The Last Silver

The laboratory remained silent.

The words were still displayed across every screen.

THE SILVER CANNOT BE CREATED.

IT CAN ONLY BE AWAKENED.

Nobody moved.

Asha stared at the message.

Eve stared at the sample.

Dinraal stared at the ancient weapon.

Isolde looked at Dinraal.

"Ask it."

Dinraal frowned.

"Ask what?"

"The Silver."

Asha turned.

"You think it can answer?"

Isolde shrugged.

"It answered us before."

Dinraal looked down at his gauntlet.

"Silver?"

Nothing happened.

He concentrated.

Can you make more of yourself?

The gauntlet glowed.

The ancient weapon responded.

A pulse of Silver energy traveled through the room.

Asha's instruments came alive.

Eve looked at the readings.

"It's responding."

Dinraal continued.

Can you make copies?

The weapon pulsed again.

Then the Silver armor on Dinraal's body began moving.

Not removing itself.

Not changing shape.

Something else.

A thin stream of Silver flowed from the gauntlet.

It floated into the air.

Then divided.

One became two.

Two became four.

Four became eight.

The streams multiplied until hundreds of tiny silver particles filled the laboratory.

Asha stared.

"That's impossible."

Eve whispered:

"It's doing it."

Dinraal looked toward Isolde.

"Can you hear it too?"

Isolde nodded.

"It wants to."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

The Silver particles began moving.

They flew through the laboratory.

Asha instinctively stepped backward.

The particles stopped in front of her.

She stared.

"Why are they looking at me?"

Eve laughed.

"Silver doesn't have eyes."

Asha looked at her.

"You know what I mean."

The particles surrounded Asha.

She felt something brush against her skin.

Not cold.

Not hot.

Something familiar.

A voice seemed to appear in her mind.

Not words.

A feeling.

Choose.

Asha slowly reached forward.

The Silver touched her hand.

Light exploded.

Asha

The Silver wrapped around Asha.

Her laboratory coat disappeared beneath a layer of luminous material.

But instead of forming conventional armor, it created something entirely different.

The Silver formed a long coat around her body.

The coat appeared almost black from a distance, but Silver energy flowed through it like veins of light.

A pair of thin gauntlets formed over her hands.

A small crown-like band appeared around her head.

Several devices formed around her shoulders.

Asha stared at herself.

"That's..."

Eve smiled.

"Very you."

The coat shifted.

Its appearance changed depending on her surroundings.

In the laboratory, it resembled an elegant scientific coat.

When Asha thought about combat, it transformed.

The coat shortened.

Armor formed over her chest.

Her gauntlets became articulated.

A series of floating instruments appeared behind her.

Each could scan, analyze, or manipulate energy.

Asha stared at them.

"I can control these."

She thought about one.

It flew toward a testing device.

The instrument scanned it.

Asha immediately understood the results.

Her eyes widened.

"I don't even need the computer."

Dinraal smiled.

"It responds to your thoughts."

Asha looked at her hands.

"Like yours."

"Exactly."

Eve

The next stream moved toward Eve.

Eve didn't hesitate.

The Silver surrounded her.

Her armor formed differently.

A sleek Silver bodysuit appeared beneath a long armored mantle.

A narrow visor formed over her eyes.

Several small floating spheres appeared around her.

Eve looked at them.

"Drone systems?"

Asha shook her head.

"Not exactly."

Eve thought.

The spheres changed.

Weapons.

Sensors.

Communication relays.

Medical scanners.

Repair systems.

She smiled.

"They're whatever I need."

The Silver mantle folded around her.

In normal circumstances, it looked like a simple elegant cloak.

In combat, it became a full tactical armor system.

Eve looked at Asha.

"Apparently I'm the support class."

Asha smiled.

"You'd be terrifying as support."

Aurelius

The next Silver stream moved toward Aurelius.

He stood calmly as it approached.

The Silver formed around him.

Unlike Dinraal's armor, Aurelius's took on the appearance of an imperial command uniform.

A long Silver coat appeared.

A high collar.

Armored shoulders.

A crown resembling a simplified imperial diadem.

His right arm became heavily armored.

A large shield appeared on his left.

Aurelius looked down.

"A shield?"

The Silver responded.

The shield expanded.

It became enormous.

Aurelius smiled.

"I understand."

The shield wasn't merely defensive.

