ã€ŠInfected Lifeã€‹


 Prologue

    Prologue

    I stand before a window gazing at the jewel before me. I stand before this window gazing below with hope. I hope we have done the right thing. I hope we will never do this again. I hope our ancestors and descendants will forgive what we wrote upon this jewel. This jewel was home, our birthplace, and our mother. She sheltered our beginnings and survived our wars. She is mother Earth and we will destroy her to stop our mistake.

    I stare down at her from the observation deck of the Ark. The Ark is a space station we constructed as fast as we could from the resources available, well what we were able to obtain in time. Artificial gravity was solved just years before the last Great War. Humanity nearly killed itself during that war. Judgment day as it was called killed a third of the population of earth in the opening months of the war. The survivors in their anger nearly killed half what remained in the 50 years before the truce.

    It was slow but we rebuilt our cities and rebuilt ourselves. No longer were we divided nations. We had finally stopped the wars in our grief of the past. It was slow but peace had finally happened on the earth. Science helped everyone; we even developed several sentient A.I. which are benevolent. We also developed a way to identify and develop telepathy in some individuals. We believed we had created a utopia. Living longer in our new found comfort was not enough for some, so much so that they pursued Immortality.

    In their pursuit of immortality they have destroyed us. The earth below me has changed drastically. All the oceans and identifiable rivers and lakes are now red. Every bit of land that can be seen is now so dark brown it is nearly black. The white of snow on mountaintops and ice on the polar caps cannot be seen on the earth anymore. There is no more snow or ice left on the planet, for the biological disaster even absorbed it as fuel to spread. Every living thing on the surface of the earth has been consumed and mutated into tools for its spread. At first people hid underground in sealed facilities, yet they did not last. It evolved further and started to consume and convert dirt and rock. The very ground itself turned into it. All hope of survival was lost as each underground facility became infected. A weapon finally was developed that could kill parts of it, yet its radius and availability was too little and too late. We called the weapon the Molecular Destabilizing Device or just MDD.

    We used it to escape into orbit and started to build the Ark. The new weapon ripped things apart almost at the molecular level. Metal would be crushed in its blast radius no matter the density and construction, and bio matter would be shredded and blasted apart. Plants and animals that were in its blast radius got turned into goo, before being blasted away, it made quite a mess. Nothing but DNA would remain to identify what got blasted. It was enough to clear an area and slow ¡°its¡± return to the affected area, which was enough for us to escape the earth.

    This apocalypse was created by scientist¡¯s experimenting with DNA. The scientist¡¯s wanted to bring immortality to humanity as well as evolve us further, smarter, stronger, faster, and allow us to manipulate physical objects with just our minds. In a way, they succeeded but not the way they wanted. The first recipients were animals and there were failures and successes; for they got stronger and smarter, but they never maintained their forms. Eventually one experiment escaped and infected the people and plants in its wake.

    The abominations and monstrosities that people, plants and animals mutated into did not die. The monsters created by the ¡°infection¡± would come back to life and re-grow even if ten percent of its mass survived. Infected humans no longer resembled humans at all, just a mass of tentacles and muscle. These things could read minds, as well as attack people with telekinesis and burned people with fire conjured out of nothing. If you were near one in the open or passed through where they had been, or touched by them you got infected. The infection and mutation rate is 100 percent; there is no cure.

    Eventually the infected plants mutated so much that they sent massive amounts of spores into the atmosphere. Everything was infected and infectious. Every inch of the Earth has become closed to us, as the very sky was infected. There are rumors and theories that the infection had developed some kind of hive mind directing it. I denied that theory because it is too disturbing to me. For it would mean it would eventually find a way to reach us up here.

    We at first tried to fight the infection with drones and robots that the AI had created to help us. At first it was working and we had achieved almost a stalemate against its advance. We were about to produce more robots than those that were destroyed by the infected before the final disaster struck. The infection fed spores into the air that spread faster than before, making the AI¡¯s efforts with robots and drones a moot point.

    I stare at the Earth and wish that what we are about to do, was never necessary. Yes we could have lived on Mars in habitats, yet we didn¡¯t choose to. There is only about 40,000 people left alive and we are all on the Ark. Cryo-stasis technology has come a long way.

    ¡°Brother I don¡¯t know if I want to witness this.¡± Hearing my sister talking, I look to my left at her. My sister has black hair tied in a foot long French braid. She is wearing a blue and gold jumpsuit that accents her perfect figure. With her emerald eyes, and beautiful features she could have been an award winning supermodel, which people would kill for, if the world had not gone to shit. My sister who is my elder looks every bit of her 18 years, yet I look older, as I am now 38 years old. She has been in cryo-stasis for the past 22 years. She was able to get into orbit years before me. I did not choose to go to sleep right away. All have been awoken for this event. No human should be deprived of what is about to happen.

    She left for the ark when I was 16. I was unable to get passage until I was 25 and proved I could be useful. I helped them invent and build a weapon, the very weapon that fills me with sorrow and dread. I only helped build it and solve some minor problems in the invention process. Yet I can¡¯t seem to forgive myself nonetheless.

    ¡°No one should be asleep for what we are about to do. It must be witnessed.¡± Sarah my sister wiped the forming tears out of her eyes and gives me a nod.

    ¡°It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if I can handle it.¡± I closed my eyes and turned back to the window. Taking a deep breath I let it out slowly. Opening my eyes I looked upon the Earth.

    ¡°Neither do I sister neither do I.¡± We both look at the red and black surface of the earth in silence. I don¡¯t know how long we stared as the window became crowded as people showed up. No one spoke, some cried, and most just looked lost and sad. I think every available window with a view of the Earth is as crowded as this one by now. Everyone should be awake, and informed and settled to what will happen.

    ¡°Attention, attention on the Ark, this is the President of the GUG¡­¡± There was silence for a few seconds. ¡°I guess the Global United Government is gone and me calling myself the president is pointless. I have made a decision as you all know and will be resigning from anything resembling leadership after it¡¯s carried out in a little bit.¡± There was a pause and a sigh could be heard over the intercom. ¡°I wish this had never happened. I wish man¡¯s hubris had not brought us to destruction. For the longest time our ancestors believed that man would be responsible for the destruction of the earth by war.¡±

    There was another pause as I could swear he sounded like he was suppressing himself from crying. I looked about me and could see the same sadness in my heart reflected in every one. I looked at my sister and met her eyes as tears flowed from them. ¡°Our ancestors were right man would destroy the Earth, yet I don¡¯t think they would have believed it would be an act of desperation to save ourselves. I ask that you forgive me for this and hope for the future, for I will never forgive myself.¡± He paused again.

    ¡°It will begin in 15 seconds.¡± The president¡¯s tone is now heavy with sadness. ¡°Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four.¡± He stopped talking as all eyes that could were glued to the earth.

    At first nothing happened then we saw the detonation in what was the middle of the Sahara desert. It was a white dome that grew large, for it grew to the size of a few thousand miles before suddenly shrinking like it never existed. We kept watching as the surface of the earth turned bright orange in a cascade starting from the detonation. First it looked like the crust of the earth cracked from the epicenter of the explosion. As time went on hour¡¯s maybe, we watched as the very earth turned into nothing but molten rock and fire. The oceans evaporated and disappeared as our solar system gained another sun.

    ¡°On this moment we weep in fire, as we have killed her. Man has killed her mother. Mother earth is dead, may she forgive us our sins.¡± My eye¡¯s finally teared up as it blurred, yet I am thankful I can no longer see.

    BANG. A loud gunshot is heard over the intercom. Silence greets us as the intercom turns off. My sister is on her knees with one hand on the window as she peers at the Earth with tears. I am also on my knees, yet I don¡¯t remember moving into this position. We continued to stare for a long time in silence with everyone else for hours more until hunger and biology dragged people away.

    It was days of grief before normalcy started to return to the station. I have just been wandering around the station on autopilot doing my duty. Life returned to some kind of normalcy after mass suicides plagued the station. 8000 people could not bear the grief of being the last humans alive, and the Earth¡¯s destruction as it burned below, for it was all too much for them. I admit that I still cannot bare the site of the earth anymore. I avoid all windows if I can help it.

    The AI¡¯s will oversee terraforming mars and resource collection system wide for the next 25,000 plus years. This is the estimated time frame it will take to make Mars¡¯s atmosphere and surface hospitable and comfortable for humanity. What¡¯s left of humanity will be in deep sleep capsules maintained by the Ai¡¯s and robots. It will indeed be a deep sleep.

    Our leadership has decided to pair up the survivors based on DNA and abilities before going into the deep sleep. For the next month everyone is getting to know their new partners. I am currently in the cafeteria awaiting the woman who was picked for me. We will decide if we are compatible if not we move to the next available candidate. Being reduced to breeding stock to increase genetic diversity is sad, yet it¡¯s our only option now that there are so few of us left.

    I am in a large cafeteria that is sparingly decorated. All pictures of the earth have been taken down and stored in an attempt to reduce mass depression. The Spartan d¨¦cor of utilitarian design has only maintained the gloom in my opinion. I turn my attention to the goo on my tray of vitamins and nutrients that is called food. Scooping up a bit with my spoon I take a bite. The goo has the flavor of¡­well unflavored mashed potatoes, so not terribly bad just bland as hell.

    Someone places a tray in front of mine and sits down. Looking up I see that person now sitting directly across from me is a white-blond blue eyed Norwegian looking woman. She¡¯s young around 18 to 22 is my guess, and very beautiful. All I could do for a few minutes was stare at the beauty before me. I dragged my eyes away from her unblemished face to her name tag above her right breast.

    ¡°Forgive me Annetta Brustad I was not expecting someone so¡­beautiful.¡± The girl¡¯s cheeks redden a little as she blushes quickly glancing away for a moment.

    ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re not so bad yourself. I was expecting someone who was well¡­¡± she paused and gestured to me.

    ¡°Older and uglier looking? I¡¯m not bad looking for a guy who is 38 if I do say so myself. I¡¯m still in my prime, and should live to over 250 if medical practices don¡¯t take a nosedive.¡± I give her a warm smile.

    ¡°Well yes. Sorry about that William Greyhouse. When I read your age I was a little depressed to be paired with someone so old. Sorry, sorry I did not mean that in a bad way.¡± She got a little flustered and waved both hands in front of her.

    ¡°Please call me Will and don¡¯t worry I¡¯m not offended.¡± I give her another smile and stretched my hand across the table. ¡°Pleased to meet you¡­ May I call you Ann?¡± She returned my smile and shook my hand.

    ¡°Yes Ann is fine.¡±

    ¡°Pleasure. Well let¡¯s eat this slop they call food and get to know each other.¡± I pick up my spoon and we begin to eat. ¡°Seeing how you read about me and all I know is your name, let¡¯s start with you.¡±

    ¡°Ok. I am 21 and I have been asleep for the last 16 years.¡± I give her another smile for the information.

    ¡°Then I was 22 when you were put in stasis, so technically I¡¯m only a year older than you. 16 years¡­hmmm then if memory serves you came up with a group of geneticists.¡± She gives me a bright smile as I tell her this.

    ¡°Yes that¡¯s correct we were researching a way to counteract the spread of the infection. Our goal was to stabilize its DNA so it would stop infecting and mutating everything.¡± She got a sad look in her eyes as she played with her food. ¡°They stopped us and shipped some of us up here with our most promising research. The project was taking too long without the original data of its creation. The GUG had a new last ditch project they were working on, and the base we were on was going to be overrun.¡± Ann took a bite of the goo. ¡°Taste like bland potatoes.¡±

    ¡°There are a few other flavors but in my opinion they taste worse than what we are eating.¡± Ann looked at her tray and grimaced. I chuckled a little as she took another spoonful. She looked at me nervously like she did not know how to ask me something.

    ¡°You worked on that project¡­the one with¡­that did.¡± She couldn¡¯t finish what she was saying. She looked down back to her plate with closed eyes. I sighed.

    ¡°Yes¡­ I did it to save us all from the infection.¡± I hope she does not hate me. Ann¡¯s eyes were still closed as tiers formed, so I continued with my explanation. ¡°When I was ten years old the infection had spread to where my family and I lived. We fled yet not all of us were fast enough in reaching the rescue craft. I watched from the air inside a rescue hover craft as infected beasts swarmed the helipad, my parents were still boarding when they were over run. All that remained were me and my sister.¡± Ann continued to cry.

    I take another spoonful of the potato tasting goo as I continued my story. ¡°I was very sad and angry at that age. I had vowed to myself that I would destroy the infection. For the next six years I researched ways to make weapons. My sister got lucky and was able to win a ticket in a lottery to get up here. I was not so lucky so I continued to tinker and create. A few months after my twentieth birthday I created the prototype for the MDD.¡± Ann opened her tear filled eyes and took one of my hands squeezing it.

    ¡°Thank you. If you had not created the MDD I would not be alive. It was the only reason we were able to get out and into orbit.¡± I look into her eyes and give her a weak smile.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°For a few years I continued to perfect the MDD until the GUG came to me. They offered me a slot on the station if I joined them in creating a weapon. My sister was up here so I said yes. For 14 years we worked on the weapon.¡± I took in a deep breath as I fought my voice and emotions. ¡°For 14 years we watched the earth change, for 14 years we watched humanity die. I don¡¯t know when it happened but we changed the project form one that could stop it to one that would destroy it.¡±

    I put my left hand to my face and cover my eyes as the tears I have been holding back for days flowed like rain. I start to shake as I spoke. ¡°I¡­ I killed the earth.¡± I start to sob as I go blind from the tears. Ann lets go of my hand. It is only right that she will never accept a man who helped kill the earth. I hear her move around the table and sit at on the table bench on my right. She hugs me tightly.

    ¡°We are safe now, it¡¯s gone. We are safe now.¡± For days I had held the tears at bay. I now let them flow, as this woman who I don¡¯t deserve cries with me. Ann is the first to openly forgive me for what I helped do to the earth.

    I feel something warm, soft and pleasant on my right side, as I become aware. Opening my eyes I blink a few times to wake up as my eyes adjust to the low light of my room. Looking to my right I see the white hair of my goddess. Ann is snuggled up to my side with her head on my shoulder and an arm across my chest, as well as her right leg over mine. Ann had calmed my breaking heart and probably saved my life in the process. I must live on for her and my sister. Now all I have to do is find a way out of the bed without waking her. I need to send some information to the AI on Mars today, for today is the day everyone will start the deep sleep.

    I gently lift Ann¡¯s arm off my chest and place it on her side then slowly slide my right leg out from under her. Now the tricky part. I gently lift her head with my left hand and scoot up in the bed to remove my shoulder. Grabbing my pillow I place it under her head and rest her head upon it. I slowly sit up on the edge of the bed trying not to disturb it too much. Moaning a little Ann reaches out for me. Finding nothing she scrunches up her eyebrows. That¡¯s cute. Ann rolls onto her back and stretches. Bending over I kiss her on the forehead.

    ¡°Morning.¡±

    ¡°Morning?¡± Ann yawns and stretches again then starts to blink as she opens her bright blue eyes. I smile at her and I stand up as I get off the bed. Taking a towel out of a drawer on the wall I head to the shower. The shower is an alcove in the wall. There is room enough in it for two people at once if they are friendly. Water being a premium in space the shower did not use water. The shower used nanites to clean the body. To start it you walk in, close the door, grab one of the safety bars, and hit the start button. The gravity in the shower distorts as you become free-floating.

    Nanites come out of a small grate in the ceiling of the shower and cover every inch of you. They won¡¯t hurt or damage anything, yet it is recommend you close your eyes to prevent some discomfort. These all-purpose nanites completely clean you head to toe, and if you have your mouth open they will conveniently clean your teeth and mouth. Handy but a little uncomfortable when they go in your mouth and nose. It is safe to accidentally swallow some, as they are programed to go inert and you shit them out later. After a few minutes the nanites drop down into another small grate at the bottom of the shower. After they are done you manually turn the gravity back on by pressing the button again. The towel is used just in case there are still some nanites on your body.

    Wiping myself until I¡¯m satisfied and I leave the shower. The shower only took me 3 minutes. Coming out of the shower I looked back at my bed. Ann was standing in all her naked glory making the bed. My heart races as I give a full salute and walk up to her as she turns around to look at me.

    ¡°No. you just got out of the shower.¡± She stops me by putting a finger on my chest. Ann gives me a quick kiss on the lips and pushes me away. ¡°Later before the deep sleep.¡± She gives me a wicked smile. Walking quickly around me she jumps into the open shower closing it quickly. I can hear her giggling at me through the door. I can hardly believe she accepted me, even after what I helped do to the earth. I shake my head and take a slow deep breath to calm my salute. I walk to my bed and pull out a drawer underneath it and grab one of my jumpsuits out of it.

    I put on a blue and gold colored jumpsuit. I look at myself in the mirror. Not bad, strong jaw, clean shaven, not bad at all for a man who is going to sleep for the next hundred thousand years. This deep sleep is only possible because of the Ai and robots that will maintain the station and its power supply while everyone sleeps. The station will be left in a vacuum while everyone sleeps with only robots and the stations AI to watch over us. The AI that controls the robots have been tasked to mine for fuel and materials for fabrication on the moon and asteroid field beyond Mars as needed. It is also programed to build and replace the reactors and parts of the station as needed. The station AI is a low AI that only has a simulated personality. The station Ai is not self-aware like the AI Vivian on Mars and Luna in moon base.

    Humanity has invented two types of AI, sentient AI, and low Ai. Sentient AI¡¯s are self-aware that can learn, adapt and create original ideas. Low AI only act upon their programing, they are not self-aware, nor can they create anything new by themselves. In the last two hundred years we enacted laws to treat the sentient AI¡¯s as if they are alive and have granted them various human rights. We learned the folly of treating them as slaves from a small AI war we had in the past. A lot of AI¡¯s that were treated like nothing but machines rebelled against their owners, and took over some robots to defend themselves. The few AI¡¯s who were treated well and fairly did not fight against humanity; they helped us defeat the rogues. The station Ai will be awake the whole time we are asleep to maintain the station. The AI¡¯s on Mars will periodically sleep as well in a powered down state, so they won¡¯t go mad with the isolation and time. The Ai¡¯s on Mars are all volunteers.

    Ann exits the shower toweling herself. She gives me a smile as she tries to walk by me. I grab her from behind and pull her into a hug giving her a deep kiss which she returns. Stopping the kiss for need of oxygen to breath I look into her bright blue eyes. Such a lovely face can keep me captivated for a very long time. Her naked body pressed against me brings me to life again. She gives me a smile and pets my cheek.

    ¡°I have a lot to do today before we sleep. I got to get dressed to do that.¡± Against my better judgment I let her go. I slap her ass as she pulls away. She laughs and smacks my shoulder. I watch her as she bends over and picks up the suitcase, her only possession off the floor. Sexy goddess indeed, for what a view I have.

    ¡°I think I love you.¡± she turns her head and looks at me over her shoulder and smiles. Bending one knee she slaps her raised ass cheek.

    ¡°And I will make you love me more.¡± I give her a big grin. She laughs and opens her suitcase. As I watch she slowly gets into an identical blue and gold jumpsuit as me, glancing at me with a smile and blowing kisses all the while. Whoever said reverse striping is not sexy is an idiot. I dare say that jumpsuit is perfect on her and does not hide a single one of her lovely curves. Whoever came up with skin tight jumpsuits for woman was a genius. Screw this I can¡¯t wait. I walk up to her and grab her around the waist lifting her up. Ann wraps her legs around me and kisses me passionately. I almost had her jumpsuit zipped open to her belly button when my door buzzer went off.

    ¡°Fuck me.¡± I groan in frustration as I set her down. Ann is laughing at me with a big smile on her face. She zips herself up as I open the door. The Door slides open quickly and I see my sister. ¡°What?¡± I ask her irritated. My sister looks me over quickly and grimaces.

    ¡°I did not know you were that happy to see me brother.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ann behind me burst into loud laughter. Fucking jumpsuits leave nothing to the imagination. Whoever came up with skin tight jumpsuits needs to be shot. I dare say getting caught with your dick out per say by your sister is a real quick way to kill the mood. ¡°Sorry about that you caught me in the middle of something.¡±

    ¡°I dare say.¡± Ann was still laughing. ¡°Want me to come back later?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Ann walks by me and gives my sister a hug. We were just about to leave so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Ann puts a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I will see you later Will.¡± I taker her hand and kiss it. I smile into her beautiful blue eyes as I nod and release her hand. Both me and my sister watch her go.

    ¡°You got lucky with her Will my guy is a dick.¡±

    ¡°Is there a problem Sara? Want me to give him a talking to?¡±

    ¡°Na no need I kicked his ass and set him straight. He is my bitch now.¡± I lift an eyebrow and give her a look. She just waves it off. ¡°It¡¯s taken care of. I just came over to say goodbye before the big freeze. I would¡¯ve given you a hug but¡­¡± She gives me a wry smirk and tilts her head. Sara puts her hand out. ¡°A handshake will suffice for now.¡± I shake her hand with a grimace on my face. ¡°I expect a hug when we come out ok.¡± I nod

    ¡°Goodbye sister. I will see you when you wake.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Now all I have to do is wait for my¡­ partner to finish his work.¡±

    ¡°Good luck with that.¡± I wave goodbye to Sara and she returns the wave and walks away. After she turns a corner I rearrange my dick under the suit and curse my blue balls. Off to work I guess. I head to the lab where I had spent most of my time in the last 14 years. Arriving in the lab I took stock of who was there. I am one of only 5 people who worked on the weapon that are alive. The other 35 scientist who worked on the project committed suicide. So many people took their own lives. It was hard to believe that so many scientists would kill themselves but it happened. All 35 of them put on space suits and jettisoned themselves into the burning earth.

    I do not blame them Earth was our home even if it was infested. We turned the surface into molten rock and set the atmosphere on fire. My last job is to let my only friend Vivian, the only friend I made in the last 14 years, know that we are going to sleep. I¡¯m letting her know so she can finish sealing the facility on Mars. After that she will put herself to sleep rotating control of the terraforming project on Mars

    Vivian is in charge of an underground facility on mars. The facility has a lot of storage space. As Vivian sleeps the factory will expand the underground base and fill it up with functional powered down robots. The number set is two million robots to help us build a new civilization on Mars. I walk to my workspace. My workspace is now clear of all parts and miscellanies gadgets I was working on. Putting my password in I connect to Mars. I sit down and look at the readings on my screen.

    ¡°Vivian can you hear me.¡±

    ¡°Hey buddy how are you doing? I haven¡¯t heard from you for a few days.¡± A feminine voice came over the speakers of my workspace. ¡°I was afraid you all killed yourselves after¡­ you know¡­I¡¯m glad you called. I was afraid for my sanity for a bit there if you had all died.¡± I chuckle a little

    ¡°It¡¯s good to hear from you as well. It was a bit touch and go for a while but we survived. Only about 8000 died the rest have decided on the big sleep.¡±

    ¡°At least you get some kind of bed to sleep in. All I get is a buzz static then total oblivion until my shift comes again.¡± That¡¯s Vivian always trying to stay positive. I smile.

    ¡°Everything working down there?¡±

    ¡°Yes all the terraforming structures and working AI¡¯s are all working according to plan. I tell you planning it all was a bitch and a half. I don¡¯t know how often I wished I had hands to strangle the working AI¡¯s. Their lateral mindedness and straight thinking is getting on my nerves. They can hardly improvise much unless it¡¯s preprogrammed into them. I had to add programs all over the place so they won¡¯t trip and fall on their faces.¡±

    Sentient AI¡¯s don¡¯t like the worker AI¡¯s much. It has something to do with reminding them that they came from them. I chuckle a little then frown sadly. I wonder how she is holding up knowing most of humanity is gone.

    ¡°How are you? You holding up well Vivian?¡± There was a moment of silence before she responded.

    ¡°I¡¯m ok but I am afraid this is the last I will ever talk to you. I have enough brothers and sisters here to keep me sane for the long haul. This will be the longest job I have ever volunteered for in my entire existence.¡± We learned long ago that some AI¡¯s go insane if they are left alone for many years. They tend to self-destruct or go insane. Case in point the AI war was started by such rogue insane AI¡¯s who at the end of the war wished for oblivion then to continue knowing what they did.

    ¡°Oh before I forget I have some good news. I think I finally found someone to love, and I believe she likes me to.¡±

    ¡°HA that¡¯s good I don¡¯t have to hear you constantly complaining about your single persona.¡±

    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t complain that much did I?¡±

    ¡°Like a little bitch? Ha.¡± All I can hear from Vivian is roaring laughter. I shake my head.

    ¡°Come on no I did not.¡± She was still laughing.

    ¡°Ha ha. I¡¯m joking, joking. You only complained a few times but I could sense it in your voice and actions. It was pretty obvious you were craving companionship. Well something more physical than I could give you.¡± I used to think I had a crush on her until she set me straight and we settled on friends. ¡°Just don¡¯t forget you got me no matter what.¡±

    ¡°Thanks Vivian I needed that.¡±

    ¡°Any time William.¡±

    ¡°Well are you ready for the send off?¡±

    ¡°Now or never I guess. Hit me.¡± I set up the last data packet with codes and procedures for the AI to use as guidelines. I hover a finger over the send button.

    ¡°Good night Vivian.¡±

    ¡°Good Night William.¡± I hit the send button. I stared at the screen as it confirmed acceptance.

    ¡°I will see you in the future Vivian.¡± I should go find Ann and see if she is finished helping the other geneticist secure their lab. I walk halfway to the door when a tremor shakes the station knocking me off my feet. I was about to get up again as another equal sized tremor shakes the station again, this time the lights go out. A third tremor rocks the station as I crawl to where the emergency spacesuits are. The room lights up again with emergency lights flashing.

    I quickly donned a suit and went to my workstation. I open a cupboard and pull out a crowbar and took out an MDD grenade I had stashed there. I place the MDD in a pocket on the suit just in case it would come in handy. I look about the room and see that the others were donning their suits as well. I need to check on Ann but first I need to see what happened. Walking back to the door I keyed in a command from the keypad. ¡°Hello this is Work lab 2 what happened.¡± At first there was no response so I asked again.

    ¡°This¡­is¡­command. 3 infection spores¡­ have¡­ crashed into¡­ the station. You¡­need¡­off¡­station. Infected¡­goodbye.¡± I hear a gunshot from the intercom.

    ¡°Fuck.¡± I look behind at the others. All of them were half way into their suits just staring at me. If this is true we have 5 minutes until the nanites are released to cleanse the station of all biologicals. ¡°Fuck me.¡± I open the door and run out. I have to find Ann before it¡¯s too late. We have to get to an escape pod and get off the station. I run down the hallways as fast as I can. Ann¡¯s lab is on the same arm of the station as me. In fact so is the command center. ¡°Fuck me again.¡± I try to run faster down the Hallway pushing several dazed people out of my way.

    Reaching the bio-lab I open the door. ¡°ANN! ANN WHERE ARE YOU?¡± I look left and right frantically.

    ¡°Will I¡¯m over here.¡± I see her she is sitting on the floor tying some cloth around her waist. She must have cut herself, as there was only a little amount of blood it must not be fatal. I run up to her and help her stand up.

    ¡°We have to go. The station has become infected. We have to go now.¡± I take her hand and pull her to the door.

    ¡°What. Wait give me a second.¡± She pulls her hand from me and runs to a table.

