Remnants of the Earth
OUTER SPACE => Open Space => Topic started by: ARAD V1.0 on September 17, 2015, 01:00:02 pm
-
Theme: Illusions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCoqdCjzFV8&index=177&list=PLst8YDcbBIDCeC9ZPXuQnOVCfEgtT7hRN)
Voices, whispers and distant calls. The entire field was barren and desolate. A ruined tree standing amidst. Arad found himself in that infinite plane. His sight seemed to be disrupted, grow distorted. Through the distortions in his view, it seemed like he was in a room. Ill light. He couldn't see a thing. Only the sound of a drill being activated broke the infinite silence. The droid looked up from his daydreaming state, a distorted vision of a dark, eastern demon approaching. Yet, at the same time, the image blurred, it was a scientist, with a powertool. He heard the man speak, but yet a whisper came through to him. He was told to sit still. With a gentle thump, the scientist placed the drill at Arad's temple. With a loud screech, the tool shot into action, digging into the droid's temple.
Pain was emulated. A loud, mechanical scream resounded from Arad. The pain was maddening, his arms were strapped to the chair, iron fingers clawing at the air with jarring movements. The droid let out another pained cry. The metal of his arms smacking against the metal that were his restraints. A heavy snap resounded, followed by the flinging of blades.
A miscalculation of the scientist, Arad managed to cut through the metal like it was nothing. Only an instant later, before he even noticed so, the scientist dropped backwards, intestines spilling from the wound caused by Arad. He gripped around the drill in his head and pulled it out with another pained grunt. He felt relief wash over him. His submission programming was not yet fully coded. He stepped over the corpse, his footprints becoming crimson due to the spilled bodily fluids.
He had no time. He was broken free from his restraints, this was the last chance he had.
The droid sliced the metal door barring his way in two, kicking the two pieces in and dashing out. It seemed like there had been no alarm raised due to his presence. Good. It was time for some payback. Loyalty was not a factor anymore. Pure, cold blooded vengeance was.
He walked through the halls, his steps marked by the blood. "Arad. What are you doing free from your restraints?" A scientist approached him. A young woman. Yet a face he would not forget. His sight was distorted, causing the woman to be what she was in one world. A haunting banshee in the other world. Two worlds conflicting. With a low, mechanical blurt Arad charged forward. Soon the same crimson liquid was spilled across the entire hall. Squirting as if in a nightmarish scene. A slow, chilling laugh resounded from the droid as he kept walking, the laserblades retracting again. Leaving the horrific scene behind him. Soon. Loud blaring resounded throughout the entire facility. The lights turning red.
"Seems like they noticed.." The mechanical voice resounded throughout the narrow passageway. He heard the thumping of boots and the clattering of body armor resounding. Arad turned slightly, seeing soldiers at the end of the hallway, rifles brandished. "All personell. Head to the designated safety area. ARAD V1.0 has managed to escape. I repeat. ARAD V1.0 is on the loose." Arad looked up at the ceiling, as if the announcer was there. Concluding that most of them were all in the same spot. Sitting ducks. He was surrounded now, soldiers had taken position behind him as well. A low mechanical blurt resounded from him as the same empty and barren field became his reality again. Surrounding him were demons. With weaponry. And he was only a warrior. With nothing but his speed, cunning and blades.
The clattering of fire echoed throughout the halls. Only eliciting a mechanical sigh from the droid. Who disappeared from sight. Only to re fragment behind the first group of soldiers. He counted three. A swift swipe from his left hand made that only one. The remaining survivor was pulled up, used as a fleshmade shield. The bullets shredding the soldier's body as the droid stepped forward.
At a range of roughly two meter, he used his fragmentation unit once again. Positioning himself behind the group of soldiers. Terrified cries and dreadful screams carried on through the hallways. Arad resumed his walk through the hall. Cautious. In his hand one if the soldier's head. Scraping against the wall and leaving a trial of blood on it. The occasional sob and painful shiver pulling through his body, indicating that he was alive and going through the torture of his face being scraped away with full consciousness. Only when Arad felt that the man had died, he dropped the body down on the floor. A set of metal doors appeared. Large doors. From experience, he knew but one thing. This was the main engineering center. The place where droids such as himself were built. Completely abandoned. Security lacking. It seemed that what he had just killed was a forward team, sent to neutralise him. The forward team which' blood now richly decorated his steel features.
He stepped on an industrial elevator, which descended into the floor. Going towards the research center. Where his consciousness was implanted in a separate body. He put a hand on his metal globe. Flashbacks of waking up. Staring his former, dead body in the eyes. Glazy eyes. Eyes he was only able to see in a mirror. Features he was only able to see in a mirror. But, that was no mirror what he saw that day. It was his own corpse.
With a loud thunk, the elevator had reached its destination, Arad stepping from the platform and into the sterile laboratories. He felt as if being watched, his vision distorting once again to the barren and desolate fields he was infrequently forced into seeing. He tried to shrug it off, but had difficulties doing so.
Another security team surrounded him. Fifteen soldiers that did not aim to capture him, but to kill him. Yet failing terribly to do so. Leaving the once white and sterile labs completely covered in blood, corpses and gore.
Walking through another hallway. Some kind of offices, his sensors picked up something. A noise. The tapping of a keyboard. Accompanied by silent beeps from a computer. He looked towards the sound, a gentle blue light radiating from the room. The tapping was hurried, rushed even. He stepped in, revealing a queasy scientist in front of, what he'd assume, a private escape pod.
He let out a low mechanical blurt, asking the scientist's attention, who jumped up and immediately backed up against the pod. Terror apparent in his face. The man slid down the pod, sweat glistening on his forehead. He recognised this man. He wasn't like the other scientists. He cared for the subjects. He remember receiving some words of consolation from this very man. He kneeled down, holding out his hand. A friendly gesture. "Come." He said, mimicking the man's voice.
Yet another distorted vision clouded his judgement, another flash of the fields, a burning demon right in front of him, aiming to kill him. He had to defend himself. Said vision dissappeared once again.
Arad looked down on his blooded hands. Then looked up at where he believed the scientist to be. What he saw was the shredded chest, shattered ribs and the inside of the stranger's thorax. He stood up again. Shaking his head. He looked at the keyboard. This man was ready to have the pod depart without him. From the outside. To make it untraceable.
That meant there was someone inside.
He forced his fingers in between the plastic sliths of the pod, pulling the doors open and revealing a droid, such as himself. Arad was filled with disbelief. It was not even possible for another to be alive? Did that mean others had survived? Those were issues for later. He had to focus on what happened know.
A bloody, metal hand was extended towards the strange droid in the pod. Aiming to take her along on his escape. Maybe they'd find others as well.
-
The droid had its or rather said her as it was clearly shaped female, eyes closed calmly and seemed to be in a dorment state. Restrains on the ankles, wrists and neck. She actually seemed remarkably human for a droid.
As Arad's hand got near her, a female monotone automated sound came from a console in the pod.
''Sensors detecting none human presence. Before attempting to remove project Sibiu, must a new master be appointed?'' it asked. It seemed to wait for a response now. That until three armored men were in the door opening and the console spoke once more.
''weapons detecting. Activating basic defense protocol code 138. Neutralise.''
One restraint of a wrist and arm retracted and the eyes opened before quickly aiming at the three armed soldiers. In the blink of an eye their weapons melted after plasma got shot at them. Very precise, and no blood spilled.
''Surrender is adviced. This is a warning. Drop remaining weapons to prevent casualties'' it was still the console speaking however.
''Another droid take them both down.'' one spoke
-
The droid that was restrained inside the pod looked beautiful. He wondered if this was an accurate copy of who she was before. He knew that his own model was purely made for efficiency. He had few to none human traits. Somewhere, he felt envious. He knew he'd never be human again. But those were things for later.
He pulled his hand back swiftly as he heard the feminime voice. "New.. Master?" Arad shook his head. "Run independant programming. Wlipe submission programming. And activate." The console warned him about armed men. Melting their weapons and telling them to surrender. Arad had other plans.
He charged forward, the blades sliding down. He dashed through the middle soldier with his blades forward, slicing through the unfortunate man. A spinning kick from the close quarters assassin broke the second one's spine with a disgusting crunch. The third tried to run.
Only to feel the steel grip of Arad around his head, increasing pressure untill his skull offered no more resistance. Head nothing more than a sack of flesh and ground bone. He turned back to the feminime droid, the blades smacking back into place.
