The Foothold is Set
He opened his eyes. He found himself in a void again.
"What is this?" He asked himself. He was once again inside a void, there was nothing as far as the eye could see. He floated aimlessly through the abyss and stayed there for quite some time. Until a soft voice decided to call him.
"Hello again, Zack," A soft voice echoed.
"Who are you?" Artemis asked.
The voice giggled.
"I guess you still forget all our meetings, but, that is not a bother. I am just glad to see you accomplish things and I just wanted to congratulate you,"
"Er, thanks? I guess? I am very much confused right now as to who you are, where do you come from, what are your intentions and why the hell is there nothing?"
"Oh? We are inside your mind, well, the empty part of your mind. Your consciousness in particular,"
Artemis' eyes wandered around the void, hoping he'd get a glimpse of who exactly was talking with him.
"There is no point in searching for something who refuses to reveal themselves, you will not see me," The voice answered his question.
"So you can read my thoughts?"
"Well, of course, As I said, we are inside your mind and in your mind I can read your thoughts regardless of what you do, as long as you have a thought, think and feel a little, I can and will always read it,"
"Why read my thoughts?"
The voice giggled again.
"Its because it reminds me of the person you were back then,"
"Back then?"
"Yes, back then you were a young man who only wanted to work, work and work. Work alone and achieve alone, you always said,"
"Who are you?" Artemis asked.
"I am, your friend," The voice replied.
"Of course, everyone is my friend ha ha," Artemis said sarcastically.
"You seem to be distraught? were you expecting a different answer?" The voice asked in an empathetic tone.
"What if I said I was?" Artemis answered.
"I can't blame you if a part of me has already manifested itself into one of your puppets," The voice suddenly pointed out.
Artemis then realized, the voice was similar to Caitlyn, was the voice the true Caitlyn?
"Are you Caitlyn?" Artemis asked without a second thought.
"Haha, Yes, Yes I am Caitlyn and yes, the Caitlyn you interact within the real world is also me, a part of me at least but me nonetheless,"
Artemis fell silent.
"So, you're in my mind?"
"Yes, I am in your mind and I am also in every machines that you make. I am everywhere you see, I will never leave your side, never again will that happen,"
"Never... again?" Artemis was confused. Caitlyn was referencing things he did not know, presumably his past.
"Well, it seems like my time is up, so, let me just give you a knock in the noggin and remind you briefly of your past,"
Artemis' vision turned white.
He opened his eyes and found himself inside a room. The room was a mess, he looked around and determined he was in an officer, his office presumably. He walked around the room and explored for a bit. There was a small office desk and behind it was a small wooden chair. It seemed old, there was also a wide hologram similar to the holographic monitors they used.
He went to the chair and sat down. He still could not remember where he was. Then he noticed that he had a window where the sun was shining through. Where was he? when was he? Questions that he had long suppressed began to flood his mind.
He notice a familiar company symbol on the wall beside the door.
[IMAGES]
'Arthematics Corporation'
He doesn't know what company was that but what he slightly remembers, it might be a huge and famous company, maybe the biggest than any corporation.
He then saw a calendar hanging over the wall.
The year was 3149. He then leaned against the window and looked down. He was back on Earth, no, what he saw was the terraformed mars, it is now similar to earth with life on it, he is on a vibrant world(s) of humans.
He then flashed back into reality.
He was now back in his real room, the dream was over.
"Strange," He whispered. He stood from his chair and walked out. He remembered the experience, the voice and the dream, or was it a vision or a flashback? The year was 3149, he awoke in the year 3165. This meant that between 3149 and 3165 did the war happen. Many questions flood his mind that day but he decided to suppress them once more.
"Well, I will answer them another day, another time but for now, the present should be taken care of to secure the future,"
The first phase was complete. He has set up a foothold and was on his way to participating in the global stage of things. He needed to formulate a strategy on how to approach the remaining two superpowers over at the Western Region and establish an invasion on them for the time being. They won't be as easy as the Theocracy and will have more powerful individuals with them.
Artemis needed to go incognito and thus the second phase of his plan was to commence. He will explore the world himself, he will travel through the continent and learn the secrets and ways of the continent. It was his time to go and grow, break out from the protection of his machines and explore this whole new world, and be Columbus.
We all know how Columbus did. This time, Columbus would be a citizen. Although he may have succeeded this time, danger still lurked in the shadows. Nine blessing were handed out by a goddess and nine heroes were chosen. These nine heroes were far closer than he thought, they will pose to him one of the greatest challenges throughout the rest of his journey.
Nine persons to stop Artemis.
It was only fitting, Artemis was one. To need nine to stop one was already a compliment.
They recognize your strength.
And the threat you exhibit.
The second leg of their journey begins may Artemis explore the world! And may the world bow before the only and true Overlord. Whether they like it or not.