Chapter 176

　　"Kalen, come closer. I`m glad we`ve had this chance to speak before the end. I`ve always enjoyed our discussions. It saddens me that we didn`t have more opportunities to converse." Aurelius` voice was quiet and dry, broken by slight coughing fits that left him out of breath.

　　The Emperor was dying, and it was clear to anyone who saw him. Whatever mental perseverance and drive that sustained him over the millennia was finally gone. His body was failing him, and even the advanced technology of the A.I. Collective could do nothing to halt it.

　　There were limits to longevity that could not be overcome, and Aurelius had reached them.

　　Kal felt a mixture of emotions. Despite everything that had happened, he still respected Aurelius. He understood him. The things he had done were explainable. But they were also unforgivable. His imprisonment, the attack on Terra, and the preparations necessary to confront the Vore. There was sense to it, but it was a cold and heartless logic.

　　"I`m sorry. I know that I should be sad and that I should mourn your passing. But this isn`t the first time you`ve died." Kal replied as he sat in the chair placed beside the Emperor`s bed. Crisp white sheets matched the stark room of the medical chamber.

　　Aurelius laughed softly at the words.

　　"No, I suppose it isn`t. I apologize for the deception, Kalen. It was necessary to prepare the Empire to fight the Vore. Now that our fated enemy is defeated, we have the luxury of regret."

　　"One enemy is defeated, and another looms. Just because the Vore are gone, it doesn`t mean there will be peace throughout the Empire. Six Titans are destroyed, and the remaining Houses will use their absence to seize more of our territories. I can`t help but blame you for it, a continuation of your `Succession War." Kal replied quietly.

　　"A human failing. Given an entire galaxy and we still want more. I believe you are correct, Kalen. As things stand now, peace will be as elusive as always. The Empire was created to enforce the Taboo and unite humanity in order to better oversee it. I wonder how humans will act when they learn the A.I. Collective is gone?" Aurelius muttered.

　　"I don`t know. To those with the knowledge of their involvement, they were always a boogeyman waiting in the dark for us to slip up. The Taboo has no meaning now. We are free to develop new ways to kill each other." Kal stated.

　　"As we have always done without enforced order. The Empire will endure as long as people like you inhabit it, which is why I wanted to see you before I pass. There`s something I want you to have." Aurelius slowly lifted his withered hand, pointing it at the table beside them.

　　"What is it?" Kal asked, picking up the datapad.

　　"The A.I. Collective left extensive records behind. Even after the Virus corrupted their systems, backups remained. I spent centuries cataloging it. On that datapad is everything I have learned from my research. Of interest to you is the specifications for creating new Titans."

　　"You`re entrusting this to me?" Kal asked with shock.

　　"Whatever you feel about the Empire, a fact remains. The galaxy needs the Ducal Houses to maintain order. Without the Titans, things will descend into anarchy. But I leave the choice to you. Use what I have given you for your own gain, or share it freely with others." Aurelius paused, looking at the young man next to him.

　　"I`m sure the Emperor and the other Ducal Houses will agree to nearly anything for what you possess. Restore the balance of power in the galaxy, hold elections in every sector and bring back democracy. Whatever your heart yearns for."The author`s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　"I leave the Empire`s future in your hands." The Emperor said, leaning back in his bed and falling asleep. Kal watched him carefully for a moment, tapping his finger thoughtfully against the datapad.

　　"Goodbye, Aurelius." Kal whispered before standing and leaving the room.

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　　The funeral for the Emperor was held on board the lead Starship at the sight of humanity`s greatest victory. A casket was released into the void with the detonation of the artificial star still glowing in the darkness.

　　Argyle said only a few words, speaking only briefly of the great deeds of his father and their complicated relationship. There were mixed feelings for everyone attending. Like Kal, they could recognize why he had done what he had.

　　But the truth was that the Emperor had allowed Terra to come to harm, an unforgivable sin in the eyes of those gathered. He had also led them into a nearly hopeless battle against an unknown enemy before giving them the tools for their success.

　　It felt like the end of an era, and a necessary one if they were to look to the future and repair the damage the Succession War had caused.

　　Empress Amelia watched silently as her husband`s casket drifted out of the Starship`s hold. To anyone watching her, she seemed emotionless, her thoughts unknowable. But Kal could recognize the sadness and grief. But as he had with Aurelius, he couldn`t bring himself to comfort her.

　　To Kal, she was as guilty as her husband, and the sting of her betrayal was still too fresh. Perhaps there could be forgiveness in time, but for now, Kal could not find a way to bridge the gap between them.

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　　"Sir, we are detecting something on our sensors." One of the crewmembers reported.

　　Bringing it to the attention of Argyle, the prince summoned his brother to the command center to provide advice.

　　Despite his loathing of the latter, Argyle knew that Alexander had as keen a mind as their father. Combined with the research he had done onboard the Dyson Sphere, it made him one of the only subject matter experts regarding the Vore on board.

　　"What is it?" Argyle asked, leaning into the terminal to try and make sense of what he was seeing. There appeared to be a dark smudge in the superheated plasma of the ongoing detonation.

　　"Could it be a false reading, some kind of interference with our sensors?" Alexander added, tapping on the terminal to try and clear up the readings.

　　"Those are the coordinates where the Hive was last reported." One of the Imperial Guard commanders replied. She had been at the forefront of the fighting and had watched the detonation with her own eyes. No one more than the Guard wanted the Vore to be dead, but they were always prepared for the worst.

　　"Give me a moment. I`m going to try to do something from the A.I Collective`s research. I don`t know how much of a boost it will give us, but by relaying it through&." Alexander muttered. Images and readouts flashed across the holo almost too quickly for Argyle to pick sense of.

　　"Got it." Alexander finished. The image, a dark smudge before, grew in clarity until everyone could see it for what it was. A dark sphere, made of some kind of ultra-dense material still remained at the near center of the detonation site. Even with the intense radiation and superheated plasma, it resisted any damage to its surface.

　　Argyle estimated it to be the same size as a Starship, a tiny speck compared to the size of the Hive. But anything that could survive that detonation was cause for concern.

　　"Is it Vore?" Argyle asked. It seemed to simply be hovering in space, allowing the currents of the exploding star to wash over it.

　　"Unknown, our scans can`t penetrate the surface. But what else would it be? A mysterious sphere of nigh-indestructible material appearing where the Hive was. It`s safe to assume that it`s Vore." Alexander answered.

　　"I want a plan to destroy it. I don`t care what we need to do, get-" Argyle was interrupted by Alexander.

　　"It`s moving." Alexander whispered. Did it sense their scans somehow? The black sphere rapidly sped away from their ship, breaching the limits of the detonation in seconds. Trailing bright plasma behind it, the object entered something akin to a Jump portal in moments.

　　"It`s gone!" The Guard commander shouted.

　　"Track it, now!" Argyle ordered, and Alexander once again flew into action. His fingers danced through the air as he manipulated the holos. Their computers quickly calculated a trajectory.

　　"Based on its heading when it entered that portal, it`s likely heading to Andromeda. If their method of travel is anything like the A.I. Collectives, they will reach it in a few centuries." Alexander concluded.

　　"Then the threat continues. We`ve merely had a stay of execution. If there is any life in Andromeda, they`ll consume it and rebuild to strike at us once again." Argyle replied grimly.