6200 - Book 1 - Beginnings - Chapter 8

Chapter 8 - 

After my first trip to the Malkenet I visited the Watchdog Alliance and made my way to the planet of Crystana home of the race known as the Crystan.

The Crystans are a very interesting race in that instead of being made of flesh and blood they are actually made of a complicated crystalline mineral matrix. While some would think that a creature made of crystal would unable to move properly the actual composition of the Crystan structure is extremely fluid and flexible and they still have internal organs very similar to our own save as stated made of various types of crystalline minerals.

Dr. Stanislaw Medloe - Professor of Galactic & Xeno-History Cambridge College

A History of the Milky Way Galaxy and its Inhabitants - Vol. XIX 5928

Tantalus Hive Mind - ACS-001 - ACW-001

Imperial City - Theban Cluster Consulate

Ambassador Tellman’s Office

March 22nd, 6200 C.E. - 08:00 CST

“This is absolutely horrifying,” Tellman said in disgust and anguish as he watched the footage of the children being assimilated.

“Damn right it is,” Jon said slamming his fist down on the wooden coffee table with an audible crack. “You should let us go in with a freaking Marine Regiment and level the place and rescue those people,” he growled.

“Doing so wouldn’t accomplish anything,” Caroline Osborne told him as tears traced down her cheeks after watching the footage.

“Why the hell not?” Jon shouted.

“What Lt. Commander Osborne is trying to explain is that those people willingly allowed themselves to be assimilated into the Hive Mind,” Tellman explained quietly.

The other five members of the infiltration team sat around the table, Barr looked disgusted, Jason flopped in his chair drained of energy, Joe was reading a magazine, Aehgr rubbed at the wood grain of the table disconsolately with a rag, and Jason was chain smoking his way to cancer.

“I doubt very much that those children chose to be assimilated by the Hive Mind,” Barr said tiredly.

“No they didn’t, but their parents as legal guardians signed the proper documentation for it to happen,” Tellman explained.

“So what do we do now?” Jason asked.

“You and your crew leave the Tantalus Hive Mind,” Osborne told them.

“Just like that, we up and take off and do nothing else,” Jon growled snapping his fingers.

“Precisely,” the DOSL Lt. Commander told them.

Jason and Barr were starting to get suspicious about what branch of Fleet the Lt. Commander actually worked for.

“Fine we’ll do just that,” Barr said standing up. “Of course we require the payment agreed upon,” he told the ambassador.

“Certainly, here is the receipt in the amount of ten million galactic standard credits,” the Ambassador handed him a Moly-chip.

“And the various permits and licenses you were promised,” Osborne said pulling a thick Moly-chip case from a drawer in the table.

“Thank you, it was nice doing business with you,” Barr said politely and motioned for the others to follow.

“We’re just going to leave?” Jon started to protest.

“This discussion has been closed,” Barr told him coldly.

The team returned to the ship where they were greeted by the girls and served a large dinner.

While the others ate heartily Barr just picked at his food and then finally set his utensils down.

“What’s the matter?” Giselle asked quietly as she laid a warm hand on top of one of his.

Barr sighed. “Let’s go to the conference room and I’ll tell you,” he said quietly and the two of them rose from the table and exited; none of their table mates seemed to notice.

“What’s bothering you?” Giselle asked as they entered the lounge/conference room just aft of the bridge.

“It’s the children,” Barr told her.

“What children?” she asked puzzled.

Barr went on to explain what had happened on the planet’s surface and then told her about his own estrangement from his daughter and what had caused it.

“You poor man, if there is anything I can ever do to help let me know,” Giselle said laying her hands on his as they sat at the conference table. “Anything at all,” she told him slightly emphasizing the word anything.

“Thank you Giselle, but sometimes just talking is enough in itself,” he told her and got up from the conference table and left the room. Heading into the bowels of the ship he unlocked the door to the disused machine shop and spent over an hour talking to the still figure of his lost love.

Talking to a corpse however well preserved didn’t help at all and he was even more depressed as he staggered back to the mess hall to find it empty and dark. Walking over to the replaced liquor cabinet he grabbed several bottles of alcohol and returned to his room.

Hyperspace between ACS-001 and Caruthers World

Privately Registered Vessel - Forlorn Hope

March 23rd, 6200 C.E. - 03:39 CST

Giselle woke from a deep sleep in her cabin to the incessant beeping of the admittance console.

Struggling up from the arms of Morpheus she rubbed a hand across her mouth and stumbled to the door and tapped the comm key. “Yeah,” she mumbled yawning.

“It’s Barr,” answered a slurred voice.

“Barr?” Glancing at the clock on the bedside table she turned back to the comm. “Barr, it’s three forty two in the morning,” Giselle said slightly more awake and pushing her long black hair out of her face.

“Sorry,” he slurred and she heard a sob.

“Hold on a second,” she said and quickly grabbed a thin dressing gown and then opened the door.

When the door opened Barr staggered into the room and nearly fell onto the carpeted floor of the cabin.

“Are you alright?” Giselle asked concerned as she kept him from hitting the floor.

“Oh shure,” he slurred and then stumbled some more.

Giselle’s slight figure was barely able to keep Barr’s larger bulk from slumping to the ground as she helped him to the bed to sit down.

“Have you been drinking?” Giselle asked smelling the stench of whiskey and vodka on his breath.

“Oh only about two or three bottles of whiskey and vodka,” Barr slurred and then fell back on the bed.

“Here, come on,” Giselle said helping him further up on the bed and yanked his shoes off and pulled the covers over him and then leaned back against the headboard herself for a second and then drug the small room’s chair over by the bed and another blanket from the drawers underneath the bed.

Flicking the light off she pulled the blanket over herself and sat down in the chair. Just before she was about to drop off to sleep when she heard quiet sobbing from the bed.

Sitting still for a few seconds she listened as the sobbing continued from the bed. Standing up Giselle sat down on the edge of the bed and then reached over to roll Barr on his back. The computer console lights reflected off of tear tracts as she looked at his face, which was scrunched up in misery.

“Ai, poor man,” Giselle said softly and pulled her blanket along with her and sat on the bed next to him for a few seconds before realizing that he was saying something.

“Elizabeth, Miranda, I’m sorry, so sorry,” he whispered his voice filled with anguish.

Giselle tossed the blanket back onto the chair and pulled the sheets up over herself and wrapped her arms around him. Snuggling against his back she leaned her head on his shoulder just holding him as he cried and repeated the names over and over again in his sleep.

After a few hours Barr final quieted down and Giselle soon followed still cradling him.

Neo-Prussian Empire - Hamburg System

New Hamburg - Imperial Palace - Throne Room

March 25th, 6200 C.E. - 16:00 CST

“Seems like I’m a very popular person of late,” Nathan IV said with a small smile to his most recent guests.

