Chapter 144: Proof

Ember tapped the left nipple of the body suit and a hologram appeared.

General Thorpe and Colonel Grant were shocked when they saw the screen. The government is still researching holograms, and here they were using it with ease.

Colonel glanced at the nipple section of Ember’s suit, then at the other people in the room. He wondered briefly what the crotch section could do.

Ivan caught him looking and winked. He even wiggled in the seat for his measure. Seeing the colonel’s face, he chuckled inwardly.

Back to the hologram, Ember showed the state of being for the people in the Spire. It was the same video she had shown the others. When that video ended, she quickly started another.

This one showed herself, Aiden, Luka, and Cassandra. It was the first day they entered the inner city. The video showed them walking in and being escorted. The lavish food on the table made the general’s stomach growl.

“It looks good, doesn’t it?” Ember asked, pausing the video. She looked at the general. “This is the food you will receive if you go with them. Now let’s see what happens when you eat it.”

The video continued. It showed the people enjoying their food. One must know that these people are strangers to each other. After eating, they began to change. Conversation flowed more easily, and people were touching. It wasn’t anything explicit about it, but it was obvious that this wasn’t the behaviour of people who, just moments ago, were strangers.

Some were leaning on each other. And even as they exited, the charming intimacy between them was clear. The video cut, then it went to the point of them just arriving in the inner city. This time, it gave a close-up of multiple people having sex nearby.

Then another video of the experiences of Ember, Luka, and Cassandra.

Ember explained those three instances as the times the toxins were filtered into the offices to create more drones. She didn’t specifically tell them they were the ones being targeted, and everyone else was just collateral.

“Now, you have seen the goodwill they are offering, are you willing to take it? You start as people with their own minds. Thinking that this place is freedom. And you end up as machines, bred only for sex.”

The room was silent as they took in the information they had received. The colonel and the general stared at the people across from them. If they were telling the truth, why would they want to help them? What did they get out of helping them?

“You’ve shown us this. But what does it have to do with you? You seem to be working hard to get us on your side. What kind of feud do your two bases have? And if others are drones as you say, why were you affected?”

The general was skeptical. Although they showed such things, he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. They could use holograms. What if the videos were fake?

Aiden looked at the general and smiled. He expected him to be perceptive. Their goal was obvious. They had no reason to hide it. It was only a matter of convincing the right people.

“I’m glad the general asked. As with any war, there has to be a winner and a loser. We aim to win. And to win, we need soldiers.” Aiden eyed him. “Not in the literal sense. What we need are people who can provide energy. The same energy our enemy needs.”

“The difference between them and us is that they take by force. We give you the option to rest and explore. We do not take away your creativity. You can still do whatever it is you used to do before the world went to shit.”

“But what we need from you is the same thing they need. And that’s sex.”

Aiden laid their cards on the table. There was no reason for them to lie. He needed to ensure they understood what they were walking into.

“Sex?” The colonel asked. “So you aren’t much better than the people you claim are your enemies.”

Aiden chuckled. He understood that the colonel was a cynical man. If everyone on the base went with them freely, he would wonder what plan they had concocted. Seeing him push back meant they were taking what he said into consideration.

“We are better. We don’t force you. Then again, everyone does make their own choice at the beginning. If your choice is to follow them, then becoming a drine is your fate. If you follow us. You have a chance at a semblance of normalcy.”

Ember chimed in, “If we really wanted to force you, we have our own way.”

At the same time, she released her pheromones. The general and colonel felt the shift in the room. Their bodies began to react. The already hot room was even hotter. They squirmed in their seats, almost unable to stop themselves from going at it.

As quickly as the feeling came, it disappeared, only to be replaced with a sense of calm.

“If we needed to. We could be worse than them. We don’t need to force you the way they do. But if you want us to, we can.”

Ember didn’t mean it as a threat. She didn’t want to threaten them. But if they decided they would join Valentina, she didn’t mind taking measures.

She had always prided herself on allowing others to make their own choices. Their base is one of choice. They make known what they need from their teammates. They provide them with food, shelter, and clothing. Sex is the least they could provide for the base.

“Since you think we are like them, you can take a look at our base.”

Another holographic image appeared. It showed the Eyrie as it is now. It showed people going about their daily lives. It showed the library, the hydroponics bay, and the medical bay.

It showed people having sex. Not like the mindless drones they had seen before. They weren’t blank-faced. They were genuinely enjoying their activities.

“This is our home,” Ember said. “This is what we are offering you. If you believe this isn’t for you, then we won’t stop you from joining those people.”

“This is the difference between them and us. We don’t force you to lose your free will. We build on what you can already do. If you were a teacher, then teach. If you were an engineer, then create, research, whatever.”

Ember said what she needed to say, then leaned into Aiden. She had nothing else to say. And no other way to persuade them. No amount of talking is as good as seeing the real thing.

She asked Aiden through their connection if it would make sense to bring the colonel and general into the base ot see for themselves.

Aiden didn’t immediately dismiss the idea. But it has its own consequences. If they didn’t agree to join, then their base would be compromised. Unless they could dull their senses.

By the end of their conversation, it was confirmed that if the general and the colonel wanted to have a look around, they could. They could come for one day. In that day, they would need to decide whether they would bring their people to the base.

“We have a proposition,” Aiden said, looking at the two men. “If you are willing, we can bring you to the Eyrie. You can take a look for yourselves. After seeing it, you can decide whether you want to go with us. Another factor you need to consider is that, regardless of whether you go with us or stay with them, you will lose your leadership roles.”

This is something they hadn’t spoken about before. If they were swallowed by their base. They would no longer have the high rankt hey do now. They would need to answer to others.

The colonel had a thought, however. If they went to this base, what was stopping him from creating his own faction? If they could provide all these conveniences for them, then what if he had enough people to overthrow them? They only needed an in.

The general was more humanistic. He was solely thinking about the health and wellness of the people in the base. So, their proposal was good. If they were truly based on free will, as they claim. He wouldn’t mind relinquishing power.

The two people had their own thoughts and though they tried to hide it, the seven could see what both were thinking. Though the people on the planet were becoming stronger and faster. They were still a league above them.

“I agree,” said the general. “I am willing to take a look.

The colonel nodded and agreed after he heard the general agree.

“But how would we get there? The sun outside is not for the weak. And though we aren’t severely affected. I am not sure we could travel far distances.” The general swept his gaze over the seven.

“As long as you agree, we will help you get there.” Aiden casually remarked. “Put your affairs in order. We can leave today.”

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