originally posted in:The Black Garden
Domitoris Awakening chapter 1# A New Assignment
After the events that unfolded at the underground rave, my keeper Benjamin Simmons went on quite the spending frenzy after he turned in Terell for the reward money that was offered for his capture. A former Charlemagne Enforcer Officer and investigator, Sergeant Benjamin Simmons became a “bounty hunter” of sorts after being put in charge of me; his “charge” as it were, was to oversee my progress as I learned the ins and outs of the city of Charlemagne’s law enforcement system and make sure I adapted appropriately to my surroundings. Of course, he took to using me for his own personal gain any chance he could; collecting “debts,” scaring his enemies, hunting bounties, and protecting his sorry excuse of existence. He was a light skinned man who looked to be in his mid-forties, about five foot eight, 230 pounds, and wore a white suit. His accent was European-Earth, perhaps he was of Swedish decent; also bald, had a large hairy mole on his face, and in need of a visit to the dentist, Benjamin was more worried of the pleasures of life rather than taking care of himself the right way. When I wasn’t doing his dirty work, I was at his side escorting him around like some kind of watchdog, scaring the people who owed him money or just beating anyone up who got in his way. We were currently at his apartment in the city of Charlemagne; a rather expensive suite for even him to afford, sitting out on the balcony overlooking the city, he was indulging himself on shrimp imported from Earth, with me at his side.
“You know what we need around here?” Benjamin began. “Women, that’s what we-err, I need.”
My time with Benjamin taught me many things, some practical some not. His idea of work was just taking money from other people; otherwise he’d have me assault them.
“Doesn’t matter what they tell you my friend,” Benjamin bellowed. “Life is-”
Suddenly, the door to his suite was knocked open, and footsteps were heard approaching. There was three Enforcer Exos, Beta Class, approached the balcony with a man and woman close behind them. Benjamin got up with a start, trying to hide the remote he used to manipulate me around. Oh, forgot to mention that; the remote of which I refer to was an illegal device created by the Shoo-Lawn Corporation for the use in “controlling or manipulating” Exos. Needless to say, it worked for the most part, but perhaps it was only a game I played with him, letting Benjamin think he was in charge.
“What is the meaning of this intrusion?” Benjamin demanded.
A man wearing a white tunic was followed by a woman in a formal blue dress. The man looked young, but was no doubt older than he looked, it was hard to say because of the effects of the Travelers energies on his body; he had black hair, brown eyes, olive skin, and wore velvet gloves. The woman looked to be quite younger though, maybe in her early twenties; she had yellow hair and bright blue eyes, and was carrying a holo-tablet. Since the arrival of the Traveler, to be honest, the lifespan of mankind had been somewhat prolonged and could be hard to tell the age of someone in a quick glance, was rather annoying.
“Exo 0300-” Benjamin began, but was cut off.
“Benjamin,” the man began. “I’m Senator Davis of the City of Charlemagne and Ambassador of the Colonies; this is Lexi Ester my assistant, and the three Exos Enforcers you see around you are my body guards. Now that introductions have been made (looks at me without a word), give us what we came for.”
“I don’t have anything for you,” Benjamin said, standing next to me.
“Come, come now,” Davis said. “This Exo has been under your command for three months and you seem to have been using it for personal matters…”
“I have not,” Benjamin exclaimed. “I’ve just…been doing what I was told to do: Clean up the streets.”
“Right,” Lexi said sarcastically, ticking away on her tablet.
“Hey,” Benjamin said. “Mind your own business toots, what are you doing working for this politician anyway? Someone of your beauty should be flaunting what you got. *Lexi rolled her eyes in disgust* As for you Davis, you can kiss-”
One of the Exos stepped forward and grabbed him; turning him around, he found the controller stuffed into his left jacket pocket. The Exo in turn handed the small silver device to Davis, who had a dark expression cross his face.
“This is contraband,” Davis said. “A device used to manipulate Exos like this is illegal. Must have cost you a fortune to have it made...”
