The Reclamation and the Lioness

by Robert D. Armstrong

  I nodded slowly. I felt selfish and inconsiderate. I leaned forward and put my arms around him.

  There was a peck on the front glass. “Ah, Captain, my sensors indicate there’s a possible blizzard approaching, with winds estimated at nearly sixty kilometers per hour. It’ll be here in less than fifteen minutes. I don’t have access to weather satellites for confirmation, so it’s a rough estimate,” Xena said.

  “Thank you, Xena. That’s much appreciated,” I said. Luther chuckled as she carried a large cargo box to the entrance.

  “You’re welcome,” she replied.

  I noticed Zion, the technician that introduced me to the Mauler. He seemed excited as he approached the vehicle. “We’ll finish talking soon,” Luther said.

  Zion removed his hood and inspected the Mauler. “Well, how’d she do?” he asked, smiling at me as I stood on the tank tracks.

  “The Mauler or the driver?” Luther asked.

  “Ah, both,” he replied.

  “I didn’t get a chance to put the roll cage to the test, but other than that, fine,” I said.

  “The driver did exceptionally well. A bit wild at times, but that was to be expected,” Luther said.

  “Victoria!” Leo yelled. I lowered my eyebrows, scanning the entrance. I saw Leo waving me toward him.

  “What’s wrong?” Luther asked, storming toward him. As I followed close behind Luther, I noticed a small crowd forming. They were staring at someone lying on the ground.

  As I got closer, Neona looked over her shoulder at me. “Your pal isn’t feeling so well?”

  “What the hell?” I pushed through the onlookers and noticed Xena lying on her back. Her arms were frozen in place and pointing toward the sky.

  I kneeled next to her and looked her up and down. “Xena, can you hear me?” I asked.

  “Any idea what’s wrong with it?” Leo asked. I didn’t notice any light coming from her blue eyes. This wasn’t a good sign.

  “Maybe it has something to do with destroying Sylass’s operation? Perhaps this android was connected to them in ways we don’t understand,” Neona suggested.

  “But why now? It’s been over an hour since that happened. Seems to me Xena would have seen some effects earlier. She didn’t mention anything,” I said.

  “Victoria, perhaps we should bring her inside before the blizzard arrives,” Luther insisted.

  Then she shot up, nearing hitting me with her arms. I jumped back as she looked around. “Captain,” she said.

  “What the hell happened?” I asked.

  Xena’s eyes opened and closed. “Strange, I’m unable to access communication prompts with Titan other than a single transmission,” she said.

  “What transmission?” I asked.

  “Captain, incoming. The message is labeled for your eyes,” Xena said.

  I shook my head in confusion. “For me?” I asked.

  “Yes, Captain. Sending the transmission to your helmet now,” she replied. I donned my helmet as a wall of text appeared on the right side of the visor.

  INCOMING TRANSMISSION – URGENT

  “Captain Belic, this is General Corvin. This message is of grave importance. As you know, we allowed Xena to assist you and the Legion in your efforts on Earth via her implant chip. We designed Xena with the capability to operate in two or three places at the same time, so while she was helping you on Earth, she has also been here on Titan, debriefing us on her mission to Earth.

  “As of an hour and forty minutes ago, our Xena disembarked the aircraft hangar with the XU-97. This action was unauthorized. This may come as a shock to you as well, but we were attacked. Thousands are dead. We’re in complete shock. We attempted to seize control of the XU-97 remotely, but we were unsuccessful.

  “As I speak to you now, myself and three associates were the only survivors. We escaped via a stealth escape pod that will orbit Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. From there, we don’t have much of a plan. We will enter cryosleep in the hopes we will be recovered someday.

  “We were forced to watch in horror as the XU-97 destroyed what we’ve worked so hard to build. I have no words that express the pain and hopelessness we feel at this moment, but it was imperative that I relay this message to you immediately.

