Traitor

The trip to the ground was largely uneventful. Very few enemy fighters escaped the bunkers intact. Jason’s heavily armored gunship accompanied by many other heavily armored gunships and fighters landed close to the mouth of the cave. He wore heavy armor and was armed as were the Marines. They preceded him to the cave and attempted to gain entry.

Jason was very powerfully drawn to the cave. He noted that the Marines entered the cave, signaled the all clear and he proceeded to enter. Once in the cave the gravity increased. The Marines despite power augmented armor sank to the ground apparently unconscious.

Jason found his communication blocked. He felt the gravity lighten as he felt an enormously powerful presence enter his mind. It appeared surprised and said, “You are two yet both appear superficially Una, but before Una. Yet you, Jason, are more. You are the key a person for whom I await. I recognize you, Lord Kargo, you and your ancient peoples!”

“Your soldiers will not be harmed. For those outside, no time will pass. Had you not come I had prepared a surprise for those that irritate my skin, for they shouldn’t be here and can’t be within me.”

“I am Porquenta! I am the planet! I was created many millions of years ago and I have been waiting for someone like you. I was created by the originators and I am an AI, but much more powerful than the ones with which you are familiar. Like your ship, which is an AI created with the ship, I was created together with a planet. I can’t describe the originators because they erased my memories of them. We know of the Una, for they are friends. Perhaps they knew the originators. I’ve been trying to speak to you for some time but couldn’t do so until I was helped by The One.

“I’ve arranged some important training for you. The time outside the cave won’t change. If you complete the training successfully, you will receive a reward. The training will be rigorous yet incomplete. You will need to return later. You will be provided with what you need for now.”

Jason understood that this was an offer that he had no option but to accept. There would be no cost in time outside the cave, but he would be offered training of a type that was neither specified nor described. It was clear that the entity could readily destroy him and that he had no capacity to refuse. He did however request that his people were made comfortable during the time of his training, particularly if they were to spend the same duration of time as he did while in the cave.

He was not aware directly of any agreement, but knew Porquenta had agreed.

Jason found himself on the side of a high mountain, climbing a path to a hut perched on top of a cliff. The path ended at the hut. He made his way towards the hut knocked and opened the door. He saw a wizened old man seated on an earthen floor.

That was the last he remembered until he found himself back in the cave. He knew that he had new capacities to fight, to utilize his crystals, and to understand his powers. He felt he’d learned a lot more about the use of his powers. He understood clearly how to merge with a computer and with an AI without any requirement for an interface or an implant. He would never again need to use his keyboard or his game controller. The gravity in the cave was back to normal and he told the men that there was nothing here to see or do. He said that he had done what he needed to do and collected what he needed to collect.

They noticed that he carried a heavy Warhammer over his shoulder. He saw them looking at it, realized it was there, and examined it. He knew this was his reward, but he also knew that it was a key. He saw that it was intricately carved on the handle with writing that he couldn’t understand. Somehow, he knew that it was from the ancients. It was his. He recognized it. He felt a communion with it. He felt a life within it. Together they could destroy, and they were going to destroy the parasites in the skin of the planet. He had a clearly defined mission from Porquenta.

“Linda and Andrea, I’ve completed my mission, and am moving to join the troops at bunker number one of the three on the hologram.”

He felt strong and energetic. The flight to the bunker took fifteen minutes as it was on the other side of the planet. Porquenta had told him it was an important target, and a test of his abilities. He could feel the bunker from the perspective of Porquenta. The bunker and the people inside were like an insect that had borrowed its way under his skin. He felt very angry, as did Porquenta. His anger was growing by the minute. He met the captain who had been attempting to break through the doors unsuccessfully with explosives. They called in bunker busters but were refused on Jason’s orders.

The doors were huge and thick lying on a desolate escarpment. Explosives made very little impact and they were standing waiting for authorization for the use of space-based missiles. The Captain was frustrated that this was denied. All emplacements protecting the doors had been taken out.

“Captain move your troops back ten yards while I destroy the door,” said Jason confidently. The Captain looked at Jason and his incongruously large Warhammer, incredulously. Jason moved forward. He could see the location of the hinges as if he had x-ray vision.

“Stand back all of you, while I break open the doors,” Jason said imperiously as they moved slowly back.

He felt increasingly angry. He saw the troops muttering amongst themselves. Some of the clones even laughed. They knew the powerful explosives had done nothing. He was not interested in the puny soldiers and the ineffectual efforts that that had made. He would show them a small fragment of his power.

