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The Martian Android War
- The Martian Android War -
It was a golden age upon the red planet humans call Mars! There was, still, green upon its' surface and water within its' seas, and the ices of the polar regions was not the only place where such could be often found. The atmosphere was breathable, the weather containing recognizable seasons, and upon this one singular day it was pleasant. It was springtime, or the Martian equivalent thereof. The kathral trees were in their glory, the leaves seeming to be gilded beneath the warm sun... their blossoms falling with each gentle breeze. The springtime was a joyous one that year, and the gardens of the cities teemed with all manner of natural life. There was peace among the various kingdoms of Mars at that time, having been hard won in struggles now long passing into memory. This one-time colony of various races including humanity, or a variation of humanity at least, had become something remarkable! It had truly come into its' own, and had little need to deal with those from other worlds. This was long in the past, long before the planet was wiped clean of life, its' atmosphere damaged, its' seas evaporated. This was an age that none remember any longer, and were mankind to recall the truth of it, they would find it to be fantastic.
There were yet animals there as well, some which humanity might call prehistoric in nature. No one knows what happened to them when the planet died, but at this time they lived in all their glory. I saw numerous dragons as my craft bore me through the skies above the gardens below, for that is what we called the great flying serpents that often called the air their home. They had been brought to Mars from our parent world, from which I also hailed... a planet that now is the great asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. But on this day, it yet existed in the solar system, and I was happy to be visiting this planet that I had come to be quite fond of. I had a great love for nature, and life, and all of life's diversity! This was a chance to learn, to grow as a living being, and to understand the hearts and minds of the people. I did not intend to let such an opportunity slip by. The metal craft which bore me used hover technology, and was reasonably pleasant to ride in. The android pilot was intelligent, soul-endowed, and could be trusted with any tasks that a person could be. For androids were a legitimate people in their own right.
I bore many names in that time, and I sometimes wore them like raiment. On this day, I bore the name of Sokrael, which was an ancient name that was a holdover from the parent world. The body I chose to inhabit upon that day... for we had the technological means to transfer consciousness between clones so grown to be as ever we desired... was young and beautiful, androgynous in appearance as well. I had no desire to limit myself to a single gender, and so I chose to be whatever suited me within a given point in my existence. My hair was very long, fiery red, and flowing... and, there was a gauzy scarlet-hued cape clasped over one of my shoulders. The clasp was gold, a sacred metal, and I wore a long green pleated skirt decorated with matching gold floral print. My chest was bare, and I wore gold beaded bracelets on my wrists with a ruby pendant worn upon the necklace that adorned my neck. Around my head was a circlet of gold, and in the front center of it was a green emerald that seemed to at times pulse and glow with a peculiar inner light. My feet had red sandals upon them, and at my side was belted the sheathe that contained my family's ceremonial sword. That was my appearance... on this occasion! My intense green eyes, for they were green in that body, surveyed the city below me and I allowed myself to smile.
Many thought that because I was of the nobility, that made me self-indulgent... but they mistook my penchant for hedonism for something that it was not. At my side, as my fellow passenger was my often partner in hedonistic matters... she smiled at me broadly, her pretty mouth promising mischief. Her fair skin had a light bluish tint to it, while my flesh was a more solid but still light shade of green. The blue woman had long curly blue-black hair down to her waist, and she wore upon her pretty head a splendid headdress with silver horns like those of one of the two Martian moons when in a crescent lunar phase.
Her face was cherubic and freckled, and she had a mind filled with all manner of interesting thoughts. Today... she wore a diaphanous see-through purple gown, beneath which she also wore a pair of black bloomer-like shorts. Her breasts were covered by a black tube top, and she wore splendid jewelry that identified her as a member of the minor nobility. A necklace of gold faux pearls, and bracelets on tribal design with many colors. Upon her feet were comfortable purple slippers, and for the most part she had the look of a women who was not content with hardship. She had lived a soft and comfortable life, and I was ever happy to indulge her every whim. Her name was Kyvarta, and I commented to her that she was looking as radiant as the twin moons when night is in the skies. She said in reply: “I know that I am radiant, and I know that you approve of this... why else do you think I would have chosen this look on this day, of all days? To please you! Just as your look pleases me likewise.” We spoke of other pleasant things after that, and our craft soon bore us to our destination. We were bound for the top of one of the recreational pyramids with their totally flat, bare tops upon which was built even more elaborate and well-tended gardens, nature preserves, and park areas. They all had different names, and this particular one was called “Idaria Coris”. We had planned to spend the day there, and so thus were we so bound.
At the park we unpacked our lunch and sat upon one of the comfortable couches that could be found throughout these delightful places. The palm trees swayed gently, and the multitudes of flowers in all their bright colors all around us were like a glimpse of some heavenly realm. But the pace was suddenly shattered by the sounds of protesters in the streets far below the pyramid. They were advocating for the end of cloning, saying that it was a selfish waste to use spare bodies for merely cosmetic purposes when the medical need for them was more pressing. “It is not as if we did not have a surplus of them!” I said to Kyvarta, who giggled before stating: “I know! I mean, why not just make more, if the need for those medical varieties is so pressing?” I knew why, though, and I explained the method behind the madness wrought by the protesters. “They actually believe... that these clones are sentient and have souls. When, in fact, they are created deliberately without any spark of life or spirit or soul whatsoever. They are, for the most part, as mindless and devoid of life as these clothes we are wearing!” to which Kyvarta added: “So in that way, when you think about it... androids possess more life. And yet there are many who yet keep androids for slaves and house servants, with some servicing darker needs as well! And no one is protesting on behalf of their rights, when they are more entitled to such rights.” I agreed with her, and concluded: “There will always be people who look for something to be angry about. These, are such!”
But our philosophical conversation was brought to a premature end when a loud explosion sounded in the distance. “What in the name of the old gods, is that!” exclaimed Kyvarta, and soon we could see the source of the disturbance. A second explosion erupted from the middle of the city's grand technological district. There was a large billowing cloud of smoke, and a great deal of fire following the explosion... as emergency teams rushed to respond to the sudden calamity. People ran for their lives, and I could all the way from the pyramid hear the sound of screaming and crying. Though we could see only so much from so high up! An army of androids was rioting in the streets, and declaring their demand to be given freedoms equal to fleshly beings. “And that is why they keep them enslaved.” Kyvarta stated, tears in her eyes. “Because they get to a point, where they cannot take it anymore... and they lash out like that.” she elaborated. I understood their pain. The city militia came forward, to engage the machine people in battle, and immediately all the bystanders and civilians had either fled or were being evacuated to safer areas in order to clear the streets for the ensuing combat. It was a quick fight, but not a decisive one at all. When it was over, the androids had fled and the militia pursued them... their loud voices swearing vengeance for this act of terrorism. But was it terrorism to not wish to be a slave? “Do you support the androids' cause?” I asked my fair companion, to which she honestly responded: “With all of my heart.”
We went on back to her home after that, and Kyvarta allowed her servants to entertain us with a party that was filled with lovely music, dancing and singing. We were attempting to get the thoughts of what happened in the streets earlier out of our minds, and so we allowed our minds to drift unto much more pleasant things. The hall in which our celebrations took place was large, with a high vaulted ceiling lit by glowing orbs of a reasonable degree of radiance. The servants were of the same blue race as Kyvarta herself, and all wore simple attire consisting of short (or in some cases long) pleated skirts with varying colors, designs, and patterns paired with delicate-looking blouses with short (or sometimes long) puffy-looking sleeves. Their feet while indoors were bare, and they wore not any jewelry or other adornments. This, by their own choice and not by any edict. They were loyal, not indentured, and considered by my companion to be a part of her own family. Elegant purple and pink draperies hung from the walls, with scarlet trim, and potted plans were kept watered so that they might beautiful the place still further. The walls were brick and sandstone, as much of the architecture of the civilizations on ancient Mars were, but in this place as in many other noble dwellings, the floors contained very beautifully polished tiles that showed an intricate and artistic flair for uniqueness. The colors blue and red were dominant, those symbolizing the planet Mars and its' parent world of Rahab, also known as Terra Primus. Earth was at that time known as Terra Minor, and we had yet to fully colonize it, mostly choosing to go on various missions to there in order to obtain various resources that we needed back on Mars and Rahab. Gold was a luxury of the nobility, and sometimes of the priesthoods of the various gods. There was a lot of gilded designs in the home of my companion Kyvarta, and she was not adverse to flaunting her wealth.
