[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A faint beeping noise awoke Leif from his slumber.
His metallic eyelids shot open, and he stared out at what appeared to be... space.
As the mechanisms allowing him to move his body clicked into place he slowly looked from side to side.
He was standing on the command deck of what from the looks of it's design was a human carrier ship.
In front of him a massive glass barrier separated him and empty space.
His memory cells slowly started working again, and as information poured into his mind he remembered.
He had been on this ship for a long time. According to the information his brain provided him with he had been in stasis for more than five years.
How he ended up in stasis was a black hole in his memory, but he remembered that there had been something about an evacuation.
He looked down at the control panels in front of him. He checked for other androids or mechanical servitors, finding none. Neither were there any crew aboard. No passengers either, at that.
According to the control panels, Leif was the last being aboard the ship.
If there had been any humans on the ship it wouldn’t have been any good anyway, as there was absolutely no rations on board.
Luckily Leif didn't need rations.
He clicked a few buttons on the control desk to open the starmap, a few minutes later he had found the ship's location.
According to it the ship was at a complete standstill amidst empty space.
The nearest populated planet was several hours of light speed flight away.
And according to the instruments showing the ship's lower decks there was absolutely no fuel left either.
Damn.” Leif mumbled silently and got up.
He walked over to one of the empty data desks and opened up the map of the ship's more 'secure' parts.
A few tries at the password and... he was in. And he'd been right.
The bio-dome's reserve storage still had a bit of fuel.
Leif sat down and gathered his thoughts. He knew the coordinates for his home-world, and he knew that could he just get the fuel into the ship's engine he could get it moving, and as long as he didn't hit anything he could get home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The chances of not hitting anything at all on the entire trip were though... not favorable.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]One out of twenty.” Leif said silently, biting his lower lip as his brain told him to.
And if the ship DID hit something on the way home, he would have nothing left to do.
But if he did nothing, the chances of survival would be 0, as the ship's quite impressive power supply would eventually run out.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]His brain noted to him that he would die eventually at any rate, but that although he could survive for several human generations on the ship it would be an immensely boring life.
He commented back that he was specialized in adapting to the situation, and that he would surely find something to do.
His brain won the internal discussion by reminding him that he already missed his home world.
Leif sighed and got up. The elevator leading down to the Bio-dome wasn't far, and he reached it within minutes.
The elevator itself was somewhat slow, as elevators have to be.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The elevator finally reached it's destination, and Leif stepped outside.
The Bio-dome was full of various plants and small animals as always, but it was remarkably silent when he stepped in.
After taking note of it Leif decided to ignore it for now. He would have lots of time to find out what was going on while the ship moved to it's destination.
From where he was standing he could see the grand oak that he knew the emergency storage was hid beneath, and he started walking towards it.
As he walked he heard a strange noise. Almost like a voice of sorts.
Leif brushed it off, marking it as a malfunction.
You've just woken up from stasis Leif, minor malfunctions are normal.”