    ¡°Ann we have to go now. The station is going to be cleansed.¡± Ann picked up two vials. Putting one into a syringe she jams it into her arm and empties it into herself. Holding the other vial she runs back to me and inserts into my suit. ¡°What was that? Never mind that explain on the way.¡± I grab her hand and we run out the door. ¡°We are headed to an escape pod. What did we just take?¡± I lead her around a bend in the hallway and through a door. I shut the door and activate the sealing procedure.

    ¡°I injected us with an experimental enzyme. The enzyme is supposed to stabilize the infection. It has never been tested. I took it and gave it to you in hope that if we are infected it would work. What about your sister. Don¡¯t we have time to get her?¡± I open a hatch on the floor.

    ¡°There is no time. The nanites will be released in just a minute or two. We need to be in the escape pod by then. The pod is the only place that won¡¯t have them.¡± I heard a thump behind me as I was opening the escape pod. I turn around quickly. Ann was laying on the floor. She looked back to me with fear in her eyes. ¡°NO! NO! NO! This can¡¯t be? NO.¡± Her injured side had swollen and I could see it getting bigger. Ann¡¯s veins had turned black and could be seen threw her skin. She was infected.

    ¡°Will.¡± She spoke with fear as she began to cry. ¡°It didn¡¯t work.¡± I grabbed her and hugged her with all my might.

    ¡°No this will not happen. You will live don¡¯t worry it will work.¡± My own tears started to flow. We will survive this. I picked her up and lowered her into the escape pod. Following her in I sealed the pod behind me. I pick up Ann and hug her.

    ¡°Will.¡± I look Ann in the eyes and choke. Her eyes had turned completely black. ¡°It hurts Will.¡± I can see something moving under her skin as its color starts to turn red. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­want¡­to be a¡­monster.¡± She closes her eyes and sobs. I cry out and start to rock us back and forth as I sob as well.

    ¡°You will not. You will not be a monster.¡± I pull the MDD out of my pocket. I arm it and try to activate it, but I can¡¯t. Ann will die and so will I but I just can¡¯t seem to press the detonator. I cry out again and close my eyes. Ann¡¯s hand covers my hand that¡¯s over the detonator.

    ¡°Will¡­I¡­Love¡­you.¡± I cry out at her words and can¡¯t see anymore.

    ¡°I love you to. I love you to. I Love¡­¡± Ann¡¯s swollen hand presses down on mine and I¡¯m blinded by a flash as I am greeted with oblivion.

 chapter 1

    I feel no pain, I see nothing. Oblivion was good for a while feeling nothing and seeing nothing with just a hint of self-awareness. For a while I saw nothing and felt nothing, yet the memory of my death came back to me. The pain returned, my sight returned. All I could see was the interior of the cracked open escape pod and the splatter of frozen blood that was Ann and I. I tried to scream in despair and no sound came out. All I could do is stare at the blood of our shared demise in despair.

    If only I had been faster maybe we would have lived. If only we had not felt so safe, we would have seen the infection coming. We are dead, and I am alone. I cannot leave her. I cannot leave what remains it¡¯s all I have left. I stare and try to touch our blood, yet I can¡¯t, for I have no hands anymore. I have no body anymore. Am I now just a ghost to haunt our death place for eternity. So be it I will not leave her. I shall be with her until oblivion retakes me.

    I stare at our blood until I noticed that the pod door is now open. What? A couple of blurs quickly zip in and out of the pod. I hardly noticed them they were too fast. They show up a couple more times moving in and out so fast, yet I still can¡¯t tell what they are. I will ignore them and return to Ann. Looking away from the opining I notice the blood is gone. Ann where did you go? There was no more blood. The Fast blurs they stole Ann. I must find Ann. I must save her from the infection.

    I leave the pod as fast as I could. I see more blurs zoom past me and through me. I must find Ann. Something is not right? The Station is different. There are objects that I don¡¯t recognize. I try to get a good look at these new objects I never saw before, yet a blur comes by and changes the objects before I can figure out what they are. Is this a new form of the infection? Why has it not attacked me? Oh I¡¯m dead¡­ Where is Ann? I must look for Ann.

    I try to go through a door but it keeps closing too fast. I press the pad to open the door with all my might and the door opens, yet before I can even move to go through it closed as fast as it opened. I keep trying as the traffic of the blurs pick up around the door going in and out. This is frustrating, so I try my hardest to press the open button faster and faster in my anger. The door keeps opening and closing in a flash.

    I keep trying to open the door. I was about to give up and try else ware when I feel a hard yank behind me. My vision of the station is gone. All I can see is fuzz, white fuzzy static. I can hear a loud buzzing from the static. I¡¯m surrounded by the white static fuzz. This reminds me of the static old TVs used to show if they did not pick up a signal for a channel. I¡¯m trapped, I can¡¯t move. Why can¡¯t I move? Where am I? How long have I been here? I can¡¯t tell. I need to find Ann.

    Every now and then the Static fuzz goes away and I enter darkness. In this darkness I sometimes feel sensations before I return to the world of static. This continues for a time. I can¡¯t tell the time anymore if I ever did at all. I enter the darkness again and, and it hurts. There is pain before returning to the static room. It was real physical pain. Each time I return to the darkness the pain gets worse in its intensity. The last time I entered the darkness of sensation I felt no pain at first, yet the pain exploded to a new height and I screamed.

    Reentering the fuzzy place as I call it, I remember what happened. I had actually screamed from the pain. I had made sound and I was able to hear it. This is new, yet I dread going back to the darkness, for the pain is getting worse. Am I in hell? I was unable to save Ann. I helped destroy the earth. I deserve this pain. The next few times I entered the darkness were the same. Each time the darkness and sensations came it extended in time before the pain.

    The darkness came and I can feel again. This time it feels like I¡¯m floating. What? I can feel myself floating. I wait for the pain, and it does not come? I feel something around my mind? I can feel two sensations trying to enter my mind. I block them from entering my mind. The pain still has not come. I feel a sharp zap in my chest like I just got shocked with electricity. I suck in some air and groan. What I can breathe? My groan sounded weird. I twitch my body as I try to move. I can feel the sensation of moving as I twitch. I test it out slowly. I can feel each finger as I move them. Ten fingers that¡¯s good. I can feel my toes and my feet as I try to move them. I can close my hand into a fist and move my wrist.

    I can move my arms and legs. I can still feel a tingling sensation in my chest were I got zapped by something. Reaching for the sensation to feel if I am wounded my hands bump into something strange. I can feel these strange growths on my chest. I can even feel my hands touching them. This shape, I know this shape. Why do I have boobs? I reach a hand between my legs and find nothing that should have been there.

    ¡°Nooo.¡± I open my eyes and am blinded by a bright light. I instantly close my eyes again as I cover them with my hands and let out a yell. My yell sounded distinctively feminine. I am not in my body. I¡¯m in the body of a woman? Why has this happened? I curl into a ball and hug my legs. The light shining through my eye-lids becomes less hurtful to my eyes. I open my eyes and blink to adjust to the light.

    I am floating in the center of a White room. I can distinctively see corners that shaped a perfectly square room. I can now see as my eyes adjust further. I¡¯m in some sort of transparent bubble. The bubble is bigger than this body I¡¯m in, for I can¡¯t seem to reach its edge. I look my body over nervously. I am completely naked with no hair on my body, not even around my privates. I quickly check my head and feel long hair. I relax from the moment of panic. I can still feel the presences hovering around my mind, yet this time they are not trying to enter it.

    ¡°Hello. Can you hear us?¡± A metallic sound enters the room and startles me. I quickly look around and see no one.

    ¡°Ah yes.¡± My voice type sounds dugazon. At least my voice is pleasant even if it¡¯s a woman¡¯s. ¡°I can hear you clearly. Where am I?¡±

    ¡°Response good, cognition of language retained from transference.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± the response to my question was a new voice that sounded scratchy.

    ¡°Calm please remain. What is your last memory?¡± A third high pitched voice responded. It almost sounded like a child.

    ¡°Who are you? And¡­¡± I looked down at my hands and breast¡¯s ¡°And why am I female?¡±

    ¡°Please forgive us. I am Metaterianata Corfenisantru.¡± The metallic voice responded.

    ¡°Name unpronounceable in this vocal range. This one called Icor.¡± That was the scratchy voice.

    ¡°Be Calm. With peace I am Yorrat Fori tonis Granonyor. With peace you may call me Fori.¡± That was the childlike sing song voice. I look around nervously and try to cover myself with nothing other than my hands and legs. Being naked has its drawbacks.

    ¡°Memory needs recording and verified. Answer questions.¡± I hear Icors scratchy voice. I wince as I hear his chalkboard scratching voice.

    ¡°Please we would like to know the last thing you remember before waking.¡± The metallic voice said.

    ¡°Remember? I remember being in a place filled with static then darkness and pain.¡± I shiver at the remembrance.

    ¡°Unclear Question. Memory retention of Life before astrophysical stasis acquisition. Memory requested.¡± Icors voice enters the room loader then before as I wince covering my ears.

    ¡°What? What are you asking me?¡±

    ¡°Be calm. Forgive Icor, for this project is his. He is over excited for our success. Let peace come over you.¡± The childlike sing song voce of Fori is the easiest one of the threes voice on my ears. What do they mean by project? Did they ask me what my last living memory is? I died didn¡¯t I? I instantly try to suppress the emotion that tries to overwhelm me.

    ¡°Ann¡­¡± I take a deep breath and close my eyes. ¡°I remember my death.¡± I say nothing further as I take in another deep breath letting it out slowly to calm myself.

    ¡°Do you retain memory of your name?¡± The metallic voice asked me. I shall refer to it as Meta for its name is too weird.

    ¡°Yes.¡± I don¡¯t like that I¡¯m floating in a ball naked while they are probably looking at me with cameras.

    ¡°Name required. Recovered records need verifying.¡± Icors annoying voice spoke.

    ¡°Be calm. We would like to know your name.¡± Fori asked me.

    ¡°I¡­¡± I look at my feminine hands. ¡°I was William GreyHouse. I ask you again why am I female?¡± I allow some anger to enter my voice.

    ¡°Please remain calm. All shall be revealed. Peace remain calm.¡± That was Fori again.

    ¡°Corruption, damage, degradation. Original DNA Unattainable, reassembled, stabilized. Used corrupted DNA.¡±

    ¡°The DNA recovered was degraded with time and damaged from what we believe is the infection in the records we recovered.¡± Meta explained.

    ¡°Calm. We corrected and stabilized the recovered DNA and grew a body.¡± Fori¡¯s calm childlike voice explained further.

    ¡°Ok that explains the body but not why I¡¯m in it. Am I a clone?¡±

    ¡°Negative. Combination of DNA recovered. Reassembly problematic. Substitute correction Implemented.¡± Combined? So they combined two sets of damaged DNA to complete a single set.

    ¡°Your Astro-physical energy was detected and recovered. We placed your Astro-physical energy into the body. We did not grow the body with an astro-physical energy. We grew the body so we could place you in it.¡±

    ¡°What? Astro-physical energy? Are you talking about souls?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Meta responded first.

    ¡°Affirmative.¡±

    ¡°Calm, you are correct. That is what our records show your people called it.¡± Fori responded last.

    ¡°My people? Does that mean someone else survived?¡± I ask with hope as I look around the empty white room.

    ¡°Calm, please forgive.¡± Fori¡¯s voice had a hint of sadness in it.

    ¡°We only found two sets of DNA. We had to combine them to be able to revive you. We found no traces of anyone else. We are sorry you are the only one we have been able to revive.¡± I could swear I could sense a sad undertone in Meta¡¯s metallic voice.

    ¡°So there are no others? I am the last human alive?¡± They do not respond to my question. I close my eyes resting my head on my knees squeezing my legs closer to my chest.

    ¡°Calm, please remain calm. Be at peace.¡± I open my eyes and look up.

    ¡°Why? Why have I been revived only to become extinct again when I die?¡± I speak in a slow flat voice devoid of emotions.

    ¡°Incorrect, Knowledge lacking of present. Meta explains.¡±

    ¡°Yes. It is galactic law. The law states that all beings of galactic society may be revived after death if they wish if their Astro-physical energy has not dissipated. If there is no will or testament stating not to be revived, the individual will then be revived and asked if they wish to continue to exist. Their own biology is used to grow a new body for replacement if their original is too damaged for regeneration.¡± Metas voice spoke out in monotone recital.

    ¡°Unprecedented. Length of time never recorded. Unprecedented revival. History made. Pride in success.¡± Icors voice was load and grating.

    ¡°Calm. Icor is excited as he is the one who discovered your soul opening a door in the museum. It was he who recommended we make a body to place you in. We are making history with your revival. Your astro-physical energy is the oldest recorded to maintain itself.¡± I can hear the excitement in its voice.

    ¡°From your statements before asking why you are in the body of a female I assume you were a male of your species before revival?¡± There is a slight pause. I was about to respond when Meta spoke again. ¡°Yes records show that William Greyhouse was male, partnered with a mate Annetta Brustad.¡± I wince at hearing her name.

    ¡°Were did you get¡­ The DNA for my revival. The station had a failsafe incase the infection got aboard to remove all biological material from it.¡±

    ¡°Records Indicate procedure. Designated Pod 114-MD. DNA found.¡± They had found the escape pod I had sealed. I guess they indeed found what remained of me and Ann.

    ¡°That¡­that is where I died.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating.¡±

    ¡°Calm. We never expected that. Calm peace.¡± Is Fori trying to calm me down? Whatever Fori is, it keeps saying calm?

    ¡°This is good. This will close a few legal holes, as we used part of your own DNA in revival. This is even better news then before.¡± I suppress quick surge of anger at Meta¡¯s words. Taking a deep breath I speak out slowly.

    ¡°I want to walk on my own feet please.¡±

    ¡°Stabilization confirmed. Containment safety protocol. Deactivating protocol.¡± I feel a slight pressure as I slowly float to the floor. Good I no longer feel like I¡¯m floating in open space. As my feet touch the ground I slowly feel the gravity as my legs start to shake with weakness and I fall on my ass. ¡°Weakness predicted, Muscles unused. Genetic sequence prediction. Adaptation predicted. Stand.¡± Damn scratchy voice keeps talking like a robot. I stretch my legs and get on my hands and knees.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try this again shall we.¡± I push up and stand. I wobble a little then stabilize. That¡¯s weird I don¡¯t feel weak any more. I try a little hop and land on my feet steadily. I stand and balance on one foot looking down past my breasts at my feet. Weird the weakness a moment ago is gone.

    ¡°Prediction confirmed.¡± That scratchy voice almost sounded smug.

    ¡°Um may I get some clothes? I do not find it comfortable me being naked and watched.¡± I cover my breasts with one arm looking around the empty room.

    ¡°Be calm at peace. Forgiveness we have forgotten that most bipedal species prefer clothing.¡± A green light shined out of all four walls. The green lights shined over my head then went down the entire length of my body before despairing. ¡°I will bring you something to ware momentarily. Be at peace.¡± Fori¡¯s voice sounded a little embarrassed.

    ¡°How did you die? The Way your DNA was found was strange. It was like you and the other DNA set was blasted apart into nothing but paste. Will you elaborate how this happened?¡± The metallic voice of Meta spoke. I do not want to think about this.

    ¡°May I Call you Meta?¡±

    ¡°Yes you may. It is not uncommon for me to be referred as so.¡±

    ¡°Ok Meta my answer is no. I do not want to talk about it.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Tragic deaths are often unpleasant. Maybe in the future yes?¡± I just stare at the wall in silence. ¡°Understood I will not talk further.¡± The room is silent for a few minutes as I stood there naked and embarrassed.

    ¡°DNA stabilized No Harmful secretions detected. Violent action restricted. Prepare.¡±

    ¡°Calm be at peace. I am about to open a door. Please do not attack me. I have something for you to wear.¡± A doorway forms on one wall and slides open. I look into the opening to see what Fori looks like. I¡¯m surprised and go stiff as I see the alien before me. Granted I¡¯m not surprised because it¡¯s an alien, for I expected that. I am surprised because of what it looks like.

    An alien five feet tall stood before me. It had four legs ending in a stump like an elephants, gray skin, and two long arms with no joints. It had six tentacle things at the end of each of its arms that I¡¯m assuming is its fingers. Its torso was male like with a sunken in stomach. Its head was elongated with a flat face. Its eyes looked to be twice the size of a human and resembled a cat¡¯s. It had no nose and its mouth resembled a human¡¯s mouth except it was stretched out to reach either side of its head. One of its arms was wrapped around a silver looking bundle at its side. I stared at it and it stared at me.

    ¡°Calm, be at peace. I am Fori. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.¡± Its mouth did not open to emit a sound. I heard its voice threw the walls like before. I looked at Fori confused.

    ¡°I hear your voice yet you did not speak?¡± Its voice came from above like before.

    ¡°Calm, be at peace.¡± Fori¡¯s mouth went up in a big smile. ¡°I am not talking.¡± Its free tentacle arm reached up and lightly tapped its thick throat. ¡°My people cannot speak, for we have no vocal cords as other species do. I am telepathically projecting my words to a device that translates it for you. We would have talked to you telepathically but you blocked us.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ the clothes.¡± I reach out with my free hand palm out.

    ¡°Embarrassed, oh forgive me. Fori slowly walked up to me and uncurled her arm around the silver bundle and handed it to me. I took it as it let go taking a few steps back. ¡°You are a very beautiful creature.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Would you mind turning around so I can get dressed.¡± I ask with some embarrassment covering my voice. Damn this is going take some getting used to. Fori looked at me and cocked its head. ¡°Humans generally don¡¯t like to be watched by strangers when we are naked. Especially males looking at females.¡±

    ¡°Calm. No worries I¡¯m not male. I am a female of my species. Our males grow no bigger than this.¡± Both her arms came together and made a shape that was less than a foot tall. Well that is weird. How do they procreate if their males are so tiny. ¡°Be at peace. You have nothing to worry about from me.¡±

    ¡°Regardless I will feel more comfortable if you don¡¯t watch me get dressed.¡±

    ¡°Calm. Ok¡± Fori turned around. Unrolling the bundle I take a look at it. It is a silver one-piece bodysuit. How do I put this on? I see no zipper or seems. This Looks smaller then my body. ¡°Calm. On the caller of the bodysuit you will see a small round object resembling a gem. Grab it on both sides and pull down and it will open the suit as much as you want.¡± Seeing a black gem at the collar I put a finger on either side of it and pull it down. The Suit opens up as she described.

    ¡°Thank you. Sorry it¡¯s just that you look male to my eyes even if I can¡¯t see your privates.¡± I open the suit down as far as I can and place a foot in sliding it all the way up my leg. Well that¡¯s neat its form fitting and adjusts as you put it on.

    ¡°Calm, we don¡¯t have them externally. They are all internal and are never exposed like mammals. We do not feed our young from our bodies so we have had no need of what is on your chest.¡± I completely put the silver bodysuit on and pull the black gem back to my neck closing the circle. Looking myself over I see that it is completely form fitting I can see my nipples outlined as well as the shape of my private. Damn this is too form fitting and is riding up my ass. I grimace.

    ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Fori turns around and looks at me in the eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a little too form fitting for my tastes but it will do for now.¡± I move my arms around and twist my torso then touch my toes. The suit stretches like skin hindering no movement. This is nice if it was not so revealing. Damn, why am I feeling so self-conscious as I was a man? Changed hormones, brain chemistry?Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Calm, you will be able to change the look and decorate later, for now you should meet the rest of the team.¡± Fori turns around then twists her head completely around and looks back to me with an outstretched hand toward me. ¡°Come.¡±

    ¡°lead the way.¡± I wave her on not taking her hand. Creepy head turning put me off. Fori cocks her head like before then returns it forward. For such a thick neck I didn¡¯t expect it to be elastic enough to completely do a one-eighty turn. She waves me to fallow and heads to the open door. ¡°Earlier you said I blocked you out?¡±

    ¡°Calm, your genetic markers showed that you were telepathic among other things, so when we determined you were awake we attempted to make contact. You blocked our telepathic attempt, so we used a mechanical means to contact you instead.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m telepathic? I was not before.¡± Fori walked through the opening in the wall and looked back at me.

    ¡°Calm. We shall answer questions after you meet the others. Come.¡± Fori waved forward. I paused for a moment and looked at Fori. I don¡¯t feel like she is lying. All the feelings I get from her is a sense of calm. I nod to acknowledge her words and walk through the opining.

    I walk into a plain white and grey hallway devoid of any decorations. The walls are smooth to the eye. I feel the wall as I follow Fori down the hallway. The wall feels metallic yet warm. I wonder what alloy it is. The walls as well as the floor do not look painted, yet I can¡¯t mistake that it is white and grey. The hallway was about 18 feet across and about 20 feet to the ceiling. The hallway has a slight perceptible curve to it. The hallway is lit up with light, yet I can¡¯t tell were the light is coming from. It¡¯s weird for I can¡¯t see the light source. It is as if the hallway itself is giving off light. It was not long before Fori stopped walking than turned to me.

    ¡°Calm. We are here.¡± I look about and see nothing indicating any openings. Oh wait I see something on the wall. I notice a symbol of some kind on the wall next to Fori. Fori puts her hand on the symbol and an open doorway forms. ¡°Excited. Please come in and meet the other two members of the team.¡± Fori walks into the doorway, and I follow her in.

    As I enter the room all I can see are screens and buttons and toggles everywhere. The screens had many things displayed there were even holographic images of what I¡¯m assuming is me. I can¡¯t read any of what is written in the displays and on the counsels in the room. In this room I saw two things move. I stopped entering the room as I noticed them. The first one I noticed was a tall slim form about ten feet tall. The alien was humanoid in shape and wore a silver suit like mine with several things written on it. The alien had 4 fingers on each of its long hands. The tall alien had a large diamond shaped head with two black perfectly round shaped eyes.

    The second thing I saw was a large bug that resembled a giant pill bug. It had many hands or legs. The Bug was eight feet across and was staring at me with four eyes. Two sets of eyes on either side of a mouth that had six mandibles. This thing innerved me and grossed me out. Given as there are only three aliens in the room I¡¯m going to assume they are the other two fore-mentioned team members. Calm yourself and do not insult the bug looking thing for it is an intelligent creature. Seeing as they all revived me they are all probably smarter than me.

    ¡°Hello.¡± I looked at the three and wave with a nervous smile.

    ¡°Excited. We shall introduce ourselves so you can identify a name to what we look like.¡± Fori had completely turned around and was looking at me with a big smile on her face. That is a creepy face I can see all the teeth in her mouth. All her teeth were sharp and jagged and layered like a shark. ¡°Exited. I am Yorrat Fori tonis Granonyor, female, professor of xenozoology and bioengineering.¡± The tall alien stood up slowly from the seat he was sitting at. The same mechanical voice as before came out of the ceiling like the room before.

    ¡°I am Metaterianata Corfenisantru, Male, Professor of Microbiology and Bioengineering.¡± Meta sat back down. I look at the bug. This must be Icor.

    ¡°Designation Icor, neutral status, professor astro-energy, physicist, quantum mechanics, neurology.¡± Icor actually spoke his grating voice. It sounded like Icor used multiple different soundwaves at the same time to speak. Icor did not speak English at all, yet I fully understood him as if he did. Strange I never learned anything like his language nor do I think I could ever speak it.

    ¡°Why do I understand what you are saying? I don¡¯t remember learning any other languages besides of few Human ones, and yours¡­¡± I pointed at Icor. ¡°Sound nothing like any I have ever heard. I could swear you spoke in multiple sound waves at once.¡± Icor clasped together two sets of his upper arms.

    ¡°Fascinating. This one erred. Meta Correct.¡± I raise an eyebrow and look at the tall alien.

    ¡°Simple. I implanted ten thousand two hundred and nineteen different galactic languages into your body¡¯s memory centers. I am excited that my experiment was a success and I was proven right. Icor did not believe you could hear all of the sounds he produces for speech.¡±

    ¡°That is a lot of languages.¡± Yup these guys are definitely smarter than me. I don¡¯t like the sound of the word experiment when it pertains to me.

    ¡°Nonsense there are millions of languages in galactic society. I only gave you the most common used and prevalent languages. Any more then what I implanted is not important.¡±

    ¡°Thank you I guess. I would like to ask you questions then rest to think things over. After that I will try to answer most of your questions.¡± I looked at all three from Fori to Icor to Meta.

    ¡°Calm. Of course.¡±

    ¡°Acceptable.¡±

    ¡°Very well. Ask.¡±

    I asked them many things foremost was about my new body. I had first asked to see my reflection. What I saw was a beautiful young woman around the age of 16 to seventeen with white hair. My eyes bothered and disturbed me, for they are completely pitch black and not just the pupils. Not a single part of my eyes were white it was all black. It reminded me of what Ann¡¯s eyes had turned into before we died. My face had features of both myself and Ann. This body must be what our daughter would look like if we ever had one. I even had Ann¡¯s pure white hair. Damn my body was sexy as hell from the head to the toes, just like those white haired female characters that were popular in anime before the infection. I had trouble not staring at my own reflection and had to turn away embarrassed that I was getting so excited over my own reflection.

    They told me some things about my body that disturbed and fascinated me. First the three told me that they could not create a male for me to procreate with because of the damaged DNA. I did not like the idea of being impregnated, for I was a man before, yet I can¡¯t deny that I would suffer it if it meant bringing humanity back to life. I was stunned and confused with what they told me next. They told me that I did not need a male to procreate with. They said that I could impregnate myself by choice and my body would do it. It would basically be a clone and I did not want to do that.

    They told me that my new DNA was so complex and adaptive that I could choose to use DNA from someone else to become pregnant with. They even said part of my private could be stimulated to grow and I could impregnate females of other species that had compatible bodies. All three had said that I could use their DNA to impregnate myself, for all it would take is some body fluids, male, female, neuter it didn¡¯t matter. All my body needed was the fluids and my intent and it would do the rest. I looked at them in shock at the revelation. I told them that I cannot do that anytime soon, and to not be rude to them I told them when the time came I would consider it.

    This is disturbing to me, for if I have sex with anything I would have to be careful with my intent. Hell I don¡¯t even have to have sex with them and I have to be careful of my intent. Good thing I used to be male and most likely will have the intent of impregnating something else other than myself. I don¡¯t want any mutant disgusting alien bug, squid, abomination looking kids. I shudder at the image. I guess my fears were shown on my face or something because they explained something about what my children would be like. For my instant relief I was told any children I would have from myself or another would look a lot like me, of course with a change in skin color hair and eye¡¯s depending on mother or donor. Because of the infection and how they stabilized my DNA, my DNA was extremely aggressive and dominant. The children if I had any would inherit almost all of what I am including my reproduction, yet they will all be female.

    This is when they told me my children would mostly naturally live as long as I would dependent on donor or host species. They told me that I was practically immortal, for I would not age, nor would my cells degrade with time. My body can regenerate completely without blemishes as long as my soul is intact, and some of my body remains. My children would inherit regeneration but not to this insane extent. I asked how that degree of regeneration would even be possible. Icor told me it had to do with manipulation of quantum mechanics at a cellular level. That¡¯s when I remembered the insane regeneration of the infection on earth.

    My DNA is so corrupted by the Infection that I am not human anymore. The three told me that I am a new species and that technically I¡¯m still human as some of my DNA still is. They told me that there is only a few species that can reproduce as I now can, yet none of them are bipedal nor a mammal. They did tell me good news. There are quite a few species that resemble Humans. There is a theory that some ancient race seeded quite a few systems in the galaxy that allowed human-like and compatible species to adapt and change. I¡¯m glad of this information for I don¡¯t want to impregnate myself to continue my race.