-
''Threat permanently neutralised. Independant programming not complete. Uploaded status, 71%. Total conscious and memories upload 68%. Submissive programming deactivated. Assigning master recommended.'' both the computer in the lab and the console showed progrress bars. The one in the lab for uploading, the console for downloading. Also the progress seemed slow.
From the hallway it was heard new soldiers arrived. Talking about most scientists had been brought to safety and the safety ship was ready to depart before this place was going to blow apart. ''Eliminate Arad and extract doctor Greenberg. Go go go!''
when a few soldiers arrived though all they saw in the room was the destroyed body, Arad and the pod. These soldiers were equiped heavier then the others. Not that it would nessesarily save them though.
''Target Arad is in here with another droid take them both down!'' the commander called.
-
Arad looked towards the keyboard, then the screen. "Seventy one percent.." A low mechanical snarl left the droid's voice module. Annoyance expressed by smacking the monitor, cracking the screen slightly. He turned back to the door, more soldiers yelling orders and footsteps resounding throughout the halls. Another annoyed grunt left Arad as he turned back to the droid. "Assign new master, Arad V1.0. Retain free will." He said as he turned to their visitors once more.
With a deep, exhausted sigh, Arad faced them down. The soldiers aiming their weapons. This was bad. He was an elite soldier just like them. And those were black market light machine guns. Bullets were no doubt infused with depleted uranium. This would tear even him to shreds within seconds.
He pulled up the desk and charged forward, using it as a make-shift battering ram. Bullets soon shredded through the wooden table, but they did not do a thing but graze his alloys. The droid was succesful in pushing the squad back. He dissappeared with his defragmentation matrix. Reforming above the squad and dropping down, blades extended.
He was almost completely covered in blood now, returning back to the droid, pulling bullet from his left shoulder with a slow, mechanical hiss. "Not quick enough.." He murmured to himself.
-
''New Master assigned. Arad V1.0. Vocal print saved.''
''89 percent.....90 percent:..'' the terminal sounded.
One soldier who was wounded mortally but not dead yet aimed his weapon at the computer.''We will not have another monster..'' he grunted as he aimed and shot several bullets.
''92 percent...'' the bullets hit the computer causing it's systems to fail and both the uploading and downloading to stop.
''System error. System error. Files not uploaded correctly. Threat detected. Awakening subject S.I.B.I.U. inevetable.'' Smoke came from the computer and the screens acted all up. The pod however still seemed safe as it had it's own systems.
The soldier firing its last bullets to the female droid but it seemed as if they were just absorbed by it's skin.
The restrains Sibiu had unlocked.''Running initial survival program. Installing uploaded data. Installation of memories, AI, personality, free will and knowlegde done in aproxematly 83 minutes and 6 seconds.''
Sibiu's eyes opened and her hand was aimed at the soldier.''Stay b-b-back. Mo-monster!'' He tried firing again but his weapon was empty. He saw her hand and arm turn into a sharp blade and after a loud scream his head fell off his body.
''Target neutralised.'' Sibiu spoke. It was a kinder voice although still seemed roboticish
-
He nodded slowly as the terminal confirmed his intent. He didn't want to become her 'master' or commander of any kind. She was in the same boat as he was so she also was allowed a chance to get out of this shit. He looked down at the sound of dragging, a gurgle followed by the loud clattering gunfire. Causing the droid to cower back slightly. After all, he was still shooting with a high caliber and depleted uranium.
He glanced towards the computer, clenching his fists as he heard the computer being destroyed. Arad rushed towards the computer, trying to keep the download from aborting itself, trying to salvage what was possible. Another string of gunfire echoed through the room, yet, the bullets caused no harm on the droid that was waking up from her stasis.
The female droid stepped out, the announcer proclaiming that her proper programming would be fixed within an hour and tweny minutes. He looked towards the soldier, only a low mechanical blurt produced as the click of an empty weapon resounded throughout the room. The sound that indicated a certain death for this man. He witnessed how a blade was revealed, slicing the soldier's head clean off.
He approached the droid, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We have to ru-" His sentence was interrupted as he staggered back a,d grabbed his own head. Being sent into the same barren and desolate place. His small personal hell. Complete with a set of demons that harrowed him and aimed to kill him.
-
Sibiu looked at him questioning. ''You are new like this aren't you.'' she asked.
Noticing bullets had damaged him anyway she approached him. Placing her hands on his cheeks. It was a natural reaction for her. Something she did as a human and something that was slowly coming back as her core systems and personality were installed.
''Did you mean to say Run Master Arad A1.0'' she asked.
''Master is correct. Being attached to the security system, made me knowledgeable about this vessel. An escape vessel with in total 45 people of whom 15 are armed and 5 heavily armed is ready to leave. They were waiting for the latest squad but shall detach soon. A self desctruct sequence has been initiated. 9 minutes and 41 seconds remaining.''
Sibiu looked at the escape pod. ''System command. Eject clean nano machines and information drives and all information sticks.''
''Command initiated.'' the terminal responded and opened various hidden chambers as it ejected componements. They were even automaticly put in a suitcase in a neatly fashion.
''After your safety is secured Master Arad V1.0 I shall see to your treatment.''
-
He did not seem to reply to the female droid at all. As if lost in a dream. Yet it turned out to be a nightmare. The same barren field. Yet different. Snow descended upon Arad. Pitch black. A scene in the distance confirmed his suspicions. It were ashes. A small village by the lake, burning in the distance. A demon approached him. Drawing near. Arad stepped back, both of his swords brandished. These movements were also visible to Sibiu. The droid backing slightly, weapons brandished.
Cold, metal hands were placed on his cold, metal cheeks. Or whatever substituted for it. As his head did not resemble a human's skull in the slightest. Yet those hands, a gentle touch, pulled Arad away from the horrors and back to reality. He looked towards the female droid. "Do not call me master." He replied as he stepped back from the touch. Nodding towards her estimations. "Then we'd better move." Is what the droid stated, walking out of the room. A skull cracking under his foot.
-
Sibiu before joining him got the suitcase of what seemed to be equipment and data.
Walking there took them a few precious minutes and they found sealed doors. These could not be forced open either since both Arad and Sibiu knew that those doors needed to be intact for the ship to depart.
''Enabeling DNA coding.'' Sibiu spoke softly. Stepping in all that blood had given her plenty of material to work with. Her hand seemed to change. It seemed to get more of a fleshy skin tone and details such as age formed. When done Sibiu placed her morphed hand on the console.
''Welcome general Backen'' it spoke and the door opened. Sibiu undid the metamorphosis of her hand.
Before the doors got opened fully though the first noise to be heard was that of guns being loaded. They had not yet been seen but it was simple protocol.
It was the sound though that made Sibiu grow a gun from her head. Eliminate or spare the humans inside.'' she asked.
-
Arad looked towards Sibiu. "Glad I decided to pull you out." He stated as the door opened to the shapeshifting of his fellow droid. "Kill everything that breathes.." A loud clunk resounded as the blades extended from his gauntlets again, superheating. He pressed his back against the wall, next to the door, gesturing for his companion to do the same. The doors opened.
And the instant the soldiers noticed that no one was there, rifles started firing through the opening. Weaponry of various calibers, machineguns, personal defense weapony, pistols. Several shotguns also made their presence known. All this information was being saved in Arad's memory.
And then, everything went silent, bar the clicking of some empty weaponry. "Reload and check exterior." Indicated their chance.
Arad popped from cover, dashing into the opening, quite instantly, a corpse was already flung out of the ship, followed by a thick trail of blood and several of his severed limbs. Narrowly dodging a destructive pelette, Arad warped behind the soldier, splitting his torse from his waist, pulling the shotgun from his dying hands. Several bullets smacked into him, but most of his armor shielded him from the bullets.
He stepped forward into the ship, keeping his finger on the trigger of the fully automatic shotgun. After several seconds of the most statisfying sound to Arad's ears, the clip was empty. Yet, so was the ship. Lacking all lifeforms but him and his fellow droid. "You know how to fly this?" He asked, discarding the weapon, walking through the massacre.
-
''I will in two minytes.'' Sibiu replued. Her kills were done swiftly and with minimum bloodshed and casually walked to the cockpit after shutting the door. Placing the briefcase beside her.
''Downloading manual.'' It took only a short time to have completed it and to have installed it.
When Sibiu had, she started the ships engines and closed all airlocks.''activating forcefield.''
A yelliwish field formed itself around the ship and mere momenrs after the facility they both had just awoken from explided.
''Ship on autopilot. Would Arad V1.0 like to set a destination?'' Sibiu asked.
