Intergalactic conquest with an AI

[Year 5609 – Imperial Galactic System]

[Good morning, citizens around the galaxy! Or whatever time it is in your world!, you're watching your favorite interstellar news channel! It's been nearly two years since the monstrous beast was unleashed upon the stars, and the latest attempt by the Megacorps Coalition Fleet to bring them down has been…]

[A total failure!!...again! That's right, dear viewers, even the might of the Coalition wasn't enough to stand against this nightmare! But don't lose hope! After almost two years of defeat, the Megacorps are preparing for a final, all-out assault in just three months!]

[And here's the biggest twist yet... rumors are spreading that the CEOs of the most powerful megacorps will personally join the battle! This might just go down as the most legendary showdown in galactic history! Now, in other news—]

Click.

Rex shut off the massive holo-screen dominating the living room wall. With the same remote, he tapped a button, and the floor-to-ceiling curtains slid open, revealing a breathtaking yet eerie sight of an endless ocean.

His home stood atop a colossal floating megastructure, still under construction, and surrounded by the constant hum of industrial progress.

Drones zipped through the air like mechanical insects, welding, assembling, and maintaining the station's framework. High above, fighter squadrons patrolled the skies, scanning for threats, while deep beneath the waves, massive shadows shifted predators lurking in the depths, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Rex exhaled and glanced down at his legs, then smirked. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

With one finger, he poked Cleo's cheek.

"Hey, I knew you were going to run off the moment the news started… Well, they're over now. Wake up."

Curled up on the couch, Cleo didn't move at first, her head resting on his lap like a lazy cat. Unlike before, now that she had regained her original body, she could switch between consciousness and full-body rest as she pleased, vanishing and returning at will.

And lately, she'd spent almost all her free time around him.

Her ears twitched slightly, then—

"I-I didn't run away!" She blurted, lifting her head with a huff. "I was just… resting my eyes a little!"

Rex raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

Cleo stretched her arms with a lazy groan, her abyss-black hair falling over her shoulders. With her usual high-tech combat gear replaced by just a white tank top and tight hot pants, she blended in far too well with the relaxed oceanic lifestyle of the base.

Rex had no doubt this was the twins influence since they all had to fight underwater against the monstrous sea creatures, so lighter clothing had become a necessity.

Rex smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure. That's, what… the hundredth time you've used that excuse?" He reached over and pinched her cheeks, pulling them just enough to make her lips pucker into a silly fish-like shape.

"Hmph!" Cleo swatted at his hands, glaring. "It's because I already know what they're going to say! The news is just the same story on repeat, the beast is too strong, another fleet failed, maybe next time we'll win... boring! The real reason you watch it is because of that newscaster girl, isn't it?" She narrowed her eyes, suspicion written all over her face.

Rex chuckled. "Ha! Please. That girl doesn't even compare to you. I've been exposed to your beauty for too long! I'm immune to lesser ones now. You've ruined me."

Cleo blinked, and then, without warning, she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest.

For a moment, Rex stiffened. He was still getting used to this version of Cleo. The cold, calculating AI he once knew had transformed into something… warmer, more alive. It was strange, almost surreal.

Before, she had always felt distant, like a being constantly limiting itself, held back by the constraints of hardware. But now? It was as if her previous body had been suppressing her true self, running at a fraction of her full power.

Now, she was finally free.

Rex sighed, letting his fingers absentmindedly run through her hair as he gazed out at the vast, endless ocean.

{The galaxy is changing... the wars are escalating... and soon... I won't even be surprised if they also reach us...}

The tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sudden blare of an alarm. Red lights flashed across the room, and the serene oceanic view outside was replaced by a holographic alert screen. Rex's body tensed as his instincts kicked in immediately.

[Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Unidentified entity detected in Sector 7-B. All personnel, prepare for engagement.]

Cleo sprang to her feet, her relaxed demeanor vanishing in an instant. Her golden eyes glowed faintly as she accessed the base's security systems. "Rex, it's not one of the sea creatures. The sensors are picking up something… different. It's moving fast... too fast."

Rex was already on his feet while his expression hardened. "Different how? What are we dealing with?"

