“One is more, one is less, but we all are something.”

– Jill

***Deep Space***

***Antioch***

“To be honest, I have no idea,” I answer truthfully. During my time in the V.C. I was out of the loop, for all intents and purposes. Silith told me that she set a random course in order to evade possible pursuit. “We are still following Hob’s advice to head for the outer reaches of the galaxy.”

Martin nods slowly, taking his time to consider our relationship with the alien being. “From what I’ve heard, he isn’t exactly a trustworthy character. Are we sure that he wasn’t the one who told the G.S. about our course? He certainly seemed to have the resources to track us down.”

“No. It would be going a little far to trust him, based on the few interactions we had. We have no hard evidence for or against him. It’s entirely possible that we simply had bad luck, or that the G.S. has a large observation array in the area where we encountered their ships.” I pause, considering the issue. “The main reason why we are still following his advise, is because it’s only logical.”

Martin grunts and stops on the corridor. “We are outnumbered and outgunned. Our only chance is to flee and build up our powers. If any of the other factions, or the G.S., find us before we are ready...”

I nod, affirming his thoughts. “After considering all of our options, we would have run for the Rim in any case. All the databases say that civilisations get more numerous and are tighter packed, the closer you get to the galaxy's centre. It's only logical since there are more stars in close proximity to each other. Accordingly, their technological abilities increase, as they have access to the wisdom of their neighbours.”

Whether that's because they share, or because they steal from each other is a question for the academics.

“Our best chances lie in hiding ourselves for a few years, maybe even decades. The G.S. has a tight grip on the comings and goings in their core territory at the galaxy's centre. Going that way would drastically increase our chances of discovery. The region is tightly settled because the advanced technological species had a lot of time to found colonies wherever they had space available.

“We could pretend to be a new species like we intended all along, but that would be hard to pull off. The G.S. will be on the lookout for us. If they run into us, which will happen sooner or later, we may gain some additional time if we play that card.” I shrug. “Maybe we should call for a meeting to discuss it with the women.”

We continue our tour through my research projects and use the chance to discuss various topics.

When it's midday, the two of us meet up with the rest of the crew. As much as I enjoyed building my relationship with Martin, I am glad to be reunited with Silith, who was taking care of the growing biospheres inside our ship. According to her, Haven is now pretty much self-sufficient.

To my astonishment, the meeting in the mess hall turned into something like a banquet. Several of the smaller tables are placed next to each other, forming a large square which is large enough to accommodate everyone. Upon entering the room, Silith ushers me to sit down at the head of the table. She explains that eating together turned into something like a ritual during my absence.

Silith sits down next to me, followed by Fiona, Lisandra and the kids. Martin and Jenny are seated at the other side of the table, while Ailes and Katrin pile plates with food onto a large dish that's able to rotate. The mousy Rina only joins us after everything is served, as she was the one who had kitchen duty.

I find the setup quite inspiring, and as everyone starts digging in, I suddenly realize that that's all there is of us. While I was in the V.C. I got the impression that our people aren't at risk of being wiped out. But we are different. We are demons, and what we might become in the future is for us to decide.

Around this table are all the members of my new race. If something would happen to this ship our dream would end quite abruptly.

I don't know what the other factions like the Cybers or the Environmentalists have in mind for the future of the V.C., but I know that I don't want them to have my fate in their hands. And that's essentially what would happen if we don't succeed.

Yes, we would revive in the virtual worlds of the V.C. Failure doesn't spell the ultimate end, but Jill made it quite clear that the V.C.'s existence depends on having an anchor point in reality. I would despise being reliant on others. What if the one – whoever that may be – who provides the anchor suddenly decides that the V.C., and all the consciousnesses in it are no longer needed?

Thoughts like that wander through my head as I eat and watch the others. When I am reasonably sure that everyone is satiated I decide to address the elephant in the room. By clearing my throat, I gain their attention. “I was thinking of where we should go from here on out. It's clear that we are heading for the outer Rim, the outer regions of this galaxy. The question which I am not sure about is how far we should run.”

“Don't call it running. It sounds like we are afraid of the G.S.,” Fiona mumbles. “We are demons. They should run from us.”

“You are right, yet, we need time,” Martin affirms. “Biding our time to build our forces is essential at this point.”

Jenny raises her fork from the mess she made on her plate. It seems like she is in the habit of mashing her food up before eating it. “Maybe we should ask ourselves how much time we actually need. Judging by Sam and Min, it will take them about five years to mature. Why so long? Their minds are fully developed and the nano-tech in our bodies should be able to provide a mature version within weeks.”

