Vive La Matrix

I was starting to feel like I should steal the VIS and the Matrix, take them to Earth where they would be of great use.

The Vargannas could just make a new Matrix, anyway.

But that was just a wish. I wish I wouldn’t mind coming through not with what I’d just experienced in several cities and was about to experience once more in Blin’s city of residence, Vok.

With VIS and the Matrix, search and rescue had been a walk in the park after the last of the Covians were killed.

The Matrix satellites from orbit would scan the cities for people buried under buildings or trapped in tunnels and the teleportation system of the Matrix would transport them away, to a safer place where they can receive medical attention.

And once everyone and everything that could get in the way of rebuilding the city were transported away, the Matrix would be used to rebuild the city in hours.

Hours!!

Two hours, twenty eight point four hundred and forty two seconds according to VIS.

It was mind-blowing. I couldn’t wait to have enough access to my powers and gain complete control of my Power of Manifestation so that I would be able to manifest anything. The first thing I’d manifest would be a personal Matrix.

Regarding my powers, the instincts fed to me from my bond with Aeon Genesis made me aware that my access had increased from eight percent to twenty.

I hadn’t yet tested my powers to see what such improved access had granted me, I was busy for now with the Vargannas. Once I’m free, it'd be the first thing I do.

I was starting to suspect that this was the reason why Blin had invited me to this invasion, to help protect his planet.

They’d been by my side since the invasion ended and we’d been chatting almost nonstop.

According to Blin they’d participated in skirmishes on other worlds, but nothing quite as huge as a global invasion. They also informed me that it was tradition to make novitiate Bastions earn their powers. They were currently forty eight percent, using my measurements. They had their own measurements based on alien energy, dynamic mathematics and some psychological theories. It was a more perfect way of measuring access level to a novitiate Bastion’s skill and power, but I could not, for the life of me, understand it.

Through our growing rapport I’d also learned that my alien friend was seventy-two years old. That discovery surprised me because they did not look a day above teenage-hood. All these while I’d thought I befriended a teenager only to find out now that Blin was old enough to grandfather me.

I was distracted from thinking more about that when Blin placed a hand on my shoulder to get my attention.

“It’s starting,” they said.

I looked around and grinned. We were in a good vantage point, atop one of the few high-rise buildings left standing in this district of the city. From here we’re going to witness the glorious sight of Vok getting restored.

The alien city of Vok lay in ruins, its once-majestic spires and towers reduced to rubble and ash. The invasion forces of the Covians had left their mark, scorching the landscape with their devastating energy beams. The city's inhabitants wandered the streets, shell-shocked and grief-stricken, but hopeful for imminent restoration.

Amidst the devastation, VIS made the announcement I had come to be familiar with since the invasion ended.

“Everyone, please stand clear of damaged areas. Injuries might be incurred if you are in range of a restoration sight. I repeat, stand clear.”

Everyone quickly found a safe spot to place themselves, from where they could watch. Most were on rooftops though, admittedly the safest place for what was about to happen.

A soft, pulsing glow emanated from beamed down upon the city from a series of satellites in orbit. The air around us began to shimmer, as if the very fabric of reality was being rewoven.

A warm, golden light burst forth from the beam, quickly spreading across Vok, illuminating the ravaged cityscape. The glow intensified, taking on a life of its own. Tendrils of energy snaked through the rubble, seeking out the damaged structures. As they touched, the fragments began to stir, like awakened sleeper agents.

The first to respond was the Grand Crystal Spire, once the iconic centerpiece of Vok. Its shattered remnants started to tremble, then rise, reassembling themselves with eerie precision. The spire's crystalline structure reformed, its facets glinting like a thousand tiny diamonds. The Vargannas watched in pride as their beloved landmark regained its former glory.

Next, the energy tendrils reached the City of Ether, a sprawling complex of delicate, filigree-like architecture. The buildings' latticework walls began to repair themselves, the intricate patterns re-weaving like a loom re-threading its own fabric. The air was filled with the sweet, ethereal sound of Vargannas’ materials merging back together, each piece of everything fitting together perfectly as the structures regained their integrity.

The Matrix influence spread, engulfing the city, guided by the precision of VIS. The energy tendrils danced, leaving trails of glittering stardust in their wake. Buildings, streets, and marketplaces were restored, their original beauty and functionality rekindled. The Vargannas cheered, tears of joy streaming down their faces, as they beheld their revitalized home.

A group of young Vargannas watched in wonder as the bakery, which I believed may belong to them, reassembled itself. The sign above the door, once a proud declaration of the business' name, reappeared, creaking back into place. The bakery's interior, too, was restored, the familiar scent of freshly baked alien pastries wafting through the air. The children laughed, hugging each other, as they rejoiced for their future.

The aroma coming from the bakery made my stomach rumble. The Vargannas had really good food. I’d tried so many of them with the Matrix food summoning feature.

According to VIS, the Vargannas’ taste buds possessed more range than those of humans. So also did they possess more senses and nerves. It made their food and massage to die for.

Requesting for a crystalized cream, he continued watching the wonder of the restoration.

The crystalized cream was a soft crystalline food that was quite easy to bite into and chew. It had the texture of uncooked rice when chewing, though softer, that’s if raw rice could ever taste like chocolatey strawberry mixed with a tang of mango flavor.

Once you chew enough, it melts in your mouth and becomes a cream then a syrup. And it was quite filling and energy giving.

As I ate, I watched as the city's central square, where the invasion forces had concentrated their assault, was the last to be restored. VIS focused the golden energy, pouring all his effort into the restoration. The square's damaged fountain, a masterpiece of Varganna artistry, began to repair itself. Water jets sprang back to life, and the central statue, depicting a Varganna historical figure, reformed its shattered limbs. The figure’s gentle smile, once a beacon of hope, shone bright once more.

As the final fragments fell into place, the energy glow subsided, leaving behind a city reborn. Vok’s inhabitants rejoiced, embracing one another. Blin clapped me on the shoulder, their eyes aglow with a deep satisfaction.

I smiled at them, but knew that, though the physical city was restored, the true healing had only just begun. The Vargannas would need time to rebuild their spirits, to rediscover their sense of community and purpose, and put together a plan to stop this from happening ever again, if possible.

Regardless, the restoration ignited a spark within the city's collective heart. As the Vargannas began to rebuild their lives, they did so with renewed hope and resilience. The memory of their city's rebirth would stay with them, a testament to the power of unity, determination, and the peace that flowed through their world.

In the days that followed, Vok flourished. The city shone bright with the newness of the restored buildings. The Matrix had not only repaired the physical structures but had also rekindled the essence of Varganna’s culture. As the city's inhabitants worked together, rebuilding and rediscovering, they forged a brighter, more harmonious future – one that would honor the sacrifices of the past and celebrate the resilience of their people.

In the following days I remained in Vok, the victory of the Vargannas continued to resonate, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the potential for renewal, for healing, and for rebirth. Vok, once a city on the brink of destruction, had become a beacon of hope, shining brightly for its denizens.