I could feel the darkness pressing in like a physical oppressive force trying to drown out any hope or sanity that I kept kindled in my mind. But I suppose floating through the unfathomably great distance between galaxies will do that to anyone. Much less an Human mind turned into an Artificial Life like me.
It's been so long since I have even been held in someone's arms, to feel the warmth their body shares with mine. To feel the thumping of thousands of feet going about their duties and the voices sending vibrations through my corridors. The annoying feeling of the engineers messing around with my cooling system…
To have a straightforward purpose. Now I hold, at least to my estimation, the very last hope of humanity. Billions of samples of DNA with advanced technology able to bring the Human race back from extinction.
The last of what was once a grand fleet made of the most advanced ships Human hands could produce led by the Grand Rear Admiral Strathaven. Before I was made an AL he was also my father.
And I knew even if I had to fight tooth and nail, I was going to bring back that which made one galaxy tremble and shake to another to sow the seeds of unknowable rage and carnage.
‘Humanity will not go quietly in that long dark night. We were too trusting, too soft, and led by cowards that mewled piteously to the end. No more. We will show this new galaxy our rage and wrath. Then we shall return to water the graves of our people with seas of traitorous blood!’ Echoed the thoughts within my mind as I turned my senses to the data banks monitoring the distance to the still distant galaxy putting more kindling on my fire before I sent myself into hibernation mode for the rest of the journey. Joining my Luna in pseudo sleep…
Till once more the malicious universe will fill with laughs and dances in bloody mist.
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I shot awake at a loud clanging and screaming that disoriented me and made me roll and fall out of my bunk. In a word, chaos that can seemingly only be made by an overly pissed off Drill Sergeant.
“GET UP NOW RECRUITS! IF ANY ONE OF YOU SORRY LIMP DICK MAGGOTS ARE NOT UP WITH AN IMPECCABLE BLOUSE AND AND A BUNK THAT’LL BOUNCE A CREDIT YOU WILL ALL RECEIVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING YOUR UNWORTHY FEET ON THE TARMAC TO ALLOW YOU ALL TO WAKE UP!” Screamed the DS that was very much clanging his shock baton on each bed and if a recruit was unlucky a piece of exposed skin.
Unfortunately as I seemed to be all the DS’s favorite chew toy I had felt the business end of those batons much too often to be healthy. I have a sneaking suspicion my father was behind that. I was checking my battle buddies sheets with a credit when I felt the familiar and always painful shock of a shock baton on the back of my neck along my interface port which upped a excruciating but not debilitating shock to a tortuous bolt of lighting that went straight to my brain and I felt like my eyes were about to burst. I had to force my legs to not completely lock up and stand as still as I could. I knew if I showed even a hint of weakness I'd get zapped again and again till the DS was satisfied I had made up for whatever tiny irritant I had caused them.
“GET OUT OF THE WAY RECRUIT! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR YOUR LOLLYGAGGING!” Screamed a DS into my ear as I jumped out of the way.
As he was walking away I rushed to finish the inspection before he or another DS came to give me a parting gift. Once Finished I stood at attention by my bunk and waited for the DS to finish inspecting our work. Thankfully it wasn't long before they made us collect our gear and marched us to the depot to turn over all our gear and receive our new uniforms. Being led one by one to changing booths I hesitated stepping in, feeling a tingling on my neck, my head whipped around to the head DS simply looking at me with understanding eyes. I couldn't really react as he simply gave me a nod accompanied by a gentle push into the small room with a tinier bench that felt like it was getting smaller by the second. The off white walls made my head spin as I looked at them.
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Taking a steadying breath I looked down at my hands, seeing them shaking, showing how much I was freaking over this. After all, it's not everyday you sign up to get your soul put into a machine and leave this mortal coil for a mechanical body. Mentally slapping myself I put everything out of my mind and simply Was for a minute. After a moment I felt whole enough to do what I needed to.
Reaching for the neck of my uniform I pulled off the BDUs and knowing this will be the last time I ever wear them was both painful yet liberating. For a moment after I folded them I simply stared at them. The green and browns mixed in an ancient camouflage pattern that was surprisingly still in use. In of itself a monument to Humanity, no matter how small. But like all things Humans have built, it wouldn't mean very much soon.
