A Rough Start

Hyperion’s Light remained grounded with a few minor lights inside. Labrat had been sent home and Ryan Bennings ushered the few remaining robots inside a storage unit before closing the door. The ship was still running according to Rex Robinson’s settings and Ryan felt it was best to finally enact a complete reboot, a task he had been putting off for days. This included retiring the robot crew as he preferred to man the ship with his own software. It would take a little over an hour for the reboot to be complete which was a good opportunity for the team to become acquainted with one another. They all sat around the large table in the meeting area while Ryan addressed them.

“Let’s start with a little meet and greet,” he told them, “We were all in the same field when the Resurgence ended and we kinda got reacquainted last night but let’s get to know each other a bit better. I know some of you have secret identities but I’m sure you can tell us something about yourselves.”

“I can tell you a lot about myself,” Astra offered, “I was created in a Nantox lab in Mantauk, New York when the nanotech transmitter picked up a signal from space. No one is sure who sent it or why but the transmission was intercepted by the Skaleens who blew up the base. They were aliens that tried to kill me but I think they might be dead now anyway, not that I killed them. At any rate, the space signal contained my coding but because the lab blew up, I only got part of the code. I also used the nanotech in the lab to create a body from the wreckage which is why I have shape-shifting powers. Speaking of Nantox, the CEO of that company also tried to kill me because she wanted me to herself. She’s not dead though. Also, my best friends are named Wally and Kim.”

Ryan stared at her, dumbfounded, “And that’s Astra Machina, everyone.”

“Do I go next?,” Alysa was seated beside Astra so she naturally assumed she would be next, although she felt awkward going so early.

“Might as well,” Ryan told her invitingly.

“Hi, uh, I’m Alysa Saraki, Iseda priestess in training. I know magic and I work as a private investigator in Winghaven if ya’ll know that town.”

“Weird shit capital of the US,” Ryan explained, “And so we’re clear, Ms. Saraki is almost 19 so I’m not pulling a Craig Levison here. Next up is Intrepid.”

“I am on leave from the IMD where I was the field leader,” she explained professionally, “I am serving on this team as requested by Director Pierce. My powers include flight and heightened senses.”

“You don’t have a mask so do we get to know your real name?,” Ryan asked.

“I’m afraid that’s confidential.”

“But from your accent, we can tell you’re Israeli. Well,… I can at least.”

“Congratulations,” she said dryly.

“Probably former-Mossad, going by your sunny disposition,” he said under his breath before moving on, “Next, we got the Cavalier.”

“So, yeah, I can’t reveal my real name either. You all probably know that there have been a lot of guys called the Cavalier over the years. I’m the fourth. Nice meeting everyone.”

“And finally, we have Shujai who some of you may have misgivings about but remember, the man saved the planet and was cleared of all charges.”

“Thank you,” he cleared his throat nervously, “To begin with, I was born from a birthing matrix, which is common-”

“What’s a birthing matrix?,” Alysa asked.

“The U’ntari don’t normally reproduce biologically. We certainly have the ability but we have been taking genetic material from selected parents and forming embryos artificially in matrixes for some time. It’s to maintain the Genetic Standard.”

“And what’s that?”

Shujai wondered if his next words would prove controversial to the group but continued to give honest answers, “A very long time ago, the U’ntari were just as diverse as humans or other intelligent species. There were different races, cultures, languages, religions, and sexual identities. Like many intelligent species, there were many wars and crimes committed against people who had certain differences. During the Great Rebirth, some leaders on U’ntrall decided to bring about peace by finally putting an end to bigotry and war.”

“Cool,” Astra Machina said excitedly.

“Let’s move on,” Ryan continued nervously, as if understanding something unsaid.

“How did they bring about peace?,” Alysa asked.

“It was decided upon that the U’ntari would have one race, one language and one culture. The Great Rebirth was meant to ensure hatred and bigotry no longer played a role in our world. It was decided there would be everlasting peace among the U’ntari.”

“Wait, how did you end up having one race and language and everything?”

“I don’t know that we need to go down this rabbit hole,” Cavalier, like Ryan, began to understand where the conversation was headed.

“First, we decided to use the birthing matrixes in order to achieve the Genetic Standard: future generations would have a mixed heritage, resulting in most U’ntari looking more or less the same.”

“What about sexual intercourse?,” Astra asked bluntly.

“It still exists but we outlawed biological reproduction. If anyone is with child, the pregnancy is to be terminated.”

“You can’t just decide that for an entire planet,” Alysa said with disgust, “It’s a choice for a reason!”

“Let’s move on from this,” Intrepid said finally.

“What about existing cultures and languages?,” Astra asked, not cluing in to the rising tension.

“All biological races were made to simply… age out. An AI network was then used to create a new language, culture and governing body. It was deemed the most fair solution so that no group would be dominant.”

“But you can’t just let entire cultures disappear,” Alysa said with some trepidation, “Not everyone’s gonna go along with that.”

“There those who… disagreed.”

“And?,” she crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.