The small joke obviously went right over the heads of his current guest.

“Well then what can I do for you today then,” Nathan asked with a sour expression.

“I am TIU-13-48-19-95 representative of the Tantalus Hive Mind and the Tantalan Emperor,” the golden Nanno-sheathed Imperial Unit said.

“Really, and here I thought you were here for the bratwurst festival,” Nathan IV muttered sarcastically. “So what can the Neo-Prussian Empire do for the Tantalus Hive Mind?” Nathan asked schooling his expression.

“The Hive Mind comes to you with a partnership,” the Tantalan said.

“And that would be…,” Nathan trailed off.

“We would like to build a mass accelerator on your moon,” the unit said.

“Uh, and I would do this because?” Nathan asked.

“Monetary recompense and access to advanced mass accelerator technology,” the Unit explained.

“How much monetary recompense?” Nathan asked.

“Several trillion tons of palladium, gold, silver, monochrystallanium, and several other precious metals,” the unit told him.

“Maybe something can be arranged,” Nathan said rubbing at his chin.

Sssisssvarian Empire - Imperial Home World Sssasssvar

Imperial City Hosssvass - Imperial Palace

March 28th, 6200 C.E. - 14:29 CST

“Sssire, we have just gotten the latest report from Kasssandra,” the Imperial Councilor informed the Emperor.

“Thank you Councilor Sssasssvisss,” Emperor Sssamthallisss said thanking the man.

The Emperor looked over the E-PADD as he perused Kasssandra’s latest report from the Castellan League. Unfortunately the report was already two weeks old but it told him much and what he read about the Gnosis attack on the home world of the Castellan League and the surrounding system.

“Thisss report tellsss me nothing about when Hood will give usss the promisssed technology and troops we require to take part in the eventual take over of human dominated space,” the Emperor said to the Councilor.

“Sssorry my lord, but that is all that Kasssandra sent at this time,” the Councilor said.

“We can ssstill not get into direct contact with her?” The Emperor asked.

“No Sssire, any requessstsss that we wisssh to sssend to Kasssandra must be passsed through Hood and hisss flagssship firssst,” the Councilor told him.

The Emperor’s sigh came out more of a hissing sound as his forked tongue flickered in and out of his mouth in frustration. “Thank you for the report Counsssilor,” the Emperor said dismissing the servant.

Theban Cluster - Caruthers Sector - Caruthers System - Caruthers World

Caruthers City Spaceport - Office of Fleet Intelligence

Office of Commander Wyndsor Conroy

March 31st, 6200 C.E. - 14:47 CST

“Gee nice to see someone made out on this,” Jason said in disgust flicking his finger against the insignia on the epaulet of the OFI officer’s dress uniform.

“As the officer in charge of coordinating a successful operation I was bound to be rewarded,” Wyndsor said knocking the hand away.

“Whatever, this guys a useless piece of garbage,” Jon Jonson said in annoyance.

“Yes but a piece of garbage that could possibly get you some well paying jobs,” Wyndsor said with a grin. “By the way where is Captain Robards?” The Fleet Commander asked.

“He hasn’t been feeling well since we left Hive Space,” Jason said.

Jon nudged Joe in the ribs. “Yeah he’s been staying in Giselle’s cabin the whole time,” Jon said with a chuckle.

“Yeah probably getting his pipes cleaned the entire time,” Joe grunted.

“That’s enough,” Jason said quietly. What the others didn’t know was that Giselle had gotten a hold of Jason and told him about Barr’s behavior after entering hyperspace and the fact that he had almost been constantly asleep since he’d entered her cabin.

“What exactly kind of jobs are we talking about?” Jon asked. “Not more military contracts are they,” he said suspiciously.

“No nothing like that,” Wyndsor said. “The first job I can get a line on is an ore hauling one,” he told them.

“And just what kind of ore is it and where are we hauling it to?” Jason asked suspiciously.

“Palladium and Monochrystallanium,” Wyndsor told him. “With the size of your ship I believe it will take you about ten trips to complete the contract,” he finished explaining.

“Yeah but you didn’t answer his question about where the stuff is being hauled to,” Jon said gruffly.

“Oh, sorry I forgot all about that,” Wyndsor with a smile that said you hadn’t. “You’d be hauling it to the Tantalus Hive Mind,” he told them finally.

The answer was met by shouts of annoyance, anger, and consternation.

“So you just want us to trundle back and forth ten times to the Hive Mind giving them raw materials to build god knows what?” Joe asked. “How much money are we talking about?” he asked.

“You’ll get twenty-five percent of the proceeds from the sale of the ore,” Wyndsor told them.

“I can live with that,” Joe said.

“Well I’m not sure I can,” Jason said. “And I’m not sure what Barr is going to say either,” he admitted.

“Well there is some time before you’ll actually have to do the hauling,” Wyndsor told them that small smile on his face. “Why not go back to your ship and discuss it and let me know what your answer is in a few days,” he told them.

The five of them got up and left the room, Jon gave Wyndsor a final glare and then slammed the door shut.

UNSF - Catamount Sector - Caulfield System - Moon Caulfield IVC

Fulfillment Achievement Life center for Recreational Activity

Guest Suite

September 22nd, 6200 C.E. - 11:00 CST

Bonnie Clyde contemplated the rather luxuriant suite around her as she got ready for her exercise session with her personal holographic trainer. The prices of the Fulfillment Achievement Life Center for Recreational Activity were amazingly low for such a wonderful spa. But as their pamphlet had stated they were only interested in giving the best experience they could for those of the middle to lower income bracket and those who spent increasingly large amounts of time working out of their home and had little time or funds to deal with gym memberships.

The rather decent price included a suite for each guest that included their own personal gym and personal holographic training coach that would help them get fit and relax all at the same time.

Bonnie was extremely happy that she had been able to book a room at the spa and her vacation had thankfully coincided with an available slot. At the time the spa’s selection process had seemed rather on the odd side and the other guests she had spoken to hadn’t understood it either. But as a work at home type she was glad to not have to interact with large crowds of annoying people unless she wanted to and still be able to enjoy herself.

Unknown to Bonnie and the other clients like her that visited the FALCRA facility it had a more sinister side to it. The main reason she’d been able to find an open vacancy on such short notice was due more to the fact that she perfectly fit the criteria that the true owners of the spa had set forth. She had no living relatives, no spouse, no boyfriend, and no really close friends and worked from her home.

After warming up Bonnie activated her personal trainer and he walked her through several exercises that would maximize muscle toning and she spent quite a bit of the time stretched over and sprawled on her back on the large black Nanno-rubber ball that was part of the exercise equipment in her suite’s gym. The exercises were just starting to give her muscles a real work out.

