“Paths converge and paths diverge.”

-Samuel

***Outer Rim***

***Antioch***

“They didn't lie.” I huff and close the latest report regarding the comings and goings of various ships throughout the sector. Ever since the last big experiment, reports were flooding me. Most of them were repetitive and unimportant, but I still try to pay attention to all of them, fearing that I could overlook something important. “I can't believe they really just packed up and left.” Looking up, I study my assembled family and friends. Everyone who I hold dear was invited to this meeting, and all of them came. It was the biggest reunion since everything began.

Jenny raises her hand, gaining my attention. “But it would fit their behaviour. The Cyber judged that taking us out is no longer a good use of their time. You might not like to hear it, but what they did up until now was just trying to swat the problem before it became real. They know that we would fight for every star and planet. It's probable that they opted for a different solution.”

“Which different solution?” I ask. That's what I am worried about. Our scouts reported days ago that all known Cyber ships were retreating, either by conventional means or through wormholes. Days later, there was no trace of them left. All that remains are some immobile abandoned structures in the orbits of some planets. They took everything that was of moderate worth, even ripping out machinery which was bolted down or too clunky to move. Not a piece of refined metal was left behind.

The strangest thing was that the ships which were observed leaving on a course which follows the z-axis of the galactic disc. That way, they would soon leave our galaxy. Though, it is possible that they are just trying to hide their tracks.

“Who knows,” Jill joins the conversation. She and her sister are off to the side at the left wall, fighting for the right of who gets to hug their new boyfriend. I can't help but feel sorry for the boy. In their arms, he is like an oversized ragdoll.

The Blue continues, “the total retreat of all Cyber assets can only mean two things, that they are fighting a foe who they deem much more dangerous than us, or that they decided to pursue some unknowable long-term plan. In either case, we might find out in a few decades, or maybe we'll never find out.”

I mull over that thought, finding the first possibility rather unlikely. Even with their wormholes, transporting resources on such a scale is hardly profitable. Our nano-tech allows us to build ships and infrastructure almost as quickly as it would take to transport them over lightyears. We learned through our observations that the wormholes are very helpful for troop movements. But if there is some great danger out there waiting for us, then why would the Cyber send away not only their ships, but also all of their industry? It's a huge effort to rebuilt nano-factories in a different location.

Unless they fear that they wouldn't be able to hold out against us in any case, so they rather grabbed all their assets than to leave something behind we could use. There is also the fact that they surely don't want us to find anything regarding the creation of wormholes. We could use the knowledge to shut down their biggest advantage.

“What about the G.S.?” Silith asks from next to me. We are sharing the throne-couch, while Fiona and Lisandra are mingling with their friends and children in the crowd. I never realized that we had enough people in our inner circle to fill the entire throne room.

“No sign that anything survived the blast,” Martin informs us. “The entire area is still a hot-zone. The star is emitting enough radiation to kill even us, provided we stay for too long. Currently, we don't have ships that can withstand the radiation for an extended amount of time.”

“Mh.” I nod, satisfied. Nobody actually saw what happened after we left our experiment to run its course. All who did are now ash. The only thing we could do was to verify the results of creating a miniature singularity in the solar atmosphere of a star.

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The planets were gone and the star was in turmoil, sending out solar flares like a volcano spitting lava. The wormholes of the Cyber were also gone, either because we were right in our assumption that sufficiently strong gravitational waves would close them, or because whatever was creating the wormholes and holding them stable was on the other side and got fried when the radiation leaked through. Or the answer could be as simple that the Cyber were smart enough to have a fail-safe shutdown mechanism installed. Another question to which we might never get a definitive answer for.

Getting any information from that hellish place is a really dangerous endeavour. It might take years before the star settles down again.

“I guess... with our foes gone, there is nothing more to do than to begin the long journey of building up our forces. This time for real,” I lament, speaking more to myself than to anyone in the room.

Nonetheless, Minerva and Sam take it as their opportunity to speak. “To that account, we have a proposal to make. Minerva and I noticed that you are already planning large emigration waves for our people to ensure that nothing can wipe out all of us at once. If it's okay with you, then we would like to take a colony and explore the galaxy. We will move counterclockwise through the outer regions until we meet again on the other side of the galaxy.”

Silith perks up upon hearing the suggestion. “But that would take you two away from us. Even if everything happens according to plan, it would take centuries until we meet again. And it's very likely that there will be delays, like foreign races barring your path.”

Samuel nods. “You are right. But Min and I are restless personalities. We are always on the move, pursuing some greater goal. We just aren't made for a life in a colony like Haven. Out on the front-lines, it feels like we can accomplish something. It was the same with becoming system admins and guiding you, then joining you in the real world. We need to do things that feel important.”

Minerva raises a hand in an attempt to pacify her mother and me. It doesn't happen often, but my own resentment of the suggestion must have shown on my face. Sam and Min were my first children, and they will always stay little toddlers in my mind. It doesn't matter that they were adults from the very beginning.

“Don't look like that. We will meet each other regularly. Just give us a call and we can meet in the V.C. There will be no difference to the real world.”

“But it will be different,” Silith insists. She gets up and takes a few steps down to where our first-born are waiting. Then she hugs the both of them. “Just leave your Hardware Backups with us.” She draws in a sharp breath, making it seem like she is about to shed some tears. “And I hope that you run into something dangerous out there and die!”

Sam pats her back in an awkward manner. “You know, before the advent of uploaded minds, that would have been something really horrible for a mother to say to her children.”

“But it's how we feel about your decision.” I leave my throne to join them. “I really don't want you two to go, but you are adults and can make your own decisions. Make us proud.” And die soon!

Minerva rubs Samuel's back reassuringly. “His lying face is always so fascinating to watch, right?”

“Yes.” He looks at her. “But it's still freaking me out. Dad, you should really try harder to keep your face under control when you are agitated.”

“Like that?” I access my nano-tech and order it to switch off my facial muscles.

“That's no better,” Silith mumbles, but it seems like the scene gave her time to regain the control over her emotions.

“Almost, Dad. Next time, keep the muscles activated which hold your jaw and tongue in place. You are drooling,” Minerva chides.

I reactivate the affected musculature and wipe my face with my sleeve. “It was just an attempt to lighten the mood. It's not every day that your kids tell you that they will go on a trip to the other side of the galaxy. Nonetheless, I have the feeling that we will see each other again soon enough.”

Samuel nods. “If the Cyber didn't lie, then dangerous things are waiting in the dark. They returned to reality six decades ahead of us. There are also the other factions, who should have a significant head-start. I wonder why they haven't already taken over large parts of the galaxy. The Blue also gave us a similar warning, though I really would want to know what a Blue constitutes as dangerous.”

“Let's find out.” I spread out my hands, including the whole family. “Let's all of us build our empire and find out.”

***

***Outer Rim***

***Ouluk***

I was running through forested terrain. Regularly, a root or some stupid stone tripped me and I fell, but I always got up in time. They were after me. I could hear their yapping and chirping as they communicated and anticipated to be fed soon.

They were little red things that were smaller than me, demonlings. Nothing more than babies, but they were worse than the adults! There were so many of them. So many that they could eat me within minutes should they get the chance to swarm me. They were like a red tide, covering every inch of the ground!

The adults could just smack me once and it would be over. But these little, ever hungry monsters wouldn't kill me with a clean strike. They would knick and nibble, scratch and poke. A patch of skin and a drop of blood at a time.

Oh, no... it wouldn't be quick!