The Needle, as Zreeth called it, is a majestic structure. Compared to Themis Anchorage, it’s… more form over function it seems. Beautifully wrought metal and glass are everywhere, even the docks are beautiful and also enclosed within the station, so as to not have any unsightly protrusions on the exterior.
It felt… rich and powerful, but also rather exclusive, as if only those with special permissions could step foot in the place. And I was correct about that as it’d turn out, as the Imperial yacht/flagship was docked here, and also all the ships of the Inquisition, which as Zreeth described, was the Imperial family's right hand so to speak.
Once Intra informed us that docking was complete, Zreeth and I stood, and he seemed to change before my very eyes. He was less casual now, but also a bit nervous it seemed, as though he were worried that his return would not be met with joy or relief.
“Hey… It’s gonna be okay.” I say, resting a hand on his shoulder, a look of thanks in his eyes. It’s hard to smile with a beak after all. “Let’s get going, yeah?” He nodded, and we started off, only to be met a few minutes later by tall drones. Zreeth stared at them worriedly, but I smiled as warmly as I could, but I was just as confused by their presence.
“Don’t worry you two, they’re just here for Ula’s protection, and by extension, your own, your majesty.” Intra said, the tall, exquisite machines bowing deeply to Zreeth.
“Oh… Well um… That’s good… Carry on then.” He said, and the machines nodded, taking up positions to either side of us, adjusting the royal purple capes that were draped over one shoulder.
It was time then to enter the airlock, and once the doors opened we were face to face with Nettal, who seemed to have run with her retinue from her ship to ours. Much like Zreeth had before, she and her group balked at the sight of the drones and started to raise their weapons. The drones, to their credit, didn’t react beyond talking with each other in a strange way.
“W-What is the meaning of this!?” Nettal hissed, their guns pointed firmly at the drones while Zreeth stepped forwards, pulling her weapon down.
“Relax Nettal, they’re just an escort provided by Intra. She wants… to ensure our safety.” He said, and she didn’t seem to fully believe him, but the others started to lower their weapons slowly.
“Hmmpf, fine. But if they do anything out of line I’ll-”
“Reduce them to scrap, yes I know Nettal. Can we get on with it please? I’d really like to get home and sleep in my own bed.” He certainly sounded tired, or perhaps he was just frazzled. Probably both. Nettal clucked, but nodded and turned her gaze onto me instead, squinting.
“You are not Intra, which means you are Ula. Where is your co-conspirator?” Though she didn’t mean it to be rude, it still sounded that way. I didn’t say anything, but I did sweep my hand to my left, and Intra appeared beside me. She has a good sense for dramatic timing it seems.
“I’m right here Inquisitor. Perhaps we should take further conversation out of the airlock? It hardly seems the appropriate place for such things.” She said, and Nettal squinted again, about to say something when she caught the annoyed glare from Zreeth out of the corner of her eye.
Without a word, she nodded and turned away, starting off into the station with her group in tow. Intra vanished, and we followed her in turn. Compared to my soft footsteps, the gentle clicking of talons on metal floors, the drones were… loud. Unreasonably so it felt, but perhaps that was the point. Being loud drew attention, and when one's attention fell on the large, imposing machines, most would hopefully decide that it was far more conducive to continued existence to not start trouble with them or their charges.
Zreeth was uncharacteristically silent as we walked, and I got the feeling it was a struggle to be so for him. He did like to talk, but it hardly seemed like he did so just to hear himself talk. He truly enjoyed talking with people, it would hopefully make him a fine Emperor someday. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, and glanced at a group of well dressed engineers and shipwrights pressing themselves against the glass and staring at the strange new ship in their midst. Most of them seemed to be focusing on the small patches of exposed organic material they could see, and were excitedly chattering away about all of it.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I envied them, their lives were simple, they fixed starships and other items, nothing more. I wished I could have that right now.
My thoughts were interrupted by Zreeth making a strange bird noise and rushing forwards, my gaze following him and then alighting on a pair of taller and more heavily adorned individuals who managed to look official, regal, but also deeply relieved to have their son back and safe at last.