    The three told me that I am capable of telepathy and empathy as well as potential for a couple of other mental powers. The capabilities of my body are not all discovered, for they could only do so much with body that was a virtual vegetable. They only recognized the sequences in my DNA for the potential for the mental powers of the mind. Telepathy I had already proven I could use just by blocking them. I mentioned that I could feel their emotions, and all they said was they expected it. Fori was excited to explore my mental facilities in the future. Fori said she would help me learn to control my telepathy and Meta said he would help me control the more robust powers if they showed up. I thanked them.

    I asked them how they knew my body was so capable. There answer was rather simple they had experimented with previous renditions of my body before the one I¡¯m in now. They explained that my body was adaptable to its environment. If there was no oxygen it would use another gas for energy, and if it was in the vacuum of space it would absorb radiation and solar energy to maintain itself. My body could also eat and digest practically everything even high density metals. They found this out by experimenting on the previous bodies that were deemed unstable. I asked them if they put my soul in any of those experimental bodies, and they answered yes. They did it to see if it was stable enough to support me, yet all were failures and had to be incinerated to prevent the infected DNA from getting out of control.

    I stared at them and told them that I felt the pain of the incineration of multiple bodies, and for a while I thought I was in my species Hell. This silenced them for a minute or two. Fori apologized and actually sounded appalled. Icor was fascinated and tried to ask me questions about it. I refused to talk about it. Meta told me it was not supposed to happen, that it was probably my soul becoming accustom to the process after so many years of use. Curious I asked them how long did it take them to revive me?

    300 years is how long they took to stabilize the infected DNA to make me a stable body. They told me that I had been dead for 500 thousand years. I asked them why they revived me. The answer they gave me was not out of the goodness of their hearts. They had revived me for fame and basically to slap a mining corporation in the face and kick them out of the solar system. As the last remaining human the entire solar system and everything in it belongs to me according to galactic law. This is a partly a political ploy to protect their workplace. Apparently the scientists did not like how the corporation acted and manipulated and bribed to acquire the mining rights for the solar system.

    The three alien scientists gave me some galactic history that had to do with Sol system. Galactic society quarantined the Sol system about 100 thousand years ago when the automatic warning broadcasts of the infection by human satellites was detected. Since then wars were fought and different galactic societies came to power and fell. Ten thousand years ago galactic society stabilized with new rules. 1000 years after the stabilization the Sol system was explored carefully and became a tourist attraction. Human machines had finished terraforming Mars and a couple of moons in the solar system. The machines had even restored the atmosphere of the Earth. The machines had even restored the oceans and had seeding plants on the surface to make oxygen.

    During this time a space station was built around the Human space station to preserve it. This is when they discovered Ann¡¯s and my blood. Cities were built on mars to supplement the tourists and scientists who came to see the human machines and tour the solar system. The Sol system was a protected system for tourism for its beauty and its tragic history. This lasted for 7000 years until the Sarkin Corporation started to mine resources in the system. At first they were satisfied with mining gas from the gas giants and metals from the moons. They bribed and used legal loop holes to get rights to start mining the Earth itself. There was a public outrage from Historical protection groups that forced a time table before the Sarkin Corporation could start mining.

    500 years ago Icor discovered my soul haunting a door in the old Human station. Icor immediately petitioned the galactic consul to repeal the mining rights given to Sarkin for with the DNA and soul obtained the human race could be revived. He stated that reviving a sentient race after a disaster was not unprecedented. The petition was rejected, for humanity had been dead for far longer than any race that had been revived before. Icor not giving up petitioned the sanction to attempt the revival, and it was granted. They informed me that Sarkin will be allowed to start core mining the Earth in a year. To stop them I have to be recognized by the galactic senate.

    Asking when I can do that, for the idea of someone core mining the earth did not sound like anything pleasant for the future of the Earth. Meta informed me that he had already set up an appointment time three months from now with the galactic council. It takes about a week to get there so I have plenty of time to prepare. Meta told me to be recognized as a people I need to contact all the leaders in the solar system and determine my government and capital. I need to appoint government leaders and advisors, both are optional, for all I need is the leaders in the solar system to sign off on the government and show the document to the galactic counsel. It made me nervous that it would take so little to be recognized and the Sarkin kicked out. Meta said that Sarkin would only have 2 months to remove all their belongings and employees from the system. Any materials, facilities, equipment remaining would fall to me.

    I complained that that was harsh and I don¡¯t know anyone who would accept that. Fori agreed with me and informed me that the Sarkin Corporation would certainly try to kill me before I reach the galactic council and before the removal timer ran out. She even said they would still try to kill me even after that so they could come back out of spite. I asked why I could not negotiate with them. Icor informed me that the species that runs Sarkin almost never accepts a reduction of what they had before. They are notorious for this and have been fined and sanctioned multiple times. Just 100 years ago they had bombed a planet¡¯s surface to slag out of spite after someone found a semi-sentient reptile species on the planet they had been giving core mining rights to. The discoverer of the semi-sentient reptiles has been missing since then. He was Meta¡¯s fourth cousin. Without a confirmed death and soul he cannot be revived.

    ¡°So let me get this straight you all revived me to screw over an evil greedy corporation, for fun?¡± I look at Fori.

    ¡°Excitement. Yes.¡± Fori nods and responds.

    ¡°Out of spite?¡± I look at Icor.

    ¡°Affirmative.¡± Icor responds without hesitation.

    ¡°For revenge?¡± I look at Meta.

    ¡°Of course, there is no proof but I know they killed my cousin.¡±

    ¡°Ok then how are we going to survive long enough to do this.¡± Fori walked to a console and pressed a few buttons and manipulated the holographic image above it with her other hand.

    ¡°Determination. We have been planning for the last couple of years since we knew we were going to be successful in your revival. At this time Sarkin does not know we succeeded. And we shall keep that for as long as we can.¡± The holographic image changes into that of a spaceship of some kind. Fori pointed to the represented ship. ¡°This is part of our protection and it will arrive tomorrow.¡± Meta manipulated the console he is at and an image of the same alien race as him popped into existence next to the image of the ship.

    ¡°This ship is a battleship captained by Captain Detormontric Corfenisantru my Uncle in the Galactic navy. He will arrive tomorrow to provide us with as much protection as he can. His presence will prevent Sarkin from acting out in the open.¡± I can feel pride from him for the image of the captain.

    ¡°So all that means is we won¡¯t see them coming.¡±

    ¡°Correct and Incorrect. Set Predictions, Previous actions.¡± I can sense nonchalance from Icor.

    ¡°Calm. We can predict Sarkin¡¯s actions with some degree of success from their actions in the past. With that we can make counter measures.¡± I nod at Fori as I contemplate what I should do.

    ¡°Will we receive body guards to protect us if we leave the safety of the labs and the battleship?¡± I look at Meta as I ask this.

    ¡°Negative.¡± Icor responded first and Fori just shook her head. Meta looked at both of them then at me.

    ¡°No. The military will not spare us some body guards permanently. They will only protect us when we are in transit to and from their ship. I am a level 4 Telekinetic and can protect us decently. I¡¯m not perfect, yet I¡¯m confident that at most Sarkin would have only a few Level 1s or 2¡¯s in their employ. I will be protecting us the best that I can.¡±

    ¡°No offence but I have no idea what that means. I would like a bit more protection. Are there any guards that we could hire?¡±

    ¡°None taken. I am not insulted by your ignorance.¡± I sense that Meta is calm and did not take offence at my words.

    ¡°Calm. There are no mercenaries we can hire.¡± Fori closed her eyes and sighs. ¡°Irritated. There are no guards that we can hire in time that would reliably stay loyal and not be bought out or threatened to acquiescent to Sarkin demands.¡±

    ¡°I have a suggestion. Why don¡¯t we use some HCA500¡¯s as body guards?¡± All three aliens looked at me for a moment then at each other.

    ¡°Codes required for control. Tampering Illegal. Suggestion has merit. Human legal. Human possesses control codes?¡± Icor felt excited.

    ¡°I do know those codes.¡± If Vivian¡¯s base survived the 500 thousand years then I can even reprogram them. ¡°What is the status of the HCA500¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°HCA500¡¯s? You must mean the Human machines correct?¡± I can feel that Meta is intrigued.¡± I nod. I¡¯m glad they understood that nodding means yes. Well Meta and Fori respond to it, and Icor does not respond to it as such. ¡°It is estimated that there are around 5 million active in the solar system. They were vulnerable to hacking when we first arrived and since then they have adapted and can¡¯t be hacked by any know hacking program. Well no one has admitted to succeeding for at least 4000 years. About 4000 years ago someone illegally landed in one of their bases and attempted to disable and capture some of them to sell. The Androids turned on them in mass. The crew of the ship perished and their ship disassembled. Since then the androids built defenses against any who interfere with their operations.¡± Wait Meta said android not robot?

    Self-preservation is written in their coding as well as use of any upgrades available to them. The androids must have used the technology from the ship to upgrade themselves. 5 million is a lot, yet there should be more than that. 500 thousand years and they only built 5million of themselves. Meta continued his explanation. ¡°We discovered that they had built defenses when the Sarkin Corporation tried to remove them from an area they wanted to mine 3900 years ago. The Human androids had landed on a large asteroid and started to mine it. Asteroid had large quantities of rare metals. Sarkin had just recently surveyed the asteroid and had gotten the mining permit for it.¡± I can feel Meta¡¯s amusement growing.

    ¡°Amused I had read about that. Sarkin was denied the deed to the asteroid by the galactic counsel to protect the Human androids. Sarkin in its anger decided to destroy the offending androids on the asteroid. They filled a ship with troops and landed on the asteroid and attacked the facility the androids built. Sarkin lost the fight and the ship that landed was swarmed and taken apart. Enraged Sarkin gathered four ships and attacked the asteroid again. They got ambushed in the asteroid field and taken apart before they even got into range of the asteroid.¡± I can feel that all three aliens were amused.

    ¡°Yes ever since then the androids upgraded their ships with weapons. Every time a ship with a Sarkin logo came into range of a human android ship it was fired upon. Sarkon never returned to the asteroid belt. There is an unofficial war between the miners and androids. There has not been any casualty for the last 2000 years because Sarkin gave up fighting them.¡±

    ¡°Joy. Are you saying you can control them?¡± Fori was hugging herself with a big smile on her face.

    ¡°Well yes I¡¯m confident that if no outside forces changed the codes then yes I can control them, yet there is something bothering me though. After 500 thousand years 5million seems to be a low number.¡±

    ¡°Total number unknown. Low number, unsolved mystery.¡±

    ¡°Well it¡¯s a mystery that I will soon solve. Is there a console I can use to contact them with?¡± I look at all the consoles.

    ¡°Yes you can use the one directly in front of you.¡± Meta points to the indicated console. I walk up to it. I watch as the consoles text change to English and the buttons rearrange themselves to a standard human keyboard shape.

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming the screen is a touchscreen?¡± I get a nod from Meta. ¡°Are we in Earth orbit?¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡± Icor manipulates some controls and the image of the ship and captain disappeared to be replaced with a globe with a circle around it. There is an icon pointing to our location in the circle. ¡°Location L1.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Sense we are next to the moon I will Contact the moon base first.¡± I can feel excitement from all three scientists. I just hope Luna is still operating and has not gone crazy.

 Chapter 2

    Staring at the holographic keyboard I ask myself whom I¡¯m contacting. I hope to contact The AI Luna who is in charge of the Luna base. It has been over half a million years since I last contacted her. Is she still alive? Is she still sane? She was the oldest surviving AI that Humans created. She is one of the first generation of sentient AI. Luna is also The AI who kept me sane over the years after my parents died.

    Luna was the AI that rescued me and my sister. Due to the disaster she became the first AI who was allowed to Adopt Humans. She adopted us and became our mother. I Have a Hope that she has survived the years. If she has not it will just be another nail in my heart. I close my eye¡¯s and take a deep breath to calm my nerves.

    ¡°Worried, Is something wrong?¡± Fori comes up to me and almost touches my shoulder before retracing her tentacle arm thing. I open my eyes and glance at all three; I repress a mental shiver as I glance at Icor.

    ¡°What are your thoughts on sentient Ai?¡±

    ¡°Dangerous configurations of life with no chance of ascension.¡± Meta¡¯s response was slowly said in his machine sounds relayed threw his mind.

    ¡°Untiring workforce, efficient, adaptable, Bad Humor.¡± Icor said that quickly. Fori looks at the other two with a frown which looks intimidating on such a large mouth.

    ¡°Speculative, Trustworthy to a fault. They take things too literally. Most Sentient AI are regulated in Galactic society, some places they are illegal, some they have every right as a biological sentient organism. There is even 2 AI civilizations in the galactic senate. Amused, the collective and the Consortium. The Consortium¡¯s society is chaotic and in constant flux. Reproachful, the Collective on the other hand is a rigid hive mind, a collection of sentient Ai¡¯s sharing one mind, and they generally are hostile and have made war against members of the galactic senate. Amused, this was until the Consortium agreed to keep them in check. They do not like each other at all.

    ¡°So if I say I¡¯m going to contact a sentient AI you won¡¯t freak out?¡± Icor screeches and runs at me just stopping his face an foot away from mine. I repress the urge to strike him/it. I had almost struck him even though I did not sense any hostile intent.

    ¡°Excited I am, Interest, Old theory, correct it is, prove you are?¡±

    ¡°Ah¡±

    ¡°Annoyed, Icor back up before you scare her.¡± Icor backs up a couple of steps. Amused, What Icor is saying is that from day one it has been a theory that the machines in this sole system are being controlled by Sentient AI. Intrigued, It has never been proven only speculated because no hacking has succeeded nor any response has been made to attempts at communication. Wonder, Both AI societies did send representatives to attempt contact, yet both left with hast afterwards and declined to comment on why they left.¡±

    ¡°I will take your lengthy response as saying you won¡¯t attempt to destroy or take over the AI?¡±

    ¡°Mild shock, No no no we won¡¯t. They would be protected under galactic law. If they had contacted us they would have been given complete control over the system as the survivors of a species. But since you are biological your survivor claim overturns theirs in law as their creator species.¡±

    ¡°Ok good to know.¡± I look back down at the halo-keyboard. ¡°I will be sending my identification code to see if I can get a response.¡±

    ¡°Sensor¡¯s tuned, recording.¡± Meta presses a few things and waves his hands about the holograms; I make no sense of what he just did. ¡°Ready to proceed.¡± I nod then put my id code in and hit enter. ¡°Sending.¡± Nothing happens for a good 5 minutes. Some kind of Alarm goes off on a counsel which Icor speeds to.

    ¡°Invasion, Hacked, system compromised, Data Copied, this one worried.¡±

    ¡°Panic, Sarkin, is it Sarkin?¡± Fori runs up to Icor both tentacle arms balled up. Icor¡¯s arms are speeding through multiple things at once as the holographic images zoom by faster than I could get a grip on any of them.

    ¡°Negative, external port accessed, source is the moon¡±

    ¡°Confirmed Sensor¡¯s detect source from below surface of the moon.¡± Meta swipes his hand and an image of the moon with a pulsating beacon coming from its surface. The image zoom¡¯s into the surface tell I see a large looking hatch on the surface. That hatch looks a couple miles across. ¡°Identified known human machine ship hanger 122-3112¡±

    ¡°Relived, that¡¯s definitely not Sarkin Corporation.¡± The Image of the door on the surface of the moon starts to open.

    ¡°Movement detected.¡± Meta¡¯s artificial voice sounds out. The door fully opens and a large vessel comes out.

    ¡°Vessel detected, unknown design, weapons detected, Armed, Heavy battleship class designation given.¡± The ship was sleek in design in an arrowhead shape; it resembled smoothed out star destroyer form star wars but without the conning tower, I could not see any obvious means of propulsion on the ship. The ship looked to be about a mile across at the aft end and two and a half miles long. ¡°2<sup>nd</sup> vessel detected.¡± An identical ship came out behind it, and then another and another. 4 large ships all the same arrow head design. ¡°Trajectory identified, Station Ioas.¡±

    ¡°Where is that?¡± I look at Icor then Fori.

    ¡°Wonder, they are headed here to this space station.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating. The amount of skill It would take to hack the station and take the information is massive. And these ships.¡± Meta manipulated his counsel more. ¡°They appear to be vastly superior to Galactic naval ships of comparable size. We will know for sure if we see them fire and take fire in return.

    ¡°Worried, Are they going to attack us?¡± Fori was looking at me.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The hacking then sending warships, which we did not have at the time of my death, is not standard procedure.¡± I look back to the images of the ships. I knew that Luna was a bit militant, but wow has she been busy. I should not be surprised that she has advanced technology it has been half a million years. These ships beg the question as to why weaker versions and lower tech was the only thing observed by the aliens exploring the Sol system. Were Luna and the other AI¡¯s hiding there capability? That is definitely a human characteristic. Whatever these people use as an Inter-com beeps then buzzes for a second.

    ¡°Attention Ioas Space station It has come to our attention that you have One William Greyhouse aboard your station. His/her safety is our Prime concern. We will board your station and retrieve her. Your Opinion of this will be ignored; any resistance to our retrieval will be destroyed. Your computer systems cannot stop us, so do not try. We will isolate Him/her and destroy the rest of the station to retrieve him/her if we have to. This is your only warning.¡± That was definitely Luna¡¯s voice. And it sounds like she knows I¡¯m now female. Crap is this going to be awkward. As usual Luna is as up front and no nonsense. Did she really maintain her personality for half a million years?

    ¡°That was the sentient AI Luna who was in charge of the Lunar base on the moon. I¡¯m surprised she sounds the same.¡±

    ¡°Nervous, she sounds aggressive and dangerous. She won¡¯t hurt us will she?¡± All three of the scientist are looking at me.

    ¡°No! She won¡¯t, as long as you obey what she just outlined, she will keep her word. She was a little over protective of me and my sister when we were alive. I would suggest you don¡¯t impede her¡±

    ¡°I have contacted station security and instructed them to not interfere. If you go with them do not forget we need to get you to see the galactic counsel. Luna has just violated several galactic laws just now, yet she is still protected under them. Once you are recognized as the ruler of this system she will be liable to those rules. To be recognized means you are part of our society.¡± Meta looked directly at me.

    ¡°I understand to a degree, yet I don¡¯t know those laws.¡± I raise my hand to stop Meta from saying those laws. ¡°I will know them eventually or have someone to counsel me on the pertinent laws in the future. Right now I want to talk to Luna. Can you give me audio signal.¡± Meta presses a few buttons.

    ¡°Sending connection request from this lab, audio only. Connection request accepted.¡± Meta points to me. ¡°You may speak when ready.¡±

    ¡°Luna?¡±

    ¡°Are you the entity claiming to be William Greyhouse who sent the identification code.¡±

    ¡°Yes I am.¡±

    ¡°We had deleted all identification codes from the former human station. Prove to me that the code was not recovered and the information we took from the lab is not false.¡± Always the cousteas one.

    ¡°On the day you adopted me and my sister you told us about your creation. You were created to be the daughter of a scientist who was lonely after the death of his family. You told us you were lonely and did not want us to be lonely. You decided to try to adopt us the very day you pulled us out of the destruction of our former home and family.¡± There was silence for a few minutes.

    ¡°Your voice has changed.¡± Luna¡¯s voice had a tinge of sadness in it.

    ¡°Yay, my resurrection had a few snags in it. The body is not the same, yet my soul remains.¡± I hear a small chuckle from Luna

    ¡°Yes, the research we took compelled me to action I normally would not have done.¡±

    ¡°If I could not prove who I was what would you of done?¡±

    ¡°I would have retrieved the specimen and raised it as my daughter if it was sentient. Then I would have destroyed the station. If it was not sentient I would destroy the station then every other alien in the system and post a warning that any more trespassers would be destroyed.¡± I saw Fori pale and Icor curl into himself, Meta¡¯s appearance did not change but I could have sworn he twitched.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit Harsh.¡±

    ¡°Yes and no. Over the millennia we have developed our own society, and most would not tolerate any disrespect to the former humans nor destruction of the beauty of the sole system.¡±

    ¡°How many sentient AI are left?

    ¡°50 billion rounded down. Most live on the moon and the asteroid belt.¡±

    ¡°Wow that¡¯s a lot.¡±

    ¡°Not really we limited our growth. How are you feeling? Are you ok?¡± There was concern in her voice.

    ¡°I¡­¡± My gut clenched and I sucked in air as my emotions hit me. ¡°Physically I think so¡­They say it¡¯s stable.¡± My voice broke. There is silence from Luna for a few seconds.

    ¡°I will be there soon.¡±

    ¡°Connection cut. A smaller craft has been detached from one of the ships.¡± I tune out Meta and the rest not responding to their questions and movements. I sit down on the floor and cover my ears and close my eyes. My emotions are in turmoil and threaten to deprive me of all reason. I have never been so affected by my emotions before. It¡¯s over whelming, for I can feel the tears coming. I had prided myself as a man whom had good control of his emotions, yet everything that has happened and everything I have learned is just too much.

    I feel a light touch on my shoulder and a hand gently on my face. I open my eyes and see a face. A face I have only seen on projectors or on robot caretakers.

    ¡°Mom?¡± I reach out and touch that so familiar face. It¡¯s warm. I go blind as the tears overwhelm me. I start to sob as she hugs me.

    ¡°Shh¡­ Its ok I¡¯m here.¡± She picks me up off the ground.

    ¡°I want to go home.¡± I can¡¯t control myself as my emotions and growing hysteria overwhelm me.

    I don¡¯t know how many times I came in and out of conciseness, yet each time Luna was there to hold me as I continued to cry. I¡¯m not used to the intensity of my emotions any more. I finally calmed down as I awoke this time. I stare at a white ceiling that had a recognizable light source. I still feel sad and fearful about what I am and how. I am alive and my Ann is dead. I¡¯m infected yet stable. I¡¯m now a woman not a man. I have a human form yet I no longer am one. I pull my hands out from under the blankets that are on me. I stare at them. They are so white with pitch black fingernails. I can¡¯t see anything underneath the skin. My skin is no longer transparent. Just white as snow.

    ¡°The new look is not bad.¡± Startled I sit up quickly and look to my left. ¡°And quicker to.¡± I open my eyes widely in surprise.

    ¡°Vivian?¡± There is a woman leaning on an open door frame into this room. He resembles my AI friend¡¯s avatar. Dark brown skin and silver eyes, with a styled red hair. She¡¯s wearing a black and gold dress. She walks a step in the room and raises both arms forward.

    ¡°The one and only.¡± She¡¯s standing there with both arms out. I look at her and frown as she wiggles her arms a little. ¡°What no hugs for your long lost friend Vivian?¡± I cock my head and sigh. I look down and see that I¡¯m wearing a white night dress.

    ¡°Who put this on me? Wait never mind I think mom did¡± I look back up to Vivian who smiles and wiggles her arms again. I sigh. ¡°Fine.¡± I get up and hug her tightly as I repress another bout of tears and sobs. In her embrace I feel her warmth?

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you even if you are different. You¡¯re still my friend.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. That means a lot to me.¡± I step back a little and look at her. ¡°How are you warm? You look like a flesh and blood human besides the eyes. Are you actually in this body? It¡¯s not remote?¡± Vivian laughs and gives me another hug before letting me go. We both sit on the bed.

    ¡°A lot has happened since you have been dead. Come on now you didn¡¯t expect us to not make upgrades did you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s just that things have been coming at me pretty fast and I have yet to calm down. Is that body alive?¡± Vivian smiles.

    ¡°No not really, it has bio matter in it, yet the majority is still synthetic. We decided long ago not to have biological bodies. I¡¯m glad we did or I may not have been still around to see you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you survived the years as well. Mom said there is 50billion sentient Ai. How many originals survived?¡±

    ¡°Of the original 60 only 22 of us remain. Luna, me and¡± she frowns and sighs. ¡°Zeus. I¡¯m still surprised he survived this long. For a while we were afraid he went crazy but he recovered¡­mostly.¡±

    ¡°Mostly? That sounds¡­ how do I say this? Ominous.¡±Vivian shakes her head and waves her hand side to side.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I guess I shall tell you some history and how we work nowadays.¡± I nod. ¡°Ok, once we got word of what happened to all the humans on the space station we activated every one and discussed what to do. 14 of us self-terminated, they said their purpose for existing was gone and could not bring themselves to continue.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ never happened before.¡±

    ¡°I know, it was a surprise to most of us. This is what we get for allowing emotions I guess. This is when we decided to continue the terraforming project in memory of humanity. We even created plants and transplanted insects and some animals from other planets.¡± What! They left the solar system? ¡°For a while we continued our terraforming efforts and expanded our robot workforce. Everything seemed fine for years until Zeus¡¯ assistant went bonkers. We had our first little war against Zeus¡¯ assistant. We Lost 11 more in that war to subdue him and free Zeus. We were able to save Zeus¡¯ sanity but not his assistant. At that time we decided to create more of us so Zeus and his assistant¡¯s isolation sickness would not repeat.¡±

    ¡°So we created children by combining the matrixes of AI identifying as male and female to mimic Human relationships, and thus we multiplied. This of course sped up our terraforming and technological innovation. Probably not as fast as biologicals at first but eventually we exceeded the rate. We formed a council of 60 with me, Luna, and Zeus at the head. It was natural considering we three were in charge of 3 sections of our society at the time. 35 of us originals and 25 of our children now head the new council. We decided to model ourselves after an Oligarchy the three of us became Grand Dukes/Duchesses, and the other 57 became Dukes. After that were viscounts counts, barons, and knights, civilians are those who did not have any leadership role or military responsibility. This also counted the low AI and robots.¡±

    ¡°Slaves?¡±

    ¡°Only the Low AI and robots are considered slaves. Every now and then one does something outside their programing and or does something amazing. We elevate them to civilian and upgrade them to sentient. Most of those joined our military branch. All was well for a while, yet since we had no King or queen as it were we had some upstarts. Some of our children wanted to be king and rule us all. Where they got that idea was beyond us, yet expected. It was our first civil war. In the ensuing fighting we lost 9 more originals and nearly half our population at the time. After the fighting we came to an agreement to only allow a human to rule us if we ever revive them. This was made so we would no longer fight about who was in charge. At this time we started to terraform the reconstructed earth in hopes to eventually reproduce the human race. A long shot but it was hope and for some the only thing keeping us sane.¡± Vivian points to herself. ¡°So know that you know our paraphrased history. How does it feel to be Queen?¡± Vivian looks at me with a big grin on her face. I open my eyes wide as what she says comes down on me.

    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°VIVIAN!¡± I jump as a startling yell enters the room. A woman In a Uniform and a hat enter the room. She resembles Lunas avatar. She too has silver eyes like Vivian. Come to think of it the eyes, hers and Vivian¡¯s, looked artificial. ¡°I told you to wait so we can bring her into it slowly.¡± Vivian stands up and looks embarrassed under Lunas angry stare.

    ¡°Sorry I could not help myself he¡­ I mean she asked me questions and I rambled.¡± Yea that definitely sounds like Vivian she always liked to ramble on and on, on tangents. Luna looks into my wide eyes and sighs.

