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~ 22 000 B.C.E., at the edge of the Sirian star system

As Alswaram heard the mech's words, he was stunned. How could that be? What exactly had happened 3000 years ago? How did Sorvaa'hr ever get involved with this mech and why? There was no way they could take him on by themselves. The mech had already taken out several of the best units the Sirian forces had. As much as Alswaram hated to admit it, Lancer was right; they had to pull back and reevaluate their options.

"Hey, Al...? What about Arcturus?"

"Arcturus? What the hell are you thinking about now?"

"Well, they're not exactly allies but they're not enemies either, right? Maybe if we head there and explain the situation..."

"Raven, I don't think it's wise to put the council in more trouble than-"

~ Al, if we do not act, they will no longer be a council to give trouble to! ~

The mech's words were delivered with an unusually harsh tone which betrayed Lancer's usually calm nature. Yet, even Alswaram was forced to admit that in his selfishness and his desire to get back to Storm, he hadn't thought about the fact that Sirius could be in major trouble if Storm was to attack the capital. Seeing as how easily he took out several of the Second Fleet's best pilots, Sirius was no match for it. Thankfully, Storm had seemingly vanished at the same time they had warped out. Were they Storm's initial target? Also, how did Storm ever get so powerful? So many questions and so little answers to provide for them. Either way, now was not the time to ponder about that sort of thing. They had to reach Arcturus, and fast. The mech's engines roared and ignited, accelerating to jump speed and warping them out, setting a course for the not-so-distant Arcturian system. As they exited hyperspace, they were immediately greeted by two large spacecraft with their main cannons pointed at them. Alswaram quickly opened a channel.

"I apologize for the intrusion. I am Alswaram Osdanil, a Sirian officer and ex-commander of Sirius's Second Fleet. We have come on friendly terms. Sirius was just engaged by an unknown craft. It took out over a dozen mech units by itself. We were hoping to meet with the Arcturian leaders to explain the situation and figure out a course of action."

"Say that again, Sirian? A dozen mechs? By a single craft?"

"Affirmative, Sir. It uses weapons I've never seen before and it was piloted by... Well, I'm not sure what was piloting it. We know it's not an Arcturian weapon and we would prefer not to alarm the Sirian council with more chaos than there already is over there after these events. As such, we're acting independently from Sirius."

"Quite a story you have there. Very well. Let me see what I can do."

The silence seemed to last hours. To Alswaram, each minute was important from here on. When the Arcturian ship replied, Alswaram was relieved to hear their positive response. It seemed like Arcturians were not savages, after all. That's the vision most Sirians had of them. They were a heavily militarized nation with a totalitarian regime and it rarely got them the favor of anyone. Dealing with them was like walking over eggshells.

"Very well. Our General says he will meet with you. Stand by and power down your reactors as we escort you to Arcturus's surface."

Alswaram obeyed and powered down the engines. They were not in any position to protest. It was already a miracle that Arcturus would even consider helping them. Raven was not as relieved.

"Al...? What if we're walking into a trap? What if they're in cahoots with that mech?"

"Storm? Not a chance. Especially not if Sorvaa'hr's piloting. Sorv wouldn't have that. Not after 3000 years and not ever."

"Wait, you know him??"

"Yeah. Sorry, Rav... I didn't mean to keep anything from you. Thing is, even after 3000 years, it still hurts. I was once Sorvaa'hr's CO. And Storm killed the one who used to be my mate. So yeah... I want payback."

"You say that so coldly..."

"Don't get me wrong, Rav... I feel like bawling my eyes out. I feel like breaking my knuckles on the nearest hard surface. But I can't afford that. Not now. I have 3000 years of accumulated grief and I won't rest until the devil paid his dues."

Raven admired Alswaram's strength. But to Alswaram, it wasn't strength; he was running on pure vengeance. He knew it was unhealthy but he could not let go. Some may have had been able to do that but not him. And yet, Alswaram didn't feel any anger or resentment towards Sorvaa'hr. Truth be told, he felt sorry for him. In his mind, there was no doubt that Storm was controlling him and using him. Sorvaa'hr was always the asshole type but he was not the murderous asshole type. That much he knew. After all, he once rescued him when others would have abandoned him. If anything, the hunt for Storm was a hunt for Sorvaa'hr's deliverance, for Reiken's redemption and for Alswaram's mourning. As they finally docked on Arcturus, Lancer scanned the atmosphere.

~ Alswaram, I suggest you give Raven one of the filter masks in my lower compartment. The atmosphere here is high in fine particles and ozone. It would get irritating on his throat. ~

"Thanks, Lancer. I'll do that."

As they landed safely, the two climbed out of the mech and Alswaram reached for a small panel on Lancer's left leg, pulling out two small masks equipped with particle filters. They were greeted by a surprisingly large lizard-like being, not too much different from the Sirian Kelva, only minus the dragon-like traits. The lizard activated his translator device then asked if the two understood him, to which they nodded.

"Excellent. Ah, I see you already have masks."

"Yes, the typical Sirian anatomy is not fit for this planet's atmosphere."

"What about you? You don't need one?"

"I'm a special case, you see..."

The lizard gave Alswaram a curious glare.

"I see... suit yourself. This way."

"Wait... what about Lancer?"

"Your mech will be tended to. As you probably know, we're a heavily militarized nation. We know how to tend to machines like yours."

Alswaram got upset as he heard that. He felt insulted by this lizard calling Lancer a mundane machine. But what did he know, anyway? He told himself he was simply ignorant. Besides, at least he told him that Lancer would be tended to.

"Right..."

The two were led into a large complex, which looked more like cheap steel barracks than a planetary leader's quarters. Arcturus was so much different from Sirius. Both had the basic knowledge of Arcturus, Alswaram from his time in the military and the younger Raven from his time in Sirian school. The atmosphere was constantly laced with ozone which made the sky look slightly yellow and ominous. When one of the rare Arcturian "magnetic storms" would rage, the sky would turn bright yellow and you would need to cover your eyes with protective wear otherwise your retina would burn in minutes and you'd go blind. Architecturally, Arcturus was rather drab. It had only one major city, with everything made of various metallic alloys found in the planet's rich mineral veins. Most of the Arcturian capital's buildings were simple, unremarkable squared buildings, giving the impression that Arcturians were rather primitive (which they were definitely not, at least technologically). The rest were small nomadic settlements with dome-shaped huts covered by a metallic film which would protect the inhabitants.