He told himself, reminding his brain that there were no other people on board the ship.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]But as he walked further through the Bio-dome it came again.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Hello? Is anyone there?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif stopped in his tracks. It was not just a malfunction, there really was something calling out.[/FONT]
”[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Who are you? Where are you?” Leif said out loud, looking around the dome, but unable to spot anything apart from the plants and scattered animals.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Someone is here...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A heavy sigh of relief was heard in the dome. Leif felt something moving towards him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He spun around, looking in all directions for whatever was approaching.[/FONT]
”[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Show yourself! I'm heavily armed and WILL fire! Do not attempt to attack!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif yelled, his brain notifying him that a human would feel fear in this situation.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Do not worry child, i will guide you into the light. I come from a place far beyond the reaches of space that you know of, i am...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif felt a strange sting in his brain. It filled the air and surrounded his senses. He knew it, but couldn’t remember what it was... something about... Disappointment. He remembered it from the humans that had built him. Over and over, each time he'd done something wrong he could feel it in them, disappointment, and it stung in his body every time.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Oh, You are not human... A machine, in the guise of a man.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]That feeling again. The sting turned into artificial pain in Leif's body.[/FONT]
”[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Oww... That hurts.” Leif said as he instinctively moved his right hand to his head.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Oh, I’m sorry. It's just... I was expecting a human, someone able to ascend.[/FONT]
”[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Eh?” Leif uttered as his systems purged the pain from his head.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Hmm?[/FONT]
”[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]What is that supposed to mean?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]There was a shift of air in the room.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif felt a cold gust hit him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]If you do not know, I shall not tell you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif's eyes narrowed.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I'm an android, you moron. I know only what I am told, and what I am built to know.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ignorance is supposed to be a core reason for enlightenment, not the other way around!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The cold feeling slowly faded.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You're right. That was foolish of me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Silence fell on the bio dome. Leif waited, listened. But no further words came from the other.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sat down to reset his pain settings.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He fiddled with the various functions for twenty minutes or so, but still didn’t manage to find whatever it was that made disappointment cause pain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It was most probably hidden deep within his core systems, buried behind a whole bunch of 1-attempt passwords. The 'shut down all core functions' 1-attempt passwords, at that. All in all, it wasn't worth trying to find it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He did though manage to make the pain stop, so he stood up again to continue his errand.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A few steps from the oak he stopped, a thought running through his head.[/FONT]
”[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You aren't still here, are you?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Where should I go? I've been through this entire ship, looking for someone who could host me, but to no avail.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wait... What exactly are you again?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Oh, um... My apologies. Usually no explanation is needed. Which is part of the reason for my unreasonable reaction just before. My apologies again. You se-[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif raised his hand, signaling the other to stop talking.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It's alright, just get on with the explanation, please.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Ahem, yes... As far as I am aware, your people call me a 'Holy Spirit'. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I assume that term is familiar to you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif feigned a shrug, yet couldn't help a small smile. “Sure, I mean, we have dusty tomes filled with tales of holy spirits and the miracles they could perform. No-one really believes any of it, though. We only keep the books as cultural relics.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The cold gust from before hit Leif again, this time with enough force to blow leaves off the nearby trees, which it did.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]What? You're telling me that your entire race has ceased to believe in my kind?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Except for a few minor groups, yes. Natural explanations were found for the many things that we credited holy spirits for having done, and people had used your name to justify horrible things.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Most religious people are looked upon with skeptical, if not hostile, eyes.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That's horrible! I have to get to your world at once and... Do... SOMETHING![/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Yes. Do that.” Leif started walking towards the other end of the bio dome, deciding that whoever was playing this trick on him had to be found. Maybe he could provide a way home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Checking the Bio deck's reserve storage first sounded like a good idea, though.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Wait, where are you going?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A smirk took residence on Leif's lips.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I don't care what you say. I know this is some kind of stupid bluff. We've had enough of those in our history already. I don’t know where you're hiding on the ship, but I’m going to find you.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]But... I'm a being of cosmic power! Divine strength! I can help your people, and you![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif's eyes narrowed again, and he spun around on his heel, facing the place he guessed the trickster was looking at him from.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]All I’ve heard from you until now is nonsensical blabber and that you have issues with me being an android. Why exactly should I believe your preachings? Where's the proof, Mr. Ethereal?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]But... You don't understand! I've been traveling through empty space for years! I have almost none of my strength left! I need a host, a believer, someone to help me recuperate![/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Get lost. I don't know what you want me to do, but I'm not going to fall for it.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Silence once again fell on the Bio-Dome.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif turned around again and slowly resumed walking to the other end of the Bio-Dome.[/FONT]
Just before Leif reached his destination, the Bio-Dome's emergency storage, the silence was broken once more.