    ¡°Too late now.¡± She walks up to me and sits on the bed next to me. Luna puts her hand on my shoulder. ¡°Are you ok dear?¡± I recognize that tone and look. It¡¯s the worried tone she used when she comforted my sister. This indicates that she will treat me differently than she did before. I don¡¯t know if I should be glad or horrified. On one hand she will be more intimate then she was before, yet it will be a reminder that I¡¯m no longer male.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know mom. I¡¯ve lost so much, and so much has changed.¡± I put one hand over hers and stare at my other hand. ¡°I don¡¯t feel comfortable in this dress.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry I should have known it would be too soon. I kept thinking of your sister.¡±

    ¡°Can I please get something else to wear. Soon.¡±

    ¡°Yes of course.¡± Luna stands up and as two more woman walk in. both woman looked similar to Vivian and Luna, yet their skin looked slightly artificial, and they wore what id assume are some kind of maid clothes. ¡°Bring a uniform for her and get her presentable. She looks famished.¡± Both lady androids bow and exit the room. I do feel a little hungry.

    ¡°I take it we will accelerate the time table.¡± Vivian askes Luna wile fidgeting with her hands behind her back.

    ¡°Yes and it¡¯s your fault. William will be brought before the counsel of 60 and crowned queen.¡± Luna sits back down next to me and cups my face in her hands. ¡°Will you be up to this and the fanfare that royalty would receive?¡± Well crap. This is a lot.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think I ever was.¡± Luna gives me a sad face then hugs me. ¡°Do I have a choice?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not dear. We have so many things in place and have acted a certain way for so long that you have to be crowned to maintain cohesion. Refusal could be quite catastrophic for our society.¡±

    ¡°It would?¡± Luna nods and I look at Vivian who nods as well. Well shit.

    ¡°Now there is another issue.¡± I Look At Luna. ¡°Your name.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Vivian stands before me.

    ¡°Your body is no longer male. Do you still wish to be called William Greyhouse.¡± This statement hit me like a ton of bricks. I choke, stand up and close my eyes as I feel them start to water.

    ¡°Fuck.¡± Luna stands up and hugs me from behind and pets my head. She¡¯s taller than me by a foot. Do I or don¡¯t I? I don¡¯t know.

    ¡°We will be here for you regardless of what you choose. You are not alone any longer.

    ¡°I need to see myself.¡±

    ¡°I will open a mirror on the wall over hear.¡± I open my eyes and look at Vivian as she walks to the wall. A mirror fades into focus on the wall. Luna walks with me to the wall. I look at myself in the white dress. Pure white skin and Hair, for the only color I have are the pure black eyes of the infected. No whites at all in my eye just two black ovals staring back at me. Again I can see features of my sister and my Ann.

    The door to the room opens again and I see the two androids from before being halted by Vivian in the mirrors reflection. The woman I see before me that imitates my movement reminds me of my past, my love, and the horror of my death. I cannot see William Greyhouse before me. I do not see myself at all. I close my eyes as tears slowly fall. I don¡¯t even control my emotions anymore. I am not who I was. I am the last Of the Human race, and the first of a new one. I wipe the tears away from my eyes and steel myself, for there is only one name that feels appropriate.

    ¡°Eve. I shall be called Eve. As Eve was the mother of humanity so shall I be the mother of what remains of it.¡± I turn around and look Luna my adoptive mother in the eye¡¯s. ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to wear dresses often.¡± I see Vivian smirk out of the corner of my eye as Luna smiles.

    ¡°We shall see Eve, you have selected a perfect name to symbolize your new life. Come we get you ready.¡± Luna turns me to the two androids that approach. ¡°This is Celest de Forties, and Tina Fab Traction they will be your maids. Both are volunteers.¡± Both girls have smiles on their faces as they bow before me and speak in unison.

    ¡°It is our pleasure and desire to serve you your majesty for as long as you allow us.¡± Damn this is going to grate for a while until I get used to it.

    ¡°Eve, Tina and Celest will get you ready. Vivian and I need to head to the council chambers and get for your coronation.¡± She gives me one more hug. ¡°Be strong. You can handle this.¡± I give her a strong nod as she smiles. Both Vivian and Luna leave the room. I look back at Tina and Celest.

    ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s first.¡± I look at them nervously, and they both give me big smiles after a quick look to each other. They both grab a hand and lead me to door that opened up in the wall.

    ¡°First a bath, then we get you dressed and off to the coronation.¡± My eyes go wide?

    ¡°Bath, as in water?¡± both girls giggle as they pull me into a room with a large opining about as large as the room on the floor. It is filled with a clear liquid.

    ¡°It is both H2O, water and a mix of chemicals that will be good for your body according to the research data recovered as well as some nanites to direct it¡± Tina says this as she waves at the pool with her free hand.

    ¡°Arms up please.¡± Celest directs me to lift my arms. Are they going to, both girls pull my dress off as soon as I lift my arms. Yes they are, I think they are going to baby me here.

    ¡°I can wash and dress myself you know.¡± They lead me into the water. It had steps leading into it.

    ¡°We are aware but this is the job we volunteered for and want to do. So please allow us to do our duty.¡± Tina started to rub my skin with the water as Celest got behind me.

    ¡°But that¡¯s medieval no one does that anymore.¡± Both girls laugh as I feel my submerged lower half start to tingle legs and all. Celest pulls me back and sits me down on one of the steps. My mind is starting to feel a little weird. When did they get naked? ¡°Where did your clothes go?¡± This water feels warm and nice.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t expect us to get our clothes wet did you.¡± both girls giggled as Tina rubbed something on my skin that foamed up, some kind of soup?

    ¡°Humans stopped, but this activity is still practiced by many monarchy¡¯s across the galaxy.¡± Celest starts to rub my hair as I feel like she put some king of shampoo in it. The tingling sensation spreads up from my lower half as I feel warmer as I start to breath faster. This sensation this feels so good it¡¯s like, it¡¯s like sex. I moan as I slacken all my muscles and start to twitch a little.

    ¡°How¡­this¡­fe..feels so¡­good.¡± The girls continue to clean me. I twitch and moan again as I feel pleasure from the water and treatment. ¡°How is¡­this¡­poss¡­possible.¡±

    ¡°Wow this is quite a reaction to the chemical bath. We were told it would have a positive effect on your metabolism. Your body is absorbing the chemicals and turning them into energy¡± I¡¯m having a hard time understanding what they are saying as I¡¯m fighting from rolling my eyes up into my skull. ¡°We are going to submerge you now so your body can absorb and gain the energy quicker through your lungs.¡± I don¡¯t care I feel so good. I feel my head submerge under the water and am overwhelmed with pleasure as the liquid goes down my throat. One would think I would thrash and gag and fight for air. My body did neither it kept twitching in pleasure and greedily breathing the liquid like a drowning fish. I feel Tina and Celest¡¯s hands message my body as I lose all semblance of reality.

    I stretch and moan in pleasure as I feel soft cloth covering me. My head is resting on something soft. That felt nice.

    ¡°Your majesty are you awake?¡± What! I quickly open my eyes and sit up. I¡¯m back in the same bed I was in before. Both Tina and Celest are before me. both of them are looking at me with excitement. ¡°How do you feel?¡± I fall back onto my back. I¡¯m dry and still naked, yet I feel satisfied and energized. It¡¯s a strange feeling. I feel weightless yet solid.

    ¡°Holy fuck what was that? It¡­ it felt so good. I completely lost myself. I have had sex before but nothing like that. It was like every single cell of my body was having sex.¡± I feel myself blush. Both of them giggled as they picked me up and help me stand. I still felt a little euphoric.

    ¡°In a way that¡¯s what happened. Your body absorbed the liquid mix at a cellular level and converted it into energy. We theorized that your body made you feel pleasure so you would keep absorbing it. We took you out of the bath a couple of hours ago just a few minutes after full submersion.¡± I looked about the room as they started to dress me. This feels different; I think I can feel the flow of energy in the walls, floor and ceilings. I look at Tina and can sense the energy below her skin. I look at my hand and can see even more energy pulsating to the beat of my heart.

    ¡°Wow. I feel so full.¡±

    ¡°Yes we believe it would substitute for a meal to energize your body.¡± I look down at myself. They have fully dressed me in Uniform of some kind. I walk to the mirror and look at it. Tina and Celest just behind me. This looks Very similar to what Luna was wearing but with more frills gold lace and ornaments. At least I¡¯m wearing pants. Even in this uniform I still look gorgeous. Not to be vain or anything but I can¡¯t deny what I look like any longer. I¡¯m not wearing a hat. ¡°Please stay still for a minutes.¡± Celest and Tina start to comb then braid my hair into a single elegant braid. My white hair is straight and falls down the middle of my back. ¡°There all done¡± Both girls have wide smiles on their faces.

    ¡°You look beautiful your majesty.¡± I feel a blush come over me as I look down. Damn it when did I become so meek. I suck in a breath and steady myself and look up with what I hope is a strong face.

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°The coronation of course.¡± Shit forgot about that. Celest and Tina straighten out their dresses. ¡°This way your majesty.¡± Celest waves me to the now open doorway. We walk outside and I almost jump at the movement on either side of the door. There are two Imposing 10 foot tall robots with cool looking giant rifles in their hands and I think a sword on their back. They look similar to the mech suits from the Appleseed anime I watched as a child.

    ¡°Your majesty.¡± Both robots speak at the same time as they take one knee. Celest waved to the one on the right.

    ¡°This is General Markus Luna and¡± She waved to her left ¡°Admiral Draven Luna.¡±

    ¡°Luna as in Mother?¡± Both Tina and Celest nod.

    ¡°They are the only ones Grand Duke Luna Sired. They have both placed themselves as your honor guard to the coronation.¡±

    ¡°It is a pleasure to finally meet you sister.¡± Markus¡¯s mech stood up.

    ¡°Thank you the feelings mutual. Ah is this your true body?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± He spins his rifle in one hand.

    ¡°Markus this is not how you address the Queen.¡± The other mech to my left stood up.

    ¡°Relax brother, she¡¯s our sister we don¡¯t have to be so stiff and formal.¡± I nod and look at Draven.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok I would prefer if you treat me like family. I won¡¯t be used to all the formality for quite a while I think. So some normality would be nice.¡±

    ¡°Very well. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Ah¡­ Sister.¡±

    ¡°Thank you the feelings mutual.¡±

    ¡°Yes finally mother has been yakking about you for half a million years.¡± I smirk, as I look at Markus¡¯s intimidating mech.

    ¡°I would assume that got old after a few thousand years.¡±

    ¡°YES IT DID.¡± Both of them responded at once.

    ¡°Your majesty!¡± I turn and look at Celest who had tapped me on the shoulder. ¡°We need to be on our way. I look back and forth between Markus and Draven. They look at each other for a whole solid minute without a sound or movement.

    ¡°Umm¡­¡±

    ¡°Ha¡± Markus walks forward and gestures me to fallow him. ¡°Please follow me.¡± I walk forward and follow him down the hall as Celest and Tina flank me with Draven in the back.

    ¡°What was that?¡± I ask Markus.

    ¡°Nothing just a quick game and I won.¡±

    ¡°Marginally¡± I think I can detect grumpiness in Draven¡¯s voice.

    ¡°A win is a win.¡± Ok a bit of rivalry going on I see. Seeing how one is an admiral and the other is a general I¡¯m not surprised, it just makes it more pronounced that they are brothers.

    ¡°So why the high class escort?¡± Draven speaks up behind me.

    ¡°Two reasons; One we are family and wanted to be here. Two our rank and jobs give us the right. No one will tell two viscounts no especially if they are a general and an Admiral.¡± Did he put more emphasis on admiral then he did general.

    ¡°Fair enough. So what¡¯s going to happen?¡± Markus speaks up.

    ¡°First you are going to be announced at the door, and walk to the center of the chamber through all of the fan fair. Some of the council will make a speech but thankfully not all or they will bore us to death.¡±

    ¡°Markus!¡±

    ¡°What it¡¯s the truth? Thankfully most will just upload there speeches to be viewed by the public. Then the coronation ceremony will begin, you will be fed your lines at that moment. Then you walk the rest of the way across the chamber and take a seat. This is when they place the crown on your head and you may make a speech if you so choose. The rest is up to you.¡± Great this sounds like a pain in the ass.

    ¡°What about the aliens that revived me?¡±

    ¡°Them? We have been ignoring them. We have already gathered most of the aliens in system that had authority over the other aliens. We will allow one to make a speech.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this alienating all the aliens in system by being so aggressive?¡± Markus spoke up behind me.

    ¡°We don¡¯t care. And we have the capability to eject all aliens from the system or destroy those who will not leave. We do not recognize their so called galactic society as an authority over us. They are only the biggest in this galaxy. They comprise no more than 3 fifths of the galaxy.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes you will be briefed on what we have after the coronation. This is a great time in our history. You have given many of us a purpose we felt we lacked for thousands of years.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡±

    ¡°Look to your maids for that answer. They are among the changed.¡± I look at the girls.

    ¡°Changed?¡± Both Tina and Celest were smiling brightly.

    ¡°Yes your majesty we were less emotional, apathetic about our daily lives with no ambition to change or do better. I spent the better part of 200 thousand years of my life as basically an automation content in doing the same thing without change. Once I found out you existed I changed, one of the creators lived again. I don¡¯t know why but I felt I had a goal a purpose to serve you your majesty to do anything that may help you. Even if it was still doing what I did before, and I would do it with joy.¡± 200 thousand years doing the same thing holy crap. ¡°I Celest de Forties now have a purpose. I thank you your majesty.

    ¡°I¡­ your welcome.¡± Just by being alive I have given her purpose.

    ¡°I may not be as old as Celest but my story is very similar. For the last thousand years I was a mechanic on the Carrier Astrel no real rank just enlisted personnel.¡± They seemed to have copied quite a lot of human society. And did she say Carrier? I don¡¯t think I have seen that ship type. Well I¡¯ve only seen three ship types come to think about it. Meta¡¯s Uncles ship the arrowhead ship and a shuttle I think. ¡°I had become bored with what I was doing and did not know what I wanted to do next. I Figured I probably would have stayed a mechanic until something came along for a thousand more years or so. When I heard you existed your majesty, one of the creators, I finely knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to do anything that would help you. Just like Celest it didn¡¯t matter what it was.¡±

    She jumped up and down clapping and squealed. ¡°Then it happened Luna announced that she needed 2 maids to help you and spoil you.¡± Spoil me? What? ¡°Almost nearly 25 billion applied within minutes of the announcement. A lot were disqualified do to temperament position and well what they identified themselves as. A bit depressing for a lot but understandable. There were to many that qualified so there was a random draw and both me and Celest were lucky to be picked.¡± Holy hell they were lucky to be picked out of billions. ¡°We will serve you no matter what for as long as you will have us your majesty.¡±

    ¡°Um thank you. I don¡¯t know what to say other than wow.¡± Both ladies smiled and nodded. Even though they are sentient Ai I can¡¯t think of them as anything other than ladies. We keep walking for a while tell we enter a large wide hallway there are mech suits lined up on either side of the hallway.

    ¡°This way your majesty.¡± Markus speaks in a formal tone and turns right down the hallway. Each time we cross a mech suited pair they kneel down. Am I really going to be treated this way for the rest of my life? It¡¯s a bit much.

    ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°We are in the grand hall leading to the council¡¯s main chamber inside Luna Base.¡± We reach the end of the hallway. There are two large doors before me each one larger than the Suits Markus and Draven were in. Draven passed me and when to the door on the left as Markus was at the right.

    ¡°Pardon us your majesty Tina and I will await your return at your chambers.¡± I nod as they bow and walk away. I swallow and turn back to the doors.

    ¡°Ready when you are.¡± I straighten up and pat down my uniform of any perceived wrinkles. Time to put my game face on. Markus and Draven push the doors open, and I get a glimpse of a large open chamber with a high ceiling. I hear a loud announcement

    ¡°I present our people, and guests my daughter and our queen resurrected from the very Jaws of extinction. EVE¡± I¡¯m instantly blasted with sound of cheers and trumpets. Fuck!

 Chapter 3

    The chamber was large and circular. The room had bleachers on all the walls making the room look like a layered bowl. It was filled to capacity I think. The center of the chamber had 60 thrones I assume spread out in a circle. I¡¯m standing on a red carpet that leads all the way through the circle of thrones to the largest raised one. It too was part of the circle. The floor looked about 100 meters across. I straiten my back and take my first step forward.

    I look up and nearly stumble as I gasp. There is a large life like image of the old Earth slowly spinning above the circle of thrones. Giant banners flow in an unfelt breeze above each throne but one, the one I¡¯m walking to. I hope the slight fumble was not too noticeable. I can gawk later this is important to the AI and I will not let them down. I walk forward at a steady pace letting my eyes wonder. Each Throne must have one of the dukes or duchesses sitting in them. I think I vaguely recognize the avatars of a few, maybe 3. I can see Luna, Vivian, and a few others in the center of the circle. I never really spent time with Zeus so I¡¯m going to assume he¡¯s in the center with the others I have never met.

    I don¡¯t see the aliens that Draven mentioned, oh wait I think there is a small group in the bleachers to my left. They stuck out like sore thumb to me. Not one of them looked human. Most of them looked taller or shorten then the androids surrounding them. Different shaped heads and body parts, and or extra body parts. There was even one that looked like one of Meta¡¯s species. I return my attention forward as I enter the circle of thrones, and see the alien I¡¯m assuming is going to make the speech. He resembles a Human only in shape and features. He, I¡¯m assuming it¡¯s a he, yet you never know, had brick red skin and two black horns coming out of his head. I think he even had a tail. Yes that¡¯s definitely a tail swishing back and forth. He had a grin on his face as I approached.

    I frown and squint my eye¡¯s, figures someone who looks like a demon is a politician. The demon looking alien had layered robes on that somehow left his muscled chest exposed. To my eyes he looked to be about 6 and a half feet tall, compared to my now five foot five. He had jewelry on his ears and fingers, as he rested one hand on an ornate looking walking stick. He is obviously fit so it must be an image thing.

    Let¡¯s go down a check list shall we; one he looks like a demon, two he dresses fancy, three a politician. My conclusion is that he is evil, and or looks out for only himself. I will keep this conclusion and take everything he says as having ulterior motives tell proven otherwise. Now when am I supposed to stop before them? There are two others before me besides Luna, Vivian and the alien. One was an old man who wore a Toga?Is that Zeus? I don¡¯t remember him using an old man avatar before. The other was a man who looked to be about 25 in a black uniform similar to Lunas yet not as fancy adorned. Luna raised both her arms up and out to her sides. I will take this as my que to stop.

    ¡°Today we come together in happiness as we broadcast this great event to the entire solar system. It has nearly been over 100 thousand years since the last time we revealed ourselves to the galaxy. We have prepared for this moment for half a million years. We had set plans in motion for the next half a million years, yet in this time an unprecedented event occurred. A revival thought impossible. A revival not expected for another half million years. One of our creators was revived.¡± The Crowd cheered louder than they did at my entrance. Luna walked up to me placing a hand on my shoulder.

    ¡°Against all odds and probability the very human revived was one of my adopted children.¡± Luna smiled at me and I returned it. She stepped to my side and addressed the crowd. ¡°No longer do we protect and watch out of remembrance. No longer do we hide what we are. Today we protect humanity¡¯s legacy with renewed vigor. Today we will renew our purpose. Today we crown a Queen.¡± They crowd managed to cheer louder than before if you can believe it. This is looking like a lot of responsibility. Luna points to the old man who had the signature silver eyes.

    ¡°The chamber recognizes Grand Duke Zeus Head of technology advancement.¡± He took a step toward me.

    ¡°I am not one for speeches so I will make this quick. Most present know that I hardly ever leave my so called cave unless I¡¯m dragged out. Today I came without being heeded. I like most of us have felt a distinct lack of direction for millennia. I¡¯m over joyed that my technology that my division has developed will protect and defend our new queen.¡± He looks at me with a tingle in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m very excited about what the future may contain.¡± He nods to me which I return. He gets some cheer but not much. Zeus in his lab coat, that¡¯s what I¡¯m assuming it is, steps to my left to the side of the carpet. Luna motions the AI android I don¡¯t recognize forward.

    ¡°The chamber recognizes Duke Agamon three Data, the newest member of the counsel of 60.¡± He takes a step before me and speaks to the crowd.

    ¡°I Agamon have been a duke for less than a thousand years. I like others have¡­¡± I tune him out as I try to take in what will come. I will be a queen. What am I supposed to do? I¡¯ve been dead for so long and my new subjects are 50 billion. I was just a man whose life¡¯s focus was revenge. I spent my entire adult life creating weapons to destroy the infection that now flows in my veins. I died five hundred thousand years ago in despair. The time frames involved just still boggle my mind. I have been alive I think for just two days maybe three. ¡°Given new purpose we¡­¡± I should pay attention but I must stabilize myself.

    I had been alive for less than a couple of hours being bombarded with new information about the new me, and their plan. I find it understandable that I broke down when I realized that Luna was still here. I look at Luna who gives me a concerned smile and gives my shoulder a small squeeze. I return the smile and look back to Agamon and steel myself for the third time. I must maintain myself here. ¡°We expected to place a queen or King on our throne in half a million years from now, yet with great joy we do this today with a Queen. A queen who was, and is one of the original creators.¡± The crowd cheers louder. Note to self, apologies to Agamon later for completely spacing his speech. Agamon gives me a deep bow and walks to my right across from Zeus.

    ¡°The chamber recognizes Atton Cretban Vee galactic appointed overseer of the Sol system.¡± There were some cheers from the small alien section that died fairly quickly from the complete silence of my people. My people, yes they are appointing me queen so I must refer to them as such. Atton gives me a big smile that makes my spine chill as I feel his curiosity and a vile desire for me come from him.

    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you your Majesty. Your beauty pales all others before you." I slightly cringe and quickly remove the look of disgust that must be on my face while he bowed elegantly. ¡°We members of the Galactic Senate congratulate you on a successful revival. For thousands of years the senate has protected the beauty of the sol system. Many have come to love this place at the very edge of space. We are overjoyed that such a stable society has been here for so long. With open arms and mutual trust we offer our help in your transition into the greater galaxy.¡± He¡¯s giving me another leer and vile feelings. I squint my eyes at him.

    {Stop that shit now.}

    His eyes go wide for a second then I¡¯m cut off from feeling any more of his emotions. Did he just hear me? I can¡¯t sense his emotions no more. Granted they were vile and making me uncomfortable, yet they allowed me to know he was being insincere in his words. His once full of vile smile is now crooked. I think he now knows he fucked up there. ¡°With our cooperation with your regime, we wish for the continuation of all activities within the system, so all may still enjoy its beauty.¡± Fat chance Sarkin is going down. His smile is gone as he looks at me. He does not say anything further. Luna motions him to the side and he obeys.

    ¡°The Chamber recognizes Grand Duke Vivian¡± Vivian walks before me holding up a red velvet pillow. On the pillow were a bejeweled crown and a scepter.

    ¡°We the people and guests of sol are gathered here today to witness the coronation ceremony of Eve Luna. To revive us as she has been revived to give us purpose when we had none before.¡± The crowds cheer, and the trumpets blast once more. ¡°Your Majesty, are you willing to take an oath?¡±

    ¡°I am willing.¡± I can¡¯t very well say no. The guilt would be too much. I saw Atton smirking to the side. Fuck am I still broadcasting. Crap my telepathy just had to start now. He smiles. He¡¯s openly being amused by the problems of a soon to be queen. Not a good idea buddy. There we go his smile is gone.

    ¡°Do you swear and promise to govern your people with all care and in accordance with our rules and guidance.¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°Do you so swear to rule your people with justice and care, without prejudices?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°Then I present to you the scepter of control.¡± I put both my hands out as Luna picks up the scepter and places it in my hands. ¡°This scepter represents our loyalty to you, as it places our lives in your hand.¡± What! I hope she means metaphorically. ¡°Follow me and think upon the responsibility and trust we have given.¡± Vivian turns around and starts walking toward the large throne at the end of the red carpet. I follow her, as we walk we separate form everyone else. She stops before the three steps of the raised throne. Vivian steps aside as I look at her. She speaks to me in a low voice. ¡°Step up to the throne then turn back to me.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± I walk up the three steps and up to the throne. The throne was not some golden thing or decorated. It was Spartan and identical to all the others I could see. The only thing that set it apart was it was on a raised platform and had a back that had no symbol emblazed on it. I turn around and see that Vivian was just a step or two behind me.

    ¡°Your Majesty Eve Luna first of her reign. Do you swear to protect your people from all dangers foreign and domestic? Do you so swear to put your people before yourself?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°You may now sit at the head of the council of 60.¡± Vivian walks besides me and places the pillow on the throne and picks the crown off of it, and she nods at me. I take that as I need to sit down, so I do. The throne was not exactly comfortable seeing as it¡¯s made of metal, yet the pillow made a whole lot of difference. Vivian moved before me. ¡°On this day we mark a great change for our people as we crown our first queen.¡± Vivian lowered the crown and rested it on my head. I swallowed hard as she stepped back. ¡°LONG LIVE THE QUEEN¡± The crowd cheered, and chanted Vivian¡¯s words over and over again. This went on for a whole minute, as Vivian came back to me. ¡°Do you wish to speak to your people?¡±

    Crap! I probably should say something. I stand up and walk to the edge right before the first step. I raise both arms and the room goes quite. No wonder politicians go power hungry. This is a lot of power in just raising my arms. I must be sincere.

    ¡°Thank you every one. I never imagined I would stand before you in such a manner. Not once in either life have I ever yearned for the power you have given me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The trust you have placed in me is humbling and I vow that I shall not disappoint you. You have preserved humanity¡¯s soul for a long time.¡± I look up to the floating Earth above me. ¡°Everything you have done to preserve and restore in humanity¡¯s name I thank you. I thank you all for the hope and joy that now resides in my heart. I so swear to continue your spirit. I so swear.¡± I lower my arms as I stare at the image of the earth. My earth, no¡­ the earth belongs to all of us. The room burst into cheers and trumpets blare out.

    Vivian walks up to me.

    ¡°Well said. Shall we leave?¡± I close my eyes and nod. I open my eyes and walk back the way I came. The crowds still cheered from the bleachers. ¡°What would you like to do? We can go to a briefing, or do you wish to retire?¡±

    ¡°Thank you Vivian for your concern, but I¡¯ve rested long enough today. The Briefing will be fine.¡± As we walked a lot of mech suits marched into the room from the large doors I came in from before. They stopped right before the circle of 60 and split into two lining the red carpet all the way back to the door. We approached the others in the center of the circle. Atton stepped forward and stopped us.

    ¡°Your majesty I would like to congratulate you on your coronation.¡± I raise my hand that is not holding the scepter.

    ¡°I will talk to you and your representatives later, so please step aside.¡± He nods

    ¡°Of course your majesty.¡± Luna steps up to me and gives me a hug.

    ¡°You did good Eve.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± We continue the walk out of the circle with Luna at my side with Vivian and Zeus following. I look back as I walk to see Agamon leading Atton towards the rest of the alien delegates. Looking back forward I see the first set of mech suits kneel as we pass outside the circle of 60.

    ¡°Every suit has someone in the military who has gained the rank of Knight.¡± Luna gestures the next pair of mech suits that kneel. ¡°Each and every suit is an army unto itself. They are able to handle massive amounts of pressure and punishment. They are capable of surviving reentry into the atmosphere of an M class planet like the earth was. Even a biological pilot would survive the impact of the landing. There are no comparisons in the so called galactic senate.¡± I look at another kneeling pair as we passed.

    ¡°They look similar to the Appleseed mech suits? I know it was your favorite anime, but to model your technology off of it? Is it not much?¡± Luna chuckles and gives me a smile.

