The Pandoran War

4217 and a Galactic Dark Age hangs over humanity. A collection of rogues is our species only hope as extradimensional psychic vampires swarm the galaxy. Smugglers and psychics, spies and soldiers; pirates and madmen. Each finding their destiny lies in the thick of a war to save humanity from extinction. But of course you’re Cyborgian, Cicero. Throughout your skeleton various nano systems are incorporated that will allow you a number of…well, limited powers shall we say. You’ll have access to the hive mind, but that, my pretty, will have its limits one you go deep Outspace. A full rundown of you systems will be presented you later.” “Thank you” Cicero said, eager for a mirror, and wondering if this was all a cruel joke, and he would blink and find himself back a tortured construct of a sentient program in Omm’s virtual world. David was staring. “You’re a masterpiece, Sissy-a real work of art. Beauty and the beast all rolled into one…our very own femme fatale? “You have two things to remember lest you go AWOL on us. One- you’re body is real. You’re a genetically engineered superwoman. Your lifespan, without enhancement is five centuries. So you have something to live for. I’ve pressed the Overlord council to waive entirely the charges for treason that had been pressed against you from your previous incarnation. Secondly, well, there’s this.” He tossed a small purple cube over on the bed. “I suggest you don’t look at it until you’ve given yourself a few days to acclimate yourself to the real universe again. It’s rather disturbing. “We’ve commandeered you a small ship, nicely appointed I might add. Aspects of your former self will start to begin to come back into your awareness over time. Yes…you’re sensing it now. Yes Dear, you were a woman.” Suddenly they were not alone. Lourdes was standing in the middle of the room. “Well David, can’t tear your self away from her now that we’ve restored her can you? Tsk tsk, love never dies, after all this time. She betrayed you once, and now here she lays in full glory. Only you would have given her another chance. Off with her then! The transfer is complete, she’s in the flesh now, go on and kiss her goodbye.” Cicero looked over and saw a flash of annoyance in David’s eye, but the sardonic and cold heart that never melted remained on the lips. “Kiss kiss” he said. He formed an “O” with his mouth as if to blow her a kiss and he faded away. Now Lourdes was staring. “Devil woman, ha! Look at you. He’s given you it all back and more. The irony. Well Lisa-“ Lisa! “You’re Lisa Lynne Sulla. You’re an art dealer officially; black market unofficially. I want to know what the empath is doing, which is problematic for you…but if anyone can wrap a lie around a promise and slip it between his ribs with a kiss-well…never mind. Since your personality is subdued under layers of memory blocks he’ll have a…devil of a time sorting you out. “One more thing- I’m not as much as a lovesick puppy as Omm was- you’ll not get a centuries in virtreal as a tortured construct if you cross me. You’ll get a virtual hell, and I’ll make sure you’re the last living thing on the planet before that hell goes offline. Got it?” Lisa said softly: “Got it.” Lourdes looked at the purple cube on the bed. She frowned. “Then there’s that.” A dark shadow swept across her face like the grave, and she was gone. Lisa looked at the cube. Then she got up and walked over to a wall length mirror by a sink. She was tall, strawberry blonde (her hair could change color at will she realized suddenly, one of her powers), She was elegant and athletic. Back in the saddle it seemed, and ready for blood. Outside the window the towers of Deneb 4 gleamed in the sunshine. pandoranage.com