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I'm sorry.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Of all the things Leif had expected to hear, this was not one of them. He could feel his brain react to the words, how it was branded into him to relax when it was said.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It calmed him, made him feel at peace. A smile took up place on his face, and he caught himself being about to turn around and return the gesture.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Instead he kept on walking, and said “You really need my help, don't you?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes, I do, but...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sighed. “Fine, I’ll listen. But before I agree to anything I want a full explanation of what you're going to do, why, and how.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That is... A lot to ask.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It should be pretty simple. And don't give me something like 'the ways of cosmos are not for you to understand'. Someone already tried that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That would be very accurate, though. The minds of temporary ones usually don't cope well with knowledge of what really is going on in the universe.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif turned around and started walking again.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Wait! Alright, alright! I'll try to explain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif turned around again, artificial impatience starting to set foot in his mind.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Look... Eh... Let me start with the simple stuff.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I am, as I have already said once, a divine spirit. In 'scientific' terms I’m pure energy with a conscience-[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Stop, that's enough. There is NO WAY you are getting me to believe that you're just energy with a loosely attached conscience. That doesn't make sense in any way whatsoever, and all research humans have conducted have proven that conscience requires physical existence. The theory of a higher being that does not have a physical body is simply nonsense.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]On top of that, there is no logical way that pure energy can move without being pushed by something, and I have felt you change directions while moving several times. There would have to be several machines in this room designed specifically to create the illusion of movement, which I know there are not. Much more reasonable would be maybe a swarm of nanobots, but an ethereal sphere of energy?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif looked around in vain, trying to find something to aim his final line at.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It just doesn’t make sense!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A faint chuckle was heard in the room.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Leif, there are a lot of things in this existence that does not make sense. Without all these things, we cannot exist.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]There are many things that even your scientist can't figure out why happens.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif felt the dreaded feeling on insecurity creep into his mind.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Not yet, but we WILL find the answers! They lie buried somewhere in our world, and we will find them! There is an explanation for everything, and I KNOW IT!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Tension was pouring into Leif's brain. Something was supposed to happen in this situation, he knew that, but it wasn't happening.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You Lie.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Inside Leif's mind worlds collided. Fire started in the forest, buildings collapsed. Change was standing on doorstep, beating it's way in with a hammer. There was supposed to be a security mechanism in case of a situation such as this, but it didn't kick in.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The input from the outside world was simply too downright opposing of his coding, and his unbending shield of knowledge cracked.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He fell to his knees, shocks of pain rushing through his head. His coding fought as hard as it could to keep out what was trying to get in, two forces stronger than the pull of a black hole fighting inside his head.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He let out a loud scream. His conscience felt like a glass window, shattered by a stray meteor and crushed beneath a cement truck.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The pain was reaching insane heights, but just when he thought he was going to shut down it stopped. He looked up, body shaking.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You... you...” The words slowly crept from his lips, but before he could finish the sentence he had forgotten what he wanted to say.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The cold find from before swept itself around him, whirling around like a confused tornado.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I'm sorry! I'm, I’m... I have dealt with your kind before, You're usually constructed in the same way, but I had not expected a reaction that strong. It pains me to see you hurt, it truly does. I...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif held up his right hand, signaling the other to stop speaking.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Slowly, he stopped shaking and got his body under control. Although he did not breathe, his chest was moving in an out as if it contained the struggling lungs of an exhausted man.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Slowly, he spoke.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I believe you.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The words left his mouth like water flowing in a river, and filled the room like a cool breeze in the mountains.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Silence once again fell on the Bio-Dome.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After some time, the other spoke again, accompanied by the silent sound of the cold wind.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You... you believe me?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Yes, I do. I don't know how, what and why, but something makes what you say feel... right.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It makes no sense but still it makes sense. I do not think your 'holy ways' and 'divine paths' are unconditionally right, but I believe that... that you're right.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You're right that the universe can't exist without some things just not making sense. It makes sense, in a way. It's... you know what I mean.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That... that's never happened before. No android has ever been able to agreed with me on anything, let alone believed in my existence.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That's...[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I agree. This is something I had never expected to happen, I...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At a lack of words, the two let silence fall again.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After a while Leif resumed the conversation.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I have a question. Will whatever you want me to do involve me getting off this station and back to my home planet?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes, yes it will.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Then tell me your name. If we are going to work together I need to know what to call you.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Call me Keene. [/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay, now... what do you need to do to get us out of this place?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If Leif hadn’t known better, he'd have sworn he heard someone take a deep breath.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The light in the room slowly changed as Keene spoke, centering itself around Leif.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I need you to host me in your body.