“I found it,” Benjamin responded in his defense. “Besides, when I first put in charge of this thing, he wouldn’t obey me, kept going on and on about protocol and regulations….”
“So you bribed an engineer to make you a custom service bot remote,” Davis said, turning to one of the Exos. “Exo 413, destroy this. *hands Exo the remote*”
The Exo took the small device in its left hand and crushed it at once.
“Don’t!” Benjamin exclaimed.
“Exo-0300,” Davis began, standing in front of me. “How many people have you killed in the last three months?”
“Don’t answer that,” Benjamin said, looking rather nervous.
“Thirty-two,” I responded.
“Thirty-two?” Davis asked. “How many of them were considered civilian casualties?”
“Nineteen.” I responded.
“Hmm,” Davis thought to himself. “Murder, you aren’t supposed to do that?”
“No, sir,” I responded, unmoved as the faces of the civilians I had slayed passed through my mind.
“What is the penalty for these crimes were you human?” Davis inquired.
“Death or imprisonment,” I responded. “Depending on what the accused is guilty of.”
“How very right you are,” Davis responded. “Now, were you human we wouldn’t be having this conversation, but considering you were under orders of another (turns and looks at Benjamin); I’d say another will be stuck with the bill…”
“What do you mean?” Benjamin asked, curious as to what Davis was getting at.
“Exo-0300,” Davis began. “You are no longer needed in the service of the ‘law enforcement’ here, for we have an assignment for you else ware. Exo-0300, terminate Benjamin Simmons.”
“What?” Benjamin exclaimed. “You can’t, Exo-0300 is under my jurisdiction.”
“Not anymore.” Lexi said, taping on her tablet. “I'll just override your authority with Davis’ permission. Exo-0300, confirm command.”
Slowly, my head turned and faced Benjamin, whose face had gone pale.
“Command confirmed,” I said, slowly approaching Benjamin.
He stumbled backward, knocking over his chair and table with the shrimp on it.
“You can’t do this to me!” Benjamin pleaded. “Show mercy!”
“Mercy?” Davis scoffed with a smile. “Exo-0300, confirm mercy, or rather show mercy.”
My mind knew the definition of mercy, but I didn’t make sense to me, I couldn’t confirm the command to show mercy.
“Command not recognized,” I said coldly.
“There’s your answer,” Davis said.
Lexis turned away, she didn’t want to watch what was about to happen. I grabbed Benjamin by the collar and at his belt, dragging him to rail of the balcony.
“Wait!” Benjamin exclaimed. “I’ll give you something you may be able to use…”
“Halt Exo-0300,” Davis sighed, figuring Benjamin would make some kind of plead for his life. “What?”
“I’ll tell you everything I know about Mr. Dudly!” Benjamin shouted to save his life as I began to push over the railing.
“Interesting,” Davis said. “Very well, put Mr. Simmons down.”
I set Benjamin down and looked at him as he dusted himself off.
“Good for nothing dog, after all I’ve done for you!” Benjamin grumbled at me.
“Mr. Simmons,” Davis began. “If you’d please follow my assistant and my Exo escorts, I need to speak to Exo-0300…alone.”
Benjamin looked at me without saying a word before scowling at Davis and walking away, the Exo escorts right behind him.
