No one knows how the system began. Theorem are as vast as the stars. I hope to be alive when the creators of the system are found...but I doubt I will be. - Vesser De'vagen Imperial Scholar

I ducked as a panel down the hall exploded in smoke and sparks. Reaching behind I grabbed my apprentice by the hand and dragged her through the smoke.

"Hurry we have to get to the core before the Vdan and Wogoran get here." I said.

"Yes, master." She said in a terrified voice.

At the end of the hall was a blast door. Formed of our most advanced crystocrete it was over ten feet thick and could withstand even the phase cannons of a Wogoran Juggernaut. I slapped my hand against the bio reader in panic as I heard the doors behind us screech open. As I dragged my apprentice through the door I glanced behind us.

Coming down the hall were no less than seven Vdan Centurions. Four-legged centauroid monsters with the latest in bio-tactical armor and flank mounted screamers.

Each carried a Mk VII plasma cannon. As I slapped the internal lock the lead Vdan shouldered his launcher and fired.

I ducked as the doors closed but caught a partial blast on my left upper arm as the plasma hit the door frame and splashed inside the room.

Inside the room was a small pedestal. Sitting on it was a small control unit. No bigger than my hand, it contained the hopes and dreams of my people.

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Walking quickly towards the console I heard a click and a whine as something charged behind me.

I paused, looking behind me. My apprentice stood holding a tiny hand weapon pointed at me.

"You betray your people Kealia? You betray me?" I asked calmly.

"I'm sorry Gaered, they have my sister. I must stop you or they will kill her!" She said as tears streamed down her face.

I closed my eyes in sadness. I wanted to help, but if I didn't do what I came for none of our people would survive. So I opened my eyes and turned back to the console before me.

"I'm sorry Kealia, but the survival of our species is at stake. I cannot let you stop me." I said as I pressed a small stud on my lower right arm bracer.

A shield sprang to life between us as she fired. The crystal alloy dart ricocheted off the shield and hit the far wall shattering.

Placing my hand on the console I waited as it scanned my biometrics molecule by molecule. After a few seconds, a voice spoke.

"Welcome Grand Sciences Administrator, how can I help you today?" The voice said.

"What is the status of Project Guardian?" I asked.

"Project Guardian is at 100% Administrator. It can be initialized at your convenience." The voice said.

I stopped as I heard giggling behind me. There was a kind of madness in it. Turning I saw Kealia rocking back and forth on the floor holding her knees.

"You don't understand. They have their own Guardian, I gave them everything. It's set to activate as soon as you turn ours on. Nothing we did matters." She said.

"Yes dear, I know. I'm sorry, we knew you were a spy. We fed them corrupted data through you. While their A.I. will work it won't be as good as ours. We will win." I said as I turned back to the console.

"Activate Project Guardian," I said with pride in my voice.

"Not against both of them we won't." She said with sadness.

I turned to her quickly as horror filled me. Then the doors blew in. One crushed Kialia instantly. The other slammed through the shield, folded me at the waist and slammed me into the console behind me. The room began to flood with troops. I knew I was dying as I coughed up a liter of nano-enhanced blood. With my last breath, I said.

"Guardian. Initiate System Protocols."

A light so bright it rivaled the creation of the multiverse erupted. As my life faded I saw a blue screen appear and the words.

System Initializing...