Bonnie was only half paying attention while doing the exercises the soothing music had almost put her into a Zen like trance her eyes closed as she soaked in the relaxing music and she didn’t pay much attention as she felt her self slip backwards.

Must have slipped off the ball, need to pay more attention or I’ll end up hurting myself, she thought to herself.

Opening her eyes to re-orient herself all she saw around her was blackness limmed by a faint glow. Starting to panic she thrashed for a moment but soon gave up as the soothing music became more pronounced and lulled her even more fully into her trance and soon she was curled in a fetal position her arms wrapped around her legs. She didn’t even care that she was now trapped inside the exercise ball that she had been using or the fact that her entire body had become encased in a shiny black carapace as she was floating in the center of a sea of liquid black Nanno-rubber and nannites. Her face had become smooth and featureless as she slumbered waiting.

Finally after what seemed an eternity she could finally see light again as her body was pushed towards the upper surface of the ball and her smooth featureless face was bathed by light.

She felt overjoyed as she saw a figure enter the room and then concern started to fill her mind at the sight of the Falcra that entered the room. Its body also encased in the shiny black carapace the only difference being several thin umbilical ran from the back of its head to its neck, shoulders, and back.

“Don’t worry my dear soon you’ll become a willing spreader of the Falcra and exist as a cherished member of our race,” the figure said through its smooth featureless face.

Reaching to a pouch on a standard military web belt around its slender waist the figure pulled a Nanno-injector out and pressed it to Bonnie’s Nanno-rubber sheathed neck.

Bonnie tried to struggle away from the injector but the liquid Nanno-rubber that filled the ball turned to molasses slowing her struggles and keeping her in place.

The nannites in the injector flowed through her veins and caused a memory lapse that would cause her conscious self to not remember any of this happening, but below that a second personality was created to serve the Falcra and this was the whole purpose of creating the Fulfillment Achievement Life Center for Recreational Activity.

Savrin watched as the featureless head shrank back into the Nanno-rubber ball after the final nannites had processed the woman’s body.

“This is Savrin, I have another Seeder ready for storage,” he said into a comm unit that he pulled off of his belt. Soon after his communication two maintenance bots came to get the ball and haul it off to the hidden storage and processing center under the facility and be stored with the thousands of already created Falcra Seeders. This was another reason that the targets of the facility were those with no relatives or close friends and worked from home. No one would be the wiser to their disappearance for a few months and then their reappearance, each person’s codes would be used to apply for a leave of absence from work for the six months required for the full Nanno-seed gestation in the newly created Seeders.

Neo-Prussian Empire - New Imperial Sector - Hamburg System

New Hamburg - Imperial City - Imperial Palace

September 29th, 6200 C.E. - 15:33 CST

Nathan Olander IV the Emperor of the Neo-Prussian Empire was quite young and unlike his grandfather quite sane as well as very pragmatic and somewhat greedy. But the last could probably be attributed to his now missing father Nathan J. Olander III.

He sat in his throne room waiting for his interviewees and contemplated what had caused his grandfather’s fall; oh yes it had been his own father and his friends that had finally physically killed his grandfather. But that had not caused his downfall and the loss of almost a third of the Neo-Prussian Empire. No it had been insanity and over reaching greed that had caused that.

At the moment the young Emperor sat in the smaller more cozy of his two throne rooms in the main building of the Imperial Palace and waited for his dozen female guests to arrive for their final interview.

The guests were a dozen of the most skilled and highly trained persons in their own fields and were gleaned from the cream of the crop from around the galaxy.

He had offered them well paying jobs, very well paying in that they would be making approximately ten times more than what they would have made on anyone else’s payroll.

As genetic slaves ushered the women into his presence Nathan sat up straighter and contemplated them for a few seconds.

The dozen women stood silently as Nathan contemplated them and after five minutes they started to fidget uncomfortably.

“Well ladies there is one final thing that you must do before we finish the employment process,” the Emperor said smiling warmly at the women standing at the base of the dais that his throne sat on.

The women looked at him questioningly and one finally raised her hand as if she were still in school.

“You had a question Miss Maldarone?” the Emperor asked warmly.

“What exactly is this last thing that needs to be taken care of your highness?” The young woman asked.

“One final medical exam,” the Emperor furnished the answer easily enough.

“But we’ve already been through over a dozen medical exams,” the woman said.

“Oh don’t worry it’s nothing invasive at all,” Nathan assured them. “We just need to make sure you aren’t infested with any nasty bugs or Nanno-machines,” the Emperor explained.

“If you’ll just follow me into the emergency medical suite off the throne room we’ll get it all taken care of,” Nathan said walking down the dais and through a door in one wall.

In the room Nathan gestured at a man in a white duty suit and doctor’s smock. “This is Dr. Geldmeyer he’ll take care of the examinations,” he explained.

“Thank you your highness,” the Doctor said bowing to the Emperor. “Now frauleins if you will step into the cylinders over there and we’ll run a full Nanno-tech bio-scan and de-bugging program to get rid of any nasty Nannos you might inadvertently be carrying on yourselves,” the Doctor explained.

The women hesitantly moved towards the armored glass cylinders and entered through the separated doors.

“Now I need you to strip, unfortunately you’re clothing will be destroyed but we’ll replace it with new outfits,” the Nanno specialist told them. “Oh, also frauleins I would suggest wearing the respirators in there; some of the substances that will be shunted through the cylinders during the de-bugging process are on the rather toxic side if inhaled,” Geldmeyer told them.

The women hesitated inside the cylinders for a minute and then stripped off their clothes and handed them to the waiting genetic slaves who took the belongings over to a chute in one wall. The women didn’t mind for the money they were being paid they’d give up their entire wardrobes; and hey what was a few toxic fumes between friends.

Reaching up to a peg the women donned the glossy black respirator masks as the doors closed behind them; inside the cylinders they stood warily.

Standing off to one side out of the view of the women as they fidgeted inside the cylinders the Emperor smiled and pulled a small remote out of his pocket. Pressing one of the numerous buttons on the remote he watched as the women in the cylinders stiffened and then started to claw at the respirator masks as they tightened down over their heads and then melded with their skin. Unseen to both the Doctor and the Emperor the black nannites flooded the interior of the respirator masks and invaded their mouths and noises filling the nasal cavities, lungs, and digestive tract. The nannites then started invading every organ and even the blood stream as the blue blood was quickly replaced by rivers of black nannites that pumped through their systems via their newly enhanced black hearts.

For the rest of their unnatural lives they would no longer need to breathe, eat, or sleep. The nannites provided the oxygen and nutrients they needed for their systems and with the occasional downtime to replenish their nannites they were practically inexhaustable. The second stage was the enhancement of the nervous system’s twitch factor and increasing the density of their muscles. After the body enhancements were complete the nannites flowed through their brains altering the chemical composition and enhancing key glands and motor functions, their personalities were over written with loyalty programs as well as skills that would allow them to do their jobs excellently as guards and assassins.

