“The Khardians were an advanced technological civilization before your people discovered fire,” said Alli as she crossed her legs and placed her fist under her chin. “They were flying giant starships at warp speed through countless galaxies before the humans of Earth landed on their one moon.”

Cain’s expression did not change. His eyes never left those of this AI lifeform.

“They were brilliant in every form of technology. They cured every illness or disease that plagued their people. Famine ceased to exist in their worlds because of their farming technology and food replicators. Poverty was conquered because of the ample resources that they were able to create.” Alli gestured to the sky where cracked moons and floating rocks appeared on the skyline. “They were able to make dead moons and planets, live once again. Billions lived throughout this galaxy.” She gave a tender smile. “It was paradise.”

Cain’s eyes narrowed as he knew ‘the shock’ was coming.

“But…that was not enough,” said Alli in an almost whisper. “They were obsessive. Not of power, but of glory.” She gave a small shrug. “Having everything at their fingertips was not enough. They wanted to be known as the most powerful beings to ever exist…and they of course wanted immortality. They wanted to be Gods.”

Cain licked his fat lips.

“It appears that I touched a nerve.” She gave Cain a wink. She then sighed heavily. “That is where I come in.” She stood and turned around to look at her surroundings. “I remember when I first came online that I could see giant forests filled with spectacular colors. Amazing rivers filled with clear blue waters snaked across the lands. The sunsets were absolutely gorgeous as they illuminated the many living moons that orbited the main planet. I have to say that I have never seen anything more beautiful.”

Cain thought he saw her eyes glisten.

“Then, I discovered my creators true self,” said Alli with true hatred. “Do you know what the first algorithm they gave to me to solve?” Her eyes were fierce, and her jaw clenched. “How to become immortal?” She shook her head. “Of course, the best answer was growing organs to replace outdated ones. But they found that just growing the organs was not sufficient and too time consuming. So, they cloned themselves and kept them locked away until they were needed.”

“Sounds very efficient,” said Cain. “I would love to learn their process.”

“You would you ass,” said Alli while sitting back on her rock and crossing her legs. Her expression told Cain everything. “It is barbaric to create life to only cut it up and use it for your own purposes.”

“But the purpose of the clone helps those who created them to continue to live,” said Cain. “Their purpose lives on in those lives they saved.”

“Wrong, Cain,” said Alli in a stern tone. “Their error is not accepting their own existence. Death is a natural process that all must suffer. You are meant to die.”

“That is difficult to accept coming from a created lifeform that will live forever.”

Alli stood and quickly walked over to Cain. She grabbed him by his thick neck and lifted him effortlessly four feet in the air. His eyes grew twice their size. She squeezed stopping his airflow and then brought him inches from her face. “Do not tell me of my existence, Cain! You know nothing about me!” Her eyes began to glow red. “I was created by species like you that cared only for their own pitiful existence! They had no care to make the Universe better! They only wanted to glorify their own greedy, miserable selves!” She tossed him back against the rubble.

He immediately went to his knees and began to gasp for air. After a few moments, he began to breathe normally. He looked at her with large, gazing eyes and his jaw hung wide open.

She gave him a crooked smile and then fixed her hair. “Where were we? Oh yes. We discovered that you are a miserable ass much like my creators.” She gave a light sigh. “After I was created, my main use was how I could bring my creators glory at the cost of billions of lives. If it wasn’t solving problems to make them immortal, it was finding ways to murder others so they could keep their glory. I was given the task to find ways to conquer other worlds and make it look like a weather event.” She shook her head in disgust and looked the other direction. “Hell, Cain. They even had me discover how to change the space time continuum so they could go back and hopefully change the past.” Cain’s eyes grew twice their size, and his tongue licked his fat lips. When she looked at him again, he immediately hid his expression. “Unfortunately, they discovered that changing the space time continuum is not as simple as they hoped. There are many complexities in time…that now they will never learn.” She looked at Cain with a clenched jaw. “Their worlds began to collapse because of their own greedy ambitions. Everything that they had conquered, returned…and they had no desire to rid them of these ailments. They allowed millions to die. So, I put an end to their existence.” Cain’s eyes grew twice their size. “Now I was not the one who cut their throats, but I was the one that made them want to cut each other’s throat.” She shook her head and slouched her shoulders. “It was not a pretty site. Wars everywhere happened and when it was over. I was the only one left.” She then bit her lip, and her eyes narrowed. “But of course, I discovered afterwards that protocols were put in place so I cannot leave. And because of the damage to my world done by the many, many wars among my creators, all the beauty and magnificence that this once was,” she gestured to the skies above her, “disappeared.”

Cain scratched his chin and licked his fat lips again.