As they entered the building, Raven couldn't help but let his eyes wander all around him, thinking to himself how cold and clinical this place was compared to Sirius. He supposed that's what you get for a nation like Arcturus. Alswaram, on the other hand, found it somewhat comforting. Of course, he was much different. As a mechanical activator, he found the metallic walls and the sounds filling the air quite relaxing, whereas the wolf found it all a bit unnerving. They were taken past hallways and past commons with several vehicles and soldiers into an adjacent hallway, where at the end of the hall, a single muscular and intimidating lizard with a snake-like head hissed quietly.

"I take it you two are the Sirians who are scheduled to see the General? Make it snappy, he's busy and had other things to tend to outside of Sirians pleading for help."

"What an asshole", Raven thought to himself. Just the image Sirians have of Arcturians. He hoped the General would be a bit more receptive, but he doubted it. As the door opened, they were greeted into a surprisingly nice office (at least, considering the rest of the place). The floor was covered in a layer of shiny reflective foil and the side walls were covered with shelves and what seemed like thousands of books in them. The back wall had multiple mounts with various decorative weapons and charts of some sort. A surprisingly frail and average-built lizard was standing behind his large metallic desk. The two saluted politely before the lizard addressed them.

"Welcome, Sirians. Sit."

The lizard motioned them to sit on the chairs in front of them, which they did.

"I am deeply sorry for intruding on Arcturian space and taking some of your precious time to meet us. Returning to Sirius was impossible and you were the best alternative option we had."

"A smooth talker. Cut the crap, will you? Get to the damn point. You didn't come here for a leisurely vacation, did you?"

"No, Sir. As you may have heard, Sirius was engaged by an unknown craft. This craft took out over a dozen mech units and their pilots in minutes. We barely got out ourselves. What I failed to mention to the escorts is that I may know this craft and its pilot."

"I knew there was a catch."

"You see, this craft is an experimental mech which dates back from 3000 years ago. I stumbled upon it in a secret Sirian facility. One of my subordinates vanished that day and my potential mate lost his life to this mech. Its codename is Storm."

The lizard put his feet on his desk and Raven was fuming at how he didn't seem to care or take them seriously.

"And you're 3000 years old?"

"Yes, Sir. 3031, to be precise. As you can see, I've undergone several body mods which made me 0ver 75% machine. That's how I was able to last this long. Although you can probably tell my time's running short. Time eventually catches up to you."

"Indeed, it does. Go on."

"Yes, so Storm seems to be back from nowhere. And the pilot is likely to be the subordinate of mine which went MIA back then."

"So his body is likely dead and his consciousness was uploaded into this "Storm" and you think it's using him?"

"That's one possible explanation, yes."

"Quite the story. Why didn't you alert the Sirian authorities?"

"You see... I've been living on another planet. Back 3000 years ago, I moved to Terra, on a Sirian colony there. I had no contact with homeworld and so, I feel like I don't want to burden them with it. Not to mention, how will I tell them that this mech from 3000 years ago is back to haunt us?"

"A fair point. Do you think you're the reason it came back?"

"The thought certainly crossed my mind, yes. Maybe Sorvaah'r wants revenge because I let Reiken - who was not only my mate but also his squad mate - die in out there that day."

"Hmph. You seem like you're the kind to attract trouble."

Alswaram had no answer to that. He had to admit the General had a point. Trouble seems to follow him.

"Perhaps it wasn't wise to come here, General... I certainly don't want to put Arcturus in a-"

"Just be quiet! I'm trying to think, here!"

The General seemed to be analyzing his options. Arcturus obviously had much to gain from Sirius's scholars and artisans. Besides the art of war, Arcturus didn't seem to be the place where you'd get your portrait painted. And if Storm was a Sirian weapon, it was also obvious that Sirius was much more technologically advanced than they seem to be.

"I'll get a proper room prepared for you. I need time to assess the situation and discuss a course of action with my advisors."

"Sir...! While I am grateful that you would even consider helping us, I can't afford to put Arcturus and Sirius in an even more awkward position."

"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this because it's highly likely that this thing will now head our way. I'll provide military support but you better be ready to take it on when the time comes."

"Sir... Thank you."

Alswaram stood up and saluted politely, with Raven following suit. The General saluted in return, making the familiar lizard that had escorted them enter the office.

"Pavlen here will show you to your room. Get some rest. Things will get busy."

"Will do, Sir."

As they headed out, the lizard showed them around towards the living quarters.

"So I take it things went alright?"

"Yeah. The General is a surprisingly flexible man. Strict and stern, but flexible."

"Yes, that's why he's the leader here. He's a flawless tactician as well."

"I see... that's good to hear."

The two were shown to a room with two small beds. It was nothing to write home about but for a nation like Arcturus, it was surprisingly decent. Alswaram locked the door behind him as they prepared to sleep. As Alswaram laid down on one of the beds, Raven sat down on the other and seemed to get lost in thought.

"What's wrong, Raven? Thinking about home?"

"Well, yeah. It's been a while already. I wonder what's happening over there..."

"I do too. Don't worry, when this is all over, we can get back to our normal life."

"Hey, Al...?"

"Yeah?

"You're coming back, right...? With me?"

"Of course. What are you on about, silly?"

"I just... worry that you won't want to be with me anymore."

"What? Get that shit out of your head. You're my mate and I love you."

Raven sighed deeply in relief as Alswaram got up and sat on the bed next to him, taking him into a deep, tender kiss. The dragon slowly laid down over him, snuggling deeply against him and wrapping his tail around his leg. After hearing Raven's concerns, he felt the need to reiterate his love to his mate. Not to mention, he needed the distraction from his own thoughts constantly racing. Alswaram kissed his way up his chest and smiled tenderly to him, to which Raven's response was a slight blush. Raven didn't want to admit it, but making out on an alien planet was pretty hot to him. Alswaram found Raven's blushing encouraging and he slowly moved his body up, moving his tail playfully and brushing the wolf's sheath with it, which made Raven gasp and groan quietly. It didn't take long for his sheath to fill, aroused by his thoughts and by the dragon's motions. Alswaram was amused by Raven's squirming as he made his way down and nuzzled his sheath and balls deeply, Raven's lupine musk making him purr gently and drawing soft moans from the wolf as the dragon's rumbling purr kept sending shivers up his spine.

