Intergalactic conquest with an AI

The twins strode confidently into the armory, their steps unhurried as if they were walking into a park instead of one of the most secure locations on the ship. One of the white birds immediately floated down toward them, its beady, mechanical eyes scanning them.

After a few seconds, it drifted over to Lyra and landed on her head, perching comfortably like a smug little hat.

Nyra burst out laughing the moment she saw the bird. "Heh, looks like they know who the real criminal is here," she teased, pointing at the bird sitting on Lyra's silver hair.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Lyra rolled her eyes, her arms crossed as she huffed in annoyance. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," she said, shaking her finger in Nyra's face. "You've got it all wrong, my dearest sister. Clearly, the bird knows you're the criminal, and it's sitting on my head to keep an eye on you."

Nyra grinned at her sister, leaning in dramatically. "You know what? That actually makes sense," she said, placing a hand over her heart in mock solemnity. "What can I say? I'm just a bad girl." She struck an overly theatrical pose, her crimson eyes gleaming mischievously.

Lyra sighed, her expression caught between exasperation and amusement. "Yes, yes, you're the epitome of rebellion. Now let's hurry; I can't wait to see what Master left for us," she said while grabbing Nyra's arm and pulling her further into the armory.

Inside the armory, rows upon rows of advanced weaponry and gear gleamed under the bright artificial lights. Everything was meticulously organized, from plasma rifles to explosive charges, melee weapons, and high-tech suits of armor.

But at the center of the room, on a raised platform, was a sealed crate marked with Cleo's signature holographic seal.

The twins approached the crate, their excitement evident. Nyra rubbed her hands together eagerly. "Ooooh, what do you think it is? A new set of weapons? Maybe some cool armor?"

Lyra crouched in front of the crate while examining the seal. "Only one way to find out," she said, swiping her finger across the holographic interface. The seal glowed for a moment before dissipating with a soft hum.

The crate hissed as it unlocked, the lid slowly sliding open to reveal its contents. Inside were two sleek, customized suits of combat armor, each designed with a perfect balance of beauty and lethality.

The armor was black with crimson accents, adorned with faintly glowing runes that pulsed rhythmically like a heartbeat. Alongside the suits were matching weapons: two scythe-like energy blades for Nyra and a set of dual plasma pistols for Lyra.

Nyra's jaw dropped, her eyes practically sparkling as she reached out to touch the armor. "Ohhh, look at this! It's beautiful!" she exclaimed, lifting one of the scythes with ease. The blade extended with a crackle of energy, its edges glowing a menacing red.

Lyra, on the other hand, carefully picked up one of the plasma pistols, testing its weight in her hand. "This is... incredible," she said softly, her usually calm demeanor replaced with genuine awe. "Master really went all out this time."

Nyra twirled the scythe experimentally, grinning as it hummed with deadly precision. "I'm in love," she declared dramatically. "This is so me."

Lyra smirked before inspecting the armor more closely. "It's more than just stylish," she noted. "Look at these runes, they're not just for show. They're integrated with the armor's energy field. This is high-level tech, even for Cleo standards."

Nyra glanced at the runs, her grin widening. "Hah! Figures Master would give us something this badass. She knows we're her favorites."

"Don't let the others hear you say that," Lyra quipped, though her tone was light.

The twins quickly suited up; their movements synchronized as they donned their new gear. The armor fit perfectly, molding to their bodies like a second skin. The moment it activated, they felt a surge of power, faster reflexes, enhanced strength, and a heightened sense of awareness.

Nyra struck a pose in her new armor, her scythes crossed in front of her. "How do I look?" she asked with a playful grin.

Lyra rolled her eyes, adjusting her plasma pistols on their holsters. "Like a show-off," she said, though there was a small smile on her lips.

As the twins admired their new gear, the Mauler Juggernaut's sensors briefly flickered, as if acknowledging the twins presence. One of the white birds chirped mechanically, its gaze fixed on them for a moment before resuming its patrol.

"So, Nakor, huh?" Nyra said while spinning one of her scythes idly. "It's been a while since we've had a good mission. I hope those Nexum Dynamics defenses put up a decent fight, since I'd hate for this new gear to go to waste."

Lyra smirked, holstering her pistols. "Don't get cocky, sis. If Master left us this, then she's expecting something big. Let's not disappoint her."

