Chapter 1: Unintended Path

Chapter 1: Unintended Path

Life is full of nothing but misery and suffering, what was the point of life why do we even bother living I keep asking myself, do we live day by day just to suffer? I have been so close to death all my life so it's nothing new to me death and I go way back since ethe day of my birth. If death and I have been so close since the very start of my existence, why do I even bother living at all? I ask that of myself every single day of my life.

Regardless of how I feel I just keep on living defiling all that I believe in if I ever had anything to believe about to begin with pain is all that I have.

Pain; Everything in our life is based on pain.

We feel pain when we are born.

We feel pain when we die.

We are afraid of pain.

And pain knows about it.

That was all that was so to be of my life that's was what I had expected till I meet her.

Far away in another other realm ages ago before present time; Earth near the end of the twenty first century, further down the line in history humanity has moved their home world of Earth and into the stars a time period known as the Age of Expansion which human civilization spread far beyond the confines of Earth and expanded throughout the Solar System / Sol System.

At some point in the 22st century, after Humanity had colonized each planet that they could after just a few years war broke out among the worlds. However, by this time Humanity created a series of artificially intelligent androids called Servitors at some point shortly after the end of 21st Century. This war led to constant, world ending brutal conflicts, resulting in the lost of the most of the colonized worlds other than Earth and a few other still inhabitable areas. After a near century of pointless infighting and the seeming absence of other intelligent life in the system, humans tired of their condition, withdrew back to Earth, where they enacted the Armistice, a treaty to end all treaties that put a permanent stop to the constant wars that had plagued them for so long.

In the process of decommissioning their instruments of war, mankind concluded that the deadliest instruments were themselves. War is a product of human nature. Thus, they fully pull themselves above the decision-making loop, relegating the majority of action to their AI constructs. After discovering nothing, they returned to Earth believing they were alone. That was broken when mankind detected a signal near the far edges of the Solar System. On July 4th 2321, an unidentified Flying Object (UFO) was sighted around the borders of the system. Humans then observed an object traveling to Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. Each time the object arrived at a planet, the planet underwent drastic climate and environmental changes.

No one even till the modern day has truly any idea what the object is, some speculate that the Traveler is a large vessel; others believe that it is a sentient being or artificial intelligence and some may even consider it a deity. As of yet its true nature is unknown.

After it made its runs throughout the system it finally arrived on Earth which too experienced the same phenomenon firsthand by the people personally. When Humanity made contact with the object when it came to Earth, society through this meeting was led to a technological advancement in human history beyond all understanding. It sparked a Golden Age of humanity that allowed humans to migrate from Earth to colonize other planets within the Solar System once again.

Numerous human colonies and settlements established on these newly remade worlds all told tales of wonder and great prosperity. Numerous research colonies throughout the system, and the major planets like Mars and Venus became homes to great cities smaller worlds became pleasure worlds or a garden world. Human civilization advanced into an age of utter perfection, using their technology to create artificial intelligences that assisted in maintaining a conflict-less utopia.

That was the state of the worlds until a certain signal arrives from beyond that reminds them of their past.

Present day time; Milky Way Galaxy year 2356 1030 AM Earth Time upon the orbiting station of Jupiter's moon of Titan the Heaven's Avil, the main headquarters of the company known as FrontierForge.

Walking through the halls of the FrontierForge's headquarters was a young youth no less than being in his early twenties was being approached by a senior man from behind. The man's features were bathed in sweat and his rapid breathing hinted at the exhaustion he was experiencing.

"Sir-sir we have an emergency!" his shoes clanking heavily upon the floor echoing all around the area as he ran up to the youth.

The man once reaching the youth stopped before the youth, head hanging down barely holding himself on his knees while trying to breathe in a breath of air. Sweat drip off his skin drenching the inner layers of his business suit after he stabilized his breathing, he slowly raised his head. The sight of the youth filled his vison, the youth in question was not just any youth that may seem out of place in such an environment, however that would be an ignorant assumption.

For the youth no other than his young twenties before the him was the President and CEO of FrontierForge which he himself founded from the ground up, he'd also helped design the very space station orbiting the moon Titan of Jupiter to which the pair now stood upon. In others words the youth in front of the frantic man was his boss, gazing at his President like always the first words that comes to his mind was; beautiful.

