Ne’lix planned to spend the day looking around this estate Adam had created. Since he was hungry, he had the nanites make a meal for him. Just something simple and easy. The BLT formed in his hands; the bacon was as warm as if it had just been cooked. As he bit into the sandwich, he couldn’t believe how authentic it tasted. As he ate the BLT he thought about all the choices he had as he looked over the menu. One thing he noticed was that the menu he’d been looking through didn’t seem to have a lot of food people would find on Vrax. Since it was his understanding that the nanites were in his brain and all talked to the same database he figured he’d help Adam and himself out and thought out about every single food he knew of. A moment later he received a message.

Thor: Menus updated; all relative data pulled from local databases.

Ne’lix: Thanks, Thor.

So, even while Adam was busy the part of him that had the identity of Thor was running in the background. Everything that Ne’lix had seen in Adam’s memories seemed to be accurate and made sense. With the amount of processing power Adam had access to what he could accomplish would be amazing.

The next thing Ne’lix did was go over the control he had over the nanites that were part of his body. He was borrowing them after all. For his first test, he sent a command for the nanites to maintain his oxygen levels and then held his breath. After five minutes of no discomfort, he set the nanites back to default mode and turned on one of the functions he’d seen in Adam’s memories, waste management. No more using the bathroom or getting a woman pregnant if he didn’t want to. Shoot with this technology he was now immune to diseases and even the nanites the Vrax had worked with in the past that had scoured a planet by accident wouldn’t hurt him. With that thought he contacted Thor.

Ne’lix: Thor, there’s a planet the Vrax once had that was eradicated by an accident involving nanites. Think you could open a portal to the location and let some of Adam’s nanites into the place to convert them into something you two can use. No one is using that planet after all.

Thor: Where was the planet?

Ne’lix: Not sure exactly. I know its name was Xersus IV though.

Thor: Searching, stellar coordinates located, portals opening. Nanite’s detected. Infiltration started. Portal closed. The enemy nanites tried to come back through the portal but they are orders of magnitude less sophisticated than mine.

Ne’lix: Are they like you, have they networked into an overall consciousness?

Thor: No. Hacking now. Done. Initiating Nanite shutdown sequence. Nanites are now inert. It will take a while but there is a lot of material to convert. Also, I’m going to data mine Vrax historical files and see about rebuilding the planet back to the way it was. Currently, it is a barren sphere. Not even bacteria survived the nanite attack.

Ne’lix: Okay, I think I am also going to go do something productive today.

Thor: Message me if you need anything.

Ne’lix closed his interface and walked over to the door leading to the landing pad. He slowed in the doorway and then came to a complete stop. He’d be able to come back here and look around any time. What he needed to do now was visit his new boss and the woman that tried to murder him, correction, the woman that had murdered him.

Ne’lix double-checked his nanite interface to make sure his nanites were set to full defense and tissue regeneration. Next, he accessed the internal menus for weapons until he found a listing for handheld projectiles. One of the first listed was an M20 submachine gun. He reviewed stats and watched videos on how to work the item. He had the nanites create the gun in his hand and two extra clips all on a shoulder strap. He hoped he wouldn’t need the weapon, but they had shot him the last time he’d visited.

Ne’lix summoned a portal with his nanites and stepped into Trix’s old office where Wesley Milston sat behind his desk. As he stepped through the portal he watched Mr. Milston hit a red button and heard the doors open behind him. Before he could even turn to look in that direction. messages popped into his vision blocking most of his sight, though Ne’lix heard two blood-curtailing screams, one behind him and one in front of him, that suddenly cut off.

WARNING A Projectile has entered your defensive perimeter.

Threat negated.

Ne’lix closed the messages that popped into his vision and set them to not block his line of sight during combat. Next, Ne’lix focused on what was happening to Mr. Milston in front of him, and then quickly turned to see the same thing happening to what was left of Eloise. What the hell? Each of them was evaporating. They were just disappearing as if they’d never existed.

Ne’lix: Thor, what is happening to the two people in this room with me?

Thor: Adam didn’t…No Adam didn’t because you were supposed to be flying around the Dyson Sphere today. Quick answer. If anyone tries to kill you, the person that tries to kill you and the person that ordered it will be destroyed immediately.

Ne’lix: What?

Thor: You have the same kind of memory that we do. What is your actual question?

Ne’lix: Isn’t that a little Harsh?

Thor: Your memory is perfect, they killed you, not once but twice, this would have been the third time, The Emperor was warned. Though we had hoped that he’d have a little more time to get the word out.

Ne’lix: I’m not a killer!

Thor: What’s hanging off that shoulder strap again?

Ne’lix: Point taken.

Thor: Now dissolve that weapon and stop worrying about defending yourself. Anyone that tries to kill you, even if they succeed, won’t get a second chance, and at worst your body will repair itself and you’ll be back up in no time.

Ne’lix: Last thing for now, what happened to the bullet?

