Droning sounds of machines and pipes echoed on the empty halls of the enclosed concrete space. The cleanly ordained, yet moldy and damp corridor was empty of life, yet it's been clearly used so much that permanent stains are present on it's surface. The lights showered the damp corridor, imitating the blue skies of what was once was. The subtle echoing of the fake ocean somewhere on the view was interrupted by the bulkhead opening on the other end of the corridor. There, the sounds of soles tapping and metal screeching became the dominant sound, which revealed to belong on three marching individuals walking in haste, but with patience as they take their steps methodically.

  The sound belonged to a formal looking tall blonde man, wearing a professional looking blue business suit, with black accents highlighting his form and the suit's design. With a red and white striped pin on his breast pocket, showing where his allegiance lies. Beside him are heavily modified versions of the militarized peacewalkers which are much more suited for advanced peer to peer combat. Gone are their friendliness, replaced the blue coloured scanner on their heads, to a grave red one showing nothing but precision. Their armoured and heavy steps droned the subtle calm of the ocean sounds as they reached to the end of the corridor.

  The blonde man then outreach his arms, as mechanical appendages erected out from the bulkhead, meticulously and intrusively began to scan every part of his body. One by one, their neutral green lights turned to blue, as the bulkhead door opened. After fixing his sleeves he then walked forward, with the two peacewalkers saluting at him and walking away to the opposite direction.

  After bypassing a thin veil of light, once more turning green to blue, he then entered the open space where his eyes narrowed. Despite seeing the sight in front of him multiple times throughout his elevated position, he still get chills knowing what powers and overseeing their meeting is currently upholding.

  The space in question was a truly marvel of engineering, well it was. What was used to be a modular empty infrastructure to house a planetary defensive cannon at some point in time on the godforsaken planet he is in, was now reduced to a makeshift fortified bunker. The reasoning was simple, the citadel of the defensive artillery was made to be protected by similar or larger weaponry. Making it one of the best candidates for recycling every bit of resources they can for leftover materials, with the silver lining being there are no ammunition present to blow them up, since there was no gun in the first place due to Venture's qualification not yet reaching to a point to build one, only a empty foundation.

  The new space was converted to one of many makeshift emergency bunkers scattered all across the planet, not all were created equal, the space he is in now, was one of the more lucky ones that got a very suitable candidate, that is achievable due to proximity and time. The rest? Not so much, and at worse, it was only what separates them from the damned xenos on the surface. Yet all designs have one thing in common, which is the usage of a circular area where there will be a large holographic projection to occur where the unnecessarily flashy tech is useful for 360° viewing. Since the space is also a makeshift intelligence gathering complex, it wasn't a surprised that there are a lot of other people aside from the officials present in the region he is in. Of course... including her. She may not be present, but she is everywhere, anywhere all at once. Even the walls listens to one's whispers if they were not being careful.

  Luckily she was still not present since he went in early, but it doesn't mean she is not listening. After going down a elevator, there revealed the two other political entities in the room. The blonde man then sat on the Union side of the circular arrangement, which weren't a lot when compared to the Imperial side of the circle, where there are more seats present being full. Of course, the Republic side of the meeting was present too on the other side, with their seats also having more people present, but not as numerous as the Imperial ones.

  Then, on the corner of his eyes where his cybernetic and biomechanical implants came to life, it's passive scanners detected a familiar figure entered as he sighed to himself.

  Before the familiar person can greet him, he cut him first. "James, I know what you are going to say, so no. Do not sit next to me."

  "Hey, using you're fancy gizmos on me ain't fair bud!" James replied as he sat beside him with bliss, making the blonde man sigh. "Come on, give me some slack, I'm a bit disabled now, why they have to drag my ass this far in the underground, while those other guys can just sit on the surface with a quick ride? Can't believe it, right Lloyd?"

  "Sure, sure, James, whatever you say..." Lloyd wave his hand as he began to organised the files needed on his cybernetic eyes for the meeting. Of course, while doing so he slightly glances at James time to time. Especially on his cast. Despite how fine he looks, the latest injuries he got were enough that they have to amputate his left side. Luckily of course, their medicinal facilities still has enough resources to heal back his missing body parts. If it weren't for that, well... Lloyd couldn't imagine what would become of the man. The man who gave him some tiny hope on the absolute travesty in the life they are in.

  "Oi, what you looking at my body?" James accused as he covered himself with his other functioning arm. "Hey, hey, I know we are buddies and all, but that's too much." His comment popped a vein from Lloyd's head, as he raised a knuckle to prove a point.