That was the only word that he could use to describe his boss, as despite knowing his true sex if one were to look at his face he looked like the ideal image of a feminine woman. However, he has well learned not to even mention that in front of the boss as he is deeply troubled by his lean stature and feminine appearance his delicate face showed almost no trace of masculinity.

His eyes are larger and shinier than that of a man's, being of a deep aquatic blue eye with a hint of unnatural silver coloration within, framed by long eyelashes giving of an innocently bewitching gaze from his eyes it was hard to keep direct eye contact with him. Along with the finishing touch with platinum blonde color bob hair cut with bangs does nothing but further enforce a more feminine feel to him than masculine allowing people to easily mistake him for a girl if it was not for the obvious Adams apple at his throat.

"Take your time, breath~, as a matter of fact walk with me John and explain the situation to me as we go." The soft bell like voice came from his boss's lips such a heavenly voice he could listen to if forever if he could such was the soothing feeling of his boss's voice.

"Th-thank sir." John straightens himself upright and hurries after the departing back of his boss as the footstep tapping upon the floor panels the sound echoing off around them once again. "It's our sub branch VentureForge sir, the Solar Watch's Man-Hunters have forcefully shut down their office and have commandeered it and have begun extracting our files from our data banks."

"That is of no issue have they not transferred all the necessary data files and finished products to us, yes?" The youth spoke dismissively at the revelation no notable evidence on his face gave away any hint of concern for the news.

"Ye-yes we have received word of the packages just now, as the ships have just docked in the ports and we have already begun unloading them."

"Good double check the contents make sure all necessary key components are there, we're already behind schedule as it is I will not tolerated anymore delays is that understood John?"

"Yes, yes sir right away sir!"

"Good…...leave me." The youth waved John away as he bowed low and turned away from practically speed walking back down the hallway. The youth stopped to look outside through a corridor window that he came upon, there he stood looking out into the void over the planet or rather moon below. There he stood just mindlessly gazing outward, the reinforced windows gave him a nice view of Titan's main continent, a brilliant green against the blue ocean.

The moon Titan as well as many planets are viable landmass, that they humans could colonized were no longer the same due to the terraforming project what originally was an uninhabitable planet or moon was transformed into a lush paradise. Titan for the most part was untouched being a mostly private estate world for the wealthy who could afford it. Thus, the moon was a good location for his HQ and his projects he was on the twentieth floor originally on his way to the executive conference room of the Heaven's Avil.

"Mo Ye." The youth lips voice out a name. At first nothing happened as he was the only soul in the corridor, then an array of lights started to acted up around him as a beam of light digitized next to the youth. The lights slowly danced in the air before condescending together beginning to take form. The light particles slowly began to take the form of a person.

Roughly a young female, roughly in her early twenties, with opaque, realistic looking long hair even a well-defined fingers and toes. The figure had such a fantasy-like, unreal beauty. Moreover, all of her graceful figure and beautiful body were exposed without anything to hide them with purplish/bluish skin, and blue circuit-pattern symbols scrolling down her body. All in all, if another soul were to see this one could agree that this figure was a beautiful. Not similar in the ways of the physical matter but of the ether or the beyond in that digital form. "Bingling." A bell like voice with a strong Mandarin accent came from the holofigure that has martialized beside the youth called Bingling. He slowly turned his head to the side to face her.

"Mo Ye has everything arrived intact?" The youth whose name is Bingling asked the hologram figure. In response the nude figure waved her hand as screens full of data information appeared. The moment the screens had appeared Bingling's eyes became fixated on them, studying them intently drinking in all the details that he can, like a sponge.

"As you can see all data files and most important merchandise have safely arrive intact along with all the corresponding files needed for the next step of the plan." Bingling's lips shifted for the slightest twitch as if preparing to speak, however. "All data banks within the systems of the VentureForge branch's mainframe source code have been erased, they will not be able to trace the files back to us."

"Hm~, good job, is Yaling here as well did she come along with the ship?" Bingling question his servant.

"Yes, she has also arrived safely along with the other packages and is awaiting you in the loading docks shall I summon her to you, young master?"

