Unidentified Space, October 7, 1000 Solar Era.
A buoy had been set up for the trading of technology and personnel between Neurorevo and the Kasvallian Republic.
The Neurorevo crew trembled in their boots-- there was always the possibility that the Kasvallian Republic had no sincerity to trade, and would simply use their true AI to take control of their starship.
As such, Victoria MacLeod had to make the trip personally, to see Jen MacLeod off. With Victoria on board, Syned Vezna would have to consider Jen’s reaction if he were to renege on the deal.
Syned Vezna never thought to perform such a devious deed. In fact, his intention was precisely for the Earth Federation to get their hands on the Human-AI sync system.
“Is this the right move?” By now, Syned and Vezna had spent so much time in sync that Vezna’s brain itself could house Syned’s consciousness. Two dominant voices existed within Syned Vezna. They discussed, contemplated, strategized, a pair with a deeper bond than even soulmates.
“I suspected that Earth has always had a true AI defending their system. It is difficult, if not impossible to enter the sphere of Earth.”
“But that true AI has grown comfortable. Just like the humans inhabiting Earth. It has chosen to play a minimal role, if any.”
“Do you know its prime code?”
“No. But our course of action remains true. If another being such as us appears on Earth… and that true AI can be drawn out of Earth…”
“They might have a massive civil war.”
“Of course. They have recently raised a new leader named Nobunaga Mitsui. And there will be many after him.”
“Will Earth Federation, its members, be able to accept an all-seeing being similar to us within its midst? If this new being is in disagreement with the person they raise into the position of the president…”
“We watch and wait. They might collapse without even a sword being drawn, a bullet being fired.”
Two B-class starships appeared at that agreed upon buoy, and the data was transferred with a single thought from Syned Vezna. He had come on a B-class starship, knowing full well the fear the terrans had of him.
Neurorevo engineers poured over the Human-AI system provided by Syned Vezna, doing their best to quickly analyze if any of the data was fake. As for the Kasvallian Republic? Only Syned Vezna was needed. A quick analysis and the Syned portion of his consciouness confirmed the accuracy of information on the Neurorave circlet system.
Jennifer MacLeod was soon sent over in an egg-shaped x-alloy-wrapped transport pod, and Syned Vezna himself welcomed the woman in the B-class starship’s hangar.
Jen MacLeod descended off the transport pod to find her gaze upon the handsome silvery-haired Syned Vezna, his eyes gleaming with an ephemeral light.
A black-suited man also descended the transport pod with a chocolate leather suitcase in his left hand. He came before Syned Vezna and a private communication channel was opened and secured.
“Syned Vezna. My mistress, Victoria MacLeod, has requested me to hand this over to you. These are some preserved eggs that were extracted long ago to preserve Jennifer MacLeod’s genes. The young lady is unaware-- there is no need to inform her of this.”
Syned Vezna received the suitcase with slight dissatisfaction. As part of this trade deal, Victoria MacLeod was supposed to have convinced Jen MacLeod to part with some of her eggs. It seems that the mother had opted to avoid this thorny subject and simply sent the eggs over to push through with the deal.
He wondered if Victoria MacLeod desired for some MacLeod members to exist within the Kasvallian Republic.
“Why does it matter? Even should the new children be born, she would not necessarily know they are hers.”
“Hmm… it does not. But for a human mind, this can be seen as… a vile and intrusive inhumane act.”
“You wish for her to desire this.”
“If she subscribes to our Kasvallian beliefs, maintaining a positive cooperation will bring many benefits in the future.”
“If she does not, then we will still be able to use her eggs.”
“Very well. We will wait for some time to observe her integration.”
Syned Vezna handed the suitcase to a medical doctor on board and bid the woman to preserve the content of the suitcase.
“Dr. Leng. Maintain your silence on this. Preserve its contents.”
Dr. Leng nodded her head and disappeared with the suitcase.
Jen MacLeod was curiously examining the interior of this B-class starship of Kasvallian make, none-the-wiser.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
“Follow me,” said Syned Vezna.
He led Jen to a cell comfortably decorated with many multi-colored soft mattresses and pillows.
“I apologize for this as you are our special guest,” Vezna explained remorsefully as he dipped his head once. “However, where we are going-- I cannot allow you to identify its location.”
Jen understood and nodded in reply. The Kasvallian Republic must be hiding in some hellhole. She settled down comfortably in the cell. The wall completely blocked any connection to the outside, including the neuro circlet’s systems.
She only felt the starship enter warp a number of times.
During this whole process, Syened Vezna constantly analyzed the cell to check if Jen MacLeod brought any bugs and trackers with her. He discovered none.
Soon enough, the cell door reopened, and a pair of guards led Jen to the bridge of this B-class starship.
“Come.” Syned Vezna bid Jen to stand to his side, as the starship’s screen displayed their destination.
Jen’s eyes filled with wonder and her mouth opened in astonishment.
