Allison sat on the edge of a window looking at the stars as the ornate pyramid shaped ship she was on hurtled through the void of space. The window had a blanket and pillows, like it was a favorite place to relax for someone. She’d found some discarded clothing in the room, they belonged to a very tall woman, that’s all she could decipher from it. The room looked like a teenagers, but not a fulltime room, more like someplace a teenager might sleep if they were on the outs at home. The ship came to a stop. A few minutes later Numari appeared at the door to the quarters.
“Time to go.”
Allison nodded and hopped down.
“Is this your room?”
Numari frowned.
“You just love talking don’t you. No, it’s not my room. Some girl named Hazel used to crash here when she had problems with her family. My mom loves to tell the story about how she saved my life. Whatever, she hasn’t been here since I can remember. Let’s get moving. Aunt Maria is waiting.”
Allison followed Numari to a small shuttle. Numari kept up the mostly silent treatment she been giving Allison since they met. Allison hadn’t been to Earth since she was three. She had no memory of it. She’d seen pictures of it like it was before the Grey, blue and green, like Eden Prime. Now it was just a grey-white ball of ice. They broke through a cloud of grey mist then the surface of the shuttle flashed. She knew that was the anti-nanite system, all ships in the Alliance had them as not to spread the Grey. There was a massive blizzard so she couldn’t see anything. Numari was following scanners to pilot the shuttle.
Suddenly the pitch black created by the blizzard and the Grey blotting out the sun was lit up by a massive dome surrounded by smaller domes. Numari entered through a massive airlock and flew past dome scraping buildings. Everything was covered in neon, or massive holograms. Skycars flew too and frow. Allison had never seen this many vehicles in one place, or this many people. Numari leveled off just below the top of the dome which was showing a massive hologram of an overcast night. She finally landed on a pad on one of the tallest apartment buildings.
Numari powered down the shuttle. Then pulled out a contact lens case and a 30th century equivalent of a faraday cage.
“Contacts, translator and holo-phone. Do not take them out of here until Aunt Maria… the President leaves. What is said is between those present and no one else.”
Allison pulled out her contacts. She put their case, her holo-phone and her translator in the offered box. Numari closed the lid, locked it and then activated the local jamming field. She offered it to Allison then tossed a black duffle bag at Allison.
“I’m not your servant, you can carry your own shit.”
Numari got out of the shuttle. Allison hopped out and rushed to catch up with Numari who was already at the front door. She punched in a code and the door slid open. Allison followed her inside. The penthouse was multiple levels. White cloths covered most of the furniture.
President Aurelius was sitting on a couch sipping blood from a wine glass. Sitting beside her was the statuesque red-haired woman from the tribunal. The Empress… That would make her Eyre Aurelius, daughter of the Dark Mother, majority stockholder of the largest corporation in the Alliance, and nearly two-thousand-year-old vampire. She was the richest woman in the System’s Alliance. She was worth an incalculable amount of credits. Both of the vampires stood up and greeted Numari with tight hugs. Eyre looked at Numari’s shirt.
“Raiding your girlfriends closet I see?”
Numari shrugged.
“All of mine were dirty. Speaking of which, I’m going to go home and see her, I brought the package you requested, Aunt Eyre, Aunt Maria.”
Eyre nodded.
“Tell my sister, she’s a brat, would you?”
Numari blew Eyre a kiss.
“I’m not your messenger, Aunt Eyre, I’m not hers either which is why I’m not going to tell you what she told me to tell you. You two should really just call each other once a week and get it out of your system.”
Numari waved and vanished back out of the door. Eyre walked up to Allison. Their eyes met. Allison felt an immediate kinship with this woman whom she had nothing in common with. Eyre raised an eyebrow and recognition sparked in her emerald eyes. She looked back at Maria.
“Aunt Maria, you and I are going to have a very long talk when we’re done here.”
Eyre put her arm around Allison’s shoulders. For some reason, this felt right to Allison. Like she was meeting a long lost relative. Maybe it was a vampire thing? Eyre yanked a sheet off a chair and motioned to it before returning to her seat beside Maria. She leaned forward and poured blood out of a bottle into a glass. Allison reached forward and had a drink. The blood made every cell in her body suddenly tingle. It was electric. She wanted to down it but then decided to make it last. Eyre took a sip of hers.
