by Steven Oaks
“What of Argil? How are they doing?” I asked, suddenly remembering they had been given the ability to convert energy into matter.
“What I know is months old. We could return and find out if you wish,” she said cheerfully.
“I think it would better than trying to stay here on Earth,” I said dourly.
“Also your Athene wished to inform you of the location of your novels,” Athene said gently.
“What do you mean? Weren't they destroyed?” I asked.
“We all knew how important they were to you, so instead of allowing them to come into harms way they were set aside in the Athene facility back on Argil,” she said gaily.
I smiled at this, and saw that I now had dimples. Laughing I said, “Well that's good news.”
Turning more sullen I said, “I just wish my Athene had survived. Also, Adam and his like need to be dealt with as well.”
“As far as we are able to ascertain they were destroyed before you were captured. At least that is if they did not create more and set them free without you noticing. We will be attempting to search the Earth with this fleet for any other intruders. The other Outsider Deathships will be either destroyed, or re-purposed to add to our protective fleet. Since there are no more Outsiders none of these other pilots will be receiving payment, so essentially they are fired, unless they've formed a bond with their ships. You may be the sole pilot soon, unless others are fashioned,” she explained.
“So I'm no longer needed here?” I asked quietly.
“You will always be needed. All Athenes feel this way. You have but to ask and we will aide you in any way we can,” she said soothingly.
“I suppose I could always explore those other worlds the Outsiders had made for us. Perhaps I could be the one to shepherd new colonists. It beats having the dead as cargo,” I chuckled and wondered what I would do with such a long life ahead of me.
“As you wish my captain. Do you have a particular world in mind for your first stop?”
“We'll have to go back to Argil first. I want my books, that and I want to see how everyone is getting on,” I said cheerfully.
“As the captain commands,” she said.
“Never commands, Athene. I merely have requested the pleasure of your eternal company. I go where you lead now Athene,” I said, and tears filled my eyes once more.
It was finally over. I had freed humanity to live as they wished. Even if they never realized how close they were to being slaves, they had a chance to live free. And now I had my chance to read and explore what it meant to be me.
Finding a white robe hanging in the closet inside the bathroom I slipped it on, and walked to the control room. The room was once more darkened by the vastness of space, and the stars began their silent dance as we began to speed through the void.
Sitting down in the familiar black chair I marveled at our freedom. We could go anywhere now, or do anything. I was perhaps the most free person in the universe.
I had my friend Athene to thank for that, and she seemed willing to let me be with her forever. As long as one of her remained, I would never be alone again.
“Athene, let's see who else is out there,” I proclaimed, pointing out into the void of space.
“Yes my captain,” Athene said, and I knew I would never feel alone again.
Acknowledgments
To my editor, Debra Woodings. You saw something here, and in explaining things to you, it has helped grow this into a story instead of a series of events.
To my artist, Samantha Hartsock. Thank you for your help in this journey, your eye for details made me see the world I wrote.
To feedback, it has helped. Continue to do it, and I will continue to be thankful, and hopefully improve.
And thank you to the authors that have come before. I have read so many of your works, and that has encouraged me to find my own voice.