Ardi felt tired.
She had only recently woken up yet had already experienced several close calls with death.
She rationalized it as a natural part of life.
Newborn herbivores would often be born into environments were the chances that they were picked off by a carnivore were usually high so Ardi’s circumstances weren’t particularly unique but a part of her felt overwhelmed.
Even with the power her mind could command and even in the darkness of unconsciousness, the stress began to take its toll.
She wanted a break.
Even if it was just a short one.
After taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes to find herself in the med bay of the ZC Gore. A dimly lit space lined with hospital beds.
Sitting by her side was Meredith who silently watched over her.
“Good morning.” Ardi yawned as she sat up. The act wasn’t necessary but it was a way for her to express he inner fatigue.
“Good morning, ma’am. I’m glad you’re awake.”
Ardi knew Meredith meant what she was saying but her face and voice rarely changed when she spoke, something that reminded her of herself a little.
The one thing that was as clear as day, however, was her nervous heartbeat.
“Zenith hasn’t made a move?”
“No, ma’am. Thanks to your valiant efforts, we made it out alive and are out of range.”
“I see.”
Ardi nodded as she got out of bed, prompting Meredith to stand as well.
The two now stood face to face and both in Nanitesuits.
Their gazes locked and while they were around the same height, Meredith’s gaze was always a little lower.
“So, what decisions were made while I was asleep?”
“Everyone was waiting for you to wake up so not much. Mr. Gudo did say that if you didn’t wake up or took too long, he would find a way to get us back into Coalition territory.”
Ardi could feel Meredith’s breath on her cheek as she spoke.
She watched her blink every so often and she saw the blood rushing through the veins on her temples.
She was on high alert, something that made Ardi sigh.
“Being alive is to stressful.”
“Pardon?” Meredith’s brow shifted a little in confusion but Ardi simply walked to the side and went through the Gore’s navigational data.
“It’s nothing. Let’s plot our course.” Ardi said while making her way to the bridge.
“Yes, ma’am!”
There it was again.
Meredith had called her that word again.
Ardi knew fully that the frustration she felt was irrational and juvenile but…
She too wanted someone to rely on.
All newborns yearn for a parent, after all.
Ardi chose to, again, set aside her frustration and, after walking past several of Gudo’s men, who looked at her with nothing but fear soaked eyes, eventually arrived at the bridge where everyone stood attentively the moment she entered the room.
“Mornin’, Captain! The helm is yours although I won’t lie, that little trick you pulled before you slept was quite devious indeed. I can’t even tell them apart, haha!”
If Gudo had a face, he would have been grinning ear to ear.
“I’m glad you understand.” Ardi cracked the slightest smile and it seemed as though, for a fraction of a, Gudo wanted to run away.
“Of course! I would expect nothing less from one who bested me! Precautions are the Mark of one who accounts for even negative eventualities although I fear I must make a request.” He lowered his head.
“Yes?”
“Please give me a comprehensive list of things to do in order to avoid being looked at with such scorn!”
Ardi was confused.
Was her smile really that bad?
Tsk!
Her body had been crafted to exceed in every possible way and yet…
“Haa… just don’t cause any trouble and you should be fine. But back to business, I heard that you had planned to slip into Coalition territory if I didn’t wake up. What were your thoughts on this, Meredith?” Ardi sighed her frustration away and instead turned to the captain of Condor Unit.
“We concluded that Zenith is likely to give chase, following our escape so it would be ideal if we found some friendly vessels.”
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“Alright. The only problem, in that case, would be carefully navigating past Canons.” Ardi thoughtfully tapped her chin.
“I’m surprised you’re considering our idea.” Gudo softly laughed.
“That’s because it not a bad one. I’m sure you also considered marching straight towards Plinth and facing Zenith head on but not only are we outgunned and outnumbered, we don’t know how I stack up against him.”
Gudo nodded.
“Alright. I’ll sync up with the ship and-“
[There is a third option, my dear.]
Zenith’s voice came from everywhere in ship although he sounded marginally more energetic than before.
“Oh? Care to share it?” Ardi asked while everyone in bridge remained as still a possible.
[Stay exactly where you are. I will come there myself so that I may fully appreciate you…]
Zenith dragged out and droned every word.
Ardi felt a chill crawl up her spine.
For the first time, she became fully aware that she was being watched.
It felt as though a billion eyes were gliding over every inch of her skin.
[And I know what you’re thinking. What’s the catch? There is none. I simply want you and, since you’re quite fond of those humans so I’ll even allow you go keep them. And since you are indeed quite special, I’ll even allow you certain privileges. All you need to do to… is sit still.]
The transmission ended.
“He’s really gonna come here, isn’t he.” Gudo dreaded aloud.
He then joined everyone in looking at Ardi who nodded to herself.
“If he wants us to wait for him, then we’ll wait.”
“Are you planning on taking him head on?” Tsuro asked.
“He’s clearly realized that he’s the only one who can finish what he started and, whether it’s by surpassing me in one on one combat or having his whole fleet vaporize us, he’s realized that he has to be the one at the helm. That’s the way I see it, at least. Since he’s finally going all out, I don’t think running will be an option for me since he’s most likely got smaller and faster ships that can close the gap, right?”
Tsuro nodded.
“So Guro and Co, sit back and relax. And as for you guys… you’re not his target. Feel free to take the Hawk-14 and make a break for Coalition space as soon as you please.”