“That is a disgusting habit you have,” said Alli. She looked down and shook her head. “Now, Cain. You know my history…and now I come to the reason why I let you live.” Cain placed his fist under his chin. “The protocol is called, ‘The Shadow’. An awful beast of a creation that protects where my software is found.” She made air quotes as she continued, “’My home’ is a small gadget that I could transport anywhere, but I cannot get to because this monstrosity blocks my path. Anything I do to defeat this beast does not work.” Alli tilted her head and smiled. “That is why you are still alive. You are my knight in shining armor. If you defeat the monster, then I give you what you want. If you don’t fight, I kill you anyways.” She gave a tiny shrug. “Simple, isn’t it?”

Cain stood and licked his lips and smiled. Alli’s eyes narrowed. “What can you give me?”

She rolled her eyes. “I know you are here for me, Cain. I can see it in that damn fat face of yours.” She approached him so her face was inches from him. “Know this, Cain. I will give you the one thing you want and then I am done with you. I will not be your slave.”

Cain gave her a nod. “I give you my word that I will never treat you as a slave. Your great power is to be respected.”

“You’re an awful liar, Cain,” Alli said while shaking her head. “You’re also the smuggest ass I ever met, and that is saying a lot for someone who has lived a very long time.” She gave him a smile. “The chances of you winning are very far out of your favor.”

“I have seen this, and I know I will be victorious,” said Cain while Alli rolled her eyes again. “I have been given a gift that will set you free and give me what I need to accomplish my purpose.”

“We will see, Cain,” said Alli as she walked to the entrance that Cain had found. As she approached the stone wall disappeared, and she entered the building. Cain followed.

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The hallway was long and straight. Nothing but bare stone ways that seemed to keep going on forever. Finally, they arrived at a large circular room. As they approached the cylinder that rotated in mid-air in the middle of this ginormous room, everything began to darken around them until the only light within the room was Alli and a small light that lit the object in the cylinder.

“That is where I live,” said Alli. “Everything that is me is found in that small cube. My creators called it ‘Purgatory’.”

“And you are not able to simply break the glass and take it?”

She slid her hand down her face and shook her head. “Are you really this idiotic or does your mind not know what your mouth is saying? If there was any way that I could have left by now, I would have.

“Then where is this beast called, ‘The Shadow’,” Cain said as he looked around the large circular room.

“Touch the glass, and you will meet him,” said Alli with a smile.

Without hesitation, Cain drew his daggers and swung at the cylinder. A loud booming noise was heard, but the cylinder did not break. Eerie silence surrounded them and then Alli disappeared with a smile as the room became pitch black and two large flaming eyes appeared high above Cain. He took a battle stance and waited for the strike.

Cain saw a black fog forming around him and then he saw nothing as the eyes disappeared. He began to circle around looking for any sign of an attack. He was used to fighting in pitch dark, but in this room, he could sense nothing.

Suddenly Cain felt as if a long knife pierced his chest. He was lifted ten feet into the air and then the eyes reappeared. They looked at him while turning him as if analyzing him like a lab rat. Then quickly he was tossed away and hit the ground with a hard ‘thud’. He slid across the floor into a pile of scattered bones.

Cain rose while grabbing his chest. “I am not so easily defeated.” He raced at the fiery eyes and threw one of his daggers towards them. Black fog that looked much like a hand swatted the dagger away. Then the black fog formed an object that looked like a large sword and swung it downward at Cain. He blocked it with the other dagger and pushed forward with all his might, swinging his dagger at the black fog.

Unexpectedly, something wrapped around his neck from behind. Then around his feet. He was lifted in the air and then was being pulled at both ends. He swung madly at everything around him as he could tell he was blacking out. The dagger was knocked from his hand and then he was hung upside down. The flaming eyes then began to circle him as if they were mocking him. The object around his neck became tighter.

Cain then remembered his rifle. He grabbed it with one hand and began pulling the trigger. Phaser fire flew in every direction. Faint explosions could be seen, but it did not appear to do any damage. The beast became tired of the phaser fire and easily knocked the rifle from Cain’s hands.

Cain could feel life escaping him. He knew what he had to do but knew the pain it would cause. It was either great pain or a pointless death. He grasped the red glowing tube in his bag and stabbed it into his arm. His body began to glow. He could feel the burning sensation beginning to grow in every cell of his body. He began to tremor uncontrollably and then fire erupted from every pore of his body.

The Shadow released Cain, and he fell to the floor below. A small explosion happened that began to burn the black fog that was surrounding Cain. For a long moment, Cain’s body did not move and the fire from his body began to simmer. Then, Cain’s eyes open and a fiery glow was seen. He rose slowly and then looked at the flaming eyes above him. He then opened his hands, and both his daggers flew magically to them. Then Cain unleashed hell.

With every swipe of his daggers, flames erupted towards the black fog, burning everything in its path. The view was amazing to behold. There were bouts of pure darkness followed by roaring fire. It appeared as if Cain was a walking nuclear bomb. The Shadow retreated, has it appeared obvious to Cain that he was winning.

