Legends of Amacia The Awakening

Fifteen minutes after leaving the pool complex, Harry led Hanna into Enoch’s main workshop next to the Red Tower’s armory. It had all the trappings of a machine shop with strange lathes, milling machines, drill presses, metal shears, press brakes, welding machines, plasma cutters, etc..., along with numerous metal tables of varying sizes. The shop covered three acres with a hundred foot ceiling. The machinery and tables lay scattered around the shop in an organized fashion to be the most efficient. Fifteen-foot paths ran between the tables and machines. A faint odor of metal and grease tinted the air. The shop itself was clean as the Healing Chamber, reminding Hanna of a clean room where delicate electronics could be manufactured. Far across the shop, Hanna spied Enoch, Nemesis, Horace, Magnus, and Elias gathered around one of the tables. “Whoa,” Hanna breathed, seeing the impressive machinery present. “This shop is fantastic.”

“That it is,” Harry agreed, leading Hanna to Enoch. “The machines here make their surface counterparts look like cavemen made them. This shop has no equal that I’ve seen.”

“I must agree,” Hanna chimed, taking in everything. “This place is a machinist’s paradise.”

“Over here,” Enoch called out when he spied Hanna and Harry. “Nemesis, Magnus, Horace, and Elias are just finishing up.”

Hanna sprinted the distance to Enoch, passing Harry. When she arrived, she saw Nemesis, Magnus, Horace, and Elias gathered around Josephine as she lay strapped down to the table. She wore a leopard-print bandeau swimsuit with high-cut legs and a low cut on the chest. The restraints looked like strange metal bands that resembled the shimmering armor shirts Hannibal had found in Bolthor’s armory inside Skull Pass. Hanna instantly noticed Josephine’s head lying turned to the right with a strange open panel six inches in diameter open on her bare chest above the heart where the neck met the torso. Nemesis leaned over her with his machine fingers stuck into the open panel as if he were operating. Horace stayed right beside Nemesis, watching and giving instruction. Magnus stood at Josephine’s head with his machine fingers plugged into her main power coupling. Elias stood on the right side of the table, watching intently.

Upon seeing Josephine strapped down, an icy chill raced down Hanna’s spine and her face paled. Memories of being restrained while in the Black Fortress rattled Hanna. She stopped beside the table and asked pointedly, “Why is she restrained?”

“It’s for her safety,” Enoch answered, seeing Hanna’s reaction. “We didn’t want her to move inadvertently while the operation was going on. As soon as they finish with the repair, they’ll set her loose.”

“It’s all right,” Magnus called out, hearing Hanna’s question. “Josephine insisted on being restrained while we did the repair.”

“She did?” Hanna inquired, raising an eyebrow as her anxiety level dropped.

“Yes,” Elias stated, holding Josephine’s organic hand. “They have her sedated and in safe mode right now for the operation. Nemesis and Horace are just about finished fixing the short.”

“How’re her stats, Magnus?” Nemesis rumbled, slowly pulling his machine fingers back. Hanna looked closely, seeing Nemesis’ machine fingers very long and slender.

“Her pulse and blood pressure are slow and steady,” Magnus reported. “Her brainwave activity is also stable. Her power supply and regulator are now kicking in and stabilizing. The repair is holding. Shall I test the circuit?”

Nemesis stood up and stretched his spine as Horace ordered, “Yes, Magnus. Test the circuit with a surge of 150% for thirty seconds and see what happens. If it holds, take it up to 300%, but don’t go over 325%. That’ll blow out the circuit replacement.”

“Make sure you phase your power supply to hers,” Nemesis added. “I’ll scan her while you do it.”

“Right,” Magnus stated as Hanna, Harry, and Enoch stepped up beside the table to observe, “Initiating first test...power surge 150%, now.” Everyone heard a hum and a slight crackle come from the open panel. A soft light emanated from the opening.