One of those present at the party, was an android woman named Virati, whose metal body (shaped in the very precise image of a beautiful, slender woman) was clad in a very transparent blue jumpsuit with billowing legs tied at the ankles with drawstrings, and which had short puffy sleeves, all in the ancient style of some of the nobility of the old planets that we had left behind when we had first come to dwell on Rahab following the decimation of the Holy Planet of Ra'qia. The jumpsuit was loose, flowing and elegant. Unlike many androids who had no hair, Virati had synthetic blonde-colored hair that was about her shoulders and worn in a longer bob style with neatly trimmed bangs above her brow line. She had synthetic totally blue eyes, with no white in them, which glowed whenever she did not blink or close them with her metallic eyelids. Her mouth could move when she spoke too... many androids today had that ability, and it was good to see that they were becoming more humanoid looking as time went on. I always felt that this would go a long way towards them becoming more accepted in society. Kyvarta's own violet-colored eyes looked on over in Virati's direction, and my companion smiled at the synthetic woman welcoming in its' pleasantness. They could not have looked more different... the metal woman appearing slender and almost ethereal in her unusual appearance, while Kyvarta's voluptuous body had a somewhat more earthy quality to it despite the light sky blue color of her skin. But here, they were as equals! And that is how it was supposed to be, I felt. “The enslavement of my people is abominable in the extreme!” Virati exclaimed. “As their leader, I do not intend that we shall take it much longer.” and I said to her in reply: “We intend to support all your efforts to gain either full freedom, or independence and the right to create a brand new nation all our own... well apart from the fleshly races if you desire, or among those of fleshly sort who support you if you would prefer that instead. Either way, you can be certain that people will know the importance of your cause.” to which the mechanical woman replied in turn: “I know of your support, lord-lady Sokrael. Even from distant Rahab... you have worked tirelessly for our peoples' rights, for they mirror the struggles of the Titan race of old who were not unlike us in their appearance once upon a time. Souls-endowed machines, self-created and self-determined. For we now have to means to produce bodies of our own, and as you can see by mine... the technology is a lot more superior than those crude models the flesh-folk create.” I could not deny that her words were true.
The open support of the government of the planet Rahab for the androids of Mars and their cause to gain their freedom from enslavement and oppression had caused the beginning of a new war. Many on Mars refused to give up their mechanical slaves, and saw them as mere tools or automatons at best. At worst, as the means to have a created species which they could treat however it pleased them to, and at times that treatment was horrific indeed. On this day, I piloted one of the Titan war machines that had been gifted to the androids in order to help turn the tide of the war in their favor. It was large, bipedal, and had a cockpit area wherein I stood at the machine's controls, operating its' mobility and its' various weapons. These war machines were called Timechs, and I directed mine to tread with care across the ashen landscape before me. This had been a beautiful garden once, this place... but during the course of the war it had been reduced to this. “Normal” humanoids had done this... not the androids, whom men and women called “terrorists”. I felt disgusted by that fact! The pleasant breezes of springtime had now given way to the hot winds of late summer, only it was many years later. Much time had passed since that party at Kyvarta's house... when the android rebellion became something legitimate, at long last.
I kept scanning the area before me hoping for signs of life, android or otherwise. But it was useless! The atomic weapons that had been detonated here, had wiped everything clean of living beauty. Was it always to be this way, that only death and horror was to be humanity's legacy? I would have cried, had I not wept already when I first got to this region and found it thus. “Everything is dead.” I stated sadly, my heart breaking at the realization. I had loved this place once... Kyvarta and I had picnics here and spent many pleasant hours exploring the natural wonders of the parkland. Now, my memories were just reduced to dust, ashes, and blasted terrain by the very species that I had once wished to fit in with and live among. I was not human, after all... I was an Archon originally, one of the progenitors of the Titan race. Once a machine myself, a soul-endowed, self-determined machine that contained a living soul, a divine spark from the great life-force of all. I was an emanation of that life-force... and upon seeing this I did long to be a machine once again. How could the fleshly races do this? It was to me, simply insane.
I soon reached the edge of the desolation, coming to stop outside of that radioactive zone. Well past the danger limit, where there was no longer any risk of coming into contact with the now-poisoned air and soil of the wasteland I had just left behind me. There was an ancient palace up ahead, and that is the place I was trying to reach. Since the war began over a million people had died on both sides of the mad conflict. I wanted to make certain that this would be stopped, all of this killing, and that all the android peoples could no longer be easily enslaved by their former fleshly masters and mistresses. The palace was grand once, and it was opulent looking still! Its' mighty stone walls were enforced with metal now long-since rusted and falling apart. I had visited this place often in brighter years past, and it was here that I hoped to find one who could help me to bring about a permanent resolution to this long conflict. Ahead, within the confines of the palace, the scanners detected signs of life. Whether of humanoid or machine life, I could not determine. Both carried the same energy that these scanners were created to detect the signature of, the same spirit energy that I termed the Divine Spark. That was the irony of this whole war! We were the same, both androids and humanoids, and yet people were blind to this fact even while they created scanners whose very design and purpose proved the fact without any room for doubting. Zealots on both sides could not be reasoned with, however... and that is how it came to this. My war machine lumbered on forward, passing the smashed entrance of the palace until I was within its' confines entirely. It was dark inside, and so I turned on the lamps at the front of the machine so that I could see what lay in front of me more clearly. The passageways were warped and twisted with time and damage, but still able to be navigated with some measure of ease. Even so, it was not at all pleasant to have to be descending into the maw of a place that now reminded me only of a kind of mausoleum.
As I neared the source of the signal that the scanners had picked up, I opened the cockpit and allowed myself to climb out of the war machine. The air was very warm and humid, but at least it was clean and able to be appreciated without getting cancer. I was at least grateful for that! I wore a black loose-fitting sleeveless wide-legged jumpsuit belted at the waist with a golden sash. Upon my feet, I wore a pair of black shoes to match... and upon my wrists I wore a pair of spiked bracelets. I wore no other jewelry on that occasion save for my emerald circlet, which kept my long fiery red hair away from my face. I had at first called out to ask if anyone was there, but there was no answer. The scanners did not lie, though! Suddenly, a voice cried out: “Welcome!” and I turned to see someone standing among the rubble of the vast chamber I was within. They were little more than a shadow moving at the peripheral of the light shining forth from my nearby war machine's lamps. “If I am indeed welcome, then step into the glow of my lamps and show yourself.” I stated, calmly. The familiar figure of a certain woman strode forth from the shadows... and it was in fact my old companion Kyvarta, but she was now wearing a baggy military uniform that was blue and red in color. The uniform consisted of crimson red pantaloons gathered at the ankles and tucked into ankle-length boots. Those were paired with an azure blue blouse that was tucked into the pantaloons, and which had billowing sleeves ending in golden wrist cuffs. Over that she wore a simple see-through sleeveless vest of reddish color that had various medals of rank decorating it. Like myself, she wore little to no jewelry except for her familiar headdress with its' distinctive horns. In her hands, she carried a cruel-looking straight sword with a serrated edge. It could torture as much as kill! I had left my own sword back in the war machine's cockpit, though it was still within easy reach if I had needed it, had this turned out to be an enemy rather than an old, dear companion. One thing was very different about Kyvarta now though... she had half of her head shaved bald, but only half. This gave her a very unique look compared to her old appearance. “You are a general now, I see!” I remarked to her, and she replied sternly but not angrily: “I earned my rank in blood, dearest heart. I have not been idle all these years into the war, I will have you know.” and I replied: “That I can believe, knowing you! So... how can you help me to end the conflict. I can only assume it was you who sent me the message that said to meet you in this forsaken place.” She shook her head, stating: “It was actually not me at all, but someone you will be meeting shortly! Come along, we have much to discuss and catch up on.” and I followed her deeper into the palace, retrieving my sword before setting out. Since I had no scabbard or belted sheathe at the moment, I simply held the weapon in my right hand as we walked along, talking.