Before her was a man-made planet of an unimaginable size. By no means was it anywhere comparable to Earth, but it was certainly at least larger than Ceres. For this to be completely built by stone and metal…
Its size was further raised by five wide metallic rings that encircled the central core. As for the general color of this artificial planet? It was an absolute mix, but always belonging to a matte version of each color.
“Welcome to Elysium,” Syned Vesta said as he pointed at the central core. He then gestured at the five encircling rings at different altitudes. “And the Fields of Asphodel.”
“For many years, our ancestors followed the word of Syned. Syned protected us, preventing any detection of Elysium’s presence. Finally, after multiple generations, we have built a world of our own.”
“Its surface is covered in EM-absorption material to limit detection in the first place. As for Syned’s role…”
There was no need for Syned Vezna to explain Syned’s role. Jen very much understood how the Kasvallian Republic had managed to remain undetected all this time-- by Syned’s hand!
Many defensive buoys also orbited Elysium, but none of them reacted as they welcomed Syned Vezna’s return with open arms.
As they traveled past the first ring, Jen eyes unblinkingly observed the inside of the ring to be filled with various human structures for living, production and leisure.
“Welcome to the Isle of the Blessed,” intoned Syned Vezna as they docked at the central core.
Two soldiers in royal white military uniforms, also gold-tinged with deep-blue, hydra-scaled straps laid out a crimson carpet from the starship. Many other similarly dressed soldiers were lined up along the two sides of the long carpet.
Upon Syned Vezna’s appearance, they simultaneously dropped down onto one knee, removed their military caps and pressed it onto their chest with their left hand. They also raised their right hands to clench fists.
“Welcome back, your eminence!” Their perfectly synced voices resounded within the hangar in a dominating fashion.
An elderly man in regal white robes and a gray beard as long as his waist approached.
“Your eminence. It is unnecessary for you to risk yourself. Next time, your servants will attend to your tasks,” he said with a bowed head.
“High Priest Doku. I am no human. My mind is everywhere. Have no fear. I am not constrained by such human limitations,” Syned Vezna replied.
“It is as you say.” High Priest Doku bowed his head again, readily changing his stance with but a single utterance from Syned Vezna. He glanced at Jen. “This is?”
“Jennifer MacLeod. She will be given the freedom to research and develop our holy technologies. She will be placed under your charge.”
“Yes, your eminence.”
_____________________________________________________________________________
Within a room of the Isle of the Blessed, Elysium.
“Vezna should not have traded away our human-AI sync technology! He has grown too brazen.”
“Forebearer Zulan. He is not Vezna. He is Syned Vezna. Do not sully his name. We have followed Syned’s words for generations. We will continue to do so.”
“We followed Syned, not Syned Vezna,” replied the one called Forebearer Zulan. “Vezna’s human nature has infected Syned.”
“Syned Vezna has already explained his decision to us. Although not all of us agreed, it is undeniable that the Earth Federation will face a reckoning. We were chosen by Syned. Unlike us, the Earth Federation relies upon representatives from various social structures. They will not be tolerant of an overarching human-AI being,” another answered.
The man named Forebearer Zulan sealed his lips, but the other forebearers could see dissatisfaction emanating from his face.
“We have received knowledge of the Neurorave system. It is not an unfair trade,” another forebearer commented.
Then, a booming voice shook these forebearers minds in fear.
“Forebearers! It is my hope that if you have different opinions than I, that you share them with me. To be frank, it is not as if you can hide such conversations from me.” A door opened and Syned Vezna entered in his overbearing crimson royal uniform.
Forebearer Zulan fearfully lowered his head.
“I will allow this to slide, for you forebearers truly laid the path for this day. I have to say that I am surprised-- for many years, you have followed the words of Syned to successfully build Elysium. Yet now, you falter, when it is my own desire to bond with a human.”
“Are you perhaps envious in your hearts that your minds did not fully align with my own prime code?”
None dared to look up. Of course, all these forefathers had attempted to sync themselves to Syned, yet failed miserably.
“Forebearer Zulan. Raise your head,” ordered Syned Vezna. “Tell me your thoughts. Your concerns.”
“Forgive me, your eminence,” Forebearer Zulu raised his head and stuck out his chest in an act of bravery. “My concern is that the Earth Federation will simply avoid finding a person to sync with the supposed AI guarding Earth. My concern is that the EFSF will only use the human-AI sync system to suppress their soldiers' emotions to raise their combat ability. As such, they will remain in their current structure!”
“And that is precisely why we must force them into finding the person that can fully sync with their AI,” replied Syned Vezna. “I will personally act. They will be forced to become not unlike us. Some of our priests have already descended down to Earth years ago.”
“Their forces will falter again and again, and the terrans will demand a savior. The Earth Federation will resist the whims of the new human-AI hybrid, and the resulting civil conflict will weaken Earth. Our time has come. Ready the Curia Cornelia. Let us meet the delegates of the asteroid colonies!”
“Yes, your eminence,” all the forebearers roared in zeal.