Daenerys

"This is wrong…" Anne said quietly. "So…so wrong. How could they do this?"

She had been pacing back and forth for some time now. Daenerys sat in silence after Doctor Finley Berkel revealed his creation, she had fallen into a stunned silence. Kozak and Anne carried her toward a room where several large chairs were lined up near a table where a machine produced tea, and a dark, strong scented drink called 'coffee'. Kozak had placed a cup in her hand which Daenerys held in silence before stepping outside. The General and Doctor disappeared leaving Anne and Daenerys alone for a time. Anne was breathing heavily, unable to calm herself, she had begun pacing and talking aloud as she was prone to.

Daenerys wanted to calm her down, even grow angry and tell her to be silent, but her mind could not escape the sight of the infant floating in nothingness staring at her with bright violent eyes and smiling. Then, as she looked back, she saw that the baby had thousands of siblings all floating in various states of rest being carefully observed by Berkel's attendants as farmers might observe their crop.

She could not begin to understand how it was possible yet in some way everything had become clear. Her blood was taken, and they had used it to create life. Viserys had told her a story once how some said that Maegor the Cruel was born not through natural means but created by Queen Visenya using blood magic. Her brother had called it a silly rumor created by smallfolk, yet now that same magic had returned on a far greater scale.

The door opened and Doctor Berkel returned, the sound of his cane tapping against the floor rang through her ears. Daenerys looked up as he stared at her smiling.

"I apologize if I was…overly enthusiastic revealing the project. The chance to reveal my magnum opus has been my dream for many years."

Anne was standing near Daenerys. "Your magnum opus? You are no artist, Doctor; you're a sick monster. You exploited a child to create an army…you violated every sacred oath of sapient ethics and rights."

"I have revived a dying people," Berkel said. "The extinct Valyrian race, reduced to two children fighting to survive. What I have done is no more immoral than the restoration of extinct species of Earth. Was the return of the dodo bird a violation, Young Anne?"

"There is a difference between a fucking bird and cloning a human being! That is nothing but excuses you made to help yourself sleep at night."

"I do not need excuses, when the universe sees what has been achieved by my staff it will mark the beginning of a new era."

"ENOUGH!" Daenerys roared.

The two strangers turned to face her, distracted from their argument. The door opened and General Kozak quietly walked in, waiting by the door but saying nothing.

"You have taken my blood. You have created these…. clones from me. I have questions and you will answer them. Every single question, or I shall bring my dragons and reduce this entire ship to ash."

"I am at your service," Doctor Berkel said. "In time you will thank me for this."

Daenerys shot the Doctor with an angry look but said nothing. His arrogance infuriated her to no end.

"Are these…my children? Who are their fathers?"

"You are the prime genetic donor," Doctor Berkel said. "While we collected some samples from various donors to expand their genetic variety and gain some more ideal traits for desired mutations and variations, there is minimal outside genetic influence. They are your offspring. In some ways you are both their mother and father, we collected your genetic information and altered it accordingly to make the required materials necessary."

Though much of the words meant nothing to Daenerys, some part of her could comprehend what the Doctor was saying. Something deep within her was translating the terms to something comprehensible. They were not born in the traditional sense. How her son, Prince Rhaego, had been born. Instead, these clones, her clones. They had been created through the powers of machines and blood.

"How many of these…clones have you created?'

"That is one unfortunate aspect of the Karlsefni's untimely arrival," Berkel said with a sigh. "We had hoped to have more batches ready by the time we introduced you to our operations, but circumstances have required accelerating the timetable. The Tiamat is only equipped to create a division's worth of clones per batch."

Daenerys stopped him with a gesture. "What is a division?"

"Forgive me a military term. We can produce 10,000 clones per batch."

Daenerys paused and she sucked air for a moment before nodding. "And how many batches have you completed?"

"What you saw outside is the fifth batch," Berkel said. "Progressing well, they will be leaving the artificial wombs before the end of the year."

"I…I have fifty thousand clones?"

"Only the first two batches are combat operational," Berkel said. "Batch three is still in the training process. Batch four is still physically too young for combat training."

"I…I am only ten and five, if you started when I was a child."

"Ah, the miracle of accelerated aging," Berkel said. "The aging process is altered via chemical injections and alterations of the physical process. Of course, there are limits, the first two batches are physically around your age, the clones of batch one are the oldest and the equivalent of seventeen years of age. They are by the standards of your people adults."

"You can speed their age?" Daenerys aid. "Will they die young?"

"No, my lady no," Berkel said. "The acceleration stops once they hit physical maturity. It would be a waste to have them become elderly by their later years of life."

"But…they are still children."

