I laid on my bed, staring up at the ceiling.

“Beta. Beta are you there?” I asked into the silence.

I’m here.

“Why didn’t you speak up during the conference?”

They had evidence I couldn’t refute.

“Beta. Are you an alien?”

I was once an ‘Electron’ as it translates roughly to Inner Solar.

I changed the subject over to the other Androids.

“I don’t see how the other Androids are weaker than me. I don’t feel strong enough to take on an Army, but it seemed like the other Androids could.”

You haven’t the slightest idea of how powerful you are. The reason you don’t think you’re strong is because you are not strong with the dual combat protocol.

“So, is ‘dual combat protocol’ not powerful?”

No. It is the weakest protocol.

“Then why did you suggest it?”

Emma. You must realize that the resources I used to reprogram Anna’s copy, or yourself, were limited. There was a natural barrier which I couldn’t cross. The full potential of this body is only unlocked if there is one conscious. The only way we can move beyond Dual Combat Protocol is if either one of us willing terminates herself, or if we merge consciouses.

“Merge?” I thought aloud. “What does that mean?”

It means that you cease being Emma, and I cease being Beta. It means that our thought-processes will be combined into one. It will mean that my memories will add to your memories. It will mean that I would not exist in the best meaning of the word. The same will happen with you.

“That’s terrifying.” I whispered.

Yes. You wonder why I didn’t suggest one of the more powerful ones.

“But then how are we going to defeat Alpha?”

Beta remained silent.

“Beta. Will we be able to defeat Alpha?” I insisted with dread.

No. He will overpower us 10 to 1.

My mind attempted to grasp this revelation. I decided to change the topic.

“Beta. Who were you when you were an Electron? Are you still one?”

I cannot explain. I can only show you. Do you want to see?

“Alright Beta.”

I suddenly was stolen from my bedroom and placed in metallic room. I gazed around at the featureless walls. Suddenly one wall turned a bright blue. Glamorous markings covered the wall in a multitude of colors. I wondered what happened when suddenly a voice spoke in my ear.

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“Ah…sister. Why did you attempt your revolution? You had no chance.”

I heard myself, or beta answer, “I didn’t do it because I thought I could succeed. I did it to inspire the next generation to rebel, and the next and the next until one day in the far future your technocracy will be overthrown, and the people will be placed before your ceaseless research.”

“Our research is the most important in the galaxy! We are on the brink of discovering whether faster than light travel is possible. We are on the brink of discovering whether zero-point power can be extracted. We are so close to so many things with will impact the galaxy forever. Sacrifices must be made.”

“Every single being here works ceaselessly as they were computers! As if they aren’t sentient! The average life-span is 40,000 years, opposed to the 120,000-year lifespan of the previous million years! As your research increases, the stress on the individual increases so that they willingly terminate themselves 80,000 years sooner! Do you realize what you are doing!? As each life-span decreases, then the amount of experience per person decreases, slowing research further.”

“Sister, you realize that we still have the longest life-span of any other species of the galaxy! Our electronic form makes this possible. Our electronic form makes it possible for quick and easy movement through the galaxy. Our electronic form is best suited for research, and therefore for the galaxy’s sake, we must continue our research.”

“You have made your own people slaves. We are not forced to work 22 hours out of 25 hours. The ruling class is completely exempt from researching duties, focusing on controlling the population. I willingly experienced 100 years of the life of a researcher, and I will never relive it as long as I live! How people survive longer that 20,000 years working as hard as they do I do not know.”

“Sister. You have always been short-sighted. Always looking at things closest to you. You never even attempt to look ahead farther than your preferences. You talk of noble causes, and yet what if the researchers enjoy working on the problems of the universe! What if-“

“What if! You never can know because you put everyone under ceaseless observation, and they know it. If one of them mentions a work against the ‘Project’ then they are reprogrammed instantly.”

“Reprogrammed! Do you think I would sink to such a level!” The blue wall before me gained half-a-dozen red circles. “I have replaced them, yes, but the original degenerate copy is placed under lock-and-key. I have a hundred thousand of them on the Meditation. Sister, you will be replaced here with an older copy of yourself before that silly experiment, and you will be transferred to the Meditation as the second in command. I will have a loyal citizen take give a copy to become captain of the ship.”

“You will then be sent to a newly forming civilization to contact them. They seem to have adopted similar values to us and are building a Star-Sphere presently. You will arrive in time for the completion, I believe. The journey will take 10,000 years so everyone will be placed in a hibernation state. Except yourself of course. You will have plenty of time to think over what you have done.”

“Also, I believe you enjoy meeting the captain.” He waited a second, and then said, “His name is Subjugator, one in a long line of subjugators, and I believe he was the one who apprehended you.”

His laugh sounded in my ears as the wall ahead of me turned back to grey.

The scene changed once more. I was looking out through a window at a massive structure. In the center a blackhole spewed out radiation. A ring circled the blackhole at a distance while a pair of arms extended towards it. This pair of arms held another ring which stood outside the event-horizon.

“You won’t be seeing home again.” I heard a louder voice say. A glass panel ahead of me turned black. Red spots danced around it. A pair of yellow strips were emblazoned at the top of the panel. It was the symbol for the captain.

“You deserve to be terminated, starting a rebellion which killed 220 of my guardsmen.”

“I wish that I killed you along with the other 220.” Beta spat.

A bolt shot out from the wall and touched a panel beside me. It suddenly lost all color and reverted to the dull grey.

“The chief scientist has authorized me to use the Terminator, so don’t provoke me.”

The scene disappeared. I lay on my bed, paralyzed.

“You….you have changed.”

11,000 years of exile tend to do that to you.

“What was your name?”

There was silence on her side. I waited for a little while and was about to drop off to sleep when Beta spoke.

My name was Inner Steel.