Word spread rapidly of Artemis's resistance against certain alliances on Acheron, the planet had created a "free speech" style political system which allowed citizens to vote on laws and topics in attempt to avoid a single high command which spoke for every person. A week had passed since Alithea approached Artemis about the request to reintroduce animal protein into the planets diet. The elections for this had ended and the vote leaned drastically in favor of the change.

Artemis stood at the window on one of the observation towers attached to Avatus, gazing down at her world.

"I can't let this happen" she muttered to herself and clenched her fists angrily.

Avatus system echoed in the room "Message Incoming From: Pytheas."

Artemis tapped a button on the brightly lit control panel beside her "Receiving."

An image of Pytheas appeared on a large screen which was mounted to the rooms wall. Artemis crossed her arms in defiance and turned towards the screen "If you are calling to lecture me, I promise it won't get things far."

Pytheas frowned in response "I'm here to warn you."

Artemis narrowed her eyes as Pytheas continued "You haven't responded to the laws acceptance meeting, word is spreading that you are defying Acherons system."

Artemis paced around the room slowly "...and what if they're right?"

Pytheas leaned forward "The world is changing Artemis! The people don't respect the Titan Born the same way they did years ago. A lot has changed since you left the city. "

Artemis paused "Like what?"

Pytheas hesitated to answer her question, words slowly fell from his mouth "An empyrean communication signal came in about a week ago..."

"What!? What did it say?" Demanded Artemis

"I'm not sure but it prompted a meeting with Enyo and Alithea...and from what I can tell...the meeting didn't go well… After the meeting Enyo sent live footage to all of Acherons citizens of their city...it's the first time we have seen it since the exile..." Said Pytheas

Artemis gritted her teeth, she began to anticipate the horrific world that Enyo had built. Images of the death filled room she had seen on the Cepheus ring filled her head and stomach churned at the thought of an entire planet enduring the torture of her experiments to populate itself "...Send me it..."

Pytheas was silent as the sound of him pressing buttons on his screen came through the speakers.

Avatus dinged "Video Received."

Artemis pressed her wrist and the holographic screen rose up on of her skin "Play..."

The video showed large industrial cities on the planet Empyrean, lines of mechanized life marched through the streets in a uniform stride. The bellowing sound of machines echoed through the background as the image panned up to the sky showing the Titan Hydrus, who had been physically changed in appearance by the Empyrean Technology. Artemis said nothing as she closed the video.

Pytheas broke the silence "It has caused a sudden sense of defiance in some of Acherons citizens behavior...they feel that life on Acheron hasn't evolved far enough and fear falling back into the ways of old Earth...They are searching for any type of...change. This is what triggered the demand for a change in their diets."

Artemis slammed her fist on the control panel ending her video feed with Pytheas.

Artemis demanded at Avatus "Open communication feeds with Alithea!"

Avatus responded "Confirmand, Opening Connection Lines."

The screen turned on and showed Alithea sitting on her ship in orbit of Acheron.

"You know why I am calling..." Said Artemis.

Alithea responded "Before you get mad, please understand I was only trying to avoid more conflict by not telling you."

Artemis slammed both hands on her control panel again leaving a small indent on its surface "Well how did that work!? now we have conflict!"

Alithea lowered her head "...indeed"

Artemis crossed her arms "What happened during that meeting?"

She said nothing in response. Artemis snapped "Tell me! I am sick and tired of being kept in the dark like this!"

Alithea hesitated "E-Enyo wanted to discuss a new treaty... She wanted us to convert the power of the Erebus bridge to 70/30 to power Empyreans expansion to new planets beyond this system...and requested an increase in its population by...donating...citizens..."

Artemis eyes widened, she cursed the citizens of Acheron but understood the importance of the Erebus Bridge and its important role in keeping Titans such as Avatus running smoothly "What!? You refused right?'

Alithea snapped "Of course I refused! why I would I betray my planet in such a way!" A look of fear radiated from her face "But...her eyes...her...appearance...My sister has changed Artemis. I am not sure what it is, but I feel like the shadows of the past are looming over Acheron…. Something is coming..."

Artemis lowered her head "Don't even begin to suggest such things, Empyrean would never risk losing citizens for a war."

Alithea frowned "Her video has caused citizens to take interest in moving to Empyrean...They feel that it is superior to Acheron."

