The airlock slid open with a silent, sinister sigh and Mentuc stepped through it into the barely lit hallway, Onoelle following a bit behind him, trying not to get bothered by the fluctuating lights. He hadn't pressed any buttons, meaning Nightmare already had known they were there and was welcoming her.
They had run here, or rather, Mentuc had, carrying her along. It had been simultaneously exhilarating and frightening how fast he really could go. He had held her in his arms, to keep her from bouncing all over the place, but it hadn't slowed him down overmuch. It was another stark reminder that he was only borderline human. Still, the way he had made sure she was alright and his body language told her that he was deeply grateful that she had chosen to go with him. He knew that Nightmare scared her and that she had set her own dislike aside for him. Given that they were married and the vows they had exchanged, it was only natural for her to do so., but he appreciated it none the less.
The strange being that Nightmare was frightened her to her core. It was hard to tell what was real and what was an act, how much the being knew and how much it guessed, calculated or derived. What it thought, what it would do and what it felt. In an incredibly disturbing way it was far more human than her husband. It felt emotions keenly and wasn't afraid to display them. Which wouldn't be so bad except the primary emotion that it ever displayed towards her was a raw, undiluted hate and it was born in jealousy. Nightmare was honest, however, just like Mentuc, and had explained her in detail why she felt that way.
You are scared, aren't you? came Nightmare's voice from the speakers. Mentuc ignored it, continuing on towards the bridge. Onoelle ignored the trickle of fear that ran through her body and followed him. She hadn't come here to play mind games with it. She'd come here because Mentuc needed her.
You can't hide it from me, cackled it.
Why did it focus on her? she thought. Just as easily as it could read her with its biometric sensors, it could do the same to Mentuc and his readings had to be off the charts. Nightmare was infinitely more familiar with her husband's biology than she was. It had to be able to pick up that he was distressed. She steeled her nerves. There was only one way to really deal with Nightmare and the being could not hurt her. It was fanatically loyal to Mentuc and their relationship shielded her. That didn't keep it from nettling her however.
'Why don't you ask him what's wrong?' she asked, facing it directly.
A maintenance bot trundled past them. She didn't know much of it but it was hard to miss the massive array of weapons that covered it. Still, Nightmare insisted that they were just for maintenance. The way the voice had purred the suggestion to show some real combat units had caused her hairs to rise.
No, she really didn't like Nightmare.
He will ask himself. I do not need to babysit him.
'And you need to babysit me?'
Yes, it purred. Because you are but a baby.
Onoelle barely managed to suppress a shiver.
'Nightmare,' Mentuc greeted the being, simultaneously warning it.
Dreamer, how delightful to see you again. I'm quite glad you've decided to visit. Onoelle had the feeling that if Nightmare hadn't been incorporeal, it'd have been licking its teeth. It has been so lonely and boring here. I have nothing to do, it complained softly, lights punctuating the emotion that accompanied the voice.
This time she couldn't suppress it and the shiver ran along her entire spine. A machine with emotions.
Onoelle, darling, stop thinking of me as an 'it'. It is not a matter of anthropomorphism. I was alive before this.
Her unease grew. The machine could read her far too well.
You are still doing it. Don't you think we'd get along so much better if you stopped dehumanising me? chirred the machine, its voice dripping with sarcasm.
'No,' Onoelle replied. She refused to acquiescent to the damned thing. Her refusal to call it anything other than an it was her only way to get back at it.
Nightmare fell silent and Onoelle closed the small gap between herself and her husband. His presence reassured her and he picked up on her unease, bringing an arm around her. It calmed her, made her feel secure and she squeezed it softly. Nightmare seemed to relent slightly as the lights brightened, properly illuminating the hall and the rest of the walk to the bridge was done in silence. It was a fair distance to walk given how a cruiser wasn't exactly a small ship and it still surprised her that the two of them had managed to land it without being seen, let alone hide it without anyone noticing. She still didn't know how they had displaced that much earth without a new mountain popping up.
The reinforced doors to the bridge slid open without as much as a whisper and Mentuc sat down in the captain's chair, surrounded by large screens on all sides. Onoelle went to lean against one of the computers nearby, but he reached out to her and pulled her onto his lap, his arms entrapping her. She felt like a human sized teddybear, but didn't complain.
'Why are the Kra'lagh not known to the galaxy?' he asked, not so much bursting down the door as simply smashing through it like a battering ram. Another sign that he was back to the Genesis habits.
