With a flicker, lights turned on and a slow, lumbering sound started to pick up until it became just background noise.

  *CLICK---HIIIIIIIISSSS*

  With a hiss, the solid metal door slid aside, and amidst a cloud of mist and super-cooled air, a tall, well-built man fell to the metal floor face first.

  After having a coughing fit, the man looked around the room in utter confusion. He got up and touched the now-closed door he had just fallen out of.

  An orange pque with the words "Clone-Pod" was fixed to it.

  Slowly trying to rid himself of his confusion, the man shook his head and spoke slowly to himself, surprised by the unfamiliar sound of his voice.

  "What the fuck? Wasn't I just sitting at home and grinding? The fuck? What happened?"

  Just then, a mechanical-sounding female voice started to speak.

  >Welcome aboard your fgship, the Herald of War, Commander! To ease your confusion, I was instructed to expin your situation to you. Do you wish to hear it?<

  Rapidly blinking, thoughts raced through the man's mind:

  OK, I'm on a ship → should be high-tech due to the cloning pod → a voice suddenly speaking to me should be a system → so I reincarnated → so I died → no memory of my own death.

  With a deep breath he closed his eyes, starting to calm down.

  "Just a few questions first. Are you a system? Did I die? Did I reincarnate? What type of ship is the Herald of War? After you answer my questions, please provide your expnation of my situation."

  >Affirmative, Commander.

  First, I am not a so-called "System" as you know it from your former life. I am the Sentient A.I. of your fgship, the Herald of War. You may call me Administrator, or anything you like.

  Second, yes, you died due to a cardiac arrest. The memory of your death was too traumatic and was eradicated during rebirth.

  Third, yes, you were reincarnated by the gods of your former reality.

  Fourth, the Herald of War is a heavy combat deployment Battle Cruiser, equipped with 21 Diving Catapults, 3 x triple Orbital Bombardment Cannons, 3 x triple Coil-Cannons, the capability to unch orbital and anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, a full production, research, and cloning suite, 5 heavy orbital transports, 25 orbital fighters, and 20 heavy orbital bombers. There is ample habitation room for 21 Divers.

  As you requested, here is the expnation of your situation. You died roughly 0.0001 seconds before your world was destroyed — accidentally — by one of the gods of your former reality. All life on your former pnet ceased to exist. Due to it being an accident by one of the gods, it was decided to grant all 8.2 billion humans a new life in a different reality. So all humans will be reborn into this reality in time. The Commander was chosen to be the first, and I might add, an experiment, due to him dying shortly before the Catastrophe. I was assured by this reality's consciousness that the others will arrive in one year at the earliest and ten at the test. All other humans will be born on a pnet with an established human presence. I have already been given permission to alert the Commander when and where one of his close ones will appear. As the Commander has probably assumed, he was granted special privileges due to being an unfortunate experiment by the gods. The first is me and this ship, the second is this expnation, and the third is the right to find his close ones.

  Does this expnation clear any doubts the Commander has?<

  Still sitting on the floor, it took the man several minutes to calm his raging emotions and the rapid-fire of thoughts in his head. Then, with a loud bang, he hit the floor and opened his now steely gray eyes.

  "Admin, please correct me if I'm wrong: First, all my memories are real. Second, this is not my old body. Third, I have no debt to the consciousness of this reality."

  >The Commander is correct. But please expin the anger I hear in your voice.<

  "HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!"

  Loudly ughing, the man hid his eyes with his hand.

  "Admin, do you know what it is like to have a body that fails you constantly? Do you know how life is with constant abuse? When you have to run away and hide from your supposedly biggest support in life?

  Let me tell you... it is hell. Pure hell. One that you cannot escape even after years.

  So yeah... this—" he gestured wildly around him "—this is a blessing greater than any I thought I might receive. If you are still in contact with the consciousness of this reality, please tell it that I am unbelievably grateful, but I also wish to make one final request. I want to be alerted of when and where certain other people appear too — not just my friends and what's left of my family."

  Saying that, the man got into a kneeling position and pressed his forehead to the floor.