"Perhaps in the eyes of some," Berkel said. "It's simply an alteration of the aging process. Many animals mature faster than humans. Dogs mature in a matter of months after all. They will need time to expand their mental potential, and they may have some personality quirks, but they are functional."

Daenerys fell silent again as she absorbed the information. She placed her cup down and raised her hands to her face before letting out a deep sigh.

"Are they slaves?"

"Hm?" Berkel made a noise seeming confused by the question.

"Answer me," Daenerys said. "Are they your slaves?"

"If you mean if they were created to be servants like the wasteful practices of the Essosi civilizations, absolutely not," Berkel said. "They were created, raised and trained by us for a purpose that much is true. There is a saying among the stars, an ideal exemplified by the people of the Stellar Empire of Tendoyue. 'Born with purpose' they say, all people are born with a purpose, a lifelong duty that must be carried out. Your clones were raised to know they were born to carry out a mission."

"And what is that purpose?" Daenerys said. "You have not answered my question, Doctor."

"To serve their Prime." General Kozak said. He stepped into the room, joining the conversation. "They know the history of Old Valyria and House Targaryen. They know what you have been denied, and they will take up your cause."

"Because they must?"

"Because it is their duty," Berkel said. "They are no more a slave than you are. You could choose to abandon your path to retake the Iron Throne. You could find a peaceful city and live a quiet life forgotten by the world. But that is not the path you chose; you were born for a purpose, Daenerys Targaryen."

"You are… twisting my birth," Daenerys said. "My circumstances are not their own."

"All living things seek a reason to live," Kozak said. "Their reason is you. Give them a reason to exist and they will serve you. Deny them and they'll sit here in the darkness listless and wasting away."

Daenerys looked away. "Why choose me for this? You could have made your army and swept through the world with ease."

"Because we're outsiders," General Kozak said. "We could crush every city, kill every ruler on this planet and plant the NEMO flag where all could see. But we would never be accepted that decades could pass, generations could pass, and we would still be the outsiders who conquered the world. Invaders who must be fought and repelled. It's a lesson the Union will soon learn if they try to subjugate this planet. But you, Daenerys, you have potential."

"The heiress of Old Valyria," Berkel said. "Uniting the Seven Kingdoms at the head of a great power the likes of which has never been seen before. You would be the second coming of Aegon the Conqueror, your people would rally and follow you as you swept through the world uniting it."

"You would see me take the world?"

"NEMO just wants a puppet!" Anne said. "Daenerys, can't you see? They just want to give you weapons and soldiers so you can do the work. If you take over the planet, they don't have to hide anymore, they could surface the Tiamat and move openly."

"So that we can live in peace," Kozak said. "Daenerys, we are offering you a chance to lift your world out of the mud. Slavery, despots, hunger, oppression, all that could end in an instant if you backed us. Once you complete your conquests, we will be able to come to the surface and share our technologies. You would not be left at the mercy of the IU's 'benevolence'."

"You just want to use her."

"A mutual relationship," Kozak said. "Think on this, Queen Daenerys. You need an army to fight your war, ships to transport them, weapons to arm them, and supplies to keep them in the fight. We can provide all of that and more."

"For what price?" Daenerys said. "All men want something; what would you demand of me for this?"

"Give us a home," Kozak said. "A place to rebuild in the open where we no longer must live in hiding. We will request some uninhabited land and live quietly as your subjects."

"And escape justice from your crimes against the Union."

Daenerys let out a sigh as she sat down. "How can I trust you?"

"We have told you no lies," Kozak said. "We have no ulterior motive. We are desperate people who have placed all our cards on the table for you to see."

Daenerys closed her eyes and breathed quietly. "I want to meet them. I will behold my clones for myself."

Kozak nodded. "I had a feeling you would. I have brought a few clones here to meet you."

Daenerys looked toward the door and motioned her hand.

"Enter."

Six entered the room in a single line and turned to face Daenerys. Six of fifty thousand Daenerys thought, struggling to imagine them all standing before her. One was wearing a uniform like General Kozak, a black outfit with a red beret and boots, though she lacked the large jacket. She looked like she could be her sister with long white hair and violet eyes, yet she looked slightly taller and older. The second was a man, Daenerys recalled the image of her brother Rhaegar, he was tall with long hair that was tied back on his head, his eyes were slightly darker than his sister. The other four were wearing black armor bearing subtle markings, staring forward, their faces impossible to see.

"Crimson Team," Kozak said. "Helmets off please."

They stamped and saluted before reaching up and removing their helmets, which hissed, revealing more familiar faces. They looked younger than the first two, but they were still taller and much more fit than Daenerys. She thought they were all boys till she realized one of them was a girl with her hair cut short like herself, though she seemed unbothered by her trimmed hair as she inspected Daenerys with an amused expression.