-
"Two minutes." He confirmed with a nod, sitting down on one of the seats. "We're gonna need to clean this out." Was murmured by the droid as he witnessed the massacre he and the female had caused. Though, the most blood was spilled by him. He leaned forward, steel head resting in his metal hands. He had to focus. This was reality.
His vision distorted once more. Arad Looked up. He was sat against a rock. The same barren field, ruined trees and the burning village in the distance. A hand was placed above the rock, another demon looming above him, looking him down.
Arad stirred slightly, ready to strike. Yet, he was frightened. His movement was sluggish and exhausted.
-
''We can recycle them. Using tech to turn them into componements or just move them all into the airlock and throw them out.'' Sibiu replied. For now she set the ship to the same destination she was supposed to be sent off to. It was far away by the looks of it.
She placed her still bloodied hand that had been a blade earlier on his shoulder.''By the looks if it you have physical damage and require repairs. Do you wish for me to perform those actions?'' She asked.
Adfter all he had been drilled into and had bullet damage. Sibiu was not completely without damage though but a strange substance seemed to be slowly growing her metalic skin back.
-
The robotic voice called him back to realiy, the touch on his shoulder ripped the illusion to shreds. His vision distorting once more and clearing his vision of the scourge that was the incomplete submission programming. This wasn't going to be easy. He looked up at Sibiu. "Do whatever you want with the corpses." He said, making a dismissive gesture and standing up. "But strip them from their weaponry, ammunition and such." He pulled a body from the heap of gore, pulling out a pistol and several magazines, aswell as an EMP grenade and a flashbang. "We're gonna need them." He said as he put the salvaged tech down on a seat, a makeshift heap for the collected tech. He urged Sibiu to do the same.
"When were you.." He circled his hand idly, trying to look for the correct vocabulary. "Converted?" The word was as good as any. He didn't really know how else he could ask how long ago she was still in a human body. Or any body made from flesh and not artificially engineered in a laboratory and foundry. He pulled a heavy rifle from the heap, followed by two bags of ammo, placing them down by the rest of the weaponry.
-
''I have been uploaded into the mainframe aproxematly one year ago.'' Sibiu replied. ''I qualified for everything just like you and a few others but my body got deadly ill. So I was basicly put in the trashcan. I know I had a relationship with one of the scientists but can not recall memories of who it was and what the nature of the relationship was. I do know that in a fools attempt my conscous got uploaded into the Syndicate network without Syndicate knowledge before my body died. The upload to this body was ongoing and rushed. It was not supposed to have happened for another several months. My programming and uploads are both incomplete but should be able to develop in time with my AI. I got 92 percent of my so called conscious, memories and personality files.''
First she gathered all the weapons and ammo. Putting the corpses on a pile before allowing some of her nano machines out. They started automaticly to break down all the clothes, skin, flesh, organs, bodyly fluids and bone into componements. ''It may take a while. This body being new and still working on various things makes me unable to release more of my nano tech.''
''Other then repairs do you wish for a system check?'' Sibiu asked as she aproached Arad.
-
"One year. Huh?" He nodded slowly as she portrayed the information. "Been.here for two.. Half a year of submission prpgramming. Fourty nine percent of the submission programming was uploaded.. I broke free met you. You know the rest." He arched an eyebrow as the bodies slowly disintegrated. "We got the time." He stated in response, not even trying to wrap his head around how it worked.
"What's next?" He asked, going over to the pile of guns and starting to organize them. On caliber, type, organising the grenades and such. He snarled lowly. "Don't." He said with a hint of hostility.
-
''At the least let me fix the hole they put in your head.'' Sibiu sighed. ''Well. My nano machines anyway. I will not touch your programming. WE're in the same boat though. I just do not want you to go all violent on me because your data is damaged.''
She looked at the process the nano machines started. ''I set the coordinates of this vessel to the ones my pod was supposed to go to. Whomever I was being sent to perhaps could help us?''
-
He looked up towards the female droid, his hand slipping up to his cerebrum, his fingers finding the hole in his head. "Damn.. I thought I was untouched." He muttered to himself. He stood up straight, sitting down back in the seat. "Alright." He nodded, taking her up on her offer. "I'd rather not have anyone messing with my mind.. Submission programming already does that enough.." He said, followed by a low mechanical blurt.
He leaned back in the seat. "Perhaps.." He mused silently in response. "What're your plans? What're you gonna do next? Since I had hoped to activate your independant programming." He said, still looking up to the feminime droid. Still feeling slightly envious that his female counterpart looked just a tad more human than he did.
-
Sibiu grabbed one of the faulty guns. Way faster then the organis bodies the metal seemed to just turn liquid. ''I could remove your submissive programming and give you a humanoid AI like I have. The briefcase holds most of Syndicate's data, maybe your DNA map is on it along with brainwave information, name it. It will cost me a lot of time but... it could be done. And could be good enough to make your mind almost the way it was before you got turned into a droid.''
She absorbed the liquid metal and turned it into tools. ''As for my independant program. Always I shall require a master. In case my core program gets damaged. But my independant programming and everything else are currently installing. What I will do once that happened I do not know. The scientist who uploaded me last minute into this body had given me an order once I would reach my destination and that was to give those whom I would arrive at that briefcase. Once my personality and independant programmings have been installed it is possible I shall refrain from following those orders. Also you can basicly overwrite most of my actions with system command.'' she sat down beside him. ''I shall fix what is broken. Regarding your submission program, it is up to you.''
She took out a connection cable. ''I will... need to connect to you though.''
-
He looked at Sibiu, who was melting a gun in her hand. "I -am- human. I saw my own fucking corpse when I was transferred. My mind is my own." He replied, sharp spite in the mechanical voice. Even though he was completely metal, made of wires and his thought process was even emulated. He still was human. "Submission programming.. Was meant to make me close to braindead. Now it's just hallucinations.. Didn't have time to complete it."
He sighed slowly. "I don't want to be anyone's master. I'm just a soldier." He said as he rested his face in his hands. Then it hit him. They actually made a break for it. They were free. Yet he had no idea what to do with said freedom. "We'll see what happens when we get there." He said, leaning back against the seat.
"Don't mess with my head.." He said as he took the connection cable, plugging it in the back of his head, he leaned forward, the effort accompanied by a low mechanical blurt.
-
''I frikkin know already. Just a system check to see if there is anything damaged... if anything crucial is damaged your core program can not fix by itself I will let you know. Also you can give me commands regarding your own systems if there are any questions about it.''
She inhaled deeply and sighed. Which was still a force of habit from when she was human.
''Connecting to Arad V1.0. Running system check.'' she spoke monotone. Her eyes got a light as well, moving from the left to the right as she was scanning.
''Core program intact. Moving system. Intact. Submission programming. Incomplete. Chance of following the rabbit phenomenon, 83 percent. Chance to express violent actions. 68 percent. First skull layer. Damaged. Second Skull layer. Damaged. Third skull layer. Damaged. Inner brain core, damaged. Circuit board. Damaged. Repairs required. Sharing nano repair technology S.I.B.I.U. Wish to share programming, negative. Releas repair tech in five... Four... Three... Two... One...''
Her hand moved to his gap and from her hand that formed an opening, a moving, nearly living metallic liquid exited. Making their way into the gap, fixing what was damaged most deep first layer by layer. Recycling the mess that was inside of ARAD's head before exporting metals and materials from Sibiu herself.
''Status: Fixing internal physical damage.''
-
He merely huffed as Sibiu snapped at him. Maybe he did push the female robot a tad too far. Then again, this entire situation was just a royal piece of shit. He looked towards Sibiu, who inhaled deeply and sighed. And he couldn't even draw a simple breath. Yet, his gaze lingered for a moment, before he looked forward again. He clenched his fist as Sibiu ran a check, beating out a list of what was damaged. "Rabbit phenomenon?" He had heard rumours. The rabbit phenomenon, from what he understood, was the AI's that were created alongside him going rogue and mad with their submission programming.
And he had an eigthy three percent chance. Then the small nanobots entered his skull, starting to fix his skull and cerebrum. A low, glitching mechanical blurt resounded from Arad, yet he seemed to remain still.
-
''Rabbit phenomenon; caused by incomplete AI and additional behaviour programming, making you interpet the enviroment and present life forms different then they are. Responds to those lifeforms differ depending on how they are being seen as it were.'' Sibiu replied.
