“Ooh…” Heatdeath sounded as an entire battle cruiser was rendered invisible by the [Distortion Field] Pylons which had been installed on its surface.

He stood next to Ardi in the New Genesis's second landing port and the two watched several demonstrations of the Pylons in work.

They both knew that they’d work but it was good to them in action as well.

“It still boggles my E-Soul that you cannot only monitor but control each Pylon on each vehicle without generating a significant amount of heat.” Heatdeath sighed as Ardi turned around.

“Let’s just say I’m struggling in my own way.”

She led the giant orb of an Archon out of the landing port.

“Mmm… would I be able to monitor the Pylons in your stead?” Heatdeath asked as the two made their way to the armoury.

“You can do that by just interacting with my Higher Processes and no, you can’t do it manually because you’d fry your C-cores but I appreciate your concern.”

Heatdeath remained thoughtfully silent as they entered the office where Gudo was training his Lieutenants.

Two hundred men and women would soon be deployed into the ranks of the two hundred captains under Ardi’s leadership but they needed to learn what exactly their roles entailed and the protocols to follow for when the day came.

Ardi knew that all-out war was an eventuality, so she prepared accordingly.

She and Heatdeath entered the large lecture hall Gudo was teaching in and it was refreshing seeing him tending to each of his students while wearing the armada’s new uniform.

It was a class of fifty and they all attentively listened as he went over the many issues that came when the chain of command was broken.

It was imperative to ensure everyone played their part.

Each Lieutenant would be given a division of men and the resources they needed to operate as a node that linked the captains of the Fleet to their Admiral.

Ardi was delighted with how diligent Gudo was being.

What she didn’t find amusing was the fact that he, in an attempt to look cool, was holding her spear and using it as a pointer.

She patiently waited for the class to finish and as the students left the room, made her way to him as he sneakily hid the Spear behind his back.

“Tsuro must have warned you, mmm?” Ardi sang.

“She did.” Gudo lowered his head.

“And what do you think should be your punishment?”

Gudo loudly fell to his knees.

“My left arm would be a start.”

Ardi giggled.

“I will take both of them. So pick me up and take me to my quarters.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Gudo let go of the Spear, which floated towards Heatdeath, and picked Ardi up as one would pick up a princess.

She enjoyed silly things like this.

The universe was too dark and quiet not to have fun every now and then.

Gudo carried Ardi all the way to her room where he put her down.

“I’m surprised you and Tsuro haven’t asked to return to your territories,” Ardi said while softly punching Gudo’s large arm.

Heatdeath had parted ways with the two and returned to the bridge.

“I already told you that stuff like monitoring worlds is something we Archons can do even without using much if any of our processing power. We’ll probably have to head back if any conflict arises but for now, we want nothing else but to serve as closely as possible to you!” Gudo yelled while stepping away from Ardi’s harmless assault.

“Wonderful! I look forward to seeing the fruits of your work.” Ardi sang as she slipped into her quarters where Andy awaited her, clad in a white suit with pink and cyan accents.

“I’d like to remind you that your subordinates could always simply to you, Ardi.” Andy sighed as she led the way to the bedroom.

Ardi’s mind lit up whenever Andy and Orion called her by name.

“I know but there’s a certain joy that comes with seeing someone showing off their hard work.”

“You’re too kind.” Andy sighed as she opened the door revealing that Orion was hard at work by the desk next to the bed.

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“I’m also addicted to the feeling it gives me so there’s that,” Ardi admitted while removing her Nanitesuit which disintegrated as she walked up to a focused Orion.

She then gently covered his eyes and placed her lips next to his ear.

“What are you up to?” She whispered.

“You already know.” He breathed.

“Let’s pretend that I don’t.” Ardi smiled while letting him go, allowing him to turn around.

Like Andy, he was in a white version of his maid uniform.

“I wanted to ask for a favour, even if it was out of line. I… I know the coming times will be filled with war. You told us as much but… for those under your care who might lose their homes… I wanted to suggest that we use a few planets to serve as shelters… for them.”

Ardi listened to every word as it was uttered.

“He may have been cold and a bit bizarre but Archon Zenith gave us a home and I want to do the same for others if you would allow me.” Orion sat upright and looked Ardi in the eye with a determined face.

“Alright. Talk to Heatdeath about this. Tell him to give you as many planets as you need but only around Plinth.”

Orion smiled back at Ardi before standing and spreading his arms.

Ardi wasted no time in hugging him.

“Andy, be sure to prepare something absolutely spectacular for our Admiral-“

“And for yourselves!” Ardi demanded making Orion chuckle.

“Make something for everyone.”

.

..

Days had passed and Meredith was to get restless.

She stood on the edge of the platform atop which Condor Unit's barracks sat and sighed.

“You’ll be deployed soon enough, Raptor. There is prey aplenty and the trail is fresh.”

She glanced to her left and saw a man approaching her.