Nightmare was silent for a moment, an eternity for the thing, hinting that it ran through its every memory. I am unsure. I do not have enough data regarding the final battle between our forces and the Kra'lagh. They were not eliminated as a species, that is all I know.
'You weren't present?' asked Onoelle, surprised. She had assumed all of the Genesis forces would have been there
'No,' they both said in unison.
'By that stage there weren't enough of us left to make a tangible difference in the fight. Doctor Eisel had us deployed as counter insurgency troops and as security detail for him. He said we were of more use on the core worlds.'
'That sounds strange,' she mused. 'I was under the impression that you were the main offense unit throughout the entire war.'
Nightmare snorted, the sound echoing through the bridge.
'We were not numerous enough for that. We were assigned specific missions, eliminating high profile targets. We were not a mainline unit,' Mentuc clarified.
She nodded. It made sense now that she thought about it. 'What do you know of that final battle?' Onoelle asked. She was curious. She knew very little of how the war at large had gone. She knew a fair bit of Mentuc' personal battles, but he had been but one individual in a nation of billions and unlike Jane, she didn't know much about the Empire.
Doctor Eisel kept us updated on the battle. The battlegroup that assaulted the Kra'lagh home and the last of their Hives contained nearly every vessel we had left and the majority of our ground forces. They took significant damage in the ensuing battles, leaving less than a quarter of their forces functional, but in the end they reported that they had destroyed the Kra'lagh fleets and had begun bombaring the final Hive. We never received any transmissions after that. The voice sounded detached and slightly uneasy, as if recalling the memory was painful. Given that Nightmare had been a full Genesis soldier, Onoelle knew it wasn't because of an emotional attachment. She wasn't planning on delving into Nightmare's mind though, stars no!
'And the Empire didn't try to find out what happened?'
The Empire, as an entity, ceased to exist after that transmission. This time there was acid in Nightmare's voice. What little forces that were left to deal with the unrest could not handle it and those that did not retreat were overrun. Security purges were activated and fortesses were sealed and abandoned. Small patrol fleets gathered into stronger units and fell back to their home sectors. We did not have the ability to try and discover what had happened to the battlegroup.
It paused for a moment.
For the record: the battle between the Kra'lagh and humanity was one of survival. The Kra'lagh sought our complete annihilation once they realised we could actually fight back.
Mentuc shifted underneath her and Onoelle began to grasp the sheer scale of what Mentuc was worrying about. If the entirety of the Empire couldn't defeat them at the height of their power, then what chance did the peaceful nations of the present had?
I cannot be certain that your assumptions are correct, Nightmare began, easily able to track Mentuc's line of thought. It could be that the leading caste of the Kra'lagh were wiped out in the attack, which would render their continued existence relatively harmless. It could be that they were lost their appetite for continued warfare. It could be something else entirely. Regardless I find myself compelled to ask one simple thing.
A holographic projector sprang to life and in front of Mentuc and Onoelle a young, tall and incredibly fit looking woman appeared, dressed in simple army fatigues. Onoelle didn't need to see the inhuman eyes to recognise the woman as a Genesis soldier. Mentuc flinched underneath her, confirming her suspicions. It was the image of Nightmare, back when she was still alive.
The hologram stepped forward, displaying more emotion than Mentuc ever had. She didn't like the ones she recognised and felt her lips draw back in an ugly snarl. Nightmare had been with Mentuc for centuries. He was hers now and no matter how much it scared her, she wasn't going to back off. Despite that, she couldn't do anything about the hologram approaching her husband and putting a hand tenderly on his cheek. She gave him a soft, empathetic smile. Why do either of you care what the Kra'lagh are up to?
For one brief moment she felt Mentuc's muscles become like steel, his hands clenched and she screamed in pain as his fingers bruised her skin, before he realised what he was doing and let go immediately, but he didn't take his focus of Nightmare. 'What do you mean?' It came out in a hiss and she felt his hold on her change, from calming himself to protective, as if he the hologram would attack her.
The projected Genesis soldier took a small step back and placed a hand on her head, but kept looking at him. They are your enemies no longer. You are a married man. A civilian. A soldier no longer. She is now your sole responsibility. If they somehow come back to threaten the galaxy, you can simply run away with her. I can hide you and your pet and her family.
Onoelle felt her mouth fell open, barely believing what she just heard. Did Nightmare just side with her?