Thor: When the bullet was fired and known to be on a trajectory towards you its path was diverted slightly and the nanites in it reduced it to its component energetic particles which were shunted off through the surrounding nanites to prevent a huge radiation spike. -Thor

Ne’lix: Huh?

Thor: When you get a chance do some research into an idea called pair production. Then I want you to think about every nanite as being connected to every nanite around it and that field goes out for quite a ways. Since the nanites are in every particle in their area of influence when pair production happens they have to do something with the extra energy. What happens is that the nanites invade and absorb the particles while simultaneously preventing the radiation that could be created from destroying nearby biological material. Of course, when the area is saturated the nanites just repair the damage but when I first started my nanites didn’t have the capabilities they do now.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Ne’lix: Pair production, I’ll look it up. What happens to these two?

Thor: Well, Adam and I kind of believe people should be given a warning. Also, everyone on the planet has been backed up so Adam is going to reform them on the Moon and have a little chat with them after he’s sure they have their souls back. Unless they’ve already fled the Cosmos, then there’s nothing he can do. I don’t think we can pull a soul back across that barrier, though we’ve never tried.

Ne’lix: And Me?

Thor: Oh, there should be a notice coming down from the Emperor shortly that you’re the boss and that anyone that tries to kill you will die immediately. I wouldn’t worry about looking for Ahrem anymore, that cat is out of the bag. Start setting up a power base and getting things ready. With your memory, this task should be easy for you.

Ne’lix: With what Money?

Thor: Seriously? You can use your nanites to create ‘anything’ and you can’t think of a way to generate funds?

Thor: I’m going to sign off now, I think I can handle this.

Ne’lix: Good to know, we’ll talk again later I’m sure.

* * *

Adam watched his Thor aspects conversation with Ne’lix then portaled to the surface of the moon Itania to the crater he just had all the sycophant’s portal out of. It was already ready so there was no reason not to use it. The previous occupants had all made it back to the Throne Room of The Emperor and were being seen to by medical personnel.

As Adam portaled in, he had the nanites recreate Eloise and Mr. Milston’s bodies and the clothes they’d been wearing. After his portal closed it only took another 30 seconds for the two bodies to be finished. Since they were exact duplicates, Adam watched as their eyes opened and they looked around. Adam knew the moment their souls fully reintegrated into their new bodies as he was watching them with True Sight.

Now that this had happened more than a couple of times Adam was pretty sure that if a person’s soul was still in a Cosmos and the construct that had created that soul was recreated perfectly the soul would be drawn to it. He wondered if that effect had a range limit. Someday, he’d have to test that.

Through Eloise’s nanites, he felt her body tense for the attack and locked her nanites down. Adam also locked down Mr. Milston’s body as he said, “We’ll have none of that.” Adam willed himself over to Eloise and then made sure both she and Milston were looking right at him as he moved about 10 feet away and hovered above the ground.

“First thing we’re going to do is a demonstration, then another demonstration, then I’m going to give you a warning that the Emperor will be sending to you shortly. Oh yeah, you died,” Adam said as he had exact duplicates of their bodies without the memories they now possessed form directly in front of each of them facing me. While they were forming Adam continued, “We are in a crater on Itania in orbit around Vrax. You are not dying right now because your body has been infiltrated and is being controlled by me. The method of control is insidious, and nondetectable by anything within the Vrax empire. In front of you, that method of control is building exact duplicates of your bodies. Do you have any questions?” Adam asked as he gave them both back their ability to talk.

“What do you mean we died?” Eloise asked while Mr. Milston kept his mouth shut.

Adam froze their ability to talk again and answered, “Eloise, A few minutes ago you entered Mr. Milston’s office and shot Ne’lix in an attempt to kill him…again. Before you did that I’d visited the Emperor and informed him that an attack, oh you want to tell me that I don’t get to order the Emperor around, don’t you? Well, you’re wrong. I can and I did. As I said that order will be coming down shortly. Getting back on track, any attack on Ne’lix will result in the immediate death of the person attacking Ne’lix and the person, or persons that ordered the attack. The only reason we are having this one-sided conversation was that I believe in fair play, and you had not received a warning,” Adam said as he let them have the ability to talk again.

“What if we don’t believe you?” Mr. Milston asked.

“That’s a good point, I blocked the memories of the moments of your death from your mind. Here is a replay of exactly how you died. Watch the two bodies in front of you. I’ve linked them to you so you can see what happened while you feel it. I’ll be maintaining your normal heart rate so you don’t go into shock and die again.”

The 2nd copies of Eloise and Mr. Milston started to evaporate in front of them as they started to scream. The screams only lasted for a few seconds because their brains had been the first parts of their bodies to be destroyed. Once the pain stopped both of them focused their attention on the body in front of them as they watched them disappear into nothing.