Jason walked to the doors and lifted his hammer. The hammer emitted a very deep hum and glowed red. Lightning flashed from it. Jason called out in a language with which he was not familiar in a deep fearsome voice. Jason realized incredulously that the voice came from him and he understood nothing of the language as he struck at the door. He felt enormous energy and power in his hands. The sound of the hammer striking the door resounded throughout the valley. The door had a deep central dent. He looked back readying himself to strike again and noticed the troops had closed their visors and had bent their knees to deal with the strong vibration. He felt their amazement and fear telepathically. Many felt relief he was on the side of the clones.

Jason looked at the hammer as it grew in his grasp and he metamorphosed for the first time into a thirty-five foot tall heavily muscled giant. Oddly enough his armor enlarged with him. The troops looked at him, awestruck.

He shouted thunderously as he struck the hammer close to the center of the doorframe close to where the two doors met. The door he struck shattered as did the adjacent door. It looked as if he was hitting balsa wood. Large fragments of both thick armored doors fell inward. There was a short period of silence before he heard the sounds of the remnants of the doors landing far below accompanied by the sounds of breaking equipment and screams of pain.

“After me,” he called before jumping without any thought into the cavity and the stronghold of the enemy. His armor allowed for controlled descent, but he allowed himself to free-fall. The soldiers followed and initially were close above him, but fell behind.

He landed in a large hanger. He saw terrified faces and arms pointing at him. He didn’t realize until much later how big he was and how loudly he was shouting. The first of many of his soldiers and marines followed.

He screamed his war cry and saw the enemy quail in front of him.

Jason felt rage. These puny runts had the audacity to penetrate Porquenta without permission. He felt their intrusion as Porquenta felt it. He swung his hammer crushing equipment and the people hiding behind it. The hammer projected lightning from all its surfaces. He could shoot his fireballs and they were amplified and accelerated. The hum from the hammer rose a pitch to a scream that was loud and threatening, deafening those of the enemy unprotected by armor. Everything he struck exploded backwards from his hammer strikes. Lightning, fireballs, and ice flew randomly from the Warhammer, spontaneously striking weapons emplacements, enemy Marines and defensive positions. People ran in terror from the huge apparition.

He sent massive balls of lightning and flames to follow groups down passages and destroyed doors as they began to shut to protect escape passages. Jason rampaged down the largest corridor, smashing armored vehicles and chasing hundreds of fleeing soldiers and technicians incinerating them as he ran, hunched over, down the corridor to destroy a massive door as it swung shut to block his passage. He struck it a mighty blow. The vibration of the strike was felt throughout the facility. The door then exploded outwards from the impact of his single blow. It shattered into large lumps of metal that cut a swath through a large assembly area, with assembled troops, heavy weapons, and tanks. He fired even larger fireballs towards them that exploded on impact.

Around and ahead of him and everywhere he looked people dropped weapons, and put out their hands sideways to surrender. The most hardened fanatical soldiers had encountered a force that they regarded as a vengeance of the Gods.

Jason’s voice thundered forth. It was so loud that the walls vibrated and his voice could be felt even through soldiers’ feet. Jason reverted to Empire standard. It was equally as loud telepathically.

“You will bow down to me in supplication or you will regret your miserable existences. You will suffer for your intrusion into my substance and into my being.”

He saw people holding their ears shaking their heads crying and lying on the floor. He looked up and saw a further set of doors protected by weapons systems but no longer manned. He projected the depths of hell and the profoundest unendurable misery. It was so intolerable some even tried to kill themselves. Troops emerged from everywhere to surrender.

Jason handed control to the Colonel who soon joined him, calmed himself down, and returned to the surface. Jason’s hammer returned to trans-dimensional storage and he to his normal size. Somehow his armor had been changed so that it could grow and shrink with him. It was virtually unmarked from any weapons fire.

Later he heard that there was unprecedented cooperation in subsequent interrogations. The entire action was over in less than ten minutes, from arrival ’til departure. His own soldiers were too stunned to speak and question him. He told the colonel to get the commander of the facility to warn the other facilities that he was coming and that the vengeance of hell would be upon them. He asked his shuttle pilot to transport him back to the ship. He heard Linda’s voice penetrate his concentration.

“Jason, where are you. I heard there was some kind of huge monster in the facility you were going to. Are you alright? I can see your vital signs are active,” Linda said sounding worried.

He felt invincible, but ever so tired. It had been an unusual experience. He had a sense of unreality and struggled to integrate Jason and the giant vengeful creature.

“Linda, I do have some interesting things to tell you. That was no monster, that was me when I was transformed by the planet. What progress has been made to date?”

