As soon as I woke up I noticed that things were different. For starters I could see everything around me too clearly, I could also see different light wavelengths, I could also hear water dripping down between the walls. But the most frightening thing of all was I could tell the temperature was only five degrees centigrade but I couldn't FEEL it ' what the hell have they done to me' I screamed out in my head. I also noticed that instead of the chains with which they had restrained me before I was now restrained by Inertial Restraints "Why the change of restraints?" I called out noticing for the first time I how my voice sounded different now as well. I could also hear the different harmonic pitches in my voice as if it had been put through a voice modulator. I waited in silence after that until I heard footsteps coming down the hall I lifted the only part of my body I could too look at the door and waited until it opened. The door opened and in walked Mat, I looked closer and saw that now I could SEE that he was an Android whereas before he had just looked like a normal human "What have you people done to me?" I asked quietly as he walked towards me only to sit down in front of me.
"I warned you... If you had only helped us of your own free will we wouldn't have had to do this." he said looking at me and waiting for my response.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?" I yelled surprised at how loud my voice was it had never been this loud before.
"We've made you more compliant that's what we have done"
"You've done nothing of the sort. I still refuse to help you."
"Oh really...?" he asked as he took a device out of his pocket and unlocked my restraints. As I felt the restraints drop away I stood up and started to walk menacingly towards him as I reached him I said.
"I'm going to enjoy this" and leaned down with every intent of ripping his head right off of his body. But what happened next terrified me to the very core of my being...
"I order you to stop and take two steps backwards" and to my horror I did just that. He looked up to me smiling "You see we HAVE made you more compliant" "Follow me and feel free to ask any questions you have I will decide wether or not to answer them. If I tell you I won't answer that question then you must not ask me again or until I say you can." and with that he walked out of the room not looking back to make sure I was following as he knew I had no choice in the matter.
"What have you done to me?" I asked after I pushed the fear I had to the side determined to find out anything I could
"That question will be answered soon enough, next question" he said continuing to look forward not turning around to look at me as he answered.
"Why have you done THIS to me... Whatever THIS is?"
"I've already told you to make you more compliant" he replied as he led me out of the prison block and towards a massive building sitting in the middle of what looked like a city... or at least an outpost of some kind.
"How did you do this to me?"
"Another question that will be answered in due time, no more questions now we have almost arrived" he said as we mounted the steps towards the gigantic building that was our destination. 'Yeah right' I thought but to my horror I could not even open my mouth. This couldn't be good. We started walking towards the back of the building I noticed that there were massive pillars 67.35 metres tall reaching all the way to the roof 'How the hell did I know that they where exactly 67.35 metres tall?' With each step a sense of foreboding was growing inside of me something was terribly, terribly wrong with me but I could not put my finger on it. As we reached a rather ornate door at the end of the corridor Mat stopped ordering me to as well and I did. I watched as Mat stepped up to the door and knocked four times then waited, then knocked once again and waited, then knocked three more times. At the end of the third knock the doors swung inwards. As they did they revealed a palace like room complete with a throne-like chair on a raised platform against the back wall. There was a person sitting on it his face hidden by the hooded robe that he was wearing. Somehow I could tell that he was a human, I had no idea how I knew, I just knew.
"Follow me" Mat started "when we reach fifteen metres from my Master you are to stand still and not move or talk until he gives you permission, do you understand? Reply"
"Yes I understand but I'm not going to do it" I said still stubbornly believing I had a choice in the matter.
"Ha! Still stubborn aye? Well you will learn soon enough. Believe what you will you have no choice you must comply." and with that he started towards the throne with me following closely. We came to a point I could tell was fifteen metres from the throne and I stopped unable to move any part of my body, I stood like a statue waiting for a command. 'Waiting for a command? Where did that thought come from?' as I continued to stand there listening Mat started to talk to the person that he called Master.
"Here is the being formally known as Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant Master" he said 'being formally known as? what the hell does that mean?' I wondered as I waited for permission to speak
"Good so the transfer was a success then?" then man on the throne asked
"Yes Master the transfer was a complete success"
"Excellent, here is what I want you to do now. Take Narvi and the slip-fighter in which we found Captain Hunt along with his body and any cargo that was with him out to an uninhabited solar system that is not too far away from normal shipping lanes and destroy it. Then record a distress call and place the beacon where someone will find it with the co-ordinates of the system in which you destroyed the vessel"
"Yes Master" he replied as he turned away before stopping and turning as his Master called out his name "Yes Master?"
"Whilst your out there find the Andromeda and give them the message" with that the man on the throne waved his hand, Mat nodded then left the room to carry out his orders
"Step closer Dylan." he leaned forward as he asked, appearing pleased as I started to move towards him "Stop" and I stopped. "I'm sure you have plenty of questions most of which will be answered shortly. You may speak now" he said and sat back into his chair.
