Murphy introduced Elsa and her battle-sisters to King Osiris and his ministers, who had been waiting for them.
The dignity and power of the legendary "Steel Daughters" conquered the Aztecs almost instantly. These mechanical beings, which mere mortals could never have created or even imagined, were the "direct descendants" of the Artisan God. That alone was enough for the Aztecs to regard them as legitimate "ancestors."
To everyone's surprise, the First Centurion, who had never been fond of ceremony, actually patiently completed the Aztecs' worship ritual. She maintained an astonishing degree of patience and courtesy throughout, even personally acknowledging the Aztecs' place in the Creator's order and recognizing them as the Creator's children.
Murphy, who had watched the whole thing, was very curious.
When the ceremony was over and the Aztecs, their faces streaked with tears of excitement at having "rejoined their ancestral line," had been sent away, Murphy finally asked:
"You seem to feel differently about the Aztecs."
"Yes, I do."
Elsa didn't hide it. She answered frankly:
"Although I never saw their ancestors' incubation pods in the Heart of the World, the Grand Librarian assisted our great father throughout the Aztecs' genetic experiments. That's why my poor, shameful sister Flindis grew close to the Aztecs after her fall.
"The Grand Librarian arrogantly believed she was the Aztecs' 'mother,' or at least their adoptive mother. She and our great father had created this unique bloodline together.
"What a depraved and delusional fantasy. May she recognize her fall and arrogance during her long punishment!
"But Flindis's memories prove the Aztecs' 'legitimacy.'
"Our great father regarded them as a template for humanity's next stage of perfect evolution in the material world. And their thousand-year defense of the Heart of the World deserves recognition. They may lack invincible bodies, but their minds