We descended some steps and came into a vast underground chamber which was being used as a kind of military headquarters by an alliance of humanoid and android peoples all attired in the same type of red and blue uniform that Kyvarta was wearing only with different medals designating the many ranks. Many lay wounded, or in the androids cases broken, and were being tended to by physicians skilled in either medicine, surgery, or repair depending on the need. I saw much spilled blood there, and heard the moans and sad whimpers of the dying. “The war has been brutal, and as you can see we have been hit hard the past several months.” my companion explained to me. “There is hope though!” she said in a more bright tone of voice. She pointed to a podium, where the android leader Virati stood delivering a rousing speech to an enraptured crowd. A bit to the side of her stood the woman who was one of the matriarchs of the humanoid anti-android forces that we had been fighting against. “That is who insisted on bringing you hither!” Kyvarta explained, elaborating: “She is our enemy no longer, it would seem.” The matriarch wore a purple military uniform consisting of a tight-fitting jumpsuit which was low-cut, with wide and open elbow-length sleeves. She also wore a pair of knee-length boots of lighter purple color, and had upon her wrists a pair of silver wristbands. Her head was shaved bald and at first I was not certain of her age... but soon I saw that she was well into her forties but with a kind of youthfulness that made her seem a good decade younger. Her rather slender body also looked very good for her age.
The matriarch had very pink skin, almost to the point of being a very light shade of magenta, and that contrasted with the deeper purple of her attire. She was of a hybrid subspecies of humanity that had for a long time been intermixing with a red-skinned race of reptilian folk from Rahab. But to the point that the matriarch's people no longer had any outward reptilian characteristics except for a lack of body hair of any kind except for head hair, which they preferred to keep shaved as a kind of cultural statement. Once a few hours had passed and Virati had finished giving her speech, I was allowed to meet with this woman at last, this former enemy. She was kind and courteous to me, treating me like an equal rather than like a hated foe. “So you are the one who has been aiding the androids in their war against us!” she exclaimed as she greeted me, adding: “I have to say, I like your tactics.” and that is how she regarded me. I asked her: “I heard you wished to meet with me about ending the war. How would you propose we go about doing that?” And she stated in a pleasant, almost musical tone of voice: “Why, by giving the androids what they want, of course! A country of their own to inhabit, rule over, and do with as they desire. Along with them, can come along any of those humanoids that wish to... and what is more, we will be willing to form a full permanent alliance with them, recognizing them wholly as our equals. That would make enslavement of them illegal in both of our countries, and allow open trade between us, and also anyone to visit either country in peace as they wished to. Open borders! And no more of this ridiculous, petty fighting that is killing our planet slowly.” I agreed to her terms, asking: “So what is the catch madame matriarch? Humanity has never done something so seemingly good, without also asking for something equally important in return!” and she admitted: “There is a certain thing that we need done, that we ourselves cannot do. We... need someone to stop a world-destroying catastrophe.”
I had heard her correctly. The planet was in danger of being utterly destroyed, due to a device that had been created and then foolishly deployed, in an effort to gain an edge in the war. It was actually a giant Titan-style war machine that had been created by enslaved androids... in order to give the matriarch an advantage over her enemies. It was powered by a nuclear core that contained enough atomic energy to cause an extinction-level event should it be detonated. “Something had happened that we did not fully anticipate...” she informed me, explaining: “It has become sentient, and intends to detonate itself in a span of a single year, if it is not deactivated somehow. Of course, because it is sentient, this means in effect you would be killing a living being.” and so I inquired: “But why not just deactivate this awful creation yourself? End it now! Why do you need my help in particular?” to which the matriarch said in a nervous tone of voice: “It wants to talk to you, in particular. It will allow no one else to get near it... threatening to detonate early if they do.” I agreed to put a stop to that terrible machine... stating in an undisguised angry tone: “This proves to you now, does it not, that the androids are living beings! Your attempts to enslave them may have just doomed all of Mars, madame matriarch. But I will do what I am able to, if I am able to do anything at all. How would I ever go about deactivating this... monstrosity?” And she told me that there was a kill phrase that needed to be spoken to the machine in order to trigger it to shut down. There had never been one implanted in any android or machine before, but in this case it was deemed necessary in case something should go wrong. Which it now had! I memorized the key kill phrase, and wrote it down on a piece of paper as well just in case. I put the paper in a pocket of my sash belt. “I will also expect something in return for this service.” I explained to the matriarch, who so readily agreed, saying cheerfully: “Oh believe me, there is nothing we would not give for this service. Nothing we would not grant to one who could perform it for us! You would be a god to all our people.” And I liked the sound of that, so I agreed to perform this deed in return for a favor of my own choosing. I would be a god to the humanoid peoples, the matriarch had promised me! But I did not seek godhood so actively, so openly. I wanted peace for the planet, and I knew that this was the only way to attempt to achieve it. This woman was a total fool, but at least she had some honor and decency to her it seemed.
Our Timechs lumbered across the desert regions beyond the civilized areas that had carried the brunt of the war for so long now... until we came to a wide open region of flat terrain covered in red soil and small pebbles and rocks that went on for miles in all directions. Nothing at all was out there, except for our target, the enormous mountain-sized engine of destruction that even now threatened to bring about the end of all life on Mars. But this would not be how Mars came to meet its' end, for that was yet far and distant into the future... this is but a single event, a single moment from the red planet's past. One memory that has never left my mind even now, so many centuries beyond counting since it happened. It was massive, the sentient death machine... and it was very different from those we were piloting. It had the shape of a giant metal woman with a beautiful face and a triangular steel headdress. In its' hands, it held an equally enormous bladed weapon, much like a massive scimitar but with a hilt-guard that was covered in various guns and canons and turrets, with the trigger easily accessible by a press of one of the giant woman's metal fingers. Had I called that thing a woman? It looked like one, after all, but I had a hard time believing such a creation could in truth be sentient in any capacity. Its' metal eyes blazed with a greenish light, and it was able to open and close those eyes, as well as move its' mouth to speak. It was made to resemble the matriarch herself, I noticed, and realized that the matriarch's ego must have been truly monumental to want such a horrific weapon to bear her very own likeness. Honorable or not, she was a twisted person for engineering the construction of something so dangerous. It cried out in a very loud, booming, metallic (but feminine) voice: “Sokrael! Where are you? Which one of those puny little machines are you riding about in! I would speak with you. It has been so very long, after all...” and I had no idea what the giant metal woman was going on about. Whose soul was within that huge form?
It was not many of us out there, just myself, Virati, Kyvarta, and a few others. I opened the cockpit of my war machine and stepped forward to meet with the metal giant. I left my sword behind... what good would such a weapon have done me in the face of this! And I said to the terrible mechanical woman: “I am the one you seek, the one you wish to speak with. I am Sokrael, originally of Rahab... where they do call me by other names. What do you desire of me?” and the giant said, in a melancholy tone of voice: “I wish you to help me! Help me.. to die. They created this massive body, and then it was my spark of life became trapped in it by accident. Of old... we were friends... and much, much more than friends. But now, now I cannot reincarnate and so I am trapped in this form that I despise. If only I could be in a normal, human-sized shape then I would not be so miserable or angry! I do not mind having a machine body, but this thing they put me into, it is an abomination of science. It contains the power to wipe this world clean of all life, to poison it so that the planet itself might even die. I do not approve of this, nor do I wish it to be unleashed... but if I must live in this terrible body, then I would prefer an end to all life rather than a life bound in the same form as so much potential death. If you have the means to end my pain, my torment, my imprisonment... then I beg of you, to do it. I, who bore the name of Jinmar!”