  It took the Administrative A.I. several minutes to respond.

  >Commander, I have conveyed your request and it will be granted, if you are willing to do work for the Universal Consciousness. It is willing to offer you all the information on every human that will arrive, as well as its support, if you stem the invasion of other universal civilizations that will arrive due to the humans' rebirth in this universe.<

  With a big grin, the man answered:

  "I will do my best to fulfill any mission given, but I want to be able to refuse if it would go against me or any of mine."

  After waiting again for several minutes, the A.I. spoke again.

  >That has been accepted. I was informed that the first mission will come up in about two years. The U.C. recommends the Commander take over a pnet by then and establish his own force to combat the threat.<

  "That seems more than reasonable."

  The human man nodded.

  "Well then, Admin, please send me a status report on the Herald of War."

  With a light huff he jumped from sitting to standing and looked down at himself in surprise, noticing the glowing, transparent blue screen in front of him, but deciding to first check himself out.

  He stood taller than in his st life, muscles rippling under his skin at the slightest movement. Standing still, he noticed his muscles being absolutely still — no random twitch.

  Taking a measured step forward, he noticed the strength of his muscles and the control that he now had.

  Due to having an inkling as to where he was on the ship and the purpose of the room, the man quickly found a mirror and grinned wildly as he marveled at his own appearance. Tall, broad-shouldered, with clearly visible muscles. His face sharp and masculine. His eyes grey with dark blond buzz-cut hair. Looking down at his manhood, he raised an eyebrow and clearly marveled at his increased size of 9 inches in a fccid state.

  Just as he was wondering about his size in an erect state, the voice of Admin sounded again.

  >Commander, as I see you marveling at your own body, I will inform you of the upgrades performed by me. Beginning with your bones: they have been converted into adamantium, a metal not found on your previous pnet, with extreme stability against all forces. Human rib bones can withstand forces up to 3,300 newtons. Yours can now withstand forces up to 50,000 newtons. Your ribs have also been fused into a single pte to better protect your vital organs.

  Your organs, blood, and muscles have all been enhanced with permanent nanobots to increase functionality. That makes you roughly 20x stronger than the average human if you choose to exert your maximum strength. You are also immune to most poisons and require less oxygen, water, and nutrients.

  Your eyes and ears have also been improved. I have integrated a simple H.U.D. and communicator.

  As to your reproductive organ...<

  Admin's voice suddenly went quiet for a few seconds.

  >Its size has been increased due to a blessing bestowed upon you by one of the goddesses of your old universe. Your soul came with a message from said goddess:

  "Dear Victor, I know what kind of life you lived. I know the passion and love in your heart. I know that you never were able to find what you truly wanted. As a little apology for us using your soul as an experiment, I want to give you my blessing. I will also design your new body myself :P As for what the blessing does — well, simply said, you don't have to worry about not fitting your partner, or her not being able to conceive due to a difference in race. Love will find a way :3

  Love, Aphrodite ?

  P.S. The pregnancy thing can be turned on and off. Have fun :P"

  The status report is ready for you to view.<

  Admin's voice sounded a bit embarrassed — a detail Victor noticed, but decided not to comment on.

  "So I'm simir to a Space Marine, but smaller and human, designed by Aphrodite, and I have a blessed cock? Well, shit. Alright... I'm in a new universe, so let's roll with it."

  His eyes sparking with a little narcissism, he smiled to himself.

  "Alright, Admin, a few small things first though. First, how tall am I? Second, do you have any clothes for me? And third, is there any food?"

  *CLICK—HIIIIISSSS*

  With a little hiss, a metal compartment beside the mirror slid to the side and revealed a sleek bck military uniform with golden embroidery, as well as bck underwear, a bck dress shirt, and military boots also in bck.

  Smiling at the sleek uniform, Victor grabbed the underwear and listened to Admin's voice.

  "You are currently 2.1 meters (6 feet 9 inches) tall. Please follow the indication on your H.U.D. to the mess hall."

  Feeling his smile widen into a full-on grin, Victor thought to himself:

  — And so it begins. —