"So, should I stop here or do you want me to show you how much I love you?"

"Al...! Oooh! P-Please don't stop..."

Clearly, Raven was in need of attention and Alswaram was happy to oblige. He gently proceeded to fondle Raven's aching and slightly swollen balls as he moved his muzzle and tended to his sheath as the wolf's cock was quick to slide free and stand proudly at attention. After several deep, teasing and playfully slow and languorous licks to Raven's warm and musky cock, Alswaram was already getting rewarded with the wolf's first spurts of precum, which he was quick to swallow. Raven was getting increasingly vocal, which made Alswaram hope the room was properly isolated while Raven was getting even more aroused from the thought of them being heard. In an effort to get it done as soon as possible before the wolf alerted the whole sector, he swallowed Raven's cock whole and let his tongue do most of the work, its thickness and softness making the wolf squirm quite heavily as he gently tugged on his balls. He began a deep sucking motion, alternating between the playful licks and progressively deeper sucking, the wolf moaning more and calling his dragon's name deeply as Alswaram felt the wolf's knot flare quite a bit, his palate suddenly being sprayed several times by thick, gooey ropes of lupine cum, Alswaram reveling in the salty and musky taste, before eagerly swallowing his mate's treat, cleaning him softly before pulling back and smiling tenderly to him, pulling him in a soft, loving hug.

"I love you, Rav. Sweet dreams, my sweet love."

"I love you too, Al... sleep well, my cyber dragon."

As the wolf closed his eyes under him and drifted to sleep, Alswaram kept him warm for a while, making sure he was sound asleep before he slowly got up. He wasn't done yet. Although part of him felt like staying with his wolf and sleeping cuddled up right there, his body had other ideas, which he didn't want Raven to see. He sneaked out of the room, starting his way back, asking for directions along the way. As it turned out, Lancer was kept in one of the maintenance bays. As he made his way through the commons, the lingering scent of mechs filled his nostrils and made him shiver. The recent romp with Raven had made him even more worked up. He picked up the pace and made his way to the lined up maintenance bays, finding the one with Lancer and entering, waving to his partner, making his way over to him. The mechanics and technicians had done their work already and he was glad to find Lancer alone.

"How are you, sweety?"

~ Al. What are you doing here? ~

"What, I can't visit my partner? How are they treating you?"

~ Rather nicely, surprisingly. The technician was impressively thorough and meticulous in his work. The poor fellow thought I was one of the inanimate armors. He almost screamed when I spoke to him to not touch my ass. ~

Alswaram laughed at that. Lancer had his whimsical moments. He took pleasure in teasing others by scaring unsuspecting people with his deep voice or by starting his engines right as someone passed by his exhaust vents. Of course, Alswaram was eager to partake in those games.

"It's good he serviced you... I'm really hungry, love..."

~ Oh? There's a nozzle connected to the main fuel line there. ~

"D-Don't be silly... I don't want that tasteless junk... I want it from the tap."

Alswaram was now fully relaxed. He did his best never to show his real feelings in front of anyone - even other mechanical activators but once he was alone with Lancer, he could relax and be himself.

~ Is that so? I guess I can let you have some of it. Don't be too greedy, though. ~

"Awww... I can't help it if you're too damn tasty!"

Alswaram moved in and opened a panel on the mech's side, dragging down a hose and starting to nurse on it with the urgency of a hatchling, the bittersweet fluid soon splashing his muzzle, filling himself to his heart's content and rubbing his belly as he purred heavily.

~ You do realize I will ask for compensation? ~

Alswaram looked up at him. He knew exactly what Lancer meant. Lancer loved to please his partner and Alswaram reveled in his playfulness, playing along with him.

"Oh? I don't know what you could possibly want out of me, my hulking partner..."

~ No? I want to make you scream and roar for me. I want you to beg me to stop. ~

Alswaram blushed deeply at that, knowing what was coming. After making sure no one could get inside the bay, he took off all his gear and exposed himself to his partner. Although he was only an AI, Lancer was old enough to have learned extensively about all sorts of subjects, including anatomy and sexuality. He had grown to find Alswaram to be "attractive" and "sexy". Of course, the feelings were mutual. Whereas a normal being would get turned on by the other's pheromones, Alswaram got turned on by Lancer's deep and rich exhaust scent. Lancer knew that very well. The mech moved a bit, just so Alswaram was straight in the path of his exhaust vents, his engines starting up with a deep growl and spraying the hapless dragon with the hot exhaust gasses, drawing a deep moan from him.

"Lancer! You... You...!"

~ Sexy? Wonderful? Amazing? Yes, yes. I know. Heh heh heh! ~

All Alswaram could do is moan deeply as he got forced to breathe in the mech's strong scented gasses for a moment, his cock sliding out quickly and throbbing painfully. The thrill never failed to set him off. It would take but a small push for the dragon to blow his load all over the mech's plates and Lancer was eager to have that happen. He slid out a small spade-shaped feeler probe and sneaked it under Alswaram's tail. Originally meant as an atmospheric scanning device, it was perfect in size and in shape for Lancer to use it as a pleasuring object to set off Alswaram's climax, who growled out, nearly roaring in pleasure as he felt it press past his tight tail hole. Not to mention, its flexible end was perfect to repeatedly hit the dragon's prostate, which made him pant quickly and thrust heavily in the air. He grabbed his cock and moaned deeply as he felt the mech probing and prodding his prostate until he closed his eyes and roared out deeply, generous spurts of hot cum splattering over the mech's plates then collapsing against him, trying to catch his breath. The mech revved his engines deeply several times, the heat and vibrations flowing against his body making him moan and making him tremble in pleasure throughout his afterglow, calling Lancer's name and begging him to stop.

"L-Lancer! P-Please...! I'm gonna pass out...!"

