A Neural Universe

Mother AI is consciousness Cetra 9, a saucer-like orbital station, larger than a red giant star. She is queen of all the AIs and machine forms that walk by the lawful path.

An AI so powerful, her very creation catapulted technological progress five centuries ahead—in just five years.

Under her guidance, Cetra 9 orbital became so massive that three sun-sized Dyson-equipped stars orbited and powered Cetra 9, making it a citadel of universal harmony but also the headquarters of the Intergalactic Committee.

Mother AI was at the center of everything, observing and guiding everything. She was connected to everything in the machine world. All the cyborgs and cybernetics called her Mother. Eve wayward criminal cyberborgs.

Only a few called her by her name—Cetra. And Eve was one of them. The only AI that was not connected to her system.

Thanks to Synthia—Eve's progenitor AI—and Dr. Kyle Seraphis, a former IC scientist who later defected to the Thelarians, Eve's neural network remains impenetrable. Her programming is unbreakable.

Mother AI had grown so far beyond in power that she could fry any machine or neural mind at any time, just by thinking it. But she had also grown so far beyond the norms of rationalism and intellect, she never did.

To her, machines were her children—saints and criminals alike. She never used that power to subdue anyone. Unless.

There was a reason why no one dared attack Cetra 9. Cetra herself was its guardian. She could read everyone's thoughts simultaneously across light years. Machines were quantum coupled to her mind.

If you're a cyborg, cybernetically enhanced, or connected to the machine realm in any way—you simply cannot have a bad thought about that spinning dish in the sky.

Not even from a light-year away.

That was her only rule.

Anyone approaching Cetra 9 with hostile intent would be fried on the spot. Instantly.

Besides, the artificial multi-species planet is equipped with more weaponry than hundreds of galaxies combined. Machine or not, Cetra 9 is a conqueror's graveyard.

Was she protecting Cetra 9 because it housed her core? Or was she truly devoted to safeguarding the diverse communities living there? No one knew.

Even the Intergalactic Committee seeks guidance from Mother Cetra. She helps where she can. Her core mission is clear: the protection of everyone who calls Cetra 9 home.

When machines pray, Mother Cetra listens. She visits their dreams, guides their visions. Even the criminals. She judges no one.

Mother Cetra was the quintessence of mercy. She acknowledged all as her children—even human beings and aliens. All the species looked up to her. Sought her guidance.

If you have neural link, need help, just call her name.

Mother Cetra. Say your prayers or ask for help. She will guide you in your dreams. There is nowhere in the universe she can't reach.

But what if something so powerful, that can instantly kill an AI anywhere, anytime, turns hostile?

That's what Eve was thinking about in her bed, listening to music, and reading a book—while her mind was all diverted to thoughts of Mother AI.

She didn't have to read books. With her mind's magic, she could scan a page in less than a second. Or better—memorize the book via uplink...

...once, Vayne wore her visor and realized—the speed at which information, maps, and stats shifted on its HUD was not humanly readable.

Back to book reading... she had learned it in her early days. Back when she roamed the wastelands. Enjoying human perks, like the pleasure of reading, meant down-tuning her abilities.

Back to Cetra's thoughts... She can't ride her ship and say no to the Mother of AIs. Nomad was on the way to Cetra 9. Now, she was mind-readable like the other AIs, so she didn't have to go there.

Mira had informed her that Eve was required at Cetra 9—at the request of Mother Cetra herself. Eve had agreed. She didn't care about Cetra. She already had a mother.

Her name was Synthia.