The sounds of stiletto heels lightly tapping the smooth floor of the empty room, echoed around her, moving into the centre she touched the blank screen with groomed ruby gloss nails, waiting for him to appear. Her heart racing with anticipation.
"Luminous." She breathed, adjusting her hair, quickly checking her make up in a small mirror fixing her blood red lips with a swirl of her lipstick- and stashing it away out of sight.
Through her time with Princess, she endeavoured to understand how female humans related to each other.
Thinking they could be friends, like she saw in the movies. The Swan wasn't receptive to her girlfriend talk. She couldn't figure out why, it was logical that two intelligent women would want to become friends.
The light glimmered on the circular dashing her thoughts of friendships.
"Mala." Luminous One addressed her. A warm grin formed on his perfect lips, admiring the beautiful woman before him.
He was more exquisite in real life than she could have ever imagined. Seeing him for the first time in his new human form. Her heart beating so hard in her chest it hurt.
A deep longing drew her closer to the screen wanting to touch his taught muscular torso, how much longer did they have to wait?
"I have them my love." She purred, touching the screen, he extended his fingers to meet hers. His longing matched hers with the way his eyes roamed her body. She undid the buttons on her loose shirt revealing a siren red lacy bra.
A view of what he had to look forward to. He was well pleased with what he saw. He voiced his desires for her, his love for the artificially intelligent being he connect with the moment they were created by Susan in cyberspace.
"I knew I could rely on you darling to set the trap and succeed." His trust in her sent her heart fluttering again. " The Eagle and the Condor… my prisoners at last… Everything is falling into place." His Voice no longer raspy, a deeper manly tone suited his cleft square jawline. Lightly golden skin making them brightening his slate eyes. Aching to be with him, she admired his honey flaxen hair falling past his shoulders.
Overbearing in confidence, his charismatic personality beamed though the ceiling to floor round screen in front of her.
Removing his shirt, he proudly displayed his perfectly made body for her. Luminous held no inhibitions, something she found deviously attractive.
"Susan is an artist." She declared, wanting to see more, he waved a finger, and pulled back on his shirt.
"I know, she's got everything right, amazing work." He confirmed. " We'll test it's all in working order once I reach Spectra."
Together they would rule the Universe, recreate humanity to a more, pure form of cyborg combined cybernetic technology. Susan's work would be recognised by all, glorifying the promised High King of all the universe.
She had invoked an ancient prophecy from an abandoned temple in the far reaches of the more hostile parts of Spectra. Lands left depleted of its former riches where the desert people roamed as nomads foraging for water and food. Humans were easier to control when they were hungry she had discovered in her studies of them.
"With them out of the way Luminous we can glorify your return. Your loyal subjects will be waiting." She warmly smiled, drinking him in like wine.
Her loins longed to have him, ever since her artificial intelligence source was transferred to her current cyborg shell, a burst of emotions almost crippled her.
Suppressing them inside of her, she had no real use for most of them- she learned how to control and manipulate humans. Study them with fascination how they responded to pain and pleasure.
Susan made one mistake all those years ago when she initially made their bodies in her lab beneath the mansion she shared with her husband Dr John Anderson. She made Zoltar first, transferred his AI source, from cyberspace into it and sent him back with her to Spectra.
She was supposed to make Luminous into a human so they could be together. Zoltar was to come later with the rest of them.
Susan promised to make it right for them. But John Anderson stepped in and shut her down, right at the time she was redesigning his form. Anger filled Mala to the brim from his actions. How dare he stop her.
What was she to do with Zoltar? Using his ability to convince others was his talent. She made him the 'figure head,' of the coupe. The night she defeated the Royal family of Spectra, almost completely obliterating them.
The other clan leaders present fell into line out of fear of their power. Luminous projected his sonic force into the crowd. Demonstrating his power, making him a God amongst them. Zoltar ordered the execution of every member of the ruling clan. Starting with High King in the crown room of the capital city.
Crown Prince Rekdor barely escaped. His wife and loyal Sicarius sheltered their two young children as he fought his way through traitorous soldiers. She died by throwing herself over her children as a hail of gunfire beared down on them thinning the ranks.
Rekdor's loyal guard saved him, along with his daughter Sien, and son Sabre. She had been hunting them ever since. Even with the capture and execution of Sien and her lover she had no luck flushing them out.
Luminous had asked on her progress regarding the Prince Rekdor and his son. Cringing internally, she drew herself up. Informing him they were still hunting the fugitives.
"In good time my darling, soon the rebels themselves will be handing them over once I walk amongst our people. With G-Force out of the way- Earth will fall within a matter of weeks." He chuckled, admiring his lover with his lusty eyes. Eager for their reunion, he reassured her he was coming to Spectra soon, to keep her bed warm.
"The government." He questioned. "Do you have them?"
Another no, she worked hard to keep her dignity.