Artemis clenched her hands into a fist "Let them go...less is more"

Alithea was taken back by Artemis's words, she slammed her hands against her control panel and quickly stood up "How can you say that?! You know what will happen if these people go, their fate on empyrean will be the end of their lives!"

Artemis responded "These are the same people who want to take the lives of the animals which were forced inside a man-made world! If it came down to them taking their own lives verses defenseless creatures, I'd rather the latter."

Alithea stuttered "H-How can you say that." Artemis did not respond.

Alithea sobbed "This world saved you! If it wasn't for Acheron, you would still be a lab rat in Enyos clutches!"

Artemis looked up at Alithea "Very few people here remember the pain of our past Alithea, they want to revert back to old earth ways which will only lead to the same ending earth faced... Acheron is going to destroy itself due to its arrogance and its obsession to evolve..."

Alithea narrowed her eyes "You sound like my sister..."

Artemis glared and ended the feed, she turned to the window which overlooked the dome, her heart began to ache as she watched the world she had created flourish in front of her. While the lives of the creatures that were selected thrived below, the souls of those who left this world lingered above them in the stars; cut short by the hand of man. She stepped into an elevator which traveled down to the corridors of the ring that circled the dome.

"This isn't fair" She muttered.

As Artemis exited the elevator the sound of a crowed screaming could be heard from the outside of the ring, she turned towards its direction "What is that?" slowly she stepped towards it, and the sound louder grew with each stride.

"Avatus open exterior window."

Avatus responded "Confirmand, Opening Exterior Window Covers."

The dark metal cover lifted off the window in front of her and light gleamed into the Titans halls. Outside stood a group of young adults mobbing against the nearby door, in their hands were signs which said things like: "Stop Human Oppression" and "Equal Control is Salvation"

A tall man with dark hair stood at the front of the group "This is the Hyperion Faction! we demand that you open the door and sign the treaty, Titan Born."

The Hyperion Faction was a group of citizens who were born on the Cepheus ring, they did not know of the life of earth. Over time the faction had divided into sub sections, the larger group believed in creating a life that was equal and less chaotic than old Earth. The older generation had grown to worship the Titan Born and looked towards them as guides towards Utopia, but the newer and younger more abundant generation was growing beyond the idea of relying on these hosts to build their futures.

Artemis stared at the feeble flesh outside the window as they savagely screamed their demands. She respected their courage to come to her door and yell orders, but also felt disgusted by their cause.

"If you do not comply we will use force and overtake your Titan!" Spoke the leader of the group.

Artemis smirked at the demand "Over take my Titan? You can't be serious."

"We warned you!" The group separated allowing a vehicle housing a large make-shift gun to approach the entrance.

Artemis stepped back a bit "W-Wait, are you out of your minds!?"

The gun began to whine as a white plasma beam formed at its mouth, growing large and expanding quickly.

Artemis backed up away from the window "Avatus acti-" before she could command her Titan, the blast shot from the opening of the gun and violently destroyed the door. Artemis quickly shifted further down the hallway just in time to avoid being damaged by its force, dust rose around her creating a blinding fog.

Time slowed around Artemis, her breathing grew labored from her anger which was quickly boiling through her body. Her ocular scanners switched and showed the heat signatures of multiple members of the group storming her Titan.

An alarm sounded in the background from inside Avatus "Warning: Exterior Damage."

Internally Artemis heard her system respond to the distress call from Avatus "Activating Titan Born Defense Protocol."

Artemis seized stiff for a moment, her senses heightened, and her synthetic anger grew sharp like the tip of a spear. Forced mechanical movements caused her to reach back and pull out her plasma bow. Her mechanized eyes grew larger and filled her entire socket, the small orbs down her arms emitted a bright light which reflected off the dust particles and created a blue haze around her body.

Anicetus had intended for the Titan Born to do far more than just work with their Titans, they were also built to defend them. When faced with danger their internal systems pushed to create inhumane abilities, sending them into a seek and destroy mode to secure their Titans.

Artemis raised her bow and screamed into the dust filled room, rapidly firing glowing plasma arrows into its clouds of dust. The side of her bow glowed red indicating it was set to kill and one by one the heat signatures dropped to the ground. The sound of screams spilled out of the destroyed opening on the side of Avatus, the stench of iron from their blood mixed with the dull musk of the dust clouds, and the dark metal floors of Avatus became stained bright red.