"No, I will go, contact the other executives that the meeting will be postponed an hour later, I will go to the loading docks myself and check on the merchandise. Can't trust anyone to do a proper job." Bingling turned and began heading in the opposite direction of his original destination

"Mo~, so you're saying that I'm useless." Mo Ye hovered after Bingling puffing her checks. Her form shifted in light particles as swarming after him, before concentrating on a single spot his right shoulder now rematerializing in a much smaller profile, Mo Ye; now a very small, naked pixie-like human female with the same vibrant blue glow

despite her obvious difference in height. No longer nude has a long qipao style sapphire dress open at the thighs and reveals her shoulders with semi-detached sleeves. With a scale-like pattern, golden floral embellishment and red cord ties. Her hair now partly tied up into braids but otherwise falls loosely over her back.

Be an artificial intelligence or an AI for short she has no physical body. She usually communicates through comm systems and provides support through voice guidance. Around Bingling however she like to materializes in the real world, by project a holographic image of herself as a hologram-like avatar from appropriate projectors. Such as the hallway's security surveillance strings running along the corners of the corridor. Taking on the image of a blue pulsing stream of light that runs throughout the entirety of Heaven's Avil.

"I never said that now did I?" Bingling smirked as he continued on with his walk. The two made small talks here and there. Before long taking a few corners here and taking a few elevator shafts there he finally arrived at his destination. After passing through the elevator shaft doors, he found himself in the massive open space of his station's docking port.

The hanger was massive befitting of the FrontierForge station sizes, the blast doors was opened, opening the area to the void of space were it not for the force field energy glowing translucent in the gateway of the port containing everything in. The voidness of space would have sucked everything and everyone currently in the port like child drinking from a juice container.

The forward section of the main hanger featured a passage down the middle, with bays for starships on either side.

Next to the nearest loading dock a starship was held in place by the dock's anchors and various workers man and machine was scurrying away with their duties. Moving large heavily sealed containers into another platform with multiple cargo-linked hover crafts. The Maglev Train a typical highly advanced magnetic levitation train used throughout the sol system It is used both for public transportation and for carrying cargo goods at high speed inside across the station.

Near one of the trains stood a figure even from a distance was alluring much of the male staff around had their attention focused on this single soul, even as they tried to not make it seem so obvious. It was this particular soul that Bingling sought after in this place. Thus, he strode onwards toward that figure by this time Mo Ye who was originally hovering over his shoulder has de-martialized herself from the public eye. She was still present but now simply hidden in plain sight from other eyes.

As Bingling walked toward his destination occasionally greeting the workers that he walked pasted. The figure though having their back turned to him seemingly aware of his presence, turning away from the table that was in their hand while spinning on their heels to face him completely.

[Hi Bai Ling!] Mo Ye's voice echoed in Bingling's ear however its wasn't only just he only who heard her voice. As the figure nodded their head before another voice echoed in Bingling's ear, another feminine voice but this one was alluring, enchanting even. Bingling unknowing found himself snorting at his state of mind, after so long knowing each other and listening to that voice he still can be so enchanted by that voice. All the while as he stared into those deep gray eyes that seemed to stare down into his soul.

[Hello Mo Ye, and to you as well, my Master.]

[I thought I told you to stop calling me that Bai Ling.] Bingling spoke within his mind. This was only possible due to the nanomachines within him, not just any type of nanomachines but of his very own design this was no ordinary nano-communication that was common place in society.

Bai Ling, the name of the figure who stood before him smiled slightly at him. Seeing that once again he found himself almost enthralled by her beauty. She was without a single doubt a beautiful woman, with a slender yet curvy voluptuous bewitching figure. Such a supernatural unreal beauty, her graceful figure and beautiful body seeming exposed even with the use of a skin-tight black suit to hide it. As the suit only seemed only to () her large chest, along with her tight curvy waist.

Her face is a bit on the small side and her lips are softer as fresh and vibrant as a new born babe. Her skin can only describe as nice, the exposed skin on her face was beautiful, so different compared to those from high class society that Bingling was familiar with. It was way more lustrous than the skin of women living in the upper district of the city, who take care of their skins using fortunes, hard work, and technologies that only high-class people can afford. Her flawless glossy black hair was wrapped into a beehive-like hairdo with a bang sweeping to the right which flailed freely down to her waist. Which swayed slightly when she turned on her heel to face Bingling.

"I hope the trip wasn't hard on you, was it?" Bingling asked with genuine concern on his face, he raised his right hand to her face his fingers then brushed the few strands that clung to her skin.

