text: [Themes: fan fiction, grimdark, science fiction]
  
  You fire a bolt of energy, but Kyros sidesteps it with unnatural speed. By now, all the various leaders are standing, their weapons raised.
  
  "How did you pass my sensors?" Primus asks.
  
  "Please," Kyros laughs. "Did you not think my powers are strong enough to do so?"
  
  "How the fuck are you even alive, Kyros?" you ask.
  
  "Kyros? Ha! Kyros was a petty fool. Don't you recognize me, Karth?"
  
  You shake your head, still ready to engulf him in flames.
  
  "No? You don't remember my little voice in the back of your mind? I am Meliodas," Kyros says, taking a bow.
  
  "What?" you ask.
  
  "Oh, it was simple. I've wanted to take a form in this world for some time. I helped you, paying close attention, seeing potential, and assisted you as best I could. Fortunately, as you fought Kyros, I saw his mental defenses weaken during the fight between you and him. As he lay dying, the mutants at his throat, he was broken. I easily possessed his form, devoured his soul, and killed those stupid mutants with my daemonic powers."
  
  "You're a daemon?" Elios asks.
  
  "Damn right," Kyros, or Meliodas, says.
  
  You take some time to explain who Meliodas is to your other lieutenants, but soon they understand. After some extensive questioning and psychic testing to ensure that this is in fact Meliodas, he takes a seat at the table.
  
  "What are you doing?" you ask.
  
  "Well, I helped advise Karth. I'm one of his best advisors. Surely I deserve a place here?" Meliodas says.
  
  "I suppose," you say.
  
  "Give him a seat. Us Chaos followers could use an extra vote for our side," Durge says. "Now, can we continue?"
  
  "Don't hold off on my account," Meliodas grins.
  
  "Alright, let's be realistic, shall we?" Elios says. "We're Chaos. We worship the Dark Gods, corrupt, parlay with demons, all that shit. We're not changing. We also know that we've lost a shit-ton more men because of little sis' rage against us, so if this comes down to a civil war, we're all dead and you win."
  
  "Go on," you say.
  
  "So, we have two options. Option One: You keep control of the ship," Durge says. "We'll serve under you as long as we see fit, but we most likely don't leave, and we decide our path forward as a group."
  
  "Option two: you abandon the ship to us," Durge says. "We find you a world of your choosing, a little paradise world far from the reaches of the Imperium or any other enemies. It'll be our gift to you. You can pick out the world, we'll transport any who want to go there to it as well as all you'll need to survive and build a large, happy community. You'll be able to peacefully retire and live out the rest of your lives, never worrying about this ship or the battles it will fight."
  
  "One moment," you say, pulling your lieutenants together. "So... What do we think?"
  
  "Eh," Cain grunts.
  
  "We're not going to abandon this ship, are we?" Olive asks.
  
  "This is a massive war machine. We should stay.
  
  "I'm not adverse to settling down," Fay says. "But we could take the ship anyway. With control of the ship, we could carve ourselves a little empire. Nothing on the level of Kyros' aspirations, but hey, better than our ancestors could ever have dreamed of."
  
  > find a world to settle on
  "None of us chose to fight, that fate was forced on us by the mad warlord Kyros," you say. "I know we'll never regain our lost lives. But we can get something close. Find us a world to settle on."
  
  "Terrific! I'll be sorry to see you finish before the jobs done," Elios says, winking. "But you can remake your lives, we can remake ours, we'll all live happily ever after."
  
  "Are there many worlds outside the reach of the Imperium?"
  
  Elizabeth pulls out a datapad and begins tapping on it.
  
  "Setting parameters... out of reach of Imperium... lack of Chaos, Ork or Dark Eldar attacks... out of reach of Tyranid swarms... suitable climate for human body... few destructive elements... oh, why are there so many hits? Oh yes, forgot to factor in the Tau... OK, we've got a few hits. Let me sort through them."
  
  After a few minutes of researching the planets, Elizabeth has three possible worlds to settle on.
  
