All for Andromeda
Eve and Mira returned to Nomad. At Mother's request, the IC dropped all charges against Mira and Eve.
Eve's outburst had nearly triggered a blackout on Cetra 9, overloading its grid and causing minor structural damage to the three Dyson spheres powering the planet. Mother's swift intervention limited the disruption to mere seconds, but the incident underscored Eve's volatile power.
Inside Mira's sleeping quarters. Two inseparable sisters chat.
Eve took Mira in the loop about Bernard and Mother Cetra. Mira was outraged at first but quickly came around.
"Is there anything else you are not telling me? I was held in a prison cell for three days. This doesn't look good for Saiyara. As a queen, you are doing a shitty job."
"Yeah," Eve chimed, smilingly, "I am going to attack Cetra."
Mira was puzzled. Eve laughed.
"And you are going to leak a report to the IC about your commander's secret ties with the Syndicate," she said, then whispered in her ear, "that you are very suspicious of."
"So, going insane—check. Dumping the IC for the Syndicate—check. Destroying everything I have worked for—check. Is that all you're having for dinner, ma'am?" Mira replied, burned.
"And I am going solo," Eve beamed as she danced and swayed her hips.
"And there is a final nail in the grave," Mira groaned outrageously, trying to laugh with Eve, her face all red.
She kicked the door in the sleeping quarters and hurt her leg. "God!!! I hate you, Eve." She was outrageous. Then she punched the wall and turned to punch Eve.
Eve smiled. "I always wished Ammara could do this when she was frustrated with me. She was just too polite and I hated it." Eve put her face in the air, where Mira could hit it. "Oh please please please, this is a dream come true!" she squeaked childishly.
Mira growled, put her fist away, kicking the bed this time. "Just give me something to break."
"Oh," Eve quickly gave her a datapad. Mira smashed it on the wall.
Just then, Vayne and Kai entered, froze at the sight of Mira's frustration and Eve's nonchalance, and quickly retreated. "Bad timing," Vayne muttered, closing the door
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Six months later, Mira navigated the black market of Dasena, a lawless planet teeming with criminals. Dressed in a hooded, form-fitting latex, she drew curious glances but ignored them, her purpose unclear even to herself. As she wandered, a figure grabbed her arm, pulling her into a dimly lit alley.
She didn't know what she was looking for; she just kept wandering when suddenly someone grabbed her hand and hurled her into an alley.
She took her gun out and pointed it at the hooded figure. "Show yourself."
The hooded figure lifted her head. Through the dimly lit alley and the darkness of the veil, Mira could see electric blue eyes.
Mira instantly ran and embraced her.
They were at a bar, a secret corner for hookers. They drank beer.
"So what's my queen been up to?"
Eve was trying to reply when Mira interrupted again, "After declaring war against the Mother of all AIs; causing mass unrest on at least six different planets with several on the brink of war; destroying multiple IC aircraft; and racking up bounties on her head from across the universe."
"First you tell me how's home… skipping "how are you holding up" because I can delay that list. Besides, you look stunning—in form, just as sexy as ever."
"Well… the squad can see right through it. They are like, 'Eve wouldn't this' and 'Eve wouldn't that'… or, 'let's go and join Eve's righteous cause.' Even though they don't know the first thing about what's happening to their hair."
"Drink to that… my boys and girls," Eve smiled and sipped her beer.
"How's your hubby?"
"Learned fast. Wants to see me often. Can't complain much. Never asked why you suddenly rebelled."
"Good Saiyaran."
"The Saiyaran government just issued a public announcement that Eve's on a short public period. The general public doesn't care what she does—they're with their queen… but the Andromeda Security Council and the nine planets you, Queen, wanted to know if they should continue to side with the IC or join the rebellion.
"What did you tell them?"
"To never pay attention. Andromedans are surprised but reluctant to villainize you. And, in other news… the IC is busy fighting demons Kaal's been unleashing. Multiple monolith sightings. Some contained, some not listed. Some are even secretly—and sacredly—protected and hidden. Worshipped like a new god has emerged."
