction of the door. It showed surprisingly simplistic summaries of the ship systems alongside interactive knobs switches and buttons that control a variety of systems across the structure. A moment passed and a real-time holographic image of the outside blinked into existence along a 300° angle around the opposite side of the console, making use of both the eye nodes on both sides of any Builder or War Fighter.

J-71 pushed the button that activates the movement systems and the entire vessel began to quake as the ship began to generate and store the plasmas and gasses that interact with the magnetic field of the planet.

“Are you sure this thing is safe?” X-87 asked having only just questioned the safety of a magic floating building.

“The mechanisms will function as they were intended. I have performed all of the calculations several times,” J-71 explained, having all due confidence in the science.

J-71 slowly pushed altitude control causing the vessel to alter its weight distribution on the unstable sand. Finally, the major quaking subsided to a mere constant rumble as the vessel leveled itself out in the air, sand flaking off the underside.

Out of the corner of the display, X-87 spotted movement. “What is that?” They couldn’t make out the object with the display’s resolution. J-71 pushed a button and the area with the movement zoomed allowing the two to see.

X-87 felt as if their reactor would fall through its chassis. They were War Fighters but not a group of 3-5 as X-87 expected. There were 22 moving at maximum speed heading towards the vessel, and they were armed to the screws. This was no core retrieval party, this is a party that would be ordered to take a city. Why are they here?! “We have to go NOW!”

“Moving to avoid confrontation,” J-71 said as they started moving the vessel upwards and in the direction of A-01’s labyrinth, which just so happened to be almost the opposite direction of the oncoming war party. Some of the War Fighters launched themselves but were unable to keep up after the vessel picked up its speed, which was a speed greater than any Builder or War Fighter could ever hope to achieve. The sound of the outside air struggling to move out of the ship’s way could be heard in every room.

“You weren’t joking about this thing being fast. It’s probably the fastest vessel out there,” X-87 said after a time.

“Why were there so many War Fighters?” J-71 said getting to the point.

“I… don’t know. There should have only been 5 at most.”

“In that case, all of the other Builders have been destroyed.”

“And they’re distributing themselves so they can find you. I hope this plan of yours works Jay, otherwise, we won’t have many places to hide.”

“There is only a 33% chance of failure. We will survive them. We do not have any choice.”

“You intend to take me with you?” X-87 didn't think J-71 would consider such a thing. Especially after the incident.

... I… had not considered this prospect. J-71 was conflicted at this idea. "I will consider this later X-87." Why am I considering it in the first place? There is no time for this right now. "There should not be any War Fighter compounds on the way to A-01's laboratory. There should be no resistance."

"That's good…” X-87 paused for a moment. “Shouldn't you teach me how to fly this thing?"

"No."

"What if the ship needs repairs?"

"I will land it."

"And what if we're being followed? We can't just stop."

"It has an automatic flight mode."

"And what if we're under attack and we need to maneuver."

"...I did not think of that.”

“See! SEE!!! It’s 100% necessary!”

“It seems I have no other alternatives. I will explain it to you while we move.”

“Alright! I’m excited. So which switch makes it go faster?”

“That question is not very reassuring.”

J-71 began teaching X-87 how to use the console to fly the vessel. Even at these speeds, it would take a long time to get to A-01’s laboratory. Plenty of time for X-87 to learn the basic mechanics of the Mobile Storage Bay.