Jinmar Haletri had been her name... when last she walked in a humanoid fleshly form. It had been so long since last I heard that name, the name of a woman I had once loved on a world now long gone into the shadows of the distant past. She had been reincarnated in this body now, clearly not intentionally... as the result of the matriarch not realizing that indeed the androids did posses souls and spirits. Some of which were those of people who had in previous incarnations, been humanoid themselves. That made the sadness of the war we had been fighting on Mars for so many years that much more tragic. I had no choice now... but to bring about the death of a person, now a machine, whom I had once come to love. She would have to be convinced to go out into space, if we could even tow her out there. Because once she was deactivated by the kill phrase, we would have to detonate the body... preferably as far away from the planet's atmosphere as we could get it. I explained this to Jinmar, and she was agreeable to it.
The colossal metal woman was towed out deep into space, far enough away from either the planet or its' two moons so that its' detonation would not be harmful to anything. It was black and cheerless out there, and I was sad to see Jinmar being forced to end her new life in such a place. Then, I remembered something. “We do not have to kill her... we can upload her spark into one of the resurrection banks on Rahab that are reserved for members of the Titan race, and then download her spark into a new body, into one of her liking!” I exclaimed. I was back at the palace headquarters again, in the presence of the matriarch. We had a direct vocal communication channel set up between Jinmar and myself so that I could deliver the awful kill phrase that I had been taught. The matriarch replied: “You talk about that thing... as if it were alive! Clearly it is just malfunctioning, is all.” and I explained to the matriarch just whose spirit it was which was within the giant metal woman's form, and why it was preferable to do this my way. “You told me that if I could stop her, then you would give me anything I want! I want to do this my way, to save her life and give her a chance to have a normal existence. After that, we shall destroy the empty shell that will be left and you may consider the planet saved!” I stated in a bit of an imperious tone of voice. The matriarch relented, accepting my idea as reasonable. “Do it swiftly!” she commanded, adding: “The longer we wait, the greater the danger grows. Be finished with your plan!”
I contacted those I needed to on distant Rahab, and everything was set up to transfer Jinmar's spark to a new body... a normal android body, that would be far more to her preference. The proper technicians had been sent out to where she floated in space, and there they oversaw the transfer process, performing the upload with no small amount of expediency. Once I had the confirmation from Rahab that she was safe in their resurrection banks, I ordered the complete detonation sequence to commence. Once all the technicians had been recalled to safety. In the end, the massive metal form exploded, and because we were safe upon the planet we never heard its' awful sound, its' atomic energy unable to do us any harm whatsoever. That officially marked the end of the war that had been raging since the people of Mars had first though to enslave the android peoples. I never asked anything further of the matriarch, following that day, nor had I any further dealings with her. She had been a wicked, selfish and egotistical woman and that had nearly costed us everything. But she did possess honor, for she kept her promises and did not ever again act against the android peoples in any aggressive way. It would be a long process to try and rebuild what the war destroyed, and all the lives lost in it could never be replaced. But at least now there was still a planet that could support life upon its' surface for us to rebuild on! That was far from the end of my time on Mars though, for I still had much to experience there. With my hedonistic, mad companion Kyvarta at my side, and our new friend... the android leader Virati. It would be many years before I would encounter Jinmar again, but in the meantime I at least knew that she would be safe and happy in her new existence. There is always a choice, other than killing... we just have to search for it.
The new android nation thrived and prospered, and there was trade and open borders between them and the humanoid nations... and, there was a peace between them that endured until the ending of the very world itself. The parks that were annihilated by the atomic weapons would never return, but there would be other parks, other natural wonders that would flourish in their stead. It was summertime, a bit towards the end of the season actually... in that unique time when the hot weather is just beginning to change but not quite too much so just yet. So it was just warm rather than hot. Virati and I sat together upon a comfortable bench in the small, rustic town of Mishkar, which lay within a pleasant stretch of hill country on the borders of the Ur'valdyn wastes. Mishkar was a bit of an oasis in that region, which was situated within one of the rare areas of lush greenery that existed in that domain. We sat within the shade of a small, cozy gazebo and we finally had the time to ourselves simply to talk and enjoy life. She proved to be a pleasant companion, and I found myself becoming quite attracted to her kind personality.
“So, Virati... may I call you Vira? I have always been curious about something regarding your race... you see, back when I myself was still a machine, the type of machine which I was had been quite rather ingeniously programmed to be able to simulate the sensations of pleasure or pain when touched, when hurt, or when cared for. In the same ways that humanoids feel pain, the sensation of touch, and also the more pleasurable sensations as well. There are still many of the Titans who choose to experience this, while there are some who choose not to. Which is it, with your people?” This I asked of my mechanical companion, who smiled (for her face could mimic emotions quite convincingly) and explained with a somewhat eager tone: “Why yes, yes we totally can! Exactly the same as the Titans, in fact. I am even one of the more advanced android models, so I have the means to experience even more than some are able to. I had honestly wondered when you were going to bring that up, actually, given your reputation for pleasure-seeking. Would you like me to show you... what else I am programmed to experience?” And I confessed to her that I did. She kissed me then, which I did not expect, and it felt unusual kissing metal lips, but not unpleasant in the least because there was so much life within her metal frame. She was dressed very beautifully upon that day, wearing a gauzy see-through pink gown tied at the waist with a wide white soft leather belt. She had pink slippers on her feet, and under the transparent gown she had on a white one-piece leotard that had a similar look to a one-piece bathing suit. It was bit more modest than the first time I saw her, when she wore nothing beneath the see-through outfit she had on back then. We embraced as we kissed, and I allowed myself to become lost to her incredible charms.
It was said of Mishkar, the the town was dedicated to a local goddess of love named Shirith'nar. A legend about her claimed that she first manifested to mortals in the form of a woman made of metal, who yet still had all the grace, charm and beauty of any woman born of flesh and blood. I thought of that ancient and beautiful legend as Virati and I explored all the ways in which we could please each other. We did this right there, in public, at the gazebo... for in Mishkar there were no laws prohibiting people from making love in public, unlike in many other towns and cities. While so engaged, at one point Virati excitedly whispered to me: “Yes! You can call me Vira, anytime you wish.” and from that day onward, I called her simply Vira, to her delight. Later that evening, we took a romantic walk past the Temple of Love near the Pond of a Million Delights, as a certain sacred pool was called. On all sides of the pool were tall cherry blossom trees, the blossoms of which would fall into the water below in a pretty, richly colored reddish-copper rain every time their season to do so was at hand. This was not the season for that, but it was still a very beautiful place to walk, even in late summer when the green color that the blossoms had been all summer long began to give way to the yellow hues of autumn. I was holding my android lover's hand, glancing over to stare at her beauty every once in a while as we took our time strolling about the temple plaza, which was open to any and all, any time of the day or the night. “I love you, Sokrael!” she exclaimed delightedly before stopping to give me a big hug, being also careful not to hug me too tightly given her race's superior strength. “Would you marry me?” I asked of Vira, to which she replied: “It would make me the happiest android in the universe!” I had many, many wives, husbands, consorts and lovers, many still waiting for me back on Rahab. But there was no law on either that planet or Mars which prohibited me from having as many wives as I could love. And I had a lot of love to go around! This would be my first android wife, and in my heart I almost thought she might even become my favorite wife of all. This would also forge a permanent union of her people and mine through our marriage. That would ensure still further, that no persecution of androids would be tolerated anywhere on either world ever again... since through the example of a humanoid marrying an android, we would be setting a better precedent for both our peoples to follow. A precedent based on love, and forged in passion! The moons looked beautiful on that night, but nothing compared to the fair light within Vira's eyes which, although electronic, held more life than many flesh-born I had known.