Nemesis leaned over and scanned Josephine closely. “Hmmm,” he rumbled, “Good...very good; the circuit is holding. How long has it been?”

“Twenty seconds,” Magnus reported. “The power feedback is good as well. It’s not bleeding into the other systems. Ten seconds to go now.” He counted down to zero, declaring, “First stress test is successful. The circuit showed no strain or flaws when put under the load.”

“I agree,” Nemesis stated. “I also see her systems accepting the replacement parts too. They’re not rejecting it. Okay, Magnus; hit her again with 300% for a minute. Push the repair to the limit.”

“Yes, sir,” Magnus replied, “Engaging the full stress test now.” The humming and crackling returned, as did the light from the open panel. It shined quite a bit brighter.

“Would you like to see the repair we made, Hanna?” Nemesis asked. “If you come over here, you can see it. It isn’t often that you’ll get to see the heart and power regulator of a cyborg.”

“I’d like that,” Hanna said, quickly moving over beside Nemesis. She looked into the open panel, seeing a strange circuit board hooked onto a small round device melded with Josephine’s flesh. Small tubes and wires ran everywhere, disappearing into that flesh. Hanna’s eyes grew wide when she saw Josephine’s Aorta, Jugular, several other major arteries, and major nerve bundles running through the circuit board as if they were actually part of the circuit. A strange fibrous coating almost looking like armor covered the major blood vessels and nerves in and around the main circuit board and device. Josephine’s heart lay partially covered by the circuit board where the Aorta and Jugular emerged from the muscle. Hanna saw her heart, Aorta, and Jugular pulsing regularly as the circuit board glowed, twinkling as the heavy power load rushed through it and the round device attached to it. “My god,” Hanna breathed. “This is insane. Just look at this! The machines are embedded into her vital organs. What is that round thing there hook onto the circuit board just to the right of the Aorta?”

“That’s her power regulator,” Horace stated, also watching closely. “It’s hooked directly to her power supply deep inside her body cavity. Without that, she would not survive.”

“Where is her power supply?” Hanna queried, becoming fascinated with Josephine’s inner workings.

“Her power core is between her heart and her spine,” Nemesis stated, scanning Josephine closely as Magnus continued to test the repair. “It’s about the size of her heart, sitting right in front of her spine, connected to it, her heart, brain, and power regulator. No one knows what it’s made of. The metal is unknown, as is the source of its power. It’s far superior to what Magnus and I have installed in us. It’s literally a work of art and is still generating power even now.”

“That’s wild,” Harry commented.

“Indeed,” Hanna agreed. “Is it nuclear, like what powered her drones in the Black Fortress?”

“No,” Nemesis stated categorically. “What was in the drones were definitely nuclear. I cannot say for sure what’s generating her power. Whatever is in there is heavily shielded, even more heavily than my power supply.”

“Ending test now, Nemesis,” Magnus called out. “The circuits held up very well, even under the extreme load I placed on it. The surrounding systems adapted to the surge and dissipated it without causing any damage. Furthermore, I see her system is stabilizing very quickly. It’s amazing how quickly she’s recovering. I think we can close her up now, Nemesis. What do you think?”

“I saw the same thing too while scanning her,” Nemesis stated, “Enoch’s hardware patch is very resilient and meshed with her system extremely well. I think we can close her up now. How about it, Horace; think we close her up now?”

“Yes,” Horace stated. “But we need to make sure the circuit board and regulator are sterile before we close it up.”

“Okay,” Nemesis stated, reaching down and covering the entire cavity with his machine hand as it morphed into a cup-shaped sterilizer seven inches across. It had a strange, rubber-like seal that pressed down around the open cavity. “Sterilization process starting now,” he rumbled. The sterilizer hissed for a few seconds, followed by the sound of suction. “Sterilization complete,” Nemesis reported as he lifted the sterilizer cup. It instantly reverted to his metal hand. “Okay, Magnus, close the panel.”

