The Machine God Chapter 184 - Ascension Oasis

Chapter 184

Ascension Oasis

The facility spiraled outward from a central oasis like so architect’s fever dream. Frank watched it grow larger through the vehicle’s window as they approached. Pools glittered in the late afternoon sun. Palm trees swayed around water features that had no business existing this far into the desert.

A row of attendants waited at the entrance wearing white uniforms, professional smiles, and with hands clasped. Too many of them.

The vehicle stopped.

“Mr. and Mrs. Vitale,” the lead attendant said as Frank stepped out. “Welco to Ascension Oasis.”

Frank grunted acknowledgnt. Helena took his arm, her fingers light against his sleeve. He could feel her amusent without looking. She knew him well enough to know that he was both going to enjoy the charade, yet hate the necessary socializing.

Behind them, the crew spilled out of the second and third vehicles. Whispers started imdiately. Soone hissed sothing about the size of the place. Another jabbed their companion and pointed at the outdoor pools.

He hadn’t been around them long enough to rember all their nas. Except for Carn, because they’d spoken the most. And Doug, of course. The Chief Engineer was a real character, soone who knew his stuff. Worth rembering.

Carn erged last, her expression neutral. She caught Frank’s eye and gave a slight nod. The crew would behave. Mostly.

“Your luggage will be taken to your suites,” the attendant continued. “If you’ll follow , I’ll show you to check-in.”

Frank followed. Helena’s hand stayed on his arm as they walked through an atrium that opened to the sky. The central oasis spread out below them, visible through floor-to-ceiling glass. Real grass. Flowing water. And flowers he couldn’t na.

The crew’s whispers grew louder. Frank didn’t bla them. Most of it didn’t belong. The place looked like soone had thrown money at the desert until it gave up and beca paradise.

Check-in took minutes. Their docuntation had already been completed and paynt confird.

All that was needed was for Carn and the crew to sign their final dical waivers.

The attendant handed him a tablet without comnt. “Your schedule, Mr. Vitale. Everything is customizable, of course, but we’ve prepared an optimal program based on your intake consultation.”

Frank scrolled. His eyebrows climbed.

Spa treatnts. Multiple types of massage. ditation sessions. A full day labeled ‘centering and preparation.’ Tennis courts, basketball, pickleball, even a hoverball arena. Nutritional optimization. Energetic alignnt, whatever the hell that ant.

The injection itself appeared on day four, buried between hydrotherapy and post-awakening monitoring.

He handed the tablet to Helena. She read, her lips twitching.

“Thorough,” she said.

“We believe the awakening experience should be holistic,” the attendant said. “Mind, body, and spirit prepared for the change.”

Frank patted Helena’s hand. She squeezed back.

They were led deeper into the facility. Glimpses of anities flashed past. Indoor pools with water so clear he could see the tile patterns on the bottom. ditation chambers with soft lighting and walls that seed to breathe. A basketball court where soone was casually dunking from the free-throw line.

It surprised him that there were so many clientele, given how expensive the place was. Then again, there certainly was no shortage of wealthy people around the world.

He probably needed to adjust his own perspective on it, now that he was one of them.

The lead attendant stopped. “Your staff will be directed to the rooms they’ve been assigned for the duration of your stay. You are free to explore the facilities, or I can lead you to your suite first if you prefer?”

“That would be wonderful, thank you,” Helena said.

Carn shared one last quiet glance with Frank before she allowed herself and the rest of the crew to be drawn away.

The lead attendant led him and Helena on to their room. Which turned out to be a couple’s suite, occupying the inner curve of the spiral. A full on suite, not simply a room. Bedroom, sitting area, kitchenette, balcony, and a bathroom larger than so apartnts Frank had lived in during his youth.

Their view overlooked the oasis. The luggage was already there.

The attendant withdrew.

Frank stood at the window. Helena joined him, slipping her hand into his.

“Well, this has gone well so far,” she said quietly.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from . Please report it.

He nodded. Talia had advised them of the need for care during their stay. Their suites should be completely private. Realistically, it couldn’t be guaranteed. They’d been given extensive instructions alongside the crew. Attitudes to adopt. Topics to avoid. Reminders to be careful even when talking with each other.

Helena leaned against his shoulder. They stood there, watching the oasis below. Sowhere down the hall, the crew was probably still gawking at their quarters. Carn would keep them in hand. Thankfully. He was too old to be herding cats and dogs.

Tomorrow, the others would begin their program. anwhile, he and Helena just needed to enjoy spa treatnts and ditation and all the ridiculous luxury.

And hope nobody realized that they were all more than they seed.

***

Alexander sat on the couch in the dim suite, curtains drawn. Felix occupied the recliner across from him, still in golden retriever form.

A door opened. Augustus erged from the bedroom wearing his three-piece suit with the breastplate strapped over it. He hooked his thumbs into the armor’s edges and swept into the common area like he was walking onto a stage.

