Ugh, really? Bad is so black and white Melody. We're better than that.
No, look at what you're making me do!
Making? Melody, we're not making you do anything. We're facilitating. This is all stuff you wish you could do, but couldn't. Don't lie, we're in here too.
What are you?
We're you. The part of you that you try to keep submerged with gallons of coffee. The part of you that's really good with firearms and chalks it up to practice. The part of you that knows computer systems inside and out but never seemed to figure out people.
We fixed all that. We're a Builder. And now you are too.
So you're the nanomachines.
No, we are Builders. The nanites help you to remember who you are. Who you are meant to be.
Then what are the nanomachines?
Think of them like... an insurance policy. We knew we probably weren't going to be around forever, we didn't know what would happen to us - by the way? Being stuck on Earth with no Gate and having to start from scratch and coming up with a better way to traverse the stars anyway? Full marks. You haven't told anyone here you can link right? Good.
Anyway, we figured that if one of us, or a descendant or hell, even a pretty close relative found a Gate and like the foolish, curious monkeys you are touched it, you'd get the nanites and they'd help you to... remember what we were. What we are.
Melody, you have to realize.
We are in charge here. Us. You. The whole of Reach of the Might of Vzzx. The whole of Far Reach. You are in charge. You're tired. You need to eat, you need to sleep. Tell everyone here whatever, it's fine. Half of them don't believe it and the other half, like Captain Q'ari, know it in their hearts and are already frightened. Play at it all you want but when you're ready to take your mantle as Builder,
I'll be right here.
"Melody?" It's Dr Irenimum. He was at the airlock. "Melody? Do you want to come to the infirmary?" He didn't tell me, he asked.
"Yes, please Doctor Irenimum. I think something is wrong with me."
When I got there, I laid on the table and he began another scan. The hum of the machines was so soothing, I nearly fell asleep. Before I could nod all the way off he said. "Okay Melody, I'm all finished. Let's take a look at what we can see."
He spent a moment looking at the results. His body language said he had bad news and feared telling me.
"What is it Doctor? Please tell me."
"Uh well Melody, it looks as if the nano machines have... replicated further. Do you feel the same as before?"
I laughed dryly. "In what way, Doctor? You saw me outside right? I've apparently taken the mantle of Builder and am now a living God to everyone onboard this Starbase and-" I looked at my hands "-I have the power to back up that claim."
"Er, um, no, I meant more like your weight. You're nearly a kilogram heavier. All of it nano machines."
I'm what?
"Dr Irenimum, isn't that a whole lot of nano machines?"
"Hmm yes, yes. Trillions, if not more. Yes. Working in concert I imagine they make you formidable. Increased processing power, increased reaction time, you apparently can understand all languages and can now manipulate fields to rearrange matter on the atomic level. Whoever these Builders originally were, they were nobody to trifle with."
They were us, Melody.
Shh.
"Is... Is there any way to remove them? Or turn them off?"
"Off? No, no I don't think so, no." Dr Irenimum thinks for a moment. "Well, maybe a very very strong magnetic field? But that would also have the unfortunate side effect of killing you too. Plus, with a density this high and clearly how much work they're doing with your body, I have a feeling that turning them off will just kill you outright."
He's right. There's no getting rid of us.
"But, er, other than that." I chuckled darkly, "I'm okay?"
"Oh? Yes yes, you're better than okay I'd say. Compared to the baseline scans we took when the mission started you're in better health than ever."
See? We have good points too. With us, you need never die.
"Melody? I believe we've removed beyond the realm of the physical to the... metaphysical." Dr Irenimum made a face. He hated religion. Good, that made two of us. "You know you're not a God and... most of us here know you're not a God, but those people out there?" He gestured towards the airlock. "They're pretty sure you're a God. Given how you reacted today when the security guards tried to break up a... congregation of your worshippers? I'd say that their side is looking better and better."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Doc, you don't think I'm a God, do you?"
For the first time since I came in, he looked me in the eye. "There is an old, old K'laxi religion. It's about the Gates actually. See, we had no proof, but one of our religions stated that there would be "doors in the sky" to other worlds. Time passed, and we moved on and left the religion behind - well, most of us anyway - but when we went into space, and found the Gate? Well, you could say there was quite the revival of the religion. More than a few wars were fought over it. Once we learned how to traverse the gates and there were no Gate Builders around anymore, we figured maybe it was just a legend, or maybe it was something that was true aeons ago, but was left in the dust of history."
Dr Irenimum looked away. "Then we met humans."
"They sure met the description we had in the holy books of the Builders. You had no Gates though! It couldn't be you. You traversed space in a whole different way and when we asked you about the Gates you had no idea what we were talking about. It was a coincidence."
He looked me in my eyes again. "But now... Now, we traverse the Gates in a ship built by humans and modified by K'laxi. A human touches the Gate and it reacts in a way never seen before. A human touches the directory stone and you get wild... powers, there is no other way to describe it. A human with these powers brings us across the Galaxy and we find a Starbase full of species we've never met and when they first see you Melody, when they first talk to you Melody, they... act like God came to visit. When a group of their churchgoers shows up and security comes to break up the group with violence you cow them all with words and light and force and they are compelled to do your bidding."