"What did he mean by "being formally known as"?" was the first question that entered my mind
"Exactly what it sounded like.. You are no longer Dylan Hunt. You are now nothing more then my tool"
"What the hell does that mean of course I'm still Dylan Hunt. And what was with the "take his body and cargo..." how could he be taking my body if I'm still here?"
"Like I said before, You are no longer Dylan Hunt."
"Can you just give me a straight answer? you sound like Trance."
"Ok you want a straight answer?" he asked when he saw me nod he said "Walk over to that mirror over there and tell me what you see when you look at it"
I walked over to the mirror and what I saw shocked me.... I saw a face I had not seen since the end of my training at the High Guard Academy... It was my face only 20 years younger with none of the scars or lines of worry that had crept their way onto my old face.
"What you've made me younger?" I asked still not believing what I was seeing.
"In a way... We've made you an Android."
"Wh... Wh... WHAT?"
"You heard me you are now an Android"
"No... That's not possible... You can't turn an organic into an AI... There's no way"
"We thought so to... Until we found the device"
"What device?"
"An ancient device. Older then even the Vedrans."
"If it's so old how did you know how to work it?"
"We found instructions written in a language similar to Vedran on a table next to the machine."
"And these instructions told you how to work it? and what it does?"
"Yes and no. It told us what was needed to make it work but not exactly what it did."
"So how did you figure out what it really did?"
"Simple we tried it out, you've met the results"
"Who?"
"Mat of course he was once a servant of mine. When we found the machine less then a year ago we came up with the idea of capturing you but first we had to see if it worked so we tried it out on him. After seeing how successful the transference was we set the plan into motion just two weeks ago and here we are. We captured you, transferred your consciousness from your organic body into this fully functional Android that we designed to look like you did back in your early years in the High Guard."
"But WHY? WHY did you do this to me?"
"Like Mat told you back in your cell two weeks ago, we need your leadership and tactical abilities to help us 'overthrow' your new Systems-Commonwealth." "And the only way that was going to happen was if you had no choice in the matter when we asked your advice on certain things."
"Ok. So you've explained what you did, how you did it and why but what have you accomplished other then turning me into a tool to help you out?"
"Well you heard what I said to Mat earlier?" I just nodded already knowing where this was going "Well when someone from the Commonwealth finds the fighter and scans for residue they are going to find the remains of your body. I'm sure you don't need me to paint you a picture?"
"No I don't, I know exactly what that news will do" I said 'Oh My God... Rommie she's going to believe and why shouldn't she? The last thing she will remember is that she betrayed me... She's going to be devastated'
"Good now that's all out of the way follow me, we have a government to overthrow" and with that he stood up and walked slowly towards the door through which I had entered.
"Where are we going?" I asked falling in to step behind him
"We are going to your new ship"
"Ship... oh I see you put me in this body so that running a ship would be easier for me?" when he turned back to me his hood had fallen back enough to allow me to see his mouth which was upturned in a dreadful looking smile.
"No not Run the ship" he paused looking directly at me "YOU are going to BECOME the ship."
"I warned you... If you had only helped us of your own free will we wouldn't have had to do this." he said looking at me and waiting for my response.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?" I yelled surprised at how loud my voice was it had never been this loud before.
"We've made you more compliant that's what we have done"
"You've done nothing of the sort. I still refuse to help you."
"Oh really...?" he asked as he took a device out of his pocket and unlocked my restraints. As I felt the restraints drop away I stood up and started to walk menacingly towards him as I reached him I said.
"I'm going to enjoy this" and leaned down with every intent of ripping his head right off of his body. But what happened next terrified me to the very core of my being...
"I order you to stop and take two steps backwards" and to my horror I did just that. He looked up to me smiling "You see we HAVE made you more compliant" "Follow me and feel free to ask any questions you have I will decide wether or not to answer them. If I tell you I won't answer that question then you must not ask me again or until I say you can." and with that he walked out of the room not looking back to make sure I was following as he knew I had no choice in the matter.
"What have you done to me?" I asked after I pushed the fear I had to the side determined to find out anything I could
"That question will be answered soon enough, next question" he said continuing to look forward not turning around to look at me as he answered.
"Why have you done THIS to me... Whatever THIS is?"
"I've already told you to make you more compliant" he replied as he led me out of the prison block and towards a massive building sitting in the middle of what looked like a city... or at least an outpost of some kind.
"How did you do this to me?"
"Another question that will be answered in due time, no more questions now we have almost arrived" he said as we mounted the steps towards the gigantic building that was our destination. 'Yeah right' I thought but to my horror I could not even open my mouth. This couldn't be good. We started walking towards the back of the building I noticed that there were massive pillars 67.35 metres tall reaching all the way to the roof 'How the hell did I know that they where exactly 67.35 metres tall?' With each step a sense of foreboding was growing inside of me something was terribly, terribly wrong with me but I could not put my finger on it. As we reached a rather ornate door at the end of the corridor Mat stopped ordering me to as well and I did. I watched as Mat stepped up to the door and knocked four times then waited, then knocked once again and waited, then knocked three more times. At the end of the third knock the doors swung inwards. As they did they revealed a palace like room complete with a throne-like chair on a raised platform against the back wall. There was a person sitting on it his face hidden by the hooded robe that he was wearing. Somehow I could tell that he was a human, I had no idea how I knew, I just knew.