“So, Aunt Maria, tell her what you brought her here for. Now that I know why I’m here. I just can’t wait to see her reaction.”
Maria gave Eyre a dirty look.
“I am sorry about my niece, sometimes she forgets her manners. What I am about to share must stay between us. If anyone else finds out, you will be in danger, Allison.”
Eyre nodded.
“She is right. You are proof of one of the great conspiracies in the System’s Alliance.”
Maria nodded along with Eyre’s words. Allison looked between them.
“What? That vampire blood gets into Genesis pods?”
Maria shook her head.
“No, that some humans are infected with nano-technology.”
Allison blinked a few times.
“What? I don’t understand. How… that’s impossible.”
Maria looked at Eyre. Eyre nodded.
“What my aunt is trying to tell you is that you are a product of two mothers. One was a vampire; The other was infected with Synthlin nanites. The same nanites that comprise the Grey. You are a miracle. Unfortunately, you’re also full of illegal technology that is grounds for instant disintegration. It is the only way to destroy your nanites. None of our tech will find them, my aunt, myself, and Amee Morris have ensured that, we did that to protect our friend. Still, the wrong people found out and destroyed her. Right now, no one knows you’re associated with her, and no one ever will unless you tell them.”
Maria nodded.
“That is why we’ve kept your origins secret for all this time, but when you nearly died on your patrol you activated them as well as your vampiric powers.”
Allison drank down the rest of her blood and stood up. She looked around for an escape, because these two vampires were obviously insane. Eyre stood up first and put her hand on Allison’s shoulder.
“Allison, I know this is a lot.”
Allison started to feel lightheaded. Then her world went black. When she woke up next she was in Eyre’s arms. She wrapped her arms around Eyre’s shoulders and started crying. Eyre held her tightly. Allison had no idea why this stranger, this ancient vampire, felt so familiar, so right. She could just sense that no matter what this woman would have her back. Allison looked into Eyre’s eyes.
“Why does it feel like I know you?”
Eyre smiled.
“I wish I could tell you, Allison, all I can say is trust your instincts. If I put you down are you going to faint again?”
Allison shook her head. Eyre put her down. Allison was still unsteady on her feet, she stumbled to the chair and sat down. She looked between the two vampires.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“How is this possible? I don’t understand.”
Maria answered.
“Your mother’s genetic material was fundamentally changed when the nanites were introduced into her blood stream. They turned her bones into liquid metal. They gave her cybernetic implants. Changed her eggs. When her egg was combined with your other mother’s egg you became a new host. Your cells produce them now. They didn’t before but your body was forced too. I told you that you survived because you were a dhampir, that was an assumption. I did not realize how your mother’s nanites worked. Your body responds to injuries by producing nanites now. So long as a-”
Eyre put her hand on Maria’s arm.
“Aunt Maria, I know you like your science, but let’s not overwhelm the girl with details. Her eyes are already starting to glaze over, just like mine do.”
Eyre looked at Allison.
“Here is what you need to know. You will heal very fast. You can interface with Synthlin systems like they do. You have traces of Synthlin genetic material in your body. You can interface with computers and electronics via your nanites. Finally, if anyone in the System’s Alliance ever finds out about them you will be the number one most wanted person with a death warrant out for you, only disintegrations allowed. It sucks, but it is what it is. Now you know, and you know why your body does what it does you will not have to investigate and risk exposing yourself inadvertently. Which I believe is what my aunt was trying to accomplish with this meeting.”
Allison blinked at Eyre. Eyre turned to Maria.
“Now Aunt Maria, tell her the good news.”
Maria looked at Eyre.
“How do you even know about that?”
Eyre smiled.
“What else is a Class Omega antimatter generator going to be for?”
Allison was now very interested in the conversation; She’d never heard of a class omega antimatter generator. It sounded dangerous, or awesome, she couldn’t really choose which fit better. Eyre turned to Allison.
“Somehow my Aunt figures we make millions of small form factor antimatter generators. Go ahead tell her already Aunt Maria, you’ve just told her she’s got a death sentence floating around in her blood, make her day better.”
Maria sighed and stood up.
“Fine, if you want to ruin the surprise. Follow me.”