Annie followed a mont later. Red jacket over her own breastplate, ginger hair pulled back, energy crackling just beneath the surface. She caught Alexander’s eye and grinned.

“Ready?” Alexander asked.

Augustus nodded. “Good to go.”

“I was born ready and I will die ready!” Annie said, slapping his shoulder as she strolled past.

Alexander chuckled.

He didn’t bla her for being excited. Besides, it was a nice change from the mood swings she kept having over not being involved in the heist.

“Just to recap. Your only goal is to identify likely locations and targets over the next week.” He gave Annie a serious look. “You are to do your best to avoid any engagents. We don’t have any intel about what we’re up against.”

“Ugh. You’ve said that like five tis already.” Annie rolled her eyes. “Unlike you, Mr. Heist-a-lot, I know how to stick to the plan.”

Augustus turned to her. “Is that why you suggested the three of us could, and I quote, ‘take them if we find them’?”

Annie glared at him. “Obviously I was joking.” She paused. “But we totally could.”

Alexander shook his head. “Talia has been given a full rundown on the drones’ capabilities, and she’ll be handling their operations in place of Droney from back ho. The holo drones should be capable of completely hiding the car, just keep in mind it won’t hide the tracks.”

Augustus nodded. “And the surveillance drones?”

“Each one has high-fidelity visual, heat, and motion capabilities. Just be warned they have to move much slower if they’re using all three.” Alexander frowned. “Still working on that problem. You’ll need to rely on the charging bank I provided, but you can also portal back here each night for to recharge them.”

“We’ll limit them to visuals until night ti.”

“Okay! Recap. Find the bad guys. Surveil them so Talia can figure out who we’re dealing with. Narrow it down to the right compound…” Annie grinned. “Then we take ‘em out!”

Alexander raised an eyebrow.

Annie huffed. “... with the whole team.”

“Exactly.”

Annie bounced on her heels. “And you’ve got that fun arbitration eting tomorrow morning. Try not to start a war while we’re gone.”

Alexander laughed. “I’ll do my best.”

“Ti to go,” Augustus said.

Augustus reached out and conjured the wand into his hand. He began spinning up the portal, and a few monts later it snapped into existence.

Annie stepped toward it, then paused and looked back. She waved. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

She stepped through. Felix hopped down from the recliner and followed, tail wagging. Augustus gave Alexander a final nod, then crossed the threshold.

The portal collapsed.

Silence settled over the room.

Alexander turned to Droney. The drone hovered nearby, waiting. “Alright, buddy. You’re up.”

He lifted his cybernetic hand and reached into his favorite new ring using a thread of power. With a thought, three holo drones materialized in the air, glowing faintly before their casings solidified. They hung there for a mont, then spread out.

One drifted over to the couch. Another moved toward Augustus’s bedroom. The third positioned over near the recliner where Felix had been sitting.

The holograms flickered to life as they went, Droney coordinating the visuals.

Annie appeared on the couch, leaning back with her feet propped up. Augustus materialized in his bedroom doorway, towel over one shoulder like he’d just finished exercising. Felix curled up on the recliner, in a perfect golden retriever pose.

Alexander studied them. Not perfect. The edges were too clean if soone looked closely. Movent a bit too smooth. But from the entrance to the suite, and at a distance, they’d pass.

And that was all he needed.

The ESA would have visual surveillance. Legally mandated, part of the arbitration agreent. But visual only. No recordings, no audio, no seismic, and definitely no superpower surveillance.

Which ant they’d see three people and a dog moving around the rooms along with Alexander. Eating, drinking, watching the holo, pretending to have conversations.

Even if they sohow saw through the deception, they’d have to admit they’d violated international and galactic law to do it. Which ant they couldn’t act on the knowledge without exposing themselves.

Alexander walked to the window and threw the curtains open. Dubai’s skyline spread out below, towers glittering against the night. Sowhere out there, Augustus, Annie, and Felix would be getting into a car and preparing to head out into the Empty Quarter. Without him.

He settled into a chair by the window.

Now ca the hard part.

Waiting.

Alexander frowned.

He hated waiting. Was terrible at it. Always had been. He preferred having sothing to do, even if it was only a little repair work or tinkering with an unfinished design. Unfortunately, he hadn’t thought to include so tools and spare components in his ring before leaving the island.

And he’d promised to be on his best behavior.

An oversight.

His leg started bouncing. He forced it to stop, then caught himself doing it again thirty seconds later.

The suite was too quiet. The holograms moved through their routines, but they were just light and shadow. No real presence. No conversation. Just him and the weight of too many moving pieces he couldn’t control.

And only a million projects he could be working on.

Then he smiled as an idea ford. There was no reason he had to stay bored. Not really.

Alexander pulled up his contact list and found his target. Initiated the call.

And waited.

But eagerly, this ti.