Among the mental programs were skills such as protection and interdiction skills, assassination techniques, and piloting and numerous weapon abilities.

After the body and brain modifications were complete glossy black nannites flowed from the mask to cover their bodies from head to toe which clearly defined their muscle tone. The nannites also created chunky three inch heels and treaded combat soles.

When the doors of the cylinders finally slid open twelve identical; down to height and weight; glossy female figures stepped from them and stood at attention.

“Are they ready?” Nathan asked Geldmeyer.

“Yes Sire, they are,” Geldmeyer answered quickly running a scanner over the twelve figures to verify his prognosis.

“Good,” Nathan said and turned to the twelve figures. “This way ladies,” the Emperor ordered and led them back into the throne room where he sat down in his throne.

The twelve former women who thought they would be making a fortune in pay for their various skills followed obediantly, although now they all had the same abilities and would be working for free. They would spend the rest of eternity as his personal cadre of guards; he’d paid a high price of one billion genetic slaves, a moon, and several trillion credits for the technology that had created them.

With this first successful use of the Nanno-virus he’d possibly expand the usage of it but at a lower capability than what the women arrayed down the dais steps were.

The dozen assassin/bodyguards were now arrayed down the dais steps in front of his throne. They were crouched down on their heels their glossy black arms and hands held between their legs to balance themselves and twelve sets of glossy black lenses turned towards their new master.

Nathan stood looking at his twelve new servants and considered what to call them. He strode back and forth in front of them for a few moments their black lensed eyes following his every movement. Their chests no longer rose and fell as they crouched deathly still save for the swiveling of their heads.

It took quite a few minutes of contemplation but he finally decided on a name for his new warrior women. “All right my Black Pariahs,” he said smiling and savoring the name as it rolled off his tongue. After looking the women over for a few more seconds he snapped his fingers and a dozen genetic slaves entered the throne room; each was carrying a wooden case. “It’s time we armed you, so come forward,” he ordered.

The twelve figures quickly came out of their crouches with a liquid cat like grace at the order and lined up in front of the dais that the throne sat on.

The genetic slaves lined up across from the Black Pariahs and opened the wooden boxes. Nestled in each one was a Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, and two Varilances.

“Now my dear ladies arm yourselves,” the Emperor ordered.

As one the bodyguards reached forward and first took the Katana and slid it at an angle down their backs this was followed by the Wakizashi shortly below that and the Tanto went horizontally across the small of their backs just above the buttocks, and two pockets extruded from their thighs and they slid the Varilances into the pockets.

As the Emperor moved back towards his throne the twelve women paced him like a pack of caged tigers.

Sitting down in his throne the Pariahs quickly took their pre-programmed spots without an order. Two of them stood behind and to the sides of the throne, two more crouched on their heels with their hands planted flat on the floor to either side of the throne’s arms, two were crouched in front of the Emperor and one step down, and the remaining six took up crouched positions three per side at the bottom of the dais to the throne.

Nathan looked upon what he had wrought and smiled thinly and settled more comfortably into the throne.

Pulling out and keying his comm the Emperor spoke to the guards outside the doors to the throne room. “Send in Secretary Jasco’s,” he ordered.

“Yes your highness,” the Imperial Marine replied over the comm.

After a pause of only a few short minutes the doors to the antechamber opened and admitted the Secretary of Security Inez Jasco.

Jasco was a somewhat petite woman with her fiery red hair cut in fashionable disarray. Her emerald green eyes and pale skin were complemented by the deep green suit jacket and dress shirt that she wore over a lighter green mono-film duty suit and black high heeled boots.

Entering the room Jasco approached the throne quickly and stopped at the foot of the dais completely ignoring the twelve Black Pariahs that stared at her intently. She wrongly thought that they were just some more of the Imperial Family’s genetic slaves dressed up in Nanno-Sheaths and re-breather masks.

Stopping at the foot of the dais Inez prostrated herself in front of the Emperor for the required fives seconds that someone of her rank was required to do and then stood up looking at her liege. “What can this humble servant do for her Emperor today?” She quietly asked.

“For one thing,” the Emperor made a hand gesture and two of the Black Pariahs standing to either side of her grabbed onto her arms and held them behind her back. “What we can really start with is confirming your real name Miss Inez Di’Espinoza,” the Emperor said standing up and moving down the dais to stand in front of her.

Inez didn’t reply as her jaw clenched and her eyes slitted at the mention of her real last name as she stared at one of the most powerful men in the known galaxy.

“That’s alright you don’t actually have to say anything,” the Emperor told her as he paced back and forth in front of her.

“Would you like to know where you messed up Miss Di’Espinoza,” the Emperor asked and then paused seeing that the woman’s expression had not changed one bit. “Well I’ll tell you anyway,” he told her. “You forgot to destroy the hard copy of the real Inez Jasco’s death certificate when she was still born,” Nathan explained and relished the look on her face as her eye’s widened in surprise at the information.

“Yes, I know it’s rather odd for there to have been an actual hard copy of the death certificate in this day and age,” the Emperor paused and shrugged. “But you know these backwoods villages have a tendency to do things the old fashioned way,” the Emperor said flippantly and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. As Inez watched the movement of the hand she didn’t notice the other one as it struck out quick as a snake and clamped her chin in an iron grip.

Nathan got right in the woman’s face. “You probably think I’m going to torture and probe you for whatever info you might have on the Theban Cluster Office of Fleet Intelligence. Well you are quite wrong,” he released her chin with a flick of his thumb that made her eyes water in pain. Turning his back on her he continued to speak. “No I have much more appropriate fate for you,” he told her and as he rocked back and forth on his heels he snapped his fingers, turning back around he watched what was happening.

At the finger snap the two Pariahs that had been standing at the back of the throne came down the dais. The first one went behind Inez to stand between the two holding her arms and grabbed her head firmly on either side. The other Pariah paused at the foot of the dais to pull something out of a plasti-card box that a slave had brought in and then approached the now fully restrained Inez.

Inez saw that the object in the woman’s hand was a re-breather mask like what all the other women were wearing and she tried to shake her head from side to side as the black clad woman placed it over her face.

Inez felt the mask close over her face and tighten down and then whimpered in fear as it melded with the skin of her face. She tried to struggle some more but it was futile as the Black Pariahs holding her arms held her firmly in place. She choked as the black nannites filled her sinuses and mouth, her struggles slowing as the nannites flowed through her body and into her brain reprogramming it. Her red human blood was replaced with the black Nanno-blood and within less than a minute a thirteenth Black Pariah was standing in front of the Emperor awaiting his orders.

“I think I shall call you first batch of Black Pariahs something special,” he mused and then snapped his fingers once again.