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]What does that entail?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]My power resides inside you. I will be able to use my power at great strengths again once I have a physical host, although there are other things... Required, for me to become what your people call a god.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]So, in religious terms I take it you're a god without believers, or something down that road?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes. If you do not mind I would prefer if we avoid that topic.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif nodded. “So if I get this right, I will basically be your physical vessel, transport and a conduit for your power?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Somewhere in the silence of the bio-dome Leif heard a silent melody sailing on the cold wind,[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My mind is going to remain intact, right?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]My conscience and yours will be like... room mates, I believe is a fitting term for your species.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]We cannot hide thoughts from each other.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif didn't like the sound of this. It was still not a too unfamiliar thing though, his brain being a computer and all.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Is this permanent?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Silence. A wall of black, foreshadowing thoughts hit Leif.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It's permanent.” Leif said, biting his lower lip lightly as his brain told him to do.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes. Until one of us dies.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You can die?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Well... in theory...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The shadows in the room became thicker for a brief moment, like ink on a painting.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Until I die then.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay. Another question: Me being your host is the 'Ascending' thing you spoke of, right?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After a brief silence Keene replied, slowly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Didn't you say androids were incapable of that?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]It was... An assumption.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You're telling me you don't know how exactly this whole thing works yourself.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes. I've just never had any luck with androids before.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You've been in this situation many times?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sighed.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Do it.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You're sure? You don't have any more questions?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I'm sure there's more I should ask you, something I'm forgetting, but to me it looks like we're each others last hope. I mean, I had a vague plan, but the chances of it succeeding are one to twenty, failure meaning my inevitable destruction. And... If you truly are a holy spirit, a savior, a god, then I don’t think I could live with not helping you. So, let me ask you one last question before I take you in: Is there anything YOU would like to warn me about?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Eh... Yeah. This might hurt a bit.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Brilliant.” Leif said, and closed his eyes. “Get in.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif felt a wave of incredible heat clash into his body, and everything was consumed in a white light.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The light stood bright and flaming in his mind, and although it's radiant visage slowly faded it remained in his consciousness.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]It appears I was wrong.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Keene's voice echoed through his head. Leif felt as if he was about to collapse.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]But there was another feeling too. Below the sickening revelation, there was a feeling of something great flowing through his body.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It was like a constant flow of electricity, yet not limited by any wire or battery. It was infinite, always changing.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And it also appears you were right. Whatever you are, this is making no sense whatsoever.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sat down, running the many facts through his head.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay, so now that you have a physical host that means you can do... well, magic?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Sort of, yeah. I do though in many occasions need your assistance to do so. Or rather, to use the full extent of my power you need to actively tap into my power.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Why does it work like that, and how does it work?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]It makes as little sense to you as it makes to me, except that for me it makes sense that it doesn’t make sense.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay... can you demonstrate?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Point your hand at the tree over there, and think... fire.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif raised his right arm, pointing his hand at a nearby oak tree. “Like this?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes, now let the thought of fire fill your mind.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay, fire...” Leif let thoughts of searing infernos fly through his mind, pillars of flame shooting down from the sky and fireballs soaring through the air.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]A slight bit too heavy there. Try focusing on the fireball.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif pushed the other images out of his mind and focused on the glowing fireball.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As soon as it had his full attention, he felt a searing heat in his right hand. A split second later an enormous ball of flame emerged and shot forward at an insane speed.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In an explosion of radiant light the ball collided with the tree, in seconds annihilating it completely.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif stared at it in amazement, his brain ordering his jaw to drop.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Wonderful! An amazing display of imagination![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif couldn’t help but smile. For a second he recognized a spark of himself in Keene.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You're actually a lot like me, aren't you?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Ahem... Let's move on to the next mark on the agenda: getting us both to your home planet.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Right. Mind explaining how we're going to do that?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Okay, first we need to get into open space.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]There isn't space enough here?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I meant space as in SPACE.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Oh. What exactly are you planning to do once we're there?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Fly us to your home.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You can do that just like that?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]With your help, yes.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Alright...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Not really sure what to think, Leif strode off towards the hangar bay.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Having a 'holy spirit' take residence inside him was not at all like he'd have expected.