“Closing panel,” Magnus stated stoically. Hanna watched as the panel door seemed to grow out of the cybernetic covering all around the hole, closing it up like an iris. “Panel closed and secured, Nemesis,” Magnus reported. “Shall I disengage from Josephine now?”

“Yes,” Nemesis replied. “But bring her around before you do it.”

“Right,” Magnus stated. “I’m taking her out of safe mode and rebooting her operational matrix now. It should take about thirty seconds for her to come back online.”

“Take it slowly, Magnus,” Horace ordered. “Don’t force her to wake. Let her come back on her own.”

“Yes, Horace,” Magnus replied. “She’s starting to respond now.”

Everyone grew quiet as Josephine moaned softly, stirring. “Her pulse and blood pressure are climbing,” Magnus reported. “Her breathing is getting stronger too. Uh-oh, her brain activity is spiking.”

Josephine abruptly jerked and gasped, her back arching, pressing against the restraints. Her legs and arms jerked violently against the restraints as her eyes flew open. “Bolthor...No!” she screamed in terror-stricken panic. “Please, don’t do it! Not again!”

Hanna leaned in and put both hands on Josephine’s head, holding it gently, but firmly. “Josephine, wake up,” she called out audibly and telepathically to Josephine as she thrashed in her bonds. “No one’s hurting you. Wake up, Josephine. Bolthor is not hurting you again. It’s just a memory. You’re not being altered again. Wake up.”

After a few moments, Josephine snapped out of her fit, seeing and feeling Hanna holding her closely with only a few inches between their faces. Tears rolled out of Josephine’s organic eye as she stopped thrashing. The panic in her face melted away, being replaced with recognition and extreme gratitude. “Oh, Hanna,” Josephine wept. “You’re here.”

Hanna touched foreheads with Josephine while cradling her head. “Of course I’m here,” Hanna declared in a warm, loving tone. “You’re my friend. I always stand by my friends in their hour of need. I’m so happy I reached you in that flashback. That was what it was, wasn’t it?”

Josephine nodded solemnly, calming down. “I heard your voice calling out to me, and followed it out of that nightmare,” she whimpered. “I thought I was being drowned in the nano-machine vats again. I....” She broke down and sobbed softly as Magnus touched her on the head with his organic hand in emotional support.

“I know no words can express the pain you feel from Bolthor’s betrayal,” Magnus said softly, leaning over her from the head of the table. “But you have our love and sympathy for Nemesis and I have endured similar betrayals. You will get through this. We have faith in you as our maternal elder. We know the horrors you endured for we have endured them too. You are not alone.”

“No, you aren’t,” Nemesis agreed, holding Josephine’s organic hand. “You are one of us and are stronger than you know. Face your past and rip the demon haunting you to pieces as you rise like the phoenix. Burn that demon to ashes. Destroy the Darkness still haunting you. You can do it.”

“They’re right,” Enoch said, leaning over and holding Josephine’s other hand. “Release the pain we can all see in your eyes. We’re here to help you bear this burden.”

“Listen to them,” Hanna urged softly. “We’re here to help you shed this Darkness. Let us in and together, we can bring life and light into the darkness Bolthor inflicted upon you. You, of all beings in this place, deserve this second chance at peace.”

Deep, broken sobs bubbled out of Josephine at their words of support. When she calmed enough to speak, she whimpered, “Your words are a treasure beyond all treasures. Thank you for your love and support. You must understand. For over twelve thousand cycles, I’ve not seen or experienced anything but heartache, darkness, death, and evil. No one has shown any love or care for me in all those ages, not until you came into my domain as the Emperor’s prisoner, Hanna. You have no idea what it means to have someone show kindness and love to me. It’s overwhelming. My icy heart is thawing and starting to beat again. You all have my undying love and loyalty forever.”

Hanna kissed Josephine on the cheek and embraced her warmly. “And you have ours, sister,” Hanna declared. “You have renewed my faith and love in our God. Now, shall we let you up?”

