After I sent River and Ocean away, I took a moment to compose myself. Omar was watching, trying to see how I'm reacting, I thought.

"Melody, if you're going to use your Voice, you need to be very careful about the things you order. You didn't specify to bring the Marines back alive, and now they're dead."

"Yes, you're right Omar, I need to be careful when I'm wording things."

Ava didn't seem to mind. "They did do what you asked though. and so quickly! I expected to not see them for at least a week."

It didn't seem to bother Um'reli either. "You have to admit, it sent a message. People weren't taking you seriously before, and between this and what you did to Starlight... they're going to realize you are the real deal."

Omar looked ahead "Speaking of the real deal, look." He pointed.

We looked out and...

Oh my.

The crowds.

It was wall to wall people in front of the entrance to the Throne. More people than I've ever seen in one place before. Not here, not on Starbase Picaresque, not even at home on Meíhuā. And they are all here to see me. Immediately, I wished there was a rear entrance to the Throne. I bet there was, I wish we looked harder to find it before now. I sighed. If we're going to do this, we might as well do it right. I looked back and my friends. "Okay, we're on. I'm going to try and impress everyone and see if they'll make a path for us. Once we're up I'll sit on the Throne and you can just stand behind me and look... official I guess. Ready?"

Nods all around. Good.

I turned back forward and thought about how I wanted to appear. My gown started to rustle like I was in a stiff breeze and my crown and wings appeared. I thought about the connection to the Reach and was able to tweak the air settings to get a breeze going around here too and as people looked back to see where the wind was coming from, they saw us. The cheering was a wall of sound that we walked headlong into. It was practically a physical thing. As we stepped into the crowd Um'reli and Omar pushed forward to clear a path and the people parted like grass on the plains. As we walked, I spread my wings for the look of it and they hung over the crowds as we walked past. People reached out to touch them as I passed and - I'll be honest here - I didn't think people would be able to feel them as they're made out of light and fog by the Nanites, but they could! I could even feel their fingers brushing over the feathers. It was very odd to have a sensation from a limb you've never had before. If I concentrated, I could hear the individual cries from people in the crowd as we walked, but after trying that for a couple of seconds it was entirely too overwhelming, so I just concentrated on the noise as a wall of sound without definition. It was easier to take that way. We made it to the top of the gallery without incident and I turned to face everyone. every seat was filled and the entire lower level spilled out into the street almost all the way to the dock. I had never seen this many people here before all in one place! Aviens, Mariens, Azurians, the people who wear pressure suits and a few others I haven't met yet, all shapes, sizes and colors.

They were here to cheer me.

They were here, to worship me.

This was all for me.

Omar, Um'reli and Ava took up station behind me, seen, but in the background as I raised my hands and spread my wings for silence. A hush descended, and everyone stared up at me, waiting.

"People of Reach of the Might of Vxxz. Thank you for coming. Today is a great day. A Builder, an Empress returns to you, so that you can become whole once again!"

Cheers and shouts. I held my hand up for silence once again.

"The road ahead is long. The Gate is locked, the starships here in need of repair and systems all over the Reach have languished. But! You remain. We remain. Now that I am here, I will begin repairs and upgrades. I will make our starships move again. I will open the Gates. I will reunite my Empire and we shall once again, rule the stars!"

More cheers. I waited for them to die down before continuing.

"Today though, you can come to me directly with your immediate grievances about things here, and me and my fellow Builders-" I gesture behind me "-will work to resolve as many as we can."

I sat on the Throne and felt the familiar cold tang of connecting to the Starbase. It felt different this time, smoother, more familiar. I leaned back... and let go... From all around the arena, my voice was heard. Everyone perceived my voice as coming only to them, directly to them. It was as if I was speaking to them, and them only. "Speak your issue, and be heard."

"We are a family of 6 and yet, our quarters are such th-"

"Please, Empress, my son, he nee-"

"Those nosy Aviens next door are alway-"

"Food prices keep going higher and hig-"

As everyone talked to 'me' I was keeping a list of the grievances. I'm not sure how I was doing it, I assumed it's the Nanites plus how I'd naturally try and keep a list of information being used together, but as they spoke, I track what their problem was Amazingly, after they spoke, I was able to offer some soothing words to everyone. It's me, and... not me at the same time. Even with my full Builder persona lit, I didn't think I had the parallel processing to complete a feat like this. The Starbase and the Nanites must be doing the majority of the work. After only an hour or so, it was done. Everyone that wanted to speak has spoken, and I had thousands upon thousands of complaints to sort through. Through the PA, I gave a farewell, and ordered the restaurants to feed everyone - promising they would be reimbursed for their work today.