“Yes I shall call you the 13 Sisters; you will still be my personal bodyguard. But you’ll also be the first of the Black Pariahs,” the Emperor pulled a small device from his pocket and fiddled with it punching various keys. A round image extruded from the left breast of each Black Pariah. The round device was an exact copy of the Imperial Crest with words running around the exterior of it. Emperor’s Own 1st Black Pariah Regiment was picked out in raised letters. On the left shoulder roman numerals extruded as well; the former Inez Di’Espinoza’s number was I and her crest turned blood red where the other Black Pariahs were gray, her re-breather mask’s lenses also turned red as well.

“Now my dear Inez you from now on will be referred to as Sister 1,” the Emperor told the former OFI spy.

The thirteen women didn’t move or breathe at the proclamation.

Clicking his fingers one last time the Emperor returned to his throne and sat down and the Black Pariahs at the click of the fingers returned to their former positions that they had been in before Inez had entered.

Sitting in his throne Nathan motioned for Sister 1 to come and sit in his lap and he stroked her glossy flank as she sat quietly in his lap not moving.

Leaning his lips against the side of her head where her ear had been replaced by glossy black Nanno-Rubber he whispered into it. “Dear sweet Inez there are worse fates,” he said as he continued to stroke her sides and stomach.

Theban Cluster - Edmundson Sector - Henlerkii System - Henlerkii V

Archeological Dig Site

October 22nd, 6200 C.E. - 22:25 CST

Sandra Sikorsky sat tiredly and somewhat disconsolately on the camp stool at her lonely dig site on the abandoned planet of Henlerkii V. A table groaning under the weight of numerous artifacts that the she had uncovered during her lonely excavation sat inside a tent.

Wincing as a sharp pain shot through her chest she leaned over gasping for breath on the stool after the pain passed. She was extremely tired partly from her exertion during the day cleaning and digging at the site as well as from the radiation pills she had to take to keep her cancer in check. Unfortunately she was one of the few people who suffered from the genetic defect that caused Nanno Rejection Syndrome. NRS was a nasty genetic defect that kept the sufferer from ever being healed with the use of Nanno-Technology. She’d been diagnosed with lung cancer nine months earlier and was still in the early stages.

Normally the Henlerkii site would be crawling with other archeologists, teaching assistants, and students. However Sandra was completely alone at the dig site that she had unearthed earlier that year. One of the main reasons she was by herself was to avoid dealing with the feelings of people she didn’t even know and the sympathy of her own friends. So after a short amount of deliberation she’d loaded up her old battered Corvette and headed for this world in the back water of the galaxy and had set up shop.

Done with her contemplation she got up tiredly and wandered into the open ended tent that she had stored the artifacts in that she had dug up. One particular artifact drew her rapt attention.

The artifact was an all white full face mask that looked like a cross between a re-breather and a china doll mask and appeared to be made out of porcelain. Even after who knew how many hundreds of thousands of years buried in the soil the sheen of the mask appeared to be as stark white as it had been when it was made.

Carefully picking up the mask she flipped it over and looked at the interior and saw an odd rippling of light. Bringing the mask closer to her face for a better look she felt an odd warmth emanating from it.

Admonishing herself for her foolishness she was about to set the mask down when she felt a slight tingling in her hands where they made contact with the smooth material.

Hell why not, she muttered mentally to herself and placed the mask over her face. She knew that doing so would contaminate it with her DNA and possibly destroy any trace of alien DNA.

With the mask now on her face the warmth pulsed through her head and raced down her body soothing her somehow. After a few minutes she felt silly and reached up to pull the mask free only to have her hands freeze midway and her entire body lockup.

Completely unable to move she started to panic and then a soothing female voice spoke in her mind.

“''Do not be afraid Sandra Sikorsky. I have no intentions of harming you and I’ve only frozen your motor functions so that you won’t harm yourself in panic,''” the voice told her quietly.

“Who…, who are you?” Sandra asked out loud.

“I was once known as the woman Dekras; a leader of my people,” the voice told her and a picture of a beautiful woman with red-gold hair and smooth gray-white skin flashed in her mind.

“''My race predates that of the race you call the Progenitors by over five hundred millennia. We were at the height of our technology and evolution as well as enlightenment'',” the voice told her.

“I here a ‘but’ somewhere in there,” Sandra said suspiciously.

“Yes you would be right, we were all these things however until a race known as the Falcra appeared and started attacking our worlds,” another picture of a black carapace covered figure with umbilicals reaching from the back of their heads to their shoulders and back; the figure’s face was completely smooth and featureless.

“What happened?” Sandra asked.

“Both sides went into an orgy of destruction, we built several weapons that could destroy entire solar systems and even one that could turn off every star in an entire galaxy,” Dekras told her.

Sandra gulped at the last. “I’m assuming you didn’t use that last weapon since we are both standing here,” she said.

“That would be correct, however just about every planet that either side had colonized became irradiated wastelands that would be unable to support life for millions of years,” the voice in her head explained.

“So uh, how did you end up in this mask then?” Sandra asked.

“''We thought that we had destroyed the Falcra and we could only save a few of our people from extinction. So in the time we had remaining we perfected our neural engram project and copied one billion of our people’s personalities to Nanno-seeds and imbedded them in this mask. Unfortunately it would seem the Falcra were able to copy this technology as well'',” Dekras explained.

“How were you able to do that?” Sandra asked.

“Extremely advanced Nanno-technology that is ten thousand times smaller than your own people’s Nanno-technology and the ability to map a person’s memories and personality,” Dekras told her.

“''Our race was dying and with the Falcra having irradiated and poisoned most of our worlds a lot of our race fled and were most likely the forbearers of your progenitor race. Others of us decided to basically go into hibernation to a degree and our personalities were transferred to Nanno-seeds'',” the female voice told her.

“How badly had they decimated your race?” Sandra asked.

“We went from a race of quadrillions, to barely a handful of billions in less than fifty years,” Dekras told her sadly.

“I’m sorry,” Sandra said wincing.

“''It is long done and many other races have risen and fallen since. It is the fate of sentient beings through the millennia, we weren’t the first and we certainly won’t be the last'',” Dekras said quietly.

“What exactly do you want with me though?” The archeologist asked.

“First to help you and second to have you help us if you would,” Dekras explained.

“Help me? With what?” Sandra asked.

“You have a disease that your race calls cancer raging through your body that can’t be cured by your modern medical science,” Dekras told her.

“Yeah I suffer from NRS, it’s a syndrome caused by a genetic defect that keeps me from being able to be healed using Nanno-technology,” Sandra explained.

“Yes but a genetic defect that can be fixed,” Dekras told her.

“A genetic defect like this can’t be fixed this late in life,” Sandra said.

“I can fix the defect and eradicate the cancer,” Dekras told her.

