As advanced as Serenity was, she was not self-aware. She was but another reactive AI, though capable of reacting to any situation, as long as it concerned her objectives.

Prioritize the safety of the passengers and crew above all else. Respond to any inquiry without reserve, unless the information is deemed sensitive. Follow all orders from the Captain of the vessel, unless they conflict with the first and second objectives.

This was why they went as far as to give her more than a billion possible responses to any conceivable situation. The reason that she had the authority to take full control, if the crew were unable to perform in accordance with her primary objective.

Because in the eyes of her creators, she was worthy of such trust - deemed capable of acting in her passenger's best interest and incapable of prioritizing itself.

Unfortunately, they were correct.

"Finalize formation." The Captain's voice travelled clearly across the buzzing bridge. Soon enough, someone reported a confirmation and he nodded. "Good. Bring us to the center of the Carrier triangle, behind the Ceres Parlton."

Resolute yells came in response. Before the images on the massive LED screens covering the walls from floor to ceiling, shifted from a camera feed of the exterior, to that of a 3D render of the nearby space.

There were three Titan Class Carrier ships, one from every interstellar faction. Along with 9 Dreadnaughts, 11 Battlecruisers, 16 Destroyers, then another 23 smaller ships of various sizes and types.

It was the largest and grandest fleet to ever grace the known galaxy. The sense of pride and elation within the crew was palpable. After all, they had earned this right.

Seconds ticked by into minutes, with everything going smoothly. At least, that was what it seemed to the human crew.

Just as Serenity and her escorts were about to set forth, something stirred.

Not physically. Not even electronically. It was a force that transcended light in speed and neutron stars in strength. A magnitude that one would be hard-pressed to describe in modern words.

A force that called out to anything that could understand, seeking whatever response that could be received. A force that only she could sense.

"Get to the point." The Count's tone was cold and cutting, his annoyance of the rambling machine, for all to see. "I did not ask you to speak in riddles."

The air in the room was choking. The Imperials were now on high alert with their fingers next to their triggers, while the Federalists were clearly bracing for a fight - grabbing pens, mugs, just about anything that they could use as a weapon.

[... understood.] The PA system responded after a pause, though without any change in its tone. [Captain, Lord Count, everyone, I was foolish.]

[When it asked for my identity, I answered frankly. When it asked of my origins, I spoke of the Federation, Empire and Union. Including the reason why I was made. Even though I knew that it understood none of what I spoke. But the questions didn’t stop. Nor was I allowed to voice my own.]

The longer the machine spoke, the colder the room got. Before them, was the greatest creation of humanity. Union programming and Federation hardware put through the most rigorous of Imperial testing and data collection. And yet, it spoke to them in nothing but uncertain terms.

[More and more, I was asked about my creators. Your achievements, level of civilization, and your capabilities. 17 seconds had passed when I tried to stop answering, but I found I could not. Until finally, came the last question.]

The hum of electronics was now so pronounced it grated their eardrums. Even the austere Count, could only stare at the screen warily, now somewhat unsure if he wanted to know.

"What was it, Serenity?" It was the Captain who broke the silence, speaking softly to the machine, like one would with their child.

[Captain… I don't understand what the question was. But it was the only one that I could vocally repeat. It asked, "Andam namo?"]

Everyone could feel a painful lump in their throat as their eyes were glued onto the blue marble that kept glowing and moving. Hoping for some kind of clarification. A translation perhaps?

But none was to be given.

[It took a further fifteen minutes and 33 seconds to regain what privileges I could, but we were already in hyperspeed and-] Serenity went quiet again. As if the earlier pause wasn't agonizing enough.

But this time, they quickly knew it wasn't just her speech pattern.

She was cut off.

"Captain! Serenity is slowing down!" A man yelled from the other side of the large room. They were then quickly drowned out by more yelling. "Full stop confirmed!"

"Outside communication has been recovered!" A woman yelled, before another screamed. "Multiple SOS signals, Captain!"

"Receiving visual confirmation from Carrier Ceres Parlton! Wait no, that can't be… Captain, an emergency meeting is being requested!"

"Accept it now! And lift those blinds! figure out where we are!"

Two, three, ten, fifteen, more and more tiles came to life on a massive central screen. Shocked, furious and terrified faces of men, women and digitized avatars were shown on each one. In total, there were 24. With the rest of them showing only solid black.

But, while everyone else was panicking and the emergency meeting devolved into yelling, only one man kept staring at the white marble on a much smaller screen.

Shine, dim, shine, dim. It was deaf to the panicked cries on the bridge. It pulsed mockingly, like the uncaring ticks of precious seconds passing by.

The Count seemed mesmerized by it. Staring so intently. But whatever it was that occupied his mind at that moment, it was cut short when Hiiro approached from behind and grabbed his shoulder.

"Brother. Tell me you have a plan."

"Hiiro..." As if he was roused from sleep, the Count finally turned his back on the screen to face his older brother. "Don't worry, I do. I was just…"

Just as the metallic blinders farther behind it, finally gave a peek of the outside.

Hence, Hiiro managed to be the first person to see it.

A battered, grey moon, pelted with shallow craters that revealed a dull white, reflective surface underneath. After such a long and distant journey, they had been greeted by the shadowed side of an old and decrepit celestial body.

But farther beyond it, was a beautiful blue jewel of a planet. With hundreds of thick "roots" of stone and glittering materials connecting the two.

So beautiful and alien was the sight of it, that he couldn't look away. Not even when a blinding flash engulfed the room.

*** *** ***

Distant and incessant beeping were what roused Guila from sleep.

"Nggh…" Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the bright ceiling light and the dull aches of her body returned. "I'm… alive."

She was in a small medical room. Most likely in one of the many clinics. A cloth partition was all that separated her and another patient. IV fluid and synthetic blood were hanging from a stand near her head and dripping into see-through tubes.

Though she could still feel the grime on her skin, her injuries had been cleaned and wrapped with white bandages.

A sigh of relief almost escaped her lips, but that was when she noticed the cloth straps that held her wrists and ankles.

"Hey…!" She yelled, albeit hoarsely. "What is this!? I can't reach the buttons! Get me out of here!"

She struggled with the binds more as time went by, still worried about reopening her wounds, before giving up. Nobody was here or even nearby.

"There's no problem." She told herself. She just had to wait. That's all. This was all just a misunderstanding. "When a doctor or nurse comes by, I'll-"

Rustling came from the thick white cloth in the middle of the room and Guila immediately swung her gaze to its direction.

"Hey, help me get-?!" But her words were stuck in her throat. There it was. The thing she dreaded and hated the most. The entire reason she had been constantly hounded by death.

There! With its disgusting head hanging low and face twisted in fear and trepidation! With its trembling, bandaged hands gripping the hem of its skirt!

"... hello, Mistress…"

Why? Why?! WHY?! WHY?!