Resolution by Ben Winston Read Free Book Online Page A

disabled." The first door cycled open, and Malthis indicated the portal. "Guard us well, Guardians and safely return."

Chapter 53
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    J ohn and Chloe walked through the open door and activated their armor in sealed mode. Both carried their rifles at the ready, but pointed downward. It looked like a short walk of about ten meters, but was slightly further in reality. As they neared the door, both of them were a little disoriented, but not to the point of it affecting them. When they got up to the door, it opened and a new voice was heard on their communicators.
    "Welcome Guardians, I have waited a long time to greet you."
    "Selnia?" Chloe asked.
    "Yes, that is my name," the female voice replied.
    "I am Chloe Aster, this is my husband and partner John Aster. It is a honor to meet you," Chloe replied.
    "Malthis told me about you. Thank you for coming to my aid. I still control part of this facility, but the area where the controller is, is not under my control. However, it also isn't accessible by the Tammerain either. I can get you there, but until I regain control of all facility functions, getting you out might be problematic," Selnia replied.
    "How close can you get us that is still under your control?" John asked.
    A hologram took form in the room, and zoomed into the southern hemisphere. "You are currently located here," Selnia replied and made a small spark appear showing them their location. "The device is located here, near what used to be my primary logic centers." Another spark lit up. "As I said before, I can get you all the way to the chamber the device is in, but the nearest area I control is eighty-four of your miles away, in one of the memory centers. To get there on foot, you would have to pass through hostile areas."
    "Well, I guess we should make sure you regain control, or it'll be a long walk home," John said smiling. "I wanted to speak to you about what will happen after you regain control. Do you have a plan to deal with the Tammerain Empress?"
    "I was planning on telling them the truth, and asking them to recall their forces. I cannot impersonate a deity," Selnia said.
    "Could you if it would aid the Tammerain? If it would help to counter the damage caused by the Grays?" John asked. "It needn't even be a long term occurrence. If you simply tell them the truth, and ask them to recall their forces, they will ignore you. There is a time for the truth, but in this case, I believe that the Tammerain will have to be prepared for it beforehand."
    "That may be the case, Guardian, but I am not the Tammerain Goddess," Selnia said. "To portray myself as such would be a lie."
    "Even if it meant saving the Tammerain from the damage done to them by the Grays?" John asked. "The races of the Tammerain did not have a centralized religious figure until the Grays usurped your facility. They used the tribal mentality of the races to consolidate their dominance in order to use them as weapons. I understand you were created to monitor the races in this part of the galaxy. I got the impression from Malthis that part of that function would be to serve as a guide once those races progressed to the point of being space faring."
    "In a manner of speaking yes, but my involvement would have been limited to subtle actions taken behind the scenes. What you are describing is not only overt, but blatant species manipulation," Selnia countered.
    "Selnia, think of it as weaning the Tammerain off of a drug. In some types of addictions, that is the only way to end the addiction and the control the drug has on the body. We do not wish for you permanently become the Tammerain Goddess. You only need to act in that capacity long enough for them to learn to live without direct influence," Chloe replied.
    "Your argument has merit, Guardian. I will endeavor to do as you direct until I can consult with Malthis and the council on this matter," Selnia replied, thoughtfully.
    "That is all we ask, Selnia. We understand that you