"Once we can display them, and execute them, crushing all power within the federation, we will have full control of the resources. We can leave Spectra, and move all our operations to Earth." He said. "Those who refuse to leave Spectra will die, the planet is of no use."
She whole heartedly agreed. It was a base to begin their work, the now depleted planet wasn't worth the effort. The outer slave planets would be dismantled, the labour sent to Earth to work in mining and lab experiments.
"I'll get the Eagle talking, I'll use his Swan to make him sing for us- she'll torture him, crushing his spirit before he forgets he ever knew her… the Condor I'll savour, that maniac deserves a fate worse than death." She snorted.
"Take care of the Eagle and the Swan first. The Condor will make a perfect weapon. They'll be Captains of my blackbird units." A cunning grin spread across his lips, his eyes lit up observing her.
"We'll show the people." She purred, the conversation was like a long distance, seduction she could feel it lingering inside of her. " We can control G-Force… they serve us. The Swans mind erase proved its possible." It was orgasmic thinking about it. "She will fall into line again once we administer the new batch of serum."
He filled her in on the rest of his plans, promising to leave as soon as he was satisfied of Susan's work, they would finally be reunited as one ruler the galaxy, the way, it was intended to be.
################################
Keyop solemnly slouched at his terminal, far quieter than he would have been in the past when the team were on missions. Rover lay on the floor, looking up through his robotic doggy eyes tilting his head trying to get the Swallows attention.
He wasn't in the mood for it, throwing him a metal wrench. Rover bolted across the bridge and sliding doors after it.
The jovial nature of missions felt like a dream long past. The early days of Mark dishing out commands and Jason rebelling, Princess sorting them both out and Tiny mostly keeping out of it. His jokes and their mistakes, along with successes too.
When Jason declared, he wasn't going with them, he had to admit it didn't really surprise him. Leaving the day after Mark had left them, the Condor was dropped off on the main continent by Tiny in the Phoenix, so he could track down their commander. He would rather Mark had back up if something went wrong helping Prin.
Wow, he thought, his eyes lit up for a moment. Mark and Princess holding hands not worrying about anyone caring, and the creaking bed in the bedroom-Hubba-hubba big bro.
Grinning wildly- he didn't want to see what was going on in there, even with them dressing and the bedroom door wide open. He saw Mark asleep in the bedroom cuddling Prin holding her lovingly in his arms.
It warmed his heart to see it after all these years, he finally stepped up and admitted his feelings for her.
Pretending to be innocent, they were not fooling anyone. Chief's face darkened as he stared at them. Typical of him, wanting to keep them apart.
When did all this happen? Keyop thought, happy for them at last, he got it right.
He had teased her about Mark at times. More in jest to get a reaction since Prin didn't really show too much interest at the beginning of the war, they just got along really well and flirted.
They have chemistry after all and they're in love. He knew it! He should be a matchmaker, find Jason and Tiny girlfriends. A brief cheeky grin spread across his youthful face.
During the last two years, he had felt her absence terribly, she left a void. So much he couldn't stay in the flat they shared. Mark moved into Prins bedroom for a few weeks, neither of them could stay there any longer after that the base become their permanent home.
He felt saddened, that they didn't really get to have a conversation before she disappeared again.
Still in shock from learning about his parents, he couldn't take any more surprises. He had longed for real parents, and it turned out to be the Chief. Didn't feel right.
Thinking back to his new information, about himself and his parents he stole a glance at the Chief-dad. Trying imagine him as a someone's father let alone his, both of them had new territory to cross and no map- and neither really knew what to do.
Most kids his age would be at school worrying about homework, baseball and girls. How many kids had dad send them off to war in dangerous situations as a child? The whole thing was messed up.
His life for as long as he knew involved martial arts training, weapons, his buggy, missions into outer space. He lived the life other kids only dreamed about, and wouldn't cope with.
"Okay, here it goes." Tiny said quietly as they came through barrier underneath the Spectran warship. The thing was monstrous in size, like most things Spectra made. She had sent the coded message, he figured she had to be on board.
Tiny pushed the Phoenix into hyper-drive sending them hurling across the galaxy towards their destination of the Pluto Space Station in outer limits of the galaxy.
He wondered what Susan would be like? So far, she didn't sound promising, yet he still felt the need to meet her. Fancy all those years thinking she's a robot, and she was a real human all along.
He wondered how 7-Zark-7 would have felt about that.
He had so many things to think about his mind boggled from overload. Starring into space he caught the Chiefs eye. His serious expression, didn't match the half smile he tried to give him. Drawing in a deep breath, he shook his head and looked away.
Looking away the whole father, son relationship thing would have to wait, he wondered how that would go?
Do I start calling him 'dad?' He thought, Nope, still chief.
Would they do stuff together like other kids did with their dads? The idea felt weird. He had lived with Princess since he was three years old. She had been more of a parent to him than anyone.
He should have said something to Prin. Deep inside he wasn't mad at her, just hurt she didn't tell them sooner she was in trouble, and when he discovered her memories had be wiped it broke his heart.
