Atlas watched out the port window of Trillion’s spaceship as another rocket was being constructed. This one was a little bigger, but most importantly it was reinforced within new material he had recently invented—Tiamond nanotubes. “The engines are stronger, and the reinforced shielding means you could swat away anything that comes your way. And, I've added the laser weaponry that was used against you.”

“What about communication?” Trillion asked. “I'll still be able to be in contact with you and Icarus?”

Trillion, was recently the target of a full scale attack from Sol. She survived, not through better machinery, but through a hack that Atlas had managed to do on the enemy spacecraft. That attack show just how vulnerable they were. Their spacecrafts word designed for a battle against humans let alone any aliens that they and counted. Trillion, for example, was quickly overwhelmed by the Dottiens. And, it also made clear just how important it was for them or to be able to contact each other. But currently their communication network consisted of only one Starnet transmitter. That was in the TAC system. If anything, were to happen there to that one transmitter. Then all three of them would instantly lose the ability to communicate with one another in real time.

“It took a lot of thinking, but I found a way to make a mobile version of the Starnet.” Atlas said. “I built this version with redundancy in mind, one of the challenges I think we had before. Was we were too reliant on a single Starnet transmitter. Now in theory we could lose that unit and still be able to communicate. This new design, will create a direct connexion between the ship and each of our four current star systems.”

The Starnet worked through quantum entanglement. One entangled particle, was sent across the Galaxy, while the other bounced between two pieces of glass. That way both entangled particles could be interacted with at the same time. It was this interaction that allowed the Starnet to send information faster than the speed of light. They found that it only worked when two particles were entangled away from a large gravity body—like a planet. And it was thanks to Atlas running several experiments out in deep space—away from any large gravitational mass—that he discovered this.

“Does this mean we’re building an empire?” Trillion asked. “One that allows digital humans like us to move around the Galaxy instantly?”

“I wouldn't call us an empire… Yet. But it's crazy when you think about it.”

“The thing I'm still trying to wrap my head around, is that I've visited 2 star systems now.” Trillion said.

“And, thanks to your invention I can visit any of them again instantly. That's what I'm most excited for. I've met the Dottiens. I've turned a system into the ultimate resource hub. And now I get to go visit another system, to add to the list of world's any of us can visit in anytime.”

Atlas agreed with Trillion. The starnet changes everything. “What’s you plan with everything still in the Dottiens system after you leave?”

“I’m going to send it all back to the TAC system. I’m going to leave the Dottiens here to evolve in peace. I might leave a small spacestation in the system. But here’s no reason we need to leave anything here.”

Atlas nodded.

“I get the sense there’s something you’re not telling me.” Trillion paused flicking her hair away from in front of her eyes. “Are you leaving your planet too?”

Atlas nodded. “There's no reason why I should stay here. Especially now that we have mobile Starnets. My new spacecraft completed construction yesterday. I thought it would be quite poetic if we both left at the same time.”

Trillion raised an eyebrow. “What about Atreus?”

Atreus was the first human if a born on another world. Atlas bought the it embryo across the Milky Way. He was the first child to be born on New Europa—Atlas’s first child.

“I didn't really want to be a father. That's why I didn't have any kids back on Earth. It was a conscious decision, my personal goal was always to terraform a planet. And now I've done that. There was this extra piece of code.” Atlas said pointing at his head. “That compelled me to want to bring life, human life onto that planet. I would have been happy just terraforming the world and making discoveries. Making a eden free of humans. But because of that piece of code I had no choice.”

Trillion shook her head. “Not everyone chooses to be a father. And you might not have chosen this decision, but you do have to live with the consequences. Atreus loves you, And I know you care about him a lot. You care about all your kids. I think you've got to tell them you're going, especially Atreus.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“I will still be here,” Atlas said. “Thanks to the Starnet, it won't be like I'm leaving. And besides, they will be middle aged by the time I reached the bubble.”

“He might be young right now, but you have to tell him. You need to tell all of them. You might still be able to communicate with them, but your matrix is going. And that makes it different.”

