[Just A Little Further] - Chapter 20

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Where were we all going to sleep? If Far Reach left, then it's just us, and we didn't know this station and we didn't have any money! This was a terrible idea; what the hell am I doing?

<You are doing what you need to do.>

<Brave talk from a bunch of atomic scale machines. You don't need to worry about where you're going to sleep tonight.>

<We will think of something.>

<Wait. You didn't know either? What the hell? You Nanites were the ones convincing me to 'act like an Empress' and now Far Reach left, Captain Q'ari was declared unfit and almost everyone was afraid of me!>

<That reminds us. You should contact Far Reach.>

<What? Why? She hates me probably.>

<Yes, but she - as well as the entire crew, know where we are and how to reach us. They will come back with reinforcements.>

Shit. They were right. My new Empire was going to be destroyed before we even got started if Far Reach went back and started telling everyone about what I could do. Quickly, I reached out to the Reach. I could contact systems while remote, but the feeling wasn’t as sharp when I was on the throne. I found Far Reach and signaled them with the radio.

Nothing.

Far Reach wasn’t opening a channel. Probably worried I’d Voice them.

<She is intelligent, but we have ways of getting what we need. One moment.>

<One mo-what are you doing?>

I could feel the Nanites working, there was this sense of immense pressure behind me and then a release as I heard the interior of Far Reach! It was like a hot mic was on and I heard the ambient sounds of the command deck.

“Reactors at 200% Far Reach,” Gene said. “Are you sure you wish to attempt a link at this distance?”

“No Gene, but I also don’t particularly wish to traverse the Gates right now. Melody was the only one who could read the sigils. We’d only be guessing.”

“So then, what’s our game-plan, Cap?”

“We’re going to have to calculate a link that’s as far as I’m comfortable going, reset and do it again. Probably three times at least. I think I can do 25 kilolights in one shot.”

“Okay, but…we don’t have any mapped systems. We will be linking blind.”

“It’s a damn good thing that most of interstellar space is empty then, Gene.”

<Don’t belabor the point, Melody. Give them an order and disconnect. The longer you linger, the more likely Far Reach is to notice our trespass.>

<But what do I tell them?>

<Tell them to tell everyone that we’re no threat.>

<Isn’t that in and of itself pretty threatening?>

<Order Far Reach to delete the coordinates of the Reach. That will make returning much more difficult and will probably buy us a few years. Time enough to mount a defense.>

The Nanites were right. I had to move quickly before Far linked way and I lost my chance. I didn’t want them to come right back with a dozen starjumpers and try and destroy us.

“Ahem! Uh, Far Reach and crew, this is Melody. I’m sorry to hear that you are leaving, I really wish we could have all worked together on this great work that I am undertaking.”

*<*Faster Melody.>

“And unfortunately, I am worried that you will…overreact when you return to settled space, and so, Far Reach ᴅᴇʟᴇᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀᴛᴇs ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴠᴢᴢx. Additionally, Everyone will ʀᴇᴘᴏʀᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ.”

Before anyone had a chance to respond, I cut the connection. Shuddering, and holding back a sob I looked around for a place to sit, and came across a cafe. I found an empty table and sat heavily. Omar and the others joined me.

Ava looked at me, concerned. “What’s wrong, Melody?”

“I-I just contact Far Reach and ordered her to delete the coordinates to the Reach, and told everyone to report that we’re not a threat and to leave us alone.”

Omar nodded thoughtfully and added, “That’s a good idea, well done.”

“But you look like you’re about to cry, what’s wrong?” Ava said, putting her hand on top of mine.

“I don’t want to use the Voice to make people do things. I want them to do them because they believe in us, in me, and they all want us to succeed.”

<That is naive. You will have to give orders. Nothing you told the crew was harmful or dangerous. You could have all ordered them to destroy the ship, honestly a better solution.>

I think I managed to sound aghast even when talking to the Nanites in my head. <I would never!>

<Then, you will only ever be a good Empress. Great Empresses know the cost of greatness.>

I didn’t want to continue that line of conversation anymore, it felt too dark, so instead I looked around at everyone and said aloud, "Okay, sitrep."