~ Oh? Well, we can't have that, can we? ~

The mech's engines died down slowly, leaving the dragon reeling and panting quite heavily, snuggling and holding onto him as he usually did whenever they had private time like this. What they didn't know, was that Raven had woken up without Alswaram next to him and he figured he had gone to visit Lancer. He had entered the bay and had been watching for a little while. Lancer was first to spot him.

~ We have a visitor, Al. ~

The dragon turned and saw Raven standing there, smiling.

"Feel better?"

"Raven! I... Well..."

The wolf made his way over and hushed him, planting a kiss on his snout.

"You silly dragon. You know you don't have to hide this from me. I'm well aware of what you are and I don't mind. If I did, I wouldn't have followed you here and I wouldn't stick with you the way I do."

"I can't help but feel so dirty..."

"Well, you're not. I've heard of a bunch of weird stuff some people are into. As a mech pilot myself, I don't find it all that weird. It actually makes me think I should treat my mech like less of a tool and more of a partner."

"Raven..."

The wolf smiled to him and nuzzled him gently, shivering at the strong scent still hanging in the air.

"Although I have to admit, you've got one hell of a strong scent, Lancer."

~ Heh, I will take that as a compliment, mind you! ~

"Hehe... I guess it is, somewhat."

~ I know the space is cramped in there but I would really like if you both rested within me. I will keep you warm and safe as you sleep. ~

The wolf nodded and smiled.

"Of course. I don't mind and I don't think Al would, either."

"Of course not. I'd love to. Thanks, Rav... I love you. And you, Lancer."

As the mech's canopy hissed softly and slid open, Raven climbed up with Alswaram and the two snuggled up tightly inside, nuzzling each other and Raven blushing at the dragon's body still bore the mech's pungent scent. Yet, he did not pull back one bit. He actually reveled in it and happily snuggled his mate, the two of them slowly drifting to sleep as the mech kept a protective watch on them.

The two only woke up nearly 20 hours later. Alswaram nuzzled his wolf and snuggled him close, kissing him tenderly.

"Sleep well?"

"Not so bad, considering... I guess I was tired enough to sleep despite my thought running rampant."

"I can relate."

~ Good to hear you two slept a bit, at least. ~

Raven smiled softly.

"Thanks to you, in part. You're so warm. I can get why Al likes you so much."

~ I'll take that as a compliment. ~

"Oh, it was."

As the canopy slid open and the two stepped out of the mech's plates, they were greeted by an Arcturian soldier not too long after. A gruff, large-built black lizard hissed softly, saluting nonchalantly, clearly not too thrilled at the presence of Sirians on Arcturus.

"The General asks for your presence. Hustle!"

Raven didn't like him one bit and he was not as good as Alswaram to hide his feelings, not even taking the effort to salute back like Alswaram did. The dragon nodded to him and diplomatically made him understand they needed the rest and that they would meet with the General as soon as possible.

"Very well. Don't dawdle around, the General's being gracious but he's got a short fuse."

"We'll keep that in mind, Sir. Thank you for the reminder."

"Hmph. As you were, then."

The lizard hissed and turned back, heading out. Alswaram and Raven knew they had a long day ahead. Lancer suddenly spoke out.

~ I have been thinking... ~

"Oh? What sort of thoughts are running through your mind matrix now?"

~ Do not make fun of me! I am serious, here. While you two were sleeping, I was thinking about where Storm could possibly be staying at while he's not around... ~

"And?"

~ What if he went back? Back to his origins. ~

"Origins...? I don't under... wait. Do you mean he went back there?"

~ Well, it's certainly a possibility. That facility was brought down after the events 3000 years ago, yes? What if Storm went back there? It's the only place he knows, after all. ~

"Don't act as if Storm's got a proper mind!"

~ Why not? You know as well as I do that he's not just some mindless killing machine! You want to believe that to make it easier for you but deep down, as an activator, you know it won't be so easy as to just shoot him down. Keep denying, Al. But you'll have to face the music sooner or later. ~

"You're amazingly good at bursting my bubble."

~ I do not take pleasure in it, Al. This is as difficult for me as it is for you. The last thing I want is for you to lose your composure at a critical moment. And I also do it because I feel it is my responsibility as your partner. Because I love you. ~

Raven was impressed at the display of such complex thoughts and emotions Lancer was giving. He was not nicknamed "gallant knight" for nothing. It was far more than just because of his weapon giving him a knightly look. He was a smooth talker and he was driven by a strict code of loyalty towards Alswaram and a strong sense of honor towards his opponents. Alswaram, on the other hand, was rather distressed. He knew his partner was right. What if Storm had also taken Sorvaa'hr?

After all, outside of all the scientists, as far as he knew, Storm had only been in contact with two people: Reiken, whose life he had drained out to boot his systems up and himself, who had observed the scene and cursed Storm's name. What if Sorvaa'hr had gone back? It wasn't unlike him to act on his own and go against impossible odds to accomplish something. Except this time, he may have had taken the one mission he couldn't see through. If it was truly Sorvaa'hr's voice which came out of Storm, that would mean he had come into contact with Sorvaa'hr as well. Did Storm also take his life force away?

"Hey Lancer...?"

~ Yes, Al? ~

"Kind of a late time to ask that, but... How does Storm actually work? I mean, I saw him drain Reiken's life away... but how does that actually work? What does he actually take from the person? And why would anyone do that? Why would they create a mech like that?"

~ I knew you would ask, eventually. As you might know, any living being as a biorhythm. That biorhythm is driven by electrical influx to the brain and all over the body. In the end, the brain is like a living battery. No matter what you call it, this "life energy" is electro-magnetic current. Outside of the consumption of mechanical fluids, the reason you were dubbed "activators" is your increased ability as pilots and your unusual ability to power up machines by merely "tuning in" to them, much like you would connect any device to an electrical outlet. The brain on its own carries only so much energy but if you were to tweak a living being's energy field and if it was strong enough, you could use it to power a machine... and that is what you activators can do. They modified your body to the cellular level, modifying the mitochondrion's output of energy to make the brain produce much more powerful electric influx. ~

"Right... I understand that much. Where are you headed with this?"

~ What if you by-passed the living being's brain and instead transferred a large amount of chemical energy directly into an artificial brain-like structure? ~

"Wait, what? You're not saying Storm is a sentient being?"

