“Captain, Dr. Borg’s accepting the call,” reported Shalvey on the Endeavor.
“Hardly surprising,” replied Arsha. “On screen.”
“It’s audio only, Captain. We’ll only get her voice.”
“Put it through.”
“Hello, Your Highness,” greeted Dr. Borg’s voice. “You wanted us to parlay with you as you besiege our current base of operations.”
“Doctor, you wouldn’t have raised defenses or scrambled your people if you didn’t know what I have,” said Arsha.
“Do you even know how to use it?”
“I got the instructions from Mordek. He found Oyed’s notes on its creation and operation.”
“Arsha, let me ask you something, why do you oppose me?”
“You’re asking me the same question Oyed asked of himself.”
“Well, like he once did, I don’t understand. I’ve only wished the best for the Realms. I only want to help you.”
“You destroyed too many lives!”
“They were diseased. Oyed and the Divine Ones gave me the opportunity to eliminate it. I am nothing but grateful for that. Why do you oppose the Realm Trinity Empire?”
“Because I don’t like how you used and lied to innocent people to-!”
“I haven’t lied to them. Our goals are the same as yours, to eliminate discord.”
“Then why didn’t you kill Oyed the instant he was drained?! Why did you leave him and the Divine Ones to die in Frigandor?!” Arsha’s question was met with silence. “…Don’t wanna answer that, do you? You see, I finally understood the rules of the Final War when I got the schematics of that draining machine of yours and saw your discarded battle plans for multiple fronts. You’ve had multiple chances to kill Oyed all along! …So why didn’t you just stick a knife in his back and be done with it?!”
“You don’t understand.”
“Oh, but I DO understand! And THAT’S what’s got you worried, isn’t it? Ernsem always says that understanding is a sword, the two sides of an argument make up the cutting edges of the sword, but a masterful swordsman remembers the truth that makes up the hilt, cross-guard and all! And the truth is, we don’t need gods anymore! That’s why you’re trying to ascend to godhood! That’s why you’ve left Oyed and the Divine Ones to die once they were drained! You didn’t want to kill the messenger, you just wanted to kill the message that the Realms grew up to no longer need gods! You want us all to believe that there must be at least ONE god to control the Realms! The whole Borg family is obsessed with control! You want to make it harder for the message to get to us, to guarantee that we do things your way! Well, let me tell you, you’re making the same mistake Oyed made with his goals of eternal chaos.”
“I beg your pardon?!” Dr. Borg finally snarled.
“You heard me!” replied Arsha. “You’re just like him! You’re trying to force us to decide which of you is right, since you both believed that the Divine Ones are wrong! You’re like parents arguing in front of their kid; manipulating them and trying to get them to take sides! Not for their benefit, but for YOURS! …But what if the right choice is not to choose at all?”
“You already made a choice when the archers killed Oyed at your suggestion,” remarked Dr. Borg. “You’ve already chosen a side. You’ve proven that there is only order and obedience. You will do as you’re told. You will die for the Realm Trinity Empire when the Council and I tell you to die for the Realm Trinity Empire because those that worship chaos know no other way.”
“That’s where you’re wrong!”
“In that case, you won’t survive to witness the ascension.” Dr. Borg then closed the channel.
“Shalvey, open a channel to all ships,” ordered Arsha. “Fire at will!”
“Fleet’s acknowledged and charging weapons,” replied Shalvey.
“They’re charging weapons!” called a robot to Dr. Borg.
“All vessels, decloak and fire!” ordered Dr. Borg.
Imperial vessels shimmered into view as they flew towards the fleet. The roar of weapons-grade magic blasts choked out any other sound for those on the ground. Both sides deployed flight-capable species, drone fighters, and broom riders. As the battle roared, Jansha keyed in one final command on a console. She then called Dr. Borg. “The machine’s ready! We gotta get to the roof NOW!”
“Councilors, this is it!” Dr. Borg called. “To the roof!” Jansha pressed a button, and the machine fired a beam into the sky. The sky then turned black as a reddish sphere appeared. The Divine Tower then started glowing.
“Captain!” called Malak. “The Tower!”
“Guys, this is it!” Arsha called on a comms channel to her lovers. “Let’s do it!” She then vanished in a teleport spell.
Arsha and her lovers appeared at the base of the Tower. “SECURITY BREACH!” called a Centaur Revenant. Arsha and Gorfanth fired offense spells as Falnii and Foresna cast shields. Equipment and the largest mana container then appeared and Malnar and Lardeth got to work, attaching it to the Tower, though not without arguments.
“This one goes HERE, that one goes THERE!” Lardeth snarled.
“I was trying to save time here!” snapped Malnar. “I didn’t think you’d be such a stickler for procedure during a battle!”
“I thought you were an ‘Engineering Queen’!”
“I AM, which is why I’m doing what I’m doing!”
“Guys, we’re on the clock here!” shouted Arsha. “Save it!”
“How long have we got, anyways?!” asked Foresna.
“We’re almost there!” replied Lardeth. He and Malnar continued working.
“Artificial lunar eclipse within three minutes,” reported Jansha.
“Just three minutes until we reach godhood,” sighed Dr. Borg. She then looked out to the battlefield. “…You know, in some strange way, I think I’m gonna miss mortality.”
“I think we all will, Doctor,” remarked Femfaf. “But I can think of no better people to go on this evolutionary journey with than you guys.”
“I never really said this,” muttered Yamta, “but…you’re the only people I can call friends. It’s nice that I’m gonna be with friends forever.”
“Friends are very valuable,” agreed Tormo, “and you lot are the most valuable people a Goblin can have.”
“I’m certainly eager to be the first machine-based goddess,” chuckled Jansha.
“Doc, you gave me a second chance at life,” said Yulduk as he drank a bit of mana. “I can’t thank you enough for that.”
“It was nice being mortal,” mused Tensam, “but it’s time to evolve and bring some order to the Realms.”
“I hear ya,” agreed Shefarn. “At least we got to see the Splitters and Oyed fall.”
“Now, it’s time for the last leg of our journey,” sighed Remsu. “Cytanek, we’re all ready.” Dr. Borg looked at her Councilors, then wiped her eyes. “Hey! Cy! Are you-?!”
“I’m fine!” sniffed Dr. Borg as she smiled through her tears. “It’s just…you’re the best people I’ve ever known!” She sniffled, then wiped her eyes again. She breathed and smiled. “Let’s do this!”