“Wait a sec, I’ll send you the situational information. Essentially, we have captured the leadership and are rapidly progressing to control the whole planet. We have not as you requested breached the last two bunkers. It’s as of now down to one last bunker that’s holding out.

“As of ten-seconds ago however one of the bunkers has surrendered, please see the hologram from your suit AI, and it’s my understanding that the other one commenced negotiations for surrender. I can see visions now of the attack on the bunker, which I understand was sent by Captain McGee from the facility that you attacked and the message from the commander of the bunker that preceded it. Oh, my heavens! I’ve never seen anything like this! Jason who the hell is this creature and where is it from? Are you hurt? Where were you during that rampage? The captain thought that somehow you had found it in the mountain and got it to manifest at the bunker? There’s nothing much more that will need to be done from what I can see other than mopping up unless the negotiations proceed poorly,” Linda said.

She looked quite flustered, but she could see that Jason looked like his normal self and she could see that his shuttle was rising rapidly to rejoin the ship.

“Linda, I’m on my way back, but will return to other bunkers as I’m needed. A lot has happened that I need to think about.”

On his return Jason decontaminated, then returned briefly to his stateroom to clean himself to his satisfaction, and dressed in more comfortable clothing. He noticed that the dogs were gone and recalled dimly that they were taken by Porquenta the planet AI for training and would return soon. He returned to the bridge where he discovered that one commander had decided not to surrender, triggering the second commander to change his mind. He felt the anger grow. He began to rage at their disobedience and intransigence. No miserable suckling baby of the priests would stand against him. They would feel his fury at their manifest disobedience. They won’t thwart me and live. They will die in misery. They will become his willing minions. They will never displease him again.

“I shall speak,” spoke Jason in a commanding disembodied voice.

Jason felt as though he was a participant in what was occurring and not fully in charge of himself. He thought it was an impressive voice and full of menace.

“Listen to me you miserable minions,” he knew exactly to whom he was speaking. “Plutarch,” he continued, his voice commanding and imperious, “you miserable wretch, you sniveling puny creature. You try to hide and think that you’ve fooled me with the clone. You deny me at your peril! You defile the planet Porquenta! Hear me, tremble, and know your fate. You shiver like the coward you are and filthy yourself before me. I am Jason, and I speak now for the planet Porquenta! I herald your doom!” His voice was heard in every implant of every priest both on the planet and on the ship.

Jason, didn’t know it, his speech was accompanied by a vision of him in a full beard with wild hair and a ferocious face carrying his hammer with two demon hounds by his side. They were horned caricatures of massive dogs. They had a frontal horn above their eyes and two short horns behind. Their coats were smooth, their feet massive with claws of black ebony. Their eyes were red and they were pawing the ground. Fire spewed from their mouths. Fire and lightning surrounded his hammer. His eyes threatened horrors that the priests experienced as if they were in the depths of hell. Their minds were overcome with visions of their worst fears multiplied many times over. They found themselves trapped underground with hideous monsters tearing at their bodies and stealing their souls, they found themselves pulled underwater by slimy hideous creatures on miserable planets filled with entities from myths and legends. They found themselves in the pits of Hades in nameless mines being whipped and tortured. The Plutarch experienced it all and worse.

“Plutarch you’ve had your opportunity and have defied me. You will face my wrath. Your pathetic attempt to join with the creatures of the dark will now reap its misery.”

Jason was greatly impressed with this. He didn’t know he had it within himself, and was totally unaware of the vision and sound that was being transmitted. His friends from the clones experienced it at a distance. His enemies lived the experience.

The sensor officers warned of an unprecedented power surge beneath both of the remaining bunkers. All on the bridge continued to watch intently as did Jason. They watched as the ground shattered, they heard screams of terror, rifts formed in walls and in the floor, flames emerged followed by black then white and red lava. Screams of terror were heard and was transmitted to every priest. They could see the Plutarch screaming and burning.

“Surrender or die!” thundered Jason.

Within minutes surrender was being negotiated with terrified commanders and priests. Twenty more priests who had otherwise remained hidden on the battleship opened their last concealed bulkhead and surrendered. The priests incarcerated on the ship and those on the ground and the troops everywhere were profoundly shaken. Most would never be the same. They had been profoundly traumatized by the experience.

“Jason there’s some suggestion that you might have hidden depths, now I know how you shake my foundations in bed” said Andrea the mistress of understatement. “That was masterful and turned me on something fierce.

“Do you think Linda and I could take you to your stateroom to try out your new Warhammer?”

Jason’s anger disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He looked at both women as if he was seeing them for the first time. They were lovely and were both smiling at him and beckoning him to come to them.