~ Perhaps not entirely, but at least partially. However, it seems clear to me that the process causes general hyperactivity of the metabolism, draining the life out of the being and basically fast-forwarding the aging process. Moreover, what if he does not just drain chemical energy but duplicates the very identity of the ones he drains? ~

"The DNA? Wait are you saying... he's copying Sorvaah'hr?"

~ I think so. And given Sorvaa'hr nature, Storm may be increasingly aggressive because of Sorvaa'hr's naturally defiant and rash behavior. ~

"That makes me think... why did he let us leave? He definitely could have finished us off."

~ Yes... I can think of two possibilities: either Sorvaa'hr is in there somehow, holding Storm back or another force is holding back Sorvaa'hr's nature. ~

"...Reiken! It has to be! He was always behind Sorvaa'hr, acting like his conscience."

~ Hmm. The explanation is certainly tangible. Either way, we could certainly exploit that as a weakness. ~

"You think so?"

~ It's worth a shot. However... if it fails, you need to be ready for battle. We will have to stop Storm, no matter what. ~

"I know that..."

~ You two should meet with the General before he blows a gasket. ~

"Yeah... let's go, Rav."

The wolf nodded slowly, feeling a bit jealous at the thought of Alswaram being so worked up at the mention of Reiken. He felt competition but at the same time, he knew it was Alswaram being in denial, having failed to fully mourn his loss and still hanging on to the thought of Reiken still alive. At least, Alswaram's gentle nuzzles and tight hug as they headed out made Raven feeling slightly comforted and faithful that he really was Alswaram's mate and not just a temporary replacement. As they finally entered the General's office, he was calmly standing with his back turned to them as the two both saluted before the General finally turned towards them after a moment.

"You're late."

"Our apologies, General. We slept much longer than we anticipated."

"No matter. Have you thought about a course of action?"

"Yes and no. We think we can exploit a weakness and it may give us the edge to stop Storm without having to resort to destroying him."

"I must have heard wrong. Are you planning to reason with the enemy?"

"With all due respect, Sir... the "enemy" may have absorbed the consciousness of my co-patriots. I will not simply destroy what could possibly be recovered."

"You Sirians are too soft."

"Perhaps we are. But we do not simply abandon our own, even after 3000 years. We never forget."

"And that might lead to your deaths."

"If you will excuse the impertinence, I will be the judge of that and I will take responsibility for what happens. You are free to defend Arcturus as you feel suitable. However, I fully plan to do things my way."

"Hmph. You have balls, I will give you that much."

"Heh, flattery will get you nowhere, General."

For the first time, the stern General gave a weak chuckle.

"I will provide whatever you need."

"Thank you. Lancer is all I need. We will leave within the next few hours."

"Very well. We will prepare accordingly. Do not hesitate to ask if there is anything else we can provide."

"Thank you, General. Your graciousness is appreciated. When this is over, I will make sure to let Sirius know that Arcturus is a respected nation which Sirius would benefit more as allies than as rivals."

"Your wisdom and skillful tactical analysis precedes you. I wish you the best."

Alswaram and the General shook hands and Raven saluted politely, which the General returned. As the two headed out and made the way back to Lancer, Alswaram seemed to have renewed confidence in himself and Raven felt relaxed at that, even though he still believed they were likely not to return from this. He thought Alswaram's confidence was likely a facade for his resignation. He too, likely thought this was a suicide mission. Lancer was waiting for them in the maintenance bay, the two climbing in and settling in, closing the canopy and making their way out towards the launch platforms. As they launched and took off, Alswaram set the coordinates for the research facility where he lost his shark so long ago. Although, as they entered orbit and saw the derelict ruins of the facility, Alswaram was rushed with the familiar, terrifying images of Reiken's life fading in front of him. His spine seemed to twist and he had to battle his mind to keep going.

~ We were right. Storm is here. The signal is fairly strong. ~

Alswaram wondered what had happened back then. Why did Storm stay there so long and not attack Sirius or even Lemuria? Storm's actions were a mystery to him. Raven felt helpless. He felt like he was nothing but additional luggage but Alswaram had told him he was glad to have him and that was enough for him. He still missed home but he had no biological family to return to and the feelings he had for the cyber dragon were stronger than homesickness. As they docked at one of the facility's platforms, Alswaram checked Lancer's systems and found that life support was still active. He opened Lancer's canopy and stepped out with Raven.

~ Well, that is odd. Why would the station's life support and gravity diffusers still be active after all this time? ~

"He's expecting me."

Raven looked at Alswaram alarmingly.

"What? Have you lost your mind? You're not going to go see him, are you?"

"You can stay with Lancer, Raven... I'll be back soon."

At that moment, Raven knew. He understood what Alswaram had in mind all this time and he wasn't sure if he wanted to beat sense into him or just let go. It had come to this. Alswaram believed he was the only one able to stop Storm for good. It was him that Storm wanted and he felt it was his duty to put a stop to it all. Although, deep within him, Alswaram thought it was fitting atonement, for failing to save Reiken and letting Sorvaa'hr get dragged into it all. He loved Raven with all of his heart. But he could not bear the thought of dragging another into the mess he felt he had caused in the first place. It took Raven all of his strength to just hug Alswaram and kiss him gently, giving him one last tender nuzzle before he let him go.

"Hurry up and get this done, Al. When you get back, we can head home together and have a big party and we'll have Lancer be our glorious ride."

"Heh. Yeah, I always wanted to have Lancer be all dressed up and look like all knightly and glorious. See you soon, Rav... be good to Lancer. He gets lonely."

"Of course. You be careful out there..."

With a soft smile displaying Alswaram's typical composure, the dragon headed further in, leaving Raven behind.

~ Raven... why? ~

"I had to. He's not mine. I understand that, now. I know he's not coming back but I couldn't hold him back. I was just there, a spectator watching as events unfurl in front of him. I was just there to carry him through the hardest times. I have no real home, I have no family. You're all I have left now. Let's make sure Al gets through this."

