Built for power

Achille let out a large sigh as they rose from their seat and moved over to their bed. A metal container was pulled out and unlocked with a hand scanner. Achille opened it and began rummaging through an assortment of books, trinkets, and objects. One such object was a framed photo that clattered out of the container and slid over to Aniello.

He glanced over and picked it up out of intrigue. In the photo stood two young women in trainee uniforms hugging each other as if celebrating. One of them was a much happier looking Achille but the other was someone Aniello recognised in shock. The photo was quickly snatched out of his hand by Achille who stared, waiting for a reaction as she held the photo close.

"That woman you're standing with is my mother isn't it?" probed Aniello. The two of them sat in silence as Achille stood the photo up next to her.

"It is." affirmed Achille as she adjusted the frame. "We were trainees together many years ago. First bunk mates but soon best friends. We formed a closer bond than any other trainee in our squad which made it difficult when I started to climb the ranks faster than her. Soon we became completely separated as Omeganu took me as their disciple to become the next replacement for one of the five star points.

One day, they gave me an important job to select applicants for a high ranking operation. When I saw your mother on the list I saw an opportunity to reunite and become friends again... but I later found out I had just signed her up to be a test subject for a disgusting mothering-scheme to bread a new generation of super soldiers. They did unspeakable things to those people. Messed with biology to try an accelerate the development process but it just lead to under-developed children and mothers dying from excess strain on their bodies. She was one of those unlucky few.

I went against protocol and visited her. I wanted to apologise- I wanted my friend back. But as soon as I took off my helmet, she just started screaming at me. She said I didn't think it was enough to abandon her all those years ago and that I HAD to put through all the trauma of the program as well.

She died the next day.

The only way I can remember her face is the way she looked at me as she screamed all her pain in my direction. A face of anger and disgust. I wanted to just go to the core this damned ship and blow IT TO PIECES!"

Achille punched the framed picture over onto the floor and pounded away at it. The protective glass shattered leaving a ruined picture.

"I had to watch from afar as your father dragged you through the same dirt your mother went through. Her legacy ruined. But then I got the idea to try and make the best of it. Make the best out of you. But every time I look at you, I see myself. The highest ranking failure. The monster no one can look in the eye the same way she did."

Aniello placed a hand on Achille's back causing her to flinch and look over to him. He smiled.

"I forgive you."

Achille looked him in the eyes as he looked into hers. Her lip trembled as the face of her friend sat smiling back at her once again.

"I'm sorry Evelyn." sobbed Achille. She dove into Aniello and held him tight. Aniello reacted hesitantly but soon held her as she cried into his arms

Meanwhile, Demitri's vessel made its final landing manoeuvre and set down on the vast land of a desert planet. Demitri exited and walked along the fine, metallic-silver sands as he looked out at the multiple twisters filling the horizon.

"Wonderful home you have here Sentra. Very... welcoming." a stream of small triangular panels flowed out from his person and burrowed deep into the sand. The sand around it began drawing inwards as the metal began building mass at an exponential rate until a large, flowing mass of metal loomed over Demitri. "You had fun. Didn't you?" The mass drew closer and Demitri stroked it. "Want to have some more?"

The mass swallowed his hand and his energy began to surge through the mass and into the planet. Bolts of energy streaked outwards and propagated in all directions. The lithosphere churned as the twisters on the horizon were engulfed in the power. "So do I." Demitri raised his other arm into the air and the sands around him formed its shape into the sky.

"First, I need a throne."