  "Alright! Alright! Alright! Jeez calm down. Both of you have similar reactions, can't even take a light banter!" Lloyd made a complicated face as he sighed and focuses back on organising the files. Of course by both... he is talking about her... there was only one individual he is talking about when it comes to her, other than Lloyd himself.

  "You're still talking to... her?" He asked hesitantly as James chuckles, as if it wasn't obvious with a genuine smile on his face.

  "Even AIs can get lonely too." Lloyd didn't respond as he fully looked away at his friend's direction. Thinking of his answer as he watch the statistics being layed out in his cybernetic implants and in real time for the other officials to see on the hologram.

  The AI in question, and the individual that Lloyd was trying to avoid was of couse, SAI 698-Beta, also known as just as Venture. The Deus Ex, the god of machines, the next evolution of artificial intelligence, and... by James' standards, a person. The best example Lloyd could think of a similarity, was how she is supposed to be the planet's personification in a intentional yet unintended consequence of her makeup. Or at least that was what the rumours he heard about it, since the Republic is not exactly going to be broadcasting about their SAI tech, even years after the Periodical War. Heck from what information he did confirmed, it wasn't even supposed to be known that there is a SAI in the planet, and if it weren't for the xenos, even he wouldn't know that a godlike being was hiding beneath the crust of a nowhere of a planet.

  Kind of a horrifying thought, considering how dangerous they are when provoke and if ordered...

  ". . ."

  Lloyd doesn't want to think about it, if the fragile peace between the Iron Cross and ATLAS was enough to make him think twice sometimes, then the imminent xenocidal xenos will. However, if he were to weight between the xeno's killing spree and the existence of the SAI... then Lloyd would rather die and be converted to waste by Period, than suffer the consequences of a rogue SAI. They are machines at the end of the day, birthed by man's hands and are algorithmic in their process than a concept of a soul. Why they were given Universal Rights... is something he must not put his political opinions due to his position.

  "Speak of the devil, she's here." James quips as all attention now focuses on the centre of the room as everyone remained silent as she manifest on the hologram. The SAI's logo, A letter V with a cursive eye like symbol and a latin phrase of; "Villicus Mundus," appropriately means the world's overseer. A pressure envelops the room.

  After a moment's of silence, it then looked at their direction, specifically at James, before it looks away and began to bombard the space with information. Statistics and diagrams flow and weaved as everybody began to looked upon the information being shown in silence. It may not look like it, but the SAI is simultaneously communicating with everyone in the room with whatever implants they have in their body. Uncanny if looked at an outsider's perspectives, but is more efficient and secured to transfer information and capture anything that leaks.

  James of course is an exception, since he is one of the few people in the meeting that are pure, he can only communicate with the SAI through hardware. In this case, glasses that can act like a implant for the eyes, and base on his smirk, he is definitely chatting with the machine.

  "[Greetings Commander Powers, shall we begin today's short discussion before the briefing?]"

  The otherworldly voice of a girl pierced through his mind, it wasn't invasive, but it is like someone was whispering to him. Otherworldly, yet clearly synthetic, but the hint of breath makes him shudder. No matter how many times he is put into it, Lloyd will never get used to it. "Greetings Venture, let us begin the agenda."

  Lloyd has a lot of questions regarding about her, but mostly he had tolerated them because she is the sole reason why they survived this long, and survived at all for the matter. Despite how disastrous her prediction was on either any resupply ships, inspection squadrons, or even pirates to get at their position, none of them came. It wasn't like there was no possibility either, of how that kind of event wouldn't happen and not being calculated. She of course did so, she only just underestimated how unimportant and severely isolated the colony is to a larger degree when compared on other Frontier Worlds...

  Even Lloyd also underestimated how unimportant they are...

  "[First, is you're concerns on regarding the reactivation of the StarNet Transceiver System. Base on the last monthly voting procedures and suggestions, the feasibility of it's repair is not within the range of our resources with occuring projects. We have already dismantled seven, out of the ten Frontier-Class Ark Ships. Any more, and we would loose spare parts for our fabricator facilities. However, if the reactivation and repair is being approved at the expense of other projects, the potential risk of involving Earth and it's colonies is too much of a threat to be advised. To conclude, you're first concern will be put into hold unless an event transpires to be in need of it's service.]"

  "Mmm..." Lloyd hummed, as he already expected that outcome. Making him think once more of Venture's role as a colony of the Edge.

