Chapter 52 It has to be done.

The next day, Andrew decided to visit the fitness module, before going to the command center, and Aelita had a similar idea, but she went to the new one she bought for herself.

Since it was adjusted to her physique, she didn't need to wear the gravity compensator inside and could exercise in her gravity, which was a great feeling.

After that, they both met in the command center, to see what they needed to do or correct, but there was not much besides swapping the drones working in the substations and sending the seven substations that Andrew forgot to send the day before.

Not that it mattered in the long run, but he still cursed himself out for his tardiness.

This was actually surprising because this had never happened to him before.

He always had a great memory, so this incident wasn't normal.

A bit worried, he went to the medical module and got scanned.

The diagnosis was surprising, the poison in his body started to affect his brain a lot faster than the previous scan indicated, so he had no choice but to accelerate his regeneration treatment.

-Aelita, I'm activating the defense system right now, contact the others and warn them.

I need to get into the tank immediately, so for the two or three days, you are in charge of the station, try to do all the research, you think will benefit us.

He said through his communicator bracelet.

-What's going on?

You said that you would go into the tank in the evening.

Aelita asked, her voice full of worry.

-The drugs that poisoned me, started to affect my brain, faster than the previous diagnosis predicted, I need to get the therapy as soon as possible.

He answered.

-I'm on my way to assist you.

The girl said, not leaving any place for discussion.

Just as Andrew activated the automated defense system, Aelita arrived, with a worried expression. 

-Will you be alright?

She asked, approaching him.

-I should, be alright after the regeneration, for now, the effects of the drugs on my brain are not that obvious, but I don't want to postpone the treatment any longer.

The defense system is active, you know what to do about the rest, so let's get me a bath.

He joked slightly, but she didn't even smirk, the situation was too grave for that.

-Let's go.

She said and took him to the medical module.

Andrew set the treatment and entered the regeneration tank.

With Aelita around he didn't need to set the timer to activate the device.

The moment the tank was sealed, she pressed the activation button and an automatic syringe gave him a dose of anesthesia, which made him fall asleep within seconds.

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the worried Aelita and the liquid that started to fill the tank.

Aelita watched as the tank got filled and Andrew's body started to float in the liquid, some mechanical arms attached medical sensors to many parts of his body, displaying the readings on the device holo monitor.

When Aelita took a look at the data and Andrew's body representation, she was terrified.

His whole body was on the verge of collapse.

Under the data, there was a timer and a progress bar, indicating how far the treatment progressed, this regeneration would take over 70 hours, much longer than Andrew told her the previous day.

She sighed and took another look at the man in the tank.

He didn't need any breathing mask as the solution provided oxygen for his body as well as the nutrition required to keep him alive during treatment.

She put her hand on the glass of the tank, wishing him a fast return to health, after which she left the medical module.

It was hard for her to see him like this, and she hoped that the next time they saw each other, he would be healthy again.

Not wasting any time, she went to the command center and contacted the others.

-Ladies, Andrew just entered the regeneration tank, his state worsened and he had to accelerate his treatment.

He also asked me to inform you that the automated defense system is active, and you should not try to come here at this time as he doesn't want to kill any of you by accident.

She said the moment she saw them all on the holo screen.

-How long will the treatment take?

The doctor asked, curiously.

-The display showed 70 hours.

She said.

-That's not long for a tier-two regeneration tank.

The doctor was surprised.

-He is using a tier 3 level 4 regeneration tank, he asked me to keep it a secret and only now allowed me to tell you about it.

All the ladies gasped at this information.

-How did he get his hands on it, this is over a tier higher than what we can buy right now.

The diplomat asked, hardly believing what she just heard.

-We traded some of the items we found on the pirate ships for it.

Aelita explained she didn't have to hide anything now as Andrew allowed her to tell them everything if she wanted to.

-I would love to see this device.

The doctor exclaimed.

She was very passionate about anything medical.

-Like I said, not now, besides, you are way too far to reach us right now.

Aelita said.

-Once Andrew wakes up, I can ask him for permission to invite you here.

She added.

-I could get there, quite quickly.

Lanarine said.

-Don't!

Aelita almost yelled.

-The cannons will tear you apart if you approach, not to mention the railguns.

The girl warned her friend.

-Can't you deactivate the system?

The fleet commander asked.

-No, he locked it with a password, to make it difficult to disarm the station in case someone got inside.

Aelita explained.

-Then how do the modules go in and out of your defense radius?

She asked again.

-They are recognized as part of the station so they can move freely.

Aelita answered, not understanding what her friend was getting at.

-Then, that's your way in, you can get on one of the storage modules and you will be able to get inside.

The fleet commander said happily.

-This is our only chance to take control without violence, with this, we will be able to finally unite this system and get the others.

She added and the rest of the ladies agreed.

The only exception was Aelita, who was stupefied, upon hearing this plan.

-You can't be serious.

She gasped, finally understanding what they were planning to do.

-Why not?

The student asked, surprised at her reaction.

-This is our best chance to take over his station without harming anybody.

She said, trying to convince Aelita.

-You are forgetting that the moment he wakes up, he will tear you into pieces, and he does not need his weapons to do that.

Aelita said, trying to oppose the plan.

-Not to mention that he will abandon me for helping you with this.

-That won't be a problem.

The drugs we sent you will make him sleep for a few more days, by that time we can get the merchant to install a slavery chip into him and the problem will be solved.

The doctor said revealing the true nature of the drugs.

-I won't allow you to turn him into a slave.

Aelita opposed.

-The only other solutions are to either put him into a cryogenic module until we are sure that we control this system fully, or we would need to kill him.

These are the options we have Aelita, and don't think that it's easy for us to make this choice.

The fleet commander said.

-I know you like him, and don't want him to get hurt, but we have to control this system, and I doubt that he would submit to us without a fight, and with the firepower at his disposal, some of us might get killed during the fight.

The student chimed in.

-Why didn't you just ask him to cooperate?

Aelita asked.

-Lanarine, you said yourself, that after you left, the two of you cooperated a few times and there were no problems.

-Yes I did, but that was cooperation between the two of us, do you believe that he would want to cooperate with all of us, knowing that every time we would have an advantage, I don't think so.

Lan answered.

-Sorry, Aelita but this has to be done, and the sooner the better.

With these words from the fleet commander, they all disconnected.