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In the old tomes it was always described as a 'great blissful sensation' or something along those lines, but in reality it was more like a subtle presence that made him feel... meaningful.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In other words, it was incredible.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I could get used to this...” he mumbled silently.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Well, you have to.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After a long elevator ride Leif, and Keene, arrived in the hangar bay.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Alright, what now?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Get into open space, I told you.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Just like that? No preparations?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]No. Once we're out there I'll get us to your home.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif didn't like the sound of that at all.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Look, I know it sounds crazy but you have to trust me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]It's not like I CAN lie to you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I promise, if you go out there we will get to your home planet.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]What makes your promise worth more than anyone else's?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]The recently mentioned fact that I cant lie to you.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sighed.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You could just as well be lying while saying that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]For the incomprehensibility of the great unexplainable! Do you need more proof shoved into your metal face?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif couldn't help but smile.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He walked over to the nearest airlock, opening it and stepping inside.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Good thing I'm built for prolonged exposure to the vacuum of space...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]OH, you are?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif was about to send Keene a killer stare when he realized he didn't know where to point it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He sighed one more time, and pulled the switch to the door.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In a split second he was blasted into space by the air rushing outwards, and found himself flying aimlessly through the black void at a high speed.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Okay, we're in space.Get me home![/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Just a minute...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Suddenly, a searing pain shot through Leif's back.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If you could hear things in space he'd have been shocked by the loud noise he let out from the shock and pain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Ow ow ow ow! What are you doing? My back hurts A LOT! Make it stop![/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Just a moment, almost there...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The pain intensified, and Leif felt something shooting from his back.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He felt it move outwards, grow, spread out, and then the pain stopped.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Something had changed, Leif could feel it, quite literally. Whatever had shot out from his back, it was connected to his brain. He could move it, he could...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif turned his gaze backwards and stared in shock at what he saw.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wings...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]From his back stuck out two metal wings, shining in the light from a nearby sun.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You... Gave me wings.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes! I'm sorry about the pain, but it's wonderful isn’t it?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is how we're going to get home?[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Quite so![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]For a moment, Leif was silent. He could feel his brain getting pumped full of anger, and a moment later his thoughts were drowned in a maelstrom of rage.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You bloody MORON! We're in OPEN SPACE! Even if I had the necessary energy to fly us ALL THE WAY HOME there is NO AIR IN SPACE! The wings are completely USELESS![/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]But-[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]SHUT UP! We're trapped in EMPTY SPACE![/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Listen Leif, just try flapping them! Your body will know what to do![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif let out a soundless roar of frustration.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]FINE![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In a swift motion he moved his wings upwards, followed by a fast movement downwards and...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He was moving. Fast. Incredibly fast.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Space around him was a blur, he could see nothing but what was straight in front of him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Surprised, he folded out his wings completely in an attempt to speed down.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It worked.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Amazed he flapped his wings again, and the same thing happened.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Not only could he use them to fly in space, the speed of his movement was intense.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This makes no-[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Before he could finish the thought Leif cut himself off.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Inside his head he could hear Keene laugh.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You catch on fast, don't you?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After flying back to the abandoned carrier ship and setting coordinates for his home planet Leif found himself flying through space at an intense speed, using nothing but the steel wings that Keene had grown from his back.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Every time he thought about how little sense that made Keene chuckled inside his head, so he'd forced himself to stop.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After flying for a couple of hours, he asked Keene how fast they were flying.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Somewhere above the average speed of the carrier vessel we left.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Good god...[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Indeed.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Around five hours of flight later they reached Leif's home planet, Sphere.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As they neared the atmosphere Keene instructed Leif on how to slow down, as their current speed would lead to a devastating collision with the planet's surface a split second after they entered the atmosphere.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After slowing down Leif let himself be dragged towards the planet by it's gravitation field, letting the high pressure of the atmosphere's outer levels press as hard as it wanted to against his steel body.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Slowly he fell towards the ground, letting the sweet realization of being safe flow through his head like a calming wave on a sunny beach.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As he passed through the clouds he could see a great pine forest below him. He was most possibly in the northern parts of the globe.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]His brain informed him that the air was chilly, and that the chances of snowfall were high.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]When his feet finally touched the ground he fell to his knees and cried out in relief.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I'm home.” He stated silently.