“The system still recognises us as children. When we designed the race, we linked physical appearance to mental growth, but there are more conditions. Just like everyone else, we need to finish a few quests before our bodies are able to mature,” Min explains.

“We wanted for personalities from the V.C. to grow quickly, but at the same time, we have to take into account that there might be naturally born children in the future. Ones who don't get provided with a set of memories. They will have to develop their minds and personalities the old-fashioned way. Otherwise, we would end up with babies in the bodies of adults. Nobody wants that. As for why we are still this small, we simply weren't in a hurry to grow up,” Samuel finishes.

Min nods. “Yes. And there is also the point of getting used to these bodies. When you compare them to what's possible inside the V.C., they have severe limitations. Some of the personalities who will join us won't have an easy time. They also have to decide on a class and get used to their abilities. All of that won't happen overnight, but I suppose that if someone works really hard, it's possible to grow up within a year.”

Ailes leans forward. “So that's two years for the average person? Maybe three until we can expect to have the second generation of demons. From there on we should be able to increase our numbers exponentially.” She looks around, studying the faces in the room. When she looks at Silith, my mate nods.

Mumbling, Ailes adds three more women who are providing children in her calculation.

I slowly turn my head, trying to assert what's going on by studying the faces of the three women who shared my bed last night. Did the interaction just now mean that they intend to have these orgies at regular intervals?

Silith, Fiona and Lisandra make a point of not looking at me, each of them steeling their faces by fixating their eyes somewhere else. Bugger! They are serious about drowning me in babies!

“Seven women as a base number. About four children with each clutch-”

Don't call it a clutch!

“So we should be able to quadruple, but more likely triple our numbers with each generation once the first grows up. There will be losses, either through accidents or through infighting as the population grows. Once the first generation reaches adulthood, we can expect a population boom.”

“This sounds like one of those grey goo horror scenarios...” I mumble, but nobody pays attention.

“Twenty years of staying undiscovered would be great. We should be able to set up three, maybe four hidden colonies,” Ailes finishes her assessment.

Twenty years. I mull over the numbers, rolling them through my head like marbles until the answer pops into my consciousness. “If I assume that the G.S. is willing to spare a whole fleet in order to search for us, then we should keep flying away from them for at least five years. That will give them a volume of several thousand light-years to search. The chances of finding us within fifty years should be close to zero by that point. The problem will be to find a world which fits our needs.”

Rina raises her hand. “We have most of the skillsets of the Survivalists. Wouldn't it be easy enough to adapt to most worlds?”

“You are right,” I admit. I totally forgot about that.

“Wait. Wait. Wait.” Silith raises her hands. “I think you guys are making a mistake. Why do we need a colony world in the first place? It would only tie us down. Haven is proof that our technology allows us survival in space. We can mine asteroid belts for resources and duplicate the ship or build habitats. It would allow us to build up the fleet and spread out at the same time. After all, our species has the nomadic-trait in its description.”

The others and I consider the idea, staying silent for long moments.

Finally, I point out a flaw. “Initially, that would work. But just think of the population growth. At some point, we wouldn't be able to build ships or habitats for everyone. We need to colonize a few planets sooner or later, if just because it's easier to mine resources there. It takes a lot of effort to search for asteroids.”

Martin leans forward, rejoining the conversation. “I think that Silith is onto something. Of course, we will claim some planets at one point or the other, but only if we can secure them against attacks. As for the shipbuilding problem, that can be solved if we create specialized mobile factories and mining operations. It would have the advantage of staying mobile. Even if we do get found by a superior force, we can simply disperse. At this point, all we need is a single ship like the Haven to rebuild.”

Leaning back, I try to let the thought sink in. One ship is good, but it can easily fall victim to a freak accident. Two ships are better... and a fleet of them... spreading out in all directions in search of resources...

***V.C.***

***Vizir***

G.O.D.: Welcome to the V.C.! Be sure to read the small print about using our system, simply by saying 'Game Rules'. We don't take responsibility for any indirect or permanent damage you might suffer from using our technology. We hope you have a nice eternity!

I am falling. Wild images race through my consciousness. My laboratory. The space station. Lisandra. Ouluk. Then the memories are replaced by deep, endless blue and I take a stuttering breath.

Feeling around, I come to the realization that I am lying on my back, looking up at a blue sky. My fingers dig into what I presume is grass. Ever so slowly, I sit up and gulp.

