Intergalactic conquest with an AI

"I've never felt anything like this before," she said quietly. "I've never been in a situation like that. I don't know what I'm supposed to do… or even how to feel."

Rex stared at Cleo for a few long moments before releasing a deep sigh, as if trying to ease the tension inside him.

Without another word, he slowly floated over to the large, throne-like chair in the center of the command room. The seat was grand and imposing, clearly designed for authority, not comfort but Rex made it look almost casual as he leaned back and got comfortable.

He glanced at Cleo again, his expression softening. Then, he gently patted his lap, inviting her over with a small, wordless gesture.

Cleo, usually precise and reserved, hesitated for only a second before moving toward him. She gracefully lowered herself onto his lap, her movements smooth and silent like a drifting feather. She didn't say anything, but the weight of her presence felt warm and familiar.

Rex looked at her, then turned his eyes back to the window, watching Kator, the planet below, its swirling clouds and dim surface glowing faintly in the distance.

"Well," he started slowly, his voice being thoughtful, "to be honest… I don't even know if I have the right to say anything about this. I've made mistakes too. I haven't visited the twins."

"Not even once since we brought them back. I've been so caught up in missions, battles, responsibilities…" He trailed off, his voice heavy with guilt. "And I haven't checked in on Little Red either. How is she doing?"

Cleo's eyes closed gently, her mind reaching across the ship's systems. She was likely connecting to one of the medical bot maids stationed in Zynaria's room. A few seconds passed in silence before she opened her eyes again.

"She's stable," Cleo said in her calm, steady tone. "Her vital signs are within safe parameters. According to the medical reports, she used up all her stored stellar energy during the last battle… and her body suffered serious damage from deploying the Virus Program."

Rex's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of that. The term "Virus Program" raised many questions... questions that buzzed in the back of his mind like a swarm of bees.

But he chose to let them rest, at least for now. Right now, what mattered was something else... something closer to the heart.

"I'm glad she's okay," Rex finally said with a nod. "Let me know the moment she wakes up."

Cleo nodded in response while remaining quiet and focused.

Rex sat quietly for a few seconds, then turned to look at her more seriously. "Now… about the twins," he said. "I'm not the kind of person who likes dancing around a problem, so let me be direct. What if we go now? What if we stop putting it off and finally sit down to have a proper talk with them?"

He gave her a small smile, one filled with a strange mix of hope and guilt. "Also… I still haven't met my child."

The word "child" lingered in the air like a fragile glass ornament. Cleo repeated it softly under her breath.

"…Child…" she whispered, and for a brief moment, something shifted in her expression. Her usually composed face wavered... just slightly... as sadness touched her eyes. It was a rare moment of vulnerability, and Rex, who was too focused on the view of Kator, didn't notice.

She rose from his lap and floated toward the elevator without a word at first. Then she spoke, her voice calm but with a softness it rarely carried.

"Okay. Let's do what you suggested. Let's go talk to the twins. You're right, it's better to deal with this now than to let it fester."

She hovered silently for a moment more, then added, "I'm beginning to understand something new. Organic life… it feels like so much. So deeply...."

"Now I understand why, when we AIs are created, our emotional modules are always minimized. At first, I didn't question it. But now…" she shook her head faintly, "now I see why."

Rex nodded and floated up to join her. Side by side, they entered the elevator.

Meanwhile, in a quiet, private section of the fortress, the twins were curled up on a large couch in their personal chamber. The massive screen on the wall played a lively animated series, colorful and full of energy. But the mood in the room was far from cheerful.

Lyra glanced sideways at her sister, concern written all over her face.

Though Nyra was staring at the screen, she wasn't really watching. Her mind was a chaotic storm of thoughts and emotions.

{What if he doesn't want me anymore? What if he hates the baby inside me? What if I ruined everything? I don't know what to do... I don't know what to think...}

Her thoughts spun in circles, thick with fear and sadness. The pregnancy had already put her on an emotional roller coaster, and the long silence from Rex had only made things worse.