  Unlike other worlds, Venture is in a area where humanity already has a general and vague idea of what the space encompasses, hence why the nickname Wild West of Space. Of course the xenos aside that are attempting to eradicate them, prior to that, it is considered a empty void and the threat level sparse. Two or three small ships like a frigate, or if they were lucky, a single light space destroyer would have been more than enough for any colonial related issues to occur. Hence the long gap between inspections and supply runs, and if there were any trouble, the 'nearby' star cluster, System Cluster 5897, would immediately come in to help.

  Of course, all that came to waste when the StarNet System was out of order and their emergency communicators are fried by the EMP blast. Like what the SAI have responded, all spare parts are of the gigantic Ark Ships, which are being used on other projects that are vital for extending their borrowed time. Prolonging the inevitable. It was crushing of course to hear when they lost contact with the probe that has been sent to broadcast a encrypted SOS to that same star cluster system. Making their chances... near zero, and their time now borrowed heavily. If push comes to shove, he hopes they wouldn't made it to [PHASE 4] of Operation Invicta. And he hopes that the others would vote against it if the time comes, especially... since [PHASE 3] has begun.

  "[Second, is you're concern regarding the Polaris Project. As of now, all attempts of another sample is being disapproved by the Body. You're concern on last month's meeting is unfounded, as the Project is being temporarily halted due to it's liability rate and casualty rate to the volunteers. We have taken you're concern, and the others whom have similar suggestions on the matter. Rest assured, the Body will only use what is being produced and at a last resort.]"

  "Are you really sure of that?..." His eyes narrowed as despite the neutral language, he knows the message behind it.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "[Yes, Commander Powers. My creators have also raised concerns about it and have isolated the project for the time being. With our limited resources, it is too costly for material and lives to be risked. When compared to other low risk, but steady promising resulting projects. Therefore, with the votes from last month of it's temporary suspension, no material or personnel would be used to further any attempts. However, assets being produced by the project would still be used as mentioned earlier.]"

  "That's good... to hear..." Lloyd made a sigh of relief, before gaining his composure. If she reiterated it twice, then that means her database is not tampered. At least that is one more problem out of [PHASE 4] that gnaws at Lloyd's mind. Albeit... temporarily, one of many temporary measures...

  "[Now that all you're concerns have been voiced, it is now time to talk about the current agenda.]"

  At the thought of that, the screens on the hologram then shifted as other information were then put aside on his view. It seems he was not the only one who's concerns or agendas being layed out are finished, since everyone now focuses on the centre. As it now revealed two individuals being monitored without their consent. It revealed the civilian who got involved in their mess of operation, the other reason why the third phase has finally shifted after nearly a decade. It was honestly making Lloyd pity the young man, for he is only doing what must be done without knowing the larger picture. On the other hand... the second individual was someone who Lloyd has little sympathy for, but he didn't exactly hate or despise her outright unlike others.

  It was of course... the noble xeno. Grand Noble Ash'Ent.

  "[It has been a 3 days since the meeting between Sir Takamiya and the registered POW, Ash'Ent, have concluded. Giving us ample time to now discuss on the proceedings, prosecution, and potential diplomatic courses towards Ash'Ent, and the next course towards Operation Invicta: Phase 3. Talks about the interrogation have been already handled by the Eastern Region of Naha City, with the representative and main interrogator, Sir Takamiya. Now that all regional representatives and members of the emergency government have gathered...]"

  The xeno's speech when she was trying to convince Sir Takamiya was as true as she said it is. Her presence and words alone is enough to blanket anybody near her influence, and it was exactly what is happening with her recorded conversations with the civilian, which revealed many, many truths and even possible exploits they can do to de-escalate the conflict. Especially with their ongoing other operations in conjunction with Operation Invicta. Hence, the major leap in progress, with how much hoop after hoop of lucky chances they landed, when contact between the civilian and Ash'Ent have been successful. They have truly landed on a jackpot for such a low bet, gaining a important individual for the operation. It was to a point that maybe, just maybe, [PHASE 4] can be averted and even be altered to avoid such travesty of a scenario. Of course by then, Lloyd hopes he will gain enough influence to persuade the others. If he can attain that miracle, that one percent chance, then it was worth it.

  Of course, Lloyd knows he is being optimistic about it, however, it doesn't mean being optimistic is a bad thing either. This chance being given, Lloyd would not waste it.

  "[... Let us begin the meeting.]"

  Even if in the back of his mind, that whisper of the inevitable never stops.