“I’d like that,” Josephine stated as Hanna covered her bare left breast with her swimsuit.

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Hanna chimed, backing away from the table. “Let her go, fellas.”

“Just one moment,” Magnus interrupted. “I’m plugged into your power coupling, Josephine. Let me disengage before we unstrap you.”

“Okay,” Josephine murmured.

“This may pinch a bit,” Magnus said bluntly. Everyone heard a click as Magnus gently pulled his machine fingers out of Josephine’s power coupling. She groaned and flinched, feeling a bit of pain as Magnus’ machine fingers slid out of the coupling.

“Are you okay?” Horace asked, noticing her reaction to the decoupling.

“Yeah,” Josephine answered with a deep sigh. “That was a great idea to use Magnus as a back-up power supply while you did the repairs. My power levels are stabilizing and fully charged now.”

“How do you feel?” Nemesis asked as he, Horace, and Elias released the straps holding Josephine down to the table.

“Pretty good, actually,” Josephine replied with a growing smile. “I do have a little ache in my chest, but it’s quickly subsiding.”

Nemesis and Enoch gently helped her sit up on the table. “That’s to be expected,” Horace stated. “We had Magnus test the repair before we woke you. You’re probably feeling some residual energy from the test. It should dissipate shortly.”

“That’s good,” Josephine stated, pivoting so her legs hung over the edge of the table. “But I don’t mind the pain. It reminds me that I’m not just a machine, but a living woman.”

“That you are,” Hanna declared, patting Josephine on the hand. “Are you strong enough to walk?”

“Absolutely,” Josephine stated, suddenly rising to her feet. She staggered for a moment, briefly getting dizzy. Hanna and Nemesis reached out and stabilized her.

“Don’t move too quickly, Josephine,” Nemesis warned. “Your power levels are still fluctuating. Take your time. What we did was a major repair of your hardware. You need to be wary of how your system takes to the repair. If you start having any trouble, tell us immediately.”

“I will,” Josephine stated, sitting back down on the table. “I just got a little dizzy. That’s all.”

“Your blood pressure may have dropped when you stood up so quickly,” Hanna stated. “Sometimes, it happens to me, especially when I’m not well. An abrupt drop in blood pressure will do that. Apparently, your system is still adjusting to being autonomous from the Black Fortress’ mainframe supercomputers. Don’t force yourself to adjust too quickly.”

“But we need to get your mutation reversed, Hanna,” Josephine replied, her tone very insistent. “You’ve waited long enough and I can see you’re starting to have trouble remembering who you were before the mutation. We must reverse the mutation immediately.”

“How did you know that?” Hanna asked bluntly. “I’ve not told anyone that, except Harry as we came here.” The news shocked everyone present.

“I too have a latent telepathic ability,” Josephine admitted. “But it was shut down by the Emperor’s programming. When you broke his programming, it started to revive. The longer I’m separated from that infernal apparatus, the stronger it’s getting. I saw it when you dragged me out of my flashback. You let your guard down and I saw. You mustn’t let your guard down at any time, Hanna. That’s how Bolthor became ensnared by the Dark Lords.”

Hanna shook her head knowingly. “You’re right,” she murmured. “I have a nasty habit of letting my guard down when helping my friends. I have to stop it.”

Enoch patted Hanna on the shoulder. “Don’t fret it, Hanna,” he reassured. “You’re still learning the intricacies of telepathy. No one can expect you to completely master such gifts in the short time you’ve had them. Only those who have had a lifetime of experience in such matters, such as Kida and Electra, can do such things.”

“I know,” Hanna agreed. “I’m still young in this gift. I don’t have the experience Kida, Electra, or even Selina has. I need to keep honing this gift.”

“We all know of your telepathic power,” Josephine stated, touching Hanna on the shoulder with her right organic hand. “It’s phenomenal, and that scares you, doesn’t it?”