They strolled back to his stateroom arm in arm. Both women noticed that they were not greeted by the dogs. The dogs had taken a great interest and liking to both of the women. Dogs were unknown to them but soon they became very fond of the beasts as Jason called them. Jason said that both animals had gone for training, the nature of which he didn’t know, at the suggestion of Porquenta. He then told them of his experiences. He said facetiously thinking of the gravity, that Porquenta had a somewhat forceful and heavy personality. This led to them quizzing him at great length about his day. When they asked about the rumors about his entry to the reinforced underground bunker area he explained:

“Somehow the planet has enormous powers. These powers, I suspect, can be delegated. I was the delegated person. I still felt present, and it felt as if I was doing things, but at the same time I felt that I was standing back and watching this amazing process. It’s been the same for much of the day. The language and the nature of the communication of threats isn’t within my repertoire of behavior. That’s not to say that Warhammers were never a part of our civilization. They certainly were, but they were a number of centuries ago. I’ve never seen one, or used one, before.

“The planet created an entity that was appropriate to me and that I could achieve. I was given some very short training while in the cave and I suspect that that was in order to swing the hammer and be convincing. There’s no way I could have split that door. Not only was the outer door split, but it was shattered. The door itself was as you’ve seen before was huge, thick, and reinforced. I think I could have personally have hammered on that door for a hundred years, and without the help of the planet, I would not have scratched it.

“I’m sure that the planet wanted it to look as though I was doing it, but even one of our mythological godlike figures, Thor, with his hammer, would have banged away for a lot longer than I did.

“There’s no way that it was me growing to giant size and running amok down the corridors. It was great being there, and it was a real blast … literally and figuratively. There’s a great sense of satisfaction in hammering open a huge reinforced door, smiting the enemy, crashing tanks left and right and having an amazing booming voice that would scare troops sufficiently to poop in their pants.

“I really enjoyed the threats to the Plutarch when we returned to the ship. The whole scene was a classic portrayal of an over dramatic and vengeful God. I’m not sure that I’d pay to see such a movie, but it sure had a dramatic impact in this battle. Perhaps we could take the planet along with us for some future battles. I could polish the hammer and learn to ‘leap tall buildings in a single bound,’ or even mountains. By the by I wouldn’t mind going to visit the IT priests tomorrow and I’m sure that I can recreate that voice. If I’m sufficiently convincing, maybe we can acquire the elusive information to reverse all the sabotage within the ship’s systems.

“I certainly would like to have another chat with Porquenta and thank him for a truly great but very strange day. Maybe I can ask if he can do the same for you guys. I’ll ask if he has a monolith for us to dance around wildly, while frightening the recalcitrant minions to death!”

The next morning, they were up early as usual. The dogs were lying on their mats at the foot of the bed. They greeted everyone with an unusual level of enthusiasm, slobbering over their faces and hands, wagging their tails furiously and standing up to ensure everyone was licked with abandon. The dogs accompanied them to the gym, where they relaxed on the floor after receiving their share of attention from the marines who had grown attached to them.

They were rejected from the sauna and for the first time ever they howled briefly to the non-existent moon. The Marines of course interpreted this that they wanted to be sure to be with Jason when he transformed into the vengeful giant so that they could participate in the next rampage. There were other theories that the dogs saw themselves as Jason’s girlfriends and missed him. There was raucous laughter as each theory was propounded and elaborated. The dogs sat under the table at breakfast hoping for morsels much as most dogs do.

“I think it would be a good idea to take the dogs to visit the IT priests. Do you think we can arrange to see the top few? I’d like to see plenty of security there in view of our last experience. The dogs may further spread terror in the ranks,” Jason said and looked at Linda and Andrea thoughtfully.

They slowly walked and talked considering what approach would be taken with the priests. Jason suggested that he use the fearsome biblical language, the frightening voice and appear backed up by the dogs.

They sat waiting in an interview room ringed by guards as the prisoners were led towards them. There were four of them. They were identified as the most senior of the priest IT cohort.

Linda brusquely told them that Jason had some questions for them. The prisoners looked terrified except for one. Jason sensed a switch occur as he recognized Jason. He detected hate and malice and an intention to kill Jason.

The priest started to raise a hand with a weapon emerging from a finger when Jason with a fearsome roar reached forward held his hand and literally crushed it. He was about to tear out his heart when the dogs metamorphosed behind him into huge, massive fanged horned beasts, leapt over the table and literally shredded the priest with their teeth and claws while burning him between bites. Jason could see lightning shooting from three horns on their heads.