"It wasn't anything that I couldn't handle." Was the simplest reply that Bai Ling gave to him, as she then reached for his hand slightly holding his hand with her own palm to her skin. Feeling the warmth of his body heat, the warmth that she so desired for the last few days the warmth that saved her from the cold abyss that confined her before.

[Hey, not trying to a party pooper to the atmosphere here, but~, we've got company.]

[Elaborate.] Hearing Mo Ye's tone of voice Bingling demanded within his mind as his facial features turned slightly stern.

[A rather large detachment of The Solar Watch's force the Man-Hunters to be precise, one Behemoth-Class warship two three battalions of them are approaching the FrontierForge within ten minutes they will be within range.]

"They're rather earlier than expected." Bingling mused at this revelation. He quickly gave the order for the staff to quickly evaluated the premise. They did so without question as they moved with a purpose like never before, if they were moving fast before, now they were as swift as the wind. As they should as they knew just what or who was coming and they didn't want to be seen with their unwelcomed guest.

The Solar Watch Peace Preservation Organization; the system wide security force for the entirely of the solar system, under the control of the ruling house who controls the Hegemony of Man. It is the frontline army of defense for the Sol-System tasked with more domestic issues, modeled after the typical types of enforcement details throughout humanities history. The Man-Hunters a colloquial term given to the common personnel of the organization, who engage in "Man Hunting" operations, they are members of a defense force that traces its roots back to the terra police force of old.

"Boss, we're receiving transmission, hailing us to allow them permission to board the station, though I say requesting permission. They're pretty much demanding it."

As Bingling was directing his staff Mo Ye's voice rang out in his head again. "Granted, transmitted the boarding solutions over to their boarding shuttles, lets see just how diplomatic our guest is this day."

Moments later after all unwanted staff were gone from sight along with their packages outside through the energy field, specify at the open gateway three shuttles. Three troop transports shuttles to be exact, the shuttle's simple but massive box-like hull was a dead giveaway. It's rear mounted Gravity Accelerators engines blaring brightly in the void, Bingling with Mo Ye's aid was able to see the cockpit mounted to the extreme bow of the ship. The pilots facial feature obscured from their face masks, he then blinks a command sequence and his vision changed as the light around him seemed to dim and he was looking at the ships as if they were hollowed out seeing the occupants within.

One by one the shuttles docked; their landing gear extend out from below catching onto the ground beneath them. With it rear facing towards Bingling along with Mo Ye who still remained hidden from the naked eye, along with Bai Ling who stood beside him though a step ahead of him as if to shield him behind her. The large cargo bay door then unveiled itself along it's with a folding ramp, revealing a parade of men in the modern riot gear wielding large golden shields.

In formation they marched down the ramp shoulder to shoulder in perfect step behind their raised shield wall, if they were trying to impress Bingling he was not. However, if he was hoping that they ceased in their attempt, he was to be disappointed. On it went on the procession continued. "Now they're just trying to show off." Bingling scoffed getting irritated by the overly done display, before he unknowingly found himself smiling. 'Would I too, if the situation was reversed perform such a dramatic display of power?' he found him asking the question in the ack of his mind, but then shrugged it off as the answer to the question was unimportant.

They stepped as one, each beat perfect, each trooper's uniform gleaming in the light. Their Battledress; the Lorica suit a full body suit with segmented armor plates covering the vital areas, the shoulder panels are formed of overlapping steel panels that resemble ancient classical armors of old. The officers differed in theirs being dome-shaped, all soldiers' visage is obscured by a bulky helmet with three red glowing lights. Then the marching companies began to spread wide, double-ranks from their ten-by-ten blocks. The spread was seamless. Squads widened and melted into and through each other, forming a perfect double-wall, all still marching in step, never missing a beat.

At this near perfect display despite the surge of a different emotion other than amusement, the drill discipline was the most impressive Bingling had ever seen, not even by those of his own house troopers. Then they began their weapons drill, all marching on the spot as they tossed, spun and rotated their firearms, or threw sword batons and standards aloft and back again in precise returns. Beat by beat, by beat, by beat, by beat.