Nyra nodded, her grin widening. "Let's show them what the twins can do." Enjoy new stories from empire

With that, the two sisters strode out of the armory, their new armor gleaming under the lights as they prepared for the mission ahead.

On the distant world of Nakor, Erik, the son of Carlos, was attending one of the prestigious military colleges.

Despite the exorbitant tuition costs, Carlos's monthly pay, hovering near two million credits, had allowed him to secure a spot for his son in the institution. It was an opportunity that most humans could only dream of.

But prestige didn't protect Erik from the harsh realities of the galaxy. Being human and lacking noble lineage meant that to most of the other students, Erik was little more than a slave, an insult to the seats they occupied.

And in their eyes, a slave daring to walk among them as an equal was something they simply couldn't tolerate.

"Haha! What? That's all you've got?" One of the students sneered, his voice dripping with mockery as he threw a brutal punch into Erik's face. The impact sent Erik sprawling onto the ground, blood trickling from his nose.

The surrounding group of students burst into laughter, their cruel voices echoing through the courtyard.

"Hahaha, nice hit, man," another student jeered, holding up a holo-camera to record the scene. "This is exactly how we should treat these slaves; put them back in their place!"

"Tsk, it's always the same with this kind of trash," a girl said, sitting perched on another student's lap with an air of entitled superiority.

She twisted a strand of her golden hair, smirking. "Their moms were just blessed with good asses to be bred, and then they pop out this scum who thinks they can walk among us like they're equals. It's pathetic."

Erik's bloodied face twitched at her words. Hearing someone speak so disrespectfully about his mother, about the family he held so dear made his body tremble with suppressed rage. His fists clenched against the dirty ground, and he slowly tried to push himself back to his feet.

"Take it back," Erik muttered, his voice barely audible but filled with quiet defiance.

The girl's cruel smirk widened as she glanced at him. "Oh? I think the little slave is trying to say something," she mocked him, her tone dripping with fake curiosity.

Another student chuckled darkly, leaning closer to Erik. "Oh really? What was that, slave? Let me get closer so I can hear it." He crouched down, his face inches from Erik's. "What did you say, huh? Speak up. Or maybe my translator doesn't understand slave language."

Erik's trembling intensified, and he raised his voice, louder this time. "I SAID TAKE IT BACK!"

His sudden shout startled the crowd momentarily, but only for a second. The student's expression twisted into one of anger and amusement.

"Oh, so the slave thinks he can yell at me?" he growled. Without hesitation, he threw another punch, this one even harder than the first. Erik's head snapped back, and he collapsed onto the ground again, his cheekbone throbbing with pain.

"Bad slave," the student sneered, kicking Erik in the ribs for good measure. Erik coughed as the air was knocked out of him, but he didn't cry out. The group around him erupted into laughter once more, their cruelty unrelenting.

"This little piece of trash actually thinks he can talk back to someone like me? Can you guys believe it?" The student mocked Erik, spreading his arms theatrically as if putting on a show for the audience.

"Hahaha, I know, right?" Another female student laughed, leaning against a nearby pillar.

"Little Erik here really takes after his dad. Don't you think so, cutie?"

The mocking laughter froze mid-air as a sudden voice, playful yet dripping with an edge of menace, cut through the air.

"Don't you think so, cutie?" The voice repeated itself, coming from the staircase of the school building.

All heads turned toward the source of the voice, and what they saw immediately silenced them.

Standing at the top of the stairs were two figures, both undeniably striking and otherworldly in their presence.

The first, a girl with flowing silver hair and glowing crimson eyes, leaned casually against the railing, her arms crossed as she surveyed the scene below. Her expression was playful, but there was a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

Beside her stood an identical figure, her silver hair cascading down her back as she smirked at the group of students. She twirled a small, glowing knife between her fingers with casual ease, her crimson eyes locked onto the scene with unsettling focus.

Their presence alone made the air grow heavier, and the students who had been laughing seconds ago now found themselves frozen, unsure of what to say or do.

Nyra tilted her head, her smirk widening as her glowing eyes scanned the bullies. "Well, well," she said with her tone light and teasing. "Seems like you all were having fun. But now you've gone and ruined our day. Tsk, tsk. Isn't that right, Lyra?"