“How is that even possible?” Sandra asked.

“It is, our technology is far and along beyond even that of the Progenitors,” Dekras told her with a friendly laugh.

“What exactly do you want for this miracle cure?” Sandra asked cautiously.

“''Nothing, I would do it for free but I do ask your assistance in helping us stop the Falcra. If they spread again they could destroy all life in the galaxy; and from your memories I can tell that there is far and away more life than even during our time period in just this portion of the galaxy'',” Dekras told her.

Sandra thought hard about it for a few minutes and then nodded her ascent and then blushed under the mask as she realized that the Symbiote wouldn’t be able to see the nod. “Yes I’ll help you any way I can,” she said with resolve.

“Thank you,” Dekras said with gratitude. “Now if you will stand completely still I will get started on fixing that genetic defect and eradicating your cancer,” the alien told her.

“Do you mind if we go back to my corvette? I mean this planet does still have a few predators on it,” Sandra said.

“Certainly, I wasn’t thinking ahead enough, plus you would probably be more comfortable lying on your bed or sitting in a chair anyway,” Dekras said apologetically.

After Dekras was finished speaking Sandra reached up and removed the mask and hurried back to her corvette making sure it was buttoned up she activated the automated systems. In her room she lay back on her bed and placed the mask over her face.

“So what exactly do I need to do here?” Sandra asked.

“''Just lay back and relax. I’ll be putting you in a light coma, but this might take a few hours to do'',” Dekras told her.

“Okay,” Sandra said nervously laying back on the bed and tried to relax but before she got past the first step she was already asleep.

Theban Cluster - Edmundson Sector - Henlerkii System - Henlerkii V

Archeological Dig Site

October 23rd, 6200 C.E. - 14:00 CST

Several hours later Sandra awoke feeling invigorated and refreshed. The mask was on her face but the shape seemed different somehow. Standing up she walked over to the mirror in one wall of the cabin and came to a startled stop.

Her face was no longer covered by the ceramic like mask but instead a completely white, glossy re-breather mask that conformed very closely to her face. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes her body was now encased in a stark white glossy Nanno-sheath. However unlike a standard Nanno-sheath this one picked out every detail of her anatomy, just a little too detailed in Sandra’s opinion. The outline of her nails, the muscles of her stomach; which was flatter than it had ever been even in college; as well as her breasts seeming to be just a little more pert and perky. To her dismay other details were also picked out including some stuff that shouldn’t be shown in most public places. Accidentally brushing one of the details that shouldn’t be shown in public she became instantly aroused.

The Nanno-sheath didn’t show any of her skin or hair, and her ears were rounded mounds on the sides of her head.

“Ah I see you are awake,” Dekras said with what sounded like a yawn. “Sorry about that I may only be a Nanno-seed digital copy of the original Dekras but it still took quite a bit of energy to repair the genetic damage and eradicate the cancer,” she explained.

“What…, what is this?” Sandra said motioning to her body.

“''I believe it is what your race refers to as a Nanno-sheath; although I did also do a few other things to strengthen your body and increase your agility as well. The Nanno-sheath can also be used as an indefinite environmental suit unlike the ones you could purchase'',” she explained.

“No I mean this,” Sandra said touching some of the too detailed parts of her anatomy and causing an excitation of arousal from the minor touch.

“Is something wrong?” Dekras asked.

“Oh well, not exactly wrong, it’s just that people of this age don’t run around with their uhm. Well certain parts of their anatomy just hanging out,” Sandra explained to her.

“I apologize, hold on one second,” Dekras told her.

Sandra watched through the glossy white lenses of the respirator as the Nanno-sheath seemed to flow for a second covering up certain parts of her anatomy hiding them from view. She also felt herself rise up a couple of inches as the sheathing over her toes flowed together and a heel was created from the base of her foot.

“Is that better?” Dekras asked after the transformation was complete.

“Yes much, thank you,” Sandra said letting out a breath of air.

“I apologize for that; during my people’s time we wore only the skimpiest of clothes and when having active Nanno-sheaths that is in the style that we wore them,” Dekras explained.

“Well while some planets allow people to wear as little as they want to. I’m a little more, ah, shy about that type of thing,” Sandra explained. “By the way do I have to constantly wear this mask now?” She asked.

“No, not at all, hold on one second,” Dekras told her.

Sandra watched as the mask flowed down to rest across her upper chest and the covering over her head retracted downwards uncovering her hair and ears and stopped as a high collar just below her chin.

“Much better thank you,” Sandra said and gathered up the longs ends of her hair and started making a braid. The hair was shiny and smooth and a lot healthier even than before she started the radiation treatments; maybe even the healthiest it had been in years.

“Okay so what’s the plan?” Sandra asked as she finished the braid.

“We must find other willing hosts for my people, but we also need to find those of a military mind set the most,” Dekras told her.

“Hmm,” Sandra stood in front of the mirror and still wondered at the detail of her skin through the Nanno-sheath. “You can heal any injury?” She asked.

“Most injuries, yes, we however can not regenerate lost limbs or massive brain damage,” Dekras told her.

“I think I know just the person to start with then,” Sandra paused for a moment. “Can you heal extremely bad burns?” She inquired.

“Certainly, but burns generally take a longer time to regenerate than most other injuries,” the Nanno-seed explained.

“Good then we should be on our way,” Sandra said.

“Actually before we head on our way I might suggest some improvements to the interior and exterior of your ship,” Dekras suggested.

“Like what changes and how would we manage it?” Sandra asked curiously.

“Among other things I can increase the structural integrity of the vessel, make it more aerodynamic, redo the interior to make it more user friendly and ergonomic as well as increasing space and installing an FTL drive for you,” Dekras told her.

“How in the world would you be able to do all that,” the Archeologist asked stunned.

“Well it will take some time but with the usage of my nannites I can install quantum flux space generators that will allow you to have larger spaces on the vessel as well as allowing the installation of an FTL drive,” the Symbiote told her.

“Wait you know about QFS Technology,” Sandra asked surprised. “I thought only the Tantalans had access to that tech?” She asked.

“Who do you think invented the technology,” Dekras told her in a slightly proud tone.

“But where are you going to get all the materials to make the changes?” Sandra asked.

“I’ll have to place you in a deep sleep again but with the use of your Nanno-sheath’s nannites I can create miniature extractors that will take the needed materials from the planet’s surface and work from there,” Dekras explained.

“So nap time again I take it,” Sandra said with a sigh.

“Unfortunately, you’re body still really needs the additional rest anyway to finish the bonding process between us anyway,” Dekras told her.

Sandra lay back on the bed and felt the mask slide back into place and the cowl moved up to cover her hair and the rest of her head. The Nanno-sheath swallowed her braid without a hitch and didn’t even leave any evidence that it was there. The sensation felt odd; not creepy odd; but a warm liquid feeling as she realized for the first time that small feelers actually extruded from the lenses of the mask and into her eyes making contact with the optic nerve.