  Nikolai stare at the empty fake blue sky being shown on the ceiling, the monitor showing big white clouds slowly flowing through, with a flock of birds flying in three groups on the fake horizon. He can also hear the subtle movement of wind on the speakers, followed by a louder flickering of a page of a book being turned serenely. If only the scenery was real, and not a fake one, then perhaps he can sleep peacefully each night. Unfortunately for Nikolai, that is not the case of course, as he is stuck in a room away from his house, on a unfamiliar part of the city, with a alien who's species are trying to eradicate them.

  "What did my past life ever do to end myself here...?" Nikolai asked no one in particular, however he received a reply rather quickly. Making him groan and sigh.

  "(Perhaps something honourable, in order to serve someone of the likes of me.)" A confident, synthetic voice replied back. Almost in a sing song tone, as she flips another page of her book with a expression that resembles of a smile that looks down upon some thing.

  That 'some thing' of course, was Nikolai himself, literally and metaphorically.

  Nikolai turned to his left to see the alien noble, laying? Sitting? Resting on the larger bed comfortably on her sturdy insect limbs, yet vaguely fleshy scaled pink and white legs, while reading a children's book on the basics of english and basic children's english stories. Making the scene rather odd for him, of a alien reading human literature and wearing human clothing, but at the same time, surprisingly not so out of place than he thought. Perhaps pop culture made Nikolai quickly desensitized by it. "I was being sarcastic, I wasn't really questioning anything."

  His reply earned him a flicker from her ridiculously large wings that are tucked at her back. By basing on Nikolai's observation for the past few days, she is not only mocking him, she is definitely also having fun with it.

  "(Have I ever been accusatory to you? I was merely stating facts.)" Of course, despite being stuck in enemy territory, she is rather prideful and still confident. Maybe even more so as the days went past, than Nikolai expected. It was a little bit too much for him, no, it is definitely too much for someone like Nikolai who easily bites if being taunted for too long.

  "Uh huh... riggghhht..."

  "(Indeed. Right it is.)"

  "... Ugh..."

  Nikolai turned away from her as he can hear her wings flicker again. It actually makes Nikolai think when did she felt comfortable enough to berate him so openly? Where did the subtleness go? At least Nikolai could be ignorant of it, but she is insistent on being open about it. They are clearly not close enough to be friends, and they are far from getting along personally and getting along as roommates in their pristine prison cell. Then again, the alien before him is not only a alien, but also a rich elite who is probably as rich as a princess and is trained for the very situation they are in. Who knows if this was their customs on their commoners, or a superiority thing about their species. But base on their interaction for a few days, and despite Nikolai trying not to think about it...

  It is definitely a personality thing.

  "(Freeman, can we for the third time, request for--) z wlt? Dszg?" Her voice was cut short, as the speakers of the translator breaks down again. This wasn't the first time it happened, so Nikolai can roughly tell what she was supposed to say and what that gurgling noise, mixed with clearly annoyed snapping of her mandibles meant.

  Reluctantly and with a sigh, Nikolai got up from the bed as he got to her side. There, she readily made her neck open to his hands to grab, which normally he would wonder if there was some sort of cultural importance of the like. Because if science fiction and novels where to entail, then the last thing Nikolai wanted is to do something damning as offensive to a old tradition or at worse, some sort of mating proposal that Nikolai wants to stay away from with a 10m pole. However, he did found out what it is, and he didn't like it one bit.

  "You should definitely learn to pick this by yourself next time. I'm way too short to grab you're neck, and that's while sitting down. It can't be that hard if you can hold a book just fine." Nikolai complained as he grabbed a stoll and step up, as despite his tall height, she was simply taller.

  His comment seems to amused her as Nikolai grumbled of a comment he couldn't understand. Nikolai may not be the smartest in practicing different linguistics, but pattern recognition is definitely what he was trained for. And base on certain syllables being repeated, it was obvious what she was talking about.

  "Also, I am not you're follower. Maids or butlers are not a thing in my vocabulary." She seems to be amused once more of his slow understanding of her native tongue, and nodded as just in time, the translator was back in action. "(I agree, you are far from the most distinguished followers back at my nest tobe considered one. However, you are my guide and you're 'inmate', responsibility lies in your claws for assisting me for the time being. And, since my words are audible to you're receptors, heed ny request for this 'dog' creature. I want to know human's so called, man's best comrade. That you deny me from.)"

  'Well... that's one more headache I need to deal with.'

  "Didn't I already told you it's impossible, cause' of the sanctions?"

  "(Fourth time is a charm, is what this youngling tale has taught me.)" Nikolai could only rub his face of the obvious bait of a comment she laid out for him. Naturally, he takes the bait unwillingly.