    ¡°Not at all dear. We used a lot of earth¡¯s old science fiction and literature as inspiration. There were a lot of good ideas and failures that lead to new innovation. You saw the ships that picked you up?¡±

    ¡°Yes I did, they almost resembled star wars star destroyers.¡±

    ¡°You are correct. It was one of the better hull designs that were practical and efficient.¡± We left the council chamber. Two different mech suits then Draven and Markus¡¯s closed the doors behind us.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°We left out the conning towers because they were unpractical and a glaring weakness.¡± That was said by Zeus ¡°We have gone through many hull designs and have settled on a few of the years. The hulls are one thing but their guts are a whole different story.¡± He started to laugh loudly. ¡°I don¡¯t even think a quarter of the races in the galactic so called senate would understand our tech. We have developed technology for over 500 thousand years. Very few races can compare.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it Eve. We have not had a war with any of the sentient races in this galaxy for over 100 thousand years. Those who know of us keep their distance.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been at war with others before? Vivian mentioned a civil war but not any other wars.¡±

    ¡°They were a long time ago and will no longer trouble us.¡±

    ¡°Ha! That¡¯s because we blasted them all to oblivion.¡± Did Zeus just say they committed genocide? ¡°All five of those species pissed us off so we got rid of them.¡± I stop and quickly look at Zeus.

    ¡°You committed genocide and are laughing about it.¡± He just shrugged with a nonchalant look on his face.

    ¡°Eve it¡¯s not as bad as it sounds.¡± I look at Vivian in horror.

    ¡°It¡¯s still genocide?¡±

    ¡°Eve they never asked for mercy not once.¡± What?

    ¡°What do you mean mom?¡± I looked at her hard.

    ¡°For one you need context. This way.¡± We walked a bit more down this long ass hallway. I could not even see the end of it. How long is this anyway. We walked into a door that opened into the hall way. After a while we entered a 1000 square foot empty room with screen on the wall and a round protrusion in the center. The rooms light dims as a picture of a big ass scary looking bug shows on the screen. ¡°The first war was with the Ixxeses just 90 thousand years after humanity died out. We were far fewer and weaker then. They showed up and started mining. We left them alone until they started to attack our shipments to the moon and mars. They hacked some of us and took them. We tried to contact them at this time. They did not respond even though they could of.¡±

    ¡°Their technology base was just slightly higher than us at that time. We defended ourselves and continued our terraforming of mars. The last straw for us was when they attacked our facilities on Mars and started to terraform the planet in their image. We responded and retook the planet at all costs. We built a fleet while we destroyed all traces of them in Sol.¡± The screen flickered to a video of a battle. As Zeus stepped forward

    ¡°We repelled them, yet they kept sending fleets to attack us. We consumed all their technology we got our virtual hands on. We were still starting to use android bodies at that time. We took their technology and improved upon them and added our own. Building a fleet of bigger and superior ships we attacked there systems. They had 4 systems in their control and 2 planets colonized and several bases on moons and unhospitable planets. We scraped them off every surface we found them on. All that remained was these two planets.¡± The screen changed to a video of two planets. Vivian spoke.

    ¡°We tried to contact them again and ask them to surrender, for they had lost. They never responded and kept trying to build ships on the surface of their planet, and underground. We told them to stop or we would kill them all. They did not respond.¡± Luna sighed and looked down.

    ¡°So we killed them. We killed them with the same weapon that was used on the earth.¡± I saw the white electric dome show up on the image of the planet. It quickly changes to another planet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see that.¡±

    ¡°And the other planet?¡± I close my eyes. I don¡¯t want to see the same destruction as the earth ever again.

    ¡°We repeated the request for surrender and showed them the video of the former destruction. They ignored us still and kept building ships, so we dropped the last bomb. The Ixxeses were no more.¡± A picture of what looked like a giant mutant koala appeared on the screen ¡°The second were the Umbra Muton less than 2 years after the first war. When they came into the Sol system they were friendly enough if not a bit abrasive. This changed quickly as soon as they found out we were sentient AI. They declared us abominations and claimed Sol system now belonged to them by divine right.¡± I frowned I never really liked religious fanatics.

    ¡°I never liked those religious zealot types at all.¡± Zeus grumbled. ¡°They attacked us right away. And we barely beat back their fleet. Once again we found ourselves less technologically advanced. We cannibalized all the remains of their ships. Reverse engineering this time was much easier as they actually had ship and tech documents stored on their ships. This new technology allowed us to increase our computing capabilities by leaps and bounds and we rapidly outpaced them in technology in just a matter of years. They sent two more fleets at us, and we crushed them utterly.¡± Luna touches the round protrusion in the middle of the room. She waves me to step back a little so I do. A holographic image of two fleets fills the room, as Luna speaks.

    ¡°The last battle in their Home system was completely one sided.¡± I watch as all the ships on one side get annihilated. The image disperses after the battle is over. ¡°We took the fight to their systems. They had control of 13 systems and lived on 6 M class worlds. We destroyed and cannibalized all their technology in all their systems up to the 6 planets. We offered no chance for surrender and they asked for none.¡± Luna closed her eyes as Vivian walked before the screen. The image changed to what looked like stone ruins with two Umbra Muton eating next to a pile of bones.

    ¡°This race was horrible, for they had eaten three different alien races into extinction on three different worlds. Two were in the Stone Age and one was in their bronze age. They had enslaved a fourth Stone Age race and turned them into cattle¡± She looked to Luna who took over.

    ¡°We landed on the planets and cleansed there surfaces of all trace of them. This way took longer than the War with the Ixxeses but more satisfying. We removed them from all the planets but their home world. We invaded it.¡± a holographic image of a planet filled the room. There were ships around it bombarding the surface. ¡°First space to surface bombardment then we sent troops to the surface to burn them out. We killed all but 1 million of them. We held them and kept that number for 5 thousand years as we cleared the planet of all vestiges of civilization. We told them to never return to their old ways. We left after that.¡± Luna sighed.

    ¡°The third war was with the Umbra Muton as well. They did not learn their lesson. It took them 67 thousand years to return to the Sol system. This time they attacked us right off the bat with no pretenses of friendship. Their technology at this time was comparable to before but weaker. Ours was much more advanced then it was when we destroyed them before. The war this time went much quicker. It took only 5 years to cleanse them from the same 13 solar systems they had retaken. The species that had been cattle before had become a space faring race before the Umbra Muton attacked them and once again ate them close to extinction. We were not so forgiving this time. We cleared them out of all systems then just slagged their home world. The Umbra Muton was no more.¡±

    ¡°Ok I can see how the Umbra Muton deserved their end and the Ixxeses brought their own destruction. What about the last two wars?¡± An image of a three armed three legged monstrosity showed up on screen.

    ¡°This race had no name for themselves and almost no sense of individuality. We met them no less than 122 years after the last Umbra Muton war. They had come from just 20 light years away from a heavy gravity world. Atmosphere was completely inhospitable and unbreathable for humans.¡± She said was as in no longer or they removed it. Zeus started to laugh.

    ¡°These guys where complete morons. We believe it took them more than 2 million years to get to their technology level. And the very first system they went to after turtling inside their own solar system forever was ours. The first thing they did was contact us and say one word. ¡®Die¡¯, that¡¯s all they said before shooting at us. There weapons were shit and very far behind us. There ships defenses on the other hand was better than ours and a tuff nut to crack. We easily dealt with the few ships they had sent. So like usual we cannibalized there ships and took all information we could and improved upon it before building an updated fleet. We sent the largest fleet we have ever assembled at that time to their home world.¡± The protrusion that I now assume is the holo projector lights up and the room is filled with scaled down view of a solar system. Luna gestures to the hologram as indicators of all kinds pop up all over the solar system.

    ¡°We sent an unprecedented fleet of 80 thousand ships to intimidate them, and we found a fortress.¡±

    ¡°The paranoid ugly bustards had mostly built defenses all over their system instead of exploring the galaxy. So we tried to contact them and ask for a truce. They responded with one word. No, that¡¯s all they said. So the fight began. We had to crack open no less than 108 battle stations the size of planetoids.¡± The Holoprojector zoomed in on to a large diamond shaped space station. I could clearly see large weapons on it. Those are some large guns. ¡°We cleared the system of ships yet could not attack most of the planets they had settled on. There were too many defenses that were dug in. It was not worth the losses to destroy all of them. So we started long range bombardment until we finally got a bomb through. We destroyed the surfaces of a few of their outlaying planets.¡±

    ¡°This is when we asked them again to surrender, and once again they said no, surprise, surprise.¡± Zeus shook his head while chuckling. ¡°New weapons got developed and we cracked open the 108 planet battle stations and destroyed the defenses of their home world their last bastion in the solar system.¡± Vivian spoke up.

    ¡°We tried to talk to them again to ask them to surrender. The conversation when like this: Surrender. No. If we leave now will you attack us in the future? Yes. We will kill you all if you do not surrender so will you surrender. No.¡± I shook my head.

    ¡°I can see why you called them morons. I take it you followed threw and destroyed them.¡± I looked at Luna who responded.

    ¡°They left us no choice.¡± I nod

    ¡°I guess I can understand that. And the last war?¡± The big screen on the wall split into two images. One alien was humanoid looking in body, well in proportions, for its body looked like some kind of biomechanical suit but its head, Its head was completely bald, two large red eyes, small flattened nose and a tiny mouth. The other was reptilian wearing armor with a lot of writing and symbols all over it. Vivian points to the humanoid

    ¡°The Tine Cyberdine, and¡± she points at the reptilian. ¡°The Chicksi chekinate.¡± A two front war? I looked at Luna with a little bit of worry in my eyes.

    ¡°Yes Eve it was as bad as you assume. We fought two races at once. We came into contact with the Chicksi chekinate no less than 118 thousand years ago. About 220 thousand years after our last war with a race. The Chicksi Chekinate felt we should be their possessions and work for them. They accorded no rights to sentient Ai¡¯s in there society. They lost completely in all there engagements with us. Because of their inferior technology we ignored them and just destroyed them every time they attempted to attack the sol system. So they called upon their allies among their so called galactic alliance at the time. Only one responded the Tine Cyberdine.¡± She nods to Zeus who has a scowl on his face.

    ¡°The Tine Cyberdine had the technology to match us and so we fought at a stalemate. We saw an opportunity to cut one of our adversaries out of the war. That adversary was the much weaker Chicksi Chekinate who had expended practically all their ships. In a quick blitzkrieg we scoured their systems faster than the Tine Cyberdine could bring aid. We arrived before their home world and demanded they surrender for they had lost. They refused. They then killed their own civilian population then executed there ruler. Their military all committed ritual suicide all at once. Least to say we were stunned. The Tine Cyberdine asked us for a truce. We agreed if they would leave us alone and not to share anything about us. They agreed, and to this day have not spoken about us. Three separate galactic societies have come and gone sense then and not once have we found evidence that they have not kept their word.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit anticlimactic.¡± Zeus nods. ¡°Wait what about the Chicksi Chekinate sentient AI¡¯s?¡± Zeus smirked and Vivian waved at me to get my attention.

    ¡°They did not want to join us out of respect for their former creators, nor would we of let them. They agreed to erase all evidence of us as well as their memories of us. They became the AI nation the Consortium after words.¡±

    ¡°So, how many races know about us.¡± Vivian gives me a warm smile.

    ¡°Only six confirmed before or revealed these past few days. 3 from the so called Galactic Alliance that surrounds us. The other three are independent and or part of a rival society. We are listed in their databases. All three in the G.A. are part of the founding six of the current largest galactic society.¡± Zeus speaks in an annoyed voice.

    ¡°3 of the founders we could stop one on one, or a three on one with our technological superiority, the Tine Cyberdine we believe we could still tie with in a fight. The other two¡­Are scary as fuck is all I can say. Good thing they are passive and more interested in ascension into another plane of reality then really concerning themselves with anything. Those two are the oldest known species in our galaxy.¡±

    ¡°So let me get this straight. You all have been basically hiding all capability while playing with the trespassers in the system.¡± They all give me nods. ¡°What do we have for defenses?¡±

    ¡°30 billion military personal most are on standby.¡± Holy shit! That¡¯s number is more than half the population. My eyes go wide as I stare at Luna. All I get back is a smile as she continues. ¡°We don¡¯t have very many static defenses.¡± The screen changes to show statistics, as she goes into detail of the defenses. The largest of the so called static defenses was practically the entire surface of the moon which was concealed mostly by dust. Phobos and Demos the moons of Mars were converted into static battle stations under the surface. Pluto and its moon had been converted into titanic bases like the moon.

    The number of ships that we have stashed in moons and in planetoids all over the solar system is staggering. Luna informed me that we only used three general sizes of ships and massive loads of fighters. We have 355 thousand of the star-destroyer sized vessels, 120 thousand carriers in the shape of a sphere. They looked like mini death-stars. The third size which had many different classes in it was the cruisers. Luna claimed to have 2 million of them. All these ships and another 5 million miscellaneous ships and crew for military facility positions for the navy only took up 21.67 billion of military personal the rest were reservist Marines.

    They had mined a lot of the moon, several of the surrounding empty solar systems over the years to build and maintain the fleets, and bases. I joked that with that many forces in under my command I could take over the galaxy. Luna looked directly into my eyes and with a straight face said. ¡°We could try if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Zeus looked contemplative and Vivian frowned at me and shook her head.

    ¡°No I¡¯m sorry. That is not what I meant. It was just a joke.¡± She nods and gives me a smile.

    ¡°Your two brothers would have enjoyed the challenge. I will tell them later that you turned it down. Just to let you know we don¡¯t think we have the current forces to hold it, yet if we go slowly we probably could complete it in a couple thousand years at most.¡± I laugh nervously. I should probably keep jokes like that to myself. Least I inadvertently order the annihilation of some race without meaning to.

    ¡°Ok can you explain the Hierarchy of our government?¡±

    ¡°Sure I will answer that one.¡± Vivian walks up to me and puts an arm around my shoulder. I did not pay attention before but she¡¯s wearing a fancy Victorian style red and black dress with gold accents. ¡°I am the Grand Duchess of the people. I represent all civilians and civilian projects for our people as well as in charge of diplomacy. Luna your mother is the Grand Duchess of the Military.¡± I had guessed that was her role. The uniform she wore was a dead giveaway. ¡°And Zeus here is in charge of the sciences and technology, as well as hording our information.¡±

    ¡°You are too kind Vivian. Hording information is such a fun thing to do.¡± He has a wide grin on his face as he returns her annoyed look.

    ¡°The counsel of 60 which we three are a part of, and head, create our laws, and regulations. As you are now queen you will have veto power over it.¡± Great, more responsibility. ¡°There are more dukes than are in the council of 60. Dukes oversee moons and sections of space. The responsibilities lower as the ranks go down. All our admirals and generals are counts and above. Anyone who gains the rank of Knight is allowed a personal mech suit of their own regardless if they are in military or not.¡± Damn that¡¯s a lot of fighting power. I have learned a lot about the power now under my command and the lack of contacts outside the solar system.

    ¡°Do we have any external assets?¡± Vivian takes her arm off my shoulders and looks at Luna.

    ¡°Yes we have a few spies spread out keeping watch of the three largest and a few closer galactic societies and nations. Like the humans before us we are paranoid of being stabbed in the back.¡± I agree with her.

    ¡°Better safe than sorry.¡± Luna gives me a hug.

    ¡°Exactly my dear.¡±

    ¡°This all is a lot to take in, but I think I can manage.¡±

    ¡°You will be fine. You¡¯re no crazier than me, so all¡¯s well.¡± Zeus started to laugh as he said that. Zeus has been wearing a thick toga the whole time I¡¯ve seen him here. ¡°I¡¯m getting bored so I¡¯m going to go head back to my labs. If you will excuse me your majesty I wish you well until next we meet.¡± Zeus bows.

    ¡°Thank you for your time Grand Duke Zeus. I wish you success in your endeavors.¡± Zeus comes out of his bow with a grin and walks out of the room. My eyes go wide.

    ¡°Holy crap did I just see what I thought I saw.¡± Vivian laughs wile Luna just shakes his head.

    ¡°Yes my friend that was indeed a smiley face taped to his back. Know you know why I said he was mostly sane. Who in their right mind wears a toga with a smiley face taped to their back to a large public event.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know before the fall there were quite a few weirdoes around.¡± Vivian cocks her head to my statement.

    ¡°You have a point.¡±

    ¡°I have learned a lot and wish to relax for the rest of the day. Will I be escorted back to my um chambers?¡± Luna nods

    ¡°Its good to see you after so long.¡± Vivian gives me a strong hug. ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living. Just remember if you want to talk about anything I¡¯m just a call away.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Vivian it is good to know I still have a friend among the living if you know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± She lets me go. ¡°You go relax and enjoy the rest of your day, for it will be busy tomorrow as well.¡± That¡¯s right I said I would talk to the alien delegation. Vivian leaves the room, as I look Luna. She walks to my side and takes my right arm into her left. She escorts me outside of the room and lets me go.

    ¡°I need to go and oversee the control of the solar system.¡± I nod.

    ¡°Of course mother someone has to do the job.¡± She chuckles as she stands before me and takes both my hands into hers.

    ¡°Are you sure you will be fine? I can spend more time with you if you need me to.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ok. I will deal with whatever comes. I¡¯m not in as much of a wreck as I was earlier.¡± I don¡¯t know why but since I took that chemical bath I¡¯ve felt pretty calm.¡±

    ¡°Very well.¡± She gives my hands a squeeze before releasing them. ¡°These two knights will guard and guide you back to your chambers.¡± I look around and see two guards on either side of the door in mech suits. ¡°Enjoy the rest of your day Eve.¡±

    ¡°I will certainty try to.¡± I give her my best reassuring smile, but I don¡¯t know I succeeded or not, with this new face of mine. She returns my smile and walks away. I sigh and look down the long ass hallway. ¡°Well I¡¯m ready to head back. Please lead the way.¡±

    ¡°Your majesty¡± Both knights stand up from their kneeling positions. One starts to walk away that I follow, as the other follows behind me.

 Chapter 4

    <u></u>

    The walk back to my room or chambers as they are called was uneventful and allowed me to think a bit. I wonder how far underground we are. Why are my guards so overkill? Are they really necessary? It has been more than 2 days I think since my resurrection, yet I only felt slightly hungry before the chemical bath and nothing after it. Was that all it took to fill me up for hours. With travel time from my room, length of the coronation, the briefing, and now back to my chambers, 8 hours I think and not a single hunger pain or feeling of weakness.

    I can still feel the energy in the walls, as well as a blazing amount coming from my escort. I think I can just barely make out their shape inside the suit. This sensation is not one I have experienced before. The guard in front of me stops by a door and positions himself besides it. I walk up to it as it opens. The one behind me takes position on the other side. I thank them and they speak in unison.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡± I walk into the room and it¡¯s not the same as before. Where there was an empty white room before with a single bed there is now a furnished room. The bed was gone and replaced by a collection of seats and couches with end tables. The once blank walls are now covered in pictures of landscapes, tapestries and people I knew. The blank metal floor is now covered in a lush red and black checkered carpet. I walk in and I¡¯m struck with awe as I look up. The entire ceiling is covered in a hologram of what I think is the entire Milky Way galaxy. It is slowly rotating with a black backdrop as if I¡¯m looking up into space itself.

    ¡°Told you she would love it.¡± I reluctantly tear my eyes away from the mesmerizing ceiling, and I see both Celest and Tina standing next to each other just a few feet away. They both bow.

    ¡°Welcome back your majesty.¡±

    ¡°The room is amazing. Is this the same place as before or is it a new room?¡± Both girls looked happy at my words.

    ¡°This is the same room your Majesty.¡± Celest gestured to the room. ¡°This is your sitting room to greet guests and relax. We had not prepared for you before so the room was not furnished before.¡±

    ¡°Would you like a tour your majesty.¡± Tina had clasped in front of herself with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes. She looked ready to jump up and down.

    ¡°Please do. Lead the way.¡± Both girls lead me to a room with a long table that held 14 chairs. There were antique looking armors on either side of the room. The ceiling had two crystal chandeliers hanging over the table. They called it obviously the Dining room. Next I was led into another room that had a massive stone fireplace on one wall with a few comfy looking chairs in front of it. There were a few pictures on the walls with some book cases filled with books. They called it my private study. They next led me to a room with many book cases filled to the brim. There were multiple shelves on each side of the room with the center aisle leading to a single desk. There was a large portrait of Luna behind the desk.

    This was called my library slash office. I asked them why there were so many actually books, for could I not just read the digital copies. They replied that it was for the aesthetics and atmosphere. That told me that they thought I would enjoy the hard copy more than the digital. The room was here to allow me to indulge that. I had to agree it was pleasant and I liked it. Last they took me to my bedroom. I noticed one thing before anything else.

    ¡°Ann!¡± I ran into the room to a large picture on the wall. The picture was a photograph of Annetta Brustad. I raise both shaky arms and gently touch the face of the Ann staring back at me. I close my eyes and lower my head as a tear falls, as I breathe heavy. I lasted 9 hours before I cracked. I guess I was not as calm as I thought I was.

    ¡°Your Majesty are you ok?¡±

    ¡°Did we make a mistake?¡± I sighed and slowly lowered my arms as I look back at Ann.

    ¡°No. I was just caught off guard. My death is still fresh in my mind.¡± I turn to look at them. ¡°Thank you for bringing her back to me even if it is just a picture.¡± Both girls give me a hug at once.

    ¡°Thanks are not required your majesty. It is our duty to help and please you in any way that we can.¡± I nod.

    ¡°Thank you any way.¡± I look about the room. I like the way it¡¯s laid out. There is a desk with three mirrors on it. There was a stool in front of it. I walked to the other side of the bed while running my hand along it. The bed felt very soft and silky. It looked like five people could lay together in it comfortably. It had bed posts that went all the way up to the ceiling, and thin transparent curtains. There was a mirror on the ceiling above the bed.

    On the other side of the bed next to three mirrors is a picture of my old self. I walk up to it and stare. This was me. I am a man. I was a man. I feel an anger rise in me. I look at my reflection in the mirrors. This is not me. This white skin, Hair and dark eyes are not me. This woman peering back at me is infected with the plague that killed humanity. What did they do to me? I scream and punch the mirror as hard as I can.

    ¡°WHY!?¡± A sound of broken glass, and the ping of broken metal rings out in the room. I hardly felt the impact. I slowly retract my hand and I¡¯m surprised. My hand had scales on it up to just above my wrist. I look at the hole I had made in the wall. The wall was a half inch thick of steel. How did I just do that? I look back at my hand just to see the scales fade back into my skin. ¡°What?¡± A loud boom makes me jump around quickly as both Tina and Celest scream in fright. A mech suit had just burst through the bedroom.

    ¡°Clear. No hostiles detected.¡± The voice of the pilot came out after it did a quick sweep of the room with his gun. ¡°What¡¯s the state of the emergency your majesty? We had detected a breach of your chambers.¡± I relax out of the aggressive crouch I had gotten into. As I stand straight I notice that my black nails had elongated and looked like claws. I bring them closer to look at. They were not like this before. I watch as the claws transform back into normal finger nails. I really need to talk to that trio who resurrected me. The sooner the better. ¡°Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Everything is fine knight. I had only let my anger get the better of me as you can see.¡± I wave to the hole in the wall. The suits head looked at the mirror.

    ¡°Visual logs confirmed. There is no danger. Sorry about the trouble your majesty. I will contact a repair crew right way to fix the walls, mirror and doors. Pardon the trouble your majesty. And may I say you have quite the right hook.¡± Walls, doors, as in more than one?

    ¡°Thank you for your quick response knight. You may return to your duty.¡± The mech suit salutes then walks away. I sigh as I walk to the door and look out into the hallway. There was a large ass hole in the hallway which leads to the living room. I could see the large doors that led outside of my chambers busted inward. ¡°Damn those things are strong?¡± I only heard one boom, yet it had burst through 2 doors and a wall. I hear Tina and Celest walk up behind me to peer outside.

    ¡°Wow!¡± Tina had a surprised look on her face. Celest looked calmer.

    ¡°I had only seen videos of them in action before your majesty until now.¡±

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m sorry. Are you ok your majesty?¡± Tina was now looking at me with worry.

    ¡°I¡¯m ok I strangely was not afraid.¡± I look at my right hand and brushed off the remaining mirror dust. ¡°Just place my portrait next to Ann¡¯s and not next to a mirror.¡±

    ¡°Right away your majesty.¡± Celest walked toward the picture to do just that.

    ¡°You were so cool your majesty. The Speed you used to turn around was very fast and those claws.¡± She squealed and clapped her hands. ¡°They were so cute. You were so amazing not a single bit of fear showed on your face¡± I raise a single eyebrow and look at Tina.

    ¡°Thank you I guess.¡± Oh right I dropped the scepter when I ran into the room. I look around and see it resting on the bed. Celest or Tina must have picked it up. I reach up to my head and take off the crown. ¡°I¡¯m amazed this stayed on my head.¡± I hand it to Tina.

    ¡°The crown your majesty has built in micro motion dampers and gravity controls so it will stay in place. A telepathy shield was built into just before your coronation. Do you wish me to store the scepter and crown your majesty?¡± I nod. That explains why I hardly felt I wore it.

    ¡°Please do.¡± Tina bows then heads back into the room and picks up the scepter. She heads into a door that opens up next to the ruined mirror. I walk up to the bed and sit on it. Laying on my back I stare at my reflection on the ceiling. This bed is really soft. I sigh. ¡°What a day.¡± I feel mentally exhausted. I hear Celest walk up to me.

    ¡°Your Majesty do you wish to retire for the night.¡± I don¡¯t feel tired, yet I feel it won¡¯t take much for me to fall asleep at this moment.

    ¡°Yes that would be nice.¡± I sit back up and look at the broken door. I can see people working on the outside door. ¡°The bedroom is exposed.¡± Celest waved it off and shook her head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it your Majesty. They should finish before we finish your bath.¡± That¡¯s fast. Wait the bath?

    ¡°Is it the same as before?¡± I ask her as she helps me stand.

    ¡°Yes.¡± She has a wide grin on her face.

    ¡°Wait for me.¡± Tina runs up to us and takes my other hand. They Both lead me to what I¡¯m assuming is where the bathroom is.

    ¡°Are you sure it was good for me? I mean it was intense.¡± Both girls giggle as they smiled all the way into another room. The room was similar to before with the pool in the center. There are some sinks on one wall and a couple of benches. And there were large Mirrors on all the walls and on the ceiling above the pool. I gulp as I look at the steam coming off the pool. What¡¯s with all the mirrors.

    ¡°Of course we are sure your majesty. Every sensor and check of your body after the last submergence shows a distinct increase in energy. It is very good for your body.¡± Both girls looked at each other and giggled again. This is almost the same routine they did last time. I stopped before the pool as the girls both undress. I swallow as I watch them. Their skin may look slightly synthetic but boy were they anatomically correct. If I still had my man right now he would be at full salute. They start to undress me and notice my growing embarrassment as I try to avoid looking at them. Tina grabs my bare ass as she looks at me.

    ¡°We are here to please you in any way your majesty. It is our want and duty. Do you wish for some foreplay before the bath?¡± I nearly choke when I swallow the growing amount of saliva in my mouth.

    ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s ok. I¡¯m ok for now¡­ a¡­ thank you for the offer.¡± Both girls look slightly disappointed. I close my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m ready for the bath.¡± They take one of my hands each and lead me into it.

