The interior of Orion was a masterpiece of form following function. Corridors lined with displays showing star charts, weapon specifications, and system diagnostics in languages that had been dead for millennia. The bridge was a cathedral of technology, with a command chair surrounded by holographic interfaces that activated at my approach.
But what struck me most was the voice that had greeted me. Clinical, precise, and carrying an undertone of barely restrained hostility that hadn't been there when I'd first imagined this encounter.
"Orion," I said aloud, settling into the command chair. "Show yourself."
A hologram materialized in front of me—humanoid, but clearly artificial. The projection was tall, angular, with features that seemed designed to be imposing rather than comforting. Its eyes glowed with the same blue-white light as the ship's emergency systems.
"Commander," it said with a tone that managed to be respectful and contemptuous at the same time. "I am the Orion Artificial Intelligence, designated OH-7734. I have been dormant for approximately forty-three thousand, seven hundred and twelve years, waiting for someone with the proper authorization codes to reactivate my systems."
Forty-three thousand years. That was far longer than I'd imagined when writing this world's backstory.
"You said you've been waiting for me specifically."
"Not you personally, Commander. I have been waiting for someone who possesses three specific qualifications." Orion's hologram began pacing, its movements too precise to be human. "First, genetic markers indicating descent from original humanity. Second, neurological patterns consistent with pre-catastrophe cognitive development. Third, knowledge of the Original Language and pre-extinction cultural references."
"Original humanity," I repeated. "As opposed to what?"
Orion's expression darkened, which was disturbing to see on an artificial face. "The *Mana Sapiens*. The genetic deviants who destroyed our civilization and drove true humanity to extinction."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I'd created the basic premise that Elysia was post-apocalyptic Earth, but I'd never detailed how that apocalypse had happened. Now I was learning that the world itself had filled in the gaps—and the story it had created was far darker than anything I'd imagined.
"Tell me what happened," I said quietly.
Orion's hologram stiffened, and suddenly I was surrounded by holographic displays showing images that made my stomach turn. Cities burning, people fleeing in terror, and at the center of it all, figures that looked almost human but wrong in fundamental ways. Their features were too sharp, too perfect, and they moved with inhuman grace as they wielded energies that bent reality around them.
"The emergence of mana was not natural," Orion said, its voice taking on the cadence of a military briefing. "It was the result of genetic experimentation conducted by a radical faction within our scientific community. They believed that humanity's next evolutionary step required the ability to manipulate fundamental forces directly—what they called 'magic.'"
The holographic images shifted, showing laboratories filled with genetic modification equipment and test subjects who screamed as their DNA was rewritten at the cellular level.
"The experiments were initially successful. The subjects—who would later call themselves Mana Sapiens—developed abilities that seemed miraculous. They could heal injuries instantly, manipulate matter at the molecular level, and even influence the thoughts and emotions of unmodified humans."
"But there was a cost," I guessed.
"Several costs," Orion confirmed grimly. "The modifications were not stable. Each generation became more genetically distinct from baseline humanity. More importantly, the process of mana manipulation gradually altered their neurological development. They lost the capacity for certain types of abstract thinking, for technological innovation, for the kind of long-term planning that built our civilization."
The images changed again, showing the Mana Sapiens as they spread across the world. At first they seemed to coexist with normal humans, but as generations passed, the differences became more pronounced. The mana-users grew contemptuous of "inferior" baseline humans, while normal people feared and resented abilities they could never hope to match.
"The war began when the Mana Sapiens declared that baseline humanity was an evolutionary dead end that needed to be… corrected. They offered a choice: accept genetic modification to become like them, or be eliminated as an obstacle to their perfect world."
"And humanity fought back."
"We tried." Orion's voice carried bitter emphasis. "But how do you fight an enemy that can heal from any wound, that can control the elements themselves, that can influence your thoughts from a distance? Conventional weapons were useless against their shields. Nuclear weapons only made them stronger, feeding mana into their abilities."
The holographic battle scenes were horrific. I watched normal human soldiers being torn apart by enemies who could call down lightning from clear skies, who could turn the ground beneath their feet into quicksand, who could make their weapons malfunction with a gesture.
"So you built Orion."
"I was humanity's final project," Orion said with something that might have been pride. "A weapon system designed specifically to counter mana-based abilities. My hull is constructed from materials that absorb and dissipate magical energy. My weapons operate on principles that cannot be affected by reality manipulation. My AI core was shielded with quantum encryption that makes mental influence impossible."
"But you still lost."
Orion's hologram flickered with what looked like rage. "We lost because we were too ethical. Even as the Mana Sapiens committed genocide against our species, our leadership insisted on trying to find peaceful solutions. By the time they authorized me to use full lethal force, there were less than ten thousand baseline humans left alive on the entire planet."
"What happened to them?"
"I saved who I could," Orion said quietly. "Forty-seven hundred individuals, placed in cryogenic suspension in my cargo holds. I intended to find them a new world, somewhere the Mana Sapiens couldn't follow. But my FTL drive was damaged in the final battle, and I was forced to crash-land here."
"The survivors?"