She led the pair to a plain looking wall and put her palm on a specific part and the wall separated. Behind it was a fully kitted out hanger. Missiles were on racks along one wall along with what looked like various modular weapon systems for an Athena style fighter. Drones were sitting in armored glass containers. It was large, like it took over half the building. There was a row of three hanger bays. In each was a cloth covered shape. One was larger than Allison’s old fighter. The other two were smaller. Maybe the size of drone wing fighters. Maria motioned to the closest, which was also the largest.
“Go ahead Allison.”
Allison walked up to whatever the cloth covered; She was trying not to run towards it. Her hands were shaking with excitement as she gripped the sheet of cloth and yanked. A newer, sleeker version of Bit’s old airframe was sitting there. It was covered in black liquid metal. She ran her hand along the surface. The space between the main weapon ports and air intakes was a little wider than before. The cockpit was a two-seater.
“What model is this?”
Maria smiled.
“Custom built, for a very specific pilot. The one who now owns this apartment, and this secret hanger.”
Allison dared not believe it was her.
“They are very lucky.”
Maria smiled.
“I do not know, is she?”
Allison turned to Maria.
“It’s mine?”
Maria nodded.
“Custom built, specifically for your needs. The other two are Mark XII drone wing fighters modified for use by you. All of this is yours Allison.”
Allison took her hand off the fighter like it might bite her.
“But, ma’am, the military…”
Maria shrugged.
“No longer needs to assign you a fighter. You have your own. Fully licensed with all the weapons systems here. Also, the AI, I believe you are acquainted with her.”
Allison wanted to hug the fighter when she heard Bit’s voice.
“Ensign, Allison, I have missed you.”
“Bit! I thought they’d shut you down!”
Bit sounded amused.
“The President did, for a time while my new chassis was being prepared.”
Allison turned, ran to Maria and engulfed her in a tight hug. This evoked a laugh from Eyre.
“I think she likes it, Aunt Maria.”
Allison had tears on her face as she looked up at the fighter.
“Why are you doing all this for me? I don’t understand.”
Maria looked at Eyre, Eyre gave a slight nod. Maria smiled.
“Because we loved your mothers. They were like family to us. We will do anything for people we consider family. It is the Aurelius way.”
Allison shook her head.
“I can’t accept this, my mother will freak out.”
Eyre spoke up.
“It is my opinion that there are some things mothers don’t need to know until we’re older. She doesn’t need to know you aren’t flying a military owned fighter.”
Allison touched Bit’s new skin again.
“I can’t afford this, the missiles, replacement parts…”
Maria cleared her throat.
“I suspect the System’s Alliance Military will be happy to pay for any ammunition, and repairs since you are contracted to us for the next nine and a half years. After that, I'm sure you will find away, if you decided to go out on your own.”
Allison looked at the hanger then back at the apartment.
“I can’t pay for any of this, this apartment must cost more in rent then both my parents make in a year together.”
Eyre smiled.
“Oh, you misunderstood, my aunt, you own this building. It is managed by my company Aurelius corporation, but your name is on the deed.”
“Shut up! Are you serious?”
Eyre looked at Maria.
“Can you translate that for me?”
Maria blinked a few times and started stroking her antique silver crucifix.
“I believe, she is saying she does not believe us.”
Eyre nodded then looked back at Allison.
“My mother willed this to you, not you, you. The child of your mothers, which is you, but she did not know who you were at the time, if that makes any sense.”
Allison looked around then back at Eyre.
“So, you’re saying my biological parents were close friends with the Dark Mother?”
Eyre nodded.
“Though, I hate calling her that, if she ever comes back from the dead again, her head will get even bigger, god help us all if that happens.”
Allison sat down on a set of rolling stairs and ran her hands through her hair.
“This all seems like a dream.”
Eyre motioned to the apartment proper.
“Well, why don’t you sleep on it hmm? Your mother is aware you’re staying overnight and you’re on Earth the center of the System’s Alliance. I’ll stay here overnight, and we will go shopping tomorrow, my treat. If that is alright with you?”
“Yea, I mean yes, ma’am.”
Eyre smiled and motioned her onwards.
“The master bedroom has been prepared with fresh linens. I’m sure you’ll love the view.”
