Read Neptune's Massif for Free Online

lady, you might be what is called an artificial intelligence, but there is nothing of the heartless machine about you. However it happened, there is a soul in your machine. It is a kind one, I believe."
    "Thank you, Master Nokisuno. I think that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me," Andreya replied.
    ––––––––
    R eception Area
    Phoenix Base
    Selene, Earth's Moon
    Sol System
    Sol Sector
    ––––––––
    "L adies and Gentlemen, welcome to Phoenix Base!" Alan said as they stepped off the Raptor.
    "...And the independent nation of Terra," a young man said as he approached them. "Hello everyone! I'm Gene Hall, Recruitment Office liaison officer. You can call me your Welcome Wagon and guide to getting familiar with all of this." He gestured vaguely around him. "We know how overwhelming all of this can get."
    "You're telling me! I didn't even really believe it until we got here!" Alice said.
    Will chuckled. "I believe it, but it just isn't 'real' for me yet. I'd heard some pretty weird stuff on the radio about you folks, but I just thought it was a ploy by the news agencies to get people's attention away from something else. Since we now live on the moon, does that make us ‘Lunatics’?"
    "You're the only ‘Lunatic’ I know, William!" Alice said, grinning at her husband.
    "Conspiracy buff?" Gene asked, chuckling along with everyone else at the couple's antics.
    "Not really, but it's hard not to see the trees in the forest some days," Will replied shrugging.
    Gene grinned and nodded. "I was a bit of a conspiracy nut when I got here. Before I learned the truth of everything going on around here, I felt like I was finally justified in all my beliefs. It was a real shock to discover I was way off base on a lot of stuff."
    "Like what?" Alice asked.
    "UFO's and the aliens called Grays, mainly. Yes, there were UFOs, but nothing like what we believed. As for the Gray aliens... well, those were completely off. Anyway, I'm here to guide the two of you through customs and all the other stuff you'll need to know. I'll help you get set up with a place to live and lined up for any knowledge you would like to learn while you're here. I understand you are interested in become civilian freighter drivers?" Gene asked.
    "Yeah, that's what we had in mind. But I for one would like to see what else is up here. This is a whole new world for us," Will said, and Alice agreed by nodding her head.
    "You said the two of us, what about Master Nokisuno and little Mulan?" Alice asked indicating the other two new people standing there with them.
    "I'll be handling their arrangements for the time being," Andreya replied. "We recruited them for a specific purpose, so they are our responsibility for the time being."
    While they had been talking, six floating drones came from the rear of the Raptor carrying the luggage brought by the Smarts as well as that of Michi and Mulan. They stopped by the small group so they could follow people to their new quarters.
    "Ah, so this is good-bye for now?" Alice asked.
    "Nothing is truly ever good-bye, Mrs. Smart. Our lives have touched now; it is entirely possible they will touch again when we least expect it," Michi replied with a slight bow. "It has been my honor to have made your acquaintance."
    "The honor has been ours, Master Nokisuno," Will said and bowed formally to Michi and Mulan. Remembering her manners, Alice quickly copied him. Both Michi and Mulan returned the bow.
    Before leading the Smart's away, Gene also bowed to Michi.
    "Well, let's go find a place for you to stay until we can get everything together and get to work. There should be just enough time for both of you to get a good understanding of what is going on up here," Alan said. "Mulan, once we get to where we are going, the psionic department would appreciate a call so they can record your abilities. It's not mandatory and the information is only used for research purposes."
    "I have secured quarters close to yours,