Hanna nodded solemnly. “Yes,” she admitted. “I’m easily wielding ten times the power I did as a dark wizard. Furthermore, I’m doing it by instinct rather than by will. That scares me to death. I fear I may hurt or kill someone I care about if I don’t learn how to access these abilities properly. My telepathic prowess has grown exponentially since you mutated me, Josephine. I see things in people now I couldn’t before, and it’s a terrible burden. The noise of everyone’s thoughts bombarding me is maddening. So far, I’ve been able to keep it to a dull roar. But as my power increases, the more difficult it is for me to block them out. I hear more and more of them. Agh, I just wish they’d just shut up. It’s making it difficult for me to even think, and it’s causing me to forget things I shouldn’t.”

Everyone saw and heard Hanna’s pain and angst as she spoke. The frustration spilled out on her face towards the end. A deep sigh escaped Josephine’s lips. She looked Hanna in the eye with a sober expression. “All of us who are telepathic endure that, Hanna,” Josephine stated. “I know well the torment you’re experiencing from not being able to block out those unwanted thoughts from the people around you. I wish I could tell you how to block it out, but I can’t. My telepathic prowess has been shut down for so long I can’t remember how. But, you have powerful telepaths all around you. Selina is a first-order telepath, as is Kida and Electra. They’ve had a lifetime of experience. Draw on their experience, especially Selina’s experience. You and she are telepathically fused. Use that connection to help you find that off button. She’ll help you find it.”

Hanna’s face suddenly lit up with delight. “I’ll be damned,” she chimed. “You’re right, Jo. I plum forgot about Selina. She can show me how to deal with these unwanted thoughts. Thank you so much.” She embraced Josephine gratefully.

“You’re welcome, little sister,” Josephine replied, smiling. “I’m glad I could help.”

“There’s something else that you’re not considering, Hanna,” Harry intruded.

“What’s that?” Hanna asked, turning to Harry.

“This is not your true form,” Harry stated bluntly. “It may be interfering with your ability to process this telepathic power properly. I remember before you were mutated, you had the most disciplined, steeled mind I’ve ever encountered. Only something of great magnitude could shake you. But since your mutation, you’re being shaken by things that you would have just shrugged off before. I don’t know about you, but I think when Josephine reverses this mutation, many of these problems with these abilities are going to suddenly vanish. Everything will suddenly make sense. Shit, the prophecies we’ve seen say as much.”

“Master Harry may be correct,” Nemesis agreed. “You’re a man trapped in a woman’s body, Hanna. Your seeming inability to deal with some of these strange powers may be connected to your mutation. It’s like a pair of waves that are out of phase. Two waves out of phase have a habit of canceling each other out. On the other hand, two waves in phase and harmonic resonance with each other not only complement each other, but they strengthen each other. In your case, the two waves are your male and female components not harmonizing with each other. I remember you saying that you had to merge your male and female components to be a completed soul. You’ve made great progress in reconciling these two sides, but you’re not quite there yet. The two sides could be just a little out of phase, causing you this trouble. I believe when Josephine restores you, you’ll make that final adjustment and completely reconcile these two parts of you that are still just a little out of phase. When that happens, you’ll become what Josephine is suggesting: the alpha of a new species of human with the power to take the Emperor head-on. But that’s just speculation at this point. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“I guess we will,” Hanna stated glumly. “To be honest, I don’t want to be the alpha of a new species of human. I just want to be me, not some superman or woman.”

“And you will,” Josephine insisted. “It’s not going to change who you are. It’s just going to give you some new tools and abilities to work with. That’s all. Remember, your god is the one who is doing this, not me, Enoch, or even the Emperor. Trust Him, little sister. He will show you the way.”

Hanna smiled, shaking her head. “I’m constantly amazed at how the Lord constantly uses my friends to keep me straight,” she admitted. “Thank you...all of you.”