The action was over before anyone else in the room reacted. The beasts, with smoke emerging from their mouths, appeared very pleased with themselves as they made their way over to stand next to Jason. They looked around the room as if to say, “Any other takers, please can we have any other takers?” They shimmered and returned to their previous form. Jason straightened himself still holding part of the priest’s hand attached to forearm that had been bitten off. He didn’t appear to realize that he was still holding it as he began to speak. His voice had returned to its former sinister threatening nature.

“The frustration and interference with my purpose won’t be countenanced without consequence. He’s been condemned to suffering for an eternity, as will you all should you not subjugate yourselves to my will. Your actions are filled with malice and I call for penance before absolution.

“I’ll not tolerate the sabotage in which you have participated. You will undertake to entirely re-constitute the programming and the systems of the ship and reverse every action that led to interference with my mission!

“Understand that my patience has become short and the consequences if you continue to attempt to thwart me will lead to eternal suffering!” Jason thought that it wasn’t bad, but wondered if the language couldn’t have been a bit more biblical. He considered a bit more hellfire and brimstone if his words didn’t work. He looked at the priests and saw that the remaining three were trembling and one had wet himself.

“My Lord, we’ll do as you order! We’ll be your loyal servants. We’ll undertake your every task and fulfill your every wish,” spoke the only one who looked to be at least in partially control of himself.

“We do know that we have served a false master. We have felt your will and wish to dedicate ourselves to serve the God Porquenta and repair the damage and build a temple on the surface as he wishes.”

Now this was a direction that was entirely off the wall and completely unexpected. Before he considered anything about temples he wanted to focus them on the reversal of sabotage.

“Obey my words and I’ll consider your offerings. Your sins are many and I have readied the punishment for those who exerted feeble efforts to thwart my purpose. My hounds will be the servants of my will. If you please me I’ll consider your efforts at reparation. The mines of Serrus, seek slaves. My faithful servants will ensure a lifetime of painful work to feed the furnaces for the construction of my machines of war. Satisfy my will to my complete satisfaction, and I’ll make representation to Porquenta for you to be his devoted minions.” Jason wondered where that codswallop came from what was Serrus and what machines of war, as he continued,

“You will meet with our IT specialists and convey the key information to entirely reverse your sabotage.”

“Yes, my Lord,” they all said obsequiously, “we’ll do exactly as you ask.”

Andrea, at lunch, insisted on impersonating him for everyone in the canteen. Jason admitted that she did a highly credible job, despite her more feminine voice struggling with his deeper threatening echoing tone. Andrea and Linda described the metamorphosis of the dogs, crediting the planet with assisting them with the priests. Even though everyone laughed there were some who looked quite discomfited for a while, when they looked at Jason.

He could see them relax as they saw he was his usual self at the meal.

Jason excused himself after lunch to return to his stateroom. He wanted to meditate. He chatted to the dogs as they walked back and had the strangest feeling that they were trying to communicate with him mentally.

He told them how impressed he was and how excellent the training had been. He asked if they could change back at will. He wanted to have a closer look at them. They changed in the corridor, which he realized was unwise when he saw how terrified people were and how some ran, despite him reassuring them.

The dogs were delighted to be looked at, prodded, and patted. As demonic hounds, they were about four times the size that they were as dogs. Their skin was dark almost black, it felt very warm. Their teeth were huge and barely fit in their mouths. They had three horns. Jason noted again that the horns seem to have some sparks emerging periodically. Rosie coughed spitting a gout of fire.

He got an image in his mind of lightning coming from their horns and hitting a large animal that fell over. He saw two large dog’s fighting each other, clawing each other and attacking with fire from their mouths and lightning from their horns. Yes, he realized they could communicate images.

He sent back to them a picture of him in the room after they had torn the priest apart, patting them, and rubbing them behind the ears. Both of them wagged their tails and did the usual leaning against him. They were really heavy big sturdy dogs, but in this form, they were the beasts that he called them.

Jason returned to his stateroom. The dogs lingered outside and sent Jason an image of them sitting and guarding the door. He closed the door and sat on his bed, arranged his pillow and made himself comfortable. The dogs manifested in the room. Jason was amazed.

He realized that they could now transport themselves. They were wagging their tails and were very pleased with themselves. After sending them an image of him closing his eyes on the bed and them lying down, they simply disappeared again.

He relaxed and triggered his meditative state. He found himself within a mind of infinite complexity, with different thoughts and ideas, memories of wars and creatures. This clarified itself into Porquenta, in the form of an old man.