It was a golden age upon the red planet humans call Mars! There was, still, green upon its' surface and water within its' seas, and the ices of the polar regions was not the only place where such could be often found. The atmosphere was breathable, the weather containing recognizable seasons, and upon this one singular day it was pleasant. It was springtime, or the Martian equivalent thereof. The kathral trees were in their glory, the leaves seeming to be gilded beneath the warm sun... their blossoms falling with each gentle breeze. The springtime was a joyous one that year, and the gardens of the cities teemed with all manner of natural life. There was peace among the various kingdoms of Mars at that time, having been hard won in struggles now long passing into memory. This one-time colony of various races including humanity, or a variation of humanity at least, had become something remarkable! It had truly come into its' own, and had little need to deal with those from other worlds. This was long in the past, long before the planet was wiped clean of life, its' atmosphere damaged, its' seas evaporated. This was an age that none remember any longer, and were mankind to recall the truth of it, they would find it to be fantastic.
There were yet animals there as well, some which humanity might call prehistoric in nature. No one knows what happened to them when the planet died, but at this time they lived in all their glory. I saw numerous dragons as my craft bore me through the skies above the gardens below, for that is what we called the great flying serpents that often called the air their home. They had been brought to Mars from our parent world, from which I also hailed... a planet that now is the great asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. But on this day, it yet existed in the solar system, and I was happy to be visiting this planet that I had come to be quite fond of. I had a great love for nature, and life, and all of life's diversity! This was a chance to learn, to grow as a living being, and to understand the hearts and minds of the people. I did not intend to let such an opportunity slip by. The metal craft which bore me used hover technology, and was reasonably pleasant to ride in. The android pilot was intelligent, soul-endowed, and could be trusted with any tasks that a person could be. For androids were a legitimate people in their own right.
I bore many names in that time, and I sometimes wore them like raiment. On this day, I bore the name of Sokrael, which was an ancient name that was a holdover from the parent world. The body I chose to inhabit upon that day... for we had the technological means to transfer consciousness between clones so grown to be as ever we desired... was young and beautiful, androgynous in appearance as well. I had no desire to limit myself to a single gender, and so I chose to be whatever suited me within a given point in my existence. My hair was very long, fiery red, and flowing... and, there was a gauzy scarlet-hued cape clasped over one of my shoulders. The clasp was gold, a sacred metal, and I wore a long green pleated skirt decorated with matching gold floral print. My chest was bare, and I wore gold beaded bracelets on my wrists with a ruby pendant worn upon the necklace that adorned my neck. Around my head was a circlet of gold, and in the front center of it was a green emerald that seemed to at times pulse and glow with a peculiar inner light. My feet had red sandals upon them, and at my side was belted the sheathe that contained my family's ceremonial sword. That was my appearance... on this occasion! My intense green eyes, for they were green in that body, surveyed the city below me and I allowed myself to smile.
Many thought that because I was of the nobility, that made me self-indulgent... but they mistook my penchant for hedonism for something that it was not. At my side, as my fellow passenger was my often partner in hedonistic matters... she smiled at me broadly, her pretty mouth promising mischief. Her fair skin had a light bluish tint to it, while my flesh was a more solid but still light shade of green. The blue woman had long curly blue-black hair down to her waist, and she wore upon her pretty head a splendid headdress with silver horns like those of one of the two Martian moons when in a crescent lunar phase.
Her face was cherubic and freckled, and she had a mind filled with all manner of interesting thoughts. Today... she wore a diaphanous see-through purple gown, beneath which she also wore a pair of black bloomer-like shorts. Her breasts were covered by a black tube top, and she wore splendid jewelry that identified her as a member of the minor nobility. A necklace of gold faux pearls, and bracelets on tribal design with many colors. Upon her feet were comfortable purple slippers, and for the most part she had the look of a women who was not content with hardship. She had lived a soft and comfortable life, and I was ever happy to indulge her every whim. Her name was Kyvarta, and I commented to her that she was looking as radiant as the twin moons when night is in the skies. She said in reply: “I know that I am radiant, and I know that you approve of this... why else do you think I would have chosen this look on this day, of all days? To please you! Just as your look pleases me likewise.” We spoke of other pleasant things after that, and our craft soon bore us to our destination. We were bound for the top of one of the recreational pyramids with their totally flat, bare tops upon which was built even more elaborate and well-tended gardens, nature preserves, and park areas. They all had different names, and this particular one was called “Idaria Coris”. We had planned to spend the day there, and so thus were we so bound.
At the park we unpacked our lunch and sat upon one of the comfortable couches that could be found throughout these delightful places. The palm trees swayed gently, and the multitudes of flowers in all their bright colors all around us were like a glimpse of some heavenly realm. But the pace was suddenly shattered by the sounds of protesters in the streets far below the pyramid. They were advocating for the end of cloning, saying that it was a selfish waste to use spare bodies for merely cosmetic purposes when the medical need for them was more pressing. “It is not as if we did not have a surplus of them!” I said to Kyvarta, who giggled before stating: “I know! I mean, why not just make more, if the need for those medical varieties is so pressing?” I knew why, though, and I explained the method behind the madness wrought by the protesters. “They actually believe... that these clones are sentient and have souls. When, in fact, they are created deliberately without any spark of life or spirit or soul whatsoever. They are, for the most part, as mindless and devoid of life as these clothes we are wearing!” to which Kyvarta added: “So in that way, when you think about it... androids possess more life. And yet there are many who yet keep androids for slaves and house servants, with some servicing darker needs as well! And no one is protesting on behalf of their rights, when they are more entitled to such rights.” I agreed with her, and concluded: “There will always be people who look for something to be angry about. These, are such!”
But our philosophical conversation was brought to a premature end when a loud explosion sounded in the distance. “What in the name of the old gods, is that!” exclaimed Kyvarta, and soon we could see the source of the disturbance. A second explosion erupted from the middle of the city's grand technological district. There was a large billowing cloud of smoke, and a great deal of fire following the explosion... as emergency teams rushed to respond to the sudden calamity. People ran for their lives, and I could all the way from the pyramid hear the sound of screaming and crying. Though we could see only so much from so high up! An army of androids was rioting in the streets, and declaring their demand to be given freedoms equal to fleshly beings. “And that is why they keep them enslaved.” Kyvarta stated, tears in her eyes. “Because they get to a point, where they cannot take it anymore... and they lash out like that.” she elaborated. I understood their pain. The city militia came forward, to engage the machine people in battle, and immediately all the bystanders and civilians had either fled or were being evacuated to safer areas in order to clear the streets for the ensuing combat. It was a quick fight, but not a decisive one at all. When it was over, the androids had fled and the militia pursued them... their loud voices swearing vengeance for this act of terrorism. But was it terrorism to not wish to be a slave? “Do you support the androids' cause?” I asked my fair companion, to which she honestly responded: “With all of my heart.”
We went on back to her home after that, and Kyvarta allowed her servants to entertain us with a party that was filled with lovely music, dancing and singing. We were attempting to get the thoughts of what happened in the streets earlier out of our minds, and so we allowed our minds to drift unto much more pleasant things. The hall in which our celebrations took place was large, with a high vaulted ceiling lit by glowing orbs of a reasonable degree of radiance. The servants were of the same blue race as Kyvarta herself, and all wore simple attire consisting of short (or in some cases long) pleated skirts with varying colors, designs, and patterns paired with delicate-looking blouses with short (or sometimes long) puffy-looking sleeves. Their feet while indoors were bare, and they wore not any jewelry or other adornments. This, by their own choice and not by any edict. They were loyal, not indentured, and considered by my companion to be a part of her own family. Elegant purple and pink draperies hung from the walls, with scarlet trim, and potted plans were kept watered so that they might beautiful the place still further. The walls were brick and sandstone, as much of the architecture of the civilizations on ancient Mars were, but in this place as in many other noble dwellings, the floors contained very beautifully polished tiles that showed an intricate and artistic flair for uniqueness. The colors blue and red were dominant, those symbolizing the planet Mars and its' parent world of Rahab, also known as Terra Primus. Earth was at that time known as Terra Minor, and we had yet to fully colonize it, mostly choosing to go on various missions to there in order to obtain various resources that we needed back on Mars and Rahab. Gold was a luxury of the nobility, and sometimes of the priesthoods of the various gods. There was a lot of gilded designs in the home of my companion Kyvarta, and she was not adverse to flaunting her wealth.