It projected a massive energy barrier.

Aurelius thought about protecting the fleet.

The shield expanded until it could encompass an entire starship.

Arcturus stared.

"That's going to be useful."

Aurelius smiled.

"I believe so."

Arcturus

Arcturus's armor was almost completely different.

Silver covered him in a sleek suit.

A visor appeared.

Then several glowing interfaces appeared around him.

His armor resembled a futuristic flight suit.

A pair of Silver wings formed behind him.

Arcturus looked at them.

"I can fly faster now."

Dinraal nodded.

"Apparently everyone can."

Arcturus thought about the fleet.

His armor immediately connected to every ship.

He could see their locations.

Their status.

Their engines.

Their weapons.

Their shield strength.

Every system became visible.

Arcturus stared.

"I can coordinate the entire fleet."

Aurelius smiled.

"Now that's useful."

Tiamat

When the Silver reached Tiamat, the entire room changed.

The Silver flowed around her.

Then exploded outward.

Tiamat's body transformed.

Her armor became draconic.

Silver scales covered her.

Massive wings formed.

Curved horns appeared.

Her eyes became brilliant Silver.

A long armored tail formed behind her.

Dinraal stared.

"Mother."

Tiamat smiled.

"I believe the Silver remembers what I am."

Her armor shifted.

The dragon form became a humanoid battle form.

Then back into a dragon.

Then a hybrid.

Tiamat laughed.

"I can choose."

She transformed completely.

A massive Silver dragon stood in the laboratory.

The First Weapon barked.

Tiamat laughed.

"Apparently he approves."

Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh walked forward.

The Silver immediately formed around him.

His armor became ancient-looking.

A massive Silver breastplate covered his chest.

His arms were protected by heavy gauntlets.

A long armored skirt formed around his waist.

Then two enormous weapons appeared across his back.

Gilgamesh looked at them.

"A sword and an axe."

He smiled.

"Acceptable."

He thought about combat.

The armor expanded.

More weapons appeared.

Spears.

Swords.

Bows.

Hammers.

Axes.

Gilgamesh stared.

"Now we're talking."

Asha quickly interrupted.

"Please don't test the weapons inside the laboratory."

Gilgamesh laughed.

"Fine."

The weapons vanished.

His armor returned to a simple tunic-like outfit.

Gilgamesh stared.

"It can become normal clothing."

Asha nodded.

"Apparently."

Gilgamesh smiled.

"Excellent."

Alexander

Alexander's Silver took the form of a warrior's armor.

A flowing cape formed behind him.

A helmet appeared with a distinctive crest.

His armor was sleek but reinforced.

A Silver sword appeared in his hand.

He swung it once.

The blade became a spear.

Then a bow.

Then a short sword.

Then a massive lance.

Alexander laughed.

"It listens."

Asha nodded.

"It seems to respond to preference."

Alexander thought about an army.

The Silver created dozens of floating weapons.

Then hundreds.

They formed behind him in perfect formation.

Alexander stared.

"I can command them."

The weapons moved exactly as he thought.

He smiled.

"Interesting."

Julius

Julius's armor was considerably more restrained.

Silver formed into a military-style uniform.

A cloak rested over one shoulder.

A short sword appeared at his waist.

A shield formed on his arm.

The armor looked almost ceremonial.

Until Julius thought about combat.

The Silver changed instantly.

The ceremonial clothing became reinforced armor.

The cloak became a defensive field.

The sword became a glowing energy blade.

The shield expanded.

Julius smiled.

"It appears the Silver appreciates discipline."

Asha nodded.

"Or you do."

Julius laughed.

"That too."

Cleopatra

Cleopatra stepped forward.

The Silver surrounded her.

Her armor became elegant.

A flowing Silver dress appeared.

Jewelry formed around her neck.

A crown rested on her head.

She looked at herself.

Then smiled.

"I approve."

Rhiannon laughed.

"Of course you do."

Cleopatra raised one hand.

The jewelry transformed.

Her necklace became a protective field.

Her bracelets became energy weapons.

Her crown projected holographic information.

The dress became armored without losing its elegance.

Cleopatra looked toward Asha.

"It understands presentation."

Asha smiled.

"It understands whatever you want it to."

Cleopatra nodded.

"Then we shall get along wonderfully."

Johanna

Johanna's armor was unmistakably that of a warrior.