When the last body had finally struck the ground, the dust had settled. Artemis lowered her bow, still under the control of the defensive protocol, and began to survey the area. The hallways were littered with bodies of the Hyperion Faction. Mindlessly, she stepped forward maneuvering between them.

Internally her system spoke "Area Secure: Deactivating Protocol." This caused Avatus's Alarm to cease in the background, leaving behind the silence of death.

Artemis's body retreated to its normal state, during the protocol she had lost all control of her body and was unaware of what she had done. Her eyes contracted to normal shape "Ugh…" she moaned and gripped her head "W-What happened?"

At her feet was the body of a young member from the group, its head had been struck by one of the plasma bows leaving it gaping open. Shattered skull fragments and skin were thrown across the floor form its body and blood seeped out of the opening creating a pool under Artemis's feet. She glanced down at the body and gasped loudly covering her mouth to restrain a scream, she looked to her hand which held the plasma bow and threw it to the side whimpering through her cupped mouth. Looking around at the bodies she began to retreat into a corner in fear, leaving behind bloody footprints with every step. Artemis had experienced death multiple times but had not yet been the one to kill anything.

Her stomach churned and if she were capable of it, she would throw up. Her eyes never left the gruesome scene as she backed herself against the cold metal wall, breathing heavily from confusion and fear.

Hours passed, Artemis stood against the wall still staring at the littered dead bodies in silence. Her fear had subsided, and the feeling of content had set in. She had accepted that she murdered human lives but had realized that none of them were innocent.

"This world...has lost its respect..." She gazed into the eyes of a fallen member, examining its lifeless expression "We are limited...I... was...limited." Releasing her back from the comfort of the wall she stepped towards the body "Each Human endures the cruelty of time, hoping and praying that their suffering will be rewarded with utopia..." Artemis knelt to the member and placed her hand on his eyes to close them before standing back to her feet and gazing out of the blown opening of Avatus. "But when they see that the dream they desperately reach for is nothing but a lie...they quickly blame everyone and everything…but never themselves..." She spat on the body of the leader of the group "Selfish…"

In the distance the red glow of Empyrean pierced the darkness of the night sky, staining the side of the Erebus bridge "Empyrean or Acheron...Tellurian or Hyperion...Human or God...they are all the same."

Artemis grew silent, she approached the opening and stood at its cusps gazing out over Acheron. The horizon was lit by large cities, a normal person would see this and think about how beautiful it was. But the glowing movement of life in the distance fueled Artemis's disappointment with humanity. The ocean waters draped over the nearby sand, the island which her Titan existed was man made. Once covered in Acherons snow, this world held life of its own.

How many lives were lost to complete this expansion?

The question had haunted Artemis daily since taking her role in Avatus. "No more..." She whispered. "I will not be a part of this reckless, thoughtless, heartless world..."

Artemis retreated inside of the hallway "Avatus, begin protocol: Solitary."

Avatus dinged "Confirmand, Artemis. Are You Sure You Want To Activate Protocol: Solitary?"

Artemis looked down at the blood-stained floor "Give me a reason why I shouldn't."

Avatus responded "I Am Acherons Food Source, Without Access To My Crops This World Has A 75% Fail Rate."

A look of frustration spread across Artemis's face "The specters...are the only thing that may pass through this dome...I will fill them and send them to the city, but no one shall enter and nothing else shall leave."

Avatus dinged "Confirmed: Adjusting Biologic Reading Of Dome."

Artemis turned from the opening "I will not be the one to pass judgement on this planet...but I will not allow them to harm any life in here...proceed with the protocol."

Avatus dinged "Confirmed, Activating Protocol: Solitary."

The opening was suddenly closed off by a massive metal slab, these slabs began to rise over the sides of Avatus's base separating it from Acheron. The two towers on either side glowed brighter, the shield around the dome expanded and stretched over its base. The hallway Artemis stood in grew dark except for the dim light leaking through the window overlooking the dome. Avatus entered complete separation, dividing its world from Acheron.

As the final metal slabs shifted into place, silence surrounded Artemis.

"Protocol Solitary: Complete" Spoke Avatus.

Artemis exhaled with relief pressing a hand against the cold metal which separated her from the outside world "...Goodbye..."