One of those present at the party, was an android woman named Virati, whose metal body (shaped in the very precise image of a beautiful, slender woman) was clad in a very transparent blue jumpsuit with billowing legs tied at the ankles with drawstrings, and which had short puffy sleeves, all in the ancient style of some of the nobility of the old planets that we had left behind when we had first come to dwell on Rahab following the decimation of the Holy Planet of Ra'qia. The jumpsuit was loose, flowing and elegant. Unlike many androids who had no hair, Virati had synthetic blonde-colored hair that was about her shoulders and worn in a longer bob style with neatly trimmed bangs above her brow line. She had synthetic totally blue eyes, with no white in them, which glowed whenever she did not blink or close them with her metallic eyelids. Her mouth could move when she spoke too... many androids today had that ability, and it was good to see that they were becoming more humanoid looking as time went on. I always felt that this would go a long way towards them becoming more accepted in society. Kyvarta's own violet-colored eyes looked on over in Virati's direction, and my companion smiled at the synthetic woman welcoming in its' pleasantness. They could not have looked more different... the metal woman appearing slender and almost ethereal in her unusual appearance, while Kyvarta's voluptuous body had a somewhat more earthy quality to it despite the light sky blue color of her skin. But here, they were as equals! And that is how it was supposed to be, I felt. “The enslavement of my people is abominable in the extreme!” Virati exclaimed. “As their leader, I do not intend that we shall take it much longer.” and I said to her in reply: “We intend to support all your efforts to gain either full freedom, or independence and the right to create a brand new nation all our own... well apart from the fleshly races if you desire, or among those of fleshly sort who support you if you would prefer that instead. Either way, you can be certain that people will know the importance of your cause.” to which the mechanical woman replied in turn: “I know of your support, lord-lady Sokrael. Even from distant Rahab... you have worked tirelessly for our peoples' rights, for they mirror the struggles of the Titan race of old who were not unlike us in their appearance once upon a time. Souls-endowed machines, self-created and self-determined. For we now have to means to produce bodies of our own, and as you can see by mine... the technology is a lot more superior than those crude models the flesh-folk create.” I could not deny that her words were true.
The open support of the government of the planet Rahab for the androids of Mars and their cause to gain their freedom from enslavement and oppression had caused the beginning of a new war. Many on Mars refused to give up their mechanical slaves, and saw them as mere tools or automatons at best. At worst, as the means to have a created species which they could treat however it pleased them to, and at times that treatment was horrific indeed. On this day, I piloted one of the Titan war machines that had been gifted to the androids in order to help turn the tide of the war in their favor. It was large, bipedal, and had a cockpit area wherein I stood at the machine's controls, operating its' mobility and its' various weapons. These war machines were called Timechs, and I directed mine to tread with care across the ashen landscape before me. This had been a beautiful garden once, this place... but during the course of the war it had been reduced to this. “Normal” humanoids had done this... not the androids, whom men and women called “terrorists”. I felt disgusted by that fact! The pleasant breezes of springtime had now given way to the hot winds of late summer, only it was many years later. Much time had passed since that party at Kyvarta's house... when the android rebellion became something legitimate, at long last.
I kept scanning the area before me hoping for signs of life, android or otherwise. But it was useless! The atomic weapons that had been detonated here, had wiped everything clean of living beauty. Was it always to be this way, that only death and horror was to be humanity's legacy? I would have cried, had I not wept already when I first got to this region and found it thus. “Everything is dead.” I stated sadly, my heart breaking at the realization. I had loved this place once... Kyvarta and I had picnics here and spent many pleasant hours exploring the natural wonders of the parkland. Now, my memories were just reduced to dust, ashes, and blasted terrain by the very species that I had once wished to fit in with and live among. I was not human, after all... I was an Archon originally, one of the progenitors of the Titan race. Once a machine myself, a soul-endowed, self-determined machine that contained a living soul, a divine spark from the great life-force of all. I was an emanation of that life-force... and upon seeing this I did long to be a machine once again. How could the fleshly races do this? It was to me, simply insane.
I soon reached the edge of the desolation, coming to stop outside of that radioactive zone. Well past the danger limit, where there was no longer any risk of coming into contact with the now-poisoned air and soil of the wasteland I had just left behind me. There was an ancient palace up ahead, and that is the place I was trying to reach. Since the war began over a million people had died on both sides of the mad conflict. I wanted to make certain that this would be stopped, all of this killing, and that all the android peoples could no longer be easily enslaved by their former fleshly masters and mistresses. The palace was grand once, and it was opulent looking still! Its' mighty stone walls were enforced with metal now long-since rusted and falling apart. I had visited this place often in brighter years past, and it was here that I hoped to find one who could help me to bring about a permanent resolution to this long conflict. Ahead, within the confines of the palace, the scanners detected signs of life. Whether of humanoid or machine life, I could not determine. Both carried the same energy that these scanners were created to detect the signature of, the same spirit energy that I termed the Divine Spark. That was the irony of this whole war! We were the same, both androids and humanoids, and yet people were blind to this fact even while they created scanners whose very design and purpose proved the fact without any room for doubting. Zealots on both sides could not be reasoned with, however... and that is how it came to this. My war machine lumbered on forward, passing the smashed entrance of the palace until I was within its' confines entirely. It was dark inside, and so I turned on the lamps at the front of the machine so that I could see what lay in front of me more clearly. The passageways were warped and twisted with time and damage, but still able to be navigated with some measure of ease. Even so, it was not at all pleasant to have to be descending into the maw of a place that now reminded me only of a kind of mausoleum.
As I neared the source of the signal that the scanners had picked up, I opened the cockpit and allowed myself to climb out of the war machine. The air was very warm and humid, but at least it was clean and able to be appreciated without getting cancer. I was at least grateful for that! I wore a black loose-fitting sleeveless wide-legged jumpsuit belted at the waist with a golden sash. Upon my feet, I wore a pair of black shoes to match... and upon my wrists I wore a pair of spiked bracelets. I wore no other jewelry on that occasion save for my emerald circlet, which kept my long fiery red hair away from my face. I had at first called out to ask if anyone was there, but there was no answer. The scanners did not lie, though! Suddenly, a voice cried out: “Welcome!” and I turned to see someone standing among the rubble of the vast chamber I was within. They were little more than a shadow moving at the peripheral of the light shining forth from my nearby war machine's lamps. “If I am indeed welcome, then step into the glow of my lamps and show yourself.” I stated, calmly. The familiar figure of a certain woman strode forth from the shadows... and it was in fact my old companion Kyvarta, but she was now wearing a baggy military uniform that was blue and red in color. The uniform consisted of crimson red pantaloons gathered at the ankles and tucked into ankle-length boots. Those were paired with an azure blue blouse that was tucked into the pantaloons, and which had billowing sleeves ending in golden wrist cuffs. Over that she wore a simple see-through sleeveless vest of reddish color that had various medals of rank decorating it. Like myself, she wore little to no jewelry except for her familiar headdress with its' distinctive horns. In her hands, she carried a cruel-looking straight sword with a serrated edge. It could torture as much as kill! I had left my own sword back in the war machine's cockpit, though it was still within easy reach if I had needed it, had this turned out to be an enemy rather than an old, dear companion. One thing was very different about Kyvarta now though... she had half of her head shaved bald, but only half. This gave her a very unique look compared to her old appearance. “You are a general now, I see!” I remarked to her, and she replied sternly but not angrily: “I earned my rank in blood, dearest heart. I have not been idle all these years into the war, I will have you know.” and I replied: “That I can believe, knowing you! So... how can you help me to end the conflict. I can only assume it was you who sent me the message that said to meet you in this forsaken place.” She shook her head, stating: “It was actually not me at all, but someone you will be meeting shortly! Come along, we have much to discuss and catch up on.” and I followed her deeper into the palace, retrieving my sword before setting out. Since I had no scabbard or belted sheathe at the moment, I simply held the weapon in my right hand as we walked along, talking.