“You’re welcome,” Josephine chimed, patting Hanna on the shoulder with her organic hand. “It’s the least we could do for bring hope into our dark lives.”

“Indeed,” Enoch agreed. “The Ancient of Days uses you as a beacon to shine His light into the darkness of this cursed underworld, even into the darkest corners of the Emperor’s own house. Don’t doubt who you are, little sister, and your place with us. Furthermore, don’t fret about your mutation and forgetting your male side. We can, and will reverse the mutation the Emperor cursed you with, thanks to Josephine. All we need to do is give her a few days to make sure our repair holds up. If she has no complications from the repair, five days from now we’ll reverse what the Emperor did to you. You will become the man you once was, and there will be no doubt that you are the Caverias of prophecy...the Beowulf, the Last Caverias.”

“You’re sure about that?” Hanna asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Absolutely,” Nemesis stated. “All we need is to give her time to break in the repair. In the next five days, we’ll repeatedly test Josephine’s repair to make sure it’s holding up. In five days, if nothing fails, we’ll help hook her up to the machinery here and get your mutation reversed. If I might make a suggestion, relax and enjoy yourself, but also try to reconnect to your male identity. Make an effort to remember who you are. Use the images of your former self to reconnect. Finish the phase lock of your male and female sides to become the completed soul you told us about. That way, when Josephine reverses your mutation, the merger will be complete and you’ll have the power of both sides at your command. Remember, you need to become a whole person and soul to tangle with the Emperor.”

A deep, solemn sigh escaped Hanna’s lips. “You’re right, my friend,” she said softly, touching Nemesis on his organic arm. “You’re all right. I do need to relax and reconnect with my male side. Without getting this merger right, I’ll not be truly happy, nor have the power to stand up to the Emperor. God, I wish I was just a normal person with normal problems.”

Harry put his arm around Hanna in emotional support. “We know you do,” he said softly. “But you’re not just a normal person, Hanna. You’re special and have known it since you were big enough to know anything. However, don’t despair in this. You’re not alone. We’re all here to help you carry this thing. As you keep telling everyone, believe and you will see the Lord’s wonders. Take your own advice. Believe. Whether you want to believe it or not, you personally are one of the Lord’s wonders. Just look at you. You were once a man, an ugly ape of a man who got turned into one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. And it just wasn’t a surface thing either, it happened all the way down to the genetic level. That just doesn’t happen. You then faced your greatest enemy, the Emperor, in that form and literally kicked his ass when you rescued Selina, Josephine, and everyone else from the Black Fortress. Now, you’ve found the way to reverse what the Emperor had done to you and it’s about to happen. You, my dear Hanna, are literally a wonder wrought by the Lord. I am honored and privileged to have known you through this trial. All of us are. You showed everyone, even the Emperor, what the Lord really can do.”

“Master Harry is right,” Horace stated, looking Hanna in the eye. “I was Cadre. I know the darkness and festering evil the Emperor seeks to impose on all life. When you fought him in the throne room and soundly bested him, it forced the Emperor to realize your masculinity wasn’t the source your strength and power. You, in your mutated state, did something no soul since Thoth Caverias has ever done. You went nose to nose with the Emperor and defeated him in single combat. I still wonder what possessed you to not kill him.”

“I didn’t kill him because I knew the Black Prince would just move into the next clone,” Hanna stated, feeling immensely humbled by everyone’s testimony. “Somehow, I knew just killing him wouldn’t stop him. In order to destroy the threat of the Emperor, every clone of him has to be destroyed so the Black Prince cannot inhabit another body. Am I right in my thoughts about that, Horace?”

Hanna’s words greatly surprised Horace. “Once again, you show that you are as Master Harry says,” Horace breathed. “You are truly a wonder of the Ancient of Days. Your insights are indeed very accurate. How did you know that? That is the most closely guarded secret of the Cadre.”

