[Xeno's POV]

What is the meaning of this? A build-up of various machine components stood there. I sensed all kind of strange metallic tubes, pipes and both electronic and nano-energy based circuits. Even some big glass-like capsules, while sensing for power signatures I also found various nano-cubes of tier three or even higher.

I perceived something else, however these items I sensed were not part of the pile of objects. They were fixed directly on the stony and appeared in the form of strange tools. Although If a normal person of the empire would happen to see their appearances, they would certainly freak out.

In fact I could without a doubt identify them as apparatus and tools of torture. Their shapes were various, long and phallic with pointy ramifications, some looked like charged tuning forks with their extremities pointed up like two syringes.

Also I could sense two chairs decorated with metallic restrains for humanoid bipedal creatures.

Surely No.2345 had prepared this beforehand, as I was already greatly pleased with what I was seeing. However his 'special reward' had still to come and was absolutely excited about it.

At the same time, other than stupor and joy, I was still rather confused and filled up with questions from the previous speech of the robot.

[I need more answers about myself and the Azoths. You talked about a 'hive', but they are primitive nests typical of dangerous non-sentient beasts. I rather Imagine myself building a proper city for my people to prosper. Furthermore I would need a mean to reproduce, either by finding a female or to clone myself right?

Furthermore I wanted to ask you If you could at least trade the cultivation technique that you mentioned before. Even more if you were willing to start a proper trading point between the two of us, maybe to exchange other kind of resources.]

I needed to try and ask him at least this. If I have correctly understood the way of the Azoths, they pursue both strength and wisdom. No.2345 should be pleased with my curiosity but at the same time he shouldn't be disposed to help me too much, as it would seem that he is simply spoiling me.

[Worry not, young Azoth. But no means I will obstruct your rise. However as you have suggested, we will trade and I won't be giving you anything for free. Obviously other than what is already present in this room, as this is the reward I had already promised you.

You may be asking me what exactly am I in need of that you could possibly have. Well it is quite simple, I need help, and right now you are the only one that can provide me of this.

You see, this metallic body of mine is everything but perfect. It surely may be strong and sturdy, but it is slowly decaying nonetheless, and after thousands of years you can imagine that its corrosion process is already at an advanced state.

I want you to research a way to transplant my conscience into another body, I am willing to accept even becoming one of your lessers if you can accomplish it.

Only a true Azoth like yourself could possibly achieve a high enough level in nano-bioengineering. All the research material you need to develop your studies is here, I don't need to tell you anything else.

You will find more information about your species in this very room with your special reward too.

Here, take this chip, I have filled it with the explanation on how this chamber properly works, how to contact me and… the next destination I would suggest you to direct yourself to.

Good luck, Xeno Xov'iel, may the great Eteth be with you.]

Just after ending his speech, the little No.2345 had suddenly disappeared leaving myself utterly speechless. I am definitely surprised by the dire conditions he revealed his body of being in. Even more I really doubt that he has told me about every aspect of his situation. For example after all this years couldn't he escape from this place? Or even search for a solution himself through this facility, he did have thousands of years to do so right?

Even if he revealed a weakness of his, he clearly held back some more. Nonetheless I believe his intentions to be true, yet at the same time I won't commit the same mistake I did with Aiduth.

At the same time, on a faraway planet…

[Joel's POV]

Even today I woke up early in the morning, yet this time was different, I knew that my life was inevitably going to change.

I have been working for the world government since the age of twenty as a skilled agent, always obeying their orders with the utmost diligence and accuracy. Nonetheless I had dared too much, by overstepping the boundaries that my humble position permitted, they have fired and ostracized me from the society.

Over a year has passed already and now I must hurry myself to secure this place completely.

Indeed I am still in my humble apartment here in the periphery of Nova York. It is situated on the fifth floor of an old ten story building, I have taken habitation here soon after I got fired. I may seem a bit silly, but I wanted it particularly since it is one of the few buildings that have resisted the third world war about a century ago. Even so it is still standing here, and well its price was also quite cheap.

My daughter Alice didn't really like moving from our previous more clean and less decrepit one, to this ancient piece of history. However I appeased her by making her homeschooling, as she didn't particularly like going to school in general. Unknown for the little creature that this was only an excuse to make her undergo a special training for the upcoming apocalypse.

At the very least she believed me, unlike that accursed sloth of her mother! I had warned her, I had told everyone what was going to come!

Did they believe me? Of course not, I have been labeled as a completely crazy person, fired and then obliged to accomplish six months of penal labor.

Obviously I had been immediately divorced from Elise, whom considered both me and our daughter two obstacles for her future career in the world government.

Tiredly I got up from my cranky bed, needless to say I was already equipped with my basic service pistol and military vest. Indeed, as my punishment I have been stripped of the authority to carry anything more dangerous than this. However to me this looks more like me getting humiliated from the higher ups, as they mostly have taken away my dignity.

Then I proceeded toward the near bed of my daughter.

"Wake up sweetie, you know which day is it today right? What are we going to do now?"

Slightly shacking her body, I tried to get my ten years old little girl up.

"Mornin' daddy. I know, I know! I have done your test so many times already!"

She sighed a bit, underlying my obsession over the matter, but at the same time she trusted me completely and has always listened to my ramblings.

"Alright! However you must promise me that this is actually the last time we do this thing. Also you have not let me go out of our apartment even once in the last month! Daddy I wanna see my friends!"

It's true, I have isolated the both of us in here for a whole month now. However how could I not! What if this self-declared 'System' actually didn't abide by his words! What if this extraterrestrial entity launched his pawns against the earth before the ultimatum it actually gave us?

I didn't want to take the wrong decision once again, for my daughter who had already suffered all the evil that her accursed mother launched against her. For Elise we both were a delusion, I did not respect the ban for leakage of information about the imminent attack. My little angel wasn't as smart and perfect as her mother wanted her to be.

I believed in humanity once, I won't make such a mistake ever again. Those who didn't listen to my warnings, will be sure to regret not having prepared themselves for this moment.

"Okay little cadet! It is our time to shine! Go check the rations, the traps and your stationing! I'll run and control the room to be perfectly sealed! I must remind you not to forget your military knife and glass shield! Now go!"