The ship reached the meeting point, exiting hyperspace at a mostly random point in deep space. There were already a few ships there floating in the void. All of them were dwarfed by the massive ship Asuta had, all of them like little flies buzzing around their massive bulk.

One of the ships started heating up weapons to attack and Asuta giggled and pressed a button on the console. Immediately the ship began to hum as all the weapons absolutely coating the ship began to activate. The smaller ship quickly switched off its weapons, cowed by the display.

“Asuta…” Emily said as the weapons kept warming up.

“Oh, fine. They’re too weak for a good battle anyway,” Asuta said reluctantly and pressed a few more buttons and the weapons began powering down again.

After the brief moment of tension, nothing much else of interest happened. They all dispersed to do their own things as they waited for the appointed meeting time. Over the next two weeks more and more ships arrived, forming their own loose clusters where the ships gathered together. According to Asuta it was roughly sorted by the Immortals factions. Despite being independents, most of them had a loose alliance with other like minded individuals for when they needed assistance or for easy contact with other Immortals just socially. Over two hundred ships in total arrived, more Immortals than Sean had expected from what Asuta had described.

Finally the moment arrived. In front of them a massive holographic screen appeared with a three dimensional model of a person hovering in each of their little windows. The expressions ranged from outright hostile, to carefully neutral, to wide and easygoing smiles.

Asuta stepped forward to the front of their group, all of their movements being projected to the whole gathering of Immortals now. Only Ash had reluctantly remained behind to not muddy the waters with debate over his present.

One of the heads on the screens appeared irate as they stared directly as Emily. Their mouth moved silently as they shouted something.

Asuta sighed.

“Alright, let’s get this out of the way,” She said to the gathered floating heads. With a flick of her wrist the shouting head grew in size and shifted to the center to float opposite of Asuta.

“Will you shut up? You’re muted right now,” Asuta said in annoyance as the woman still appeared to shout. The head quickly stopped speaking while still appearing irate. Asuta made a quick gesture and suddenly everyone could hear the breathing of the woman on the other end.

“Yes?” Asuta said, “What’s your problem again?”

“The Plaguemother!” The woman on the other end spluttered, “She’s standing right behind you! You would work with her. She’s the dark goddess, founder of the Plaguebringers, the betrayer. She betrayed the other Nine and especially the great Peter! You would work with her kind? She’s the worst, causing only chaos and destruction wherever she goes. All she touches turns to rot and ash!”

Emily cringed in response, shifting from foot and wringing her hands slightly as the woman kept shouting.

Asuta hummed in response, her eyes quickly darting to Emily before back to the head of the shouting woman.

“Ship,” She said in the flattest tone Sean had ever heard her speak in, “Target that woman’s ship with a selective EMP. Maximum power.”

There was a quick thrum and suddenly the hologram of the angry woman flickered for a moment before returning.

“What… What are you doing?” The woman said, “She has twisted your mind, break free from her clutches!”

“Ship…” Asuta said in the same dead tone as before, only a hint of restrained anger behind it, “Target lock the main cannon on that ship.”

“Acknowledged.”

The ship rumbled as it turned to point the main cannon at the tiny ship it had just blasted with an EMP.

“I’d suggest the rest of you get out of the way,” Asuta stated and many of the holograms flickered out as the ships fired their thrusters to leave and several even jumped away into hyperspace. Asuta flicked her hand to silence the woman who was rambling about the Plaguemother’s ‘corruption’ and urging Asuta to ‘break free’ of her control.

Thirty seconds later they were in alignment and the rumbling of the ship around them stopped.

“Fire the cannon,” Asuta said, “Vaporize them.”

There was a high pitched whine through the whole ship that built over the course of a few seconds before the weapon fired, the massive beam not even pausing as it hit the disabled ship and vaporized it in an instant. The beam shot off into space, receding into the distance even as Sean watched.

Slowly over the course of a few more minutes the holographic heads flickered back into the room as the ships around them cautiously made their way back. Asuta stood there silently as they did so, an uncharacteristically severe expression on her face.

When it appeared most of the ships still around had rejoined, Asuta took a deep breath.

“No one. I repeat. No one. Gets to insult Emily. If you don’t like that, then I suggest you leave before I start really getting angry. We’ll talk again in an hour. I won’t be so restrained next time.”

Asuta swiped her arm and all the holographic heads flickered away and the call ended. Immediately her whole manner changed and she slumped and immediately whirled around, looking concerned.

“Emily! Are you okay?” She said as she rushed forward, “I didn’t even think, I thought they all would be more understanding or at least restrained…”

Asuta charged into the surprised Emily and hugged her, sending Emily stumbling a few steps back. Emily hesitated before hugging Asuta back.

“It’s fine,” Emily said softly, “Thanks for defending me, Asuta. I can always count on you.”