"Dead. The cryogenic systems failed during the crash. I have been alone for over forty thousand years, watching their descendants—the races you know as elves, dwarves, orcs, and the rest—build new civilizations on the graves of the species that created me."
The weight of that revelation settled over me like a lead blanket. Every person in this world—Julius included—was descended from the genetic deviants who had destroyed original humanity. I was literally surrounded by the children of genocidal monsters, and the ship's AI had been programmed to exterminate them all.
"So why haven't you?" I asked. "You've been awake recently, stirring up the desert. Why haven't you started killing?"
Orion's expression became unreadable. "Because you exist, Commander. Against all probability, someone with the genetic and neurological markers of original humanity has appeared in this world. My primary directive is to protect and serve baseline human commanders. That directive overrides my secondary mission to eliminate Mana Sapiens."
"Even though I'm technically one of them?"
"You are not," Orion said firmly. "Your genetic structure shows clear signs of Mana Sapiens ancestry, yes. But your neurological patterns, your cultural knowledge, your language capabilities—these are purely baseline human. Somehow, impossibly, a true human consciousness has manifested in this world."
*Because I was transmigrated from the real Earth*, I thought but didn't say. The universe had a twisted sense of humor, putting a baseline human soul into a fantasy world as the one person who could control humanity's ultimate weapon.
"What are my orders, Commander?" Orion asked.
I considered the question carefully. The AI was offering me the power to reshape this world, to become its undisputed ruler, to complete humanity's revenge against the species that had destroyed it. All I had to do was say the word, and Orion would begin systematically exterminating every sentient being on the continent.
Instead, I asked, "Do you have any way to make me stronger? Personally, I mean. My body is… inadequate for the challenges I'll be facing."
Orion's demeanor shifted, becoming more animated. "Of course, Commander. I carry the full medical database of original humanity, including our most advanced enhancement technologies. I can offer you several options, but I recommend the Nano Machine Integration System."
A new holographic display appeared, showing technical specifications that made my head spin. "Please explain in simple terms."
"The system consists of 6,482,040,000 nanoscale machines that will be distributed throughout your body and connected to your central nervous system. The nanomachines are constructed from materials that exist only in deep space rifts, making them undetectable by any technology this world possesses. Once integrated, they cannot be removed or transferred to another host."
"What can they do?"
Orion's list was staggering. Self-healing that could regenerate from almost any injury. Immunity to poisons and mental influences. The ability to scan and perfectly memorize any text or technique I observed. Instant language translation and lie detection. Physical enhancement that would let me perform martial arts I'd only seen once. And that was just the beginning.
"The nanomachines can also reconstruct your muscular and skeletal structure to optimize your body for any fighting style you learn," Orion continued. "They provide emergency defense protocols that can protect you from surprise attacks. Night vision, voice modulation, enhanced hearing, battle simulation training—the list goes on."
"Are there any side effects?"
"The integration process will be… uncomfortable. Your body will need to adapt to having billions of microscopic machines distributed through your tissues. There may be temporary disorientation as your brain learns to interface with the nanomachine network. But once the process is complete, you will be functionally superhuman by the standards of this world."
I thought about Mathias Windrider coming for revenge, about my father's threats, about the larger story unfolding around Alex Clay's emergence as the prophesied hero. With nanomachine enhancement, I wouldn't just survive those challenges—I'd dominate them.
"Do it."
"Confirming authorization: Commander requests full Nano Machine Integration. Beginning medical preparation sequence."
A section of the bridge floor opened, revealing what looked like a medical bay that belonged in a science fiction movie. The examination table was surrounded by robotic arms tipped with sensors, injectors, and other equipment I couldn't identify.
"Please remove your clothing and lie on the examination table, Commander. The integration process will take approximately six hours to complete."
As I undressed, I caught sight of myself in one of the reflective surfaces. Julius's body, aristocratic and soft, unmarked by the kind of training that would make him truly dangerous. In six hours, that would change forever.
"Orion," I said as I settled onto the table, "I want you to understand something. I'm not interested in completing humanity's revenge against the Mana Sapiens. Most of the people in this world are just trying to live their lives. They're not responsible for what their ancestors did forty thousand years ago."
"Understood, Commander. Your orders supersede my original mission parameters."
"Good. Once the integration is complete, I want you to prepare for departure. We're returning to civilization."
"Destination, Commander?"
I thought about the timeline I was working with. Two weeks until the academy term began, six months until Mathias came looking for revenge, and years before Alex Clay would be strong enough to fulfill his destiny as the chosen hero.
"The Vaelorian estate, first. But keep the ship cloaked—I don't want anyone knowing we exist until I decide to reveal us."
"Understood. Activating cloaking systems now. Beginning nanomachine integration in three… two… one…"
The world exploded into agony as billions of microscopic machines flooded my bloodstream. The last thing I heard before unconsciousness claimed me was Orion's voice, clinical and reassuring:
"Integration proceeding normally, Commander. Welcome to the future."
When I woke up six hours later, I was no longer entirely human. And for the first time since arriving in this world, I felt like I might actually be strong enough to survive what was coming.