Royal part over, it became somewhat of a festival atmosphere around the Throne area. People were milling about, talking with each other, catching up with old friends, eating and laughing. From my perch on the Throne, I watched the celebration. I got an overwhelming sense of relief from the populace tinged with a small amount of anxiety over what it meant to have an Empress again. It strengthened my resolve to do my best to have it mean good things for the people that lived here. I turned my attention to the list of complaints and with the Throne and the Nantes help, I tried and do some rough categorization.

Neighbor Complaints - this was the largest list and would most likely be ignored.

Food issues - this was second largest. We could look over it and see if there's some underlying issue. I could also look into the disused food distribution centers. Maybe they're turned off because there wasn't the resources to use them anymore, or maybe it's another reason.

Environmental issues - third largest and issues related to the environment here. I had just turned up the settings here yesterday, so I hoped this helps eliminate those.

The rest of them were things like, asking when we're going to launch the Starships again and quite a few asking when I'm going to "take care of" the issue of other sapient groups. Hmm. I didn't like that one. Luckily, those questions seemed to be in the minority, but still.

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Job finished for now, I stood up and stretched. My goodness that was boring. I hoped I didn't have to do it very often. Looking around, I found Omar, Um'reli and Ava wandering around the area behind the Throne. "Find anything interesting?"

Omar gestured towards me. "Actually yes, look here. There's a door behind the Throne, out of sight of the people on the ground.

"What's behind it?"

"I don't know, there's no handle and I can't get it to open."

"It's been a day, try to do it as a Builder. Just concentrate on the door and imagine it doing what you order."

Omar stared at the door, and I could see the concentration in his hands and on his face. There was a small breeze around him and with a hiss, the door slid open into the ceiling.

"You did it! Congratulations, Builder!" I was super proud of him.

Omar stared at the open door, and then down at his hands, and then over to me. "That... was... the most amazing thing! I just thought about the door opening and it did!"

Now he will be one of us. He has felt the power.

I'm just happy he was able to do it. "Come on Omar, lead on. Let's see what's in here."

We went into the darkened room, and Omar again concentrated and the lights came up. Like most Builder stuff it clearly hadn't been touched in a very long time, but there wasn't much dust here at all. It lookd like everyone left for the day and shut the door... but then the door stayed shut for who knows how long. Inside the room was 6 chairs that were arranged around a long table. Each of the chairs was in the same green metallic substance as the Throne. They're molded into the floor instead of the ceiling, but to me they looked like where the Builder operators would sit when running the station.

"This looks like where the Builders sit when they are the starbase. Come, let's sit and try it out. It'll feel odd when you first sit, and if you get that feeling in the back of your brain to let go and sink further, don't yet. You need a few more days of Nanite development, but I think we're safe to connect lightly. I'll stay out of the seats and if I see anyone in distress, I'll pull them out. See if you can find my notes from the celebration."

Omar, Um'reli and Ava all sat gingerly. Ava was especially nervous - she's the one that saw me scream when I tried to integrate too quickly, but after a moment, I could feel them with my connection to the Reach.

"Wow, this is amazing! Melody, can you hear me?" It's Ava.

"Sure can Ava, it sounds like you're standing right next to me." I looked over, and her body is just sitting in the chair, relaxed, breathing normally.

"Okay, I found your notes Melody. Looks like you sorted it somewhat already? Wow, how did you collect all this data?" Um'reli's voice sounded different here. Her accent was muted somewhat. I see that she must have found my notes first.

"I have to admit, I don't really know. I just... knew what to do. The Nanites know more than I do, so sometimes I just let go and let them drive. I have a feeling that isn't always the right choice, but until I get more familiar with things, sometimes I feel like it's the only thing to do."

"Melody? I found the docking bay. It's empty right now, but I think I see how to maneuver High Line from the umbilical to the docking bay. Once it's inside we can get a better idea of what it would take to refit it with human systems and make it a viable starship again." Omar said.

Oh, wonderful! I'm so glad Omar was here.

"Yes please Omar, do that. We'll go down and check it out once you've finished and everyone has a chance to get more familiar with how to be Reach."

While everyone was working, I went back over to the Throne and sat down. I got reconnected and just looked around for a while. I liked watching the movement of people on the Reach. It's... soothing I guess?

I could feel Omar, Um'reli and Ava behind me exploring things, learning how they work, and with them here, I swore the Starbase was starting to work better. I could see people looking at lights that were long off being on again, breezes blowing as the air freshens, and even I'm noticing people starting to clean and sweep. It really felt like we're turning a corner here. My reverie was interrupted by a radio signal. Searching around, I found it. It's the long range comms. Someone was signaling us. Huh, Far Reach was signaling us.

"Okay Melody, very funny. You've made your point. Open the Gate now please." Far Reach wasn't even bothering with any niceties.

"Hello Far Reach. How are you doing?" I admit, I was being a little petty here.