Omar began. "We're on a foreign station,"

"As their rulers, the Builders,” Ava added.

"But most of us didn't have any Builder powers yet,” Um'reli chimed in.

Ava raised a finger. "That will come later as the Nanites grow and come online."

Omar looked out at the restaurant "We don't have any money or any place to stay."

We all looked out into the passing crowd, ignored. This sucks. I didn't expect everyone to be frightened and leave. I sure didn’t expect having to Voice the entire crew. At least I had some friends here now.

Um'reli looked over at me with a strange expression. "Um, Melody?"

I looked away from the crowds of people and faced her and said, "What's up?"

"Melody. You have a Voice that can make people do whatever you tell them to do. Just..." She shrugged, "Tell them to put us up in the fanciest Hotel this place has!"

Ava's face brightened. “Um’reli is right! Why are we worrying about money Melody? Just make people give us stuff."

<Now they're thinking like Builders.>

<Ugh, really? Just go around and yell at people until I get what I want?>

<Empresses since the beginning have done as much.>

As we were sitting there, discussing options, an Azurian employee walked up. "So, are you going to order something, or just take up a seat that a paying customer would use?"

"Oh, Sorry,” I said and started to get up when Ava and Um'reli looked at me.

"Right, right. Um. ʙʀɪɴɢ us some menus please."

The Azurian reaches into a pocket on their apron and handed over four menus, turned and walked away quickly.

Ava looked down and grins. "I can read it!, Um'reli, Omar, can you read it yet?"

Omar and Um'reli looked down as well. Omar squints at it. "Kind of? It's like it's...burry, but I can get the idea of what they're offering."

Um'reli moved the menu back and forth like she's trying to get it in focus as well. "Yeah, it's not all the way there, but it's definitely not just gibberish anymore."

Ava's face fell. "Too bad I don't know what any of it is. Just because I can read “stir-fried laut over grebian grains” doesn't mean I know what it is, or if it's good."

This time it was my turn to be sanguine. "I've had at least one meal and a snack here, and I haven't had anything bad yet. I'm sure it's all good. Just pick whichever one has a cool sounding name."

Everyone took a moment to study the menus while I looked around more. On the one hand, It's nice that we could just sit here and be ignored. On the other, I didn't want to be ignored! It turned out I really really liked being worshipped which worried me a little bit. Oh well, survival first, worship second. I guess I'd have to just tell people to take care of us for a little while even though I didn't really like that idea. Ugh, I was hoping people would love me for me not because I told them to love me.

<Ava loves you.>

<Are you sure? She loves the power I have.>

<Is there a difference?>

Apparently my face was so shocked that Omar looked over. "Uh, Melody are you all right?"

"Oh sorry, yes I'm fine. Um, do anyone else's Nanites...talk to them?”

The blank looks gave me all the answers I needed.

"Okay so maybe it's an Empress thing or just because I've had them longer, but my Nanites talk to me. They give me advice, tell me about things about the station and about what previous Empresses did. That kind of stuff?"

"Is it good advice?" Um'reli said, asking very carefully.

"Eh, sometimes?" I waggled my hand back and forth.

<Hmph. All of our advice got you to where you needed to be.>

<Oh, so I needed to be ordering the crew to delete the coordinates and to not say anything bad, as well as ordering some poor Aviens to give us all dinner for free, then going to find a hotel and ordering them to give us a couple rooms for free?>

<If it's in the name of assuming your role as Empress, then yes.>

<I'm not so sure.>

The Aviens server walked up. "Have you selected what you would like?"

ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴇᴀʟ ɪs ғʀᴇᴇ, I said to them. They nodded and took a pencil out. "What will it be then?"

After our order had been placed, we're left alone again. While we waited, I notice that two Aviens are sitting near us, watching us while they eat. One of them finally makes a gesture at the other, and they indicated no, but the first stood up anyway and approached us.

"Uh, pardon my interruption,” They said kindly, "But are you by any chance that person who says they are the new Empress?"

I looked up at them. They seem to be legitimately curious, I couldn't detect any sarcasm or malice in their body language. "Yes. I am the Empress."