"Follow me" Mat started "when we reach fifteen metres from my Master you are to stand still and not move or talk until he gives you permission, do you understand? Reply"
"Yes I understand but I'm not going to do it" I said still stubbornly believing I had a choice in the matter.
"Ha! Still stubborn aye? Well you will learn soon enough. Believe what you will you have no choice you must comply." and with that he started towards the throne with me following closely. We came to a point I could tell was fifteen metres from the throne and I stopped unable to move any part of my body, I stood like a statue waiting for a command. 'Waiting for a command? Where did that thought come from?' as I continued to stand there listening Mat started to talk to the person that he called Master.
"Here is the being formally known as Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant Master" he said 'being formally known as? what the hell does that mean?' I wondered as I waited for permission to speak
"Good so the transfer was a success then?" then man on the throne asked
"Yes Master the transfer was a complete success"
"Excellent, here is what I want you to do now. Take Narvi and the slip-fighter in which we found Captain Hunt along with his body and any cargo that was with him out to an uninhabited solar system that is not too far away from normal shipping lanes and destroy it. Then record a distress call and place the beacon where someone will find it with the co-ordinates of the system in which you destroyed the vessel"
"Yes Master" he replied as he turned away before stopping and turning as his Master called out his name "Yes Master?"
"Whilst your out there find the Andromeda and give them the message" with that the man on the throne waved his hand, Mat nodded then left the room to carry out his orders
"Step closer Dylan." he leaned forward as he asked, appearing pleased as I started to move towards him "Stop" and I stopped. "I'm sure you have plenty of questions most of which will be answered shortly. You may speak now" he said and sat back into his chair.
"What did he mean by "being formally known as"?" was the first question that entered my mind
"Exactly what it sounded like.. You are no longer Dylan Hunt. You are now nothing more then my tool"
"What the hell does that mean of course I'm still Dylan Hunt. And what was with the "take his body and cargo..." how could he be taking my body if I'm still here?"
"Like I said before, You are no longer Dylan Hunt."
"Can you just give me a straight answer? you sound like Trance."
"Ok you want a straight answer?" he asked when he saw me nod he said "Walk over to that mirror over there and tell me what you see when you look at it"
I walked over to the mirror and what I saw shocked me.... I saw a face I had not seen since the end of my training at the High Guard Academy... It was my face only 20 years younger with none of the scars or lines of worry that had crept their way onto my old face.
"What you've made me younger?" I asked still not believing what I was seeing.
"In a way... We've made you an Android."
"Wh... Wh... WHAT?"
"You heard me you are now an Android"
"No... That's not possible... You can't turn an organic into an AI... There's no way"
"We thought so to... Until we found the device"
"What device?"
"An ancient device. Older then even the Vedrans."
"If it's so old how did you know how to work it?"
"We found instructions written in a language similar to Vedran on a table next to the machine."
"And these instructions told you how to work it? and what it does?"
"Yes and no. It told us what was needed to make it work but not exactly what it did."
"So how did you figure out what it really did?"
"Simple we tried it out, you've met the results"
"Who?"
"Mat of course he was once a servant of mine. When we found the machine less then a year ago we came up with the idea of capturing you but first we had to see if it worked so we tried it out on him. After seeing how successful the transference was we set the plan into motion just two weeks ago and here we are. We captured you, transferred your consciousness from your organic body into this fully functional Android that we designed to look like you did back in your early years in the High Guard."
"But WHY? WHY did you do this to me?"
"Like Mat told you back in your cell two weeks ago, we need your leadership and tactical abilities to help us 'overthrow' your new Systems-Commonwealth." "And the only way that was going to happen was if you had no choice in the matter when we asked your advice on certain things."
"Ok. So you've explained what you did, how you did it and why but what have you accomplished other then turning me into a tool to help you out?"
"Well you heard what I said to Mat earlier?" I just nodded already knowing where this was going "Well when someone from the Commonwealth finds the fighter and scans for residue they are going to find the remains of your body. I'm sure you don't need me to paint you a picture?"
"No I don't, I know exactly what that news will do" I said 'Oh My God... Rommie she's going to believe and why shouldn't she? The last thing she will remember is that she betrayed me... She's going to be devastated'
"Good now that's all out of the way follow me, we have a government to overthrow" and with that he stood up and walked slowly towards the door through which I had entered.
"Where are we going?" I asked falling in to step behind him
"We are going to your new ship"
"Ship... oh I see you put me in this body so that running a ship would be easier for me?" when he turned back to me his hood had fallen back enough to allow me to see his mouth which was upturned in a dreadful looking smile.
"No not Run the ship" he paused looking directly at me "YOU are going to BECOME the ship."