''Since you have basic personality AI it is possible you fix it on your own. But if you wish to be as you were mind wise when you were human I could make you a personal program. You will have personal AI. All of your uploaded memories. Your brainwaves transformed into data. With enough materials I could even make you a secondairy body or new body in case your current one fails. I for one can hack into empty suits if my body is to broken. Making a new body however, and program, will take me several months to a year depending on what kind of computer I have at my disposal.''
-
"Then that's currently afflicting my mind.." He said, looking over to Sibiu. "I told you. No one messing with my head.. I got trust issues.." He sighed slowly. "No programming.. No rabbit shit.. Nothing. I'll get through it." He muttered slowly. "I've been tortured and fucked in the skull for roughly two months with no break.. I'm sorry." He looked at Sibiu, distress present in his voice.
-
''Maybe when you are ready then. I will not temper with your free will or personality. That is against my own programming and my personality in general. All I would be doing is removing the submission program completely. But you need to give me permission anyway.''
She paused briefly.
''Being uploaded into a network was no pleasant thing either you know, My body hurt because of the illness. I got exposed to various methods of pain. We're in the same boat though. I do not gain anything from messing you up. All I can do is improve. Infiltrate. Fight. And I had the fear of being discovered. Me as I am now was not supposed to exist.''
When she finished fixing the open gap and all that was inside of it, Sibiu disconnected and took in all of the nanobots she had used. ''Besides. I've been set as your Master. Unless hacked which for me is only zero point zero zero three percent, I can not harm you.''
-
"Maybe.." A brief silence had drawn between the two droids. He looked at Sibiu and nodded. Ofcourse, she had suffered as much as he did. It went to show that she was stronger than him. More qualified for this. Yet. How could you prepare for this? Prepare for seeing your own dead body as you're locked in a metal body that is not your own. "I'm sorry." He said, looking at Sibiu, presumably looking right into her eyes. "I believe you. It's just.. Difficult."
He looked forward again, a low, amused mechanical blurt resounding from him. "And havin' a woman call me Master was one of my fantasies.." He let out a slow chuckle, thumping her shoulder slightly.
-
She chuckled at Arad mentioning his fantasy. ''Well. If you want, I can call you Master. If I still count as a woman. You can let me call you anything you want.'' she got on her geet and headed to the cockpit.
''I could always make you a reserve body. I need to make mine too anyway since it got blown up. If you want it to have the same qualities as mine, it is possible. Even can have your original face. It will just take a while. You do not have to use it, but you know, a reserve body is not a bad thing to have.''
-
"I was.. Kidding." He said, just dreading the thought of someone calling him master. He could almost swear he felt a spine running down whatever replaced his spine. "Well. I'm dying to know. Did they install.. Those functions on you? Since infiltration has a broad understanding" He asked, sitting back again.
"Just as it is now.. You should be able to find some schematics in my memory core.." He sighed. Better to accept it as it was now then to actually try and get his face back. He would just have to cope with it. He knew he wasn't going to come out of the Genesis program a human. But he didn't expect this either.
-
Sibiu patted the briefcase. ''Your data should be in here too. At least everything regarding your brainwaves, backup files, name it. I will need to decrypt everything though. And. Well. I installed most functions on myself with my fellow creator who was dead on the ground when I awoke.''
She checked a few things regarding the ship. ''When I was still human I was afraid I would turn against those I cared about. So... although maybe different then yours. Our programming shares the same rules. But unlike you I need a master to actually function. You are the only person who can vocally reboot me. You could even erase all my data by just saying it if you wanted and program me exactly the way you want. The only authority you do not have is to cancel out my personality AI.''
-
He looked at the briefcase, nodding. "Alright.. But I meant those more sexual functions." He said as he stood up. He wasn't trying to be flirty, hell, he knew his body didn't even allow for him to have any kind of sex. It was rather a genuine question he asked. Seeing as Sibiu was also focussed on as an aesthetic unit.
"I see. Well, I don't wanna do anything to vocally make you do whatever." He stood up. "We're both humans, alright?"
-
''If you say so. Still. Would you disagree with my actions feel free to make them something you can agree with. As for sexual functions. My body can be used for it but there will not be any pleasure on my account. Would I make a new body or upgrade this one I do not think I shall include those functions. I do not have to be anatomically correct so to say.'' Sibiu replied.
-
"Your actions are your own." Was what he replied, sighing slowly. "I see. Doesn't surprise me.." He murmured to himself with a low mechanical blurt. "They're not all dead yet. And I'm going for revenge." He looked at Sibiu. "Whether you join me, it's up to you."
-
''Revenge for turning you into what you are now? I do not know if I will go on a killing spree. I worked for the Syndicate till I fell ill and personally always treated the subjects well and respectful. I signed myself up with the thought that being like this could be quite amazing. My body on the other hand disagreed and decided to bail on me. But I feel little for being all by myself. If it is true and bad members ofthe Syndicate are alive and out there to end us, then I'm game. But refrain killing the one we are heading to please. The fact I was about to be sent to him means he can not be that bad.''
-
"Cybernetical enhancements.. That was what they told me." Arad stood up as he rammed his fist against the wall of the ship, the hull denting under the force. "And then I woke up. Staring at my own dead body." He let out a slow, mechanical snarl. "I was tortured. Mentally and physically. Sleep was impossible as this body did not need it." The mechanical hand scraped down against the wall. "All of them.."
-
''Will you kill me too?'' Sibiu asked. ''I do again need to ask to keep the person of destination alive. Or at the least until we no longer need him. Is that at the least agreeable for you? Your DNA map should be in the briefcase. It could take me years but IF you want... with the right molecules at my disposal I could recreate your body to it's orginal living status. Brainwaves are nothing more then electricity. They were used to upload your consciousness to the body you are in now. Same with me. But like I said. It will take me years if I have everything I need.''
She walked towards him placing her hand on his face. ''I'm sorry though that the Syndicate lied to you and that you had to go through all of that.''
-
"You're a victim. I will not harm you." He said with a slow sigh. "As long as he is useful, I will tolerate him breathing oxygen of others."
He looked in direction of Sibiu, his hand dropping down by his side. "Can you.. Reconstruct my body?!" He shook his head with a slow, mechanical blurt. It was amazing news. Too good to be true. Hence. It was most likely untrue. But she was by all means welcome to try. Hoping the submission programming had indeed left his mind nobpermament damage.
-
''I am not exactly a victim. I choose this.'' Sibiu replied. ''And yes. IF and I will make it a huge if, but with Adenine, Cytocine, Guanine and Thymine I can reconstruct your DNA. Adding the other nessesary elements, building the actual machine, yes. I can reconstruct your body. It will have no use to remake mine though. Since if I do my illness will come back and I will live aproxematly twenty years. I already decided I'm going to stay like this. But you. Since you were set up. I could do it for you.''
She looked outside of the cockpit window before turning to the suitcase. ''Oh by the way you can sleep. But in your current state you will not be able to dream.''
After sitting down she put the briefcase on her lap and opened it, pulling a connection cable from the back of her neck and plugged it in. ''Not to worry, just backing up in case something happens to this thing. I at the least do not have to save other DNA maps but yours and mine seeing everyone else is dead. Would for whatever reason the person we are headed to not be on our side we at the least still have the nessesary data.''
-
Arad slowly nodded, sitting down again. "For now.. I'll have to get used to it." He said, before letting out a slow mechanical snarl. "I'd prefer not to dream.. That's when the submission programming kicks in." He said as he looked up to Sibiu. "Why?" He asked. "You obviously sympathise with the Syndicate.. They saved your life and I indiscriminatly killed everyone there.." He stood up with a slow sigh. "Why would you go through the trouble?"
-
''Why not. You are obviously sufffering, some things are wrong with your programs. So if I can fix that, who am I not to offer. I am agreeing with what the Syndicate did to you and with my memory not fully loaded I miss a variety of things. Maybe the department I was in with whomever helped creating me was a good department and you had enormous bad luck. That some of the employees are shady does not mean the whole company is. As for your submission program. Want me to turn them off?''
-
Suffering. Heh. That was a fucking euphenism. "I've been to all departments. All treated me like some beast. All of them hurt me." He let out a bitter chuckle. Her explanation didn't make sense. Or perhaps it did, but he couldn't notice. He only wanted to listen to what he wanted to hear now. And that was breaking the Syndicate down. Brick by brick. Life by life.
He looked at Sibiu again. "Don't touch my programming.." Was what he said with a low snarl.
-
''As long as you will not go beserk, I will not. Even if I would touch your programming I would never touch personality or free will. Personally I think removing the already corrupt submission programming and replacing it for mine would do you a lot better. But that is my take on things.''