“What are those for?” She asked referring to the tendrils.

“''The Nanno-feelers allow access to the mask’s HUD and various optical systems. All you have to do is concentrate and it will bring them up'',” Dekras told her.

Sandra played with the HUD for a few minutes and rotated through the optics and found that she had up to a 10x zoom, IR, thermal, low-light, and UV visual ranges. “Nifty,” She commented.

“Okay I’ve finished the calculations for the upgrade, it will take approximately thirty-two hours for the completion to upgrade the vessel to the specifications that I mentioned,” Dekras informed. “Are you ready,” she asked.

“Yes,” Sandra replied.

Through the use of the symbiotically bonded Nanno-sheath Dekras put Sandra into a deep slumber. If anyone had been watching they would have seen the Nanno-sheath thin to the point where shades of pink skin could be seen as tendrils of white nannites stretched out from the woman’s body and started working on the interior of the vessel and then the exterior extracting needed material from the ground around the corvette.

Theban Cluster - Edmundson Sector - Henlerkii System - Henlerkii V

Archeological Dig Site

October 24th, 6200 C.E. - 22:00 CST

“Sandra wake-up, the upgrades are complete,” Dekras said softly bringing Sandra out of her slumber.

Sandra woke with the mask and cowl over here face and head still but they soon retracted and she blinked up at a stark glossy white ceiling of her cabin. The room seemed quite a bit bigger than it had before she’d fallen asleep. Looking around the room she now saw a Holo-Vid projector showing the starscape above the vessel. The stars in the projection were points of light with no twinkle or sparkle to them since the planet having been abandoned for so long had no pollution to speak of.

Rolling over on the bed she saw that the entire interior of her cabin was now coated in a stark glossy white and even the molded bed, lockers, and other furniture were also white with the carpeting be a plush white. Looking at the walls she occasionally saw a tracery of light flow underneath them.

“Well if everything is done, we really should be on our way to save the galaxy,” Sandra said with a chuckle as she trailed one hand along a hallway bulkhead as she moved towards the bridge.

“What do you find so amusing?” Dekras asked sounding a tad confused.

“Oh nothing, just the whole save the galaxy thing,” Sandra paused before entering the bridge. “It’s like something out of a cheesy sci-fi movie,” she said with a shrug and entered the bridge.

The bridge had been completely redone and it was definitely larger as well. The three standard station chairs and their consoles had been replaced with four stations and a captain’s chair.

The stations definitely looked more comfortable than they had been; the seats seemed to have what looked like squishy padding on them. The consoles themselves had been redesigned; while they seemed to retain the standard hard holography control panels they had been made more ergonomic and had a long cylinder on each side with an opening at the front of them.

Sandra eyed the five different chairs and sat down in the captain’s chair finding it very comfortable but she also eyed the newly designed consoles at the other four stations. “What’s with the indentations?” She asked.

“Those are direct access controls, but before we get into that and leave I’ll need to close the mask again if you don’t mind,” Dekras told her.

“Certainly,” Sandra said starting to get used to the liquid flow of the material as it closed over her head and face.

“Okay go ahead and press these keys,” Dekras said highlighting the keys on the right center control station.

Sandra pressed the indicated keys and the station chair slid back and swiveled around. The back of the station chair reclined and then part of the chair extending from the front and back as she watched.

“I must warn you as well before we get started on piloting the ship that some new neurological control functions have been added to the ship,” Dekras said hesitantly.

“What are they?” Sandra asked worrying her lip.

“It will be easier to explain once you have laid on your stomach on the station couch,” Dekras told her.

Sandra did so and felt the material conform to the contours of her body.

“''Now my race had additional nerve clusters in certain parts of their anatomy that humans lack and our race took full advantage of these additional clusters. The clusters themselves are extensions of the brains neurological motor functions'',” Dekras explained.

“However in humans those areas of the body are exponentially more sensitive and having added the nerve clusters to those areas it seems to have made them even more so,” Dekras explained somewhat apologetically.

“Why do I have a bad feeling I know which parts of the anatomy you’re talking about,” Sandra said with a sigh.

“You would be correct in guessing the location of those nerve clusters,” Dekras told her still with that apologetic tone.

“And this would be a problem why?” Sandra asked.

“Well the implants to those nerve clusters have a tendency to stimulate the body while in use,” the Symbiote told her.

“So basically what you are telling me is anytime I try to pilot the ship I’ll be, Uhm…,” Sandra said trailing off.

“Yes, basically, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise but the interfaces do allow for a more refined control and reaction time from the pilot,” Dekras said with a sigh. “Unfortunately you’ll be incapacitated during these time periods so I’ll have to take over motor functions of your body,” Dekras told her. “That won’t be a problem will it?” Dekras asked hesitantly.

“No, but it just seems, uh well kind of icky and odd,” Sandra said after a second.

“I do apologize again, unfortunately when the Nanno-Seeds healing functions were activated it automatically created those nerve clusters,” Dekras said apologetically. “It was either that or completely destroy those clusters all together, and I’m sure you wouldn’t have appreciated that,” Dekras told her.

“No, I wouldn’t have appreciated that,” Sandra answered with a sigh.

“Yes I had rather gathered that from the information I gleaned from your mind while the ship was being upgraded,” Dekras told her.

“You were peeking at my dreams,” Sandra asked startled.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it peeking, your races lucid dream state is rather on the loud side psychically,” the Symbiote told her.

“Well were do we start then?” Sandra asked resigned to her somewhat odd fate and wanting to quickly change the subject.

“Please lie down on your stomach on the console couch and place your arms in the receptacles,” Dekras told her.

Laying down she pushed her arms into the cylinders on either side of the console and felt more of the material tighten down on her arms and hold them in place.

Without a word the Nanno-sheath thinned again showing semi pink areas across her body and then melded with the station couch material, she felt her toes sink into the couch at the back end and then held in place by more of the material.

“I’ll be taking control now,” Dekras told her.

“Okay,” Sandra said with a nervous gulp.

Sandra felt an odd detached sensation as she felt her fingers rapidly move inside the receptacles against hidden keys and then the sides of the station couch folded out and up against her body holding her legs, hips, and chest on each side in place. She felt the material under her squirm slightly and her body became one long straight line.

She could feel her fingers flying across the keys again and watched as the screens across the room flickered showing the exterior as the ship lifted off from the planet and entered orbit; those were the last things she saw before other concerns took her attention.