“There has been no war among the U’ntari since that time,” Shujai continued, knowing that Alysa was becoming angry but not understanding how to resolve the situation.

“Yeah, but those folks who ‘disagreed’ had to be killed off to make it happen, right? I don’t see any other way.”

Sensing hostility, Shujai began shifting the conversation, “There is a statue in our capital of the Forgotten U’ntari to commemorate those who were sacrificed.”

“Oh, I’m sure the people who were genocided would’ve loved to know there’s a statue made about them!”

“This conversation is over,” Cavalier said as he rose to his feet.

“Sorry, is it?,” Ryan indicated annoyance that Cavalier took charge of the situation, or at least attempted.

“No, ya’ll need to understand! What if this happened on Earth?,” Alysa pointed to herself, “You think people who look like me would still be around?”

“I understand,” Cavalier told her calmly.

“Do you? I don’t know what you look like under that helmet but I get the feeling you’re not from a marginalized group.”

“I’m in the Queer Community, actually.”

“So then you should know better if you’re-”

“Do not use my sexuality against me, that’s not fair,” his voice rose slightly.

“Stop fighting!,” Astra shouted as she became increasingly confused.

Ryan turned to Intrepid, “Little help?”

“The Badges are almost all from different countries and backgrounds,” she began, “But honestly I’ve never experienced this sort of thing.”

“Thanks for the assist,” he sighed.

“Okay, meeting’s over. We all need to leave and cool our heads,” Cavalier stepped away from the table, “I suggest we all take a breather.”

“Wait, are you the team leader now?,” Ryan asked resentfully.

“Jesus Christ, Bennings,” with that, he turned and left, as did everyone else. Ryan remained seated with a defeated look on his face.

The Cavalier walked down the hallway of the ship toward his quarters, only for Alysa to catch up to him. “Yo, Cav,” she called out, “Can we talk?”

“Sure,” he turned to face her.

“I’m sorry `bout what I said earlier. You’re right, that wasn’t fair to put you on blast like that.”

“No problem. I think we all got a little hot-headed back there. To be honest, I’m not used to being on a team like this.”

“It’s new to me too but my mom said that allies can come from places you don’t expect and that turned out to be true in my case.”

“She sounds like a smart lady.”

“She was. She was murdered not too long ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks,… I’m trying to follow in her footsteps or whatever. Sometimes, I don’t know what I’m doing though.”

“I know exactly how that feels. I’m following in my dad’s footsteps as well and in ways that are a little… complicated.”

“So like… is it true? The Cavaliers are related? I know you got a secret ID but that theory is out there so…”

He smiled beneath his helmet, “Yeah,… I guess you can say it’s a family business.”

“Mine too, kinda.”

On the roof of Hyperion’s Light, Shujai silently stood outside and looked up at the clouds. The elevator hatch opened and Astra Machina slowly emerged.

“Sorry,” she apologized, “I didn’t know anyone was out here.”

“Not to worry,” Shujai assured her, “You aren’t interrupting anything.”

She stood next to him and gazed up at the sky, “Sometimes, when I upset people but I don’t understand why they’re upset, I come out onto a roof, then I just stare at the sky. I’m not sure why I do that.”

“We seem to have a few things in common then.”

“I think so… I think we both know humans are confusing.”

“Agreed.”

“I thought that since you were organic, you would understand them better than me but I guess not.”

“This world is not my own. I spent my entire life following orders and saving lives. Now I’m without a mission. My own people hate me and… it seems the people here feel much the same way. I suppose I don’t know what to do with myself now that I’m here.”

“At least you know what world you came from,” Astra said sadly.

“What does it matter? If you ever found your true origins, I’m not sure it would bring you any amount of peace as it would be just as alien to you as Earth. We are children of the stars,” Shujai grew somber, “There is no world we can call home.”

“True,” she continued to gaze at the sky, “But at the same time, I’m not sure either one of us can turn our backs on them.”

Inside, Ryan remained seated at the meeting table. He was silent and didn’t look up when Intrepid returned to the room.

“You had good intentions,” she told him sincerely, “There was a valid reason to form a team like this.”

Ryan rested his chin on his arms and leaned onto the table, “Rex Robinson was deeply insecure and had a mental breakdown that he dealt with in the most irresponsible way possible. Yet, he was somehow able to get people to rally around him each and every time. I know I have my flaws but I thought I could hold a team together for more than 24 hours.”

“After everything that happened with Rex and the Upstarts, I can understand the importance of a team that could be everything they were meant to be in one fashion or another.”

“The Upstarts,” Ryan shook his head, “I’m sure that bad idea will creep back up in a few years. Maybe not as a teen-centered reality show… but if the military wants a team, they’ll get one. I thought the Commission would detract them. I guess there there was a lot I was trying to do with this idea that didn’t quite-”

The door slid open and a familiar figure emerged, which caused both Ryan and Intrepid to shoot to their feet. The figure strode confidently into the room with an inviting smile.

“I’m sure it’s a bit confusing to see me again,” Rex Robinson told them, “But I’m afraid I need your help.”

Next: Ghost in the Machine