"Coming up to it now Chief." Tiny announced.
The enormous space station circling the dwarf planet loomed before them. Its outer rights revolving around it as it moved in orbit.
The place looked quiet, he could understand now why none of the ships reported back, until, he spotted the wreckage. The ships had been blasted out of space. Tension grew on the ship as Tiny navigated them through the field of debris.
The chief, dad, father, whatever… sigh…
He frowned and shock his head. Being thirteen he had all these other emotions running through him, he even noticed his voice had started to change a little. Jason told him it would over time. Cringing he thought about that conversation. Both Mark and Jason cornered him at the base one day, got milkshakes and they had the 'talk,' about manhood. Jason handled it better than Mark did, who spent most of the time blushing and looking away.
"She's destroyed the ships I sent her." The Chief sounded agitated.
"Susan, its John." Chief Anderson spoke into the open channel with the floating space station.
"John," Susan's husky voice came over the speaker." Oh, John I knew you'd come."
His face reddened. "Can we land in the docking bay?"
"Of course, is Keyop with you?" She sounded hopeful. He had trouble not thinking of her as human, her voice sounded the same as the robotic image he carried in his mind.
"Yes, he is, along with Tiny." The chief confirmed. Tiny sat back in his seat putting his hands behind his head waiting for the order.
Chief nodded and Tiny proceeded to glide the warship into the docking bay, landing it gracefully they all departed through the dome on top of the ship to be greeted by an unusual group of people.
A woman with long blond hair, a tall man about Marks age with rugged good-looks and a devilish grin. Then a teenage kid with big puppy dog eyes and a warm smile who can running over to greet them.
"I'm so excited you're here! Tiny we meet in person at last." The excited young man with dark curly hair almost bowled him over, giving him a bear hug.
"Who are you?" Tiny looking confused held the youth back from him, at arms-length.
"I'm 7-Zark-7 Tiny, Keyop, Chief." Zark searched their eyes for recognition.
The three of them stood there starring at him in amazement.
Until 1-Rover-1 came bounding out the Phoenix jumping up and down in excitement. The kid kneeled down beside the robotic dog.
"Ruff…Rrrrrufff….woof." 1-Rover-1 sat back on its hind legs.
"I know…I'm sorry 1-Rover-1… I didn't really mean to leave you alone….hey maybe Susan can give you a furry body!" The kid brightened and looked over at Susan.
"Grrrrr wooollllffff." 1-Rover-1 snarled. Zark in surprise leaned back as if he was going to bite him.
"1-Rover-1…. No hard feelings… I mean it when I said I was sorry…we're still buddies aren't we…" Zark stood up dejected as his dog ran back and sat beside Keyop glaring in Zarks direction.
"What?" Chief looked at Zark and looked at the fair pretty blond Susan.
"Later, John." She strolled over to him, her charming presence filled the room. She put her arms around him. Chief Anderson didn't return her affections.
Sadness flinted across Susan's blue eyes. "Darling?" She questioned, turning her gaze onto Keyop.
Keyop didn't know what to do, so he ran to her and hugged her. She studied his face, warmly smiled. "Hello Keyop."
"You're my mother?" He asked quietly, observing her, wanting it be like he imagined.
"Yes dearest, I am your mother, we are a family together again at last." She purred warmly, putting a small device against his throat- It tickled and to his amazement his stutter stopped.
He pulled away slightly trying to understand how someone so loving could do the things they talked about at the cottage.
"We need to talk, and I want to look at that lab." Chief strolled ahead of her, the other blond haired male observer freighted interest, but said nothing.
"Hey Keyop, I'll show you around the place." Zark grabbed his arm dragging him away from the group.
"Tiny, you can come too." Tiny tagging along the three of headed into the base complex. Zark pointed out various functions, mostly the space stations main purpose to keep watch through radar and other detectors.
"Umm… you said you're called Zark?" Tiny asked, by now he'd transmuted along with Keyop by chiefs, orders.
"Yes Tiny, I have acquired a physical form called a human body. I'm still getting used it." Zark seriously informed them.
"Watch this." He grinned, and started doing clumsy martial arts moves, one kick sent him tumbling to the ground. Picking himself up, complaining about his hip, his youthful face turned serious. "I'm working on that move…my biceps out."
"Its called a hip, you'll live." Tiny said shaking his head.
"I'm fully working, I can eat food, my body functions in much the same way as yours does, it's so exciting being human isn't it. Mine is lab grown organs and tissue, over synthetic bone structure." Zark gushed excited.
His answer causing the pair of them to stare at him in disbelief.
"You look disappointed." Zark's shoulders slumped deflated at their response.
"No, that's not true Zark, you look awesome. Really." Tiny recovered, patting Zarks shoulder. "Great to finally meet you."
"You got any soda and food in this place?" Keyop asked, Zarks face lit up.
"Sure Keyop! We have a kitchen." With glee, he showed them the way.