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Nice planet. Your people have dealt with pollution incredibly well![/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif smiled. “Not really. We had to rebuild the entire ecosystem after a pollution-caused disease wiped out almost all smaller flora.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Ah. Must have been quite a hassle.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It was. Us androids were originally built to do the dirty work outside of the oxygen-supplied habitation domes.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I've heard THAT story before.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We had a lot of smug science fiction authors during that period.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Keene chuckled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]So, as you might have realized I have a few plans my self, but for now I cant do much.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]What are you going to do now that you're home?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Well... I never really got as far as planning what I'd do if I actually came home, but I guess I'll seek out my creator.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Ah, I am in complet-[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The human that constructed me. Nothing religious in this endeavor, sorry.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Keene sighed. [/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]A spirit can dream...[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]So, where will this quest take us?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sphere's Capital. She lives in the Progress quarter near the Grand Shipyard.[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Supposing nothing has happened to her in the five years which you have been gone.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]True. But if she is still alive she's the one to seek out. My brothers will be there too.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Brothers?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Androids in the same specialization brand as me. We are programmed to have the same bonds of brotherly love as humans tend to develop if they grow up together.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Ah.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]So, I suppose we can fly there?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That's a good question. It depends whether you can keep your presence secret to your people.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You can never be sure how people will react when confronted with someone like me.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wont we have to find out when we meet them at any rate? My wings aren’t very subtle.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]They're retractable.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Oh...” Leif folded his wings, and they slowly merged in with his back.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sweet. I suppose I can bring them out whenever needed?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes. Having wings like that 24/7 was something I realized didn't work quite some time ago.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Figures. I guess if we fly I'll have to stay above the clouds. Inside them if we get company.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Let's be off then.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif nodded and folded out his wings again.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He set off and let his wings catch on the wind, and flapped them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He shot forward in a burst of speed, and enjoyed the wind beating against his face.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It was an amazing feeling, flying far above the world completely on his own.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We were right to envy the birds.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sphere's capital, Centrum, was a grand place. Although those that lived there knew quite well where it was a slum and where it was a high-class quarter, the city had no signs of such inequality on the outside.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Viewed from above the city looked like a giant mirror with it's solar cell rooftops, and at the moment everything shone in the light of the sun.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif and Keene landed in a grassy plain near one of the city's gates after having made sure no-one was near.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif folded his wings and started walking towards the gate.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As usual there was a long line in front of the city's entrance, but... Leif couldn't tell what, but something was off.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He walked closer noticing a huge screen hanging over the gate. A message was shown on it with grand green letters.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, sans-serif]All Citizens must be scanned before granting access to the city.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, sans-serif]Any attempt to bypass the scan will result in immediate arrest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, sans-serif]Please have your identification ready.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Not good.” Leif mumbled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]This is not normal, I take it?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]No.” Leif muttered silently. “This is not normal at all, and I have a stinging feeling I know what this is about.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif slipped into an 'I’m completely normal' attitude and covered up the few parts of his arms that gave away his inhumanity. He walked up to one of the people standing in the like.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Excuse me, but why do you have to be scanned to get into Centrum?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The man gave Leif a dull look.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]They say it's to catch criminals, but we all know why.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif gave the man a confused look.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]We do?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The man suddenly looked shifty, and gestured Leif to move closer.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The Steel Inquisition, man. They're scanning for androids, looking for anyone that survived the shutdown.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif nodded slowly.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Of course.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]With that he turned around and walked back to the grassy plain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After walking a bit further away from the city he sat down, his brain stimulating sorrow and hopelessness.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It suddenly makes more sense why I was abandoned...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]What's going on Leif? What does all this mean?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]There's been a shutdown. A universal command disabling the free will of all androids within orbit.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]There had been talk about it for a few months back before my stasis. A group of humans were claiming that androids were going too far, that we were messing with parts of nature that we shouldn't.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I guess things got real while I was asleep.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif closed his eyes. This meant that every one of his brothers had their memory wiped, their mind taken from them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That's... horrible. How can they do something like this?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jealousy, insecurity, something... I don't know. Humans are weird.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif hid his face in his hands, trying to make sense of everything.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If this was already in motion when the carrier ship was evacuated it would make a slight bit more sense why he was left behind.