“And we give praise unto them!” shouted the high father upon the altar, his booming voice carrying across the entire room full of his devout followers.
“Those who came from the blackness of space to shine their light upon us all! We are truly blessed, my brothers and sisters, by the divine grace of the ancient gods who once fed us with their divine might and said we were the chosen ones!”
“Such is their word!” chanted everyone in unison.
They were inside a large cathedral, one of many on the planet Kaladi, known for being the last host of an ancient religion; one that worshiped celestial beings that would travel across the universe. Everyone was garbed in long purple robes with a hood over their head, holding their steepled hands outward in prayer.
The whole place was built of wood and white marble, with a high vaulted ceiling and touches of gold and silver along the wall. The altar where the high father stood was surrounded in statues of the gods they worshiped, crafted beautifully out of the same white stone but polished to shining perfection. Each deity seemed different, one humanoid, another resembling more what looked like a whale.
Lily had never been much for religion, so she wasn’t exactly comfortable wearing the matching outfit. On top of that, this was not a planet open to non-believers like her. They were at best frowned upon by all, or at worst, met with violence. So all in all, not a place she had much desire to visit. Why come then? Well, the reason was deep in silent prayer next to her.
“Nice sermon,” she whispered to her neighbor. A one-eyed man with a trimmed beard and bald head, deep in concentration.
The man frowned without opening his eyes, not deigning to respond as his lips kept working in silence; following the preacher’s words.
“I like the part about how they found us after being lost for so long. Really nice of them, you know. I always figured Gods were all a bunch of pricks, you know.” This earned her a full shush from the man, who almost looked at her at that time.
“Kinda like how you were lost after quitting Roin’s marauders and found these guys.” This time the man opened his eyes and stared down in horror.
“Do they know about your previous profession? I can’t imagine they do, after all, entry isn’t given to ‘sinners’, which would have to include people who’ve robbed them of their religious icons. I mean, loot is loot, and people like Roin will take it where they can find it, but try explaining that to them.”
The man took one step forward but Lily grabbed him by the wrist, holding him in place. Before he could react, she pressed the gun she had concealed directly against the back of his ribs. Normally she detested to use guns herself, even for show, but one had to be practical sometimes.
“I wouldn’t make a show, Vane. I’m not here for you. I don't care if you found god or a bunch of them and retired from 'the life'. I still have a job to do, and after spending the last few days scrambling for a lead on your former boss, you are the only thread I could pull." She pressed the gun just a smidge harder to emphasize her point.
"Now let’s quietly step outside, and you can tell where he likes to hang his sword.” Vane looked directly at her for once, panic, and fear in his eyes.
“And remember their warning, that those that prove unfaithful and false will suffer their wrath!” continued the high priest, and everyone responded in unison once more.
“Such is their word,” repeated Lily, with a hint of menace and a small smile.
-----------------------
The HPA transport ship docked alongside the Indomitable perfectly, and just as the soft hiss of the bridge pressuring reached him, Captain Arkady swallowed nervously at what awaited behind those metal doors.
He knew, of course, that whoever the Admiral sent to oversee his activities, would be someone as cold and ruthless as her. An agent to make sure he wouldn’t screw up, and to check him if he did. In other words, not an ally. Not that that would stop him, of course. He fully intended to carry out his revenge against her daughter for his humiliation and damn her orders. He would not be bringing her alive.
Still, he braced himself as the sealed doors split open. He expected a towering man to step out, commanding and terrible, but instead, a small figure came in his place. A tiny clink was heard with every step as a small robot approached him.
“Greetings, Captain Arkady. I am XM-TST 22. You may call me XM for short. I hope our time together is efficient and leads to the death or capture of our enemies.”
Arkady stood there dumbfounded for a moment, openly staring down at the mechanical man. He couldn't have been taller than 5 feet if that. With a sleek design of polished metal plates and thin arms and legs. His head was like a long domed cylinder, displaying two digital green eyes and a simple straight line as a mouth. He looked almost friendly.
“...who are you?” was all he could manage, after what felt like the longest pause possible.
“I am XM-TST 22.”
“No, I meant...where is the officer sent here by Admiral Baek?”
“That would be me.”
“But you’re a robot.”
“Indeed. I am XM-TST 22.”
“...ok then. I, um, apologize. I thought robots had been decommissioned by the HPA after the...incident.”
“That is correct, but a few still serve in limited roles. Admiral Baek recruited me to act as her eyes and ears when she cannot be present.”
Figures, that woman doesn’t trust anybody. He shouldn’t be surprised she would turn to a tin can that would have no choice but to obey her.
XM proceeded past him, strolling leisurely towards the command deck of the ship like he was the captain. Arkady composed himself and went to walk by him, unsure of how to address the robot.
“Have you had no signs of Lily Baek so far?” he asked politely, but there was something commanding about his voice that bothered Arkady.
“No, we’ve been patrolling along the edge of our territory, keeping an eye out for any sign of her. “ He said, relenting as they entered the bridge. All the officers on deck turned to look at them, mostly confused, but he knew some of them would find it amusing to see him answering to a walking
“Our bounty hunter contacts have had more luck, however." He continued, as they stopped at the edge of the ship. "They spotted her on Mantidian a few days ago. Apparently she had a run-in with one of the 4 Rulers and lost her prize.”
“The Coalition bounty?” inquired XM, never looking at him.
“Yes, he was successful in acquiring it,” he replied coolly. “We are to rendezvous with him at his base to retrieve the data. Shame he didn't capture her as well, two birds and all that.”
“Yes, I’m sure she would have made it safely to the admiral under your care.”
Arkady turned to look at him, surprised by his implication and the casual way in which he made it. XM turned to look at him then, and the thin digital line that was his mouth shifted slightly into a smile.
“Not to worry, Captain. We will capture and deliver her as ordered. Her mother has told me much about our quarry, and if one thing is certain, is that she does not give up. Such people are the most fun to break."
At that moment, Arkady thought he would have preferred the imposing human officer, it would have been less creepy than the way XM smiled with his friendly face.
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