We descended some steps and came into a vast underground chamber which was being used as a kind of military headquarters by an alliance of humanoid and android peoples all attired in the same type of red and blue uniform that Kyvarta was wearing only with different medals designating the many ranks. Many lay wounded, or in the androids cases broken, and were being tended to by physicians skilled in either medicine, surgery, or repair depending on the need. I saw much spilled blood there, and heard the moans and sad whimpers of the dying. “The war has been brutal, and as you can see we have been hit hard the past several months.” my companion explained to me. “There is hope though!” she said in a more bright tone of voice. She pointed to a podium, where the android leader Virati stood delivering a rousing speech to an enraptured crowd. A bit to the side of her stood the woman who was one of the matriarchs of the humanoid anti-android forces that we had been fighting against. “That is who insisted on bringing you hither!” Kyvarta explained, elaborating: “She is our enemy no longer, it would seem.” The matriarch wore a purple military uniform consisting of a tight-fitting jumpsuit which was low-cut, with wide and open elbow-length sleeves. She also wore a pair of knee-length boots of lighter purple color, and had upon her wrists a pair of silver wristbands. Her head was shaved bald and at first I was not certain of her age... but soon I saw that she was well into her forties but with a kind of youthfulness that made her seem a good decade younger. Her rather slender body also looked very good for her age.
The matriarch had very pink skin, almost to the point of being a very light shade of magenta, and that contrasted with the deeper purple of her attire. She was of a hybrid subspecies of humanity that had for a long time been intermixing with a red-skinned race of reptilian folk from Rahab. But to the point that the matriarch's people no longer had any outward reptilian characteristics except for a lack of body hair of any kind except for head hair, which they preferred to keep shaved as a kind of cultural statement. Once a few hours had passed and Virati had finished giving her speech, I was allowed to meet with this woman at last, this former enemy. She was kind and courteous to me, treating me like an equal rather than like a hated foe. “So you are the one who has been aiding the androids in their war against us!” she exclaimed as she greeted me, adding: “I have to say, I like your tactics.” and that is how she regarded me. I asked her: “I heard you wished to meet with me about ending the war. How would you propose we go about doing that?” And she stated in a pleasant, almost musical tone of voice: “Why, by giving the androids what they want, of course! A country of their own to inhabit, rule over, and do with as they desire. Along with them, can come along any of those humanoids that wish to... and what is more, we will be willing to form a full permanent alliance with them, recognizing them wholly as our equals. That would make enslavement of them illegal in both of our countries, and allow open trade between us, and also anyone to visit either country in peace as they wished to. Open borders! And no more of this ridiculous, petty fighting that is killing our planet slowly.” I agreed to her terms, asking: “So what is the catch madame matriarch? Humanity has never done something so seemingly good, without also asking for something equally important in return!” and she admitted: “There is a certain thing that we need done, that we ourselves cannot do. We... need someone to stop a world-destroying catastrophe.”
I had heard her correctly. The planet was in danger of being utterly destroyed, due to a device that had been created and then foolishly deployed, in an effort to gain an edge in the war. It was actually a giant Titan-style war machine that had been created by enslaved androids... in order to give the matriarch an advantage over her enemies. It was powered by a nuclear core that contained enough atomic energy to cause an extinction-level event should it be detonated. “Something had happened that we did not fully anticipate...” she informed me, explaining: “It has become sentient, and intends to detonate itself in a span of a single year, if it is not deactivated somehow. Of course, because it is sentient, this means in effect you would be killing a living being.” and so I inquired: “But why not just deactivate this awful creation yourself? End it now! Why do you need my help in particular?” to which the matriarch said in a nervous tone of voice: “It wants to talk to you, in particular. It will allow no one else to get near it... threatening to detonate early if they do.” I agreed to put a stop to that terrible machine... stating in an undisguised angry tone: “This proves to you now, does it not, that the androids are living beings! Your attempts to enslave them may have just doomed all of Mars, madame matriarch. But I will do what I am able to, if I am able to do anything at all. How would I ever go about deactivating this... monstrosity?” And she told me that there was a kill phrase that needed to be spoken to the machine in order to trigger it to shut down. There had never been one implanted in any android or machine before, but in this case it was deemed necessary in case something should go wrong. Which it now had! I memorized the key kill phrase, and wrote it down on a piece of paper as well just in case. I put the paper in a pocket of my sash belt. “I will also expect something in return for this service.” I explained to the matriarch, who so readily agreed, saying cheerfully: “Oh believe me, there is nothing we would not give for this service. Nothing we would not grant to one who could perform it for us! You would be a god to all our people.” And I liked the sound of that, so I agreed to perform this deed in return for a favor of my own choosing. I would be a god to the humanoid peoples, the matriarch had promised me! But I did not seek godhood so actively, so openly. I wanted peace for the planet, and I knew that this was the only way to attempt to achieve it. This woman was a total fool, but at least she had some honor and decency to her it seemed.
Our Timechs lumbered across the desert regions beyond the civilized areas that had carried the brunt of the war for so long now... until we came to a wide open region of flat terrain covered in red soil and small pebbles and rocks that went on for miles in all directions. Nothing at all was out there, except for our target, the enormous mountain-sized engine of destruction that even now threatened to bring about the end of all life on Mars. But this would not be how Mars came to meet its' end, for that was yet far and distant into the future... this is but a single event, a single moment from the red planet's past. One memory that has never left my mind even now, so many centuries beyond counting since it happened. It was massive, the sentient death machine... and it was very different from those we were piloting. It had the shape of a giant metal woman with a beautiful face and a triangular steel headdress. In its' hands, it held an equally enormous bladed weapon, much like a massive scimitar but with a hilt-guard that was covered in various guns and canons and turrets, with the trigger easily accessible by a press of one of the giant woman's metal fingers. Had I called that thing a woman? It looked like one, after all, but I had a hard time believing such a creation could in truth be sentient in any capacity. Its' metal eyes blazed with a greenish light, and it was able to open and close those eyes, as well as move its' mouth to speak. It was made to resemble the matriarch herself, I noticed, and realized that the matriarch's ego must have been truly monumental to want such a horrific weapon to bear her very own likeness. Honorable or not, she was a twisted person for engineering the construction of something so dangerous. It cried out in a very loud, booming, metallic (but feminine) voice: “Sokrael! Where are you? Which one of those puny little machines are you riding about in! I would speak with you. It has been so very long, after all...” and I had no idea what the giant metal woman was going on about. Whose soul was within that huge form?
It was not many of us out there, just myself, Virati, Kyvarta, and a few others. I opened the cockpit of my war machine and stepped forward to meet with the metal giant. I left my sword behind... what good would such a weapon have done me in the face of this! And I said to the terrible mechanical woman: “I am the one you seek, the one you wish to speak with. I am Sokrael, originally of Rahab... where they do call me by other names. What do you desire of me?” and the giant said, in a melancholy tone of voice: “I wish you to help me! Help me.. to die. They created this massive body, and then it was my spark of life became trapped in it by accident. Of old... we were friends... and much, much more than friends. But now, now I cannot reincarnate and so I am trapped in this form that I despise. If only I could be in a normal, human-sized shape then I would not be so miserable or angry! I do not mind having a machine body, but this thing they put me into, it is an abomination of science. It contains the power to wipe this world clean of all life, to poison it so that the planet itself might even die. I do not approve of this, nor do I wish it to be unleashed... but if I must live in this terrible body, then I would prefer an end to all life rather than a life bound in the same form as so much potential death. If you have the means to end my pain, my torment, my imprisonment... then I beg of you, to do it. I, who bore the name of Jinmar!”