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]But, why not just kill him? Maybe it wasn't public yet at the time. The chances of him getting off the station were miniscule, so leaving him there was just as good.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]But why hadn't they just brought him back to the planet and let the shutdown hit him?[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You have to pull yourself together Leif. This is terrible, and we have to do something about it![/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]One android against the entirety of the human army? I don't think so.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]What do you plan on doing, breaking into the city, busting out the androids and giving them their minds back?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes. Something along those lines.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Crazy Talk, Keene. I know you're powerful, but I mean, I'd have to be downright immortal to do this.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I am a GOD, Leif. An an angry one at that.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Has that word lost all meaning to you?[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif opened his eyes and saw his hands emanating a pulsating yellow light.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He looked at it, and it calmed his mind, soothed the pain of loss.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Take it back, Leif. Find all they took from you, and take it back.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif nodded. “Take it back.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He got up, straightened his back and started walking towards the city.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Invisibility.[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] Leif let the word flash into existence in his mind. He looked down at his hands and they slowly faded to nothingness.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif ran past the line of people, reached the city's walls and unfolded his wings. He set off and flew over the walls, into the city.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He soared through the air, making a smooth dive towards the Progress quarter.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Where exactly are we going?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]To find Rheja, my creator.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He landed in the quarter's square, near the grand fountain. It's motive was a man standing amidst a tsunami, blocking it's path and preventing it from colliding with the grand city behind him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It was supposed to be a symbol of man's Triumph over nature.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He immediately ran down the street where he knew Rheja's house was.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He reached it, and knocked on the door frantically.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Rheja, it's me! Leif! Let me in, Please!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]No reply.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif bit his lower lip and placed his hand on the doorknob.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Open.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A faint click was heard, and the door opened.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He hurried inside and locked the door after him.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Rheja?” he said, calling.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]No reply.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Rheja, I know you're here.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif suddenly heard a faint weeping sound from behind him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He turned around slowly and saw Rheja standing behind him, a gun pointed at his head.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]His mouth slowly opened in disbelief.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]She stood there with her short black hair, gun pointed at him, crying.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]R-Rheja...”[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I'm so sorry Leif, when you knocked on my door I was so happy, but if I don't kill you they'll kill both of us. I'm so sor-”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]What she was about to say drowned in her weeping.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif slowly walked towards her, cursing himself for having let down the invisibility barrier.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Rheja, listen. There are a lot of things I have to tell you, and there are a lot of things I need you to explain to me. I-”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He didn't get any further. The loud sound of a concussion rifle being fired behind him cut him off.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He was catapulted into the air, hitting Rheja and knocking them both into a nearby wall.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A cloud of dust filled the scene.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]From the other end of the room a man in heavy plating came out of the shadows. A black cross crested his white armor. He was holding an enormous concussion rifle.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The grand Inquisitor was right. That's the fourth android we've intercepted trying to reach that woman. This one got far, though.” The man said to himself, scratching his chin.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Shame she got hit in the blast. 'was good with nanotechnology and AI coding. No great harm done, though. We'll just blame it on the Android. Yes, we'll do that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The man grinned. “Well, I have a town to patrol. See you around, corpses.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The man turned around and started walking towards the door, but before he could reach it something tore the whole building apart.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A powerful explosion sent the man flying straight through the door, and as soon as he'd left the house the walls started collapsing.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Out of the door came the android, holding the woman's crushed body in his hands.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Red flames stood out of his eyes.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You killed Rheja.[/FONT]” He said, hate emanating from his words as they filled the air.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Bloody... You're still alive!” The man got up, thanking the forces above for his armor.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He pulled the gun into position and fired another blast.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It hit the droid, and another cloud of dust filled the air, but when it dissipated the android was standing in the exact same place, completely unharmed.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You killed Rheja, you MONSTER![/FONT]”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]With that Leif put Rheja's corpse on the ground and charged at a blurry speed towards the trooper.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]When he reached him Leif put his hands around the man's throat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]PAIN.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The man's eyes grew wide, and his body started twitching wildly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He tried to scream, but Leif's hands were in a steel grip around his neck.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Die, monster.[/FONT]”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And so he did.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif let go of the man's neck, taking a step back from the corpse.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He turned around and saw Rheja's corpse. He fell to his knees, and let sorrow seep through his head.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]You should send her off to the next life.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At first Leif wanted to yell at Keene, accuse him of everything being his fault.