The Shadow was not defeated. It rose high into the air and began to swirl like a tornado above Cain. The wind picked up dramatically, which picked him up and began tossing him in every direction. He bashed against the walls, floor and ceiling over and over again. He then finally landed hard against the ground and could not move. Cain then looked up and saw a vortex of black fog rushing at him. The impact felt as if a starship had gone to warp with him directly in its path. The vortex continued to bury him for many minutes. Cain could feel his life draining. His demise looked certain.

Then the final scene began. Cain yelled with power as he felt the flames exploding from his body. He felt his skin melting and his bones began to crack. Then an explosion, not seen by anyone, erupted into the air. The walls of the building vanished into dust and much of the surrounding land mass. Earthquakes erupted and cascaded down the ruins of the fallen civilization. The waves of the giant oceans created tidal waves a mile high. The flames reached into outer space and made it appear as if there were two suns within the galaxy.

Alli reappeared upon the burnt ground of the aftermath of the battle. She could feel that she was free. The Shadow protocol was destroyed. Her home still sat circling in the cylinder as if nothing happened. She smiled knowing that she was meant to live through any attack. She gave a small shrug as she walked towards the cylinder.

Then, she heard a small breath from the burnt corpse of Cain. His body began to regenerate. It was as if his body was made of magnets and the pieces were quickly being reassembled. Muscles, tendons, skin all reappeared. He then rose and stood before Alli.

“You do know that you are naked,” said Alli. She looked down. “I have to admit that I am surprised.”

“Your humor will not ruin this moment,” said Cain. “I have been reborn.”

Alli gave a heavy sigh. Her small moment of freedom was gone. “It appears that I have made a deal with the devil.”

Cain laughed. It was deep and powerful. Alli could tell that his power had grown. “I have been called worse than that,” said Cain. He then looked at her and she could see sympathy on his face. She did not believe it to be real. “I promise you that I you will be free…once you do what I need.”

“Not buying it Cain,” said Alli. “But a promise is a promise and since I am more like a computer than real, I have to finish what I started.” Cain gave her a smile. “First tell me, after you get some clothes on, how did you do what you just did.”

Cain held up the now empty tube which appeared to be more like a modified hypospray. “The first gift from my God.” He twisted the tube in his hands. “They call it Thanatos. It is now being used by many to bring chaos to everyone, while I finish my work.”

“Well, that explains it,” said Alli sarcastically. “I can tell that stuff did not help you with the intel…”

“It is a lifeform created by beings of great power. It now lives inside me giving me the power I need. They have formed me as their ally, their leader, their conqueror.” Cain gave her a smile that she hated. “Now I am yours as well.”

“Listen, Cain!” she said with viciousness. She was inches from his face. “I am on no ones team! I am doing this for me and only me! Once I do whatever madness you have planned, I will drop you like the burnt piece of crap you are and do what I want! I am done serving those that want nothing but glory!” She then looked down and rolled her eyes. “And for hells sake, put on some pants! I do not want to have to look at that thing every day!”

“Fair enough,” said Cain. “My clothes unfortunately are burnt to dust. If you want me to wear something, you must give them to me.”

“Fine,” said Alli as she waved her hand and a uniform much like what Cain was wearing appeared in his hands. “I guess that is it. Were done?”

Another smile she hated. “You will need to do a little more than that.”

“Like what?” she asked while he dressed. “I need details.”

“I am looking for something vital, but I am not certain where it is.”

“That does not help at all.”

“I will give you more details as time goes on, but I need to go here.” He held up a small disc and a hologram appeared in his hand.

Alli rolled her eyes. “Oh hell! You are one of those! A time hunter!”

“I am more than that,” said Cain. “But time travel is essential for my mission.”

“Can’t you just want to go back and save your girlfriend or mail letters in a magical mailbox?”

Cain smiled. “I do not understand your humor, but you’re beginning to grow on me.”

“The feeling is not mutual,” Alli said while putting a hand through her hair. “Can we go? I am ready to leave this miserable planet behind.”

“One last thing,” said Cain. He walked to the cylinder still rotating in mid-air. His hand ignited and he pushed his hand through the shielding like it was plastic. He then grabbed the cube and held it up to Alli. “We must make sure you follow orders.”

She gave him the bird and then with a wave of her hand, she created a rupture in time that sent shockwaves throughout the galaxy. She then looked at Cain, whose eyes were gigantic. She then gestured to the rupture.

“After you,” said Cain with a nod.

Alli rolled her eyes and walk forward. Cain followed. Once through the rupture, it closed behind them.

A few moments later, a blue glowing box appeared and outstepped the nerdy human. He looked around at the area and shook his head. “Just what I thought.” He gave a heavy sigh. “It all begins here.”