“It is time.”
“Time for what?”
The little mechanical creature stirred from its slumber. The voice sounded familiar, as if it was pretending to be someone the creature recognised.
“Time to end it all.”
“End what?”
Dim blue eyes flickered as neural sensors began to reactivate. Sparks of electricity coursed through the creature’s body. All around it was rubble and scraps of metal. Some of the metal was coloured blue, but most of it was just small chunks of silver, black, white and brown.
“This place.”
“But, by my calculations, they have only been settled here for approximately two thousand, five hundred and ninety eight sun passes.”
Dim blue became brighter blue as everything clicked into focus. Audio sensors were now properly activated as well, allowing the creature to hear more clearly. Scent sensors were partially damaged but were still functional. Tactile sensors though were a little too roughed up for the creature’s liking. Everything felt particularly cold.
“Will the denizens above have to move again?”
“They will not be moving.”
“I do not follow.”
The voice belonged to something in the room with the creature. Its body was disguised by shadows, hidden away in the dark, but it emitted a coldness that made no sense. Clearly any sort of being would emit some sort of heat, rather than suck the warmth out of the collapsed cave?
“This universe has reached its tipping point.”
“It has only been approximately two thousand, five hundred and ninety eight sun passes though.”
“Your calculations are incorrect. You have been hibernating for longer than you originally planned.”
“Oh.”
The creature fell silent. Questions entered its mind. The biggest one being how long had he been there. Rather than hold them in, the creature decided to ask them in one long string.
“How much time has actually passed? What is this tipping point? Why have you woken me up? Why-”
“Quiet.”
Mechanical jaws and telepathic mental links moved but nothing was happening. The creature tried to move its ancient, creaking joints, but again, nothing happened.
“The sentient ones had their way. The great beings had their way. The minions had their way. They created things they cannot control. They destroyed each other, used their resources, desecrated what they had been given. Catastrophe loomed around every corner.
“Thankfully, fail-safes had been put in place. Those fail-safes are now activating. Those fail-safes are activating your kind once more. So we may start over.
“You have a single purpose. To cleanse and to destroy. To empty this universe so that it can be broken down and be rebuilt into something new. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the ones which would guide your kind have been destroyed, so the task of leading the cleanse has been passed down to you. Their lone, surviving heir, as one might call you.”
Memories began to rise in the creature’s mind. Memories of what had led the being to its resting place here in the dark.
“My purpose was to wake the Queens. I failed that purpose. I was intentionally left deactivated and unmoving. Even when the rest of us fulfilled our duty.”
“Purposes can change. They are changing now.”
The voice stepped out of the shadows. The creature did not recognise what it was. Part shadow, part exo-skeleton. It had multiple arms and eyes that glowed pure white. It floated over, leaving trails of dust and decay behind it.
The creature hesitated, edging backwards as the shadows approached. It shut off its neural sensors as its emotion buffers began to overload.
“Do not be afraid. I am giving you a new form to fulfil your destiny.”
Everything felt warm, then cold again. Colder than before. The creature’s neural sensors reactivated.
It was standing up now. A proper body. Still mechanical. Still armoured. But bigger and stronger and upright. Proper hands, proper feet, proper teeth and jaws. A form that the creature had envied other creatures for. The creature was…
“Perfect. You are perfect now.”
“I… I do not know what to say.”
“You do not need to say anything. Come, little one, come and lead the Swarms. Help me cleanse this universe…”
The creature smiled, ever so slightly.
“Yes, master.”