Mr. Dudly, a crime lord in the city; a lot of rumors floated around about him, such as he was getting support from some of the companies illegally and was responsible for a grand many number of murders, Black Market deals, contraband, slave trade, etc. from Venus to Saturn. Its highly speculated that “Mr. Dudly” is only an alias and not his real name…
“Now that Benjamin is out of the way,” Davis began, turning to me again. “I have a very important job for you…”
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The Vanguard council of Charlemagne; made up of nine high ranking human military officials, scientist, and leaders who commanded the elite Exo units of the Golden Age that were selected for special purposes or just for organizing the Exos numbers and keeping track of them. They typically assigned Exos to security positions throughout the colonies and used them for law enforcement; however, Exos development purposes from the Traveler were still a mystery to most. I have to admit, for such an advanced machine, what could it possibly have to fear? Anyway, the Vanguard Council was founded sometime shortly after Exos were first being produced. Captain Michael Dawns of the Enforcer Authority, Scientist Angela Ericson of the Venusian Science Academy, Brigadier General Makalith Folks of the Colonial Regiments, Admiral Toby Neggoti of the Celestial Navy, Senator Galic Malen representing the Commerce and Economy organization(s), Praetorian Warrant officer (Lieutenant General) Jacob Blackwater, Isaac Florinza Ambassador of Earth, Senator Zepth Davis who’s served as an Ambassador to the Colonies and Commander General Samantha Frost; were the names of the nine members of the Vanguard Council. All were answerable to the respected and praised Traveler, never understood why…
[b]Continued below...[/b]
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The council held their meetings at the top of the Reconnoiter Building on the 200th floor; the room had large windows that lead out to a small balcony with exotic colorful plants, benches, and a fountain with sparkling blue water in the center. Looking into the meeting room you could see the back wall made from Onyx stone and pink/white marble supporting columns carved to look like a woman in a draped gown. A crescent moon shaped table, carved from a solid piece of opal, was about thirty feet from the wall and had its back to the windows, the room had a very tall ceiling that had three beautifully crafted crystal chandelier’s hanging from it. An elaborately carved ebony table was set in the center of the room; from behind the table, people who wished to speak to the council had to stand and give their presentation/testimony from behind it. Two Exos, identified as an Emissary series, were stationed inside the room at the door entering the room and four were on the balcony. Not to be confused with my Expugnare class (Latin for storm, as in storm the fortress) this was a completely different class and series of Exo altogether. Various series and classes of Exos were appearing around the colonies these days, was hard to keep track of them all. The Betas I spoke of were like tanks; thick armor, bull minded, and my “brothers” as it were; you could say they existed for the sole purpose of being bullet sponges in combat scenarios and heavy hitters of the frontlines of battle that were a force to be reckoned with. “Let us now move onto other matters,” Brigadier General Folks announced after hearing a spokesman of one of the colony councils finishing his report. “Thank you Mr. Toms, for informing us of the uprising at colony 11-7Y.” Commander Frost acknowledged. “We will dispatch someone as soon as we can.” Mr. Toms left the room with his fellow companions. “All these uprisings lately,” Admiral Toby began. “One freak scenario happens on one of the outer colonies’ and all hell breaks loose.” “Five-thousand settlers are missing,” Lieutenant General Blackwater stated. “We can discuss that later,” Frost interrupted. “How is the production of the Alpha series coming along?” “Swimmingly,” Angela of the Venusian academy of science remarked, pressing her hand to her forehead. “Why is so important about their production? Why the rush?” “The Traveler is anxious about something,” Folks started. “Travelers been shaky since the…’event.’” “How is the production on the Alphas going?” Frost pressed, wanting to change the topic. Angela sat up in her chair and cleared her throat. “Well,” Angela began with an expression of discontent. “It’s slow, we’ve barely even begun to understand how the technology works inside these things, and not to mention how the Traveler is very secretive about this one…” Meanwhile, Davis had brought me to the Reconnoiter Building to be introduced to the council. We were in the elevator going up to the 200th floor; I had decided to talk to Athena while standing next to Davis. “Athena,” I began. “Good after noon 1TH4M4R-003,” Athena began. “How can I be of service? What’s going on, why are you at the Reconnoiter building?” “I don’t