The Martial Unity

Ria found herself growing more and more sympathetic to Sternon’s story. She also felt guilty about feeling anguish about her own situation when she thought about what he must have gone through in his life as a member of the Evolutionary Army. They were so bad that she couldn’t help but feel like a spoiled little child throwing a tantrum in comparison. She didn’t even remotely have it bad in comparison to someone like Sternon, who had been through hell and back. Runark was in the same boat as her, although he didn’t profess to feeling as much anguish about their situation in life as much she did.

Hearing his story made her resolve to tell her parents that she loved them and was grateful for everything that they had done for her. “Well, now you’re free, so you don’t have to feel bad,” Ria smiled at him warmly.

Sternon’s eyes softened. “Thanks. I appreciate that. It’s been a while since someone spoke to me kindly.”

That made her feel even worse, of course. She couldn’t help but think about the story that he had told all of them. After all, her father had appeared in that story multiple times. Something that was quite odd, considering that it was virtually impossible to simply run into her father multiple times.

Still, she found the recounting of her father in his memories and early childhood to be somewhat consistent with how she remembered him in her childhood. If nothing else, her father was always kind to children and had a huge soft spot for them. He even treated Runark like he was his own son, which he was in some sense, since he was Runark’s godfather. He had always treated the kids at the Quarrier’s Orphanage quite well too. “I’m surprised that you have memories inherited from your father,” Siliscia remarked with a stunned tone. “Is such a thing even possible?”

“You weren’t aware of it?” Misha turned towards the elf with a raised eyebrow. “The evosapiens essentially inherited memory through biochemical memory storage from a very young age, which essentially allowed them to inherit parts of their father’s memories and skills. This is what separates them from the neo-evosapiens of the rest of the evolutionary species. If you ask me…”

Misha shrugged. “I think that former Supreme Commander fucked over his own people by having them inherit parts of his memories. Ah—”

She paused to look at Sternon with an apologetic expression. “I don’t mean you. I just meant—”

“No, I get it,” Sternon raised his hands reassuringly. “Trust me, I feel the same. If the man were alive, I would choke him alive. He fucked with our identity. And it took me a long time to process the fact that I’m my own person and these memories in my head are just information that I have nothing to do with.”

“I think that’s a very healthy way of looking at it,” Ria remarked with a thoughtful tone. “Though I can imagine that the power doesn’t hurt either.”

She knew from her mother’s example that inherited memories could be a source of great power, making life that much easier. Inherited power could make it that much easier to travel one’s path, after all.

“So, I’m curious, what’s the Emperor of Water actually like?” Misha’s cybernetic eyes somehow managed to convey curiosity. “Is he as strong as they say he is? I’ve heard rumors that the very fabric of reality warps around his presence, as if he’s some divine god who can bend reality to his will.”

Ria felt the urge to chip in, but she bit her tongue. She couldn’t show familiarity, especially since she had slightly slipped up earlier. Runark also acted the same, trying to show curiosity as if he had never ever met the Emperor of Water in his entire life.

Sternon smiled as a hint of amazement emerged on his expression.

“He’s the strongest. I’ve never felt anything like him in my life, before or after. He’s just in a whole other dimension of power.”

Misha’s expression grew engrossed. “Damn. I wish I could get a sample of his blood.”

Ria turned towards her with a creeped-out expression. “Why do you want a sample of his blood?”

“His blood has supernatural properties, I’ve heard,” Misha muttered. “I bet that if I get a sample of it, I can make massive strides towards achieving pluripotent blood.”

“Forget about it,” Sternon chuckled. “I bet even a single cell of his body is priceless. I heard he assimilated parts of my father’s genetic power and made it his own. You’re not going to ever get your hands on him.”

“You make it sound scandalous, although…” A mischievous smile appeared on the young lady’s face. “He’s got this really hot legal luster to him. So I wouldn’t mind.”

“That’s gross!” Ria’s expression crumpled with disgust.

She shrugged apathetically. “Chill, it was a joke. You Kandrians really worship him as a god, huh? That’s a little creepy, not gonna lie. I think you can appreciate how fine a man is without insulting him inherently. I’m pretty sure he’s married and even had a daughter, so someone clearly agrees with me.”

Ria stiffened at those words, trying to control her reaction.

“Sternon’s right,” Runark tried, pivoting off the topic, understanding how risky it was. “The Emperor’s blood is going to be priceless. After all, isn’t the Samsara Tide essentially poison generated by his body, and it’s considered a superweapon that you need a license and authorization to use, right?”

“That’s true,” She admitted, heaving a sigh. “Oh well, I suppose I shouldn’t count on shortcuts. Speaking of the Tide of Samsara. If they do feel the need to use that superweapon…”

She turned towards Siliscia. “Then… you’re probably not going to have the opportunity to get your hands on the specimen of the manifold tree, if it exists.”

Siliscia gulped. “I am aware of that. It’s not going to be easy for me, but I have come equipped with means if such an event were to happen.” They wondered what that meant.

But, before they could ask, an announcement rang in the bunker.

“The journey to the Strehegeld System and Planet Amadeus III will now commence.”

RUMBLE

They felt a shift as the ship began moving, its inertial stabilizers ensuring objects within the ship experienced a uniform force. The Blood Arc rapidly began accelerating away into the depths of interstellar space before stabilizing in FTL.

“Come on,” Sternon got up, gesturing to all of them. “Let’s go hang out in the lobby with the other pathwalkers.”