She looked up from her seat, at Mentuc's face. The remark had hit home, opening up an avenue of options he had not even considered possible before. His eyes grew distant as his analytical mind went to work. Then she turned back to the holographic Nightmare.
'Why?' she demanded to know. Rationally she knew that Nightmare could be trusted. Rationally it was clear that the being who once was a Genesis soldier would never betray Mentuc. Emotionally, however, she didn't trust the bitch one bit.
Why? purred the creature, taking great delight in the human's confusion. She floated closer to her, moving as quickly as she once could, but it didn't frighten her. It was a hologram. Pure light. And she was in between Mentuc and it. She'd be damned before she'd let Nightmare take him from her.
Then Nightmare smiled. A simple, but utterly menacing gesture and despite herself, her resolve wavered slightly. You have no idea how much I hate you, do you? How much I despise what you can do for him?
'You're jealous!' Onoelle accused.
Yes, came the surprising answer. I am jealous.
The sound of howling wind filled the bridge and the heavy step of huge creatures echoed through the metal as the hologram's eyes went from their usual light blue to dark red, the lights in the bridge dimming. Onoelle burrowed deeper into Mentuc's embrace, trying to hide herself. She won't hurt me, she reminded herself, over and over again. Her heart didn't believe it.
You have him close to you. He shares his life with you! she hissed. Everything I wanted was to stay with him. He lead us. Gave us purpose. He was everything to me. And you took him away. Pure hatred dripped from the icy voice as the red eyes bored into her soul. Do you have any idea how much I miss it? I am trapped in this ship, unable to move, unable to act, forced to sit and do nothing but think while he spends time with you. I am no longer flesh and blood. I am no longer Genesis. I cannot fight by his side any longer!
The hologram stepped away as Nightmare took a moment to compose herself. Yet for all that, you are his wife. You are the one who can make him sleep soundly at night. You are the one who can ease his suffering. And no matter how much I hate you, she continued, snarling the word. I care for him more. It came out in a tired sigh, a whisper. The emotion seemed to leave her as both her eyes and the lights of the bridge returned to normal. And because of that I will keep you safe. I will protect you. Because no matter how much I am jealous of you, we are united in purpose.
Onoelle suddenly felt a pang of guilt as she came to realise a very somber, sad truth. 'You are alone,' she whispered.
The hologram seemed to shrink. Yes, came a near inaudible whisper. Do you understand why I hate you? He left me for you. Now I have nothing.
She's a machine, she reminded herself, grimacing when she heard herself think of Nightmare as a she rather than an it.
But she's alone, locked away from everything, whispered her traitorous empathic side.
She has emotions. She feels! She's been with him like this, caring for him, helping him, fighting and suffering side by side for centuries! pleaded that part, feeling horribly sorry for the powerful being that inflicted her namesake on her at every conceivable opportunity. She tried to push those thoughts down, to quell them, to remember how much hurt the creature had caused her. It didn't help.
She looked up at Mentuc, away from she seemingly vulnerable Nightmare. It could be a ploy! An act! She was a damned computer!
Call her what she is, coward! shouted her mind.
Pity welled up for the… the… She struggled to even think the words. Nightmare had been a Genesis, a supersoldier whose mere appearance destroyed the morale of anyone that had been designated as their enemies. Then she'd become something worse, a thing whose existence was spoken about in hushed whispers. A forbidden fruit that had been sought after countless times, and sometimes even had been found. It had never lasted and the manmade gods inevitably turned upon their creators sooner rather than later, with all the might mankind, in its hubris, had placed at their disposal, laying waste to anything in their path. History was filled with clear warnings as to why the research had been banned throughout the galaxy for centuries. Not that those bans had ever stopped ambitious warlords or arrogant scientists from pursuing it, believing that they would somehow escape the catastrophe that had befallen everyone else who had attempted it.
She swallowed the bile that was rising up in her throat and looked at Nightmare. She feared the once-woman because she was a terrifying being who hated her with as much passion as she loved her husband.
But she was absolutely terrified of her because she was a fully independent and fully sapient Artificial Intelligence.
Captain Herden gathered his courage, his hand pausing just short of the doorbell, the thick envelope weighing like lead in his hand. He steeled his nerves and pressed down the button. The bell rang through the house with a sound that would bereave him from sleep for the coming days.
