Intergalactic conquest with an AI

Rex let out a heavy sigh, the sound echoing faintly as Cleo disappeared behind the sliding door. His gaze lingered on the spot where she had stood, his brow furrowed in thought.

He glanced down at his half-eaten fish, then at the others seated around the dock. "Did she seriously come all the way here just to say that?" He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "She could've just sent a message… Was she really that excited?"

Nyra stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She stretched her arms lazily with a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, if she went through all that trouble, it must be something big. Come on, sis," she said while grabbing Lyra's hand before she could protest. "Let's go ask her."

Lyra barely had time to yelp as Nyra dragged her toward the station doors. Rex shot to his feet, his chair tipping backward with a clatter. "Hey, wait! I want to know too!" he called out, already jogging to catch up.

But then, mid-stride, he remembered Ys, and without breaking pace, he veered toward her, scooped her up with practiced ease, and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Wha—?! Rex!" Ys protested with her voice muffled as she flailed half-heartedly against his grip.

"No time! You're coming too," Rex declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. Ignoring her grumbling, he broke into a sprint, the station's fluorescent lights blurring past as he ran toward Cleo's lab, the one place she was almost certainly holed up.

The lab doors hissed open, revealing a dimly lit chamber bathed in the eerie glow of holographic screens. Cleo stood at the center, her silhouette framed by a swirling vortex of data streams and shimmering projections. She was utterly absorbed, her fingers dancing across invisible interfaces, her golden eyes reflecting the cascading light.

Rex stepped inside, his boots clicking against the polished floor. "Alright, Cleo," he said with his voice cutting through the hum of machinery. "Spill it. Where are we going? You dropped a cryptic message and vanished. What's going on?"

Since she didn't respond, he strode forward, his hand slicing through the holographic barrier to grab her wrist. He pulled her out of the digital storm, forcing her to face him. And that was when he really saw her.

Her skin was paler than usual, almost translucent under the harsh light. Her posture was rigid, her shoulders tense, and there was a faint flicker in her eyes, a telltale sign he'd seen before. Without hesitation, he activated his HUD, running a quick scan. His brow furrowed as the results flashed across his vision.

"Cleo… when was the last time you rested?" he asked, his voice low but firm. "Your energy levels are barely at five percent."

Cleo blinked, as if the concept of rest was foreign to her. "Rest is unnecessary," she replied, her tone neutral as always. "I can detach from my physical form and continue working in holographic mode. Your concerns are unfounded."

She waved a hand dismissively, summoning a fresh wave of holo-screens that encircled Rex like a digital cage. But he wasn't having it.

"Yeah, no," Rex said while exhaling sharply. "We're done here." He turned to the others, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Meeting's over. You all go rest. I'm dealing with this workaholic myself."

Before Cleo could protest further, he scooped her up in his arms, her lithe frame fitting effortlessly against his chest. She opened her mouth to object, but Rex was already striding out of the lab, his determination unwavering.

The shower room in their private quarters was a stark contrast to the sterile lab. Soft, ambient lighting bathed the space in a warm glow, reflecting off sleek black marble and the gentle ripples of the massive jacuzzi at its center. Steam rose from the water, curling into the air like tendrils of mist.

"Rex, this is unnecessary," Cleo said, her voice being calm but tinged with irritation as he carried her toward the water. "My physical body has been in a sterilized environment. There is no need for—"

Her words cut off as Rex effortlessly stripped away her clothes, his movements swift but gentle. Ignoring her logic-driven protests, he stepped into the jacuzzi, the warm water lapping at his legs as he settled down. He pulled Cleo onto his lap, her body stiffening slightly as the heat enveloped her.
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Rex leaned back against the smooth edge of the tub, letting out a satisfied groan. "Cleo, it's not healthy to obsess over work to the point you forget to rest," he said with his voice being softer now. "I don't know how important whatever you're researching is, but if it's not life-or-death, I'm putting my foot down."