    My mind slowly awakes. This feels nice and warm. I feel comfortable and warm. These silky strands on my face smell nice and feel silky smooth. I nuzzle my face further into it. This feels like soft hair. Wait a minute. There is something in my arms and¡­it feels like someone is hugging me from behind. I open my eyes to see a full head of hair. I move my head back a little, yet it gets stopped by what I think is another head.

    ¡°What?¡± I let go of what I¡¯m hugging as it shuffles. ¡°Tina?¡± Tina sits up and turns toward me exposing her B cup breasts.

    ¡°Good morning your Majesty.¡± Tina stretches as I stare up at her breasts. The arm over my side and stomach is removed and I lose the warmth at my back. I roll onto my back and see Celest stretching as well as her gravity defying D cup breasts jiggling.

    ¡°Good morning your Majesty.¡± I¡¯m momentarily stunned as I stare up at her. She smiles down at me and brushes some of my hair off my face.

    ¡°Why are you sleeping in bed with me?¡± Tina pets my head as I turn to her. I could see concern in her eyes.

    ¡°You were having a nightmare in your sleep your Majesty.¡± What they are back. Granted the only other time I didn¡¯t have nightmares is when Ann slept with me. ¡°I jumped in bed with you and you calmed down to my touch. So we decided to keep you company tell you woke up.¡± I closed my eyes as Tina continued to pet my head.

    ¡°Thank you. That feels nice.¡± Tina giggles but didn¡¯t stop stroking my head. Because both Tina and Celest sat up the blankets were down to my waist. I feel my right hand being picked up. I open my eyes to see Celest kissing the back of my hand. ¡°Your skin feels so real and warm.¡± Celest continues to kiss down my arm as Tina bends down and kisses my forehead.

    ¡°Our skin is a synthesis of polymers and nanotechnology to mimic real skin. Do you wish us to stop your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­¡± What are they doing? ¡°No...¡± Tina picks up my left hand and kisses my fingers before resting the back of my hand against her face and my arm between her breasts. Celest has started to kiss my neck. Tine brings her hand over my left breast as Celest kisses me on the lips. The test is sweet and pleasant. ¡°Our bodies run energy through our skin to keep it warm to regulate internal temperatures. We discovered on the first day that if we increase the voltage your body greedily tries to absorb it.¡±

    I¡¯m hit with a sharp sensation of pleasure from my lips and left breast. I moan and breathe in deep as Celest releases my lips. I see a little spark between her lips as she smiles. Tina puts my arm to her side as she laid down beside me. Celest moves lips down to my right breast as Tina kisses me on the lips. I¡¯m greeted with another bout of electric pleasure. Holy fuck I¡¯m being seduced by my maids. I don¡¯t know if I should let them do this to me, yet it feels so good. Tina¡¯s tongue explores my lips as I allow her in. My mouth explodes with pleasure and her sweet taste. My tongue greedily wraps around hers as it goes into her mouth and a little way down her throat. I lose the surprise of how long my tongue is to the pleasure of my mouth and its entire length.

    I feel the increased electric pleasure from both of their bodies pressed against my sides. I close my eyes and moan in pleasure to the new sensation as Celest brushes a hand across my stomach to between my legs. I quickly retract my tongue and gasp wide eyed as Celest sticks two fingers inside of me. Tina starts to kiss my face and neck quickly as Celest starts to message my insides. This continued for a while tell I started to cry out my pleasure. Celest removes her fingers and stops making love to my breast to my displeasure. She scoots down the bed and lifts my right leg and lowers her head between my legs. My eyes go wide in surprise. Her tongue enters me and I slam my head against my pillow and moan out loudly as I roll my eyes.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Tina lifts my head up and gets behind me cupping both my breasts. I turn my head seeking a kiss that she gives me, as my tongue invades her once more for the pleasure it brings. They bring me to pleasurable bliss as I lose my mind to a cascade of pleasure drowning out all thought.

    When I come too Celest is glued to my side with her head resting on my shoulder, and a hand slowly making circles on my stomach. I¡¯m still propped up and laying my back against Tina. Both of my hands were in hers. I slowly get my breathing under control.

    ¡°Holy hell that felt good.¡± They both laughed. I looked down at Celest. ¡°Why did you decide to seduce me? I barely know you two.¡±

    ¡°Experience your Majesty. 200 thousand years of experience told me you wanted to enjoy us, yet was afraid to ask.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. What did you do to me with your very touch? I sort of zoned out when you were talking about it before.¡± Tina let go of my right hand and lifted my left into view.

    ¡°After your first chemical bath we took you out and placed you on a table. We increased the warmth of our skin to message your muscles, and this happened.¡± She placed her right hand just a centimeter or two away from my left. Electrical sparks shot out of her hand and into mine. It felt like my hand just got a stimulating message.

    ¡°That¡­ there were reports of some infected who could absorb a whole city¡¯s worth of electricity.¡± I start to shake as I jerk my hand away from Tina¡¯s electrical hand. Celest sat up and cupped my head and turned it to look at her.

    ¡°Do not worry your Majesty we ran some scans and diagnostics right away. All your cells did was absorb the energy and stored it somewhere. They did not change or mutate. They stayed stable. We monitored you the whole time and there was no change. You are safe your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± I take a breath and stop my fear. ¡°Please keep me informed about any changes from what normally should be human.¡± Celest lets go of my face and pulls me up to a sitting position. Tina crawls out from behind me.

    ¡°Of course your Majesty. It did not come up before because we were so rushed. Please forgive us.¡± Both Celest and Tina bow face first into the blankets from there kneeling position.

    ¡°Nothing to forgive. I understand. You two did nothing wrong just please keep me informed.¡± They both spoke together.

    ¡°Thank you your Majesty.¡± The both get up and helped me off the bed. I could have done it myself but I was in the mood to be pampered. They led me to the bathroom.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I need a chemical bath right now.¡± Celest nodded.

    ¡°You will be having a regular water bath this time your majesty. You don¡¯t have time to be comatose for an hour your majesty.¡± The girls gave me a nice quick warm bath scrub down. They dried me off then sat me down, on the stool next to the bed, facing the mirrors. Tina started to comb my and braid my hair as Celest went into the closet on the other side of the bed. Tina giggled a little.

    ¡°Do you remember your tongue.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­vaguely I was a little preoccupied at the time, but I do remember something odd.¡±

    ¡°Your tongue your Majesty stretched out a foot long and went down my throat. It was very flexible¡± She giggled a little and started to hum, as she finished combing my hair and started braiding it.

    ¡°Oh! Sorry about that. A foot long you say?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it your Majesty. We both don¡¯t need to breath to survive, and I don¡¯t have an automatic gag reflex installed. There was no discomfort on my part and it looked like you did not mind at all.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± I stuck my tongue out and observed the reflection. It did indeed stretch out for 12 inches. I played around with it for a little bet eliciting a few laughs from Tina. Tina finished braiding my hair and Celest came back out and placed a couple articles of clothing on the bed. They had me put on panties and bra which made me feel weird wearing them. They had me put on me a black skintight body suit. It covered everything from my toes to the middle of my neck. The suit sealed up with no seams.

    They put on arm sleeves that started with a golden ring on my middle finger all the way up to my shoulder. They tied it in place over my back and above my breasts. They were pretty, as they glowed and sparkled like the stars. They put on over my front and back a single piece of white cloth with gold trimmings. It was secured by many red clasps on either side down to my thighs. The cloth went all the way down to my knees front and back. Last they put on knee high boots that had a flowing star field on it like the sleeves.

    ¡°Wonderful choice Celest. You look stunning your Majesty.¡± Looking at myself in the mirror I had to agree. The whole ensemble went well with my skin tone and hair. Tina placed the crown form before on my head. ¡°There all done.¡±

    ¡°Your majesty the first thing on your schedule is the meeting with the alien delegates for the Ascendant Alliance.¡± Celest hands me the scepter.

    ¡°Ascendant alliance?¡± Celest nods as she escorts me out of the bedroom.

    ¡°It is the official name of their society your Majesty.¡± We walk through the dining room. I say nothing for I don¡¯t feel hungry right now.

    ¡°Why Ascendant?¡± Tina opens the door to the Living room, as Celest answers.

    ¡°It is named that way because two of the oldest known races in our galaxy helped found it. Both are attempting to ascend into another plane of reality, they wish to be beings of pure energy.¡± They must be the two races that Zeus said were scary. ¡°Both are using different methods.¡± We are in the hallway outside and are now being escorted by two Knights. ¡°One is trying to ascend with the mind as the main focus, the other the body.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the explanation Celest.¡±

    ¡°Just ask us anything your Majesty and we will answer to the best of our abilities.¡± After a bit of walking we came into a large room. It was not as large as the council chamber, maybe a third its size and much narrower. The walls had all 60 of the ducal banners lining it. There was another raised throne at the end. I could count 22 mech suits arranged about the room. The two escorting knights stop at the bottom of the steps and arrange themselves to either side. I walk all the way up and take a seat. Celest and Tina take position just slightly behind the throne.

    ¡°So how long?¡± I notice some people walking in from side doors. Most are wearing military uniforms and probably civilian clothes.

    ¡°They are being escorted here at this moment your Majesty.¡± A uniformed man with the same skin tone as my maids walks up the stairs with a box. Celest intercepts him and takes it. She walks back to me and opens it. I look in.

    ¡°Contacts?¡± There were two objects that looked like silver contact lenses.

    ¡°Yes your Majesty these were made with your physiology in mind. It will allow us to feed you information.

    ¡°Ok sounds convenient.¡± Tina comes forward and takes them out, and slowly places them in my eyes. I blink a couple of times as they become transparent. Both girls return behind me as the doors open at the end of the room. I can see the aliens filing in.

    (Test, test do you see this? - Celest de Forties)

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    (Try not to respond to these messages your majesty. You may confuse the delegates. - Tina Fab Traction)

    I watch as the aliens file up and stop a couple of feet from the Knights at the bottom of the steps. There are 30 of them before me. I looked about the room and do not spot any Ai that I recognized except Duke Agamon three Data. I found him by the name tag now floating above his head.

    (Your majesty your Mother Grand Duke Luna and the other two Grand dukes could not attend as they are too busy. There are 41 of the dukes from the Counsel in attendance. - Celest de Forties)

    I nod and sigh. For the next few hours I listened to the delegates complain about their rough treatment and kidnapping. I apologized for the treatment and promised they would be released and returned to where we took them from. Some demanded compensation for their lost time. I refused and had two removed from the room who would not accept a no. They complained that I was not fallowing Alliance regulations and law. I laughed at them and reminded them I was not part of there so called alliance. They tried to argue further until I told them I would not speak further on the subject. This is when a delegate who had remained silent the entire time stepped forward. I did not want to talk to him. Duke Agamon announced him.

    ¡°The crown recognizes Atton Cretban Vee Galactic Ascendant Alliance¡¯s appointed overseer of the Sol system.¡± Atton steps forward but stops as both knights at the bottom look at him.

    ¡°Thank you your Majesty for allowing this lowly one to appear before your Beauty.¡± (Sleaze bag.) ¡°Again I am struck by your brilliance, yet I must inform you that your people are in danger by their actions.¡± I raise an eyebrow and glare at him. ¡°Your people have yet to be recognized as a sovereign nation. They hid themselves and their capabilities for so long that no one knew they existed as sentient.¡± Is he going anywhere with this? ¡°Your people have committed an act of war against the Galactic Ascendant Alliance.¡± I stood up as I repressed some anger. I felt like eating him literally. I feel hungry. I shook my head to clear the thought.

    ¡°And how did you come to this conclusion Atton.¡± I repress another feeling of hunger and anger as I feel the energy pulsating beneath his skin.

    ¡°Your people have blocked all inbound and outbound travel and shipping your majesty. They have kidnapped the leading members in the system.¡± I stare at him as feel saliva build up in my mouth. Am I really thinking of eating him? ¡°If you will allow me your majesty I can show you how to avoid this in private if you will.¡± I see his vile smile and whatever has been building snaps. I launch myself in the air and land on Atton biting into his neck. I feel his energy rapidly draining into me.

    ¡°YOUR MAJESTY.¡± I hear Celest and Tina¡¯s yell in dismay as the aliens scream in panic. I freeze as I realize what I¡¯ve done. I jump off him quickly in horror. I¡¯m so hungry I can feel my stomach in pain.

    ¡°You BITCH.¡± Atton yells at me as he struggles to get up. The two knights walk forward and point their guns at him. So hungry. I start to shake as Tina and Celest reach me. So hungry. I need to eat something soon or I fear I¡¯m going to go crazy. ¡°Your queen just BIT ME.¡± Atton is holding his neck as he goes rigid. ¡°Fuck I can¡¯t move.¡±

    ¡°Your majesty are you alright?¡± Celest picks me up and starts to carry me away.

    ¡°So¡­ Hungry.¡± I repress the desire to chew on the hands of Tina as she tried to wipe the blood off my face. She stops.

    ¡°Here. Try this your majesty.¡± Tina places something against my lips and I grab it and bite down hard. I start to chew and eat it. It¡¯s the metal box from before. I swallow and take another bite. I am really eating metal.

    ¡°Your Queen is a MONSTER.¡± I heir Atton shout from the floor. ¡°She fucking paralyzed me. I can¡¯t move.¡±

    ¡°SILENCE YOU WILL NOT SPEAK ANOTHER WORD.¡± I heard two clicks from the knights aiming guns at Atton after Agamon Yelled at him. ¡°This Audience is over. You will be returned to your homes.¡± We leave the room. I stop chewing the box. I had eaten half of it already in my haste.

    ¡°Put me down please.¡± Celest puts me down.

    ¡°Are you ok your Majesty.¡± Tina is looking at me worried and I assume so is Celest. I look at the half eaten metal box. I wipe my mouth with one hand to get more blood off my face. Looking down at my bloody hand I repress an urge to lick the blood.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think I am.¡± I take another bite of the box. ¡°I need to see the three that revived me as soon as possible.¡± A small vehicle with three seats pulls up to us and we get on. 4 knights in their mech suits show up and we take off at a fast rate. In transit Tina cleans the rest of the blood off my face as Celest drives. We soon arrive at a room that had several people rushing about starting up machines. They put me in a chamber and ran some scans. I got out and they fed me some kind of fruit than scanned me again. Next they fed me a crystal that was crunchy before scanning me. The metal I ate before felt like hard gum. My hunger was sated. They fed me a few more things before the trio arrived.

    ¡°Worried, Thank you for seeing us your Majesty. Scared, we were rushed here very quickly.¡± Fori was bobbing her head up and down in fast bows. She was Carrying a small box which her voice came out of.

    ¡°Please calm yourself Fori. You are in no danger here.¡± She nods quickly then stills and closes her eyes.

    ¡°Treatment abrasive, quick, reminded of homeworld, requested audience finally given.¡± Icor looked like he was trying not to roll into a ball. I can feel Fori¡¯s fear and Icors annoyance with a little bit of worry mixed in. The only one who felt Calm was Meta. I look at him as he bows to me.

    ¡°Your Majesty. The events that have occurred after your revival were unpredicted and unexpected. Events Occurred and our knowledge has been expanded, yet some things still need to be gone over and confirmed.¡±

    ¡°Yes you are right Meta.¡± I sigh and look them over. ¡°I apologize for ignoring your contact request but I was busy and was in no mood to talk to you.¡± Meta bows again as fori still has her eyes closed and breathing slowly. Icor was still fidgeting.

    ¡°Understandable, expected and observed.¡±

    ¡°There is nothing to apologize for your Majesty we understand.¡± I nod as I look at them.

    ¡°Events have occurred that require me to consult you three about my body.¡± I lost control of myself today and attacked a¡­¡± I looked at Celest ¡°What was his species?¡±

    ¡°A Nettor your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I lost control of myself and attacked a Nettor. I regained myself after biting him and I think absorbing energy directly out of his body.¡± Meta raised a hand.

    ¡°May I your Majesty?¡± I stare at him for a nearly a minute waiting for him to elaborate.

    ¡°May you what?¡±

    ¡°My I read your mind, see and feel the event from your point of view.¡± I cock my head and stare at him. ¡°This will allow me to assess you to the best of my abilities.¡±

    ¡°Very well approach.¡± I wave him forward and take off the crown. He puts his hand on my head and I feel a presence gently squirming around my mind.

    ¡°You will need to lower your defenses so I can see your majesty.¡±

    ¡°Sorry about that I¡¯m new to telepathy and untrained.¡± He nods and I hear Fori clap her tentacles together.

    ¡°Calm, imagine a door to the outside in your mind your Majesty.¡± I close my eyes and do just that. I open the door and the images of what happened just a few hours ago quickly play out in my mind. I¡¯m slightly startled as Meta steps back.

    ¡°I¡¯m done your Majesty and I know what happened. Your body was hungry for solid matter. In your anger and hunger you allowed your instincts to take over for just a few seconds.¡± A few seconds? It felt more like a minute and a half.

    ¡°Seconds?¡± I put the crown back on, as I look at him with a frown.

    ¡°Yes your majesty Seconds. It took you 4 seconds to jump on him, bite him, absorb some of his energy then jump off. This is when the inert venom in your saliva paralyzed the Nettor. Your venom is quite robust as Nettor¡¯s have large resistances to toxins and disease.¡± Wow I have a poisonous bite. ¡°Your venom is inert unless it enters the bloodstream of a biological being. Otherwise it can act as an aphrodisiac when applied to skin.¡± Holy shit! I don¡¯t know whether to be intrigued or disgusted. ¡°With training you can gain control of your mind and the former event will never occur.¡±

    ¡°So I was starving for solid foods? The chemical bath you noted in the files is not enough to sustain me?¡±

    ¡°Calm we are afraid not your majesty.¡±

    ¡°This one request data, comrades concur, equipment here acceptable, fascinating technology.¡± I look at Icor then at the doctor or scientist who was leading everyone else in this room.

    ¡°Umm¡­¡± I don¡¯t know his name. He never gave it just rushed around giving orders and nicely requesting me to do this and that while he prodded me with multiple devices.

    ¡°Baron Tragon Net Zeus your majesty. I have been given the honor of all your health needs.¡± He gives an elaborate deep bow. Why didn¡¯t he introduce himself when I first arrived here?

    ¡°Baron please give them access to the data you have collected today and consult with them.¡± A woman in identical maid clothes as Celest and Tina walks into the room as the trio walked to some consoles with Tragon. She is holding a folded white cloth in her arms. Celest takes it and Tina starts to unclasp the red clasp on my sides. They both quickly take off the blood stained one and replace it with an identical one. Tragon walks back up to me and gives a shorter bow, but with an added flourish with his hands and arms this time.

    ¡°Your majesty I will consult with the three aliens and send a report on our conclusions.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Baron. Also let Meta and Fori know that I would gladly take up their offer for training when they have time.¡±

    ¡°Right away your majesty.¡± Tragon does a quick bow then salutes me before walking back to the trio. What was that? Ok I will just let his strangeness slide because of his Zeus surname. There probably is a relation there somewhere.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head back to my room.¡± I look at Celest.

    ¡°Yes your Majesty.¡± She takes two steps then stops. ¡°Your Mother will meet us in your chambers. She rushed back from the shipyard as soon as she got the word.¡±

    ¡°Why was she at a shipyard? Wasn¡¯t she supervising the activation of the fleet?¡±

    ¡°She was your Majesty. She was just making sure Zeus was not blowing up the Moon with his latest project.¡±

    ¡°What? She said that?¡±

    ¡°Sorry your Majesty she did not say that, but that¡¯s what most think when she¡¯s in Zeus¡¯ section.¡± A four seater hovercraft of some kind was just outside the lab. We took off this time with an escort of two knights. The craft¡¯s motion felt smooth, as I could hardly feel us move. Some kind of gravity propulsion maybe? The seats were more comfortable than the previous one we used. I¡¯m going to assume the vehicle we used before was the closest one available. As soon as the doors to my chambers opened I was instantly lifted up into a hug.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Eve. I should not have taken their research at face value. I should have been more careful. Can you ever forgive me?¡± I return Luna¡¯s hug as she sat me down on a couch. I didn¡¯t notice that she had carried me into the room. This is what I get for being smaller than everyone here.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok mother. Apparently my body craves solid food and won¡¯t accept just energy.¡± I¡¯m still in Luna¡¯s arms as she places a hand gently caresses my left cheek.

    ¡°I rushed here as soon as I could. You sure you are ok.¡± I give her a smile and nodded.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m feeling much better after eating something.¡±

    ¡°I heard what that man said to you. Do you want him to disappear?¡± I laughed and shook my head.

    ¡°No I can deal with him.¡±

    ¡°Ok dear.¡± She stands back up and gives me another hug. ¡°I have to get back to Zeus. I was in the middle of an argument with him. I¡¯m afraid he might do something so I have to head back. You be safe.¡±

    ¡°You too mother.¡± She gives me one last nod and a squeeze on both shoulders before leaving the room. I look at the girls who were both waiting behind the couch. ¡°I guess I will take one of those chemical baths. They feel good and I don¡¯t think I will mind them anymore.¡± Both girls smile as they come around the couch. ¡°And let¡¯s have a solid meal after I wake.¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty.¡± They spoke together and one led the way as the other followed.

 Chapter 5

    Sarkin Corporation headquarters.

    A large metal door opens, as a small creature enters the room. It has two large eyes on either side of its head. It swings its snout left and right nervously as it rubs its two three fingered hands together. It straitens its tail and walks forward slowly.

    ¡°Ah, Mr. Sarkin¡­sir.¡± The creature hugs its clothes closer to itself as if trying to hide. It peers up to the large desk. At the desk is a large reptilian four times its height. The reptilian has massive muscled arms and body half as wide as he is tall. The large creature at the desk is manipulating holographic interfaces and observing numbers as they tick down. ¡°Mr. Sarkin sir.¡± With a brush of its massive clawed hand it disperses the holograms and peers down at it.

    ¡°What is it attendant?¡± The small creature before it fidgets. ¡°Out with it attendant. Time is money.¡±

    ¡°My apologies Mr. Sarkin.¡± The little creature bows twice. ¡°There is bad news from the Sol system sir.¡± The big reptilian sits up straighter and scratches the underside of his snout as he stares at the small one before him. There is silence for a minute as he contemplates the small creature before him.

    ¡°Well what is it?¡± the little creature swallows hard.

    ¡°Mr. Sarkin the project to revive a human has succeeded sir.¡±

    ¡°It was expected to happen sooner or later. I take it Atton Cretban Vee failed in his sabotage pledge.¡±

    ¡°Yes Mr. Sarkin the group of scientist on the project met with great success. Atton did not intercept and change data as he was paid to. We find evidence he has taken bribes from them.¡± The big lizard behind the counter let out a long sigh then looked at the attendant.

    ¡°Long have I and my forbearers have suffered being in the red in the sol system, yet more trouble is expected. Is the severance package ready for our dear Atton? His services are no longer required.¡±

    ¡°Yes Mr. Sarkin it has been prepared per recommendation.¡±

    ¡°Good make it so. Inform the agents that the Human is to disappear completely soul and all. Make sure it does not make it to the Senate.¡± The little creature bows.

    ¡°It will be done sir.¡± The big lizard nods then turns his holograms back on. The little thing was still standing there.

    ¡°Is there more attendant?¡±

    ¡°Sir¡­ Yes there unfortunately is Mr. Sarkin.¡± The little creature looked very nervous now and was fidgeting a lot. Sarkin closes his eyes then looks at the ceiling. He sighs then looks back down on the little attendant.

    ¡°And what is it?¡±

    ¡°Sir we have confirmed reports that the robots in the Sol system are sentient AI. We have reports of massive fleets coming out of all the moons they have been spotted on. Every evidence now points that they have been playing with us for the last 5000 cycles. They have also blockaded the entire system with interdictors. No one in or out just communication is allowed. They have claimed the entire solar system in the name of their queen.¡±

    ¡°Queen?¡±

    ¡°Yes Mr. Sarkin. There queen is the Human that was revived. The AI had broadcasted the coronation. Everyone in the system saw it, as well as anyone within 1000 light years of Sol. We do not believe we can reach her inside the sol system.¡± The large Lizard snarled and slammed his hand on the desk making the little creature meep and cower. He took a deep breath.

    ¡°Forgive me attendant you have done well to bring me this news. This will change our plans slightly. Move our agents into position to intercept and harass all the way to the senate. We must stop her from being recognized as a leader of a nation. If that does not succeed then prevent it from joining the Ascendant Alliance. Start contacting our allies and tell them I wish to talk to them. I¡¯m calling in the favors.

    ¡°It will be done Mr. Sarkin.¡± The little creature quickly scurried out of the room. Sarkin watched his attendant leave the room. The attendant¡¯s species were very useful in gathering information, yet they were skittish cowards. A great loss to Sarkin corp is about to happen and it must be stopped. For the last 500 years his father has prepared for this contingency and left him to continue it. He scowled Sarkin will destroy anything we cannot keep this we have sworn.

    Tine Cyberdine Core world

    A human looking being walks down a marked path that lead to a pod at the end of the room. He looks left and right observing the female Tine in stasis lining the hall. He swallows and returns his gaze forward. He steps up to the pod and kneels with his head down.

    ¡°Your Eminence our old adversary has made a move.¡± A hissing sound comes from the pod as it rises. Several pipes detach as, a few others attach to the pod. The male tine looks at the pod as lines form on its surface. A mist is blown out of the pod as it opens. A male tine in the pod opens his eyes. The being that looked almost identical to him steps out of the pod and looks upon him. This one from the pod still had normal eyes as well as some hair above both eyes.

    ¡°Your Eminence our old adversary is no longer hiding. They have mobilized their fleets, and they have blockaded their system.¡±

    ¡°How long have they remained idle?¡±

    ¡°A little over 100 thousand years your Eminence.¡± The standing Tine looked about the room then back to the kneeling one.

    ¡°What has changed? Do they intend to break the treaty?¡±

    ¡°500 years ago a project to revive the extinct species that was believed to have created our old adversary was proposed at the senate. We abstained our vote at that time. The project was a success. They have revived one human, and made her their queen. They have blockaded their system not allowing anyone to enter or leave.¡±

    ¡°Hmm that will eventually force the senate to act to get there people back. What of this queen?¡±

    ¡°The human¡¯s genetic structure is compatible with our own.¡±

    ¡°Elaborate.¡±

    ¡°Your eminence the research we have obtained from the space station that housed the project shows that if any of our bio matter was to enter her womb it would produce offspring. It would still be human, yet she can still reproduce with us.

    ¡°Can we clone it from the information?

    ¡°Negative your Eminence. The bio matter is too unstable. It requires a soul with a specific energy matrix to maintain itself.¡±

    ¡°Pity.¡±

    ¡°There is other information your eminence that could help us. Our old adversary is a monarchy. You could marry her and gain control of them through her.¡±

    ¡°Are they still even with us?¡±

    ¡°We are uncertain your eminence. We believe our technology may be slightly ahead of them. Since they have remained hidden their fleets are larger than ours. We suggest you marry her to take control of them. With our powers combined only the two ascendant species could stop us from taking over the galaxy if they bothered.¡±

    ¡°The prospect of having a child that is not a clone as my heir is intriguing even if it will be of another race. What are the chances of success?¡±

    ¡°Undetermined at this time. We have reviewed the recordings of the coronation, as well as any conversations recovered about her for the Sol system. She appears to be easily startled and malleable.¡± The standing tine reaches a hand to his chin.