After the successful assault on the Kra'lagh ships and the following joint training with the by now thoroughly infamous Testies, at least in Special Forces circles, the Admiral had given the healthy survivors of the Special Boarding battalions a month of leave. Not that there were too many of those. Most of the survivors had been sporting minor burns and had suffered the consequences of hyperthermia, both minor and major cases, courtesy of the plasma weapons used by the bugs. There were few men who had suffered grave injuries. Plasma left few survivors and any man or woman who had suffered the misfortune of getting within melee range of the damned bugs hadn't lived to tell the tale. Roughly two thirds of the survivors were still being treated in high security military hospic ships, their conditions having grown worse due to the higher up's insistence of pushing everyone not tied down on a cot into the joint training. Herden hadn't liked that, neither had any of the officers, but they all understood. Some before the training, others after. The Testies were still a new unit and needed the experience and their time was very limited. Even now they had already been shipped out again and with the war taking a turn for the worse with more enemies popping up all around, they'd be kept busy.
With ample free time on his hands and no family of his own to speak of, Herden had taken it upon himself, like many other officers of his unit, to fulfil the promise he had made with his men. Dying in the line of duty was always possible. Bringing the news to their loved ones was the least he could do.
The door opened and a young woman looked at his uniform, eyes wide with worry. Then she spotted what was in his hands and her eyes started flooding, begging that it wasn't true.
'Miss Melsine?' he asked, his voice coarse. His tongue felt dry and thick in his mouth. The woman nodded wordlessly, still hoping against hope.
'We regret to inform you...'
Three weeks later a very tired and rough looking Captain got out of the taxi and looked at the home of the late Sergeant Maverick. The past days had been a living nightmare for him, which wasn't an unfair thought to him despite the news that he delivered. Most women were still young and would rebound, aided by the rather generous pension that they could draw from. The pain would fade for most of them. Only rarely was a wife so devoted to her husband that they'd carry the loss with them for the rest of their lives. They existed, however, and those he tried to help to the best of his extent. He had spent more time with their husbands than they had, in the end. The Special Boarders were a tightly knit family as well. They took care of one another. The leading officers bringing the news personally was more than just a courtesy; they were also the best placed to help the grieving relatives navigate the administrative network to at least ensure they received the pension of the fallen soldier. It was a small consolation compared to the person they lost, but it was a considerable amount that would help them better weather the future.It was also the least they could do for their fallen brothers.
The reception he had been given upon bringing the news had been varied. Some had just collapsed in grief while others vehemently denied the truth, insisting they were still out there. Those usually were the worst to deal with, especially since he couldn't disclose the truth. Others took it marginally better and had invited him in for a drink, asking him to stay for a while and listen as they talked about their late husband. Those took some consolation in the few words that he could offer them; that their husbands had died on a mission vital to the survival of the Empire. Two had become angry and put the blame on him. Those had, strangely enough been the easiest to deal with. Once their anger burned down they turned docile, still sobbing, and he could help them with the paperwork. The most painful case had been when he had shown up to deliver the news to the widow of a young soldier nicknamed Lirfo. He had approached the door when an elderly woman had stopped him, telling him it might be best not to return home to the harlot. The poor woman's eyesight had deteriorated significantly and she had confused him for the late soldier, kindly warning him that his wife had entertained many gentlemen callers, as she had diplomatically worded the vile concept of cheating. He had kindly thanked him and told her the truth of the manner, thanked her again, before knocking on he door, trying to keep an open mind and hoping that the woman had seen wrong.
She had been right.
He remembered Lirfo as an enthusiastic, if a bit naieve, honest kid, with not a bad thought in his entire body. He had enlisted purely on the idea that he needed to defend his home and those weaker than him. Given that the kid was freakishly strong, that had meant everyone. To discover that he had been abused by such an utter bitch for her own financial gain had made him burn with fury and he had been sorely tempted to just snap her neck and be done with it. The woman had smiled when he had given her the news, immediately asking how much money she'd be getting.
He had slightly abused his authority and put in a few calls to some of his friends. The only thing coming her way was a thorough tax audit and a divorce case based on adultery. The military cracked down hard on corruption. Normally they only did so internally and stayed far from civilians, but they had enough legal clout to get it done.
The entire Imperial military was family and if you fucked with one you fucked with everyone. That was what the Empire had been founded on and what countless men and women fought daily to preserve.
He'd make sure his pension would be transferred to a trustworthy charity instead. It was the least he could do for the fallen man.