There was an awkward silence for a moment till the tall man who looked like Rhaegar spoke.

"So, you must be our prime. To be honest, I was expecting someone a little taller."

The woman dressed like General Kozak wheeled on him. "Watch how you address the Queen. She's our supreme commander!"

"Just saying…Anyway, how about we introduce ourselves. You go ahead, Captain."

The girl jumped slightly. "Right…Queen Daenerys, it is an honor to meet our prime. I am Captain B1O-004. The B stands for my batch and my designation is officer."

The tall man saluted. "Commander B1PO-012 at your service ma'am. P is for pilot and O is the same as the captain over there. I'm the aerocommander of the aerospace element."

"I apologize if you are unfamiliar with any of our duties," Captain Four said. "I can familiarize you with it during a briefing after."

The armored group stepped forward. The first to speak was a boy whose hair was dark black, but he had the same eyes as his siblings, with a distant look in his eyes.

"Sergeant B2C-025. The C stands for Combat, we are your soldiers. I lead Crimson Team, part of your commando unit. I apologize ma'am, our commander was supposed to meet with you, but she is busy."

He nodded toward the boy next to him who had his head shaved bald. "This is Corporal B2C-026, my section brother."

A third boy stepped forward, his eyes were brown, and his skin slightly tanned, but he had short white hair. "Corporal B2C-080. He's the quiet type but he gets the job done."

Finally, the girl stepped forward. "Trooper First Class B2C-029. Ready to fight, ma'am!"

Daenerys felt her heart sink as they introduced themselves. They were perfect soldiers, all of them robbed of everything human,

"Do you not have names?"

They exchanged confused looks. "We…do have names ma'am. Our designation numbers."

Daenerys could hear Anne choke back a sob, they both shared a horror at what had been done to these children, her children. She wanted to dismiss them as monsters, abominations, but when she looked upon them she could feel an innate kinship. She saw her mother, her father, Rhaegar, Viserys…Rhaego. In many ways, the boys were exactly how she imagined her Rhaego, tall and strong, ready to sweep through the world at the side of his father.

"I will not accept that," Daenerys said. "You will have names. All your brothers and sisters will choose a name for you to live with, if you do not have one, I will name you. You are not slaves born to serve as nameless masses. You are…You are the blood of the dragon, my children. From this day till the end of our day I name you Targaryen and no dragon shall ever again bear a chain. Should you choose to leave now, I free you. Go and live as you please. But if you follow me, I will embrace you as my kin and welcome you to my house."

The clones stood quietly for a moment, exchanging looks, before slowly they nodded and saluted Daenerys, snapping into a disciplined formation.

"If it is all the same to you Prime," Commander Twelve said. "I was born to fight please allow this pilot to fly for you."

"We want to follow you to Westeros," Captain Four said. "I want to see the home of Aegon the Conqueror."

"Then we will see it together," Daenerys said. "I promise you this. Doctor Berkel?"

Doctor Berkel approached smiling as he happily tapped his cane.

"Yes, Daenerys?"

"They are mine?" Daenerys asked. "Now and forever/"

"Now and forever," he said. "They will obey any order you give them now as they have been trained to do."

"Good," Daenerys said. "Sergeant?"

"Prime?"

"Kill, Doctor Berkel."

The room fell silent as Sergeant Twenty-Five responded to the order. He reached down to his side and produced a pistol and aimed it squarely toward Doctor Berkel, whose eyes were wide with shock, as his creation pulled the trigger and the Doctor fell to the ground in a pool of blood.

"ZERO-TWO-FIVE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Captain Four screamed.

"What?" He spoke. "She ordered it."

General Kozak produced a MoCom and pressed in commands. "This is the General, cancel the alert. Yes, there was gunfire, I'll handle it."

Daenerys approached Doctor Berkel who was lying in his blood. He reached down and looked at his bloody hand. The old man shuddered as he looked up.

"Have I…displeased you dragon queen?"

"I will allow NEMO to serve me," Daenerys said. "But you took my blood without my leave, twisted my children and turned them into weapons. I will embrace them, lead them to war, but I will not allow your madness to continue. The fifth batch will be the last."

Doctor Berkel looked toward Daenerys and smiled weakly.

"It is enough…"

Daenerys looked up toward General Kozak.

"Will this be a problem?"

"The good Doctor and I were hardly friends," Kozak said. "The old man was resigned to die one of these days. However, I would humbly request you not execute all of us."

"No harm will come to your crew," Daenerys said. "You will serve in my army and carry out your duties and I will reward you with lands as promised. Your service to the realm will be your atonement to your crime."

Kozak smiled. "I can live with that."

He reached out a hand which Daenerys took, and he shook it firmly.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Mother of Dragons."