Asuta looked up at Emily, “Damn right,” Asuta said with a slight wavering tone, “I was selfish, I shouldn’t have brought you here. I thought it would be like old times when we went out to explore the galaxy together. I know how much it hurts you to hear them…”

“I… I’ll be fine,” Emily repeated, “Just keep on going. I’ll just stand back here and look menacing. Sinestra and Queen Violet, right? I wanted to be here too, hoping that it might be like the old days… that…”

Asuta looked incredibly sad for a few seconds, “I’m sorry. I wish I could help. None of them even know you at all. You stand there and be menacing. I’ll handle the rest. Okay?”

“Okay.”

There was a few seconds of silence before Asuta let go of Emily and took a step back.

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah.”

Asuta returned to the screens and called up the meeting again after the full hour passed. Another third of the ships had jumped away into hyperspace at that time, unable to accept Emily’s presence or even sit quietly and not insult her during the discussion. The floating immortals from the vaporized ship were picked up by one of the ships that left before the hour of the up.

When the meeting fully resumed, all the other people in the meeting pretended like Emily wasn’t even there as Asuta presented their proposal for an assault on Immortus Station. Half were happy to join, battle junkies ready to fight whatever foe appeared the strongest as long as they were attacking with a larger group with the smallest sliver of a chance in succeeding.

The other half were skeptical and Asuta tried to convince them with several arguments. From loot from the attack, prestige of being in the attacking group, to straight out pay and supplies that Asuta would give them as payment for their participation.

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Sean, Roger, and Emily watched on in silence as Asuta took over the work. Sean was still thinking about Asuta’s sudden switch in personality. Was this why she was so paranoid about defending her home? Her protectiveness of Emily, a coping mechanism for being unable to change the other Immortals opinions of her girlfriend?

Sean imagined if everyone he met constantly went around talking about how amazing Lars was while blaming Lira for what had happened to her. Like everyone was Samir. He felt some anxiety and anger just thinking about it. Was that what it was like for Asuta all the time? Sean hoped Lira was okay. Was she unconscious, trapped in one of those big stone blocks right now? Or was she imprisoned in some cell somewhere, waiting alone for him and Roger to come rescue her? Sean tried to not think about it. They would be breaking her free soon. Then they would all be together again, no one left behind this time.

Sean had thought Asuta as spontaneous and fun loving. And she was. But as she handled complex negotiations with the other Immortals effortlessly, Sean wondered if he hadn’t been insulting her mentally too much. She was much more complex than he had first thought, now that Sean had seen this completely new side of her.

— — —

Eventually, the final numbers came in and it ended up with just over a hundred and thirty of the ships agreeing to join them. All crewed by Immortals and heavily armed as Asuta had told them to come to the meeting ready for a fight. The impromptu fleet had briefly created a battle plan before jumping into hyperspace without delay towards Immortus Station.

Sean hadn’t understood most of the battle plans. But it sounded chaotic. Most of it was just coordinating exactly where the ships would exit hyperspace after which they would each do their own thing and agree to not interfere with whatever the others were doing. Just complete chaos that would hopefully allow their group to accomplish their own mission in time. Asuta and Emily didn’t seem too concerned with the result so maybe it did actually have a chance of working…

Anyway, all of them excluding Ash were in the main entertainment room, decompressing after the long negotiations. Asuta for actually doing things, and Emily, Roger, and Sean from standing around so long trying to look like they were paying attention. Ash was still in his room, reading more books and not wanting to join them when Roger had sent him a message that they were finished.

“So, Emily,” Roger said casually as they all sat silently on their plush chairs and couches.

“You didn’t tell us that you were one of the Founders,” He finished, “Never really connected this Plaguemother business with the Dark Goddess bit.”

Emily immediately stiffened and opened her mouth.

“And how is it any of your business?” Asuta said roughly, “Just leave it alone, Roger.”

Sean glanced between the two of them.

“What? Are you talking about that crazy lady from before?” He said, “What’s the Dark Goddess?”

Asuta opened her mouth to yell at him, but seeing his genuine confusion, closed it again.

Emily sat frozen for a second before giving a massive sigh and rubbing her temples for a moment.

“Alright, I’ll tell you a bit,” She said in a defeated tone.

Asuta stared at her in concern and shifted over from the other side of the couch to sit next to Emily.

“Babe, you don’t have to if it’s uncomfortable…”

“No, I’m fine, Asuta,” Emily said, “Roger’s already figured it out. May as well tell Sean too.”

“Well, if you’re sure…” Asuta said uncertainly and put a hand on Emily’s thigh over Emily’s own.

“So, I’m one of the Founders,” Emily said while staring directly at Sean, “One of the first ten Immortals ever. Peter Rose, the hero of our movies, is another one. He was actually the first… He was the leader of all of us in the beginning. He’s still a leader. Leader of the Immortal Council, and the one who started the whole thing.”

“One of… First ten?” Sean said, “How is that even possible? Surely the Shadow has always been around to grant Immortality to people? It has for all of recorded history.”

“The Shadow…” Emily said, “It just appeared one day. For the longest time people didn’t even believe that it was anything more than a hallucination. People’s brains going strange due to too much stress. That’s what they thought. One day, things were one way. Next, Peter Rose was Immortal and everything was different. Not that everyone else knew about it until much later. Maybe the Shadow was always there, but before Peter it never made another Immortal that I know of.”

