Several disbelieving and angry looks head my way. I expected that, so it’s no issue, although i’m a bit worried about the general here, he is looking at me like he's watching a monkey calibrate a railgun. Even Arman looks slightly shocked, his smile twitching.

Only Anne, the corporate lady besides the general, seemed unaffected; that, and the top dog herself, Vanessa van der Mann. She seems like she’s heard that answer before, just simply unamused.

- A valid rebuttal Ms. Lilith, but your future is not in your hands at this moment yet - She said while directing her view towards Arman.

The old man cleared his throat before starting to speak - Ms. Lilith, i’m sorry, there are some elements you are yet unaware of.

Ah, here it is. I’ve been waiting for some sort of backstabbing since earlier, glad to see it wasn’t just me being paranoid. Well, that’s probably the only satisfaction i’m gonna get.

- Here I was thinking that I was the “future of humankind” as you said, mind explaining?

- When the remains of the UN-Charon were retrieved, your body was in a state that the UN was not in position to successfully maintain you alive. Only through cooperation with the Dominion Corporation experimental technology were our predecessors able to keep you from passing away - Arman was explaining, and then with a tap to his wrist, a document was shown on the hologram.

- After the creation of the Stellar Union, which also encompassed the former United Nations, you became a member of the Stellar Union, but the Dominion Corporation still had the patent over the technology needed to maintain your vital functions, and throughout the study of your body, all in alas to increase our chance to save you, and other undisclosed projects, the Corporation made some groundbreaking discoveries that made humanity leap forward in the galaxy, giving us an edge that was needed to establish humanity as a society in the Alliance.

- Still haven’t explained why I can't decide shit for myself - I interrupted. What I was hearing was shocking enough, I mean, I was experimented on for a hundred years and they made important discoveries with me as their labrat, but I felt like he was dragging the actual fact too much.

This time, it was Anne that took on the conversation.

- Miss Lilith, as you were an invaluable asset to humankind, but the Stellar Union had no means to preserve you, there was an agreement made between the Union and the Dominion, and that was to cede rights over you for a hundred years, during which we should find any way to wake you up and continue our investigation. As you can see, we’ve succeeded with one of our goals, but there’s still the other one.

- Cede rights? I am a living being, not a tool - I retorted.

- At the time of the decision, you didn’t qualify as a living being as you required machinery to just maintain cerebral activity but had no pulse, so you were categorized as an asset.

These motherfuckers…

- You said that agreement was for a hundred years, when was it made?

- It was signed in 2237 - Answered Anne.

- So, there has been only 53 years… - I said, processing the information.

- That is correct - Said Anne, smiling at me brightly, but i felt like i was looking at a robot.

- And what if I do not want to comply with it? - I asked, looking directly at the eyes of Arman, general Hyrvin, Anne, and all the people on the holograms. I joined the military because I had no choice, but following the orders of worthy commanders was something I took pride in. Being a dog, just accepting the orders of whichever executive cunt was in turn was unacceptable.

- I’m afraid you have no other option, Miss Lilith - Answered Arman.

- Show her - Commanded the old van der Mann.

As she did, I felt all strength leave my limbs, and how slowly my mind was going blank, as if I had just received a blow to the head. If i wasn’t seating down i would have undoubtedly fallen to the ground, even then i had the feeling like i was sliding and would soon fall.

- I understand that being in your state for a hundred years might have you on edge and not taking the best decisions Miss Zsofia, but you carry Dominion property in your body, property that has been lended but not paid, and if you do not wish to follow the contract established, then we will take our property with us… - Said in a contemptuous tone the old bitch - Do I have to tell you what that implies?