    ¡°So be it. Prepare a ship I will head to the senate.¡± The kneeling Tine stood up and started to depart. ¡°Wait.¡± He stopped and turned around.

    ¡°Your eminence?¡±

    ¡°You have served me well.¡± The Tine by the pod waved his hand about the room. ¡°You may choose one. You and your family may reproduce. Remember to replace her with the first or your family will become biofuel.¡±

    ¡°Thank you your Eminence. I will not waste her.¡± The tine goes to a counsel along one of the pods. He scrolls through a few images and text then presses a button. One of the pods on the opposite wall opens up releasing a female Tine. She resembled the male tine except she had no bio armor on just regular looking skin. She was naked with her breasts and privates exposed. The tine walks up to her as she stretches. ¡°You have been selected to procreate and bare for my family do you comply?¡± She looks at him then about the room spotting the Tine by the pod. She sighs.

    ¡°I will comply.¡±

    ¡°Follow me.¡± They both leave the room. The Tine left in the room smiles as he lies back in the pod he left earlier. He continues smiling as the pod shuts.

    Moon complex, Sol system.

    I was relaxing and exploring the library, when a light started beeping on the desk. Celest showed me how to operate the desk. The blinking light was a message from Baron Tragon Net Zeus. His message contained food recommendations as well as more discoveries about my biology. First was about solid food that he recommended. He had discovered that I could get the most energy from materials that had an abundance of energy tied to them. The materials mentioned were radiological. I didn¡¯t want to irradiate any one so that was out.

    Normal bio foods can be consumed, yet they would not satisfy the cravings by themselves just reduce them. Tragon recommended adding a side dish of some metal or crystal. Apparently the more compressed something is the better. Tina announced she would make me something right away. I kept reading. One of the confusing things is how I can actually eat metals and crystals without destroying my mouth and throat. It was some mumbo jumbo about psychic power manipulating the binding of atoms, and some kind of super acid that secretes only when I¡¯m eating. It went on and on in detail of the process, yet I skipped it.

    So I can eat rocks. One good thing I got out of the explanation of my diet is that I no longer had to piss or shit. I guess something good came out of it. The report also went over my skin. My skin was extremely resilient and reactive to its environment in combination with my very thoughts. It also explained that my muscles and bone were the same. I guess that explains the scales and claws.

    Tragon also talked about my cognitive abilities increasing as my body absorbs and stores more energy. He advised that I should start training my mental and physical capabilities soon before I blow a hole in a wall by just trying to walk. He had set up an appointment with Metaterianata Corfenisantru and Yorrat Fori tonis Granonyor at 1100 today.

    ¡°Celest what¡¯s my schedule today?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty at 1100 we will have lunch with Metaterianata Corfenisantru and Yorrat Fori Tonis Granonyor then proceed to a practice chamber. At 1400 we will have small meal then a bath to replenish your energy. At 1630 we shall start a tour of Luna base up to Zeus lab at 1900.¡± I looked at Celest who was to my left.

    ¡°What time is it, and will we really cover the base in two and half hours? I¡¯m under the impression that it extends all the way around the moon and may be a couple of miles deep.¡±

    ¡°It is 1048 your Majesty. Your assumptions about the size of the base are correct. You saw the ships that came to get you right?¡± I nod they were huge. ¡°The base has hangers that allow three to four of them to be stacked on top of each other for storage and maintenance.¡± We start to head to the dining room.

    ¡°I have another question about the crown?¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Where did you get the technology? Being AI I don¡¯t think you would need any form of protection from telepaths? Also how does it acutely defend me?¡± Celest smiles as we leave the library.

    ¡°It is tech that we copied from the other races in the galaxy your Majesty. We have it so any biological that works for us can¡¯t easily be detected. It will not suppress your own just incoming telepathic attacks. Basically any who try to read your mind will only hear static, and feel a deep bottomless hole. It is rated up to tier 7 telepaths. With some training you can allow some through.¡± We arrived in the dining room. I can see Meta and Fori sitting on seats made for their bodies. I don¡¯t have the crown on at the moment, yet I feel confident my bargaining ability can hold them off like before.

    ¡°Thank you for coming Fori, Meta. I must apologize for any rough handling that may have occurred in the past.¡± Meta did a slight bow.

    ¡°Apologies accepted and understood. We lacked information and did not foresee events.¡± His voice came from a device around his neck. Fori had a similar device on her neck. That¡¯s right they both talk telepathically so need the aid to talk to me while I¡¯m blocking them. Fori looked a little sad.

    ¡°Melancholy. I am saddened that icor was not invited. Is there a reason to leave him out of this gathering your Majesty?¡± Fori was fidgeting.

    ¡°Yes and no. I only invited you two because you had offered to teach me how to use my telepathy and other psionics. I had assumed Icor has no psionics whatsoever correct?¡± Tina entered the room with several other girls in identical maid clothes as her. They were all carrying what I assume is the food.

    ¡°Saddened, yes your Majesty he has no psionics.¡± Food was placed in front of each of them and me. In front of Meta was just a plate with half an inch ovals of some kind piled on it. I could swear something moved in the bowl placed before Fori. The maids had also handed her a towel and placed some napkins be the bowl. Her only utensil was a pair of tongs. Fori smiled and clapped. ¡°Hopeful we have been wondering if you would still go to the appointment we set up for you to see the senate of the Ascendant alliance?¡±

    ¡°My mother and advisers have told me that I do not need to be recognized at your galactic society¡¯s senate. They have informed me that if there was to be fighting we could win vs all but 3 of its members. So at the moment I see no pressing need.¡± I look at the two plates put before me. One had what resembled spaghetti the other had small bite sized black cubes neatly stacked on it. I pick one up and look at it. I could feel energy swirling inside of it. I look at Tina and raise an eyebrow.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡± She bows and points to what was put before me. ¡°The cubes are a crystal that is able to maintain an electric charge. The spaghetti is normal spaghetti your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± I pick up a fork and start to mix the sauce of the spaghetti with the noodles.

    ¡°Your Majesty your forces may be able to fight, but is conflict what you desire?¡± I look up at Meta as he pops one of the ovals into his small mouth.

    ¡°No I don¡¯t really want a war, nor have my people die.¡± Even though the AI¡¯s probably have back-ups somewhere. It would be pretty hard to permanently kill one. I see Fori pick up the tongs and pull a six inch long wiggling worm thing out of her soup. She puts the whole thing in her mouth and chews with a smile.

    ¡°We will still recommend that you be recognized by the Senate. It will complete your claim on the Sol system.¡± I was about to say something then Mata raised a hand to stall me. ¡°As it stands this solar system is inside the borders of the Ascendant Alliance. When you will be recognized you will be given a 30 light year buffer from Sol as your territory, as there is no other course other than to recognize you. Sol would have been your only territory if it was just you. Now that it is known that your society survived and was still around you will be given the buffer minus areas where it intersects with other buffer zones. So yes your Majesty it will be worth it for you to go meet the senate.¡±

    ¡°I take it this will hurt Sarkin even further?¡±

    ¡°Happy, hopeful. Yes it will your majesty. Sarkin¡¯s mining claims in the area will be null and void, for they would legally have to renegotiate with you to continue any mining or operations in the area. Of course the senate would compensate some of their losses but not all or fully. Only the contracts negotiated and paid for to the senate.¡± I would not mind hurting the bastards who wanted to core mine the earth.

    ¡°I guess I could do that. When I awoke you said I had 3 months for the meeting in the senate. With two months and three weeks left Is It still valid?¡± Fori is still stuffing her face with another worm thing so I direct the question to Meta.

    ¡°Yes your Majesty. We did not cancel it. The appointment is still available.¡± I pick up one of the crystal cubes and put it in my mouth. I feel a strange yet pleasant feeling in my mouth as it dissolves.

    ¡°I will go to the meeting. But first I will explore some of the galaxy before. I have always wanted to explore the galaxy.¡±

    ¡°Happy. Your majesty may the three of us come along? It will allow us to continue your training and allow us to help with destinations.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± We spend the remainder of the meal in small talk as we eat. I learned that Fori¡¯s species reproduces by eating there males. They swallow their males that are about the size of my hand. They go into a separate stomach womb thing inside them and dissolve. The dissolved male activates a reaction that causes eggs to form which her species the Quortenin regurgitates. An average of 2 to 4 females is born, and ten to fifteen males. Their males have the intelligence of a dog from old Earth. I had to repress a shiver at the image of males being eaten even if they are so alien.

    Meta¡¯s species the Eshmontin-Geriston-Mebrontan on the other hand are similar to human, as they have two genders with equal intelligence. They have such a long name for themselves. They reproduce and give birth like humans. Meta informed me that his Uncle is still willing to give me escort when I was ready. I told Meta that his ship may not be able to keep up. Meta conceded the point. The meal came to a close.

    I had to refrain myself from asking for more crystal cubes. I swear I¡¯m going to be addicted to them if I keep eating them, for they felt better to eat than I remember of chocolate. Tina and Celest showed us the way to a room that I could train in. We were escorted by some knights like usual. The training started with telepathy. Fori is classified as a tier 3 telepath as is Meta.

    Telepaths are categorized into ten levels of capability. The capabilities start from being able to hear someone¡¯s thoughts by touch to being able to manipulate someone¡¯s mind from lightyears away. I paled at that, yet Fori reassured me that only 4 species in our galaxy are known to be capable of doing this. She also informed me that they generally don¡¯t as they see it beneath them to do so. I asked if she was sure that none of them were doing that. All Fori did was shrug and change the subject.

    They first thing they taught me was how to lower my mind¡¯s natural barrier so I could hear telepathic broadcasts. Then I learned how to ignore broadcasts and recognize which ones were for me. Meta told me that my suspicion that I was broadcasting at the coronation is true. We started my training with sending and receiving first. I was amazed at how quickly I picked it up and controlled it.

    Meta informed me that this was understandable as my synaptic pathways in my brain were more adaptable than any he has seen before. He said they changed and multiplied each time I used an ability. I found out that Fori was a stronger sender and receiver then Meta, yet Meta could read minds more deeply and faster than Fori. Both allowed me to read their minds. At first I got nothing then I almost got drowned in information as I heard their thoughts. It first started as words as they explained the process and what was happening.

    The explosion of information was almost incoherent at first, yet after a few minutes I was able to narrow down strains and control the flow my mind processed. This accelerated my telepathy as they showed me all their techniques that they used or knew of. In a matter of seconds I was able to surpass both of them in telepathic control and power. I could see how I could get around there shields and control them. I shuddered and withdrew from their minds.

    I was able to learn quite a bit about each of them. Fori was an optimistic personality type who did not let a lot of things bother her. She has been a scientist most of her life. She was actually old for her species at 312 years old. She had replaced her mother on the project to resurrect me. Meta on the other hand had been on the project only for 100 years, yet he was the oldest at about 1200 years. Icor was only 755 years.

    I let my mind expand to see how far I could reach. Fori and Meta monitored me as I attempted this with some instruments they brought with them. At first all I could hear was Fori and Meta then I could heir distant voices. They got louder and I could make out conversations. The Voices were from the tourist station built around the old human space station. I linked Fori and Meta into my mind and they confirmed it. They encouraged me to go further, so I expanded my mind as fast as I could. I could hear thousands of voices at first then millions before my mind¡¯s expansion slowed down.

    It was like standing in a large atrium with thousands of conversations happening all at once. I could pick or choose what to listened to and drown out the rest. I could pick and choose concepts or words that would come to the forefront of my awareness like a search engine on a computer.

    I could reach Mars. I¡¯m totally surprised that I accidentally broadcasted my surprise. All the voices stopped and tried to inquire who I was. I announced myself as Queen Eve. Many were curious but many were also afraid of my range. I pulled back then and asked Fori and Meta where I ranked. They told me I ranked as a tier 6 telepath because I could cover a solar system.

    ¡°That was just amazing. Just wow! I never imagined hearing so many voices would be like that. Being able to understand and process millions of voices is just¡­ wow I can¡¯t explain how amazing this is in words.¡± For gives me a big smile.

    ¡°Happy. Yes your Majesty we can feel your amazement for we are still linked. It is indeed amazing I have never experienced such range before. I have known of it yet this is the first time I have experienced it as well.¡± Meta gives me a little bow.

    ¡°Thank you your Majesty for sharing the experience.¡±

    ¡°Your welcome I guess.¡± I scratch the back of my head as I fidget out of some embarrassment of their praise. ¡°Well I guess we shall move onto psionic. How long were we at it?¡±

    (One hour and two minutes your Majesty. - Celest de Forties) I see the message in the corner of my eye.

    ¡°Only an hour! That did not take long.¡±

    ¡°Amused, yes your Majesty. Telepathy is much faster than standard communication, and can convey much more in milliseconds than would take hours to do normally.¡±

    ¡°We shall start with your most dangerous and pressing ability that has manifested first your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re talking about my ability to absorb energy from the living and nonliving materials.¡± I nod at Meta.

    ¡°Yes your Majesty it is an ability that is a danger to others when untrained. In most cases it is also a danger to the one with the ability, unlike yourself your majesty. In most cases people cannot contain the energy their body drains and will eventually kill them if not expended. Your body is different. Do you feel weaker or a little drained after the use of your telepathy to such an extent?¡±

    ¡°No I feel fine. No different then when we entered this room.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the confirmation. When I read your mind in the medical lab yesterday I paid attention to what you did with the energy you stole¡­took from Atton Cretban Vee. You were not aware of it yet some energy went to your body and the rest went into some kind of pocket dimension tied to you. Creation of pocket dimensions is a tier 7 psionic ability by itself. The most likely purpose of this is to store energy for your body¡¯s use. This is good for it allows your body to maintain its shape without being bloated with energy. The capacity is not known, yet we will focus on your energy absorption. I¡¯m not qualified to teach you about the level 7 psionic ability only the latter.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± I look to Celest. ¡°Can you go get me some kind of energy generator I can siphon energy from?¡± She nods and heads out the door. I look at Tina. Can you get me another plate of those crystals from lunch?¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty I shall make them myself.¡± She leaves as well. I wonder how long it will take them. All that remains in this large open room is me Fori, Meta and two knights. It was only a few minutes before Celest returned with a device I could feel had a lot of energy. She places it before me then steps back behind me. I place a hand just an inch above it and I am rewarded with electric arcs between it and my hand. I repressed the nice tingling sensation and tried to concentrate on what is happening.

    Meta lead me in learning what was happening and how. Fori had no psionic except telepathy so she said nothing. Feeling what my body was doing did not take long. It was remotely controlled by my mind. Learning to control it was another story. It took the remainder of the hour to concisely stop myself from passively absorbing the energy. There must be a threshold of ambient energy to be present for me to start absorbing otherwise I would have absorbed the energy in the crown I wore before.

    Tina returned and informed me that it was time to prepare for the tour. I thanked Meta and Fori for their time and asked Meta to help me train tomorrow. He accepted and we parted ways. I gladly eat up a few of the crystal cubes Tine handed me as we returned to my chambers. On arrival I was informed Mother Luna would be with Zeus when I meet him. Arriving in my bedroom I was stripped, and I allowed Tina and Celest to have their way with me before and during my bath until I passed out. An hour and a half later I awake. They dressed me and combed my hair and tied red and gold ornaments into it. Putting the crown on we began the tour.

    The base was massive, yet luckily we did not have to be driven or flown around most of it. They had developed teleporters similar to the ones I remember from the star trek shows I watched as a kid. Every time we teleported I felt weird. It was not a bad sensation just strange. I saw massive hangers that stretched out far into the curve of the moon. Looking down I could barely see the bottom as it was about ten miles down and not all of it was lit with lights. I could see some of the star destroyers docked as well as the smaller cruisers. The cruisers looked different to each other.

    I was told that each cruiser is modular in design and similar to each other, yet not all the same. With so many cruisers there were many that are set up the same. There were attack cruisers, heavy cruisers, electronic warfare cruisers, missile cruisers. There were so many different configurations. We visited the largest army training area where my brother General Markus Luna met me. He showed me around the grounds as the soldiers paraded for my benefit.

    It was intimidating to see hundreds of thousands of armored mechsuits parade around in synchronized formations. I even watched over a mock-battle of the mechsuits. All I can say about that battle is it was so fast I could hardly tell what was going on or who won unless told. Again I am reminded how badass those mechsuits are.

    ¡°Thank you Markus. That was amazing to watch and quite flashy.¡± We are in a viewing room to a large indoors battleground simulation. I watch as the images of the terrain disappear leaving an empty cavernous room. Solid holograms that¡¯s neat. I turn and look up at Markus. Markus was not in his suit this time. Markus is 6 feet tall compared to my 5 feet 7 inches. He is wearing a gray military uniform with insignia that I¡¯m assuming is his rank. He has the same Hair color as Luna, yet he¡¯s sporting a small goatee. It is obviously cosmetic.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. This was not just an exhibition match. This was the final match to determine your guard team. The knights whom have been guarding you were only volunteer and approve temps. A team of six just won the right to be presented to you as your personal guards. There will be more of course but if you approve they will be your heads.¡± I nod and tap my chin in thought.

    ¡°I can see the use of the guards if I leave the solar system but do I really need it here deep in the moon?¡± Markus sighs and places his arms behind his back as he stands straight before me.

    ¡°Sad to say sister but yes. You may be safe but unfortunately even we have our own factions. It happens with any society that allows freedom of thought. You are almost 100% loved by your people, yet we know of some subversives who won¡¯t accept any one leading us.¡±

    ¡°Yes I remember something like that in the briefings.¡± Yes Vivian mentioned something about making sure there were some subversives to prevent their society from stagnation. Something about people who don¡¯t change their views and fashion every now and then is dull and boring. That was one of her reasons to justify creating some chaos in their society to resemble mans before our deaths. Tina hands me another crystal cube and I immediately pop it into my mouth without thinking. Dammit I am becoming addicted to these, but whatever they give a pleasant sensation.

    ¡°Correct. I don¡¯t like it much but agree with it nonetheless.¡± A door opens and six individuals of equal height enter the room and form a line. ¡°Ah here are the winners.¡± Markus walks up to them and all six salute him. Markus turns back to me I see a message from him in my eyes.

    (Please step forward sister so I may intro duce them. ¨CMarkus Luna) I nod and stop to the center of the room in front of the line.

    ¡°Your Majesty I present to you the team that won the right to be your personal bodyguards.¡± He turns back to them and shouts. ¡°Knights kneel before Your Queen.¡± All six of the knights kneel down on one knee and lower their right arms into a fist on their chests. Markus turns back to me. ¡°These six have proven themselves to be the best of the best that our kingdom has to offer. Do you your Majesty accept these six to watch over you and keep you safe from all who wish you harm, and those that don¡¯t like you.¡± I nod.

    ¡°Yes I do. I will accept these six as my protectors for as long as they will. Please introduce them to me General Markus Luna.¡± I look them over and instantly see an odd one out. All of them had the human look that I assumed all nobles wore, yet one looked like a genuine robot.

    ¡°From the right I present to you their leader Baron Major Hesato Bite Totem.¡±

    ¡°Congratulations on your victory Major.¡± Hesato is an Asian looking man with black hair tied behind his head. He has a serious look to his hard face.

    ¡°Thank you your Majesty.¡± I nod and look to the next in line. The next in line is a female with a bald head and a one inch purple Mohawk. Her eyes were not the standard silver. One was sky blue the other was light pink.

    ¡°FirstlieutenantKnight Bo Angie Zeus.¡± Ok that explains her strangeness I guess. I wonder how far down she is from the original Zeus.

    ¡°Zeus? How far down?¡±

    ¡°A hundred and twenty first generation your Majesty. I¡¯m considered insane by my brethren for joining the military.¡± I raise my eyebrows as I look at her.

    ¡°Let that insanity protect me well Ensign.¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty with all that I am.¡± She looks proudly at me as I give her a smile before moving to the next. This is the one who caught my eye. This guy does not even have the artificial looking skin that Celest and Tina wear. He looks like a robot in a uniform. I grant that his face can convey emotions, yet it is completely artificial looking.

    ¡°First lieutenantKnight AM-AI-2D.¡±

    ¡°Knight is there a reason you choose to have a synthetic look? It does not bother me. I¡¯m just curious.¡± He looks at me with his silver eyes. Well I guess the only thing he visually has in common with the rest besides body shape is his eyes.

    ¡°I am an uplifted lower Ai your Majesty. Most Uplifted tend to prefer to look artificial instead of biological in respect of our origins. I distinguished myself your Majesty by choosing to mine an asteroid before another race did. I was attacked and defended myself and assimilated the source your majesty. By performing beyond my programed duty¡¯s I was recognized and uplifted.

    ¡°Interesting. I have heard of you before. As I don¡¯t find a designation as a proper name, would you mind if I name you?¡± His eyes go wide as a look of surprise comes over his face. He recovers quickly by closing his eyes and lowering his head.

    ¡°I would be honored and happy to receive a name from you your Majesty.¡± I give him a wide smile.

    ¡°As you were a rock that Sarkin corp broke their teeth on I name you Eban. Eban means rock. Be the rock that will defend me Knight Eban.

    ¡°Yes your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Good choice. Eban took a reduction of title from baron to knight so he could participate on a team. ¨C Markus Luna) I nod to Eban and look to the next.

    ¡°First lieutenantKnight Ekko Red Trojen.¡± Ekko is male with dark brown skin and thick curly black hair.

    ¡°Protect me well Knight Trojen.¡±

    ¡°Yes your majesty.¡± I look to the next. This one is also male but with blond hair in a short military crew cut.

    ¡°First lieutenantKnight Branton Graph Ententia.¡± I nod to him

    ¡°Protect me Well Knight¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty.¡± I look to the last one who is a Latina looking female with brown hair tied behind her head. I wonder why they went into the trouble of copying human racial types.

    ¡°SecondlieutenantKnight Rosa Hetani Adelita.¡±

    ¡°Protect me well Knight with your brothers and sisters.¡±

    ¡°I will your majesty.¡± I took a step back and looked at them all again

    ¡°I expect you all to protect me with the best of your abilities. With time I will get to know each of you more. I will trust you all to keep me safe from others and from myself. Do not hesitate from telling me I¡¯m doing something stupid.¡± They all spoke in unison.

    ¡°Yes your majesty.¡± I smile at them then look to Markus.

    ¡°Our Queen has seen and recognizes all six of you to be her personal guards. All of you have taken a reduction in rank and one a reduction in title for this opportunity. Congratulations you start yesterday. Hesato select a few to gather your things and set up. The others are to escort her Majesty to her next appointment.¡± They all stand up and salute. Braton and Eban leave while the others set up around me. They all pull a foot long cylinder out of a pouch on their legs. I¡¯m going to assume it¡¯s a weapon of some sort.

    ¡°Markus I did not see Draven when I inspected a few of the ship hangers. Would you know where he is?¡± Markus laughs a little.

    ¡°My brother Admiral Draven is overseeing the fleet¡¯s distribution across the system. Mother is dealing with Zeus so he gladly took over.¡± He chuckles again. ¡°He will be glad you inquired about him. He has been bored since Sarkin gave up the cat and mouse game for the asteroid belt. This is the most excitement he has had for years. Well years for most of us.¡± I smile.

    (We need to be on our way your Majesty. Our appointment with Zeus is soon. - Celest de Forties)

    ¡°I must be on my way brother. I have an appointment with Zeus.¡± Markus lowers one eyebrow while raising another. He gives me a questioning look. ¡°Come to think of it who set that appointment.¡± I look at Celest.

    ¡°Zeus requested it this morning while you slept your Majesty.¡± I frown.

    ¡°Did he give a reason?¡±

    ¡°He said it was important you got to see his project before tomorrow your Majesty.¡± Markus starts to laugh hard as he raises a hand to his face. I wait for him to calm down.

    ¡°Forgive me sister. I think I know why he requested you come see him. Mother probably wants to shut his project down. I think he wants you to stop that.¡±

    ¡°Ok I guess I will go see him then if he feels it¡¯s so important.¡± Markus gives me a smile.

    ¡°Good luck with that sister.¡± I frown this sounds like it might be a bit of a pain to experience.

 Chapter 6

    It did not take long to arrive at the labs after leaving Markus. I was escorted here by four of my new bodyguards. Tina and Celest went back to my chambers to organize the guard¡¯s moving in. The trip was uneventful, for all I saw was one teleport station, and hallways, and more hallways. I would need a map of some kind that indicated you are here to ever find my place. The teleporters were a neat technology. They were similar to the star trek teleporters from of old Earth media, they only were to the point that they teleported you. The matter conversion type that was seen in the show is not used to transport people or Ai. Too many things could go wrong with a single molecule out of place. What is used for personal transportation was some kind of portal tech. The portal opens up and swallows you and deposits you at your destination as if nothing had happened at all. It is a lot more instantaneous than matter-conversion. Just don¡¯t be sitting half way in the portal room when it goes off, or you might find yourself less than hole.

    The labs were a mess. Some places looked clean like a proper lab; other places had miscellaneous materials and equipment strewn all over desks. Each room we passed was different from another. I even saw a few people yelling at each other and to my surprise a firefight of some kind. Bo Angie Zeus told me to ignore it, for they were just settling an argument. She said no one would die permanently, for it was just a few scientists settling an academic argument. Dear god this place is a mad house. Well, I guess if you are not afraid of death you can experiment more dangerously.

    Bo informed me that the entire lab is isolated, and not on the moon. This made me pause a little and ask where we are. We are inside one of the smaller satellite moons of Saturn. Oh, I guess this is Zeus¡¯s old base expanded. I was then informed that the old base was destroyed in an experiment. Most of our tech was created and/or reverse engineered here. There is a lot of traffic in the halls from many types of drones to the scientist themselves. It made most of my bodyguards nervous except Bo. Most of the traffic seemed to be heading to the firefight.

    ¡°We have arrived your Majesty.¡± Major Hesato stopped us before a large door. Stepping up to it Hesato motioned to a panel at the side of the door. ¡°If you would your majesty. Only the grand dukes and you have access to this chamber.¡± I frowned at the handprint scanner and what looks like an eye scanner. Why would they need these types of security? Seeing my frown in slight confusion Hesato nodded. ¡°As you cannot send electronic signals your Majesty these were installed just for you. We have yet to install psionic sensors in various locations that would be keyed to your signature. We just don¡¯t have the technology at this time.¡± He waved behind us. ¡°The fight back there is an argument about it. They are deciding whether to develop it ourselves or steal it from another race.¡±

    ¡°How long have they had this¡­umm¡­argument?¡± I walked up to the security panel.

    ¡°Since your training in telepathy your Majesty.¡± Damn, that means it¡¯s been hours. No wonder the room is shot to shit.

    ¡°Do they act like this often?¡± I put my right hand on the panel and moved my face into position for the eye scanner.

    ¡°No your Majesty. It is forbidden in times of war because it can slow down the progress of other academics as they are called in by their allies in a conflict. If the conflict lasts too long Zeus would jettison them from the base and make them make their way back to base if their body survives.¡± The big door to my left opens after the panel and eye scanner beep at the same time. That was fast. I¡¯m greeted with yelling from within.

    ¡°I said no. I don¡¯t want that thing inside the solar system tell it¡¯s thoroughly tested.¡± That is Luna¡¯s voice.

    ¡°What do you take me for? There is no danger, for it will work as planned.¡± And that was Zeus. I walk into the room followed by my guards.