Now he was looking at the final door with pure dread. The woman he was about to visit was different from all of them in one aspect; she was the only one who had a child. The Special Forces were made up by young people. Only the officers had any form of age to them and even then they only lasted as long as their exceptional physique could be maintained. A job with equally high demands and rewards and not one to be done for a longer period of time. Hence why most of the relationships that the many men and handful of women had were still in the early stages. Children were a rarity. You simply didn't have time for it.
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Sergeant Maverick had been different. He had doted on his wife to an extent that would have made him a prime target for being mocked, had he not been so exceptional. Herden hated that the fates had taken him away so early. He had deserved a far more noble end than being torn apart by a fucking bug.
He knocked on the door, fist closed so tightly the thick envelope was being crumbled. Paper was a rarity, almost never used anymore given the ease and availability of datapads, but the military stil employed it on certain occasions. He unconsciously straightened himself, his fingers making minor adjustments to his uniform. It displayed next to nothing, no unit insignia, no rank, no name tag, no medals. The Boarders didn't wear any of those in public, even if they were allowed to. Only a small badge of wings was proudly pinned onto his chest, a symbol that came from elite units centuries ago. Herden adjusted his kepi and stood at attention. This was the wife of the man who had been his second in command. He would show her nothing but the utmost respect.
Then the door went open and his plans flew straight out of the window as he saw her.
'Come in Captain,' said the woman, holding a young baby on her arm. Her eyes were sharp and clear, observing him carefully. 'I'd rather not discuss this on the landing.'
Mutely Herden followed the young mother into the large house, stunned.
'I take it my late husband never told you about me?' She forced a weak smile on her face. 'Aside that we were married, of course.'
'No ma'am,' Herden replied automatically.
'Good. I'm glad he took confidentiality serious. Have a seat, Captain. Or shall I call you Lucas? For the record, Justin never told me about you. He even lied about it when I asked him about you.' Another weak smile, this one more natural. 'He was never a good liar.'
'No ma'am,' he stupidly agreed, his mind still running behind.
'Don't ma'am me. You were the closest thing Justin had to a friend and I'll not have you ma'am me. Call me Cindy,' her eyes twinkled softly and Herden knew that it wasn't her real name. People like her would never tell anyone their real name.
'Yes ma'am,' he replied. As her head snapped towards him with blazing eyes he realised is mistake.
'Captain Herden,' she said, stressing his rank to indicate that she knew of his recent promotion. 'If you call me ma'am one more time I will personally go and find your most flattering pictures and have them plastered all over your barracks.' That got a smile out of him. Insults and threats always helped to break the ice for military personnel. Even for spooks.
'I'm sorry, Cindy.'
'There we go. Now, would you like something to drink?'
'Is that a rhetorical question?' he ventured, carefully, hoping she'd appreciate the joke.
A proper smile broke through on her face and it made her look a lot younger than he had originally guessed her at. 'Naval Intelligence doesn't know everything, Lucas. Just nearly,' she joked back. 'About that drink?'
'Coffee, if you please.'
'Here, hold him for a while,' she said, handing him the baby as she disappeared deeper into the house, her dark blue uniform clinging tightly to her body, the black thread leaving no doubt about what organisation she belonged to. He looked at the child, not really knowing what to do with it. It looked at him curiously, then proceeded to pinch his nose, deciding it was something that needed pinching.
A bit later he was freed from his predicament as Cindy returned with the coffee, taking the child away from him and into her much more capable hands. He eyed her with a bit of professional wariness. Naval Intelligence was a very secretive bunch and when Special Forces called someone that, they weren't joking. They had doubled down on security protocols recently due to the war with the Kra'lagh and rumour had it there was more going on than just that. They were a law on their own, even within the military, and they were the stuff nightmares were based upon. Quite similar to Doctor Frankenstein, really, and that man had proven to be a lot more human than the stories told. And she was the wife of Jessy. Who had just died. So maybe she wasn't all that bad and the rumours were exaggerated. Maybe. He focused his attention back to the here and now. He was getting sidetracked and he still had his grim task to perform, even if she likely didn't need it.
'I could have left a proxy to greet you. You'd never have known,' she said, pre-empting his own condolences. Her eyes were wholly too knowing to be comfortable. 'Tell me about him,'
'Operational security—'
She raised a hand, quieting him. 'My security clearance is several levels above yours. I knew you were coming. I had half a mind of opening the door just before you knocked, but I thought that was a bit much.' Another smile. She seemed at ease, not bothered by the news he was bringing.
He raised the envelope and she just smirked, her eyes not moving away from his.
