Renaissance

Xeid’s helmet contained an artificial intelligence created from a copy of his own mind. Its purpose was to find an answer to one question:

How can a universe be created in which beings do not hurt one another, while still remaining free?

When the AI finally found an answer and revealed it to Xeid, he hated what he heard. So much that he tore the helmet in half and left it on the floor.

However, Structor found it. He had previously noticed Xeid speaking to the helmet and decided to restore it.

When the restored intelligence spoke to him and Structor learned its answer to Xeid’s question, it was like a revelation to him—his most cherished dream, the ultimate answer to everything.

Structor created the finest synthetic body he could, one powered by solar energy, and installed the helmet within it.

He named the creation Renaissance.

The first thing Renaissance did was improve its own body. It developed itself until, according to its calculations, it had become powerful enough to destroy anyone who might stand against it—including Xeid.

It was no longer limited to solar energy. Renaissance could draw power from kinetic, gravitational, and other sources of energy, charging itself until its strength and durability exceeded every known value represented on its threat scale.

Afterward, Renaissance began constructing an army on an abandoned, distant planet. Since no one except Structor knew that it even existed, it was able to complete the army without interference.

Then Renaissance began carrying out the mission Structor had given it.