~ Yes... let's. ~

Alswaram slowly made his way deeper within the facility, the surroundings still so familiar to him after all this time. He remembered every detail, every nook and cranny of the mental map he had made himself of the place back then. As he got closer, he could feel Storm's signal. His activator senses had developed even more with the increased cybernetics powering his age-worn body. Storm's core was giving off strong pings which seemed to pulsate in time with his own heartbeat, as if he was calling, beckoning Alswaram as he got closer. As he converged towards the heart of the facility, the pulse was making his head hurt but he knew he was the only one who could maybe put a stop to this without any more casualties. Raven was leaning against Lancer, seemingly lost in thought.

~ What is going through your mind right now? ~

"I was thinking that I don't really have anything to head back to, either in Sirius or even Lemuria. You and Alswaram are my only family. And I'm about to lose one of you. So the least I can do is to safeguard the other, no matter the cost."

~ I see... I understand. Then, let me be your sword and shield. I owe Al that much... ~

"Thank you, Lancer... your vote of confidence will help to soothe the pain."

Raven held the much larger Lancer as he could. Even though he was not an activator, he understood what Alswaram had found in him. Lancer seemed better than any living being. He was free of judgment and pre-conceived ideas. He was far beyond a typical machine and more than just another mundane artificial intelligence. Through the years, Alswaram had taught him so much that he was basically like a living being. He behaved like one and he thought like one.

Alswaram was just about to enter the antechamber where the signal originated when he felt a powerful force pushing back suddenly. He wasn't sure if it was Reiken trying to keep him away or if it was his conscience and guilt giving it one last shot, a final attempt in dissuading Alswaram to proceed. The determined dragon was not about to turn back now. He entered the familiar lab and froze in place. There he was: his nemesis. Although at that point, Storm was no longer his nemesis but more like the possibility of atonement. The massive black mech, slightly draconic in appearance and reflecting its Kelva creators, stood there silently, with only the low hum of his core filling the air outside of the bone-shattering pings he kept giving off for an activator like Alswaram.

"You wanted me? Well, I'm here! I came for you! What do you want with me?!"

The mechanical behemoth's shiny eyes lit up, the room filling with a deep, low rumbling whirr and Alswaram's spirit was broken in an instant.

~ You came... ~

It was Reiken's voice. Even though it was highly modified, there was no mistaking it.

"Reiken! So you ARE in there..."

~ Yes... but I can't stay for long. He is trying to bury me inside. ~

"I don't understand... what's going on in there?"

~ Storm doesn't just kill. He absorbs the entire consciousness and digitizes it within his data banks. His systems take the chemical energy produced by the living being's mitochondrion and transfers it to his systems, where it's converted to energy able to power them. So I am here inside him, as a part of him but there is also a much more powerful and dominant personality that is trying to get on top. ~

"Sorvaa'hr. I knew it. So Storm doesn't have a consciousness of his own?"

~ He does but he is trying to quiet Sorvaa'hr. ~

"I see... what happened back then?"

~ I will let Storm himself explain it. I need to hold back Sorvaa'hr. ~

The mech's eyes changed from the soft green to a bright white.

~ You should never have come here. ~

Storm's normal vocal tone was quite deep but surprisingly gentle and sad-sounding.

"You're the one that dragged me here!"

~ No... that was the result of the violent anger of one of my hosts. ~

"Sorv. What happened back then? Answer me!"

~ When the scientists first activated me, I remember being flooded with the memories and feelings of Reiken. I had no knowledge of what I am and why I was built. When I dug into the Sirian archives, I found out about the project I was behind. I was to be a weapon to subdue Arcturus and display Sirius's scientific and robotic engineering advancements. I realized what I had done to Reiken and I was angry. Reiken was the one who calmed me and said what is done is done. Reiken planned to make something else of me. But then... ~

"Then what?"

~ This dragon came. He tried to destroy me but the scientists had planned that and they put a failsafe in me. I ended up absorbing his consciousness as well. I spent the last few thousand years fighting back his influence. His raging anger got amplified by my systems and Reiken and I have been trying to purge him ever since. ~

"Well, the reason Sorv went berserk in the first place was because of you."

~ So you can imagine that being taken inside me has made things even worse than they already were. He has been trying to control me to hunt you down. ~

"I figured as much. He hates me and holds me responsible. I failed to get Reiken back in the first place. If I did, all of this would never have happened... I'm a piss poor excuse for a soldier."

~ I beg to differ! If I had not taken Reiken, I would have taken another in his stead! It would have been potentially worse. You have nothing to atone for. The very fact you came back proves your worth! ~

Alswaram was confused. Why was Storm suddenly trying to make him feel better?

"You're just trying to get me to be absorbed in too! I won't play into your crazy games!"

Storm roared out, a powerful surge of energy making Alswaram's head throb so much that he thought he was going to pass out.

~ You think I enjoy this?! Do you think I take pleasure in taking the life of living beings to power my systems? Do you think I had a choice in the matter?! After finding out about what I am, I planned to isolate myself and shut myself down. But Reiken refused and then Sorvaa'hr came. How would you feel if you were forced to weigh the option between shutting yourself down for good or letting a consciousness potentially take over you and go on a rampage?! ~

Alswaram felt distress his Storm's words. Sorvaa'hr had forced himself in him and was now trying to use him to vent out his rage. Reiken on the other hand, had accepted his unfortunate fate and was trying to help Storm contain Sorvaa'hr anger. Reiken had quickly understood that Storm was only as evil as his creators and the personality of the ones he "fed" on.

"So... if I was to get involved..."

~ No! I know what you are considering and I will not have it! I will NOT take another life! I have done enough damage as it is! ~

"SHUT UP, DAMN YOU! Reiken is not "damage"! What the Sirian military has done is unforgivable. They treat their soldiers as fodder! First with the MA project and now this. They sugar-coat everything and wrap it in confetti and appealing promises but the truth of the matter is much darker..."

~ What are you saying? ~

"I'm saying that I'm about to blast a hole in Sirius. They lied to me! About everything. The MA project was never an answer for a food source; it was to try to develop better pilots for the mechs. You were never a peaceful display of science... you were always a weapon to be used against Arcturus for Sirius to dominate over others. Speaking of which, why did Sirius never come back for you, anyway?"