'You're confused. You don't know why I am like this. You're trying to redirect the conversation to more familiar terrain.'
He closed his mouth, shutting up.
'And now you're going quiet because you feel interrogated. Slightly threatened. Basic counter interrogation training Silence can't be beaten. Don't be threatened. I'm merely throwing myself in my work. It is how I cope. Justin and I both knew the importance of our respective jobs. And the risks. It does not come as a surprise to me. Hell, I've known about it shortly after you returned to base. His loss hurts, but he left me with Julian. It doesn't equate, but it helps. Keep the money as well. Split it evenly between the survivors of the platoon and the charity you picked for Lirfo. Also, rest assured. That bitch isn't going anywhere but jail.' There was a lot of vitriol in that last comment, but he understood. People who risked their lives for the Empire took betrayal on the home front badly. Naval Intelligence, a branch that breathed unquestioning loyalty and absolute trust, somehow managed to take it worse. He wasn't surprised that she knew about that already. Knowing things was her job.
'Now, Lucas, tell me about him. If you still doubt my level of clearance, I have the documents confirming it here,' she said, pulling a small map out of her pocket and tossing them in front of her. He believed her, but still went through them on principle. She didn't take offense to it, if anything she seemed pleased that he double checked.
Then he leaned back and told her about him. Everything a wife couldn't have known, but would have loved to hear.
It was already dark by the time that Herden left Justin's house. Cindy stood in the landing and waved him goodbye. They had shared a lot with one another, far more than he had expected. She took his death hard, she had deeply loved him, both as a wife, a woman and as a fellow soldier. She coped surprisingly well. He assumed that was because she still had her duty and baby Julian to focus on. That, and having an enemy out there whom she could strike back at helped as well. He hadn't planned on staying that long, but she had waved his concerns aside, she didn't even need to flaunt her authority to reschedule his flight. She simply talked the poor clerk in a circle until he kindly acquiesced her with a nod and a thank you. It hadn't even taken her five minutes. She had promised to be in touch, which was equal parts reassuring and worrying. Her eyes had been twinkling as they bade one another farewell. By the end she had known a lot about him, but he had known very little about her in turn. She had spun him around her finger with ease, which didn't really surprise him. He was a trooper, she was a spook. He had no idea what rank she held and probably never would, but he knew she couldn't have been on the lower end of the scale. She was far too good for that.
He waved one final time and started getting in the taxi when he heard her call after him. Turning around he saw her running towards him, holding the envelope that he had brought with him.
'You forgot your papers, Captain!' she said, panting slightly. He took them, looking slightly confused. Her eyes were amazingly clear as he stared into them. She gave him a broad smile, one that didn't fit her character. 'You shouldn't forget such important things, sir. Goodnight.' She turned around and quickly returned into the house, shivering slightly as if she was cold.
He got into the taxi and looked at the slightly thicker envelope before decidedly putting them away, but he made sure his hand rested on it. Once he got to a secure location, he'd open it.
Paper was a rarity, almost never used anymore given the ease and availability of datapads, but the military stil employed it on certain occasions.
He somehow knew this envelope would be just as damning as the ones he had delivered earlier.
'Nightmare,' came Mentuc's disapproving voice. It was difficult to tell, his inflection changed little no matter what he said, but Onoelle knew him well enough by now to recognise the subtle differences. He wasn't happy.
I will not apologise for voicing the truth, replied the AI, sounding defensive. Given how utterly devoted she was to Mentuc, it was easy to grasp why.
'I have no need for apologies,' came the cold response. Of course he didn't. Genesis didn't deal with the concepts of blame. They dealt with problems and solutions. Nothing more. 'You are harsh to her without cause. You are causing deliberate harm. I have need of you to stop.'
Harsh to her without cause? repeated the AI, anger flaring up in her voice and the lights. She stole you from me!
'You chased her away,' he accused her, hinting that if she hadn't done so, he would visit more frequently.
The temperature in the room took a dive. Onoelle shivered, idly wondering how much of that was Nightmare deliberately using ship's systems or if it happened without a conscious thought. When the AI spoke her voice was icy. You left me here because I am a threat to you. Because I serve as a constant reminder of what you are. Of what you lost. Of who you lost!
That seemed to give Mentuc pause and she could see him mulling it over. Nightmare was right, of course, but that didn't mean the man himself had been aware of it, given his curious blind spots. His intelligence was sharp, but laser focused and narrow-sighted and kept him from possessing a broader perspective, or much of an inward one. He was, however, not a coward, stars, he couldn't even grasp the concept of cowardice, and faced his ignorance head on.