Silver plate covered her body.

A long armored cloak flowed behind her.

A massive sword formed in her hand.

She raised it.

The blade burned with Silver light.

Johanna looked toward Dinraal.

"Now this is armor."

She swung.

The blade transformed into a spear.

Then a shield.

Then a bow.

Then back into a sword.

Johanna smiled.

"It can adapt."

Dinraal nodded.

"To whatever you need."

She lowered the weapon.

"I like it."

Rhiannon

Rhiannon's Silver reacted differently.

It began as a flowing dress.

Then wings formed.

Then a crown.

Her eyes glowed faintly.

Aurelius looked at her.

"You look familiar."

Rhiannon smiled.

"I'm a queen."

The armor shifted.

The dress became armored.

A pair of enormous wings spread behind her.

The crown became a weapon.

Asha stared.

"The crown is generating energy."

Rhiannon raised an eyebrow.

"Naturally."

She concentrated.

A wave of energy swept across the room.

Everyone's armor reacted.

Rhiannon looked surprised.

"I can enhance the others."

Tiamat smiled.

"Then you are a queen indeed."

Rhiannon laughed.

"Finally, someone understands."

Aramaeis

The Silver flew toward Aramaeis who knew the drill.

He reached toward it and it surrounded him with a flash of brilliant silver light.

It was remarkably similar to his sister’s suit, which surprised exactly no one.

The draconic visage, the silver scales and wings, even the weaponry was similar.

“We look like twins.” Tiamat stated with a smile.

“Maybe I did it on purpose.”

Either way, the dragonkin General looked ready for war.

The First Weapon

The final Silver stream floated toward the First Weapon.

The dog looked at it.

Then looked at everyone.

Then barked.

Dinraal laughed.

"I think he wants it."

The Silver surrounded him.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

WHOOM.

Silver armor appeared over the dog's body.

It was adorable.

It was also terrifying.

The First Weapon now wore a complete set of Silver armor.

Four armored legs.

A reinforced chest.

A Silver collar.

A small crown.

Then the armor expanded.

The dog became larger.

Then larger.

Then enormous.

His armor formed wings.

A tail of Silver energy.

Massive claws.

He looked like a legendary beast.

Everyone stared.

The First Weapon wagged his tail.

Rhiannon burst out laughing.

"He looks ridiculous."

The First Weapon barked.

His armor immediately produced a massive cannon on his back.

Rhiannon stopped laughing.

"I take that back."

Dinraal laughed so hard he nearly fell over.

The First Weapon's armor returned to normal.

He became an ordinary-looking armored dog again.

He walked over to Dinraal.

Dinraal crouched.

"You got one too."

The corgi licked his face.

The Silver Army

Everyone stood together.

Fourteen individuals.

Fourteen different suits.

None looked exactly alike.

Dinraal's armor remained draconic and powerful.

Isolde's remained elegant and adaptable.

Asha's resembled a scientific command suit.

Eve's was tactical and modular.

Aurelius's was imperial and defensive.

Arcturus's was designed for coordination and mobility.

Tiamat's could become a dragon.

Aramaeis mirrored his big sister.

Gilgamesh's was built around weapons.

Alexander's around command and battlefield control.

Julius's around discipline and defense.

Cleopatra's combined elegance with energy manipulation.

Johanna's was unmistakably martial.

Rhiannon's amplified those around her.

And the First Weapon...

was a dog wearing an armored crown.

Asha looked around.

"We have no idea what everyone can actually do yet."

Dinraal smiled.

"Neither did we."

Isolde nodded.

"But we'll learn."

Aurelius looked at the group.

"Then we begin."

The Silver armor across the room responded simultaneously.

Fourteen different suits.

One substance.

One ancient power.

And fourteen different interpretations of what that power could become.

Asha looked at Eve.

"Do you realize what this means?"

Eve smiled.

"We're no longer trying to manufacture the Silver."

Asha nodded.

"We're trying to understand it."

Dinraal looked toward the ancient weapon.

The weapon pulsed once.

Then again.

The Silver on everyone's bodies responded.

For a moment, every suit glowed together.

And Asha realized something.

The Silver hadn't simply given them armor.

It had given them access to something much larger.

Something that had been waiting.

Waiting for people capable of using it.

Waiting for them to ask the right question.

And now they had fourteen people asking.

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