The Way of the Future: Age of Machines(Completed)

Returning Home

Artemis called Caitlyn after the sunset. He requested Caitlyn to dispatch a Hovercraft to pick them up under the cover of darkness. It was to use its stealth capabilities to their fullest to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Caitlyn obliged and the nearest Hovercraft that had the capacity to get the two off the ground was well on its way.

Artemis and Alice were standing under an oak tree. The night sky was clear enough for them to see a multitude of stars twinkle in the endless sea of space. The moons shined bright too, it was as if the moons were forever full moons, illuminating the landscape.

"Mister, are we going to your home?" Alice asked. Artemis took off one of his implants and turned his attention to Alice.

"Yes. You will be staying in that home of mine for a while now and the next 10 years you'll be going to an academy. Alright?" Artemis said.

"Academy? 😦?" Alice asked again. Gah, she does not know what a school is, Artemis thought.

"An academy is like a school." Artemis said.

"What is a school? 😐??" Alice asked again.

Eek! If she does not know what a school is, how can she what's an academy.

"School is where kids like you go to learn." Artemis explained. Alice's eyes glittered like the stars above and her mouth opened as she gave out an "Ohh"

Artemis then proceeded to explain to her whats a school is.

"Alice. You are a young girl. A child. A school is something run by older people to teach young people what they need to know in life." Artemis explained. Explained like a pro! Or so he thought. It was the roughest explanation that he could think of, hoping that Alice finally understood what a school was.

Alice nodded but continued to stare at Artemis. This was a sign that she was waiting for more.

Crap, Artemis needed to explain even more.

"Here, sit down." Artemis sat down and leaned against the trunk of the tree. Alice followed and sat down as well with her gleaming eyes still fixated at Artemis. And so, Artemis continued his explanation.

"A school. That is where you learn, that is where you get to know the things that you need to progress in this world of yours." Artemis said.

"My world?" Alice asked and tilted her head to the right in curiosity.

Did she notice my wording? Artemis asked himself and began to suspect that Alice might be more knowledgeable that he thought she was, maybe she was highly knowing of other aspects and subjects while completely ignorant of others?

Wait!

"Yes. This world is yours. Of course, you need to know how to handle what it gives, for what it gives is yours and yours is the world and so what it gives is you giving it back to yourself, be it glory or pain. Luxury or poverty, that is why I am sending you to school." Artemis began his manipulation of Alice.

Artemis had planned on integrating her into his Empire of machines as one of the few human subordinates along with Liz and Valentine. Though she was a little girl and unsure whats her future at best, she held massive amounts of potential that could be manipulated into doing his bidding, into further advancing his plans of domination and eventual restoration of Earth.