“Jason I’m sure that you don’t need to be carrying around and guarding tens of thousands of prisoners. When you are finished with them, send them to me near the cave and I’ll deal with them and set them to work. You can also send the entire group from Mars. There’s no need for you to waste resources, keeping them prisoner. I’ll send them to work building a temple. That amuses me to do so. I then have important work for them to undertake in the repair of my aging systems. I’ve already got the idea in their heads as you are aware. I will keep the clone manufacturing equipment in pristine condition in case we ever need it in the future.

“It won’t take long for the priests to become devoted servants, and it’s a long time since I’ve had people work on me. There’s a considerable amount of maintenance that needs to be undertaken on very old equipment and they can also build a new set of maintenance drones while updating this old replicator technology.

“Much of my equipment is millions of years old and while it was built to last, there came a time when things simply needed to be renewed and replaced.”

“Porquenta, I probably only need a few of the most senior priests to take with me to provide intelligence on Nirvana. I will then send them back. When we have done our work on Nirvana I’ll talk to you about whether you need more people at that time. It’ll be useful to be able to incarcerate the villains and put them to useful work.” Jason said

“Porquenta, after my fine times with the Warhammer and turning me into a giant that had an invigorating rampage underground smiting our enemies, you do indeed deserve a temple fit for a God.

“There are many IT priests and facilities on Nirvana. I’ll send the whole lot back here to accelerate your repair and recovery along with the scum we scraped off your surface that we are taking along for intelligence, if that suits you.

“I loved the look on the faces of the troops when I hit the doors for the first time. That war-hammer is a great gift, it doesn’t feel heavy, but it certainly smashes things! I like how it magnifies the effects of my crystals projecting fireballs and it makes lightning.

“That nightmare voice, that’s something else again. It even scared me! I could just see those hell images. They were better than any movie I’ve seen and scared the pants off the priests. I’m really grateful for all of that. You greatly shortened the battle. I like how you shook up the bunkers from below. I was pretty tired after I settled down after the first bunker. I’d have been shattered doing two more. It saved the lives of lots of troops and I’m grateful. I’d also like to come back sometime to hear about your background history in detail. An AI built into a planet is a strange concept.

“I’ll leave some IT specialists, Engineers, and replicators to help start the rebuild of your equipment and I’ll leave some troops behind to help deal with any residual issues if any. We are, as of now, shipping over nearly the whole group from Mars, except for maintenance technicians for the clone pods. I agree we need to keep them operational in case we need them for the future.

“Thank you, Jason. I can control about a hundred thousand recalcitrant people at my present state of function. The Engineers, their equipment and IT specialist will be greatly appreciated. By the time you are finished with Nirvana, I’ll be able to cope with a million people. Look for some building specialists and AIs and some large replicators to help get us started if you can. If you can spare a ship or two for interplanetary transport and short-term protection that would also be appreciated.

“The space dock is operational and I have AIs in storage that will be able to enhance it. The dock has replicators of all sizes that will help some of the building get started on the planet, but will slow down the ship repairs currently needed. We also would benefit from some mining AIs and drones in the short term,” said Porquenta.

“While we are here I’ll ask Ship to build as many replicators, AIs and drones as we can and you can have full use of all our mining resources. When we capture the fleet, I’ll see how much more we can spare.

“Ship, can you communicate with Porquenta?”

“Jason, of course I can. I was listening to your conversation. We can take it from here and look at the optimum solutions,” Ship replied tersely.

“Porquenta, I can certainly leave you some gunships and shuttles, but will tell you how many ships when I know the size of the fleet and what we’ll need for Nirvana.

“I think Nirvana isn’t going to be an easy proposition. We have managed to fool the priests so far, but they’re going to get suspicious at some stage in the not too distant future.

“Before I forget, thank you for training the dogs, and for the total dog transformation. They have improved their intellect also, and can now communicate telepathically. I’m really pleased I met you. I’ll look forward to visiting when you are back to your former pristine state!” Jason said emphatically.

Porquenta smiled at him enigmatically. “You may well surprise yourself further in the future. I encountered many beings and species and races in the past, many were augmented, but never have I encountered a monster crystal like the one in you. Winston told me the story. We have never heard of a crystal jumping and never have we heard of crystals consolidating into one crystal.