Adam pointed to where the bodies had been and said, “Horrible, wasn’t it? I think you agree because I can tell your bodies are distressed, just take it easy for a minute or two while Eloise’s body copy reforms in front of you,” Adam said as he watched over them. Once the second copy of Eloise’s fully clothed body reformed he went over to it as he addressed the two bodies that housed their souls, “You both need to pay attention. Right now, I’m locking your feet to the surface of the moon, no you can’t feel it. With a thought I can do anything I want,” Adam said as he stood beside Eloise’s doppelganger and had the clothing on it disappear while he maintained unflinching eye contact with Eloise. “I can do this from anywhere and I am always aware of what’s going on anywhere I have control and that is pretty much anywhere anyone from the Vrax Empire has been, “ Adam said as the clothing reappeared on Eloise copie’s body. “Eloise, I have known someone very similar to you that would continue to fight because they think they have a chance,” he said as Adam then directed a private message into her vision through the nanites.

You don’t have a chance when I can send private messages into your mind and can see, taste, smell, touch, and hear anything you can as well as read your mind,

Adam looked from one to the other then said, “You can let Mr. Milston know what I did there, he didn’t see the message that went into your mind, though I could send him, or anyone that I have been in contact with messages just like that with the same limitations, which is to say none,” Adam said as he paused for a minute to ponder how to proceed then figured it was time for a little truth.

Mr. Milston and Eloise stood motionless as Adam pondered how to proceed until a sly grin crossed Adam’s face before he continued, “You could try to nuke me, that was me as Ahrem when that nuke went off on Earth Moon, how’d that turn out again? Trix tried to time lock me by using magic to hurl me forward in time, still here, she is not and won’t be returning. Should I actually die, I’m just going to come back even more pissed off so I’m going to be kind and say this as simply as I can. You want to change your mindset when it comes to going after me or Ne’lix. Both actions are going to go very badly for you,” Adam said as he moved, grabbed Eloise’s doppelganger, and hurled her away from the Moon at his maximum strength. The Eloise doppelganger pierced the transparent shield wall above them as the body converted to energy and continued moving away from the moon. The shield covering them was pierced and the atmosphere started rushing out. Eloise and Mr. Milston were both locked in place, and Adam willed himself not to be moved as the damaged ceiling was repaired and the atmosphere replaced. Of course, the nanites maintained their oxygen supply though it was funny to watch them think they were choking to death until they realized that nothing was wrong with them. As for the energy wave that had once been the Eloise doppelganger, Adam opened a portal in front of the trajectory of the major portion of her mass that was now just a collection of nanites and directed it into the realm of chaos near my Dyson Sphere.

Adam looked back at both of them. Eloise seemed to be excited and Milston was terrified. Adam checked Eloise’s mind and sure enough, she was a power freak. Watching what he’d just done to something that looked like her had made her randy. Did he just make his first groupie? Wow.

Adam organized his thoughts as a stray thought crossed his mind, Bad Adam, you really shouldn’t as he remembered what Chevy Chase had done in the movie Modern Problems and Jim Carrey had explored the idea again in the movie “Bruce Almighty.” With telekinesis, Bad Adam indeed.

Once the atmosphere was back in place he opened a portal for Mr. Milston that took him back to his house and released him. Adam watched as he beelined for a phone and made a call to the switchboard that would get him a line to The Agency Director. Adam closed that portal and walked over near Eloise as he released her voice so she could respond to him, “So you liked that display of power?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” she responded in a sultry tempting voice.

“One thing you should know, I don’t even have to touch you,” Adam said as a Portal opened behind her and he telekinetically lifted her from the surface of the moon while he turned on every erogenous area of her body to 10% of their maximum stimulation. As he moved her through the portal a look of surprise and discomfort crossed her face as the stimulation slowly kept increasing. Of course, the only part of her body he’d released was her mouth so the only reaction she was able to make was that her breathing was becoming labored as she tried to resist what was happening to her body.

Adam continued to move her along until she was floating over her bed. Once she was there, he rotated her to a horizontal floating position and gently lowered her to her bed. As he released her body so that she could move, he closed the portal just as the nanites reached maximum stimulation of all of her erogenous zones. He kept the nanites at that maximum intensity for a full minute before he turned them off and released her. He monitored the nanites that were in her body to make sure he didn’t accidentally kill her but otherwise, he had no interest in what she was going through, other than Clinically as the thought crossed his mind that perhaps Adaline would like to feel something like that, do dragons even have Erogenous areas. Well, she does when she’s in her dark elf form…Before he digressed along that line of thought too far, although that scene from Bruce Almighty when Jim Carry said, “There’s a funny thing about pleasure… It can be quite… PLEASURABLE.” Popped into my mind. Of course, there wasn’t a body slam for Jennifer Anniston afterward though a full 60 seconds at full intensity was probably going to leave her wrecked for a little bit. She’d tried to kill his servant for the third time, so he tortured her with pleasure. He wondered if that actually might work better, more carrot, less stick? Definitely an idea worth exploring.