Still connected to the briefcase she just looked through the window. ''We are aproaching the station of The Libra. The contact knows we are coming. If the person is shady, you may kill him to your hearts content. Just... not on first sight. If it is a trap, determine which one is the leader and isolate that person but do not kill him. Why? If there is information about the Syndicate that leader knows ,you could use that. Also I will obviously need that person's passwords.''
-
"I said no." Was what he snarled in response. Replace his corrupted submission programming with a complete one? Just what the fuck did that mean? Would he be a slave to the Syndicate as they intended? Due to this droid's doing. She was in the same boat he was.. Yet she wasn't disgruntled like ARAD.
He looked up to Sibiu as qhe spoke again. "I am angry. Not irrational or stupid."
-
''Like I said. I will not unless you go berserk. Corrupt programming can damage your other things too you know.''
The Libra got closer and closer and Sibiu realised now just how large it was. ''We might as well look for another ship. Sure my nano machines cleared up the mess we made but... this is just an escape ship. Not meant for very long trips. I do not mind stealing if we have to.''
-
"Good." Arad said, before standing up and watching through the cockpit. "I presume this is the Libra?" He inquire, looking at Sibiu. "Anything's better than this. Syndicate could be tracking it." Then again.
Syndicate could be tracking him.
-
''I will leave the ship of choice to you. Do mind we are only with two people. We do not need the largest. After your revenge is complete what is it you would like to do? Want me to build your body again? Start a life?''
She pressed a few buttons. ''White rabbit requesting docking permission.''
There was a pause before a reply was given.
''White rabbit, permission granted. Make your way to docking station B103.'' a man replied over the radio.
''Roger.'' Sibiu replied and prepared for docking. She looked at Arad with a smile. ''Let's see what this place has in store for us shall we?''
-
"As soon as they're all dead and gone. Yeah. Though I think I'll make a lot of enemies." He said with a slow, cybernetic sigh. He kept quiet as Sibiu requested landing clearance. White rabbit? He shrugged it off and stood up slowly. "Ladies first." He said with a low chuckle.
-
Docking did not exactly go smoothly but after being in Sibiu opened the ship door. The first thing she realised was how busy it was. ''Arad... stay close to me alright? I do not want to lose you.'' she spoke as she walked beside him.
''Let's go to the meeting point.''
The meeting point seemed to be a public place. At a table that belonged to a high class restaurant five men all wearing expensive suits sat at a table. Once spotting the two one of the men got on his feet and approached them.
''What a pleasant change of situation. Initually you were supposed to arrive in a pod but you seem to be alive and running well.'' He spoke with a slightly insulting voice. ''Who is your friend. You were supposed to come alone.''
''His name is none of your concern. I do recommend not to anger him. Neither do Lackeys ask questions. I'm here with my friend to speak to your boss and not to you.''
The smirk vanished on the mans face. ''Fine.'' he said and gestured to where his boss was seated.
-
"It warms my hea- Nevermind. Sticking close." Arad said, as he indeed remained close bt Sibiu's side. Answering any wary glares with a low snarl. People shouldn't mess with a pissed off combat droid. And he was pissed off 24/7. But he followed Sibiu and did not cause trouble.
As soon as they entered the restaurant, he was wary. Even more so at the sight of the black suited men. He clenched his fist. Looked like the guys that talked him into this initially. At mention of him, he snarled in response once more, letting Sibiu do the talking.
-
One man with a suit seemingly a little more expensive then the rest sent off the other men. ''Sibiu, good to see you have arrived in one piece. I got notified about what happened to the Institute. At least one side of the story. Take a seat. Not to worry about my guards. I know you will not hurt me.'' he said calmly.
''I see your father is not here but another droid isntead?'' he gestured to the seats across him.
''I have no recollection regarding a parent.'' Sibiu replied. ''My information had not been completely uploaded when I got disconnected and me being a secret project, my data was not on the mainframe like everyone elses.''
''I see...'' the man replied although his tone had gotten a bit more cautious.
-
If Arad had any eyes. Or any facial expression, it would be one of abhorrence. He had killed Sibiu's father. He had killed almost everyone in the station. Was it the man at her console? One of the nicer scientists? Yet. He kept the face of neutrality and sat down slowly. This guy knew that he was the escaped project. No doubt.
-
''Your father and you knew the risks very well. It is amazing to see what kind of project you've become. I saw you managed to get the briefcase at the least.''
''Indeed. It was in my priority programming appearantly. It contained all the data of that particular location. I however do not see why that data is interesting since the droid research lab has been destroyed.''
The man observed the two briefly. ''Sibiu, I demand an event report.'' the man said calmly.
''Denied.'' Sibiu replied in the same calm manner.
''I took the liberty to erase those kind of programming. I do have a master of sorts of course since it is an actual Core program but this father you mentioned, was no idiot. But you can get your report. I got started and one of the first things I register is the institute destroying each created droid and put the base to selfdestruct.''
This seemed to shock the man to say the least.
''The staff refused to follow their protocols and for that reason our own programs for survival kicked in. After all. Both my friend and I were created to complete missions. If we can not complete our programmed missions then those protection programs kick in. That is how we are designed. Unfortunatly for the scientists at the base we do still have a high level of our living consciousness.''
-
With each passing word, he was getting more and more pissed off. He wanted to pull the guy over the table and interrogate him then and there. But, he kept control. Trying to keep himself from ripping the man's voicebox out then and there.
-
''It is truely fasinating.'' The man said and relaxed some more. ''You turned yourself into an AI. At the least for as long as your memory holds. All the data that had not been uploaded will never come to you. I am curious about your friend though. No need to worry. I left the institute about five years ago. Sibiu already knows I am not wired or watched. She is after all in infiltration unit. But my natural curiosity just has never left me. Truth be told. I am despite the losses rather happy a part of the Institute suffered a blow. If they however know you two exist there will be a hunt. Not nessesarily to destroy you two but to research. Down side for me is that when they find you they find me. I can relocate the both of you. Perhaps give you skin to look at the least somewhat human. But I will need to know what kind of unit you are and what your purpose originally was.''
-
"They will not find me." Arad answered simply. "I need no help from you. I destroyed the facility and escaped. And you know how strong security is." He sat back, folding his arms. "Single target isolation and assassination. Made to assassinate various key figures assigned to me." He sighed slowly.
"That was the plan."
-
''There is a difference between a mere riot and ending one base and becoming an actual target. What if they hack your systems? Or implement a virus? Or Sibiu's? There are more droids you know. I know Sibiu has incomplete programming since she did not have a complete upload of her data. When they know the two of you still exist you will get your own satalites to spy on you and units to capture you. Wether they catch you or not depends on adaptability but what if they use hostages. Would they capture you again if they threaten to kill a child? They will pick off everyone you've ever loved.''
-
A slow, yet menacing chuckle resounded from Arad. "I never loved anyone. Well. Correction. Everyone I hold dear is already dead." He snerked slowly. "I'll kill them all. I am the one they fear most. And I have nothing to lose. Not even my humanity."
-
''If everyone you've ever loved dead... that sucks. Still.'' he made a head gesture to a mother and a child eating an ice cream. ''You would not care if they would be used as a hostage? That's cold. I suppose your humanity program is faulty or just not installed.'' he looked at Sibiu.
''You are not going to fix him up?''
''He does not want me too. As long as he will not kill innocent people or turn them into hostages himself who am I to do anything. Still.'' her gaze went to Arad. ''I do agree with him on one thing. We need a place to go and stay. Killing off the institute, fair enough. But going in there guns blazing? Then I might as well kill you here. The Institute has druids. Better equipped then us, smarter then us and stronger then us. I died already once. I intend to actually live a little. We are disposable to them to say the least. One EMP and we're out.''
-
"My humanity has been dead since I was a kid." Arad stood up with a slow snarl. "It died when I saw my mother being raped and sold as a slave and my dad killed. It died when Graadez was killed by a fuckin' stray bullet." Arad grabbed a piece of his chestplate, tearing it off. "I have no heart. My humanity died when my body died."
He looked between Sibiu and the man. Fixing. He snarled slowly. "I am sentient. I don't need fixing. If you wish to live, leave me alone. There is only death on the path I intend to walk."
-
''Well... unfortunate.'' The man said calmly. ''Sibiu... why do you not run a check on his friends family.''
''But...'' Sibiu protested.
''I already know you backed up all the files in the suitcase. You are no different from the living you after all.''