"Okay then Doctor. What does your religion say about the Builders?"
Once again, he met my eyes. "Nothing good Melody. It feared your return. It called you Tep'ra'fel - the undeniable. It said you literally could not be disobeyed. Melody, I fear that our old religion is right. Captain Q'ari doesn't know what to do. I think her family was still religious even in these more... enlightened days. She fears you."
"But what do I do, Doctor? I don't want to be a God." I nearly wailed.
You are you who are Melody. There is no denying yourself.
"I don't know Melody. You are who you are. Have solace in the fact that you are a good person, and have shown all of us here on Far Reach that fact. You are a kind, generous, good person. A little bit of Godhood won't change that." He patted my back. "It's late. Go sleep. Things will be clearer in the morning."
I got up and thanked him and went to my quarters. The ship is dark and quiet; by ship-time it's late. I was exhausted. I barely had the energy to take off my uniform - ugh vestments now I guess - and crawled into bed.
Another night, more wild dreams. This time I'm in a throne at a Starbase. Maybe the one we visited? Maybe not, dream logic makes it tough to tell. I'm there, and everyone feared and loved me. Everyone. I told them so, and they agree. I told them to build the Starbase, and it is done. I told them to build a gate and they built it. This one I'm looking at isn't active yet; the ring is folded tight to the asteroid. It's towed by a ship - a Starjumper? - no, it can't be - towards a gate and it disappears off to the far reaches of the - my - empire to expand. Any sapients we met along the way became my subjects. I was Builder. I was Empress. I am.
A courier ship traversed my Gate. They approached my Starbase with news of the empire. A small race of newly found sapients - they call themselves K'laxi, have rebelled. They had the temerity to kill their overseer and close their Gate. How did they learn to do that? No matter. I would go and see to the Gates reactivation personally.
The messenger feared giving me the bad news. This was right, but I am not without pity. I did not destroy them for the crime of bringing me bad news. If people fear to bring me bad news they will hide it from me until the empire totters over, all the while I think everything is fine.
No. The messenger was rewarded. A new ship, bigger, more comfortable. A promotion. Command of Courier Corps Ten. Go forth and give me the news - good and bad - of my empire.
****
You know, when that happened originally you had the messenger killed and the ship destroyed. You are learning.
But, killing the messenger only tells everyone else to keep bad news from me - her. Then she wouldn't know when things fell apart.
Which is what happened, yes. A mere century after that incident, the K'laxi closed their gate permanently, Even long before this a splinter group of Builders took their relativistic ships and sped off into the dark of Interstellar space, away from all the Gates and your influence.
They went to Earth.
That's what you call it, yes.
How long ago was this?
The Builders leaving? We don't know; it's not like you keep the same calendar. Tens of thousands of years probably. More even. Given the statue and how well we're integrating, not long enough for genetic drift to change you that much though. No more than fifty thousand is my guess. The K'laxi rebelled much sooner than that, that was a recent memory.
So what, I'm a... reincarnation of the Empress?
A... memory maybe. A double exposure. The nanites contained enough of her personality that we can give you her abilities and you are a Builder - it wouldn't work if you weren't - but now?
Now you can do it right.
With that, I woke up and got dressed. Good work previous me to make sure my uniforms were clean and pressed. I put one on that doesn't look like Holy Vestments or something. I checked the time - 6:30am ships time. and realize it's still an hour before breakfast. I go to the kitchenette and make some coffee.
Really Melody? After all that, you're still going to sully yourself with.. Caffeine?
Oh goody, you're still here.
We're no dream Melody. We are.
Well I am the Empress, and I want coffee.
Oh, you admit you're the Empress? Tsh. Fine. Get your coffee.
While I was making coffee Mei'la came in. "Oh good morning, Mei!" I said brightly.
"G-good morning Melody." She said, awkwardly, looking away.
"Mei, what's wrong? I'm still Melody, I'm still me"
She knows you're not.
"Sorry Melody, it's tough. My... Mother's mother on that side of the familial group was very religious growing up."
"Oh. I spoke with Dr Irenimum yesterday about K'laxi religion."
"Yeah, so I'm a little freaked out to meet God."
"Mei, I don't know how many people I have to say this too, but I am not God!"
She knows you are.
"Melody, I have to say, I'm not so sure." Mei'la tries to stand straighter, to look me in the eye, to have me deny that she's wrong. Part of me is so proud of her. What a good subject. Where did that come from?
"Mei'la, would it be easier if I was God, or if I wasn't God."
"Well, if you weren't God, I'd be less scared of being your friend. But if you are God, hey, how many K'laxi are friends with God?" She laughed weakly.
I laughed too. It was funny. Plus, I knew that was the reaction she wanted to hear. How did I know that?
You know how.
Quiet, you.
"Mei'la. Is that why the Captain is acting so out of sorts?"
She nodded. "Captain Q'ari was even more religious than my mom's mom. Her whole family has been churchgoers for centuries."
Shit. "I should go talk to her."
Mei'la flicks an ear. "I don't know Melody. Maybe."
Come. Let's see how malleable our Captain Supplicant is.
I said quite you.
Don't go and threaten us with a good time now.