"So everybody's too busy to notice where Eve is at?"
"Yeah. The Pan‑Galactic Unity Council has suspended all meetings and activities. Many peace accords are at risk of breaking. But the hell with it—I don't care if the queen doesn't. I'm just doing my job… at Nomad… babysitting the staff."
"Cheers," Eve said, and their mugs collided.
"Well, your turn."
"Same old," Eve said, her tone deliberately casual. "Hitting Sal Parlos, Mario's place, some Syndicate hideouts. Been traveling, diving into archaeological studies."
Mira's eyes narrowed. "The universe is falling apart, and you're on vacation?" Mira couldn't believe it. First time they met in six months and that's all she had to explain?
Eve stood, gesturing for Mira to follow. "Let's walk."
Mira's comm buzzed. "Commander Mira, status?"
"Still tracking," she replied curtly. "Meet me at the outpost with extraction ready. Don't ping me again." They rented a boat and sailed across Dasena's ocean
"So why Dasena?"
"Old habit. Bounty days. I used to come here with Mira a lot—those first two years. There are other outlaws and junkyards, but Sal Parlos and Dasena have the vibes."
Then Eve told her about how she went to meet all the Syndicate leaders. Convince them to fight Cetra or they'd all die. They were already prepared, and damn—they worked fast. The Thelarians had contacted them. Their outposts in the dark galaxy were overrun by mutated species. So the Syndicate offered some safe outposts—on the condition that they would cease all activities against the IC other than the show-offs they were told to do.
"You set them up?"
"Yes, but let me explain…"
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Eve now carried a neural switch, installed by Mother Cetra, allowing her to access the virtual world at will. Cetra could only see or hear what Eve permitted. Over the next three months, the rebellion escalated. Cybernetic factions crowned Eve their queen, and she rallied them in the virtual realm. A war erupted among the machineforms.
While the conflict distracted the ancient entity plaguing the virtual world, Eve used her backdoor link to infiltrate the Matrix. Cetra joined her, manifesting as a formidable warrior. Together, they hunted the demon, their battle spanning days. Each strike weakened its code, unraveling its existence. As it faded, it hissed, "I'll return to consume the universe, and Andromeda will be my first taste."
"I will wait, and I will be there for you. Take your time, demon."
He vanished into thin virtual code.
Eve and Cetra stood at the mountaintop where the legendary battle took place. The sun was setting and smoke was clearing. Beautiful scenery.
Cetra looked beautiful, young—the most angelic face Eve had ever laid eyes on.
"What now, Mother… I mean Cetra?"
Cetra smiled, "Now the war ends. The Syndicate and the Thelarians chose their sides."
"Everything goes back to the way it was?"
"The monoliths are still there. More will appear. The acceleration is inevitable. But their actual function and revelations are centuries in the making. This demon was the core, but just one facet."
"What must I do now?"
"Return to Nomad, reclaim your place as warrior commander, and fight the emerging mutants. Find their source and seal all the portals. It is a difficult task. But you will prevail."
"What should I tell the Syndicate? To shove it?"
"Tell the Syndicate—and through them, the Thelarians too—to leave monoliths alone."
"As the IC should too?"
"As everyone, except you."
Eve looked at Cetra, her face shining like a goddess in twilight's receding virtual sun.
"Andromeda, there's more to your tale... your making. Fates and the universe work in strange ways. Things I can't calculate."
There's more to your tale… more to your life. Almost the same words Mira used to say. The first Mira, centuries have gone. But memories of her first dearest friend and well‑wisher were still fresh. She was the reason Eve—with nothing and no life—now sat next to Cetra. People dreamed of meeting her.
She didn't envy it but…gratefulness was their. Over two and half centuries since KAra-Vaen. This is where life took her. Mira gave Eve a legacy. And now she owed it to all her bloodline, her planet and her galaxy. Andromeda.