My memories are a jumbled mess, but I can clearly remember dying. That energy weapon punched right through the station, whatever it was. Hyperventilating, I study my surroundings, a small glade in some kind of alien forest.

Overwhelmed, I start laughing like a maniac, the voice not quite my own. “It worked! It worked!” The nano-machines saved my consciousness! So they can be reprogrammed!

Still jubilant, I try to get up, but my limbs are longer than I am used to and I misjudge my movements, planting my face straight on the ground.

G.O.D.: -1 HP G.O.D.: You have earned a new skill: Clumsiness! Clumsiness: Falling damage is reduced by 1%!

“What's that supposed to mean!” Is that one of the system messages Lisandra kept talking about?

I blink and the message goes away. Moving slower, I get myself back into an upright position and study my body. Five fingers! I really have five fingers! That's too funny. I should be bothered by it, but I feel too giddy about the fact that my gamble with the human nano-tech worked.

After spending over a minute studying my pinky, I turn my attention to the long strands of brown hair which is flowing down my shoulders. Intrigued, I squeeze the lumps of fat which are attached to my chest. Luckily, I'm wearing a simple, white robe, so I am not directly confronted with the naked flesh of this strange new body. Or is it flesh at all? Why didn't the system give me my old body?

This is definitely a human body! So awkward! But a small price in exchange for immortality! Ever since my parents died, I wanted nothing more than to avoid the same fate.

Struggling with my movements, I start exercising, trying to find this body's limitations. It feels like hours, but I get neither tired nor hungry and finally, I feel like I am able to move to my satisfaction.

Still a little wobbly on my feet, I leave the glade on a narrow path which leads me deep into the forest. Birds are chirping and random rays of sunlight shine through the leaves. It's a beautiful, untouched world. So peaceful and in harmony with nature.

Marvelling at the level of realism, I almost overlook the small humanoid which is suddenly barring my path. It looks familiar, almost like it belongs to Ouluk's and my own race. Though, the xenotype is a little different. Its skin colour is green and the ears are too long. Holding a stick, it looks up at me through large, intelligent eyes.

Feeling a kindred spirit, I raise my hand in greeting. “Hello. Could you tell me where I can find the next city?”

It puckers its lips and looks curiously at my outstretched hand.

G.O.D.: Rolling Charisma levels! G.O.D.: Taming failed! You don't have the Beastmaster class.

An evil glint enters the creature's eyes. “Meal!”

Moving faster than I can react, it strikes my knee and I cry out as something snaps and unbelievable pain numbs my every thought. Even as I fall, the little monster raises its club and brings it down on my head in a single, swift move.

G.O.D.: Critical hit! -30 Damage! Your knee is broken, adventurer! G.O.D.: New achievement gained: I was once an adventurer, until a goblin broke my knee! G.O.D.: Lethal hit! -200 Damage! Concussion. G.O.D.: New achievement gained: Losing to the lowest of the low!

Then... darkness.

I shoot up, gasping and screaming in pain and horror until I realize that the pain is gone. Touching myself, I make sure that I am whole and in one piece. “What horrible world is this!?” I scream at no-one in particular, finding myself back at the same glade where I woke up the first time. Will I get killed, again and again, caught in a personal hell for violating the law against artificial intelligences?

“So curious! So curious!”

The foreign voice startles me and I jump, turning around. It sounded like a chorus of voices, all meshed into one.

What I find myself face to face with is an abomination defying any natural law or logic. It's a floating mist, vaguely humanoid in form, then a mass of chaotic ribbons of light. It changes through several other forms, so quickly that I can't process them in time.

“You are an irregularity,” it states coolly.

“I- I don't know what you are talking about. My name is-”

“Vizir.” The being nods, now a humanoid gush of water. “Call me Jill.”

Fuck! How does it know my name!? “It's nice to meet you, Jill. Please don't kill me. I am not that good with pain.”

Jill tilts a sandy head, now some kind of sand-golem, studying me like an interesting worm. I can very much imagine myself looking like that at Lisandra. A shiver runs down my spine and I cross my arms protectively in front of me.

“That's not how this world works, unfortunately. But I congratulate you on your hacking skills.”

“You are an admin?” I take a step back, but am suddenly frozen in place and panic. No matter what I do, my body doesn't follow orders. “Will you delete me?” How unfortunate. And I was so close to immortality.

Jill trills in amusement. “No, but I can't leave you here either. It would be... cruel... given that you clearly have no understanding of this... world. I think that transferring you to one of the re-education servers would be... wise.”

She trills again, clearly amused. “Yes! Now I know what to do with you. That will be interesting...”