Intergalactic conquest with an AI

A faint sound echoed behind him of soft footsteps approaching rapidly. Rex's glowing eyes narrowed as he gripped his plasma sword, ready to strike.

"Darling!"

The familiar voice stopped him cold. Rex turned his head just as Ys flew into the room, landing gracefully a few feet away from him.

Her glowing green wings shimmered in the dim light, and her usually playful expression was replaced with one of genuine concern. "Rex..." she said softly, stepping closer.

Rex exhaled slowly, his golden halo dimming slightly. "Ys," he said, his voice quieter now. "What the hell are you doing here? You should've left with the others."

Ys smirked, her playful demeanor returning. "And let my darling die alone in this scrap heap? Not a chance."

Rex let out a bitter laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "You're insane."

"And you love it," she shot back, winking.

"Come on," Ys said, extending her hand to him. "This ship's about to crash, and I don't plan on dying today. Let's get out of here, darling."

Rex hesitated for a moment, his burning rage still simmering beneath the surface. But as he looked at Ys's outstretched hand, he let out a long sigh and took it.

"Fine," he said.

She grinned, her wings flaring brightly. "Then let's hurry. We've got a planet to not crash into."

Together, they sprinted toward the hangar bay, the faint rumble of the ship's descent growing louder with every step.

Rex's white wings dissipated into faint trails of glowing light, leaving behind a faint shimmer in the air. His injuries were extensive, from burned flesh to cracked bones, and his energy reserves were dangerously low, but he was alive, barely.

His HUD displayed a grim update, 23 hours to optimal recovery. That was an eternity in their current situation, but at least the medical nanobots were working overtime, knitting his damaged tissue back together at a pace no normal human body could manage.

"Where are the others?" Rex asked as he ran, his breathing labored but his determination unwavering.

"Cleo got them out safely," Ys replied, effortlessly keeping up with him as she floated inches above the floor, her green wings pulsing softly. "But there are still hundreds of passengers in the ship. Judging by their speed or lack of it, they're not going to make it."

Rex cursed under his breath. His golden eyes flicked toward the walls as if the metal corridors themselves were to blame for their current predicament. "Why are people so damn slow in emergencies?"

Ys floated closer with a playful glint in her eyes despite the chaos. She extended her arms toward him as if offering a hug. "You know," she teased, "I can always carry you out. It'll be faster."

Rex shot her a glare, though the corners of his lips twitched. "Fine," he said reluctantly, slowing his pace. "But if you so much as mention this to anyone, I swear—"

"Relax, darling," Ys interrupted with a sly grin. "Your secret's safe with me. Now hold still~!"

Before Rex could protest further, Ys scooped him up effortlessly, cradling him in her arms like a princess. Her strength, even in her petite frame, was formidable, a testament to her Khryssari biology.

"This feels so wrong," Rex grumbled, crossing his arms as his battered body begrudgingly accepted her help. "Just... don't drop me, alright?"

Ys giggled, her wings fluttering as she lifted off the ground and accelerated through the corridors. "Oh, don't worry, darling. I wouldn't dream of dropping you... on purpose, anyway."

Rex rolled his eyes, letting out a tired sigh. He focused on his HUD, trying to divert his attention from the mortifying situation. With what little energy he had left, he began crafting a makeshift recharging device directly on his chest, integrating one of the energy cells he had bitten into earlier. It was slow work, but it would stabilize him for now.

The hangar bay was a scene of pure chaos. Passengers were still scrambling to board the remaining transport ships, but greed and panic had taken hold. Many nobles and wealthy passengers were demanding their servants load crates of luggage onto the transports, ignoring the cries of those left behind.

Ys and Rex arrived just in time to witness the tragic spectacle. From above, Ys hovered near the hangar's edge, watching as servants struggled under the weight of suitcases filled with jewels and priceless artifacts, while families were shoved aside in the mad rush to board.

Rex's golden eyes narrowed, his frustration and anger bubbling to the surface. "There are still so many people left," he said through gritted teeth. His gaze lingered on the children crying as their parents begged for spots on the crowded transport ships.

"They're going to die because of their own stupidity."

Ys glanced at him, her playful demeanor softening. "Darling," she said gently, "you know there's nothing we can do. The greedy ones always end up digging their own graves. You can't save them all."