know,” I said. “I’ll find out soon enough.” “A lot of activity in the city lately by the authority’s,” Athena began. “Particularly in that building, must have to do with that event that happened at colony Sev-19.” It was strange, I always liked talking to her for some reason that I couldn’t explain. Her voice, it was so…calming. “Must feel good not having that Benjamin weighing you down,” Athena said in a sly tone. “Yes ma’am,” I responded. “You were created for better purposes than being someone’s lap dog,” Athena expressed in a soft tone, as if were said under her breath. “I just do what I’m ordered to do,” I remarked, cogitating on what she said. “I don’t understand human decision making; such as deciding what to do with their lives.” “Curious creatures,” Athena began. “I wonder how they do it as well. Must be nice having emotions…” “I don’t understand,” I said, not fully interpreting what she was saying. “Oh,” Athena sighed, as if she had a tone of embarrassment in her voice. “I meant to say that I wonder how they seem to…I don’t know. How they use emotions and sometimes put their emotions aside, how they use each other and treat each other like they are disposable. I realize that not all are like that, which brings me to my next point…” My mind buzzed with concepts of human emotion as she paused to process what to say. “The way we were made, it’s not like the other Exos I don’t think…” Athena said, slowly coming to her point. I stood in silence, waiting for Athena to continue her conversation. “You ever wonder what it would be like to be human?” Athena asked blatantly. “Question not understood,” I responded, but then a thought formed in my mind. “Sometimes…” I didn’t think of that too often, what it would be like to be human. To live an ordinary life, perhaps take up a religious faith, fall in love, raise a family, feel emotion; the list of what it may be like to be human was almost endless… “Never mind,” Athena quickly responded. “Some other time, I guess. You know something, that Nervue system you have, it was never part of your-” “Oh, Athena,” The other A.I. transponder chimed in, code named Aphrodite. “Flirting with Exo-0300 again are we? My dear, you just don’t have the voice, or touch, like me.” Aphrodite, this A.I. was more a nuisance than a help; just as if she had materialized from Greek Mythology, Aphrodite was the temptress of the radio waves, coaxing people into telling her about their…well, best not to mention that. She seriously needed a teaching of respect and modesty, among other things. “What’s on your mind?” Davis asked me; not taking his eyes away from the elevator doors. “Sir?” I asked. “I don’t know why, but I get the notion you’re in deep thought.” Davis said, turning and looking at me finally. “Can you not make decisions yourself?” “I lack free will,” I responded. “I can’t do anything I’m not told to do; however, parts of my mind are locked down for some reason, no explanation has been discovered yet. I can make basic decisions for myself, like deciding what medical procedures to take while performing medical aide, what weapons I use for a situation, etc.” “Hmm,” Davis thought to himself as he pondered about what I had said. “Things are about to change for you, big changes; perhaps they may help you unlock what you do not know.” “Not all change is good,” I said, thinking back about the change I’d seen over the past few months being under the thumb of Benjamin. “Some change is,” Davis remarked. We arrived at the two-hundredth floor; there was a ding noise at the elevator doors slid open and we walked out into an empty lobby. The hallways were mostly empty, only occasional guards and staff walking around. Passed a colony councilman by the name of Mr. Toms about halfway to our destination, he looked pretty perplexed by something… “Senator Davis!” Mr. Toms exclaimed, almost running towards us. “Mr. Davis, I’m sorry to bother you, but the Vanguard Council isn’t taking me seriously I don’t think.” “Mr. Toms,” Davis began. “I assure you they care… *pauses and thinks* …most anyway; such as Blackwater, Isaac, and myself at least care about your situation.” “Sir,” Toms continued. “We’ve…we’ve had sightings of…strange things. Things…not of this universe.” “Describe them,” Davis said, a serious look of concern crossed his face. “We have no physical evidence as of yet,” Toms continued. “They looked humanoid, but…” [b]Continued below...[/b]
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Meh. Grammar is horrible and the story needs work in regards to detail and emotional investment. Seems like you didnt spend anytime planning.
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Is this from destiny or fan made earthier way its really good
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I must say this is pretty good but you could give a bit more info on who the Exo is and what he can do but I assumed this would come along later and uh put this in google docs or something and create a link it's kinda hard to read it here and go through comments