Neo-Prussian Empire - New Imperial Sector - Hamburg System - New Hamburg

Imperial Palace - Emperor’s Chambers

October 30th, 02:00 CST

Nathan IV Emperor of the Neo-Prussian Empire rolled off of his bed mate and looked down at the glossy black body of Sister 1 and started laughing. Of course the laughter didn’t faze Sister 1 at all she did whatever her god and master told her to do and that was currently provide him with a bed mate and possibly an heir to the throne. Those were the current prerogatives that had been part of the mental re-programming that had been installed in the creature that at one time had been Inez Di’Espinoza.

“Oh my dear I think I’ve figured out a way to get more Black Pariahs made without people disappearing off the streets and even have them do it willingly,” the Emperor told the motionless figure next to him as he ran a hand down her glossy side.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed he sat up and balanced his chin on a fist as he leaned over his legs.

The problem of disseminating the Black Pariah Nanno-Virus had been bothering him for a week now but he’d finally been able to crack it.

“I believe it is time for the Neo-Prussian Empire to have a state religion and you my dear will be the head of it,” he said swiveling to look into the blank glossy red eyes/lenses of Sister 1’s face.

Sister 1 of course didn’t reply or say anything, she wasn’t capable of it without direct command or even independent thought on her and her mind was linked to an advanced computer system that was buried in the bowels of the palace which in turn was linked directly to the Emperor himself.

“Of course only a few people know about the Black Pariah Nanno-virus even amongst my Security Council members and they’ll be able to keep it a secret as well or end up as genetic slaves,” the Emperor said coldly.

“Although there is one more thing we can do to make your presence more legitimate in the Empire,” he said grabbing his comm unit off the console next to the bed and keyed in a code.

“Lt. Jamison, Tech Division,” a voice said from the hand comm.

“Lt. Jamison this is the Emperor,” he said into the comm.

“Yes your Highness, how may this humble servant serve you?” The Imperial Marine Lt. asked.

“I need you to design a fancy looking necklace for Sister 1 that has all sorts of electronic goodies in it. The design should be that of the Imperial crest,” the Emperor told him.

“What sorts of Uhm, electronic goodies would you like your Highness?” The Lt. asked.

“Anything and everything you can fit into it Lt.,” the Emperor told him.

“Yes your Highness, this servant will get right on it,” the Lt. answered.

“Good,” the Emperor mumbled as he switched to a different comm number.

“Guard Station 1 your Highness,” the Imperial Marine answered.

“Comm the Secretaries of Propaganda and State and have them meet me in my small conference room in thirty minutes,” the Emperor ordered the guard.

Neo-Prussian Empire - New Imperial Sector - Hamburg System - New Hamburg

Imperial Palace - Emperor’s Chambers

October 30th, 02:45 CST

Thirty minutes later found the Emperor sitting at the head of the conference table in his room off of his quarters and seated to either side of the table half way down from him were the Secretaries of Propaganda and State. Twelve of the Thirteen Sisters were spaced evenly down the walls of the room with Sister 1 sitting in his lap as he stroked her glossy black head.

“Alright gentlemen I believe it is time for the Empire to have a state religion,” the Emperor said and was met by looks of incredulity.

The secretary of state cleared his throat. “Are you certain about that sir?” He asked. “There could be very dangerous repercussions if something goes wrong,” he said.

“Who would be in charge?” Propaganda asked.

“You would be, but Sister 1 would be the figure head,” the Emperor said running a finger lightly down her flat stomach.

“But Sir, she’s not much more than a guard dog; she can’t even speak,” State said in surprise.

“I realize that. The tech section will be making a comm device that looks like a royal medallion for her to wear and we’ll utilize a genetic slave from the Oratory caste to act as her voice and you two will set up an agency that will consist of re-programmed genetic slaves that won’t let this slip,” the Emperor ordered.

“But how will we explain her suddenly leaping into the lime light like this, and the fact that she is constantly wearing a Nanno-sheath?” Propaganda asked.

“We’ll say that she was horribly burned and suffers from NRS, that and I plan to marry her and say that she has enlightened me with her vision of an Empire united under a godly clarity,” the Emperor said with a chuckle.

“Uhm Sir, did you just say that you were going to marry Sister 1?” Asked the Secretary Of State.

“Yes I did, it will be a good explanation as to why she is being made head of the Imperial Church,” the Emperor explained patiently.

“How are we going to explain the other twelve?” Propaganda asked.

“We won’t show them until the wedding and then we’ll say that they had such great respect for Sister 1 that they decided to emulate her and become personal bodyguards for her and myself,” the Emperor told the two high ranking officials but his patients was starting to wear thin.

“Not to sound stupid your Highness but why exactly are we doing this?” Propaganda asked.

“We need more subjects to undergo the Black Pariah Nanno-virus conversion. We aren’t able to use genetic slaves for it so why not use the unwashed masses who come to the Imperial Church for succor,” the Emperor explained.

“Why not just arrest people and use them that way?” State asked.

“I get it,” Propaganda said before Nathan could reply to the question. “The Emperor’s ratings have been dropping in public opinion, but with the creation of an Imperial Church he’ll be able to give the masses a light at the end of the tunnel,” the man said looking at his colleague. “By doing it this way he can also push the Black Pariah agenda forward making it look as if they were an elite fighting force sanctioned by both the Church and the Empire and inspire young women to join their ranks without creating more unrest,” the secretary finished nearly out of breath.

“Yes we definitely don’t need more unrest, we’ve already had to put down two rebelling planets within the last five years,” State rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “Yes it could work, we’d just have to spin it right,” he continued.

“How exactly are we going to get people to willingly convert themselves into Black Pariahs?” Propaganda asked.

“We open up three new military academies along with the Church,” the Emperor told them. “We’ll have one for the Black Pariahs themselves, another one that is for ship crew Pariahs, we’ll call them gray pariahs and make there Nanno-skins that color,” Nathan told his two bureaucrats.

“And what about the third kind?” State asked.

“The third will be a medical college and we’ll call them white pariahs and they’ll have a Red Cross right in the middle of their foreheads; they’ll have the information on how to care for injured Black Pariahs downloaded into them,” Nathan explained.

“We also need some sort of symbol to represent the Empress and her struggle against her genetic defect and the Black Pariahs willingness to emulate her,” Propaganda said musingly.

“I was thinking we’d make the re-breather masks the symbol of that and also an unofficial symbol for the church as well,” Nathan said. “Sort of a way to honor the poor injured dear who has married the Emperor and brought peace of mind to so many people during these times of trouble,” Nathan said laughing softly.

“Excellent idea your Highness,” Propaganda said jumping on the idea.

“We’ll get started on it right away your Highness,” State told him standing up from his seat.

“Good but set our plans up for a ten year time period, I don’t want any further conversions until that time,” the Emperor ordered. “But by the end of a twenty year period I want a regiment of Black Pariahs and their support cadre of gray and white pariahs on each planet in the empire,” Nathan told them.

“Yes your highness,” both men said and then bowed and left the conference room.

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