Cleo met his gaze, her golden eyes sharp and unyielding. But Rex didn't look away. He held her stare, his own eyes steady and unwavering.

"It is important," she murmured, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "Logic dictates that I should prioritize efficiency and research at the fastest possible rate—"

"No."

Cleo blinked, caught off guard. "But—"

"No."

A tiny, almost imperceptible pout formed on her lips. She crossed her arms and turned her head slightly, a rare display of defiance that Rex couldn't help but smirk at. "Glad you agree," he said, his tone teasing.

She didn't answer, but she also didn't try to leave. Instead, she relaxed ever so slightly, her body sinking deeper into the water. Rex tightened his arms around her while resting his chin on her shoulder as he closed his eyes.

The gentle hum of the jacuzzi filled the silence, the mineral-scented steam wrapping around them like a comforting blanket.

"So… how are your power levels now?" he murmured, his voice being barely above a whisper.

Cleo glanced at her internal HUD, the faint glow of the water reflecting in her golden irises. "I have reached ten percent," she replied. "Still within emergency levels, but I will enter the warning zone soon."

Rex nodded, his breath warm against her neck. "Good. That's a start."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension in Cleo's body slowly ebbed away, replaced by an unfamiliar warmth, a sensation she rarely allowed herself to feel. Rex's presence was steady, grounding, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Cleo let herself simply exist, her mind quieting as the water soothed her weary form.

The soft glow of the jacuzzi cast a serene light over the room, the world outside fading into insignificance. In that moment, there was no lab, no research, no endless stream of data, just the two of them, wrapped in the quiet comfort of each other's presence.

An hour had passed since they left the jacuzzi, and the warmth of the water still clung to their skin like a second layer. Now, wrapped in nothing but their bathrobes, Rex lay sprawled across the couch with his head resting comfortably on Cleo's lap.

His long, damp hair fanned out over her legs, glistening under the soft glow of the room's ambient lighting. Cleo's fingers moved methodically through his hair, brushing through the strands with a gentleness that belied her usual stoic demeanor.

The low hum of a hairdryer filled the air, its warmth mingling with the lingering steam from the jacuzzi. Rex let out a contented sigh while his eyes were half-closed. "So… are you finally going to tell me what had you so entranced in your lab?"

Cleo didn't answer immediately. Instead, she absorbed the nanomaterial of the hairdryer back into her body, the device dissolving into a fine silver mist that shimmered briefly before vanishing.

But she didn't stop touching his hair; her fingers continued their slow, rhythmic movements, as if the act itself grounded her.

"Do you remember the shadow warrior we found a few days ago?" Her voice was softer than usual, almost contemplative, as if she were weighing her words carefully.

Rex cracked one eye open, peering up at her. "Yeah, I remember. That's what you were obsessing over?"

Cleo's fingers paused for the briefest of moments before resuming their gentle strokes. "I don't know if 'obsessing' is the right word, but… yes. That's the reason."

With a flick of her hand, several holo-screens materialized around them, their soft glow casting faint shadows across the room. "I was going through the travel logs stored in its body. One of the locations caught my attention, the Mist Planet that I showed you before."

Rex shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow to get a better look at the floating projections. "Yeah, I remember. You said it was one of the best spots to set up a base. What about it?"

Cleo's golden eyes reflected the screens as she expanded one of the images, revealing satellite footage of the mist-covered world. The planet's surface was shrouded in swirling gray clouds, with only faint glimpses of jagged terrain visible beneath.

"I believe there's something hidden there, something my people left behind."

Rex's expression sharpened, his earlier relaxation replaced by focused intensity. "Go on."

Cleo pulled up another screen, displaying complex schematics alongside video logs. "From the data I recovered, the shadow warrior likely used a high-tech warp device located on the Mist Planet. These long-range teleportation systems are typically used by my kind to resupply war machinery. If that technology is still active…"

"Then whoever controls it would have the ability to transport forces instantly across space," Rex finished for her, his gaze darkening. "That would explain why you were so damn interested in this place."