Sibiu waited briefly before she sighed. ''Sorry Arad...'' she muttered before she started to seek though any files she had about him only distinctivly searching for his family. Sure it was private. And she did not like snopping. But if there was even the slightest chance for Arad to have family left there was only one way to find out. When she found the name of his birthmother she started to look in other locations.
''Arad... your mother still exists. She has been put in a freezing pod designed for long space travels. Just because we are droids, does not mean we can not feel. I already told you I could create a better body for you. Even your human body if you so desire. It will take me a while but there is a difference between actual suicide and going on a vengeance trip. If you just want to die you can ask me. No difference comparing walking into an Institute HQ where your body will be rendered useless and then your programming will be edited to their will. If you want that then leave.''
-
Everything in the room seemed to go cold. Slowly. Arad sat down again. A deep and slow sigh came from him. "What ship?" Was all he asked. His voice colder and even harsher than before. He didn't even give a shit whether Sibiu had the intelon him.
-
''I merely found her. I do not know yet what ship. I merely know her state of living because it is registered in a slave database. I can not just find that ship here. First I need to go to the database itself. Hack it. Secure all of the files regarding your mother. Find the name of the ship which has her now, and then we can actually find the ship. I can not do this here since I lack the machine power. And if I do not do this discreetly I might as well just send the Institute a message where we are.''
''Sibiu is right. Accept my offer of allowing me to bring you two to a safe haven to live for a brief time. The safehouse has enough power for Sibiu to hack into whatever she pleases. And if Arad, you truely need to let go of some steam I might have an assignment for you regarding one of the Institute members.
-
"Good. Let's go." Arad stood up, his hand finding the collar of the man and pulling him half over the table. "I do not work for you. Got it? I work for myself. And wich assignment. I want all the details."
-
''Arad.. easy.'' Sibiu spoke. Only a lot less kind and patient then before.
Remarkably the man stayed calm. ''Safehouse first. We will talk there. We can use my ship. It is best to leave the one behind you arrived in.''
''No need.'' Sibiu replied. ''I purchased a new one. Not nessesarily the way I wanted to do it but the ship we arrived in is already being investigated. We can not return to those docks. A ship is waiting in dock Y.''
''Understood.'' the man replied.
''You have a new ship too. I had already sent a request for the posessions in the ship to be placed in the Century Sparrow. I also recommend to leave your lackeys. Give them a usual order such as going to the ship. They do not know about the ownership transfer.''
''You are good. No wonder you were one of the top Institute members from a young age. Although of course you were unaware from unauthorised living being research.''
''You know to much about me.'' Sibiu replied coldly.
''Afraid to look into your own files miss?'' the man asked.
''We meet at dock Y.'' Sibiu replied and placed a hand on Arad's shoulder. ''Let's go''
-
Arad tilted his head, his grip on the man's collar loosening, before he released him alltogether. "The local authorities would be occupied with identifying the remains. If that'd even be possible." He let out a slow snarl. Not caring for the interactions. He wasn't good at all this subtle things and manipulation. He was one hell of a killer. His combat abilities easily surpassed Sibiu's.
He felt the hand on his shoulder. She didn't know of his experimenting? That meant she wasn't responsible either. That did make her slightly better in his books.
He nodded slowly. "Let's." He agreed, turning around.
-
First Sibiu left with Arad to their new ship leaving the man behind who turned to his lackeys. ''If you decide to kill me can I at the least asl of you to kill me last?'' she asked clenching the briefcase in her hand as they walked to the docks.
There did not seemed to be any fear in her voice. Only regret.
Dock Y was many times more fancy and the ships even larger. ''I assigned thisone to us.'' she said as she gestured to a rather fancy ship. Meant for a crew of ten at the least. Sibiu showed an identification pass to the dock worker present and let her and Arad pass without question after checking it in his machine.
Inside there seemed to be a lot of high tech equipment as well. Including robots and droids whom all were turned off. ''This bodes well. All of these are empty shells.'' she said softly.
-
Arad put a hand on her shoulder. "You were unaware. As he said." He snerked slowly. "I'm not killing you." At that, he turned towards their destination again and remained silent for the entirety of the walk.
As they entered the ship, he looked around, but shrugged. "Can you hook them to yourself? Share your conciousness avross multiple bodies?"
-
''Yea I should be able to. But I'd like to make sure these are virus free. If I connect myself to them and one has a virus I am kind of screwed. I will need to make a backup of myself to be safe. Although if I get hit by a virus I will of course not remember anything that happened between the backup creation and the reinstallation of it. But if they are all good I can make a kind of research server. My hacking will go faster too as long as I am connected. I will look into it when we are at the safehouse.''
Sibiu shut the door and went to the cockpit. Hooking herself up to the screen and in no time footagefrom security camera's displayed themselves on her screens. ''Our guy is almost at his ship. I seized control over his computer and communication. He wont be able to warn anyone in case he decided to backstab us.''
-
"He won't. He pisses his pants when I'm around." Arad snarled. "He might seem calm
But I smelled his fear. He knew I could've killed him there and there and gotten away with it." He let out another snarl. "People react differently when they're faced with death. He kept a calm outlook."
He joined next to Sibiu. "What.. Do you want out of all this?"
-
''Frankly... I do not know. I somehow feel it is my own fault you ended up like this. When I was diagnosed with my illness I thought wether it was possible or not to transfer my consciousness into a different vessel. Wether that idea was something the Syndicate already had or not I do not know. The volunteers were all dying people. But I do not believe you have lost your humanity. If you truely had none left you would not have responded like you did when you learned your mother still exists. Or what my role at the Institute was. I am afraid to look at my own files regarding that. What if I was some kind of monster.'' she looked at the empty vessels and shook her head.
''I will help you fighting your enemies. And hopefully you will allow me to rebuild your human body or at the least a vessel that looks human. Speaking of which I should fix that hole you made in your chest.''
-
"Then we're alike. Two monsters." Arad let out a low growl as he stood up, the blade iding from his hand. He held it up infront of his face ans looked at it with a sigh. "I've always been a killer. Now I am just more proficient." He osed his fist and looked at Sibiu. "This is my last warning to you. The place I'm headed only has death."
-
''Well. Death it may be but monsters should stick together right? Besides. It would be a shame if the Institute got to you before you could complete your task. You lack reason. And I, am an infiltration unit. I can get you a lot of usefull things.''
She held up a hand which formed a puddle of nanomachines. The way they acted seemed like a pile of ants. ''You can tear some of the reinforced metal off one of the empty shells and my machines can fix that hole with it. It is possible without but it will only thin out the material you are made of. Also regarding that. Do you want another body, or not. I'd say... bullet proof at the least for the most part and multi EMP proof. Of course it is not finished in a week, take that into account. They do not know I exist yet for as far as I know so it would be a pleasant surprise for them too if they attempt to take you down with weapons that no longer work on you.''
-
"I don't need reason. I have a goal." He snarled at Silmeria, before tearing some material of the closest robot.
"Here. And I do not wish to transfer to yet another body. Upgrade this one. And make sure my pain inhibitors are overidden."
-
''Fine.'' Sibiu snarled back. ''If I upgrade your actual body you'd better stay still then during the time I am upgrading you mister crankypants. She grabbed his hand, bringing the hand full of nanomachines on top of it which spread on the metal and Arad's body like an unholy swarm of wiggling matter.
''Our guy entered his vessel. We are good to go.'' Sibiu said as she focussed on releasing the two ships from the dock. Still keeping an eye on all security camera's and also one in the cockpit of the Century Sparrow. ''Alright mister contact person. Where are we headed.'' she asked.
''To Aedolis. I will send you the coördinates.'' the man replied. ''Is this ship not to big for one man?''
''No. I hijacked the ship my nameless friend. If you backfire I will initiate the selfdestruct. I hope we are clear on that.''
''Y-Yes... quite. And hopefully you will learn to trust me like your father did.'' the man said. It was true he did not seem to be entirely comfortable.
-
Arad didn't even seem to care in the slightest. "I will disengage my servos and hydraulics, if that is what you're asking." He did listen to the following scene between Sibiu and their contact with a dark chuckle. It was amusing, to say the least.
-
''Coordinates received. To Aedolis we go.''Sibiu said with enthousiasm and set both ships on autopilot. She then got on her feet. Looking at the nanomachines fixing Arads hole.''You know... I found your mother. I could find other people you once knew. Friends and enemies. More family...'' she walked towards one of the empty shells, taking out a cable from her arm.
-
"She's the only one alive.. I don't have friends and only one enemy." He looked to Sibiu. "And that is the Syndicate."