Thanks to their deep connection as twins, Lyra could feel all of Nyra's pain like a shared heartbeat. It made her chest ache.

And inside her, a small, bitter anger had begun to grow.

She didn't know the full story. No one had told them that it was Cleo, not Rex, who had made the decision to send them away.

She didn't know Cleo had done it with protective intentions. All Lyra could see was that Rex had been gone and he hadn't even tried to reach out to them. To her, that felt like abandonment.

So in her heart, she placed the blame where it felt most obvious: on Rex. {He left us. He left her. And she's pregnant with his child. How could he just disappear like that…?}

The silence in the room was thick, filled with unspoken pain and misunderstanding. But it wouldn't stay that way for long since they heard a knock on their door.

The sound of knocking echoed softly through the room; it was a sound so unfamiliar that both twins instantly turned to look at each other in surprise.

In their time aboard the fortress, the maid bots never knocked. They would simply stand by the door in silence while the room's system notified them of their presence.

So, for someone to knock manually? That was something new… something strange… and it made both their hearts beat just a little faster.

Nyra was the first to react. Her body tensed, and her eyes widened with fragile hope. She didn't say anything, but the yearning on her face was clear.

{Could it be him? Could it be Rex?}

Her breath caught in her throat, and she stared at the door as if her very thoughts might pull him through it.

Lyra, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes, the knot of emotions inside her tightening. Unlike her sister, she didn't feel hopeful. She felt wary. Agitated. She didn't want to see Rex, at least not now. Not while her mind was filled with messy, spiraling thoughts. Not while Nyra was still so vulnerable.

"…Who is it?" Lyra asked, her voice remaining calm but cool, as Nyra sat frozen, staring at the door like it might vanish if she blinked.

On the other side of the door, Cleo opened her mouth to reply but before she could speak, Rex swiftly reached out and placed his hand over her mouth. He gave her a warning look and motioned for her to keep his presence hidden.

Cleo's eyes blinked once, then she nodded slightly, understanding his intent.

"Cleo," she said aloud, her voice emotionless as always. "Requesting access to the room." There was a short pause. Then, with a sigh, the metallic door slid open with a soft hiss.

Lyra stood just behind it; her expression was neutral at first but as she saw who it was, her posture subtly dropped, and a flicker of disappointment shadowed her crimson eyes.

"…Sure," she muttered. "Come in."

Cleo stepped inside quietly, but it was Nyra who took the full impact. Her hopeful gaze had been locked on the door since the knock, waiting for the one person she longed to see… and now, as Cleo entered and Rex didn't follow, that fragile hope cracked inside her chest.

A dull ache spread across her heart. She didn't speak, but her eyes shimmered faintly.

"So?" Lyra asked while trying to keep her tone even, though her twin's pain made her jaw clench. She sat beside Nyra on the plush couch and gently pulled her into a side hug. "What brings you here this time?"

"I came to check on the two of you," Cleo said, her voice still cool and composed. "And… to talk about something important."

Lyra's eyes narrowed slightly, glowing faintly crimson again. She could feel the tension in Nyra's body, feel the heartbreak and confusion bubbling just beneath the surface.

"Before you say anything," Lyra interrupted sharply, "what about Rex?"

Nyra slowly turned to look at Cleo, eyes wide and quietly pleading. Her lips trembled, but she said nothing.

Cleo hesitated just for a breath, then replied smoothly, "He's… occupied right now. He couldn't make it at this moment."

Nyra looked down, hiding her face. Her hands tightened on her lap.

"…He's always busy," Lyra muttered, her voice laced with restrained bitterness. She wanted to say more, wanted to release the frustration that had been building inside her ever since their return... but she swallowed her words.

She couldn't risk hurting her sister with a careless sentence. Not now. Not while Nyra was already hanging by an emotional thread. So instead, she exhaled through her nose and looked directly at Cleo.

Her gaze sharpened, her crimson eyes glowing more intensely now. "So? What is it this time?" she asked, her voice edged with cold steel. There was no warmth in her tone... only guarded hostility.