'Ok~, now they're beginning to push it.' Now Bingling feeling the slight tinge of annoyance begin to form within himself, by the unnecessary display performance in front of him. Once it was finally done the troopers slammed down their shields upon with an echoing boom. [Wow~, they even brought out their heavy hitters, this might be tricky.] Mo Ye's echoed a problem she has found, but the tone of her voice didn't indicate any sense of concern. [That has never really given you pause now has it girl?] Bai Ling who beside Bingling features became sterner no doubt she has already noticed the situation far before he ever did that just how she is. The topic in question was the third line of Man-Hunters, however, these were no ordinary line troopers but were shocker troopers. The Solar Watch's Man-Hunters troopers like any soldier of today's age usually wore common one-piece battledress suits, The shock troopers however, are protected by reinforced armor developed by their Advanced Weaponry Division, a bipedal weapon system comprised of a reinforced armored exoskeleton custom-fitted with an array of miniguns, phased-plasma fusils, and fast- regen energy shields.

Such was the some of the features that Mo Ye's scans was allowing Bingling to see, there they stood towering over the first two rolls, their weapons powered up but held at the low ready. They were already prepared for a fight. Bingling placed single hand on Bai Ling's shoulder, knowing what exactly is occurring in her mind, if he didn't hold her back, she would've jumped at the troopers in front of them. He knew better, though he doesn't doubt her ability never that, but knowing even to take out the shocker troopers exo armor, if their gear takes damage, the shock trooper can just eject from the armor and retain superior mobility with the rollers on their feet along with a jumppack. Thus, enabling them to stay mobile around their targets even outside of their armor.

Then one lone trooper strode forward ahead of the formation to stand before the duo, the trooper's visage is obscured by a bulky helmet with glowing lights trims. Man-Hunter soldier's usually wear blue uniforms, but this one wore what seemed to be a custom-made uniform with redstrips along with a dark grey coloration instead of the standard blue. With an overlaying cloak that covered much of the trooper 's frame.

"Bingling of House Ling, correct?" The lone trooper said addressing Bingling. "The one and only." He in response casually replied as if not affected by the atmosphere around him. Getting a better look at the trooper then gave Bingling a better understanding of who the trooper in front of him was.

"I see, you're a AmhengOsa correct? That's a surprise, I didn't expect one of your kind to pay an insignificant little business man like me a visit." The AmhengOsa then reached into his battledress and revealed his badge of office towards him, a circular metal badge in gold with an Eagle, Globe, and Banner engraved upon its surface, before his voice boomed over the air.

"Bingling of House Ling~! Upon my authorizes as an AmhengOsa under the ruling house Sovereign, by the blessing of Chancellor Renan of the Hegemony of Man, you are surrender yourself to my authorizes for judgement!"

Bingling scoffed as he slightly shrugged "You just come strolling onto my house without any warning, and without telling me of what crime that I've supposedly have committed, and I'm just supposed to submit myself to compliance at gun point without a chance to defend myself?"

"Sir, there is no need to resort to violence we can resolve this the easy way or we can finish this really easy, and you will submit regardless what you have to say."

"Are you threating me officer?" Bingling facial feature didn't change but the tone of his voice shifted. Bai Ling who stood in front of him immediately upon hearing what was said reached in her belt of her suit, pulling out a handle of a blade. Expect there wasn't a blade until she thumbed a switch, from the top a rush of silver liquid fluid rushed out solidifying almost instantly, forming into a blade the surfaces sparked with lighting as the edge glowed with an aura light.

At this the formation behind the lone AmhengOsa immediately sprang into action hefting their shields out and pointing weapons at Bai Ling, weapons primed and ready despite this she didn't back down.

"That will depend on your action sir." Though the AmhengOsa's face was cover one could hear the smirk in his voice. This put Bingling's annoyance over to anger. [Mo Ye make a profile for this guy.] Bingling ordered Mo Ye in his head, she didn't reply but the sound of a bell as detail screens of the person in front of him appeared. Having got what he wanted; he then dismissed the file before giving the AmhengOsa a simile.

"Very well lead the way." Bingling simply replied as he then casually strode past the AmhengOsa bumping his shoulder out of his path, and towards the nearest transport shuttle. Bai Ling followed after him to which the AmhengOsa was rewarded with a quick jab that put his rear to the ground when he tried to block her path. Despite this fact the lines of troopers parted ways for the duo to enter the ship unhindered and without conflict, so Bingling made himself comfortable on the shutter and mentally began to prepare for the long trip ahead. All the while Bai Ling stood next to him stoic as ever and Mo Ye still hidden from other eyes hovered in his digital form to his opposite side.