According to the jacket he wore over his Mark 1 Nanitesuit, he was part of the sixth Raptor unit, codenamed “Raven” and served as its captain.

He was fairly short, had a dark, heavy brow and cleanly shaven head which reflected the morning sun’s light.

“Good morning, Captain Elias.”

“Look at you. All glitzed up and everything. Energy signal is also reading Nova. Are you sure you’re still human?” Elias squinted as he walked up to Meredith’s side.

“My brain still is, I’ll say that much.”

“Haha! That’s strangely reassuring. What the hell happened out there, anyway? I read the reports but I still don’t know how to wrap my head around it all. Who is Ardi exactly?”

“I… are you religious, Elias?” Meredith raised a brow.

“Agnostic.”

“Well, then that makes explaining it easier. Ardi is that which exists beyond the bounds. Of rationality, of logic, of scale, of power, of everything!” Meredith realized that she had gotten a little too passionate and so tool a deep breath.

“She is an incomprehensible existence because I genuinely believe that there is nothing in the cosmos she isn’t capable of.”

Elias’s eyes widened.

“Well, now I just have to meet her.” He grinned.

“And you very well may. In the meantime, you’re stuck here with us- speaking of. Why aren’t you in the field?”

“Lockjaw got beat up real bad and we’re waiting for him to recover. They gave him a shiny new leg which should finally help with his turtle syndrome.”

“Turtle syndrome?” Meredith frowned.

“Yeah because he was blood slow!” Elias yelled before sighing as he turned around.

“Anyway, be patient. Ropa has been on the move as of late and the midpoint of the Scutum-Centaurus Arm may soon be engulfed in fire. Well… more so than usual. Rest well, Raptor.”

Meredith watched as Elias walked away and reflected on his words.

He was right.

She was too eager to serve.

Too ready to throw herself into that fire.

It was as Ardi said.

Patience would be their strongest weapon.

So, after taking a determined breath, she returned to her barracks where Chin and B could be seen lazing about in the living area.

Chin wore a loose grey tank top and a pair of boxers while B wore some plain grey pyjamas.

Meredith felt a smile forming on her face and instead of stopping it, as she would normally, she allowed her face to reflect how she felt inside, going against years of conditioning and training.

She knew that getting attached to anyone was a big mistake, especially in a galaxy at war but recent events had taught her that it would be far more preferable to die with a happy heart than one full of regret.

Strangely enough, it was Archon Zenith who got this lesson to stick.

He pursued his obsession, as deranged as it may have been, to the end and died with no regrets.

Or, that’s how it seemed.

Either way, Meredith was going to do the same.

To fight for her men and humanity with all she had.

With not just her body but her heart.

She sat on the couch next to B, who was reading through some holographic documents.

Meredith removed her jacket, revealing a grey tank top.

“B?” She called, prompting her subordinate to raise a brow at her.

“I just want to let you know that it’s alright.”

Both Chin and B gasped as Meredith smiled brightly.

“Err… Cap’n… are you feeling sick?” Chin shivered.

“No. I’m feeling quite alright and I'm pretty sure the Ardinite Network would have informed you if I was sick.” Meredith giggled but this just made Chin jump onto her feet.

“Yep! She’s definitely sick. B, grab her legs! The scanner downstairs will pick up anything we might be missing!”

B nodded and rushed to grab Meredith’s legs but she simply grabbed his right arm and nudged him to the side, making him tumble away.

Chin came attacking next and she was far more aggressive, sending forward several punches which Meredith avoided even while seated.

She then grabbed Chin’s fist and twisted her subordinate's arm behind her back.

“And how was punching me supposed to help, mmm?”

“Don’t know but I thought it’d get you to stop smiling all creepy-like.” Chin groaned as B flanked around the couch.

The two pilots, who were in their rooms upstairs, rushed down to see Meredith wrestling with her men.

“Umm… should we…?” The first pilot, Ivan, asked.

“Can we even do anything?” The second pilot, Jean shook his head as Meredith knocked both Chin and B down.

“Phew! I’m guessing that was enough to convince you that I am of sound mind and body.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Chin groaned.

“Good. Now, I think it’s time we spread his ashes.”

Chin and B sat up with concerned expressions.

“Do we… do we have to?” Chin asked.

“Sometimes in order to move forward, you gotta let something go,” Meredith said as her subordinates got onto their feet.

“Sounds like something he would say.” Ivan softly scoffed.

“Yeah. So get them and let’s give him a proper send-off.”

Condor Unit gathered on the edge of the platform outside and Meredith unsealed Maya’s ashes before grabbing a palmful.

She then held them out as if offering them to something or someone beyond sight and let them go.

Chin was next, followed by B, Ivan and Jean.

The sun soared brilliantly above, illuminating Meredith’s men.

She relished in every silent second as she knew that chances like this would be few and far between once the embers flared.

But she was ready to face the coming storm and wondered just what Ardi would do.

She had seen war and how Archons and humans handled it.

But how would Ardi stand in the face of the maelstrom?

Only time would tell.