At the confirmation, they relaxed visibly. "Oh wonderful! I'm so pleased to see you out among us. We were at your speech earlier this afternoon, and were so excited."

Oooh, this was nice, I loved a good compliment. "I'm so glad that you came" I answered warmly. "It makes me feel good when I see residents who are happy to see me."

They nodded vigorously. "Yes, I can't wait until you eject those cursed Mariens out into space and return Reach of the Might of Vzzx to Aviens hands like it was meant to be."

Omar, Ava, Um'reli, and myself blinked and stared. "Oh uh, really?" I said, weakly.

"Yes. It's far past time they get what's coming to them." And with that, they returned back to their seats, and with a little wave, finished their meal.

Omar, Ava, and Um'reli looked at me. "Oh no, no no, you can't pin this on me, I didn't say anything!" I said, holding up my hands in defense.

"Okay, but you're not actually going to do that are you? Space all the Mariens?" Omar glanced back at them then at me.

"Of course not! I would never!" Why would they even think that I'd do that.

<You wouldn't even have to space them all. That's wasteful. If you did space a few, it certainly would make people realize you're someone that shouldn't be underestimated.>

<No. No. I was not going to space anyone!>

Before this line of conversation went any further, the Azurian arrived with our food. After they placed the steaming plates down, they give me a little ticket and walked off. Turning the ticket over I see that it's the bill. Normally, this meal would cost...oh my... sixty skys? Is that a lot? But on the bottom is said the amount due is 0 and that the meal was marked complimentary. Whew. At least it didn't seem like anything bad happened as a result of that. With everyone else already eating, I got started. Like I said before, I haven't had a bad meal here, and this was no exception. All of the food was amazing. The grebian grains were a bit like a brown rice, but even nuttier. It had a vegetable of some kind mixed in, and it was all together with a light, spiced sauce. I'll have to see if I could remember where this place was, I wanted to come back - and pay them next time.

Mindful that I used the Voice to order them to give us dinner, we didn't dawdle. After we ate we got up and began to wander the promenade. I never really went further than the docks and the administration offices so I didn't know what else was there. We took in the sights for a little while and then Omar looked at me again.

"So Melody, where are we staying tonight?"

"I have no idea Omar, have you seen anything that looks like a hotel?"

He shook his head. "No, but I wouldn't know what I'm looking for."

Me neither. Who would though? "Wait, I wonder if the people who work in the Administrative offices might know. They would have to host dignitaries wouldn't they?"

"Yeah! Let's go rough them up again!" Ava was cheering. I look over at her with a stony face and she pouted.

"Uh Melody, you said that the Gate has been closed for a long time. They wouldn’t be hosting anyone.” Um'reli said, with a splash of cold water on my plans.

We continued to walk around for a while, Ava spied a place that sold clothes and ran in, with us trailing behind. "Look at this fabric! It shimmers, and is so soft," She rubbed it against her cheek. "Normally, if you have something that shimmers like that, it's rough and scratchy. I need this. Melody, buy it for me please."

"Buy it Ava? I don't have any money."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Use your Voice to make them give it to me."

"Ava, I felt bad enough that I got us dinner for free. I'm not about to make them give you clothes. I'm trying to be a good Empress, not some kind of tyrant."

Ava pouted and put the shirt back. "Hmph, you're no fun. What is even the point of a power like that if you're not going to use it."

<She's right you know.>

<You always take her side.>

<Because she's got the right idea.>

I couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm going to go ask the Administrators. At least the they might know where a Hotel is. I guess I could use the Voice to just ask random people, but I'm trying to not just make everyone do stuff for us if I can avoid it."

Ava looked over. "Are they going to be okay with seeing us? You did kind of threaten them and make them show you where the Throne was."

I flick my hand out dismissing the comment. "It'll be fine."

We worked our way to the Administration offices. The barricade was still up, but it wasn't manned anymore. Huh. I wondered if they figured since we had our confrontation now that everything would be over with. I hope the Administrators weren't still mad-

I never got to finish that thought, because as I pushed open the door and walked in, someone behind a barricade made up of chairs and tables from the offices shot at me.

Again.