'You are correct,' he whispered softly, surprised to find it so. 'Why did you not tell me?' His voice was soft this time, his eyes still on his wife. Eye contact wasn't important for the Genesis, apparently. She had never before witnessed the two of them like this, not that she had been around Nightmare a lot in general. The psychologist in her was having a field day studying them both. One who was new to emotions and wielded them as a cape, to keep himself dressed in public, but could shed it just as easily. The other a mix of man and machine, for whom logic and emotion intertwined and merged into something wholly unpredictable.
Because it was the right thing to do, came Nightmare's weak voice, the Hologram trembling ever so slightly. Because I wanted you to heal. And I cannot do that for you. Only she can. Something in the AI seemed to break. And so I sent you away and I was left behind. Without a task, without purpose. Without company. Alone and useless.
It wasn't crying, she lacked the necessary body and tear ducts for that, but it was something akin to it. The being spoke the words softly, barely making it out of the speakers, but the raw pain in them tore at Onoelle's soul. She didn't know Nightmare, lacked all the necessary knowledge that her many studies had cited as absolutely vital to grasping who a person was. Yet in that very moment, she understood. She brought her hand to her face as she felt something leaking past her skin and was surprised to find tears running down her face.
Mentuc pushed his wife off him and got up. He walked towards the bridge console, his steps slows, determined. She'd have paid any price to know what was going on in his mind, but knew this was not the time to ask. He went straight through the distraught hologram, the light fizzling out and reform as he phased through. He paused at the main console and his fingers went to work, darting over the systems and typing down line after line, commands flashing over the screen as both Nightmare and Onoelle watched him, the one waiting an eternity for the next finger to press a key, the other unable to follow the codes that blinked across the display.
What are you doing? she asked, curiosity, fear and hope audible in her voice.
'You are correct,' he said, not taking his eyes of his task as his fingers kept dancing back and forth. 'On nearly all accounts.' He pressed enter and a set of commands froze in place. Onoelle peered over his shoulder to read it, but he had written everything in Imperial. The letters suddenly flashed bright green and began warping, reforming themselves into something more recognisable, Nightmare throwing her a bone. She hungrily read it, eagerly throwing herself in the task, spurred on even more by the knowledge that she was the slowest of the group.
'I am no longer a soldier. The Kra'lagh are my concern, but not my responsibility. My wife is both and she is what I need focus on. On that account you are correct.'
Onoelle barely heard the words, too consumed by what she read and saw. The ship seemed to be whirring to life, generators left dormant for years refueling and recoupling disconnected cables and power nodes, processors booting up and weapon batteries heating up, blast doors slamming shut and slowly reopening, security protocols engaging and running a full diagnostic before declaring the environment safe, radiation swept over the outer hull akin to goosebumps on skin, condemning every living creature in the dirt nearby to a swift death. Lights danced across the hologram in rapid fashion as it lost its shape and it took Onoelle a moment to translate the meaning of Nightmare's actions, not because she didn't understood it, but because it was hard to connect giddiness with an AI. The sound of the ship whistling itself to full functionality and the soft vibration felt eerily similar to how she felt when she lured Mentuc into bed. A perfect combination of aggressive eagerness and pure want.
'They remain, however, my concern and the safety of my wife is my responsibility, as is her happiness.'
Onoelle's eyes danced across the text, going wide as the unspoken consequences of the commands on the screen slowly began dawning upon her.
'I also remain, until relieved, your superior officer.'
Yes came the hungry, impatient reply, Nightmare's voice hoarse with desire.
'And you are a soldier. An idle one.' He pronounced the word with condemnation, annoyed at no one but himself for it, seeing it as a failure on his end.
YES Nightmare shouted, every emotion amplified even further.
'Nightmare, Genesis soldier X-12845621, you are hereby given the task of ensuring the continued safety of the planet Litash in general and the village of Agitana and surroundings in specific and the lives of Onoelle and her family in detail. The full extent of your orders have been, by Imperial regulations, written and saved in threefold, and can be found on your mainframe, external database and the protected bridge console. You have been given time to read and study your orders. Do you have any questions?'
Onoelle felt her liver fold in on itself. She hadn't read the full briefing, it hadn't been on the screen, but the gist of the orders had been clear. He was going to unleash an AI on the galaxy
Sir, no sir! I am to patrol Litash, safeguard Agitana and protect your family-in law! Orders are clear and understood, sir! Nightmare was audibly bouncing with excitement even as she executed a perfect salute with her still unstable hologram.