“All I can say is the Almighty told me,” Hanna admitted. “Besides, once we launched our rescue operation, killing the Emperor was never an objective. All we wanted to do is exactly what we did: get out everyone who wished to be free of the Emperor. However, if the opportunity had arisen where we could have permanently defeated the Emperor, we would have availed ourselves of that chance. But it didn’t happen. It just wasn’t time to do that. Besides, I had no idea where the other clones were. At some point, I’m going to want to know how the Emperor does that so we can destroy the Black Prince’s ability to use a physical body.”

“That I can do,” Horace stated. “But it won’t be pleasant, and the mechanism he uses incorporates the darkest sorcery and most ancient technology. I also believe Mistress Josephine could help shine a light in that area too because of her inordinately long life. She’s seen the Emperor move his spirit into his clone successor many times.”

Hanna looked at Josephine, who nodded solemnly. “I have,” she admitted. “It’s a delicate process too, only done when his present body fails from age or damage. The Emperor’s spirit, what you call the Black Prince, quickly burns through every body he inhabits. That spirit is incompatible with the physical bodies of our reality. The way he prolongs his physical life is not natural. I can explain it, as can Horace, but now is not the time to speak of such things. You need to relax and reconnect before we reverse your mutation, Hanna. And you can’t do that worrying about how the Emperor keeps his throne. When the time is right, we’ll tell you. You have my word.”

“You’re right,” Hanna agreed. “I suspect it’s something I’m not ready to learn yet. Though I bet it has as much to do with the ancient 1st Age technology as it does with the Black Arts.”

“Your instinct is impressive,” Horace commended. “It indeed does encompass both of those areas. But don’t worry about it right now. What you need to do is deal with what’s in front of you right now. The reversal of your mutation is at hand. You need to prepare yourself for the operation physically and mentally because it’s going to take at least 72 hours to do it. Relaxing your body and mind will help the reversal go much smoother.”

“He’s right,” Enoch agreed. “Take some time to recharge. That’s why I didn’t call you when we started Josephine’s operation. I saw how fatigued physically and mentally you were. You need the rest.”

“But do I really have time to rest?” Hanna asked bluntly. “The Emperor is no doubt trying to find us and will send out his flying death squad to find us. We need to be ready.”

“But you’re no good to us dead,” Nemesis retorted. “And that’s what’s going to happen if you don’t take time for yourself. Do it. Don’t worry about the Emperor. That’s what you have us for. We can handle his sorry ass for the moment. Besides, he doesn’t know where we went. Now, just relax and enjoy the fact no one is trying to kill you right now. That’s an order. Go, relax...have fun like I told you to. Enoch and I can keep things going for now.”

Hanna shook her head, chuckling. “Thank you, my friends,” she said gratefully. “It seems I chose my friends well. You will let me know if you need anything, won’t you?”

“Of course,” Enoch stated. “Now if I may make a suggestion: go find Selina and get her to show you how to shut out the telepathic noise. I know that’s why you were down at the pool. I’m sure she can show you how to shut out the noise. And just relax. Enjoy your last few days as a woman. It’s okay to do so.”

“Yeah, sweetheart,” Harry agreed sarcastically. “Do whatever your pretty little head wants. Have fun. You deserve it. Let us take care of the Emperor for now.”

A look of relief flooded Hanna’s face as she realized everyone wanted her to have some down time. With a warm smile, she patted Harry on the cheek. “I think I will, you ugly ape,” she replied with a sarcastic tone. Then in a more sincere tone, she added, “Thank you, all of you, for slapping some sense into me. I can be so stubborn sometimes. I’ve been worrying about the mutation reversal when I didn’t need to.”

“I know,” Josephine stated. “I sensed it when you dragged me out of my flashback. You’ll only release that fear when you finish what you started. Relax; take time to find out who you really are, and finish putting your two halves together. We’re here to help if you need us. Aren’t we?” Everyone agreed with Josephine, even Nemesis. She looked Hanna in the eye and touched her on the shoulder with her organic hand. “Thank you for being here when I woke up, Hanna,” she said softly. “I’m very grateful to have seen your face first when I woke up. It made my entire day.”