  "For Aperture's sake..."

  "(It doesn't have to be one of bigger stature, a small juvenile would do.)" She said, clearly now egging on him as she takes another book with a puppy.

  "Mmm..."

  Ash is... for the lack of a better term, stubborn. Despite her clear elite background and mannerisms, or what Nikolai perceived it as princess like. She is stubbornly curious to her surroundings, or more accurately, she is interested in any human related media or culture. Down to whatever food or sleep cycle they do, or even what Nikolai do. It has got more intense a little bit, since there was a lot of information that has been sanctioned for her to know, leaving her deprived. Of course, that meant Nikolai has to keep his mouth shut to his personal life as well, since that's a part of the sanctioned information he can't say. The only way she can get her curiosity on bay was through children's media, even then, it was one of the more generic and accessible ones that are only related to the book's topic. Which did somewhat keeps her in check.

  Yes, books. She was given books, papers, and a pen as entertainment to avoid her accessing the Net. Luckily, since she is still ignorant to a lot of it, she readily accepts it, or she is aware of it, but still accepts it as is. As hilarious to watch what is equivalent of a grown woman, who has the most garbage of drawing and writing skills, plus struggling to talk in english in front of him... it did come with a price.

  That price is himself. Unfortunately for Nikolai again, that sanctioning also applied to him. So he is receiving the same treatment, paper and children's book galore! No phones, no Net, no talking with Cecilia, and not even a video game to keep him occupied. The only silver lining he has, is at least he is given a basic set of exercise equipment to distract him.

  "No... and... no. You know already we are not allowed to have some pets. Let alone a puppy, it is not a beginner friendly pet for someone who has never even saw a dog before." She seems to take it as a challenge as her mandibles click excitedly.

  "(Perhaps they would heed our request now? After all, what is harm to be done on a furry creature?)" Nikolai shook his head and sat on his bed.

  "I told you, even if they did accept it, it'll be us who's going to have a problem. I can barely handle you, and the last thing I need is a dog, hogging and making a mess here in our 'tiny' cell. Especially you, who values space. Plus, we're prisoners, there's laws about dogs and prisons if I remember correctly. So we're not going to get one legally even." His comment gave her some thoughts to ponder. Then, a idea came up to her. She then grabbed a different children's book to show a cat.

  "No. That's not allowed either. And I don't think they would let us have one just because its more legal to own one."

  Then, she shows a bird in a cage.

  "I don't know about that... insects and birds... nevermind, they probably won't."

  Then a pig.

  "We ain't raising live stock here princess." Nikolai sigh.

  Then a fish in a bowl.

  "Well... they could, but uhh... huh. I didn't thought of the fish."

  Ash then made a smirk, or what it looks like with her lips or lip like mouth forming one. Puffing her wings slightly as she neatly tuck the book away to a pile. "(You should memorize you're data on the sanctioned items Freeman, or else you might be tricked one day for being oblivious to the problem.)"

  "You can't expect me to do that. I have a memory of a gold fish...!" Her head tilting aside from his comment, Nikolai then turned his gaze to the outside of the glass confinement. Showing nobody guarding them, but only the hallway of the cold climate control systems buzzing nonchalantly. "... well considering our circumstances, I guess it is not a bad idea to ask one. Probably be good for my sanity."

  His comment got her intrigued, as she didn't thought Nikolai would do it. It seems her comments finally got through him as she watches Freeman got to comms channel to call for personnel on a request. Granted, just as he said, Ash doubted they would heed their request. The highest items of value they requested that has been approved, was her youngling media and human literature tools. While Freeman got himself some rudimentary equipment to tire himself out purposely. Even food was not safe from the sanctions, as they received bland and tasteless bars of food that is enough for their sustenance.

  Ash awaited, if ever her request of a pet would come. However, she instead received a different outcome than the norm.

  "Huh? They request us to stay put for the time being and prepare for an outing." Nikolai raised an eyebrow as he closed the dial, as he scratches his chin in thought.

  "(It seems that we are going to have a curious walk around the facility today.)" Ash replied as finally stood up from her bed, stretching her legs and wings, as she towers over Nikolai upon standing fully. "(What do you think Freeman? Will we have a curious walk today?)" She asked him, almost to a whisper that the translator could imitate.

  "I don't know... but it is almost lunch, and they didn't bring us our food at the usual time." Nikolai taps his soles as he has a idea on what's about to go down. Doesn't mean he liked it though.