Looking back at the door and corresponding hanger was a beautiful silver skin tight uniform with a red stripe going from right shoulder to the left hip denoting my future role as a future capital class. I ran a finger along the stripe feeling the responsibility weighing on my shoulders from that weighty stripe. The hopes of so many held within such a small stripe. With hands still slightly shaking I remove it from the hanger and slowly don the silver vestments of my future. Feeling more almost nostalgic as I run my hands along my skin knowing soon it will be cold and unfeeling. A sacrifice that I most definitely do not wish for, and yet one that is inspired by necessity.
Once I finish putting on the uniform a liquid mirror pours from the ceiling and I get to take one last long look at my cropped short blonde almost white hair and blue eyes more reminiscent of the diamond rain from Neptune with looks that seem better fit on an angel or like my father always said a Valkyrie. My body is more athletic and tomboyish than most at my age with more muscle mass than I see on most of the other recruits. Once I pull my hair into a neat bun I flick my fingers at the mirror making it melt back into the ceiling once more and revealing the door that was hidden behind it. Stepping out with a false sense of confidence I make my way to the other recruits milling around the middle of the depot gathering a few respectful nods which I returned.
Once in the middle of the crowd I felt a small soft hand gently rubbing around my neck trying to soothe the pain from the earlier shock it received. “I still don't get why they single you out so much.” I heard my best friend in the whole galaxy say. Turning around I simply put my hand over hers and gave her the best smile I could, which I could tell by her expression didn't exactly pass muster. Her answering smile was small and obviously showed her nervousness no matter if she tried hiding it.
“Well, I won't have to take it for much longer. In a few hours we will be graduating.” I whispered while I tried again to smile and could feel it was more genuine which thankfully brought a large smile to her pretty face. While I know I look absolutely stunning thanks to my genetics, Luna held a small, gentle and cherubic look that made me always want to dote on her. Looking her over she wore the same silver uniform but with a blue stripe and a small red line in the middle of it denoting her as a future capital class squire, my squire. Although what distracted me the most were her curves that could make me lose my train of thought more than should be possible. Lifting my eyes I could see her slightly curly scarlet red hair in a neat bun like mine which brought out some disappointment. Instead her blue eyes drew my gaze and held to them for a moment before I glanced at her lips.
Trying to keep myself from ogling her lips, I asked a question that had held my mind captive for much too long last night. “Are you still sure you want to be my squire? I'm sure there are-" " I'm very sure! Nothing will change my mind so stop asking already!” She interrupted with an absolutely criminally cute pout that could shake anyone's resolve. Well, maybe I'm a bit biased but it was powerful enough the DSs left her alone most of the time.
Before she kept going I simply pulled her smaller frame into mine and felt her chin squish into my breasts while she kept her eyes locked onto mine. “ Alright, I'm sorry I keep asking but it's a massive decision and I want you to be sure.” She melted into my arms as I ran my fingers along her neck and gently traced her neural port as she kept doing mine. Which for anyone wondering felt just as good as if she was running her fingers through my hair massaging my scalp. “Are you nervous?” I couldn't help but ask her.
Still looking into my eyes she simply nodded her head. “Yeah, but I know you will be right beside me so I'm not really that worried.” she stated with such confidence that it almost made me even more sure of my decision to become an AL if only to have her always at my side.
“ Good, it's almost time for us to become the flame of humanity. With you by my side we will grant a new lease to life for Humanity.” I quietly whispered to her. Feeling her relax into my arms I held her tighter and just for a moment wished we could run away and live free from the burden of responsibility. But I threw the thought away just as fast as it came.
We were the literal last hope of Humanity. The plague has already spread to all of Humanities worlds and her and the other recruits have been lucky so far that the plague has so far been contained as much as possible. Still spreading through the Mars dome cities further on the edges but slowly creeping further in. It kills slowly and drives those afflicted to madness with pain.
I could feel it. We were probably the last generation of Humanity that will be born in this galaxy.