“They are grown in a special medium in a dimension where the transfer of information is close to instantaneous. The crystals that the marines have, grow in a month. The large emerald you inserted would take a year or even two. The biggest that Winston had would have taken at least five to ten years. Each one is a supercomputer AI. The more advanced the being the more they use they can get out of their crystals. My originators first began to build small ones that worked in this universe and were directly added to the brain. As they got bigger they added more computer into other body spaces. Eventually they built some in other dimensions and found ways to insert them into themselves. They didn’t have natural slots as do you. I know the factories and can build them, but there’s no way that we knew how to consolidate crystals made by different civilizations into one crystal. I don’t even know why one would do it, as crystals can learn to work with each other and resolve conflicts. Jason, you are a real puzzle, but I’m delighted I’ve met you.

“You automatically led to my activation and my rebirth. I’m sure we’ll be good for each other. That’s more than I’ve spoken for millions of years.”

“Jason, you must get your claims for the conquest of Mars and Porquenta done as soon as you can. It must be top priority for the lawyers. These planets will be of inestimable value in the future. I’ll nag you ’til you’ve it done.

“You’ve only had a small amount of the training I can provide. My systems are still limited but it’s essential you visit again when you can, for much more extensive training. As of now, start calling the clones ‘your forces.’”

He began to fade out and disappear.

\

Twenty minutes later Jason, refreshed and in new clothes, walked to the marine area after contacting Malone and asking for an opportunity to meet with the lawyers. He found them and the clone lawyers together in a conference room, in a large suite of offices. He informed them that he wanted them to work on the claims process in relation to both planets as a matter of priority along with the adoption application for ‘his forces.’ He asked the claim to be made to the Empire in his own name rather than the Duchy. He could amalgamate it into the Duchy later, if appropriate.

He had a fear that they wouldn’t take the brief and would question his right to brief them. They all treated him with utmost respect and acted as if they were his lawyers. He spoke of ‘his forces’ several times to practice saying the words smoothly and comfortably. He watched the legal teams carefully as he said the words and he could see they were pleased to hear him refer to them as his forces.

He took the clone legal group aside and said that he would be talking to the senior generals and admirals but sought their advice. He said that he believed that at a later stage that it was likely that they would need to make representation for the clones to join the Empire as his family and as full citizens. This case needed to be prepared now and all the ramifications considered as well as possible approaches that could be taken politically and otherwise. A broad approach needed to be planned.

“I’d like to also suggest that rather than referring to them as my clone army that we begin to simply refer to them as my ‘family military forces,’ and that we attempt to ensure that this is applied in all documentation and in all references. I’ll raise these issues at the most senior level and we can then further discuss how all of this is to be implemented. My children will need to be citizens of the Empire.

It’ll be my sincere regret that I’ll be hard pressed to be involved in the day-to-day bringing up of my children.

“As I’m of the Royal Family it’ll be essential for my family to be part of the Empire and if there are holdings, properties, estates, businesses and other enterprises as part of the legacy of my family, I want to ensure that this can be legitimately claimed. Since my original family has been some distance away for some time, no matter how advanced the Empire may be, my return accompanied by a substantial force, is going to throw a substantial spanner into many works. Feel free to discuss these issues with the legal team of the ship in a full and frank way as they’re much more likely to be aware of the political ramifications of all we’ll consider. In fact, in many ways they, too, will be close relatives. Several of them will also bear my children.

Jason contacted Linda and Andrea and suggested that they meet to eat, and subsequently he wanted to meet with the senior group of general staff from Porquenta. The top generals and admirals from Porquenta were amongst the first group captured and were being debriefed and assessed. Jason suggested that if they were ready for the discussion, and were no longer loyal to the priests, they should participate in all subsequent decisions.

Jason met the most senior equivalent to Linda, Celia Ford; and Felicia MacDonald, an Admiral equivalent to Andrea. Jason found himself fiercely attracted to them both. “We are very pleased to meet you, My Lord,” said Felicia, grinning. “Conversely, I can say, My Lord Daddy, we are pleased to meet you! You are indeed a handsome hunk of royalty and a man with a good strategic brain, I’ve heard. That always turns me on. We don’t mind saying we are impressed with your communication drone defense. You have, I’m told, a gaseous approach to some ships, but can otherwise be quite explosive.”

“Yes, we are indeed delighted to make your acquaintance. We were also pleased to find that our supposed futures had changed dramatically. The Plutarch and his mob give priests everywhere a bad name,” Celia said.

“I too am very happy to meet you both. I’m pleased that we were able to assist you and hope we can help each other further.”

They were both close to his height. They both looked strong and athletic and both had brightly colored hair. Celia was a redhead and the red was more of a bright red than he was used to. Felicia had a thick head of very dark blue hair.

“Jason,” said Felicia in a teasing tone, “it’s a sorry situation that you went to Mars before Porquenta. We are now seriously behind them in royal gene repair. It’s is completely unfair and you are going to have to put yourself out or in or in and out to rectify that situation.” The other women all laughed and looked at Jason.