-
''Well... the enemy has a lot of heads. Still... I wonder who my father is... if he is still alive.'' Sibiu said as she connected herself to the empty shell. She plugged it out soon enough though and went to another until she had them all.
''Well. Most of these do not have a single operating system installed so... we can program them. I will have to clean out those who are programmed. It does have some suprisingly heavy coding.
''Oi Arad. Assuming that this... is a protected line, want to talk about the job I have for you? I do will need you to shut down Sibiu for a moment if you want to hear it here rather then at the safehouse.'' the man spoke who seemed anything but comfortable.
-
Arad clenched his fist slowly. "I'll slice all of those heads off." He looked to Sibiu, shaking his head. "I left no man standing back there. I was in a panicked frenzy due to my submission programming. He is dead." He didn't really care for the programming of the empty shells and trusted her judgement.
As he heard the voice crackle through the intercom, he snarled slowly. "Sibiu is allowed to know about this. I trust her more than I trust you. So tell it now or keep it for the safehouse."
-
The words that her father was dead actually seemed to hurt her feelings. ''A.. are you sure? I mean... maybe he had included someone else... maybe he was not there on the ship..'' she started.
She then however clenched her chest. It hurt. Was it supposed to be doing that?
''Now I do recommend to vocally shut her off. Sibiu has an actual humanity switch. Her programming put anything emotional on a drive she can shut down.'' the man said and sighed. ''The moment she turns it off, she most likely will become like you. Not to badmouth the way you act but... you need Sibiu the way she is. I'd rather not resort to the secondary programming to put her to sleep mode.''
-
"I'd rip out your voicebox if you were here. If you keep talking, I might actually board you right fucking now."Was what he snarled in return, before looking at Sibiu, putting his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Sibiu.. I-.. I killed him." Shit. It still was difficult.
-
At first Sibiu did not reply. At least not to Arad. The words she spoke were generated by the programs she was running on. A variety of errors and overwrites.
''Arad... if you do not shut her down her own programs will. I worked closely with her father but I never got authorisation to be able to command her to temporarily shut down. If you are the one having awoken her you maybe would want to do that now before her incomplete programming gives to many erro..''
''No need.'' Sibiu replied. She turned her head to Arad. She looked sad. Even tears despite they were nothing more then nano machines had come from her eyes. But they just entered her body again before they could fall off. ''I shut my emotions off for my father. Still I'd like to know one thing. Did he suffer much?'' In the background she could hear the voice of the man that hefound her just displayed feat very interesting
-
"She is HUMAN!" He rammed his fist against the wall, denting the hull. "I might be a fucking murderer. But she isn't. So don't you tell me to shut her down.." He snarled slowly, pulling his hand from the dent, shaking it slowly.
He glanced at Sibiu, shaking his head. "It was messy.. But he was immediatly dead. He didn't have the time to feel pain." Arad noted as he walked over, putting a hand on her shoulder.
-
''At the least he did not suffer. It is strange. I feel sad for someone I do not even remember. I can not deny that our 'friend' over there is right though. If I am not stable I am a danger to everyone including you. Surely your combat skills surpass mine. But... as much as I would want to be, I am not human. You and I both killed those on our former ship. I did that due to my programming, and can not say I was exactly a saint when I was alive. My body is dead. I can not reconstruct my own because my disease is genetic. It will kill me again just the same. But you know. At the least there are things I can do for you.''
''Assuming your uploaded programming does not fail.
''We will see by then. Maybe I can use a part of Arad's core program to fix what I lack. It are not just memories I am missing. When we are at the shelter I shall do a self system scan.'' Sibiu replied.
''It is weird though. A droid. Crying. You've been busy.''
''Can you perhaps just shut up for half an hour?'' Sibiu replied. As much as this man was the best chance they got, she started to like him less and less.
-
He turned around, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her lightly. "You still are human. More than I am. Human body or not."
As he heard the man calling her a droid, he sighed slowly and walked into the stasis chamber, letting it completely depressurize and hanging himself stuck to the ship. "I'm gonna have a talk with you. Prepare your asshole." He said as the door slid open and he shot into space, the rope dragging him behind the ship. He used his defragmentation unit to navigate through space and put his hands on the other ship's hatch, dropping into the stasis room and pressurizing again, walking into the contact's ship.
"I warned you enough!" He called out.
-
''And I warned you too.'' After disconnecting the intercom he revealed a tablet which rapidly showed numbers and letters which belonged to a programming. ''I helped program Sibiu. See all of these? Those are errors in her personal system. She is not human. Everything she was when she was a human was translated into a program. If these errors keep going and Sibiu can not keep up with correcting them then she will be nothing more but a mindless droid. Temporarily shutting her down will be nothing more then forcing her to sleep. At the safehouse I can try and see if I can fix or remove errors. I can not do that here. The longer she is conscious now the more damage she will get.'' the man replied.
''Don't think Sibiu is the only one who had her consciousness put elsewhere. I was both employed at the Syndicate, and was a test subject at the same time. A soldier class. Human bodies fail often and are fragile. Need food and water to keep going. I was fired from a combat force after my whole platoon was destroyed. The Syndicate had offered me a job. My mind went from human to a droid and I can not deny it was amazing at first. But I realised everything else the Syndicate did so resigned with the help of Sibiu's father by putting my consciousness back into a human body. So do not think I do not know what I am talking about. You still have her nano machines in you don't you. What do you think will happen when all of her data corrupts?''
-
"Then you know.. That we are human. As much as your stinking meatbag." He said with a low growl, "I don't care, I've survived worse than being eviscerated from the inside."
-
''The difference is, one EMP and you are both gone. Sibiu knows she is no longer human and never will be. Her incomplete program does not help either. Just put her into sleepmode already. Also I reset core system three. I can assure you that she will not lose any data or memory from it but it should reboot her emotion system so it stops giving errors. I'm sure she will appreciate it. She is in pain.''
''He is right.'' Sibiu admitted over the intercom. ''My incomplete program creates errors almost faster then I can fix them.''
-
"I swear that I'll tear you a new asshole one day," Arad grunted before he sighed slowly. "She is human," he murmured as he released the man. "Sibiu. Sleep mode." He said, the pain heard in his voice.
-
''Vocal order recognised. Commanding officer codename ARAD. Order confirmed. Sleepmode activated.'' Sibiu replied and entered her sleepmode.
''I am not really sure what she is. I can evaluate her when she wakes up again. Will have to anyway. She was supposed to remain asleep and sent to me in a pod.'' the man replied.
''As for my new asshole...'' he snickered. ''Save me for last regarding your Syndicate killing spree. Also now you are here... Sibiu is in sleep mode and it takes a while until we reach our destination, the assasination is a man named Zeke. He is someone with plenty of answers and has a modified body. He is practically a cyborg and kidnaps people to turn them into subjects.''
-
Arad shook his head, pushing the thoughts back. "Location. Is he guarded? I need more info."
-
''The location will be in his suite. It is Sibiu's stepbrother. A cocky basterd who enjoys spending hacked money on women. Women he then turns into cyborgs to do his bidding if he likes them a tad to much. He is guarded. 8 droids aprox the same as you are but a version lower. And four women. Tricky thing is, he is always, almost every hour of his life at some party or strip club. Zeke is like I said modified. All his organs except his brain are replaced with cyber replacements. Anything vital such as spine and skull are strengthened with very powerful metal but he has no nano tech to fix whatever damage he will sustain. He can fight too. Electric charged bullets are his specialty.''
-
"So. Twelve confirmed hostiles and a target who knows how to fight. Do I have an appearance on all these cyborgs, aswell as the target self?" Arad asked, folding his arms and sitting down next to he man.
-
''the women tend to change since Zeke only keeps the four he likes the most that moment with him. He stores the rest in a storage facility.'' He took an enveloppe out with photos of Zeke and the guards.
Zeke indeed looked like a very spoiled brat who was in his late teens or early twenties.
-
"I'll rip his throat out," Arad replied as he studied the pictures. One perk of being a droid. Photographic memory. He slid the pictures back into the enveloppe and handed it back with a low snarl. "Shouldn't be a problem."
-
''I did not think it would. Maybe you realise too why I could not just say it with Sibiu awake. Her father is already dead and family no matter how great of a douchebag they were, are still of importance. It is in her programming. It is possible to either interrogate Zeke or just upload all data he has to a drive. Do note. If he dies he will selfdestruct in thirty seconds. Do not linger.''
-
"Got it," Arad answered as he stood up again, walking to the back of the ship. "How long till we get there?"
