The figure and I walked through the strange land. This was was not the Cosmodrome as I knew it. Lava spewed up from crevices in the earth, and rusted, Fallen structures peppered the snowy landscape. "Welcome, to the Plaguelands. This is restricted land to most. Here, the Iron Lords trapped the SIVA, hoping it would never return. It was the Fallen Devils that dug it back up," said the cloaked robot. "I've never heard of SIVA before. This should've been a big deal to know about," I said back. The bright red eye turned to me. "It predated Guardians, during the Dark Age, when Warlords and Iron Lords fought for territory and influence. I suppose when the Iron Lords stopped SIVA, they erased SIVA from history to prevent more curious minds to seek it." We reached a tower sitting at the top of a slope. It was in poor condition-- it was rusted, falling apart, and partially on fire. It looked Fallen-made, honestly. "This is where you want to hide?" I asked. "It will protect us from the weather outside, which would undoubtedly kill you," said the robot in reply. "I suppose so... But before we go in," I said as I threw my hand up. "Who are you? There's not much trust here when you won't even give me your name..." The figure sighed loudly, as if a heavy guilt was lifted from his shoulders. "Thank the Traveler! I'm tired of running this skit," he said. "It was not as fun as I hoped..." "What?" I asked. "It's me, Colt..." he said as he jumped into a perky stance. "Colton?!" I exclaimed. "No, Kholtis. The Fallen god of jacka****..." he replied. I flipped him off on the spot. We entered the building and looked around. It looked a lot like the Cosmodrome wall. We headed for the stairs, but the floor beneath us groaned in disapproval. We froze. Colt inspected the floor around us. Fear flooded through me, "Oh, you know... It's just the walls adjustin--AHHH!!" The floor gave way, sending us plummeting to our inevitable doom! We hit wall to wall as we fell down the narrow drop. A loud thud echoed through the various chambers when we hit the bottom. I raised my head up and rubbed my forehead. I was too weak to move. "Hey... are you... o--" I whispered as I rolled my head over. Colt tried to move, but shot off sparks and stopped working. I looked ahead of me to see two humanoid figures approach before my vision finally faded. I woke back up in a room glowing an eerie red. A strange emblem flashed on every monitor in the room. SIVA tendrils stretched around the room, but all came together in a central location-- a giant nest of the nanotechnology with a Guardian standing in the middle. "Where am I?" I asked as I struggled to move. SIVA "arms" had my arms and legs trapped. The Guardian turned around to face me. "This is the Citadel, my fortress," the warlock had a feminine voice. "I see you are one with SIVA..." Her robe looked like a pitch black lab coat with an intricate diamond pattern on the front. "Not by choice," I replied. "Nonetheless. Have you tested your abilities yet? They are quite spectacular." "Who are you?" Colt asked. I looked to him. He was suspended in air like me. "We are the Exiled," the warlock replied. "'We'?" He asked. "Yes. There are six of us." "Okay, well you seem polite. Could you let us down?" I asked. The warlock did not move, and I could see no emotion through her helmet-- which had two black plates jutting out from her cheeks to her ears. However, we were dropped. Soon, nanites came together and built a large table and chairs for us. "Is this... your doing?" I asked as I took a seat. The warlock nodded. Two more guardians and three more robots joined us around the table. I inspected the new characters with me. "I guess I could introduce us. I am--" "I know who you are, Alan..." the warlock walked down to the table and made a large throne for herself. She took off her helmet and sat it on the table. She had smooth skin and a dark complexion. She had long, black, flowing hair. I was shocked that she knew my name. "Let us, introduce ourselves... I am the Technomancer..." "Nope! We're not doing this bulls*** again! I want a name, not some stupid title!" Colt yelled. The warlock was compliant. "My name is Vanessa Perion." "I am Guun Ji Anaka," said the hunter. "Lady Sif..." Said the titan. "My name is Ares. I was Vanessa's ghost, now I am my own person," the ghost had a rather large frame. A green and gold colored ghost stood up. "The name's Loki." "'Loki'? I already know we're going to be friends!" Colt said with a laugh. "Walter," said the last ghost blandly. "I'm Guun Ji's ghost." "Now that you know our names, I am sure you would like to hear our story," Vanessa stood up and paced around the room. A mural of SIVA nanites depicted exactly what she said-- it was like they were playing her memories. "We found this nest when we were first sent by Saladin to fight the SIVA. Lady Sif, a student of the Iron Wolves, led the attack. I thought we were doomed, because Devil splicers surrounded us and trapped us in the tower above my Citadel. Then, the floor collapsed and we fell." "The SIVA got us while were unconscious..." Sif interupted. Vanessa continued. "When we awoke, our injuries were healed, our bodies augmented. Sif was stronger than ever, Guun Ji had a new bow to accompany his new mobility," the hunter grabbed the weapon on his back. It was made of SIVA. "As for me, the SIVA became obedient. They need a directive, and I gave it a directive." "While SIVA upgraded our abilities, it improved her mind-- showing her the potential of SIVA. It's a warlock thing, I guess," Guun Ji said. "You have no idea..." I added. "We returned to Felwinter's Peak, where we found the Speaker and Lord Saladin discussing the SIVA outbreak. I tried to tell them that I was in control of this sample of SIVA, and that if we could capture the Replication Chamber, SIVA could be ours once more..." Vanessa breathed deeply. "The Speaker did not approve." "I know what that's like," I said. "He told us that the SIVA would be removed, and our lives would be restored. But there was nothing to restore-- our lives were improved, not destroyed! He then exiled us in turn!" Vanessa commanded SIVA to crush two tin plates in her frustration. "We returned to this tower and made it a fortress-- my Citadel," Vanessa returned to her throne. I leaned onto the table, "So, this is your 'kingdom', and you're the empress?" I asked. "I control this nanotechnology. Isn't it only natural that I claim power?..." Vanessa sat back into her chair and propped a leg up. "Mmhm..." Colt stared at her with suspicion. "So, what are your jobs down here?" I asked. "Ares, Loki, and Walter are my servants. They prepare our meals and other things throughout my kingdom. Guun Ji is my scout-- occasionally going to the surface and relaying information of any threats. And Sif... Sif, is my private enforcer. Her strength is quite useful. Lastly, as I said before, I am the Technomancer." "What if they don't do what you say, what then?" I asked. Guun Ji and Sif quickly looked to the warlock with concern. Vanessa glanced down to them. Vanessa gripped the armrests tightly. "If any of my servants turn to heresy, I will have no choice but to eliminate them..." "Heresy? Oh, brother, she thinks she's a goddess..." Colt whispered to me. "Let's not challenge that, Colt..." I replied. "My patience runs thin," Vanessa said with a sigh. "Ares, show our guests where they will be staying," Vanessa turned to me. "Supper will be prepared soon. I suggest you join us." "Yes, Your Grace..." I said as Colt and I stood from the table. The warlock had SIVA place her helmet on her. She began mass controlling the nanites, trying to strengthen her fortress.