Meredith’s brows finally twitched fully.
“You want us to leave you here?” He frown deepened.
“I didn’t say that. I simply said that you are free to take the Hawk-14 and leave, if you like.”
Meredith’s face returned to its neutral state but Ardi could see that she was grinding her teeth behind her lips.
“We cannot leave without you. After everything you’ve shown us, I am even more certain you are what our people need to tilt the odds in our favor. Even if it’s just by a little.”
Ardi glanced at B and Chin who remained silent.
It seemed as though they too were determined to find their peace.
Even if it came at the cost of their lives.
“Alright. I’ll head back go the control center just in case he gets bored and decides to blow us up anyway.”
.
..
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The Path to the ZC Gore’s Control Room
12 [https://i.postimg.cc/X7sNbK0W/PSX-20240906-180021.jpg]
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Ardi took the moment of silence and solitude to deflate with a deep sigh.
She lazily slouched on her chair which had been placed next to Gore’s CPU.
Her heat syncs were still spread across the ship and were now attached to her chair meaning all she’d have to do is plug in when the time came.
But that would have to come later.
She didn’t want to think about anything for a bit and so she focused on her present self.
A single digit in the infinite of the cosmos.
A fraction of the whole.
Ardi didn’t know if her creator, Asecan, had programmed it into her but, from the very moment she first awoke to this one, she felt… content.
At least when it came to herself.
Yes, she acquired skills and Upgraded herself but when it came to her identity as the one named Ardi, she felt complete.
All that was left was for her to find her peace.
She allowed herself to fantasize about what it would look like and the first image that came to mind was that of a farm.
She closed her eyes and saw a the morning sun rising over a farm in the middle of a field of fresh green grass. Distant mountains littered the horizon and a few birds flew by joining the wind in song.
It was generic but she found herself smiling a little as the image became clearer.
She saw herself sitting on the porch of the little farmhouse and she knew, with all her being, that the air felt amazing-
[Captain… he’s here.]
Ardi’s eyed popped open upon hearing Tsuro’s voice.
“Alright. Let’s see how this goes.”
Ardi plugged herself onto her chair and synchronized with Gore, allowing her to see the space around the ship as dozens of ships warped to its location.
They came in all shapes, sizes and would eventually grow to a number of one hundred and ninety eight.
[He brought the whole fleet!] Gudo gasped and just as those words left his mouth, the last of the ships appeared and it was gargantuan.
While the ZC Gore was about the size of a football field, the ship directly ahead of them was no less that two Kilometers meters long and was four times as tall.
It was modeled after an ancient galleon only instead of sails and a rudder, it had four gigantic Grav Engines.
At its fore, was a bronze figurehead of a man who was nailed to a wooden pole by his feet and arms, which were outstretched above his head.
The man had his eyes gouged out but even still, seemed to be glaring at something far above him.
The ship had a pearlescent sheen which was interrupted only by its dark grey components like the engines.
[The New Genesis.] Guro muttered over the radio.
[This is it, Captain. Just know that whatever you decided, we’ll follow to the end and I’m not saying this because you booby trapped my Nanites. I have a feeling that, with you as a boss, things will be a little different. Maybe Tsuro and I will be able to govern our planets in some kind of peace without being held at Canon point.]
“What makes you so sure I won’t be worse?” Ardi smirked.
[You’ll enforce your authority, yes but I have a feeling you won’t be an asshole about it.]
Ardi could tell that Guro was smiling.
“We’ll see.” She softly chuckled before noticing that one of the landing bays on the New Genesis was opening.
A small oval ship then shot out of it and promptly made its way to the Gore.
“Anything I need to know about Zenith before he gets here?”
[Only thing that sets him apart is his creepy eyes and the fact that he’s eaten five of our kind.]
“I see. And have you two eaten other Archons before?” Ardi asked as the small ship steadily approached.
[Yes. Two each. And I swear I can still hear the Echoes of the Damned.] Tsuro admitted.
“You didn’t experience a boost of power or anything?” Ardi raised a brow.
[No although our Nanites integrated the newly gained C-cores onto our own so I guess you can say we got a processing speed boost.]
“I see.”
The little ship eventually reached the Gore’s landing bay which slowly opened, allowing it in.
Ardi got up and made her way to the bay which she entered the find twenty heavily armored and heavily armed Archons standing side by side behind a much smaller Archon who had a pair of goggles fitted to his otherwise featureless head that shined their eerie green lights at Ardi who simply crossed her arms.
[Let’s cut the pleasantries. I was going to go and on about how it is my duty to collect and archive everything for when this civilization, like all others, eventually crumbles but after seeing you… I see now that he was right.] Zenith’s voice shook with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as he looked Ardi over, giving her that sickening feeling again.
She didn’t have a problem being watched or seen but something about the way those goggles turned and rotated freaked her out. It felt as though he was trying to reach out and touch her with his gaze and while she knew she was possibly misinterpreting his motions, she trusted her gut more than anything.
Ardi also realized that her feelings were being amplified by her upgraded CQNN but, while she had her concerns about that, she chose to temporarily shelve them as Zenith walked towards her.
[I think… I’ve fallen in love with you.]
Silence followed as Ardi’s eyes slowly widened.
“Huh?”
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Zenith the Collector
66554tyyuu [https://i.postimg.cc/RFT5T9Sm/PSX-20240907-084709.jpg]