-
''Sibiu pre programmed the ships to go into hyperspeed soon. I think it will take about twelve more hours. Come to think of it. I have never given you my name have I. Tairu is the name you can adress me with if needed. But feel free to use asshole if you prefer that. I do not think you will keep anyone alive regarding your targets but if you like to mess with them a little more, with each kill, just tell them Railgun sends his regards.'' he smirked.
-
"Asshole it is," Arad snarled in response. "And I will if I think about it." He glanced in direction of the other ship. "Got any dirt on the Syndicate?"
-
''An archive room full.'' Tairu replied. ''But it is actual concrete evidence I lack and can't say any form of authority is willing to make a case of it. Many things are also just speculations but feel free to take a look. Sibiu should have files as well from the location the both of you came from. I am curious though, how many other droids were there. It couldn't be just you two.''
-
"I don't know. I think.. Everything fuckin' died besides us," Arad said, a distant undercurrent of empathy in his voice. He hadn't lost his humanity just yet.
-
''Well droids, especially the later versions are created to be able to withstand being in space. If anything could've been slavaged I am certain it has been already done. I do wonder, when you're finished dealing with the Syndicate. What will you do then. Let Sibiu make a new body for you? Or carry out the rest of your days as a droid? You do not have to tell me but if you need weapons or supplies... I will need to order them.''
-
"A new body, make myself invisible, dissappear and start a new life," Arad answered. "A boring and peaceful life, where I die from old age without having meant a thing." Arad let out a soft snarl. "After this shit, I'm done fighting."
-
''Alright. I can see if I can arrange anything for you then. After all. You will need a new home, money, job, papers and background.''
Tairu looked at the ships console. ''We're going to enter hyperspeed. If you want to return to the other vessel I recommend doing that now.''
-
Araw let out a soft snarl. "We'll see. I still don't trust you."
He nodded however at the second statement, standing up slowly and walking over to the airlock. "Talk to you later, asshooe. I'm gonna restart Sibiu." At that, he walked through the airlock and shut it, heading back to the other ship.
-
''I recommend to wait until we've landed but fair enough.'' Tairu replied. He then sat down and made himself comfortable. It was not like he was capable of going anywhere.
-
Once transitioned, Arad walked over to Sibiu, taking a deep sigh. "Boot," he commanded with a soft snarl, disliking the fact he had to boot her up again.
-
The eyes opened first and her body gave a weak jolt. But she did not speak. There was no program confirming either.
''Thank you.'' Sibiu eventually spoke. ''I managed to fix some of the corrupted data.'' she did not speak about her father that Arad had killed. Not right away. Droplets of nano machines left her eyes before they were taken in again by her skin.
''It is strange. I have no clear memory of him so why... why am I crying. I don't get it...'' She felt weird. If feeling was the right word. It most likely was just programming. Hence she tried the following.
''Acces program file emotion. Code 7 0 0 2 5 1. Prepare for permanent termination. Remove files from core.''
Her eyes got a strange shimmer and the 'tears' stopped falling. Sibiu got on her feet and looked at Arad. ''We have work to do. At the least these empty shells are capable of holding our data. If something happens to us before we are done we can enter one of these. We might lose our bodies but not our minds.''
-
Arad got infront of her as she spoke of the emotional files, to delete them. He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "That is what keeps you human, Sibiu. Restore those files," he grunted softly. "Now."
-
Sibiu looked at him for a moment. ''What is the point of me still being human. Unlike you I will never be able to get my body back.'' she said bluntly. Still. What he had given her, was an order. Arad being her Master according to her operating system made her incapable of refusing. ''Abort order. Restore back to core.'' it was quick after doing so that the tears fell again. ''Even removing emotions is not permanent with me. My AI operating program allows me to develop emotions. It maybe would've taken a few weeks for them to restore to their basics but unless I remove what I named personality AI I could never permanently delete my humanity.''
-
His hands drew back again when she reacted sharply as she did. "And I can never get my humanity back," he snarled in response, stepping back and turning around, clenching his fist. "What I have done.."
-
''Do you even know the definition of humanty Arad. You say you do not have it. Yet you show signs of it. But if things are easier for you if you say you dont have it and will never get it back then suit yourself.'' she walked passed him after connecting herself briefly to every empty droid suit and sat down on the pilot seat.
Sibiu said basicly nothing throughout the rest of the journey. She was still upset and angry but she could not blame Arad either. As long as he would not allow her to fix the corrupted data, even it should not have influence on his base programming there was not exactly a lot she could do. Still. If he'd snap against innocent people she sure as hell would go against his orders.
Entering the planet's atmosphere went rather steadily without to much of a hassle and they landed on private property. Tairu seemed to be happy to be finally able to leave the ship.
Still Sibiu did not yet open the ship, causing Tairu to acces the video intercom instead. Just in time to hear her say that the check up of the place was complete and with a vocal command all the droids got on their feet.
''What did you do?'' Tairu asked.
''Installed an OS. They can walk, but nothing more then that yet.'' Sibiu replied coldly.
''Status report personality files.'' Tairu replied after a short while.
''Status. Incomplete.'' Sibiu replied calmly. ''Percentage of files present. 87 percent.''
''Fuck...'' Tairu muttered. ''Order code Black Song. Rewrite files missing, force repair corrupted files.''
''Aproxemat time duration. 156 hours, 47 minutes and 33 seconds. Do you wish to activate code Black Song now?''
Tairu sighed. ''Initiate Black Song, in one hour.''
''Confirmed.'' Sibiu said simply before she eventually seemed to be allert about her surroundings once more. Like someone whom had just spaced off.
It was not until then that she opened the doors of both ships so they could exit and enter the garage the ships had landed in.
''This will be the base of operations. I will show the two of you around. It is not much, but it has all to get the job done.'' Tairu spoke after meeting them outside of the ships again.
-
"I don't fit it," Arad snarled in response. "I've done enough shit," he trailed off, not finishing his sentence.
Arad seemed fine with saying nothing for the rest of the journey, he sat down and snarled softly, before he tuned out with a silent buzz.
Arad booted up, or woke, again as they entered the atmosphere. And as soon as they touched down Sibiu made a remark about
The check-up, before the empty shells all got to their feet. "Been busy," Arad remarked with another soft snarl as he got to his feet. He didn't care for the back and forth between Tairu, lovingly dubbed Asshole, and Sibiu.
As the doors slid open, Arad walked out, glancing around before heading to explore their surroundings.
-
They had landed somewhere indoors but on the ground were grass and flowers. ''Welcome sir.'' What spoke, seemed human but it's movements showed easily that it was a droid.
''Hello Shiki.'' Tairu spoke. He looked at Sibiu and Arad. ''I'd offer the both of you drinks but it is not the time for that yet.''
Sibiu spoke after a moment of silence. ''If this is really going to be our base then I would like a lab. A private one.'' she muttered as she passed him. My body was a genetic failure but if there is even the slightest chance of making Arad a body of flesh and blood, I would like to try.'' In her hand she held the case she had left the Syndicate with.
''I take it you are not going to give me that data do you.'' Tairu said. Seeing Sibiu shrug made him sigh. ''I will show the both of you the surroundings. You're free to use whatever you please but I must request not to harm anyone here. All staff are droids of my own creation, program included. Sibiu what do you think of their security?'' he asked.
Sibiu walked to Shiki and connected one of the wires she pulled from her neck, into one of Shiki's ports. ''Hmmm. It would be nice if you had one.'' she disconnected. ''Joking though. It is fine for now. Now show us around please before my programs kick in? I'm not exactly going to move when they do.''
Tairu nodded and showed the two his facilities including the computer rooms, the rooms where he tinkered with droids and the tools, and the rooms where they could stay in. As final though he went to the master room. ''This computer is connected to a TOR network I set up with various traps. firewalls, fishing bait virusses and so on. so it is safe to use to do whatever you wish. I recommend not to do it without me though. My installed security scans this room for my living tissue, heartbeat, voice. If anything is just as much off, everything will be wiped.''
''Not bad. I can not seem to simply hack into this either. Quite amazing considdering how bad everything else is.'' Sibiu jestered before looking at Arad. ''I bet you can use this system as well to hack into the Syndicate systems. If you want, anyway. I am going to retreat myself to the quarters you've given me for nessesary updates and damage control. Program Black Song is going to initiate as well. I am not sure how long I will need though.'' without further ado, she left.
Tairu sat down on the present chair. ''So. Wish to hear more about your mother?'' he asked nonchalantly.