  “Captain Belic, we tracked the XU-97 and I want you to understand that its course is confirmed. It’s Earth. This is a highly dangerous situation, as you can imagine. If you’re wondering why this happened, we can only guess, but we have a good idea. After Xena destroyed the android military and returned here, she debriefed us on the events that transpired.

  “While Xena was hooked into our computers to upload all the Earth mission data, we were forced to shut it down because of a breach of our network security system. Our technicians scrambled to find the suspected intrusion, but it was determined this was likely a glitch. Now we know that wasn’t the case.

  “At some point while Xena was on Earth, she hacked an android terminal to upload our super virus. While this virus destroyed the android military, we found that she engaged in a cyber tug-of-war so intense that the android leader, the Moderator, stepped in to thwart it. We have reason to suspect the Moderator escaped and piggybacked on Xena in a last-ditch effort. The Moderator likely assumed control of her in the middle of the night when most of our people were sleeping. Long story short, the android that destroyed our colony is heading to Earth in the XU-97, and it isn’t Xena anymore.

  “Captain Belic, I ask that you do whatever you can to prepare the people of Earth for what is coming. As you are fully aware, the XU-97 is a force to be reckoned with, and you’ll need to be ready within two weeks of this transmission’s timestamp. No one understands the XU-97 like yourself, and this responsibility will fall on you. Prepare what is left of humanity for the coming storm. We will pray for you and the people of Earth.

  “Before I go, I’d like to make a personal request. You and I have had our differences, and perhaps the way I handled your arrival to our colony could have been handled better. For that, I apologize. I hope this hasn’t tainted your opinion of all Titans.

  “My request is simple, Captain. I ask that you share our story with the people of Earth. Don’t let our voices fade away in a horrible ambush as if we never existed. I beg you. It’s very possible you will be the last human to ever lay eyes on our colony and everything we worked so hard to create.

  “We hoped you would find another android for Xena to occupy, so we encrypted this last transmission through your device. Now that device has been altered. After this transmission, we’ve severed Xena’s link to us forever to protect the people of Earth. You alone hold the key to Xena’s existence now, and it will take both of you to stop the Moderator. Not only is the XU-97 formidable, but the Moderator controls Xena’s former body, which, as you know, is the most advanced android super-soldier in existence.

  “Lastly, it’s likely Xena doesn’t know what has transpired on Titan. You must inform her. We understand she’s not human, but we created her to have an intimate bond with the people of Titan, as you know. It’s imperative that she understands it wasn’t her fault. We failed as a people in detecting this Trojan horse, not her. Good luck to you, Xena and the people of Earth. May God have mercy on your souls.”

  I immediately pulled off my helmet as my heart sunk. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. All those innocent people murdered. Everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to relay Titan’s message. “Well, what did they say?” Neona asked.

  Leo stepped close to me. “Let me guess. Titan has an assignment for you? I knew they wouldn’t let us use their pet android without asking for something in return,” he said, chuckling. I looked around, unsure of what to say. Luther stared into my eyes. I could sense that he knew something was off.

  “Victoria, was there anything in that transmission I should know?” he asked.

  My fear was that I would send the Legion into a panic. There were Legion guards in earshot I didn’t know. “Luther, can I speak to you in private?” I a
sked.

  He grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. I noticed Xena following us. I glanced at Luther before doing a double take toward Xena. “Uh, Xena, I’ll relay the message to you if there’s a need for you to know,” Luther said.

  “Captain, something has happened, hasn’t it?” she asked as we separated from the group.

  I met eyes with her and Luther. I thought of all the people I knew on Titan, the young children, the sense of hope crushed in an instant. “The Moderator has destroyed the Titan colony. There were only a few survivors,” I said so that only Luther and Xena could hear. Xena fell to one knee and slumped her head.

  “How? I thought the android fleet was destroyed?” Luther asked.

  “It was,” I replied.

