Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Without so much as the sound of a footstep, she appeared right between the twins, her presence as sudden as a flicker of light. Her hands moved with casual affection as she reached out to ruffle both of their heads at once, her touch as soft as it was intrusive.

"Now then," she continued with a sly smile; her eyes danced with curiosity between the twins' eyes. "Will the two of you finally stop trying to outshout one another and tell me what this little quarrel is about? Or—"

She tilted her head, her grin widening into something far more devilish. "Should I make myself comfortable and start placing bets on which one of you will win this round?"

The way she said it made it impossible to tell whether she was joking or entirely serious. With Ys, it could very well have been both.

Upon Ys's arrival, the twins fell into silence. Their anger and frustration melted away as her gentle hands brushed over their heads; her touch was light and comforting. For them, Ys was not simply a comrade from Rex's crew; she was the person who had taken care of them from the very first moment they had joined.

To the twins, Ys was far more than a mentor. She had become the maternal figure they had been longing for, someone who guided them with patience, warmth, and quiet strength.

Under her care, they had learned how to smile again, how to laugh without fear, and how to find energy in life after everything they had endured. What they did not know, at least not in full, was that this nurturing instinct came from the depths of Ys's own nature.

As a future broodmother of the Hive mind, her heart leaned naturally toward caring, protecting, and guiding. To her, the twins were not only students or companions; they were daughters of the soul, and she cherished them deeply.

It did not take more than ten minutes for the twins to explain everything that had happened, from the reckless decision Lyra had made to the storm of emotions that had followed between them. Ys listened without interrupting, nodding softly, her face carrying a calm expression that could melt even the hardest guilt.

"I see," she finally said, her voice like a gentle breeze through the room. "So the two of you simply had different views of what was right and what was wrong. But from my eyes, neither of you truly did anything unforgivable."

Her tone was soft yet firm, filled with patient authority. Combined with her steady pats on their heads, the twins could not help but feel their hearts calm down, their earlier anger fading into nothing more than a whisper.

"What Lyra did," Ys continued, "was not entirely wrong. She wanted the best for her family, and that is a noble desire. But…" She leaned closer to Lyra and poked her lightly on the nose with a teasing smile.

"…that does not mean it was without fault. When you take action without speaking to your family and leave them in terror and worry, that too is wrong."

Lyra's lips trembled while she lowered her eyes out of guilt. Ys's warm green eyes, however, guided her gently forward. "I think there is something you need to say to your sister, is there not?"

"Yes…" Lyra whispered with a shaking voice. She turned her eyes back to Nyra, who was already glistening with unshed tears. "I… I am sorry, sis. I should not have left you behind the way I did. Please forgive me."

Nyra opened her mouth to respond with her heart already softening, but Ys gently pressed a finger against her lips, stopping the words.

"My little Nyra," Ys said softly, her expression tender but serious, "you must also understand that you too carry fault. Your heart ached with worry, and it is only natural to react strongly..."

"But shouting and striking without first asking for her reasons… that was not the right path either. I remember teaching you both about the most important thread in a family. Do you remember what that was?"

Nyra lowered her eyes, ashamed, but nodded. She remembered well. Ys had taught them that communication was the lifeline of every family. To Ys, who carried the essence of the Hive mind, communication was not just important; it was everything. And she had passed that teaching to the twins as something sacred.

With a faint smile, Ys brushed Nyra's hair back and asked gently, "Now, is there something you would like to say to your sister?"

Nyra's throat tightened, but she forced herself to speak through her tears. "I am sorry, Lyra… I should not have slapped you before listening. I should have asked for your reasons first."

Ys's smile blossomed like sunlight breaking through clouds. "Good girls," she whispered. "Now, what about a hug between twins? That would be the sweetest medicine."

The twins looked at each other, their eyes meeting, their hearts softening as one. Without a word, they moved at the same time, but instead of only hugging each other, they both threw themselves into Ys's arms. From both sides, they clung to her, burying their faces against her as though she were the anchor of their world.