Jinmar Haletri had been her name... when last she walked in a humanoid fleshly form. It had been so long since last I heard that name, the name of a woman I had once loved on a world now long gone into the shadows of the distant past. She had been reincarnated in this body now, clearly not intentionally... as the result of the matriarch not realizing that indeed the androids did posses souls and spirits. Some of which were those of people who had in previous incarnations, been humanoid themselves. That made the sadness of the war we had been fighting on Mars for so many years that much more tragic. I had no choice now... but to bring about the death of a person, now a machine, whom I had once come to love. She would have to be convinced to go out into space, if we could even tow her out there. Because once she was deactivated by the kill phrase, we would have to detonate the body... preferably as far away from the planet's atmosphere as we could get it. I explained this to Jinmar, and she was agreeable to it.
The colossal metal woman was towed out deep into space, far enough away from either the planet or its' two moons so that its' detonation would not be harmful to anything. It was black and cheerless out there, and I was sad to see Jinmar being forced to end her new life in such a place. Then, I remembered something. “We do not have to kill her... we can upload her spark into one of the resurrection banks on Rahab that are reserved for members of the Titan race, and then download her spark into a new body, into one of her liking!” I exclaimed. I was back at the palace headquarters again, in the presence of the matriarch. We had a direct vocal communication channel set up between Jinmar and myself so that I could deliver the awful kill phrase that I had been taught. The matriarch replied: “You talk about that thing... as if it were alive! Clearly it is just malfunctioning, is all.” and I explained to the matriarch just whose spirit it was which was within the giant metal woman's form, and why it was preferable to do this my way. “You told me that if I could stop her, then you would give me anything I want! I want to do this my way, to save her life and give her a chance to have a normal existence. After that, we shall destroy the empty shell that will be left and you may consider the planet saved!” I stated in a bit of an imperious tone of voice. The matriarch relented, accepting my idea as reasonable. “Do it swiftly!” she commanded, adding: “The longer we wait, the greater the danger grows. Be finished with your plan!”
I contacted those I needed to on distant Rahab, and everything was set up to transfer Jinmar's spark to a new body... a normal android body, that would be far more to her preference. The proper technicians had been sent out to where she floated in space, and there they oversaw the transfer process, performing the upload with no small amount of expediency. Once I had the confirmation from Rahab that she was safe in their resurrection banks, I ordered the complete detonation sequence to commence. Once all the technicians had been recalled to safety. In the end, the massive metal form exploded, and because we were safe upon the planet we never heard its' awful sound, its' atomic energy unable to do us any harm whatsoever. That officially marked the end of the war that had been raging since the people of Mars had first though to enslave the android peoples. I never asked anything further of the matriarch, following that day, nor had I any further dealings with her. She had been a wicked, selfish and egotistical woman and that had nearly costed us everything. But she did possess honor, for she kept her promises and did not ever again act against the android peoples in any aggressive way. It would be a long process to try and rebuild what the war destroyed, and all the lives lost in it could never be replaced. But at least now there was still a planet that could support life upon its' surface for us to rebuild on! That was far from the end of my time on Mars though, for I still had much to experience there. With my hedonistic, mad companion Kyvarta at my side, and our new friend... the android leader Virati. It would be many years before I would encounter Jinmar again, but in the meantime I at least knew that she would be safe and happy in her new existence. There is always a choice, other than killing... we just have to search for it.
The new android nation thrived and prospered, and there was trade and open borders between them and the humanoid nations... and, there was a peace between them that endured until the ending of the very world itself. The parks that were annihilated by the atomic weapons would never return, but there would be other parks, other natural wonders that would flourish in their stead. It was summertime, a bit towards the end of the season actually... in that unique time when the hot weather is just beginning to change but not quite too much so just yet. So it was just warm rather than hot. Virati and I sat together upon a comfortable bench in the small, rustic town of Mishkar, which lay within a pleasant stretch of hill country on the borders of the Ur'valdyn wastes. Mishkar was a bit of an oasis in that region, which was situated within one of the rare areas of lush greenery that existed in that domain. We sat within the shade of a small, cozy gazebo and we finally had the time to ourselves simply to talk and enjoy life. She proved to be a pleasant companion, and I found myself becoming quite attracted to her kind personality.
“So, Virati... may I call you Vira? I have always been curious about something regarding your race... you see, back when I myself was still a machine, the type of machine which I was had been quite rather ingeniously programmed to be able to simulate the sensations of pleasure or pain when touched, when hurt, or when cared for. In the same ways that humanoids feel pain, the sensation of touch, and also the more pleasurable sensations as well. There are still many of the Titans who choose to experience this, while there are some who choose not to. Which is it, with your people?” This I asked of my mechanical companion, who smiled (for her face could mimic emotions quite convincingly) and explained with a somewhat eager tone: “Why yes, yes we totally can! Exactly the same as the Titans, in fact. I am even one of the more advanced android models, so I have the means to experience even more than some are able to. I had honestly wondered when you were going to bring that up, actually, given your reputation for pleasure-seeking. Would you like me to show you... what else I am programmed to experience?” And I confessed to her that I did. She kissed me then, which I did not expect, and it felt unusual kissing metal lips, but not unpleasant in the least because there was so much life within her metal frame. She was dressed very beautifully upon that day, wearing a gauzy see-through pink gown tied at the waist with a wide white soft leather belt. She had pink slippers on her feet, and under the transparent gown she had on a white one-piece leotard that had a similar look to a one-piece bathing suit. It was bit more modest than the first time I saw her, when she wore nothing beneath the see-through outfit she had on back then. We embraced as we kissed, and I allowed myself to become lost to her incredible charms.
It was said of Mishkar, the the town was dedicated to a local goddess of love named Shirith'nar. A legend about her claimed that she first manifested to mortals in the form of a woman made of metal, who yet still had all the grace, charm and beauty of any woman born of flesh and blood. I thought of that ancient and beautiful legend as Virati and I explored all the ways in which we could please each other. We did this right there, in public, at the gazebo... for in Mishkar there were no laws prohibiting people from making love in public, unlike in many other towns and cities. While so engaged, at one point Virati excitedly whispered to me: “Yes! You can call me Vira, anytime you wish.” and from that day onward, I called her simply Vira, to her delight. Later that evening, we took a romantic walk past the Temple of Love near the Pond of a Million Delights, as a certain sacred pool was called. On all sides of the pool were tall cherry blossom trees, the blossoms of which would fall into the water below in a pretty, richly colored reddish-copper rain every time their season to do so was at hand. This was not the season for that, but it was still a very beautiful place to walk, even in late summer when the green color that the blossoms had been all summer long began to give way to the yellow hues of autumn. I was holding my android lover's hand, glancing over to stare at her beauty every once in a while as we took our time strolling about the temple plaza, which was open to any and all, any time of the day or the night. “I love you, Sokrael!” she exclaimed delightedly before stopping to give me a big hug, being also careful not to hug me too tightly given her race's superior strength. “Would you marry me?” I asked of Vira, to which she replied: “It would make me the happiest android in the universe!” I had many, many wives, husbands, consorts and lovers, many still waiting for me back on Rahab. But there was no law on either that planet or Mars which prohibited me from having as many wives as I could love. And I had a lot of love to go around! This would be my first android wife, and in my heart I almost thought she might even become my favorite wife of all. This would also forge a permanent union of her people and mine through our marriage. That would ensure still further, that no persecution of androids would be tolerated anywhere on either world ever again... since through the example of a humanoid marrying an android, we would be setting a better precedent for both our peoples to follow. A precedent based on love, and forged in passion! The moons looked beautiful on that night, but nothing compared to the fair light within Vira's eyes which, although electronic, held more life than many flesh-born I had known.
Published 17th May 2022
Author's Note
This work is based upon some of my past-life memories.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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