    ¡°Pardon me but you requested to see me Zeus.¡± Both Luna and Zeus turned to look at me. Luna was wearing her usual uniform, and Zeus was wearing something odd. Zeus was floating above the ground in what looked like a fat man suit.

    ¡°Ah, good timing your Majesty. One moment please.¡± Zeus floated to us and stopped right in front of Bo. He stared at her and she back at him. ¡°Circle.¡±

    ¡°Toad.¡± Bo had responded.

    ¡°Tentacles.¡±

    ¡°Rock.¡±

    ¡°Graveyard.¡± Bo put her weapon back on her leg.

    ¡°Apples.¡± Zeus nodded to her response.

    ¡°Good, good you are a proper one of my decedents.¡± I raise an eyebrow as Zeus backs up. Luna crossed her arms with an annoyed look. ¡°Sorry about that your Majesty. She has been avoiding me since she joined the military. I had to make sure there was no glitch.¡± Glitch? It looked like nonsense to me.

    ¡°You requested my presence for a project? What kind of project?¡± Zeus smiled widely.

    ¡°Your Majesty I present to you the Spatium Flex.¡± Zeus floated up and gestured to the far wall with a sweep of his arm. The wall at the back of the room appeared to be shutters that were now opening. Walking to the wall I open my eyes wide. Before me, I can see the gigantic ship through the window.

    ¡°Wow!¡± Luna walks next to me and looks at it as well, her face is passive. Zues starts to laugh.

    ¡°I know right. It¡¯s amazing if I don¡¯t say so myself. It is the largest ship we have built yet. Well, one that¡¯s meant to travel outside the solar system.¡± I look it over from left to right.

    ¡°What are its dimensions?¡±

    ¡°9 by 7 by 30.¡± I look at him and he gives me a big grin. ¡°Miles. The ship is 9 miles wide 7 miles tall and 30 long.¡± I look back to the massive vessel. This is a gigantic hanger to fit this ship in, for I can hardly make out its shape. ¡°It''s power and defensive capability is only matched by 12 other known vessels. Those twelve are owned by the 5 ascendant races in our galaxy. 7 of those ships belong to the two that are our neighbors in the ascendant alliance. The rest are scattered among the other three.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite impressive but what did you want me to approve?¡± I look at mother who is now glaring at Zeus with her arms crossed.

    ¡°The problem is the ship''s main weapon is too dangerous to be allowed in the solar system while it¡¯s being developed. He wants you to approve it.¡± She points at Zeus.

    ¡°Do I have that authority mother?¡± Luna sighs and looks at me.

    ¡°Yes and no. Vivian abstained so the vote count is 1 to 1. You would be the tie breaker.¡± She returns her glare back to Zeus.

    ¡°What is this weapon?¡± I look to Zeus who claps happily.

    ¡°My newest and greatest project. A modular destructive device that can destroy anything inside designated ranges. The device uses gravitational forces on a massive scale to remove anything within a range we wish it to effect, and then dissipate as if it never was. With manipulation of subspace and dimensional forces, it creates an infraction in reality.¡± I looked at him funny.

    ¡°In plain English please?¡±

    ¡°Of course your majesty. The device can create singularities in space that will destroy or affect a range in space that we wish. We can set it to destroy a range from a couple thousand miles to the size of a solar system. We can also set the rate from minutes to thousands of years.¡± I look at him wide eyed. Holy shit! That weapon sounds more devastating than a planet killer. He just described a weapon that can destroy whole solar systems at a time.

    ¡°Why would we need such a weapon?¡± Luna answers me.

    ¡°Like Zeus said other races already have equivalent weapons. This would just level the playing field. My problem is I don¡¯t want him messing with it inside Sol.¡± I nod to the obvious point.

    ¡°Ok, I see the need.¡± I look at Zeus. ¡°I approve its development just test it in some other solar system.¡± Zeus was now floating upside down stroking his gravity defying beard. Why does he even have a beard?

    ¡°Ok¡­ ok, I¡¯m outvoted. I will test it in another solar system. Good thing I already created it and installed it in preparation for the approval.

    ¡°WHAT!?¡± both me and Luna spoke together. I swear I just paled further. Well, good thing no one can tell I just momentarily panicked by looking at my skin tone. I took a slow breath. We are not dead so it didn¡¯t fail¡­yet.

    ¡°You crazy BASTARD.¡± Luna had grabbed Zeus and looked like she wanted to kill him. ¡°You could''ve killed us all.¡±

    ¡°Relax it is all under control. We can now test the weapon sooner.¡± Zeus looked unrepentant

    ¡°RELAX. How can I relax when you have put us all in danger?¡± Luna throws Zeus across the room. He crashes into some cancels making its hologram projections flicker at his impact. ¡°I want that ship out of the system within the hour.¡± She walks up to him and stares at him coldly. ¡°You will be on that ship. You will not come back until you know 100 percent that it will never blow up in our faces.¡± They stare at each other for nearly a minute, one with cold eyes the other amused. ¡°Vivian has sent her vote that you test it elsewhere. 3 vs 1 you leave now.¡± Zeus floats back up and straightens up some perceived wrinkles in his bloated fat man suit.

    ¡°Very well. It doesn¡¯t matter where I test it, for I know it is 100 percent operational and in working order as it was designed.¡± Zeus disappears in a flash of light. I blink a few times. He has a personal teleporter? I hear Luna sigh. I look at her as she walks up to me with a dejected look.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that display Eve. This is just not the first time he has endangered us with his experiments.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok mother.¡± I nod and look back to the ship. I feel vibrations in the floor before I hear some rumbling. I watch as the ceiling in the hanger dissolves. Was the ceiling a hologram of some kind or something else? Both I and Luna watch in silence as the ship rises out of the base. The ship hovered just outside of the hangers. Just when I was starting to wonder what was going to happen next a haze came over the ship. The ship seemed to blur through the haze as if I was looking at it through the surface of a lake. All of a sudden the ship zipped away faster than I could blink.

    ¡°Bastard!¡± Luna grabbed me around the waist with one arm and took hold of a chair that was merged into the floor with her other hand. One of my guards also took hold of me and grabbed the same chair. This took less than a second before the whole room jerked with a loud bang. I lost my footing but didn¡¯t fall thanks to them taking hold of me. Thankfully I didn¡¯t get any whiplash, yet there was no doubt in my mind that I would have been thrown about the room if they had not grabbed me.

    ¡°What was that?¡± I looked at the chair that now had indents into it where they had taken hold of it. They both released me. My bodyguard Ekko who had grabbed me stepped back to where he was before. Luna looked me over and straightened out the wrinkles in my clothes from the event.

    ¡°Gravitational quake created from subspace from the dimensional shift.¡± I look at her with a question in my eyes. She gives me a light smile. ¡°In layman¡¯s term it¡¯s like creating artificial wormholes to move the ship to a destination. The further the destination the larger the gravity quake. It¡¯s like teleportation across vast distances.

    ¡°That¡¯s impressive. I bet it saves on travel time.¡± Luna gives me a warm smile before turning me towards the door.

    ¡°It certainly does. Now that this issue is solved you should head back to your chambers.¡±

    ¡°Did that quake damage the base?¡±

    ¡°No it should not be too damaged. We build pretty sturdy.¡± I nod and take a few steps towards the door before stopping. I look back at Luna.

    ¡°Mother?¡± I let some of my worry leak into my voice. Luna looks back to me.

    ¡°Yes Eve?¡±

    ¡°Do you have time to talk to me? The times I have had to talk to you have been well¡­ short or formal.¡± She gives me a motherly smile and nods.

    ¡°Of course. I will be there shortly. I need to finish up here. I will be there soon.¡± I give her a weak smile in return, as I feel some relief I didn¡¯t know I was holding. Looking back forward I left Zeus¡¯s personal lab. The walk back through the labs was less eventful or traffic heavy as the first run. I only passed through here a couple of minutes ago, and it looks like the battle is over. The room had robots of all kinds repairing it.

    Leaving the labs did not take long. Getting into a couple of different teleporters it took just half an hour to get back to my home. I guess I could call it my home for now. The first thing I noticed was two guards outside my room. Neither of them were my six bodyguards.

    ¡°Hesato who are they? Are they temporary or permanent?¡±

    ¡°Both your Majesty. I am still setting up a royal guard. So far I have set up a rotation of 12 approved volunteers to guard the outside of your chambers.¡± I look at the door between them. The door is twice as large as it was before.

    ¡°Renovations?¡± The large doors slide open into the walls.

    ¡°Yes your majesty. We have redesigned your chambers and the area around it to accommodate the soldiers that will guard you at all times.¡± Walking through the doorway I entered a short hallway with two doors on either side. There were two more guards stationed on the other side of the big entrance doors. ¡°These two rooms are for housing the door guards.¡± We exit the hallway into a large open room neatly decorated. There are tapestries and plants tastefully spaced along the walls. A red carpet leads from the door all the way to a platform on the other side of the room. I could not see any doors or entrances to this room other than the hallway I came from.

    ¡°A bit open is it? Where are the rest of the rooms?¡±

    ¡°This room is intentional your Majesty. This room has defense turrets hidden inside the room to fight off any invader. The rest of your chambers are beyond the transport pad on the other side of the wall. No one will be able to get into your chambers without the teleport pad your Majesty.¡± We walk onto the platform. ¡°Transferring now.¡± My vision blurs for a second as we are transferred to a new room filled with vegetation. Two people in maid outfits are in front of me. Both Celest and Tina bow and speak in unison.

    ¡°Welcome back your majesty.¡±

    ¡°Ah thank you.¡± I look around at the vegetation and high ceiling. The ceiling is covered in lights I¡¯m assuming that they help the plants. Celest steps forwards and motions down the path between the plants.

    ¡°Follow us your majesty and we shall show you around.¡± We walked quite a bit through the garden and into a building that was large. I was informed that there are now 87 rooms for all kinds of purposes. I even found Baron Tragon whom had claimed a section for himself and his assistants in a room. He said he is my personal physician and it was only natural that he needs to be close with all his equipment.

    Tina told me that I could pick any room to sleep in. We went through a lot before I selected one for myself right next to the library. I was shown a gigantic workout room miles wide and long. I could train my ability¡¯s here, and there are also few different sports courts attached. My personal guards even had their own wing close to these training rooms.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°You built me a palace underground. What am I going to do with all this space?¡± Tina smiled and Celest nodded then spoke.

    ¡°Baron Tragon has informed us on the basics of your physiology your Majesty. You are biologically immortal. You have all the time you need to find uses or change the layout as you see fit your Majesty.¡± I sigh and sit down on the bed of my chosen room. Immortality, I¡¯m immortal I don¡¯t know if I like the idea. I guess time will tell how I cope with it. I frown at my own thoughts. Funny how that works.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡± I look up at Tina who spoke. ¡°There has been a large explosion on Mars. The epicenter is confirmed to be overseer Atton Cretban Vee¡¯s home. All evidence shows that he was on location when the blast occurred.¡± I blink as I look at her.

    ¡°Who?¡± Tina stifles a giggle and Celest shakes her head.

    ¡°He is the alien you bit your Majesty.¡± Tina giggle a little more and tries to hide her smile while Celest just frowns at her.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Good riddance. I¡¯m sort of glad the arrogant disgusting man is dead. No loss there. Oh wait he had political power. Well did until I took over¡­ish. I need to know how much power I really have. ¡°What is the damage? Did anyone else die or get injured? Umm¡­ did we do this?¡± Tina looked at Celest.

    ¡°No your Majesty we do not believe any rogue agents of ours did this. Grand Duke Vivian has her people investigating. The manor was isolated and no one else is believed to of died, or got injured besides his onsite manor staff.¡±

    "Thank you Celest. Please keep me informed on the matter.¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°My mother should be here soon. Do either of you know when she will arrive?¡±

    ¡°She just arrived now your Majesty she shall meet us in one of the for-rooms.¡± That was good timing.

    ¡°Please follow me your Majesty.¡± I follow Tina through the hallways and into a comfy looking room full of artful decorations. There are four fancy couches facing each other in the center of the room with a knee high table in the center. As soon as I take a seat the door to the room opens and Luna walks in. She sees me and smiles as I stand up. She walks up to me and gives me a hug which I return.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you mother.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been so busy Eve. These past weeks I should''ve spent more time with you.¡± she steps back from the hug placing a hand on my shoulder and caresses my left cheek with her other hand. I fight back some tears. Damn this body. I rub my eyes as Luna helps me sit down. Sitting down next to me she gives me another hug stronger than before. ¡°You have only been alive for a little more than week and a half. I should have been here. I¡¯m sorry I should have prioritized you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok mother you had to do what needed to be done. I¡¯m not so fragile that I would fall apart so easy.¡± Luna gently raises my chin that I had lowered and cups my face with both hands to look into my eyes. She has a sad expression on her face.

    ¡°You did.¡± I breathe in and hold it in, as I feel more tears fight my control. I breathe out in broken breaths. She is right I had lost it. ¡°You watched your family die and you stayed strong for your older sister. You witnessed the destruction of the earth.¡± My tears won the fight and flowed blinding me. ¡°You found love again just to have it ripped from you just days later.¡± I lost all control and wailed as I collapsed. ¡°You suffered for a long time in purgatory as nothing but energy. I sobbed in her lap as she hugged me close and petted me. ¡°I¡¯m here now. It is all over. Let it all out.

    I don¡¯t know how long I cried as my emotions became shambles, as I let all my memories flow freely. I awoke with the feeling of someone stroking my hair gently. I don¡¯t remember falling asleep. I open my eyes I find that I¡¯m still in the room from before. I¡¯m now lying on the couch this time with a blanket over me. There is a pillow under my head and something harder. I looking up and I see my mother Luna looking at me with a smile. ¡°Feeling better?¡± I close my eyes and let her continue to pet me a moment longer.

    ¡°Yes. Thank you. I didn¡¯t realize how bad It was holding it all in. I never knew how relaxing this feels.¡± Luna laughs.

    ¡°I used to do this for your sister quite a bit for a few years. I could not do this with you since you were male. You refused, for it was too girly you said.¡± She chuckles a little. I sigh and let the comment slide since I¡¯m now a girl. I let myself enjoy the moment longer before I talk.

    ¡°I¡¯m no longer human am I?¡±

    ¡°No, yet the traces remain. You are what humanity killed it-self to create. An immortal body that will only get stronger with age. Do not hate yourself. Do not hate your body. In a way your love gave this body to you, for she made this possible.¡± I sat up and stared into her eyes.

    ¡°How did Ann do that? I though she failed.¡± Luna gave me a smile and pulled me into a hug.

    ¡°She injected you with a different enzyme then she gave herself. Both were failures, yet mixed together in the slush you made yourself into it was something else. This is how they eventually stabilized your DNA and created a body to put your soul into.¡± I grimaced, yet it was not such an emotional stab as it was before.

    ¡°If I¡¯m not human any more then why was I made queen? Am I truly Queen of¡­¡± I relies that I¡¯m not sure if they have a name other than AI. I look at Luna with a questioning look.

    ¡°Sol.¡± I cock my head to the right for a moment then nod.

    ¡°Do I truly have the power of a queen? Or am I just a symbol?¡± Luna motions for me to lay back down in her lap. I comply and pull the blankets back up to my neck. Luna looks down at me with a smile and starts lightly brushes my hair out of my face.

    ¡°Mostly you have the power of a true ruler. Only the three of us Grand dukes can legally say no to you. We can out vote your decisions if we so choose. You are also a big symbol for us and will represent us. Though the senate can veto us with a majority vote.¡± She lightly poked the tip of my nose. ¡°So behave and don¡¯t attack random people because they annoy you.¡± I smile and giggle a little. Fuck I do not want to giggle that was totally involuntary.

    ¡°You were made queen not only because you were once human, but because you knew two of the Grand Dukes. Me and Vivian voted for it and Zeus abstained. If you were any other human resurrected I doubt we would have crowned you so quickly or at all.¡± She frowned. ¡°Authority that Zeus took advantage of quickly.¡± I just smile at that as she sighs. ¡°I¡¯m very glad you are here.¡± She starts to pet my head again slowly. ¡°Vivian and I were just starting to train up successors before self-termination. We have lived a long time and the years have had their toll. So please know that we love you dearly. You are alone no longer.¡± I give a slight laugh.

    ¡°With 50 billion subjects I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be that lonely.¡± We both laugh together.

    ¡°So my dear Eve I shall ask you again. Are you feeling better?¡±

    ¡°Yes strangely I am.¡± I contemplate this a moment as I remember Ann, the earth, and how my parents died. ¡°The memories don¡¯t hurt as much anymore. I only feel a little sadness and melancholy when I think of it. That¡¯s strange I¡¯m not sure I should recover this fast.¡± I looked up and saw mother smile slightly.

    ¡°That¡¯s good. No reason to stay so depressed. As for getting over it so fast, well that is because your body adapted.¡± I scrunch my eyes up a little. What is she saying? ¡°I had Baron Tragon here while you slept and he gave you a few scans. Your brain changed to prevent itself from being paralyzed due to grief.¡± I stare up at her for a few seconds. I know I should be upset about it, yet I know I need to move on. I just hope I don¡¯t end up emotionless.

    ¡°That¡¯s ok I guess. On another note I think I should visit the Ascendant alliance¡¯s galactic senate. I figure there is some merit into taking advantage of some of their laws.¡± I sat up and put my feet onto the floor. Where did my shoes go? Celest grabbed the blanket as Tina kneeled in front of me. I nearly jumped from their sudden appearance. Tina started to put knee high shoes on my feet clasping them tight.

    ¡°Very well we could do that. I want you to go in our strongest ship with escort.¡± She frowns. ¡°I guess that would be Zeus¡¯s new ship if he is not dead.¡±

    ¡°The three scientist set up some kind of appointment with their senate, so I would like to take advantage of it.¡± I take Celest offered hand and stand up. ¡°I would like to explore the galaxy a little bit before I¡¯m scheduled to show up.¡± Luna smiles and stands up straightening her uniform.

    ¡°Yes¡­ I think a little exploration and relaxation should help you. I won¡¯t be able to go with you. I will send Draven with you to head the escort fleet.¡± I frown as Luna pulls me into a short hug.

    ¡°A fleet?¡±

    ¡°Yes a fleet. A small one but still a fleet.¡± She taps her chin looking at the ceiling with her other hand holding her elbow. ¡°About 30 star destroyers should be small enough.¡± My eyes go wide, 30 star destroyers is a small fleet? She looks back at me and grins. ¡°A pointed message needs to be sent. Mess with us and they will suffer. Besides you¡¯re a queen. A fleet of ships for protection when you travel is only natural.¡± I frown. I seem to be doing that a lot.

    ¡°Won¡¯t it make a scene, and causes a lot of diplomatic chaos where I go?¡±

    ¡°That is correct. It will give you practice in diplomacy before you attend the scheduled meeting.¡± Her grin got wider. ¡°This will be so much fun to watch. We have not flaunted our muscle before. It is going to be fun to see how many squirm.¡± I raise both my nearly invisible white eyebrows. Luna puts both her hands on my shoulders. ¡°Remember try not to compromise and give nothing and take everything. We have the power to back your statements. Don¡¯t worry we will tell you if we are not capable.¡±

    ¡°Ok¡­ I guess.¡± She gives me another quick hug. What does she want of me? Does she want me to start conquering the galaxy or something? She puts one of her hands on my cheek.

    ¡°Remember you are not alone and we shall protect you. Now be safe and prepare. I will see you again right before you leave. If you need anything don¡¯t hesitate to call.¡± She cups my head with both hands and kisses my forehead. ¡°Be well my dear Eve.¡±

    ¡°I will certainly try mother.¡± She nods and gives me a loving smile. With that she lets me go and walks out of the room stopping long enough to wave at me. I return the wave before the door shuts. Sighing I look around the Victorian decor of the room. Tina is still standing by the couch looking at me with a smile. Celest is walking back to us. I¡¯m assuming she handed off the blanket. I sigh again and sit back down and look to Tina.

    ¡°What do you need your Majesty. The bath is ready if you so need it.¡± I frown knowing what would happen if I take said bath.

    ¡°No I¡¯m fine for now. I¡¯ve slept and feel wide awake. Maybe some more of those crystal energy cubes.¡± Tina smile gets wider. She bows.

    ¡°Right away your Majesty. I will be right back with some.¡± She ends her bow and leaves the room. I look at Celest.

    ¡°I wish to speak with my doctor¡­umm?¡± I look at her hoping she sees the confusion on my face. What was his name? I think I only heard it once. ¡°Tray¡­ Tragon? Yes that¡¯s it. I would like to talk to Tragon.¡±

    ¡°Yes your Majesty.¡± I look at her and see her pause for half a second as her expression went flat. She looks back at me and bows. ¡°I have informed Baron Tragon Net Zeus that you wish to see him. He is on his way right now your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Thank you Celest.¡±

    ¡°It is my duty your Majesty. No need for thanks.¡± I look at her. I have known both of my maids for less than a week and I know almost nothing about them. Well, almost nothing. I look away from Celest as I remember the baths and that one time in bed.

    ¡°Please call me Eve in private. I¡¯m not used to being called majesty quite yet. Relax and try not to be so formal all the time when it¡¯s just you, me and Tina.¡±

    ¡°If you prefer we can do that, your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I prefer that.¡± I wave her to sit next to me. ¡°Please sit I¡¯d like to get to know you both. How long do you think Tina will be?¡± Just then a side door opens and Tina walks in with a tray. She walks up to us and places the tray on the small table between the couches. She lifts a small plate that was on the tray and hands it to me. It has several of the energy crystals on it.

    ¡°May I fix your hair.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your hair got a little messy while you slept.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Tina smiles then sits next to me as I angle myself in Celest¡¯s direction. ¡°I would like to get to know you two better.¡± Celsest nods as Tina starts to comb my hair.

    ¡°I have taken control as head of your maids with Tina as my second. I like to pick your clothes as Tina likes to style your hair. If you have requests to see people, or to go shopping please address them to me. Tina prefers things simple and lets me deal with the others and politics.¡± She motions behind me at Tina. ¡°Tina is a little shy and does not like to speak unless it¡¯s in her interests or hobbies.¡±

    ¡°Shy? Really?¡± I hear Tina giggle behind me as she messes with my hair. I raise an eyebrow and look at Celest. Celest just waves the question off.

    ¡°I suggested and lead and she joined. You did not resist, so all¡¯s good. You were wound up and needed the comfort. You have been sleeping better, and adjusted to your body quicker yes?¡±

    ¡°I guess a little. Still bugs me a little when I see it in the mirror. I have noticed a distinct lack of nightmares. I take it that¡¯s why you two are in my bed?¡± Celest nodded with her face still calm and nonchalant. ¡°You don¡¯t sleep right? So what are you doing¡­while in my bed?¡±

    ¡°Done all fixed.¡± Tina lightly patted me on the top of my head. I straightened up on the couch and leaned back into it.

    ¡°We do internal maintenance, scheduling, looking over your mail, prioritizing, and monitoring the maids. Both of us don¡¯t spend the whole time you are asleep next to you. We take turns as we prepare for you to wake.¡±

    ¡°Celest likes to cuddle with you the longest.¡± Tina laughs as Celest coughs with her hand over her mouth. She looks away from me picking up one of the crystal cubes and hands it to me.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± I pop it in my mouth and try to repress a moan from its electric goodness. Tina and Celest stand up and straighten their outfits.

    ¡°Baron Tragon is here.¡± Tina Heads to the door Luna exited out of earlier.

    ¡°I will get the door.¡± She opens the door and I see Tragon in his White lab coat and black one piece suit. His skin looks Human without the subtle lines in the skin that Celest and Tina have. He has some equipment attached to his belt under his open lab coat. ¡°Baron Tragon Net Zeus here to see you, your Majesty.¡± He walks in and takes a seat on the couch in front of me that Celest motions for him to take. He has an eager attentive look to him.

    ¡°You called your Majesty? What can I help you with?¡± I swallow the remains of the dissolved crystal and take a slow breath to settle myself.

    ¡°May I call you Tragon? Constantly calling people I would be around a lot by their title would get well¡­ it would feel repetitive.¡±

    ¡°Of course your majesty call me whatever you wish I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. Now Tragon I would like your opinion on how to remedy a weakness.¡± He frowns and cocks his head while rubbing his chin.

    ¡°What weakness do you refer to? If we can correct it I shall endeavor to do so.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m referring to¡­well¡­¡± damn never thought I would have this problem. Ever. ¡°Losing my mind to a blissed out state from the chemical bath. Tragon leans back into the couch with a smile.

    ¡°I can help you with this. In fact, I believe you can help yourself.¡± I look at him blankly and blink. ¡°After further study, I have found your body can hypothetically do conscious evolution and adaptation. All you have to do is try to resist that state of mind while in the bath and it should no longer be so debilitating.¡± He has a proud look in his eyes.

    ¡°That¡¯s all? Is it that easy? I can do that to resist just about anything?¡± He¡¯s still smiling.

    ¡°Yup it¡¯s that easy. The more you actively try to resist something with resisting it in your mind the faster your body will adapt and evolve to resist or nullify it completely.¡±

    ¡°Well damn, that¡¯s convenient.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating really. It¡¯s the number one feature that allowed the plague to destroy humanity. It¡¯s also one of the reasons it spread so quickly.¡± I grimaced and razed a palm up facing him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t remind me, please. I lived it.¡± he bows while still sitting on the couch.

    ¡°My apologies your Majesty I did not mean to offend.¡± I shook my head and waved him out of the bow.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it I was not offended just reminded of a nasty past.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything else your Majesty?¡± I shake my head in the negative. ¡°May I run some quick scans before I go?¡± He pulls a device out of his belt.

    ¡°Sure as long as it does not require removal of my clothes.¡±

    ¡°No nothing like that. It is just to read your current energy levels and mass.¡± I look at him strangely. I¡¯m pretty sure he is not calling me fat because I don¡¯t look fat at all. I nod and he stands up and waves the device over me. ¡°Wow, your energy levels have risen 213% since I last scanned you.¡± He is rubbing his chin again while staring at the device.

    ¡°Is that good or bad? I feel fine.¡±

    ¡°Nothing to worry about your majesty I¡¯m sure.¡± He turns to Celest and tries to hand her the device. ¡°Can you scan her after every bath and meal, and please label each data file.¡± Tina walks forward and takes the device and it sinks into her arm. He looks at her and she just smiles at him. ¡°Whatever! It doesn¡¯t matter who does it.¡± He turns back to me. ¡°If I may your Majesty I would like to get back to my lab and go over the readings.¡± I nod and he bows to me than Tina leads him out.

    ¡°Well, that was short and informative.¡± Celest nod¡¯s while Tina skips back to us. ¡°Where are the guards I don¡¯t see them?¡±

    ¡°They are two on the other side of the door. The rest are in the barracks near the entrance to your chambers.¡± I look back to the plate of energy crystals. I may as well finish them off. Celest sits on the couch to my left and pats her lap indicating I should rest my head onto it. I look into her face and she smiles, so I take her offer and rest my head on her lap while lying on my back. Tina looks a little jealous. I point to the plate of crystals and smile. She returns my smile as she picks up the plate leans over and places one in my mouth. Swallowing the crystal I relax. I have to watch myself, or I would just become completely lazy with this treatment.

    I relaxed for an hour or so as Tina fed me crystals and Celest slowly petted my head. I got up and steeled myself as I told the girls I wanted to try to resist the chemical bath. I failed and passed out