Sean licked his dry lips. “How… How old are you then? How long has it been?”

Emily stared at him for a moment. “I don’t know,” She said sadly, “I could calculate it if I measured the drift of stars around the galaxy for some systems I would recognize…”

“Thirteen,” Asuta said suddenly, “Thirteen Million. That’s how old you are. I remember, you calculated it last time you visited me. I saw you even if you thought I didn’t know.”

Emily looked at her in surprise, “Thirteen? I thought it was closer to eleven… Like it even matters anymore except for flexing how old I am to people.”

Asuta reached over and pinched Emily’s upper arm and waved the skin a bit to show the bits of fat that were there.

“You could do with some more flexing there babe,” Asuta said. She put her arm side by side and flexed herself and displayed the bulging muscle compared to Emily’s much more normal size.

The corner of Emily’s lips twitched upwards, “Yeah. I guess I do. At least you got me beat on arm size. Good job.”

“Hey, I try…” Asuta said shyly.

There was a heavy silence in the room as everyone fell into deep thought.

“Hey, Emily,” Sean said, causing the woman to look back up at him, “Peter Rose, the leader of the Immortal Council… Why would he let this happen? Why would people think you betrayed him?”

Emily huffed and shook her head.

“It’s all propaganda, I never betrayed them. I… Well, I made a mistake. Back in the beginning. I made something and then someone stole it and used it for terrible things. The other eight all blamed me for what happened, thinking that I was working with the person who did it all. None of them liked me very much. Only Peter supported me, and stood up for me in front of the others. Believed that I was innocent in it all. Since he was our leader they let me work with them without being too rude or judgemental towards me. None of them really forgave me for what happened, but Peter at least believed that I was innocent. He’s the only one I could rely on for millions of years. The only one that really believed that I was innocent. I would never betray him. He’s like a father to me. A very stern, strict one. But that’s what he’s like to me.”

“Then how could he let this happen to you?” Sean said, “Let all these people believe all of these lies if he really cared about you?”

“He was gone,” Emily said softly, “For the last million years. Before that there were always rumbles of people that didn’t like me. But it never grew this bad where people can’t even stand being in the same room as me anymore. The other eight founders are worshiped like gods by the mortals, and the Immortals some of them end up turning into. All of them made sure to tell everyone just how much they disliked me, how everything was my fault before they left the galaxy for good. Even if the details didn’t make it through, not many people ever had a positive impression of me from the start. Except the Plaguebringers who stand against Peter and the other Founders on principle. That’s why they wanted me to be their ‘Plaguemother’ so much I think. Clout of having a Founder as your sponsor without any of the baggage of me actually able to do anything to stop them…”

“What about now?” Roger asked, “This Peter is back, isn’t he? He knows what’s happening in Immortus Station now and how they are villainizing you. Won’t he fix it once he knows?”

Emily let out a long sigh and then let out a small smile, “Yeah. He will. It will take time, but he will. He’s always taken care of me before, he will now. He’ll fix this and make sure that people will at least tolerate me again, give me a chance before writing me off as evil incarnate. But he just got back and I did just escape the prison he put me in. So it might take a long time for it to happen, since he only just got back to our galaxy. And I’ll have to apologize to him somehow for disrupting whatever plans he made to get me out of that place the legal way.”

“What about you, Asuta?” Sean asked, “How do you fit into all of this?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Asuta said with a mullish look on her face, “I’m six million years old if that’s what you’re asking. Met Emily when I was a little under a million years old. My role is being the best girlfriend for Emily possible. I still don’t understand why more people don’t give her a chance. She’s really sweet and caring, more than any other person that I know. I don’t care if other people don’t like it, we’re made for each other.”

Emily gave Asuta a side hug, and the tension in her shoulders softened.

“Thanks, Asuta,” Emily said, “I love you too.”

Suddenly there was a sound at the door and everyone jumped. They all whirled around to see Ash walking into the room. Ash paused as everyone focused on him. He scanned the room and spotted Emily side hugging Asuta. Ash looked at Sean.

“Is this one of the things I am not supposed to mention?” Ash asked him.

Sean's face palmed and groaned.

“No, Ash. It isn’t that… Just sit down. I’ll tell you later if you want.”

He glanced up suddenly, “If she says it's okay, of course. I mean, I didn’t want to…”

Emily waved him off, “No, no. It’s fine. Ash should know too. Would have called her in if I knew it was just going to all spill out like that…”

“Sorry for bringing it up,” Roger offered, appearing a little guilty at hearing her story.

“I’m glad it’s out in the open now at least,” Emily said, “Now we don’t have to worry about tiptoeing around it anymore…”

“I am very confused right now,” Ash stated flatly, “What was the result of the negotiations with the independent Immortals?”

Asuta let out a chuckle.

“Oh, man. I’d almost forgotten about that with everything else that we talked about,” She said, “I’ll recap the basics to you, Ash.”

Asuta ran through it all and Ash watched her closely, nodding along as had become his habit over time to show that he was listening. Emily kept her arm around Asuta the whole time and neither looked inclined to move as Asuta kept speaking.