Hanna grabbed Josephine’s hand as it sat on her shoulder. “You’re welcome, Jo,” she replied with a sober smile. “It was my pleasure and privilege. I always look after my friends when they’re in need.”

“I know,” Josephine stated. “Now, you need to look after yourself. It’s okay to let your little girl out. I hope to see her in the next few days.”

Hanna abruptly hugged Josephine, holding her tight. “I love you, Jo,” she whispered. “You remind me so much of my real mother. I wish you could have met her.”

Josephine wrapped all her arms around Hanna in a loving embrace. “I know she was a magnificent woman,” Josephine declared. “And I know she must have loved you very much. Maybe you can tell me about her sometime.”

“I’d like that,” Hanna replied, tears of joy dripping down her cheeks. “I can even show you, if you like.”

“I’d be honored,” Josephine murmured, letting go of Hanna. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get a little rest. Even though I’m fully charged, the operation has fatigued me.”

“Of course,” Hanna chimed. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will, little sister,” Josephine said pleasantly. “Now, go and relax...have fun like Nemesis told you. I’ll be around.”

“Right,” Hanna said with a nod as she stepped back from Josephine. “I think I’ll get something to eat. I am a little hungry.” Turning to Harry, she asked with a sarcastic barb, “Care to join me, you big ape?”

“You bet, sweetheart,” Harry returned just as sarcastically. “Come on.”

“See you guys later,” Hanna chimed, feeling not so burdened as she did when she first came into the shop.

“We can take care of Josephine,” Enoch insisted. “Go, have some fun, Hanna.”

“I will,” Hanna answered, waving to everyone as she and Harry walked away.

After Hanna and Harry left, Nemesis asked Josephine, “How do you feel? Are you strong enough to walk? You look a little pale.”

“I’ll be okay,” Josephine replied soberly. “But I am a bit fatigued, despite being fully charged. Maybe it’s because of the depth of the repair you did.”

“It could be,” Horace stated. “What we did was a major repair. Your peripheral systems may be slow to catch up with the repair, causing this fatigue you’re complaining about.”

“So what do we do about it?” Elias asked.

“First, we get her out of this shop and into a comfortable chair,” Enoch stated. “Then we take the next step.”

“Which is?” Magnus asked.

“Josephine hasn’t eaten anything since her cyberization,” Enoch answered. “I believe we need to find out if her digestive tract can tolerate food. It would be most helpful if she could derive power from eating, like the rest of us.”

“You’re so right,” Horace agreed. “Consuming solid food like the rest of us will help her maintain her power levels much easier. Are you ready to try eating something, Josephine? It may help with your fatigue.”

“I am,” Josephine replied, slowly rising to her feet. “I can’t remember the last time I actually ate anything. I’m curious as to what real food taste like.” She suddenly staggered, bringing both Enoch and Nemesis to her assistance. They caught and stabilized her.

“Take it easy,” Nemesis insisted. “Don’t tax your systems too much yet. Remember, that was a major operation we performed on you.”

“I’ll be okay,” Josephine said softly with a warm smile. “I’m just a little weak. That’s all.”

“Let us help you,” Enoch chimed. “Lean on me and Nemesis while we go to the kitchen.”

Josephine nodded, allowing Enoch and Nemesis to help support her. “You’re so kind, Master Enoch,” she declared. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen any kindness. It’s appreciated very much.”

“You’re welcome,” Enoch replied. “It’s an honor to assist you. Come on. I bet we have some soup in the kitchen that you may like. Kida and Electra are crackerjack cooks.”

“I’m sure they are,” Josephine stated as Enoch and Nemesis led her out of the shop. Magnus, Horace, and Elias followed.