"Oh my," Ys said with a gentle laugh, slightly startled by the force of their embrace. Still, her hands rose to pat their heads and stroke their hair with the same tender warmth that had soothed them so many times before.

"Thank you, Aunt Ys," the twins said together in perfect unison, their voices filled with gratitude and affection.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, the medical bay filled not with shouting or sorrow, but with a warmth that wrapped around all three of them like a quiet, unbreakable bond.

But the warmth of that tender moment did not last for long. The automatic doors of the medical room slid open with a quiet hiss, and the imperial head maid, an advanced machine assigned exclusively to Cleo and Rex, stepped inside.

Her polished frame reflected the sterile light of the room as her eyes glowed faintly, precise yet calm.

"Lady Y'Ssera," the maid spoke, her voice free of emotion but not cold, instead carrying a neutral, measured tone. "My master has invited you to her private chamber. Please follow me."

Ys let out a playful groan and pulled herself away from the twins arms. "Ups～, she found me too quickly," she said with a mischievous smile, slipping free of their tight embrace. She straightened her back. then paused in the doorway to give the girls a final glance.

"No more fighting, understood? Let's talk more later on... If the angry perfectionist does not kick me out of her fortress, that is," she teased while laughing softly as she waved before following the head maid.

The journey was not a short one. Because of the fortress's immense size, Ys had to board a sleek hover vehicle reserved for high-ranking guests. It glided silently through heavily protected corridors and passed through several short warp devices, each surrounded by layers of shielding and sentry drones.

Finally, she arrived at the base of the command tower, a massive structure of steel and glowing circuitry that stretched so high it vanished into the ceiling of the fortress's dome.

From there, she endured a long, steady ride inside a transparent elevator, rising past countless levels alive with activity from soldiers, drones, officers, and AI constructs all moving in perfect rhythm.

After what felt like an eternity, the elevator doors opened, revealing a luxurious chamber hidden at the tower's peak. The room was decorated with expensive furnishings, sleek technology, and subtle golden lights.

At its center sat a wide couch, and waiting there with serene patience was Cleo, or at least, one of her manifested bodies.

With a mischievous grin, Ys approached and leaned down, poking Cleo gently on the cheek. Her finger pressed into skin that felt unexpectedly soft and warm. "Mmm… surprisingly lifelike. What is she made of, I wonder?"

Ys muttered to herself while running her fingers along Cleo's arm, shoulder, and even down her side as though testing the craftsmanship. Just as her hand hovered dangerously close to Cleo's chest, a voice broke the silence.

"What are you doing?" Cleo asked while her golden eyes locked directly onto Ys's. Her tone was sharp, yet calm enough to slice through the air like a blade.

"Ehem, nothing...?" Ys replied far too quickly, withdrawing her hand and turning away with a nervous cough. "I was only making sure you were alive. Imagine if you suddenly decided to… well, you know… erase yourself and then blame me after. I simply wished to avoid being chased across the galaxy for something I did not do." She spoke fast, piling excuse upon excuse as her playful confidence faltered.

Cleo let out a faint sigh, her voice steady with unshakable logic. "Everything that happens around one of my bodies is recorded and stored in my shared memory. Every movement, every word. Your excuses are useless, Ys."

Ys could feel the weight of Cleo's golden stare burning into her back like twin suns, but she refused to turn around. She stood stiff, pretending to look at the furniture, as though the expensive decorations had suddenly become fascinating.

Clearing her throat, Ys forced a smile back onto her lips. "Ehem. So then, you wanted to see me, yes? Could it be… you missed me that much?" She asked in a sing-song tone, trying to twist the air back toward her usual teasing play.

"It is not that I missed you," Cleo replied without hesitation. Her words carried the weight of command, sharp and undeniable. "I called you here because I need answers. You will tell me how you managed to enter my fortress without me noticing."

Her golden eyes narrowed, glowing with an intensity that made the atmosphere feel heavier, and she did not blink as she fixed her gaze on Ys. It was not simply a question; it was a demand.