  It was impossible, but it sounded like Xena gasped for air. “Their fleet wasn’t responsible for this, and that means there is only one other possibility left. They hijacked my network, didn’t they?” she asked.

  “Xena, this had nothing to do with you. Titan did not discover the intrusion into your network during the debriefing. It’s a horrible loss but General Corvin wanted you to know that they failed, not you,” I said. It felt odd, but I was comforting her in the same way I would a human.

  Xena looked away. “There was a moment during the hacking process that my systems were vulnerable to intrusion. It was only a split second.”

  “We will make sure Titan’s memory lives on through us. It is our responsibility to tell their story,” I said.

  Xena stepped close to me. “Captain, how did the Moderator destroy the colony, specifically? It’s imperative that you tell me,” she insisted.

  I hesitated. “It used the XU-97, piloted by your android chassis,” I replied.

  Xena nodded slowly and stared at Luther. “Engineer, whatever concerns and worries you had about nomads and wanderers can be alleviated for the time being. If the Moderator used the XU-97 to destroy the colony, that means it has the capability to return to Earth.”

  Luther looked at me. “Is this true?”

  I slumped my head. “That’s the other part. The XU-97 is already headed to Earth. We have two weeks to prepare,” I said. Xena walked past us slowly, aimlessly drifting into the frozen tundra. “Xena,” I said. She ignored me for the first time.

  Luther’s head whipped toward his knights. “Leo!” he yelled.

  He hurried toward us and stopped in front of Luther. “Yes, my lord.”

  “I want you to begin preparations to move the entire population to the lower levels,” he said.

  Leo arched an eyebrow. “Sire, as you know, it’s unfinished and—”

  “There’s a problem and I’ll explain it to you later. Don’t make it obvious. I don’t want to frighten the populace. Gather Knight Renheart and tunnel crews and begin clearing areas for bunks. I want us able to move everyone in less than a week. Go, now,” he said.

  “Understood,” Leo said, rushing away with purpose. I noticed Neona follow Leo with her eyes before staring back at us. She knew something wasn’t right.

  Luther turned toward me as I stared out at Xena. “Where is she going?” I said.

  “I don’t know, but I need you to bring her back. The both of you need to give me details on that ship’s capabilities immediately. Are there any weaknesses it might have? I need to know how far its weapons can penetrate our mountain, worst-case scenario. Moving our people deeper below ground might not work. We might be forced to move to a new location,” he said. I could tell his mind was racing as he put his hands on his hips and paced back and forth. He stormed away.

  “Get me what I need, Victoria. Please,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at me. I nodded.

  I walked out toward Xena as the winds picked up. Snow began to fall hard as I put on my helmet and peered through the snow. My infrared could barely detect her mostly cold, metallic shell, but there was a hint of warmth beneath the exterior that revealed her position.

  I looked back toward the Legion entrance, now over a hundred meters away. The wind was coming right at me so much that I was forced to lean into it. “Shit,” I mumbled. “Xena!” I shouted. I could see her standing on the pier overlooking the body of water where she assisted us against the Mave using the XU-97 weeks ago. I yelled for her again.

  “Captain, there’s no need to raise your voice. I can hear you while your helmet is equipped. It has a built-in microphone,” she said.

  “But you didn’t respond,” I said, approaching to within ten paces of her.

  There was a long pause as I approached to within five paces. “I was wrong, you know,” she said.

  “It was impossible to detect the Moderator, Xena. You did everything you could with the detection tools you had,” I replied.

  She looked over her shoulder at me as her glowing blue eyes pierced through the thick snow. “No. I meant about the blizzard. I was wrong. I told you it would arrive within fifteen minutes. It actually took twelve minutes.”

  I sighed. “Close enough.”

  She turned around and took a step toward me. I placed my hands on an old wooden post and held on tight as the wind moved me back. Xena grabbed me under the arms. “I’ve got you Captain,” she said.