~ Oh, they tried alright. Several times, at that. Sorvaa'hr did not let them. ~

"I see... that makes sense. So Sirius really was his target after all. I'm glad Reiken held him back that one time. We can't let them get to you. I don't know what I should do..."

~ You have to shut me down. ~

"Like hell I will! Reiken's in there! And Sorv... Sorv is not a bad dragon. He's just lost. I came here because I wanted to put a stop to this chaos. And I know just how to do that."

~ No. ~

"Why do you mean, "no"? You don't have a choice! I'm not giving you a choice! Either you do what I say or I leave and let you carry over and keep killing."

~ You are insane! ~

"On the contrary. It is the only way. I will quell Sorvaa'hr's anger myself. I will make him understand. Then, the three of us can let you rest. We will retire and find a place where no one will ever find you."

~ So you came here, knowing full well what you would do... ~

"Yes... and now that I know more about you, I definitely want to do this. I thought you were a monster but the monsters were actually the ones I was siding with all this time."

~ So you forgive me for what I have done? ~

"Forgive you? Forgive you for what? You haven't done anything! It's those monsters that made you what you are. You had no say in the matter. My Reiken understood that faster than I did. I need to make Sorvaa'hr understand too. The three of us can put an end to this and make sure Sirius understands the graveness of their acts."

~ You are wiser than you let it show. ~

"I get that a lot, heh."

~ The process is painful, however... ~

"I've been dealing with 3000 years of guilt and unfinished mourning. Do you really think this will hurt me more? I came ready for this. Let's make this right. Lancer... Raven... please forgive me. I love you both."

Alswaram uploaded a final entry into his personal database in the Sirian archives with instructions addressed to Lancer and Raven. He then made his way over to the platform and connected Storm to the many connectors and hoses before connecting himself to the terminal. That was it. There was no turning back after this. He closed his eyes and slammed his fist on the button, the machines activating and triggering the draining process. Alswaram was calm and relaxed through it. He had resigned himself and he felt it was the only right thing to do. As his lifeless body slumped to the ground, he felt a sudden surge of warmth and opened his eyes to an unfamiliar set of hallways. It was dark and dimly lit, with a typical mechanical scent which helped Alswaram relax as he looked around himself.

"Where am I...?"

Before he could make a few steps, the familiar shark rushed towards him, nearly tackling him and holding him very tightly for what seemed like hours.

"I missed you..."

"Reiken... is this real?"

"Yes... it sure is. We're inside Storm's inner matrix. It's a bit like a dormitory where all the ones Storm absorbed in rest. Each room is different, according to what we like and want it to look like. Even though we see each other and our rooms seem real and feel real to us, all of this is data created by Storm's thought matrix. Sorvaa'hr is here too but he's locked away at all times. If we want to take over Storm's systems for a while, we can head over at the end of the corridor, there's a room that's like a cockpit. That's how I spoke to you. Sometimes Sorv breaks free of Storm's firewall and he takes over. That's what happened that day before Storm was able to lock him back away and I took us out of there."

"Storm...?"

The mech's voice seemed much deeper now, coming from everywhere around them.

~ How are you feeling, Alswaram? ~

"I'm alright... I feel a little dizzy but I'll survive... well, figuratively speaking, since I'm dead, technically speaking."

~ I suppose you are doing well if you still find time for jesting around. ~

"That's my Al, hehe."

Reiken hugged him again tightly and Alswaram smiled, kissing him gently on the beak.

"Where's Sorv? I want to see him."

~ That is probably not the wisest idea... ~

"I don't care if it's wise or not. I want to see him."

~ Very well. Head further in, on the right. There is a room there. Sorvaa'hr is in it. I keep it locked at all times with a firewall but he occasionally breaks free. I will take precautions in case he gets out. ~

"You do that."

Alswaram headed down the hallways up to a room with a red barrier in front of it.

"This the one?"

~ Correct. I will now take out the barrier. Head inside and I will lock behind you. I will take you out by force if you are in danger. ~

"Agreed."

As Alswaram was given access and entered the room, he was immediately rushed by the familiar black dragon as Storm locked the door behind him. Sorvaa'hr was still blind with rage and Alswaram had no time to even say a word or to move aside before he was slammed against the wall and hit several times across the muzzle. Storm's energy was clearly amplifying Sorvaa'hr's rage and Alswaram ended up bleeding a bit from the hits before he grabbed Sorvaa'hr fists and threw him to the ground. Despite his diplomatic behavior, Alswaram was no newcomer to CQC. He was always the winner in sparring matches and whenever he participated in the yearly military tournaments, he usually came in the first few positions. He hated to show it off and much less was the kind to brag about it but in truth, he was rather strong.

"Snap out of it, Sorvaa'hr! It's me, Alswaram!"

But the black dragon was oblivious to Alswaram's call to reality. He got up a moment later and charged Alswaram once again. This time, Alswaram simply let himself get caught and held the black dragon tightly as he punched and bit and clawed at Alswaram for what seemed like hours before he finally got tired. Not once did Alswaram interrupt him or retaliate. As the blows started to seemingly take more effort from Sorvaa'hr, Alswaram whispered to him.

"I know it hurts. You have 3000 years of pent up anger and sadness, just like me. I just can't vent it out the way you do. But I too, suffer just the same."

The blows stopped suddenly and Alswaram pulled Sorvaa'hr tightly against him.

"Reiken is here. You can stop being angry, now."

"You lie! I saw his lifeless body! I saw it with my own eyes! This hulking machine is trying to deceive you. When I bust out of here, I'll fucking blow him up."

"LISTEN TO ME!"

Alswaram shook the black dragon and hit his muzzle with a fairly strong slap, just to make sure he got Sorvaa'hr's attention and the black dragon stood frozen, not quite expecting that.

"Sorry. It went off by itself... Just listen to me, Sorv. Reiken is here. He's real. We're inside Storm. I thought he was messing with my head too. But it's Sirius that screwed us over. Storm was never a peaceful display of Sirian engineering. He was a weapon, made to oppress and dominate. Reiken embraced his fate and has kept watch on Storm all this time so he wouldn't get into the wrong hands. Storm's systems amplified your anger and you went berserk. But we can make things right..."

"Nothing can make things right! We're dead! If you're here, that means you were just another sad victim of this monster!"