Rex clenched his fists, his cybernetic joints creaking under the pressure. He wanted to argue, to fight, to find some way to save the stragglers. But deep down, he knew Ys was right. The ship was seconds away from entering the planet's atmosphere. Time had run out.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "Let's go," he said finally, his voice heavy with resignation.

Ys nodded and flew toward the hangar bay's exit, her wings glowing brighter as she increased her speed. Rex held onto her tightly, his chest burning with a mix of anger, guilt, and exhaustion.

The moment they exited the hangar bay, Rex felt the biting chill of the planet's upper atmosphere. The wind howled around them, roaring like a living beast as it whipped against his exposed skin.

With his clothes burned away in the earlier explosion, all he had left were the tattered remains of his armor pants and the glowing recharging device on his chest.

Ys slowed to a hover, her green wings keeping them steady as they floated high above the ocean. Below them, the endless expanse of water stretched as far as the eye could see, shimmering faintly under the planet's twin suns.

In the distance, the cruiser appeared, a massive, flaming metal carcass spinning uncontrollably as it plummeted toward the ocean.

"It really is a perfect day for a tragedy," Rex muttered, his voice hollow.

Ys turned to him, her expression unusually somber. She gently set him down next to her. Rex's white wings reappeared, now fully repaired, as he stretched them cautiously.

"I'm fine now," Rex said, flexing his fingers. "You can let me go."

Ys hesitated for a moment, watching him carefully. Despite his words, she could see the turmoil in his eyes. Without saying anything, she floated closer and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his bare chest.

Rex stiffened slightly, surprised by the sudden gesture. But after a moment, he sighed and returned the embrace, wrapping one arm around her.

They stood there in silence, watching as the cruiser hurtled toward its watery grave.

The cruiser hit the ocean with devastating force. The front half of the ship crumpled on impact, shattering into countless pieces that sprayed into the air like shrapnel. The rest of the ship followed, groaning and twisting as it was swallowed by the waves.

A massive shockwave rippled across the ocean, sending towering walls of water in every direction. The once-beautiful luxury cruiser, a symbol of opulence and excess, was now nothing more than a sinking pile of scrap metal.

Rex and Ys watched in silence, their expressions grim. The screams of those who had survived the initial crash were faintly audible even from their distance. But the sight of dark shapes moving beneath the waves made it clear that their suffering wouldn't last long.

The ocean's native creatures, massive, predatory beasts that were supposed to be hunted remotely by robots, were now converging on the wreckage. Their massive, serpentine bodies sliced through the water like shadows, and their glowing eyes focused on the flailing survivors.

"Those who survived the crash won't survive that," Rex said bitterly, his hands clenching into fists.

She tightened her embrace around him, her wings folding slightly. "There was nothing you could do," she whispered softly.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Rex stared at the sinking ship, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. His voice was low and filled with quiet rage. "Someone planned this," he said. "And when I find out who, I'm going to make sure they pay for every single life they took."

While the ocean's turbulent waves churned below and the remains of the cruiser disappeared into the depths, Rex's energy core finally reached the 20% threshold. The soft hum of power returning to his systems was followed by a faint golden glow from his chest.

"Masterrrrrr!!" Mini Cleo's voice echoed from nowhere before she appeared in a flash of golden light, floating excitedly above Rex's shoulder. She zipped around him frantically, her tiny hands covering her mouth as she took in his battered state.

"I'm so glad you're safe! But... your body! It's so burned and tattered! Does it hurt? Are you okay? I'm sorry I was so incompetent! I—I should have done more!"

Her chirping, high-pitched voice echoed against the grim backdrop of their situation, and despite the chaos, Rex couldn't help but laugh with a bitter, tired laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. The tense atmosphere between him and Ys eased slightly as the little AI fussed over him.

"Yes, Mini Cleo, I'm fine," Rex said, his voice soft. He reached up and gently patted her tiny head with his finger. "You did your best, and I'm still alive because of it. Don't be so hard on yourself."

"Master..." Mini Cleo murmured, her tiny hands gripping Rex's finger as if she might lose him again. Her tearful expression was almost comical given her size, but there was genuine concern in her glowing golden eyes.

Then, suddenly, her demeanor shifted. She straightened her posture, puffed out her little chest, and saluted. "Master! We need to leave this area right now! Something's not right! There's danger nearby!"

Rex's smirk faded as her words sank in. He noticed that Ys had already let go of him and was now staring out at the vast ocean, her emerald butterfly wings glowing faintly as they twitched with agitation.