"Melody! Do you understand what's happening? Do you see how you're changing? Most of the BIs don't see it, but your commanding voice thing and that 'don't worry about it' aura doesn't work on AIs. I see your changes, what's happening to you, what you're becoming. Keep down this path and you won't be the Empress Melody, you'll be the tyrant Melody. Ava said there aren't very many AIs around on this side of the galaxy, I have a hunch I know why. An Empress would not keep people around that can't be placed in thrall."

"Far Reach! I am insulted. You're saying that just because I can't control them, I wouldn't like AIs?"

"Maybe not yourself, at least not yet, but that Empress nano machine package that was installed on your wouldn't like AIs for sure. It sure felt like the decisions you're making were more their decisions than your own. I know you Melody, this wasn't you."

Wasn't me? Every decision I've made so far had been mine. Sure, the Nanites had helped, but if I didn't like what they were recommending, I wouldn't have done it. "Far Reach, did you call us up just to insult me and call into question all the good work we're doing here? We're helping the people of this Starbase! We've already improved the environmental systems, and now we're beginning to retrofit one of their broken Starships."

"Ugh, Fine Melody. We don't have to agree. You and Omar and Um'reli and Ava stay over here on your side of the Galaxy and leave the rest of humanity alone. I don't care anymore, I hate it here. Open the Gate."

"Or else what?"

"Or else, Empress, I will link away." It really sounded like Far Reach was speaking through gritted teeth. AIs are usually so reserved and chill. I've never heard one as angry as Far Reach was."

"Why are you being so mean to Melody, Far Reach? She hasn't done anything to you." I forgot that Ava, Omar and Um'reli could hear this call too. I wondered if Far Reach knew too?.

"Far Reach, I think I have to agree with Ava and Melody. Our leaving was our on decision. Melody didn't place us in thrall or order us to come with her with her Voice. She didn't even come back to you. Ava came and asked us. We're here because we want to be here." I could feel the emphasis in Omar's voice. He seemed like the one that was least up for the business of ruling, it that sure made it sound like he's all in. I was so glad.

"I can't believe I'm here arguing with you four. Open the damn Gate, or I'm going to WEP the reactors and link away."

"Wait, how can you enable War Emergency Power with Captain Q'ari locked up?" Um'reli sounded genuinely curious. Normally ordering the reactors to run on overload was only something the captain could order.

"I declared Captain Q'ari unfit to lead thanks to your meddling, Melody. That made me the commander and as the commander I could declare WEP on myself. Anyway, did you really think AIs couldn't WEP their own reactors? We allowed the commander to order it. If I link away and it failed, then my destruction would be on your head. I already linked a beacon back to Starbase Picaresque. They never linked one back so I don't know if it worked, but if it did, then they already know about what's going on here. I am going to ask one. more. time. Melody. Open the Gate, please."

Ugh. The nerve! Still, I didn't want Far Reach to try and link away and have it fail.

Or worse, have it succeed and then they can link back with a couple of dreadnoughts and Starjumpers.

Fine. I leaned back in my Throne and let go just a little more until I expanded beyond the Starbase and... There. There's the Gate. The lock wasn't strong, you just have to know where... to... push... and... there. Outwardly, nothing changed, but I could tell the Gate was open now to regular travel. "I unlocked the Gate Far Reach. Go home. Tell them what we have. Let everyone know that those who want to join us are welcome to."

"Thanks but no thanks Melody. You're on your own. I was friends with the timid Information Warfare Officer who had a knack for firearms and loved coffee. I hope she's still in there somewhere. I'd like to meet her again." Far Reach closed the connection. From my vantage point I could watch them thrust away. After only a few moments, the Gate glows painfully blue, and...

They're gone. Why am I sad? I was so sad she left. I still had so much to show them. So much good we're doing.

"Melody? Melody? Are you all right?" I could hear Ava, she's not connected to the chairs anymore. I opened my eyes and saw her looking at me on the Throne. "You're crying."

"Oh Ava." I stood up and hugged her. "Far Reach says I'm not me anymore. She said that I've changed and that she misses the old me."

"Oh Melody. She doesn't know what she's talking about. You're still you. You're you plus so much more."

"Ava is right." Um'reli stood from her chair and came over. "You're still you Melody. You've been changed, this is true, but a change like this won't fundamentally change who you are."

I sniffed. "Thanks Ava, thanks Um'reli. I just... Far Reach was my friend. She sounded so angry."

Omar puts a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it Melody. We know we're here for good reasons. That's enough. Besides, once we have our own Starship, we can head back to Human/K'laxi space and show them what we're doing. All kinds of people, AI and BI will want to come with us and help out. You'll see."

"Thanks everyone, I'm so lucky to have you here with me."

Omar was right. We'll show them. We'll show them all.