  The wind whistled through her battered armor. She looked down my arms as she held them. She slumped her head, using her body to shield me from the wind.

  She pressed her face close to my helmet. “I’m having a bit of difficulty understanding the gravity of the situation. I know my people are gone, but I don’t want to believe it,” she said.

  I nodded. “That’s a natural reaction to loss.”

  “Is it? For an android?” she asked.

  “Well, I know advanced androids like you have simulated emotions, bonds, so—”

  “It does not feel simulated in this moment, Captain,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. It came out wrong,” I said.

  She looked away and into the white. “There was something about it, the fragility of humans, but particularly the people of Titan. They were surrounded by an atmosphere that wanted to kill them, yet they survived. I admired that. As desolate and barren as Titan was, they had hope. That belief gave me hope. That nothing could be something. I, much like Titan, am barren—no soul, no trace of life—yet they placed their trust in me... and I failed them. I returned to them a hero, the warrior who stopped the android fleet, but the reality is much different now, isn’t it? I’m no hero. I opened the front door for the Moderator to walk right in and murder my people. They were defenseless!” she yelled.

  I closed my eyes for a moment and shook my head.

  “Captain, it might be difficult for you to imagine that I feel despair, guilt, and pain, but I don’t know how else to describe the emptiness I feel. Whatever sliver of humanity my creator gave me, it was enough, and I don’t want it anymore,” she said.

  I gulped. In that moment, I caught a glimpse of humanity shining deep within her synthetic soul. It was like a beam of light shining through the dark clouds, the mark her creators left on her. They had given Xena the ability to treasure the Titans as her own. But now, in their death, it settled like an anchor, a burden that would weigh on her existence forever. She was built to protect Titan. Titan was gone.

  Surprisingly, I did what came naturally. I took off my helmet, slowly reached out for the back of her head, and cupped the top of her neck. I looked into her eyes. “We need that sliver of humanity now more than ever,” I said.

  “Why? So that I can partake in the annihilation of another human colony? I’m not sure I can do it,” she replied.

  “If there’s one thing that is important to us humans, it’s that we’re not forgotten. General Corvin tasked us to tell the story of Titan so that it may live on for generations. This will allow them to live on. How could I possibly do the people of Titan justice? They deserve more. They deserve someone like you, who understood them,” I said.

  Xena looked down and paused for a few moments. Her
pupils danced back and forth as I gathered she was deep in thought. She stared at me and nodded. “I suppose... I could create a memorial complete with historical data of our colony. This would honor their memory?” she asked.

  “It would, but in order for this memorial to survive, we have to survive. Don’t let it die with the Legion,” I said, pointing at our mountain entrance. “We need you,” I added.

  Xena looked away from me for a moment. “Captain, may I offer a suggestion?” she asked.

  “Ah, sure.”

  She stood up tall. “I must advise you to put on your helmet. The likelihood that you’ll develop a respiratory infection increases with every passing moment in this weather. Studies indicate that frigid temperatures combined high winds can be hazardous to your health,” she said.

  I laughed out loud, patting her on the shoulder. “Gladly,” I said, donning my helmet.

  “Any other suggestions?” I asked, grinning.

  “General Haik mentioned one of the vehicles in the convoy was an anti-aircraft gun,” she said, pointing into the sky. “The XU-97 is an aircraft, as you well know, and I suggest we take up his offer and hijack that vehicle for the Legion’s defense,” she said.

  My eyes lit up. “Now there’s an idea. My decision to come out here after you is already paying off,” I said.

  “Captain, to be frank, we both know you wouldn’t let me go without a fight,” she replied.

  I chuckled and turned away from her, and we headed back toward the Legion. “You got that right.”

  I glanced at her as we walked side by side. Something popped in my mind. The reason the Moderator didn’t exterminate the entire human race was because of the Mave. That was our only salvation, but the Architect’s mission to convert us into cyborgs was something we would never stand for. However, her insane plan did buy us time.