"NO! You're not listening, you brick-headed dragon! I did this on my own accord. Storm tried to dissuade me from it. He felt guilt and pain from taking the life of Reiken. They forced it on him! They killed Reiken, not Storm! When he learned the truth, Reiken sided with Storm and swore to protect him. Let's help him, Sorv. Let's make sure Storm doesn't take another life. Storm wants to sleep, far away from anyone's reach."

"In the event that what you say is true, then what do you suggest, wise guy?"

"The wheel is already in motion. I uploaded a journal with instructions for my friend that's watching over this facility right now. He will relay a message to Arcturus. Their military is much more advanced and much more organized than Sirius's forces. They will give Sirius a fair warning, I'm sure. As for us, we throw ourselves into a black hole. No one will ever get their hands on Storm."

"Are you fucking insane? You want to kill us?"

"You said it yourself, we're already basically dead. We only live on through Storm. I won't let him suffer any more than he needs to."

"You haven't changed one bit. You're still a damn machine lover."

"I'll take that as a compliment, soldier."

"Heh... of course."

Alswaram hugged Sorvaa'hr and headed to the door.

"Storm, can you open up for us? Sorvaa'hr is alright, now."

~ Yes... ~

The two stepped out as the door slid open, Reiken waiting for them on the other side. It didn't take long for Sorvaa'hr to head over and look at him for a moment before hugging him as tightly as he could. Reiken smiled softly as he held his long lost partner.

"This is real, isn't it...?"

Alswaram chuckled a bit.

"I suddenly have a semblance of déjà vu."

To that, Reiken laughed and nodded.

"No kidding. Yes, Sorv... it's really me. It's good to see you, buddy."

Sorvaa'hr looked around.

"Can he hear us?"

~ Yes. ~

"Oh. I just wanted to apologize..."

~ There is no need. You were not yourself. Thankfully, Alswaram's energy was strong enough to override this overflow of anger. I should be the one to apologize... I did not intend this. ~

"If what Alswaram says is true then it's really Sirius that needs to pay for it. Dearly."

Alswaram hugged the shark and the black dragon.

"Are we all agreeing to this?"

"I certainly do. Storm has suffered enough as it is and considering, we can't let Sirius or anyone else get their hands on him. It could be disastrous."

"I wish things turned out differently... but I can't say I disagree. I may not be like you two with machines but I wouldn't let a friend suffer like that. Not to mention, I got to see you both again. That alone makes up for the pain."

"Then I will send a notice to Lancer and the rest is up to us."

As Lancer received the note, Raven panicked.

"There must be something we can do, Lancer! It cannot end this way! I will not let it!"

~ I understand your frustration, Raven. I wish there was something we can do but they made their choice. You should try to find some comfort in knowing that Alswaram was reunited with his friends and that Storm will not fall into the hands of any who would use him to do further harm to either Sirius or Arcturus. This might be the end of the Arcturo-Sirian tensions. ~

"I seriously doubt it, unfortunately. Organics are stupid like that. Warmongering is their specialty. I just wish I had your kind of composure... I feel helpless. Right now, I couldn't care less about what happens to Sirius or Arcturus. All I have left is you. Alswaram put your fate in my hands and I will not disappoint him. Or you."

~ I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you, Raven. I know I am not the best source of comfort for you bit I will do whatever I can to alleviate the burden. ~

"Your words are more than I can ask for, Lancer... most organics would not even show that much compassion."

At that moment, all of the pieces were on the chessboard. Lancer and Raven launched from the facility and started towards Arcturus while Storm and his three "pilots" initiated their quiet sortie, setting a course for the center of the Milky Way, straight into a supermassive black hole. Raven picked up the trace of Storm's signal as he and Lancer entered the space station's orbit but he dared not look out through Lancer's cameras. He knew what Alswaram and the others were about to do and the pain was too great for him to even try to catch a glimpse of them before they warped out. Raven had no time to stay there either, since as per Alswaram's instructions, Raven had planted several demolition charges. They were going to nuke the station, ensuring that no one would ever get access to any of the research or have any further information on Storm's development or his whereabouts. Lancer warped them out, setting a course for Arcturus. Their next item on the checklist was to advise Arcturus of all that had transpired, albeit taking out a few select details, such as how Storm was not actually an evil machine.

Alswaram, Reiken and Sorvaa'hr watched as they neared their destination. It was almost time. The three made their way up into Storm's cockpit and all sat there, holding each other and relaying their last goodbyes and before the final sendoff. No one would know it but at that moment, Sorvaa'hr was the only one to show a sign of weakness. He knew what they had to do but he could not hide his fear anymore or the regrets he harbored all this time. Alswaram and Reiken treated him not like a co-patriot at the time, but more like a brother, at least for Alswaram. As for Reiken, it was more like a lover. Eventually, they were ready for their grand exit. Storm had not told them but he was going to put them to sleep before the final moments. Storm was not going to let them suffer through this after all that had happened.

~ Thank you for everything. You three have made this the least unbearable as possible. I wish things had ended differently. But I could not ask for more suitable pilots. ~

The three drifted into their peaceful, final slumber as Storm gradually shifted power out of the inner matrix and to all other systems except the propulsion systems. The mech quickly got torn apart by the pressure. It had ended. No one would ever find traces of Storm or his "pilots".

Raven and Lancer had made their way to Arcturus. They spoke to the General and he judged appropriate to have Sirius strongly reminded that even in war, experimentation on live subjects and the development of weapons of mass destruction was not politically viable. The next day, Sirius was invaded by Arcturian forces and while there was some casualties, there was no civilians among them. All experimental divisions were meticulously combed and those that were deemed "unscrupulous" by the Arcturian figureheads were quickly shut down. From then on, Sirius would be a nation under Arcturian jurisdiction. To Alswaram, It would likely be for the better.

Raven and Lancer eventually headed back towards Earth, to Lemuria. Raven spent a quiet, rather uneventful life of administrative work while Lancer was a tactical advisor for mechanized Lemurian guard units. As Raven's own life eventually came to an end, Lancer chose to retire with him to an undisclosed place where he spent his final days and was laid to rest. Lancer made his way back to the stars, never to be heard about again.