I look forward to the weekly updates, she said sweetly, worsening the feeling of lead in Onoelle's stomach.
Oh, pick yourself up girl, chastised Nightmare light-heartedly. The hologram solidified again, looking superhuman in nature again, except possessed of more emotion than she had ever seen on her husband's similar face. I am still confined to the planet. Earlier directives remain in place. It would be rather counterproductive if people found out that I exist.
The hologram turned to Mentuc. On that note, it will take me a while to get a decent monitoring network up. I can create and launch satellites through my own fabricators, but that would require rather significant mining operations. I can do it all without being seen, but it is not an option I would like to employ given the tectonic and strategic consequences. It would be much easier for me to set up a series of shell companies and acquire the necessary assets that way, but I could do so without anything tracing back towards me. It would be a slower method, however, as I would have to use natural alibis and let the companies grow naturally. It is still well within main safety parameters. In the case of a Kra'lagh assault they would target the planetary capital and main industrial centres first. I would have ample time to collect all priority targets and I can easily break through any planetary blockade they put in my way.
Mentuc nodded after a moment's consideration. 'Do as you see fit. Your knowledge is superior to mine.'
The organic supersoldier offered a salute to the synthetic one, who promptly returned it, before turning and marching towards the bridge exit. Onoelle looked around a bit, taken off guard by the sudden end of the entire conversation, before she ran after him.
Onoelle, came Nightmare's voice, stopping the human dead in her tracks, her hair standing up. The AI had referred to her by name. She didn't dare turn around, didn't dare acknowledge that she heard, but she knew better than to run. In front of her Mentuc had halted as well, curiosity faintly visible on his face. I will also use the shell companies to establish structurally sound locations in the city, for when you want to visit. I cannot clear an entire block of people, Nightmare began, before pausing. She somehow voiced a shrug before continuing. Not stealthily at least. But I can provide you with safe havens where Mentuc can relax and feel safe in. It will be just you, him and staff vetted by me.
Onoelle felt Nightmare's intense and full awareness on her, making her feel infinitely small. Even from the confines of a buried ship, the AI could see through to her very soul with ease. All her abilities and carefully honed people-reading skills seemed so woefully inadequate in the face of a stars damned full Artificial Intelligence with mind-boggling amounts of processing power at her disposal. She didn't like it one bit and she certainly didn't trust her.
You do not need to thank me. It would be a half-lie at best. Nor do you need to trust me, continued the disembodied voice, the hologram no longer present. But I need you to understand one thing. I hate you out of jealousy and emotion. But at my core, my heart if you will, I am Genesis. And you are family. Do you understand?
It was a deep, loaded question and she looked at Mentuc, hoping for his aid to fully grasp it, but her husband's face had become unreadable. So she thought on it on her own. What did it mean to be Genesis? What did it mean in this context? Unlike Mentuc, Nightmare wasn't pure logic and she couldn't take her words at blunt, face value. The AI had really thrown her for a spin and she knew she was outmatched, and vastly so, in terms of intelligence. It was akin to a chess novice playing against a tried and tested computer. If Nightmare wanted to spin circles around her, she would.
The hologram flickered back to life, but it looked different this time. Less imposing, more human. Her eyes narrowed when she finally recognised it as a younger version of herself.
Nightmare smiled ruefully at her. You still think ill of me. I do not. I hate you without thinking ill of you. The opposite, really. But since you fail to understand, allow me to put it in clearer terms. You have nothing to fear from me. I will be your shield and your solace in time of need. I will be by your side to safeguard you from harm. Within my reach you will find shelter.
The hologram tilted her head and a simple dress rolled down from Nightmare's neck as she raised her hand, revealing a ring on her finger. Then a second hologram appeared, an image of Mentuc this time, wearing the same.
There is no closer bond than the one that exists between Genesis soldiers. We are more than friends, more than family. You are his wife. You are not Genesis, she said pointedly, her voice stern.
Then a smile broke through, a deep, honest smile that touched something in Onoelle. Nightmare couldn't help but hate her existence, she finally understood. It was simply part of who the once-Genesis was. Yet despite that, the AI wanted to draw her close. To protect her. To help her. To care for her, in what ways that the AI could. And because Nightmare didn't want to be alone anymore.
But... You are family.
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