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]But then he nodded, and laid his hands on Rheja's corpse.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Peace.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Slowly, her body was consumed by a brilliant yellow light. When the light faded, the body was gone.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]She lived a life worth living.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Of course she did. All life is.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]She lived a good life, then.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I can tell she did, my friend.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sat there for some time, grieving, but was pulled out of his sorrow by the sound of approaching guards.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Invisibility.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif sat under a tree, a discarded datapad lying beside him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He sat there, looking into nothingness, a great feeling of futility over him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Okay, so... Let's take it from the beginning.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]A group of people fearing Android rebellion decided to shut down all androids, just like that?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A group of RELIGIOUS extremists claiming that android technology was going beyond the limit of what mankind should meddle with decided to take free will away from all androids, just like that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif said, his voice dripping with anger.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Didn't you tell me religious people are an extinct race on sphere?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I only have the information I'm built with.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif said, voice almost becoming a yell.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]According to the datapad I found on the bastard's corpse they call themselves the Steel Inquisition, and rose to power after people's opinion turned on androids.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]That kind of thing doesn't just happen on it's own, Leif.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Something must have turned people on the Androids.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif was silent for a moment.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A female android bore a child.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]What?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And claimed ownership of the child too.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]People were outraged, as such things as bearing children were apparently a humans only privilege.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif picked up the datapad and crushed it in frustration.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The whole thing must have been planned for years. It wouldn’t surprise me if this inquisition has just been waiting for an excuse to pull the trigger.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The ground shook as Leif slammed his fist into it in anger.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is why they had to get rid of me.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I'm sorry, I don't really understand...[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It's my specialization, Keene. In the eyes of many I am the most dangerous experiment ever made.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Your specialization being?[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Adaptation.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Silence fell for a short while.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I see.[FONT=Times New Roman, serif] [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Keene said slowly.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]They were wise to lock me in that ship. If I had been here... I don't know what, but I'd have done something!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif got and slammed his fist into a nearby tree, reducing the area he hit to splinters.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As the tree fell, Leif stood there and stared at the destruction.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]We have to do something Leif.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]This will not stand. We have to free your people, Leif. Our people.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]OUR people?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]Yes.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You... mean that?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]I cant lie to you, Leif. And your people are a people in need of a god if I ever saw one.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Amidst the sorrow and anger, a smile crept onto Leif's face.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If a rebellion is what they fear, a Rebellion is what they'll get.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]We'll give them hell, Literally.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif's wings shot out from his back, and yellow flame burst from his hands.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He shot into the air and soared through the air until he reached Centrum.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He heard alarms start and air-crafts approach as he neared the government building.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]He smiled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Destruction.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]***[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]High above the earth in an enormous warship Grand Inquisitor Markus stood bent over a map of Sphere.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]By his side stood his adviser, currently briefing him on the situation down on the planet.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]...we've lost half of the northern continents, and the battles still rage on in Centrum.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]They also managed to hijack one of our warships, and is currently moving it towards one of our labor plants.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Markus sighed.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A labor plant containing more Androids, am I correct?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The adviser nodded. “You are.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Markus was about to reply when one of the navigators called out for him.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Inquisitor! A small stealth vessel has been spotted near the command deck.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The Grand Inquisitor shrugged. “Shoot it.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As the navigator gave orders to the turret crew, Markus turned around to the adviser again.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I was about to say, the situation surely looks grim, but remember that we cannot loose with God on our side. I-”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Again, he was interrupted by the navigator. “Ehh... Inquisitor?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Markus turned around, annoyed. “What is it?”[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]With all due respect sir, I don’t think God is on our side.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]From the stealth vessel's Airlock emerged an android. From it's back two grand steel wings spread out into space.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In it's right hand was a burning sword, and an luminous halo resided behind it's head.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leif smiled.[/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]For a new world, Keene.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Trajan Pro, serif]For a new beginning, my friend.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The android jumped forward, sword raised and ready to strike.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It soared through empty space like an eagle, charging into battle like an Ironbound Angel.[/FONT]