Respectfully, the rest of us stopped a good distance away while the family had their moment, and I took some time to look at my guards more closely. They didn’t bear any obvious weapons, though perhaps those were hidden under the capes. Their armor was sleek and seamless, covered in delicate designs. But even decorated to such a degree I felt that it must have been especially durable, and they themselves seemed built for flexibility. They’d make fine guards.
That’s when I heard a clearing throat and looked up from my mechanical studies, only to have to crane my head back a bit more to look the Emperor in the eye.
“I take it I have you to thank for my son’s safe return?” He said, and I nodded, following that up with a bow, as was appropriate of course. I straightened, and noted he was staring at my escort warily, and they were staring right back, but without emotion on their faces, not that they even had any, only eyes. “I thank you then, and welcome you to Pelevon.”
Again I bowed, and offered up a light smile once done. “Thank you, your majesty. It was the least we could do after we discovered the truth about what we were transporting.” I say, and he nodded. Briefly his face was illuminated by flashes of light, and his attention turned away, towards the ship.
“I see my son has already given you a reward, I would give you another, it seems only right.” He paused, looking the ship over a bit more slowly while mechanical arms and organic dock workers started removing the armor from the Warden. “Fascinating ship… You’ll have to tell me more about it later, over a celebratory dinner.” His gaze settled on me again, and I smiled softly.
“I’d be happy to, but I still admittedly know very little about it. My friend and companion could be of more use in that area of conversation.” I say, and he hums while looking around.
“And this companion, where are they? All I see is you and these… machines.” Intra quietly directs me to raise my hand, palm upwards and I do so. I didn’t even know it was possible but she projected herself from a hidden emitter in my hand wrappings. In this form she was far, far smaller, and seemed to be standing on my hand, or at least that's how it appeared.
“Hello, your majesty. My name is Intra.” She said, and she bowed deeply.
⫷⟪∞⟫⫸
Based on what I knew of Zreeth’s people, the Emperor was rightly startled by my sudden and clearly digital appearance over Ula’s hand. But I had to give him credit, he didn’t react quite like his son had. For one thing, he remained fairly composed, even though he was now looking down at me, a digital being.
“I uh… I see. It’s… good to meet you too, Intra. I take it you control that ship?” He asked, and I bowed my head.
“I do, though it is Ula who is captain, I merely follow her orders and run the day to day functions of the ship.” And more, but he didn’t need to know that. Not yet at least, let him get a bit more used to me.
“I see… Then… Welcome to you as well. I look forward to hearing about the ship… What is it called anyway?”
“Ah, it’s called the Warden of Eternity. The species that built it and me has a flair for the dramatic. All of their ship names follow the same pattern, or have their own, utterly unique names.”
The Emperor nodded, glanced at his wife and then back to me and Ula. “Well, I would be happy to hear more about it, later though. I trust my son has already offered you both an invitation to stay in the palace for your stay?”
“He has indeed, your highness. It was most generous of him and greatly appreciated.” Ula said, leaving me to bow and flicker out of sight. I connected to the station, then transmitted part of myself to the palace down on the surface, but kept my awareness of the world focused through Ula’s implants. I wanted to see things the way she did, while other parts of me explored the digital systems around me, what I was allowed to explore that is.
Granted, I could have wormed my way into any of their restricted systems with ease, it’s very hard to stop a digital sentience that you’ve never encountered before, but that wouldn’t look very good for either me or Ula, so I restrained my curiosity to places that I was allowed to go.
Even that was very interesting to me, and I found plenty to satisfy my hunger for new knowledge while Ula headed down to the planet. That being said, I could feel something watching me, and I did my best to ignore it for now. But the feeling it gave me was… concerning.
Then again, lots of things were concerning these days, perhaps I was just being unreasonably paranoid. Besides the Inquisitor, these people had shown no sign of malice towards me or Ula, so it was perhaps appropriate to think the best of them till proven otherwise.
A thought struck me, and I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Just what am I going to wear to dinner?
⫷⟪∞⟫⫸
The great bio fleets were assembled, weapons and provisions stocked. It was time, and in unison the Yil’kaa began to pour over the border into uncharted space. It was an hour of glory for those who were right and just. The true inheritors of a diseased galaxy, nay, a diseased universe. Like a great, cleansing flood, they would wipe the taint of machines from the face of existence, and they would be richly rewarded for their millennia of faithful service.
The Cleanse had begun.