Allison rushed off and found the room. It looked over all of New Amazon. She missed the snow-covered fields of home, but this was amazing in its own right. She was starting to understand why the new kids coming to Eden Prime were so angry. This is what they had been forced to leave behind. The bed was a top-of-the-line oak wooden frame with a mattress that was perfect. She pulled her night clothes from her bag and changed and got comfortable on the bed. Within minutes she was dead asleep. Eyre peaked her head in and then closed the door gently. When she reached the living room she crossed her arms and looked at Maria.
“How long have you known I’ve had another sister out there?”
Maria couldn’t meet her niece’s steely gaze.
“Her whole life.”
Eyre’s eyes went wide she was whispering harshly so she wouldn’t disturb Allison’s sleep.
“Why wouldn’t you tell me? I could have taken her in. She is my sister!”
Maria stroked her silver crucifix.
“Eyre, your mother left instructions. Very cryptic, but very specific instructions. Just a list of things I needed to encourage to happen. Like having you here tonight. I wasn’t going to involve you at all. You know why she didn’t want anyone to know whose daughter Allison was. You know what happened to Miko, all the attempts on your life, what happened to Amee. Allison is a walking target; Her anonymity is her one and only defense.”
Eyre was wagging her finger now.
“I could have protected her. I would have protected her. You let her join the military? Are you insane?”
Maria sighed.
“Your mother left instructions; I followed them. Be angry with her.”
Eyre frowned.
“Oh, very convenient, blame the dead woman. You… oh you. I’m so mad at you right now. Sixteen years of her life wasted! Living on some colony in Andromeda, that child is probably one of the richest heiresses in this Galaxy. You have her living with what… farmers?”
Maria shook her head.
“No, her mother is the governor of Eden Prime, her father is a Captain in the Space Navy. She lives a comfortable life. A safe, uncomplicated life away from the mess that is our family.”
Eyre rubbed her face.
“And when she goes into an Aurelius corp bank, for anything and they get a sample of her blood and she finds out she’s worth more than the annual planetary production of Earth? You know I was trying to figure out what mother was doing with her money. Now I understand. That girl has a twin out there somewhere, doesn’t she? Because my mother took her entire fortune and split it into four separate accounts. One for Hazel, one for Miko, one for Allison, and one for Allison’s twin. I bet. And Amee’s money, that’s in their names too, isn’t it? Amee left everything to her children. Which is Allison and her twin sister.”
Maria looked out the bank of windows that lined the west side of the apartment’s living room. Eyre shook her head.
“You and my mother, always with these deep dark secrets. You’d think after the genocide we committed together, there might be a bit of trust between us.”
Maria kept stroking her crucifix.
“Her brother. She has a twin brother. Enid took him. I don’t know where or when.”
Eyre approached Maria.
“You were just going to let Allison, live, grow old and die without telling me, and Mitena?”
Maria nodded.
“It is what your mother wanted Eyre.”
Eyre frowned.
“What my mother wants… wanted and what is right for those involved is rarely the same thing. The fact she left Allison behind is proof of that.”
Maria turned to Eyre and looked up at her face.
“Eyre, let it go. You know it is in her best interest to be as far away from our family as possible. Also, your mother had plans for Allison, I didn’t understand until. Until I invited her to Earth on Enid’s say so and she wiped out the greatest threat to all life in the Andromeda Galaxy.”
Eyre looked towards the room where Allison was sleeping.
“So, you knowingly put her in that position where she had to kill that many sentient creatures?”
Maria sighed.
“I did not know what she was flying into, Enid just told me what to kit the fighter out in. Told me how much antimatter to leave in storage and when she had to leave.”
“My mother. Is so! Grr. She hated being manipulated and here she is controlling her daughter’s life like God did to her. And if you think for even a millisecond, I’m going to ignore the fact I have a sister and stay hands off you don’t know me at all.”
Maria stroked her crucifix as she looked out over New Amazon. She folded her other arm across her abdomen.
“That will not make Isis happy.”
Eyre laughed.
“Fuck her.”
Maria shot Eyre an angry look. Eyre shook her head.
“I’d say swearing is warranted in this situation, forgive me if I’m a bit insensitive to your sensibilities at the moment, Aunt Maria. I’ve got work to do, I’m sure you can see yourself out.”