Eurus, Astraeus, Boreas, Kalopsia – now awoken, Paskal and Anderson have gathered at Cell HQ after the successful mission to free Kalopsia. They’re in a briefing room with walls covered with screens and a large table for the participants to sit around. Eurus is standing up, prepared to inform his compatriots.


    “Before we proceed, Kalopsia, how are you feeling?” he asks.


    “Pretty good, all things considered,” she says.


    “What happened to you?” Paskal asks.


    “What anyone would expect. I was looking into my origin and reason to be alive. I had felt as a little girl that I was different, not just physically but something about me was distinct. After looking around, I was put into contact with Dr. Mendel through the help of a friend…”


    “Bob Voyage?” Paskal asks.


    “…Yup. And when I met him, he basically didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know – that I was created by Gobb Vakkar. He told me I would be instrumental to his work. I wasn’t given a choice to cooperate even as he’d spiked my drink and I passed out, woke up in your medical wing here.”


    “Right,” says Eurus, “well Dr. Mendel’s description was a bit of an understatement, as you’ll see here,” he flicks on the screens covering the walls, “I hope you won’t mind, Kalopsia, but we did extensive analysis on your genetics, body and mind while you were recovering from stasis.”


    “I’m fine,” she says.


    “Good. Well as you can see here,” he points to a high-intensity multi-spectrum scan of her abdomen, “her womb is not natural so-to-speak. The lining of the walls is heavy in atomic composition, meant to absorb radiation and to withstand rapid growth.”


    Paskal, and Anderson lean forward in their seats. Kalopsia’s eyes are opened wide like an owl.


    “We further discovered from Ultra’s documents, provided to us kindly by Dr. Mendel, that you, Kalopsia, hold within yourself the prerequisites for creating new Cell Circuits.”


    “The fuck?” she says.


    “Yes, the fuck??” says Paskal.


    “Revelatory indeed,” says Boreas.


    “Cool so what if I get pregnant we can expect a super soldier to pop out?”


    “Not really. The process laid out in the documents discovered by Ultra describes that Kalopsia’s womb as a prerequisite but not sufficient on her own to generate the new Cells. She’ll have a role to fill that we’re still not clear upon, but we’re fairly certain it’s pivotal.”


    “To do what exactly?” asks Anderson.


    “Basically,” says Eurus, as he flicks through demonstratory images and visualizations, “the embryos resulting from the second generation of wombs will have very uniform and predictable genetic code. It will allow for extraction of said embryos and “easy” genetic manipulation of them in specifically designed gestation pods. Their epigenetic development and phsyical structure are very amicable to intense alteration and enhancement. In short, with the early embryo, a lot of the work is achieved by stem cells planted carefully and strategically. Any metallic or cybernetic enhancements are surgically added in the gestation pods with mechanical arms and grown, advanced as the embryo grows. The brain, when developed enough, is then scooped out and replaced with a solid state device that functions identically but is immune or heavily resistant to kinetic and mechanical shocks.”


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    “Wait… So you’re still just AI-s/computers running around?” Paskal asks incredulously.


    “Not exactly,” says Eurus, “Laid out in the documents is that each Cell has free will, meant to function as a human. Our consciousness is imprinted during the gestation process with data and basic memories generated by the developers, providing a seed for later personal growth and instructions on how to interact with the world. I for instance distinctly remember being a child but it turns out I was never had a childhood at all. It was installed into my mind as a way to give a grounding underpinning for my morality and undestanding of humanity. Likely, each set of memories is slightly different but not to a discernible degree.”


    “I see,” says Paskal, “what now?”


    “Ultra documents reveal the goal for such development and it concurs with discoveries made by myself in a separate investigation. The AI we thought defeated during the Machine Revolt in the 21^st century was never really dead. Instead it retreated beyond the stars to a planet orbiting a red giant star. It is likely uninhabitable to biological lifeforms. It was discovered by an extraterrestrial civilization, the representative of which, Draia, I was in contact with. Ultra knew this fact too and was looking into super soldier development to clandestinely wipe out the AI. We must in turn go to Earth, to a vault made by Vakkar Industries. It’s in an unknown location, buried within a mountain as it turns out. This vault holds the instructions and technology necessary to restart the process.”


    “What about Kalopsia?” Anderson asks.


    “What about me?” Kalopsia asks.


    “Does she have any say in this? Leaving aside the fact that you mean to restart a forbidden process of Cell production, can she at least refuse her role as your broodmare?” Anderson asks.


    “Of course, but…” Eurus says.


    “Why would I? My question about my origin is answered. I know my role in humanity now – I am its’ savior. I want to do this. I feel like I’ve wanted this my whole life.”


    Anderson and Paskal are visibly at unease. However, their trepidation is clearly subsiding.


    “But is she saying this because she was bred for this or because of her choice?” Anderson says.


    “A Labrador Retriever was bred to catch and bring back delicate prey. In fact, there’s nothing else it’d rather do. If it knew that was its purpose, would it be then denied the ability to do that if it so chose? Does it remove validity from its choice? I think not. A person born with musical talent may never know they should be composing a symphony. Their choice to instead be a policeman, for instance, is done entirely outside of their knowledge of their own abilities and supposable purpose in their world. How is this choice any more valid? I feel like I am free at last. I can make this choice and I want to do it.”


    “I feel like second-guessing a lot of that, but I think you’re right,” says Anderson, “I suppose then that this trip will happen soon?”


    “Yes, the opportune Earthbound launch window is here in a few days. Though we can travel later via V-matter, I don’t see a reason to delay,” says Eurus.


    “So,” Paskal says, “It seems like the last conversation we’re having for a while on Mars?”


    “Yes,” says Eurus.


    “Can I propose a proper sendoff and after raising the ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner?”


    “A sendoff?”


    “Yeah, a party, a boogaloo, whatever – let’s enjoy ourselves.”


    “I could do that,” says Boreas.


    “Then it’s settled,” says Eurus, “Everyone get a day’s rest and tomorrow we will celebrate. I’ll send you the details.”


    Anderson and Paskal offer to drive Kalopsia to her mother, which she accepts. She expresses her wish to also participate in the blowout and offers to throw the event in Chromo Tower, her mother willing.