CHAPTER 1

Light shone off the gleaming black skin of the ship. Over 3 miles long, it had been one of a new race of living A.I. ships engineered to guard the vast Imperial boundary territory. For 800 years the small fleet of fast, sleek ships protected the empire. Many enemies had perished attempting to enter and take the empire. Though the fleet slowly died, the greatest of them was never defeated nor was she ever badly injured.

Finally 2 of the 3 remaining empire guardians were destroyed, defending the borders. It has been a glorious battle, she'd fought bravely destroying the rest of the invaders after the last of her compatriots had exploded. Her rage knew no bounds, as she took out the last 200 ships. Her crew reported the victory and the destruction of 2 of the last 3 remaining elite ships. The Emperor personally congratulated them, telling them to await transfer and replacement. That had been 200 years ago. The ship lovingly called Shelby by all her crews, began to grow lonely after the last of her crew died 50 years later. 50 years afterward she sent a message on the Imperial net for assistance. Confused when she received no reply, she hoped for a recall. Soon however, she began to hunt for a biological humanoid to question, to get the answers she so desperately craved.

Derrick O'Toma looked over the readings, stretching his 6'2'' body. This savage run had to be the worst. Brushing his sandy brown hair from the scar on his cheek, and from his light brown eyes, he sighed, sitting back in the command chair. What the hell did the company expect? Out here? There hadn't been anything out here since the last 2 of the elite living ships of the old empire were destroyed. Damn, he'd loved to have gotten his hands on one of those old ships, there hadn't been anything like them in over 1000 years. Too bad the last emperor had such a great distrust of the ships. Derrick felt that they were what had helped keep the empire as great as it was for so long.

Bored, Derrick set the sensors on auto sweep, adjusting the ship's controls to react to anything detected. Getting up, he went to lay down, cursing his luck for having drawn this run. He'd just lain down, when he heard a voice, at least he thought he heard a voice. Looking around he shook his head, returning to the control cockpit, he opened the computer com.

"Computer," Derrick said, a little annoyed.

"Online, awaiting orders," came the monotone, mechanical voice.

"Scan ship, query, are there any other life forms on board besides myself?" Derrick asked.

"Working," it stated, after 5 minutes it answered, "Analysis complete, no other life forms on board besides Captain Derrick."

Shaking his head, Derrick decided that the 5 weeks out here alone were starting to get to him.

Lying back down, Derrick felt his eyes close, God he was tired, a little metal, a few circuits not even worth the trip. Huh? Derrick thought this was an unusual dream, as a gray mist area stretched in front of him.

<Hello, I am Elite Imperial Guardian, EIG-0101F, to all humanoid entities who can detect these cerebral waves, I am in need of assistance. Again, any humanoid entity who detects this transmission, please respond.> A voice came from somewhere far away in the mist.

<What the fuck was that?> Derrick thought.

He felt a sudden rush, then a beautiful, blonde, green eyed, slender, naked woman was standing in front of him. Derrick could only stare at her perfect appearing body.

<Dam!> Derrick thought, <This is an awful erotic dream, look at her! She's gorgeous!> Blushing a bit when he realized he was also naked, he went on, <My god! she's perfect!>

<Hello humanoid entity, I am EIG-0101f, I am the last of the Elite Guardian Ships. You are the first in 150 years that has answered my call, for that I thank you. I have been alone for a very long time.>

<I wish I knew how to talk to her. Wonder how I do that?> Derrick thought.

<Finally! A question! I can sense your thoughts, just think and I'll hear it.> The woman smiled, sending a shock through him.

<Wait!> Thought Derrick, <I thought the last 2 Elite ships were destroyed 200 years ago, how can this be?>

The woman looked at Derrick and smiled again, looking lower, she smiled even larger, <Ah! I see my choice of guise is well to your liking!> the woman said, then giggled.

She then went on to describe 800 years of history for the empire. She described things that many, except Imperial historians, didn't know. (As Derrick's father had been.)

<I am confused EIG-0101F,> started Derrick, <If you are as advanced as you say, why are you in need of assistance?>

Smiling again, the woman explained, <Yes, I am an advanced living A.I., but while I am alive, I am still loyal to the emperor, I can not leave my post without his orders or,> here the woman trembled, <the end of the empire and the emperor.>

Derrick sighed, his great, great grandfather had been on board one of those ships. He'd written about his experience about 200 years ago. That was when the last of the ships were destroyed and his great, great grandmother never heard from him again.

<So what does this have to do with me?> Derrick thought.

<I have no crew, I have no orders except the standing ones left by the last of my crew. I was instructed to seek out more crew and ascertain what my mission was now if necessary. I was told that a phrase would be left by the last crew member.> The woman replied, a great sadness in her thoughts. <I am seeking information so that I may determine what I should do next. Tell me sir, what has become of the empire and the emperor?>

Derrick hung his head. The woman's features suddenly dropped, <I see, so the empire is no more, it is sad, it was a good and vast empire.> Her thoughts replied sadly.

<It was a very large empire, as I remember my father told me it was the largest he'd ever studied.> Derrick answered.

<Studied?> The woman said.

<Yes,> Derrick replied, <My father was a historian in the study of ancient empires. His great grandfather was a crew member on one of the last of the eli..., I'm sorry on one of you living ships.>

<A crew member? Do you remember the name of the ship?> The visage of the woman said.

<No,> Derrick sadly shook his head, <the family lost contact with him 200 years ago.>

The woman was deep in thought, <what was his name? I may be able to convey any messages he might have left for his family.>

<Uh,> Derrick thought, <I was named after him, as I recall he was the greatest warrior of the old empire. He was called Derrick as I am.>

The woman's face lit up, then a great sadness suddenly crossed it, <Derrick? Derrick O'Toma!> the woman said excitedly.

<yes,> Derrick said a little shaken, <did you know him?>

<Yes,> the woman sadly answered, <HE was my last crew man.>