Cleo's fingers danced in the air as she pulled up a holographic map of the base. A red dot blinked rapidly, moving erratically through the lower levels. "It's humanoid, but the energy signature is off the charts. It's not Nexum, and it's not one of ours. It's… something else."

Rex's mind raced. "Could it be one of the beasts? Maybe a new variant?"

"Unlikely," Cleo replied, her voice steady but urgent. "The energy readings don't match any known beast signatures. This is something new... or something we've never encountered before."

Rex clenched his fists. "Whatever it is, we can't let it run loose. Let's move."

Cleo nodded, her form shimmering as she shifted into her combat-ready state. Her casual attire was replaced by sleek, high-tech armor, her abyss-black hair tied back into a tight braid. Rex grabbed a pair of energy pistols from a nearby rack, checking the charge levels before holstering them.

"Stay close," he said, his voice low. "We don't know what we're up against."

The two of them moved swiftly through the base, the alarms growing louder as they approached Sector 7-B. The corridors were eerily empty, the usual hum of activity replaced by an oppressive silence.

The only sound was the rhythmic thud of their footsteps and the occasional crackle of the intercom system. As they neared the sector, Cleo held up a hand, signaling Rex to stop. "It's close. Just beyond that door."

Rex nodded with his grip tightening on his pistols. "On my mark."

Cleo's eyes glowed brighter as she interfaced with the door's control system. "Three… two… one… mark!"

The door slid open with a hiss, and they burst into the room, weapons at the ready. What they saw stopped them in their tracks.

In the center of the room stood a figure, tall, imposing, and radiating an aura of raw power. Its body was covered in sleek, black armor that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, and its movements were fluid, almost unnatural.

In its hand, it held a weapon unlike anything Rex had ever seen, a blade that crackled with dark energy, as if it was alive.

The figure turned to face them, its gaze locking onto Rex. For a moment, there was silence; the tension in the room was palpable.

Then, the figure spoke, its voice deep and resonant, echoing with an otherworldly tone.

"You are not my target. Stand aside."

Rex's eyes narrowed. "Not a chance. You're trespassing, and you're armed. Drop the weapon, and we'll talk."

The figure tilted its head, as if considering his words. Then, with a speed that defied comprehension, it lunged.

Rex barely had time to react, diving to the side as the blade sliced through the air where he had just been standing. Cleo was already in motion, her form blurring as she closed the distance between herself and the intruder.

She struck with precision, her energy blade clashing against the dark weapon in a shower of sparks.

"Rex, we need to contain it!" Cleo shouted, her voice strained as she parried another strike. "It's too fast; we can't outpace it!"

Rex was already moving, his pistols blazing as he fired a barrage of energy shots at the figure. The projectiles struck its armor, but to his dismay, they seemed to have little effect. The figure barely flinched, its focus remaining on Cleo.

"Cleo, fall back!" Rex ordered, his mind racing for a solution. "We need to—"

Before he could finish, the figure unleashed a burst of dark energy, sending Cleo flying across the room. She hit the wall with a sickening thud, her form flickering as she struggled to regain her footing.

Rex's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation. This wasn't just an intruder; it was something far beyond their capabilities. But he couldn't back down. Not now.

"You want a fight?" Rex growled while holstering his pistols and activating a pair of energy gauntlets. "Fine. Let's dance."

The figure turned to face him, its crimson eyes burning with intensity. For a moment, there was silence. Then, with a roar, Rex charged.

The battle that followed was a blur of motion and energy, the two combatants trading blows with ferocious intensity. Rex fought with everything he had, his gauntlets crackling with power as he struck at the figure's armor.

But no matter how hard he hit, the figure seemed unfazed, its movements precise and calculated. Just as Rex began to falter, a voice echoed through the room.

"Enough."

The figure froze, its blade inches from Rex's throat. Rex turned his head, his eyes widening as he saw Cleo standing behind the figure, her hand pressed against its back. Her form was glowing with a brilliant light, her eyes blazing with determination.

"You're not the only one with tricks," she said, her voice cold and steady. "Now, stand down."

For a moment, the figure remained still. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, it lowered its blade and stepped back.

Rex let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his body trembling with exhaustion. "What… what just happened?"