Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Rex clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides. "But… he seemed rational. He still thought, still felt—"

Cleo shook her head, her voice steady but tinged with something almost mournful. "No. He only seemed normal. But in truth, he was already broken." She paused, her gaze drifting to the lifeless body of the warrior who had fought for a kingdom that no longer existed.

"If he had been whole, he never would have attacked me. The Shadows are connected to the royal family; they would always know who I am, even without having seen me before."

She looked down at the memory device in her hand, her expression unreadable.

"The simple fact that he couldn't recognize me… is what made him choose to enter eternal slumber."

Rex exhaled slowly, watching as the Aegis Unit carried the Shadow's body away, its movements almost ceremonial.

A warrior of a fallen empire.

A soldier who had outlived his war.

He had finally, after a thousand years, allowed himself to rest.

Cleo placed a hand on the Shadow's lifeless frame. For a moment, she lingered, her fingers brushing against the cold, scarred metal as if paying silent homage to a warrior who had fought for a kingdom long lost. Then, with a quiet resolve, she straightened and turned to Rex.

"Well then, I will take care of his body now," she said, her voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of determination. "There is so much information I can extract from this coffin. It might give us insights into lost Kaelzar technology."

She paused, her gaze flickering to Rex with a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "But as for you, it is time to go see Carlos. He is probably losing his mind from boredom by now. It has not even been a month since he woke up, so do him a favor and visit."

Before Rex could protest, Cleo stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him. The embrace was brief but warm, a rare moment of vulnerability from the usually composed princess. Then, just as quickly, she pulled away and started toward her lab, her mind already consumed with the task ahead.

Rex sighed deeply as he watched her disappear down the corridor, her figure swallowed by the sterile, metallic walls of the facility.

"I think I'm starting to miss the days when I was just an office slave," he muttered to himself while running a hand through his hair. A beat passed before he chuckled and shook his head. "Nah."

With that, he turned on his heel and made his way to the medical wing.

The sterile scent of the facility greeted him as he entered, the soft hum of medical machines filling the air. His eyes immediately landed on the large regeneration tank at the center of the room, where Carlos was floating, suspended in translucent blue liquid.

Tubes and wires connected him to the machinery, his body bathed in the eerie glow of the tank. Rex grinned as he stepped closer, his usual casual demeanor returning.

"Hey, buddy. Good to see that your bald head is still shining as bright as this damn sun out here."

Carlos, upon hearing that, simply lifted his middle finger in response, his movements slow but deliberate.

Rex burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet room. "Seeing as you can move your finger, I'd say you're feeling better."

Carlos exhaled, his breath creating small bubbles that drifted upward. He pushed himself closer to the glass, his movements sluggish but controlled.

"As good as I can be while stuck in this damn water tank," he muttered, his voice muffled but still carrying his trademark gruffness.

Rex leaned against a nearby chair while crossing his arms. "Well, I wonder whose fault it was that you ended up in there in the first place. So, do you actually remember how you and Sharon got into this mess? You were supposed to be visiting her homeworld, not fighting for your lives."

Carlos's expression darkened slightly, his jaw tightening. He was silent for a few moments, his gaze distant as if reliving the memories. Then, he nodded. "Yeah… I remember. This is what happened...."

His voice grew heavier as he recounted the events of the civil war on Nexum. The planetary conflict. The chaos that unfolded when the beast was unleashed. He spoke of the bloodshed, the desperation, and the moments when it felt like the world itself was collapsing around them.

Rex listened carefully, his usual casual demeanor replaced with sharp focus. His arms uncrossed while he leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving Carlos.

"So Vortigan really was the one who unleashed that thing," Rex mused when Carlos finished. "The news has been all over it. They say he tried to assassinate the CEO of Nexum before everything went to hell."

Carlos exhaled sharply, his breath fogging the glass of the tank. "I don't know if that is true or not. I wasn't in the inner circle, so I can't tell you what is fact and what is propaganda. What I do know is that people died. Too many."

His eyes locked onto Rex's with sudden intensity, the weight of his gaze almost palpable. "But enough of that. Tell me about Sharon. The last time we spoke, you told me she was still alive."

Rex hesitated. He could feel the weight behind Carlos's stare, the quiet desperation hidden beneath his usual composure. The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, the hum of the machines fading into the background.

He sighed while rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… she's stable now. The medical bots managed to remove the metal bar from her body, but…"

He stopped, the words catching in his throat.

Carlos's expression didn't waver. He didn't blink. He was waiting, his gaze unwavering, demanding the truth.

Rex clenched his jaw, debating whether to tell him the whole truth. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken fear.

Rex inhaled deeply while bracing himself for what he had to say next.

"While it is true that she is stable, she is still in the red. We could replace her damaged organs with cybernetic ones, repair the tissue with nanomaterial, and stabilize her completely… but before we do anything, we need your approval."

He kept his gaze fixed on the floor, unwilling to meet Carlos's eyes.

"What? Why the hell would you need my approval?" Carlos's voice cracked, his frustration boiling over. "If this is about money, just put it on my damn tab. I will pay you back the moment I start working again!"

Rex clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Since when do you think I am the kind of scumbag who would make you pay me back for something like this? You still haven't even repaid the credits I spent on you before we went to that hellhole of a planet."

He took another deep breath. There was no easy way to say this.

"Fine. I will tell you why we need your approval. But you have to promise me that you will stay calm. The second I see you losing it, I will put you to sleep with this button." He pointed at the control panel next to the medical tank, his finger hovering over the tranquilizer release.

Carlos's eyes burned with desperation. "I promise. Just tell me."

Rex exhaled, then finally said it.

"We cannot operate on Sharon because… she is pregnant. With your daughter."

Carlos froze.

"For now, the baby's growth has been put on hold. Do not ask me how; I am not a medic. You can ask the medical bots later. But here is the real problem. If we proceed with Sharon's full operation, we will have to remove the baby. And if we do that… she will not survive."

The room fell into complete silence.

Carlos's breathing turned ragged. His hands trembled, then curled into fists. His entire body tensed as if he were trying to force himself to stay still.

Then he slammed his fist against the glass of the medical tank.

"You are telling me that Sharon was pregnant this whole time!?" His voice was raw, almost breaking. Rex immediately pointed at the tranquilizer button.

"Yes, she is. The growth has been paused for a little under a month, but that will not last forever. We do not have anyone here who can safely incubate a human hybrid, and the artificial incubators we have are designed for Kaelzars and eggs. We have nothing for her."

He hesitated before adding in a quieter voice, "Next time, use protection, man."

Carlos shot him a murderous glare.

Rex raised his hands in defense. "I am just saying."

Carlos turned away while pressing his forehead against the glass, his breath fogging up the surface. His shoulders shook.

Rex had seen his friend go through hell before. He had seen him charge into battle without fear, stand against impossible odds, and survive when no one else could.

But this… this was different.

This time, Carlos was completely powerless.

And Rex knew that was tearing him apart.

Rex let out a slow breath while watching as Carlos stood motionless in the tank. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken fear.

"So… what is your decision?" Rex asked, his voice quieter now. "Do we save Sharon over the kid or…"

He hesitated, letting the words hang in the air. His throat felt tight, but he forced himself to continue.

"Listen. It does not matter what you choose, man. I will always be by your side. But you have to decide fast. Time is running out."

Carlos remained frozen, his back still turned.

Seconds passed. Then more.

Finally, his voice came, barely above a whisper.

"Can't… Can't we save both?"

He did not turn around. Did not lift his head.

Rex closed his eyes for a brief moment, forcing himself to be steady. He had already asked Cleo the same question. He had already heard the answer.