About an hour after the emperor's journey had commenced, the activity in Proxima A reached a dramatic crescendo.

Ptssss, A soft hiss echoed as air escaped from a pod that began to open. The lid slowly rose, revealing a stunning dark elf woman lying peacefully inside.

She remained still for a moment longer before her closed eyes began to flutter and then slowly open, revealing striking green eyes that gradually came into focus.

Mh she groaned slightly as she grasped the edge of the VR pod, using it for support as she shifted from a reclining position to a seated one.

Although I believed it was real, I still had a slight suspicion that we were merely part of a simulation undergoing a test, she said, her voice initially crackling. As she spoke, her vocal cords gradually adjusted, growing clearer with each word, signaling their first true use after being constantly stimulated by the pod to prepare for movement when the time for their awakening came.

Its good to be skeptical and question things, but what makes you believe that youre not in another simulation now? a voice from outside the pod asked, prompting her to turn toward the source of the sound.

Ayaka, she called out, her voice warm with emotion and her face lighting up with happiness at the sight of her.

Before I even opened my eyes, I felt a welcoming connection. Although I cant quite explain it, my subconscious knew this was the real world and was welcoming me, she continued, quickly gathering her thoughts and responding after her initial emotional reaction.

Well sort that out later, but for now, you need to get dressed, Rayyan, Ayaka said, handing her the clothes.

Whaaa! Rayyan exclaimed in surprise as she realized she was naked, quickly covering herself and blushing from embarrassment.

Turn around, Rayyan instructed, grabbing the clothes from Ayakas hands with lightning speed.

Ive already seen everything anyway; you have to remember I raised you, Ayaka said with a smile. Despite her teasing, she turned around to respect Rayyans request and waited for her to get dressed.

Alright, please give me an update on the awakening process, Rayyan requested, her playful tone now replaced by a serious and bureaucratic demeanor.

I keep reminding you that Im not your secretary, but given these special circumstances, Ill indulge you this time, Ayaka said, handing over the glasses. Rayyan accepted them and immediately put them on.

We are proceeding according to the plan, Ayaka reported. Weve begun awakening the Category One individuals, and youre among the first. A few thousand are currently in the process, with Category Two individuals to follow. We should remain on schedule and have everyone awakened and everything ready within a month.

Rayyan listened intently as Ayaka spoke, but her eyes were focused on the data displayed through her glasses. Despite Ayaka's reassurance that nothing had changed, Rayyan adhered to the "Trust but Verify" principle she had been taught during her training, scrutinizing the plan to confirm its accuracy herself.

The plan highlighted the ongoing awakening process, showing that category one individualsthose in leadership positions across all agencieswere being prioritized. Following them, category two individuals, primarily government personnel, would be awakened next. The focus would be on police and military personnel, who would play a crucial role during the month of integration. They were responsible for aiding the newly awakened individuals in settling into their homes and ensuring a smooth transition into the real world before resuming their official duties.

Thanks, we will be taking it from here, Rayyan said, having reviewed the plan and confirmed its accuracy. She took charge of the process, signaling her readiness to proceed.

Im looking forward to meeting you after everything is over, Ayaka replied with a smile, extending her hand to Rayyan. She had watched Rayyan grow from childhood to becoming the head of Proximas government.

Ayaka looked forward to their future meeting, whether Rayyan would be part of an allied government or as a representative of the imperial government. This meant that their next face-to-face encounter would only happen after the emperors arrival and his meeting with the tree folks, which would be after six months.

As a result, they would not meet in person for the next six months to allow for a smooth integration process without interference. All bases and infrastructure that were to support the exploration fleet personnel on the planet had been deconstructed, and everyone had evacuated back to their respective ships within the exploration fleet.

Thank you for everything youve done for us. Regardless of the decisions that are made, I and everyone else will never forget the grace youve shown us. We will do everything in our power to return this favor to the empire, the imperial family, the exploration fleet who cared for us, and to you and Lee, who raised us as your own children, Rayyan said as she shook Ayakas extended hand. Her face conveyed the sincerity of her words, showing that she meant every bit of it.

I appreciate your sincerity and hope we can meet again under the circumstances we both hope for, Ayaka said with a smile.

But where is he? Rayyan asked, looking around as spaceships maneuvered, finalizing everything before handing control over to the awakened military personnel from among the Proximians.

The admiral called him back to the fleet quite some time ago. I dont know the exact reason. Why are you asking? Did you miss him already? Ayaka responded, gently teasing Rayyan.

I wanted to see if there would be any sort of connection feeling, since he played a significant role in our creation, Rayyan explained, blushing slightly from Ayakas teasing.

Good idea, but it seems your hypothesis will have to wait until our next meeting, Ayaka said, glancing at the lander approaching to pick her up. It doesnt look like hell be returning anytime soon. She added as she looked at the glasses that informed her being the last person remaining on the planet, with the rest of the personnel having already evacuated.