Mahmuna, a genie requesting to come aboard! (Misinterpreted Wishes)

Captain Rebecca viewed the planet's single structure, a giant tower, in large view upon her ship's monitor. It certainly didn't look like the kind of place Missing Memory would hide out... there were no outer turrets, no defenses, no ****-fields, and really no ostensible technology of any kind. The thing looked like something out of a medieval fantasy story! Cradling her helmet at her side, she placed one gloved finger upon her cheek and tapped it up and down suspiciously. "What do you think, Haruka? We had his energy signature, right? Should we deploy Figurewatch and engage?"

"I believe it would be a mistake to open fire upon the tower without first confirming the hostility of the occupants inside. I have detected several large energy sources, but nothing that I can readily associate with a weapon's battery. Have you tried hailing them?"

"H-Hailing them? Do you think... they have a control room in there, or any other means of receiving sub-space communications?" The captain seemed uncertain, but she supposed that hailing the enemy was a common courtesy that separated them from the evil AIs they fought against. Keeping her helmet at her side, the captain focused the bridge's cameras in towards herself, sat up straight, and began her opening statement. "Greetings, strangers. This is Captain Rebecca Astara of the Figurehead V. We mean you no harm. We are on the hunt for a war criminal we believe we may have traced to this location. Do you have any unusual activity to report? Please respond..."

Of course, if this didn't work- which, how could it?- she'd have to resort to projecting her voice audibly. If this tower belonged to a civilization with low technological development, they could be in for a rude revelation... Her own voice, booming god-like from the sky. Still, she'd risk it, if that was what it took to root out the enemy in hiding.

To her surprise, someone answered the hail. The figure on screen looked almost human, though the blue skin and flaming pink eye said otherwise. Still, the figure wore a graceful smile... not the kind of expression that signaled an unfriendly. At the very least, she didn't look like an artificially intelligent combatant. The oddest part, though, was that she appeared to be broadcasting from a room full of gold and riches... was there really a sub-space communications array in such a place?

"My name is Mahmuna! No, there are no criminals inside this place, only friends." With that hopelessly misinforming opening, the genie smiled into the monitor, then gestured behind herself. "You have a very impressive ship, captain! I have never seen anything like it, not in all of my years as a girl or a djinn. I would love to come aboard and bring you a gift to celebrate our new friendship! You can tour the tower at your leisure afterward."

The captain looked to one side discretely and held her tongue. Her ship's AI, FV, made suspicious dialogues like this one somewhat more manageable by providing key biometrics on the other speaker. The readings weren't foolproof, but they would inform the captain of any dilating of the irises or unusual sweat production that would indicate a lie or an ambush. They detected neither... it seemed the stranger really did have friendly intentions, despite her odd claim of being a genie, which... surely... even acknowledging the existence of the universe's vast number of alien lifeforms, couldn't truly exist?

"Thank you, Mahmuna, but we don't need gold. We need to focus on what we came here for. Do you have any information on the whereabouts of the war criminal, Missing Memory?"

"Oh... Yes! I could certainly help you find him, if you wish for it!"

"'It,' not 'him..." The captain was adamant upon that point. She was happy to humanize Haruka or even FV, but when it came to Missing Memory, it was important that she thought of the thing as a rogue AI, one with logic twisted far beyond what one could describe as human intelligence... "I have to say, though, that sounds promising. I never thought we'd encounter a genie out here, but I guess that's space for you. If you can really help us find Missing Memory, then we'd be happy to let you on board."

"Beam me up, Captain! Is that something you can do? Beaming me up?"

The genie's chipper attitude was so infectious that even the battle-hardened captain found herself smiling to herself. It seemed like something out of a dream, but maybe humanity's luck had finally turned around...!

Once aboard, the genie opened her mouth in a surprised "O" shape, inspecting the various machines and monitors all around the ship with stars in her eyes. "This is astounding! Wow, wow! I can see the entire tower through this screen!" Gasping, she pointed at the full image of the tower, which she rarely managed to view... as much as she loved the tower, she only ever saw small glimpses of it, for one couldn't move that far from its base without running into the ocean.

The captain quickly hid the various battle data readings she'd put on screen as she analyzed the tower, including the probability that a single strike from their Flying V would destroy it (the reading was rather optimistic at 99%). For her part, Rebecca Astara was just as amazed to see a genie, like something out of a child's fantasy, standing on her bridge. Well, it wasn't just like a child's fantasy... the genie had a pretty erotic body that was only slightly hidden by their choice of thin, revealing garments. Trying not to stare, the captain put on a friendly smile and descended from her chair towards the main floor. "Ha ha... Being told by a mythical genie that my ship is impressive actually makes me sort of happy."

"And I am about to make you more happy, Captain Rebecca Astara!" Clasping her hands together, the genie gave a beaming smile and nodded, as if to confirm the answer to the question she knew the captain must be hoping to ask. "I am here to grant you wishes! You want to find this 'Missing Memory?' All you need to do is wish it and I will tell you his location!"

"Is that so...?" Rebecca Astara couldn't help but feel suspicious; she cupped one hand to her chin and tilted her head. "Even so, I can't make that call without consulting my crew. FV: have Haruka report to the bridge."

"At once, Captain Astara."