  The first is a familiar world, because it's yours. The planet is the one you were raised on, where your people lived and died for endless generations. Kyros' looting of the planet has caused some damage, with the Great Lakes drained to a serious extent, leaving them a third of their size. The woods are half their size, with the remaining woods now overrun with Orks. Despite these issues, the planet is still one the Tribals would be happy to see, it's climate near perfect for you.
  
  The second planet is known as Hararan-IV, the fourth planet I'm it's solar system of Harandan. The planet is for the most part sea, spotted with islands. The planet is prone to pirates, who land to rest, repair their vessel and resupply from the planet's rivers and abundant jungles. It's one or the few planets entirely free of Orks. It has a wealth of life, food, water and other resources, although it suffers from extreme tsunamis that could be a serious issue.
  
  Finally, you have New Marsbourth. Unlike the two other planets, New Marsbourth is a bustling planet. Although it operates outside of the control of the Imperium, it has grown significantly, a huge population that farms, manufactures, works and lives. The planet is controlled by several warlords, fighting for control of the planet. This permanent state if war has drawn mercenaries, seen the manufacture of massive fortresses and the assembling of huge armies, which has warded off any attacks. You could easily become the largest military faction on the planet and attempt to wrest control, or build up a large, isolated community and see how city life is for you.
  
  > Home
  It's a pretty simple process. Amadeus seems eager to get rid of you, so when he's told to take the ship back to your homeworld, he's gleeful.
  
  Once your arrive, the Staine siblings have another question.
  
  "Just to be sure, what is it you want to be done?" Dirge asks, as you squeamishly notice that the eat living in him has sired babies.
  
  "What do you mean?" you reply.
  
  "Well, so you want us to let you off with a small amount of supplies so you can continue your nomadic, tribal lifestyle as you once did, or do you want us to help you set up a little city, a hub from which you can operate and enjoy our little technological boons?"
  
  Huh. What an interesting question. What DO you want? Are you actually planning to abandon all the technologies you've been using to resume a tribal life?
  
  > Tribal Life
  "As you wish," Durge says.
  
  It's only a matter of days as you ferry soldiers to the planet. Eventually, you find yourself with the other tribals, Goliaths and gladiators on the planet. You stand by Fay, looking at the plains, now considerably bigger, that you grew up in.
  
  "Well, we're home," Fay says.
  
  "We are. Well, let's see where this goes," you reply.
  
  Now, the future is yours.
  
  > Three Years Later...
  Tribal
  
  Life is hard. Kyros' scouring of the planet for resources has driven many plant and animal species that you once relied on for food extinct. You're required to travel even more constantly than you once did, as life is permanently tough and hath without much respite, and few luxuries.
  
  The Orks are another issue. With the destruction and kidnapping of the tribes, they've spread extensively. While your newfound "tribe" are killing machines, it seems the Orks are never-ending. You push them back, though these battles are not without their losses, which you will take a while to get back from, which leads to another issue: reproduction.
  
  You find yourself struggling to make up your numbers. The Goliaths are infertile, most not even having genitals. The tribals are more successful, but not by much. It seems Kyros' experiments have taken their toll. Infertility rates are high, as are the amount of miscarriages. A few manage, though, the offs of which increase when partnered with a non-tribal. The gladiators are the only ones who have great success here, as their numbers multiply as young, physically fit people do as young, physical fit people do.
  
  Despite these issues, your tribe perseveres. Your relationship with Fay improves, as you eventually have a vaster sized combination of an Uwais marriage and an Azajaja bonding ritual. If anything, Kyros' experiments have increased your fertility, as you soon find yourself with a child. Thankfully Fay hasn't suffered the miscarriage issue, and you find yourself with a little ball of screaming flesh known as a child. The child seems perfect, having a strong body and a powerful mind, the best of both her parents.
  
  It is this child that gives you hope. A child with the best of both her parents, who will weather any hardships the world. Your tribe are driving the Orks to extinction. The jungle is spreading again, and with it the planets and animals that you rely on. The present may harsh, but the future is forever hopeful.