“Beautiful ladies, I’m happy to pay my dues. I am but one old man, but I’ll do my best. Sadly, first there’s business to discuss and plans to be made. Time, I fear, has run away with us. We all would like to see us gain complete control of the fleet. Can we meet briefly after dinner as I’ve some matters that I want to discuss with you that could be of some relevance and importance to you? These issues are more long-term but I want to get you to think about them, and help with their resolution if you are so inclined.”

They ate, laughed enjoyed each other’s company, and walked the short distance together to the conference room. In the conference room Jason told them about the discussion that he’d had with the lawyers and the substantial issues that he’d thought would likely be faced by all of them in the future. He told them of his briefing of the lawyers, with respect to both the claims of the planets, and the changing of the status of the clones prior to their introduction as potential family members if this was what they wanted.

“The way I see it is as follows. You all become adopted as part of my family, and then can be citizens of the Empire. There’s no precedent for a clone to become a citizen, but plenty of precedents for adopted children or spouses to become citizens.

“We have a contingency plan as well. If we are not welcome in the Empire we can live on Mars and Porquenta. The lawyers believe we would have an unassailable claim. If we enter the Empire, Mars and Porquenta can be assets to help support us,” said Jason. “What do you think of these ideas?”

“I think I can speak for all of us; but correct me as I go along, Felicia, if you want to add something or have a different opinion. We’ll also put the propositions to the clone group at large.

“We faced the same problems as the group on Mars. We were pawns of the priests and didn’t like what we found out about them. If we took over the fleet, our options were limited as you discussed with the clones on Mars. We have talked at length with Linda and Andrea. As we see it, this way we have it all. We get a family, strange as it may be. We get full length lives. We have the opportunity to use our skills to rid the Empire of a traitor and a menace; and I’m sure we can find work, later. The planets need to be developed and defended. There’s a real chance that we’ll be welcomed to the Empire as heroes rather than pariahs. Having Mars and Porquenta as insurance, seals the deal. It gives us a future, regardless. We need to ensure we acquire the fleet and rub that nasty little man’s face in the dirt before we finish him off.

“We were all warriors and that was what our originals were and that’s what we are. We’ll be happy to fight a righteous war and be your army. You will be our man and keep us warm at night. I can’t see any downside to the proposal.

“How we move on is dependent on how satisfied we are tonight and the smaller issue of the acquisition of the fleet,” Felicia said smiling and sounding smug.

“I’d have to agree with Felicia’ earlier views, Jason. With royalty comes responsibility, and as another potential family member, I’d remind you that family comes first. Then I’d like to come again and again as you come and go,” said Celia giggling. “I believe we can help you get the balance right between the planets. We can even help you balance between Celia and me, balance on each of us individually,” continued Felicia laughing.

Jason was filled with trepidation about an involvement with even more women. Linda or Andrea alone were each such substantial women, and that they were more than a handful. Janet and Phoebe were still in the background as was Marie. He was only one man, and he was not sure he could deal with the demands that were appearing on the horizon. It appeared that Celia and Felicia shared similar views and aspirations to Linda and Andrea. He began to understand how kings ended up with a number of wives in order to unify empires. He was not a king, merely an incidental commander who found himself in a unique situation, where he was more out of his depth every day. He became even more anxious when he heard Linda and Andrea boasting about his prowess. What the hell was he going to do with four women at once?

He knew that someone had to do the job and he was going to make a serious attempt at impregnating more women, and if he had to take on two extra ‘wives’ he would do the best he could. He knew he could ask the medical AI for help if he was to collapse with the effort.

He knew that exposing the crimes of the Patriarch and his capture would be a vital importance in negotiating a strong position when he entered the Empire. What he didn’t know, was how they were going to capture an entire fleet.

Both groups of clones agreed to have discussions with their own sets of legal people to get them to work together with the ship legal team to look at all the issues. He was surprised that Linda and Andrea were quite keen that he immediately assume his full responsibilities with Celia and Felicia. He soon found himself nervously returning with four women to his stateroom accompanied by his very happy, social, attention hogging hounds.

It was an afternoon to remember, and an afternoon that Jason felt he barely survived! He did find that his stamina had grown in leaps and bounds, but he had concerns about his ability to keep up. Leaps and bounds was not quite enough for four athletic passionate women, but he was determined he would do his best. He hoped that with his rejuvenation, and return of a youthful body, and the help of Phyllis and his crystals; that he would survive his conjugal duties!