Atlas lowered his head, he knew she was right. And as much as he hated to admit it, he loved all those kids. He hoped some of them would grow up and become scientists, engineers. He hoped that a lot of them would grow up and want to improve on the world he had built for them. And to be honest, he knew his ship loved them enormously. Ever since they were first brought into this world, Ship spend more time with those kids than with him. And there was novway he wanted to disappoint Ship. He just hadn't told them, because he didn't know how to tell them. “Trillion they look up to you, what should I say? I don't know how to tell them without it sounding like I'm leaving them.”

“Just be honest, you'll be surprised by how much a 5 year old can understand. Tell them you're travelling out to find your friend, Angelique, but reassure them that because you're simulated it will feel like you never left. They’ll always be able to talk to you. They’ll always be able to see you. If they have any problems you'll be there to help them. And, same with Ship. He’ll always be there too.”

Trillion said that better than he could. He wished he had her way with words. He sighed deeply, he would tell them—he would speak from the heart. “I'm gonna let them know now.”

Trillion nodded in agreement.

Atlas teleported out to the pre-school. It was near the end of their day. The kids had gone on a school trip to one of the snow fields. There was a good amount of snow covering the ground. Atlas’s felt the cold as his feet sunk a good ten inches down before hitting solid ground. He instinctually shivered as he waved he clicked his fingers and was now wearing a big puffer jacket and snow boots.

It had taken several of the transport eleph-ANTs to move the children. The entire globe was basically their playground. When they learnt about planets, the kids went up into orbit, where they got to see just how big it was. Atlas thought it was one of the best educations anyone could ever receive—at least he would have loved that experience as a child.

There were forty two kids in total. That's how many Atlas wanted to seed. He planned on bringing forty-two kids into this world at first. Let them grow up as one big family. These would be the big brothers and sisters of the next generation. He had been cautious. Not wanting to bring too many children into the world—he knew the planet was safe for human life, but wanted to make sure. So he had been monitoring the planet closely. And was starting to feel it was safe enough for new children to come into this world. He was planning on seeding new life later on this year.

Atreus ran over and gave Atlas a hug. “Dadda, you made it.” He said pulling Atlas’s hand. “Come see my snowman.”

Atreus pulled Atlas along the snow. There were snow angels littered all around and one nerses was currently constructing an igloo. Atreus and all the other kids looked so cute all dressed up warm in little ski outfits—little toddler marshmallows. They headed towards a small group of snowmen. Five in total. Atreus grinned ear to ear as he pointed to one of them. “This is Ship dadda.”

Atlas smiled and patted Atreus on the head—he was definitely the favourite child. “Can I tell you something.” Before realising he needed to tell all his kids.

All the other children or either throwing snowballs at each other, or deep in concentration adding purple carrots to the nose of their snowpeople—none of them had noticed him yet.

“Kids!” Atlas said in the best fatherly voice he could muster. “I need to tell you all something.”

As soon as they heard his voice, they all came running over. Calls of dadda and daddy could be heard all around. Little Luke Daniels took out one of the snowman he was running so fast.

After the hugs and cuddles were done, Atlas sat down on the ground just waiting for the kids to join him. The nurse bots stood around too, ushering in some of the kids who were still occupied with a snowball fight.

“I'm going away,” Atlas said clearing his throat. “Well not going away I'll still be here.”

“Are you visiting another star in a spaceship?” Atreus asked.

“Yes, but…”

“My nurse told me you can’t leave, ever,” Little Debbie Gills said. “Because of the starnet. You’ll always be here able to talk with us. No matter where in the whole wide universe you are,”

Atlas nodded. “I’m always going to be here with you.”

The kids understood things better than he expected. He thought he would have to explain why he was going but also going to stay. He was impressed they grasped the concept faster then he could have even imagined. These kids were smart, and they understood more about this world and he gave then credit for.

“Can we visit the stars too?” Little Luke said.

“Once I get there, you can come visit. I’ll set up a starnet and you can come over anytime.” Because thanks to brain scanning technology they could also visit if they wanted to become a simulation. Or even if they didn’t want to have their minds uploaded, they would use a virtual reality rig to experience what it would be like on that planet.

“Is aunty Trillion going with you too?” One of the kids said pointing at Trillion behind Atlas.

Trillion smiled a knowing smile. Atlas hoped it meant he had done a good job at telling them all.

“Auntie is going on her own adventure.”

“Are the Dottiens going to miss her?” One of the girls down the back said.

Trillion spoke up then. “Just like Atlas, I'm not leaving them. I'm just changing where my house is.”